She felt a swift jab of pain. "You do need me. You just haven't realized it yet. That's what this is all about." She lifted her chin. "I have to make you realize it."

"Well, you're not going to get the opportunity," he said curtly. "I'm sending you back to the United States tomorrow."

No," she said with great certainty. "I'm not going. I knew that would be your reaction, so I took

precautions." She made a face. "Or rather, lack of precautions."

"I'd be interested to know how you think you can prevent me from sending you away. If you recall, I'm the reigning head of this province. I can do anything I damn well please with you."

"But you won't," she said. "Because I've borrowed a page from your mother's book. Not that I like the idea of being associated with that bitch in anyway."

"Which page?" he asked, his expression suddenly wary.

"I told you the timing was very delicate," she said quietly. "Not only because I knew I couldn't keep up the pretense for long, but for physical reasons. I went to the doctor and had him chart my fertile period." She smiled shakily. "This is it. I could very well be pregnant with your child, Philip."

For the briefest instant he looked as if something had knocked the breath out of him. Then his expression was once more impassive. "Blackmail is an exceedingly ugly practice."

She sighed. "I was afraid you'd be suspicious. I can't really blame you. I have no intention of trying to force you to marry me. If you'll contact Abernathy in London, you'll find he's received a legal document absolving you of responsibility for any possible issue. If you like, I'll ask Neal if it's all right if I name him as the father. I don't think he'd mind."

"The hell you will." The words were so violent they shocked her. He was silent for a moment, fighting for control. "Your friend can father his own child. He's not claiming mine."

"No one's claiming your baby," she said soothingly. "There may not be a baby. I just wanted to make very sure there was the possibility of one. I know how possessive you are, and I know you'll keep me with you until you're sure one way or the other. That gives me a few weeks, maybe even more. I've never been regular."

"You're taking a big chance," he said quietly. "You could lose everything. There's every possibility you may end up with an illegitimate child. I have no intention of marrying you."

"I know you don't. I told you I didn't expect that. I just want to be with you. I want to be a part of your life. That will be enough for me." She smiled mistily. "Besides, even if you did decide to kick me out, I'd still have the baby. That would be wonderful. I've always been pretty much alone, you know."

Lord, how he knew that. He took an impulsive step forward. "Pandora . . ."He stopped. He stood there with disparate emotions fighting for supremacy within him: exasperation, amusement, and the poignant tenderness she had always been able to call forth so effortlessly. Then his expression clouded. "No. I won't be manipulated. If you want to play woman of the world, get some other man to pay for your favors."

"I do want to be your woman," she said softly. "And your friend. And the mother of your child. I want to be everything to you. And I don't want to sell, only to give, Philip."

He ran one hand distractedly through his hair.

"Dammit, I'll hurt you. You know I'll hurt you. You know me."

"Maybe." She shrugged. "But if I am hurt, it may be worth it."

"Go away, Pandora." There was a note of pleading in the command. "For some reason I find the idea of hurting you distasteful." .

"That's because you care about me. I find that very promising."

"Then on your head be it. I've warned you. As far as I'm concerned, you're no more than the Khadim I bought with that trinket in San Francisco. I'll use you when and where I please and ignore you at any other time. Don't expect anything else."

"I don't expect anything at all." Her eyes were enormous as she gazed wistfully at him. "I can only hope."

"God! What am I going to do with you?"

Love me. Only love me. "Knowing you, I imagine you'll do exactly what suits your fancy," she said lightly.

His lips tightened. "You're right. And we might as well start right now. After I've finished using a woman I prefer that she return to her own bed. I like to sleep alone."

"Of course," she said softly. "I'll leave at once." She swung her feet to the floor, flinching a little as she felt a tingle of soreness between her thighs.

Philip muttered a low, explicit curse beneath his breath. "Oh, for heaven's sake, lie down again. Tomorrow will do as well."

"You're sure?" she asked uncertainly. "I could ..."

"Pandora," he said through set teeth. "Shut up."

"All right." She curled up contentedly in the big bed again, happy with the reprieve. She hadn't wanted to leave him so soon. "If you change your mind, just tell me."

"Be sure of it," he said dryly. He untied the belt of the velour robe and took it off. It was almost dark in the room now, and he was only a sleek shadow as he moved to the other side of the bed and slipped beneath the sheet. "Go to sleep."

"I will." She was almost asleep already. The physical and emotional release she'd experienced were having an almost narcotic effect on her. "Thank you for letting me stay," she murmured like a polite little girl.

"It's only for tonight," he growled. "Don't make so much of it."

"Whatever you say," she said drowsily.

He lay there on his back, separated from her by the width of the large bed, yet imagining he could still feel her warm, yielding flesh. His own body was rigid as he brought up his arm to rest it beneath his head, his eyes staring straight ahead into the darkness. "Did I hurt you?" he asked jerkily.

"What?" She tried to struggle up out of the cocoon that was wrapping her in the silken fibers of sleep. "No, not very much."

"Well, I might have," he said harshly. "It would have been entirely your own fault, you realize. I'm not a gentle man, but I don't enjoy hurting women. If you'd had any sense, you would have told—" He broke off. His tirade was falling on deaf ears. He could tell by Pandora's deep, even breathing that she was asleep.

"Damn!" It was just like the maddening brat to drift peacefully off to sleep, leaving him in this aching void of frustration. He had just had her, but he was as hard and throbbing as when he'd held her on his lap in the chair and ... He drew a long, shuddering breath and closed his eyes. He couldn't think about it. He had to think about how she'd tricked him, about the way she'd manipulated him as if he were a blasted puppet. He had always had control over his emotions. He would just have to practice that control now.

* * *

He was infinitely careful as he slid into her warmth. First she was empty and then she was full of his hardness. From the deepest reaches of sleep she was conscious of his gentleness as he began to move. How beautiful it was, she thought dreamily. Not like before, when it had been hard and fast and breathlessly exciting. This was slow and lazy and sweetly fulfilling. She tried to open her eyes. "Philip ..."