IN THE ARMS OF LOVE

IN THE ARMS OF LOVE

last updateLast Updated : 2022-07-18
By:  Emma SwanCompleted
Language: English
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From mistress to wife… La vie en rose… or at least she thought so… Two years ago, all her dreams come true. Harley Winston knew and fell head over heels in love with the sexy French billionaire Armel Mathieu de Roquefort. He gave her everything money could buy, and more pleasure in the bedroom than she'd thought possible. But when Harley announced she was pregnant, Armel threw her out. When they meet again, the passion between them is as strong as ever. Armel whisks Harkey away to Monaco and back to his , where he'll get his answers! If the baby is his, he'll make Harley his wife...

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Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Armel Mathieu de Roquefort swept along the hospital corridor, paused briefly to check the name above the door before he entered a ward, and strode purposefully towards the nurse seated behind the reception desk.

“Excuse me, I’m Armel de Roquefort and I'm here to see Harley Winston. I understand she was admitted yesterday,” he added, the hint of impatience in his voice making his accent seem more pronounced.

The nurse gaped at him but Armel was used to being stared at... for so many reasons. Women had stared at him since he was a teenager and at thirty-five his stunning looks, combined with an aura of wealth and power, meant that he was accustomed to being the center of attention.

When it suited him, Armel would respond to a flirtatious look with one of his devastating smiles, but today he had other things on his mind. There was only one reason why he was in that damn hospital, he acknowledged grimly, and the sooner he saw Harley and told her exactly what he thought of her latest stunt, the better.

“Uhm… Miss Winston… Let me check…”

Thoroughly flustered by the presence of six feet four of gorgeous, brooding Frenchman holding an angelic-looking little boy in his arms, the nurse hurriedly flicked through the pile of papers in front of her.

“Oh, yes, there it is… You may find her down the corridor, the third door on the right… But you can’t see her at the moment, the doctor is visiting her. You need to wait a minute, Mr…?”

The Frenchman was already striding along the corridor and the nurse scooted around the desk and chased after him. ‘De Roquefort’, he murmured coolly, not slowing his steps.

“Like I’ve said, my name is Armel Mathieu de Roquefort and it is imperative that I see Miss Winston immediately.”

*****

“Damn it! I didn’t need this!”

Harley sat on her hospital bed and stared gloomily at her bandaged wrist. The past twenty-four hours had been hellish and she hoped that any minute now she would wake up and find that it had all been a nightmare.

Instead, the throbbing ache of her badly sprained wrist and a splitting headache were evidence of the force with which her car had ploughed into a fallen tree, brought down during the ferocious storm that had hit the south coast.

She had been on her way home from the yacht club where she worked as a receptionist and fortunately, hadn’t yet collected her little baby boy from the day nursery when the accident had happened.

Little Raphaël was safe, and she was lucky to be alive, she acknowledged with a shudder, but her car was damaged beyond repair and she was going to have to take time off work, which was not going to help her ailing finances.

Harley had spent the night in the hospital with a mild concussion and the doctor had explained that the ligaments in her wrist had been torn and she would need to wear a support bandage for several weeks.

After prescribing strong painkillers he had told her she could go home, but she was worried about how she was going to manage to carry her little Raphaël and his stroller up and down the four flights of stairs to their attic flat when she only had the use of one hand.

There was nothing left to do but ask her grandmother for help, Harley fretted, her thoughts turning to the woman who had brought her up after her mother had abandoned her when she was just a little baby.

But Katherine Winston had taken on the role of parent out of a sense of duty rather than affection. For Katherine, ‘love’ meant harsh words, complaints, and cold shoulders.

Harley had endured a loveless childhood and when she had fallen pregnant and immediately been dumped by her baby’s father, her grandmother had made it clear that she would not support her or her child.

‘I did it once… This time, you’re on your own, little girl… I’m going to close my door and keep you and your problems out of my life…’

Those were the words her grandmother said when Harley came to her doorstep, asking for help. And she did close the door and left her all by herself to figure out what needed to be done.

She guessed Katherine had been furious when the hospital contacted her yesterday and passed on her request that she should pick up Raphaël from the nursery. She had half expected her grandmother to turn up at the hospital last night with her baby boy in tow, but there had been no word from the older woman and Harley was growing increasingly anxious.

Harley glanced up expectantly when the door opened and felt a sharp pang of disappointment when a nurse entered the small side ward.

“Excuse me… I was wondering… Have you heard anything from my grandmother? Has she called? She’s looking after my baby boy but she’s due to fly to New York any day now...”

“As far as I know, there has been no word from your grandmother, Miss Winston, but your little boy is here at the hospital,” the nurse said cheerfully. “His uncle is looking after him. Since the doctor has already done here, I’ll allow them both to come in.”

“His… what? Did you say his ‘uncle’?”

Harley stared at the nurse in bewilderment. Raphaël didn’t have… an uncle. She was an only child… thank God. There’s always been only her and Katherine.

“Yes. I asked Mr. de Roquefort to wait in the visitor’s lounge while the doctor was with you, but I know he’s really impatient to see you,” the nurse added wryly. “And the little guy too.”

*****

The Frenchman had to be the sexiest male on the planet, but it had been evident from the haughty expression in his flashing blue eyes that patience wasn’t one of his strong points. The nurse disappeared before Harley could question her further. The world had gone mad, Harley decided as she ran a shaky hand through her hair.

‘De Roquefort’?

That name conjured up a face from the past that she had spent the past two years desperately trying to forget. Hearing it again caused a peculiar cramping sensation in the pit of her stomach.

No… The nurse must have made a mistake. But who was this mysterious uncle? Who exactly was looking after her little Raphaël?

“Mummy!”

She glanced towards the door at the sound of her little boy’s gurgling laughter and focused on Raphaël’s angelic face, a heady mixture of love and relief coursing through her veins. But almost instantly her gaze moved higher and clashed with the cool blue stare of the man who had haunted her dreams for the past two years.

“Armel…?” she whispered disbelievingly.

Armel Mathieu de Roquefort… billionaire businessman, renowned playboy, and chief executive of the globally successful company ‘Dynamico’, which owned exclusive department stores around the world, instantly seemed to dominate the room.

Two years did nothing on him… He was even more gorgeous than she remembered, Harley thought numbly as her brain struggled to assimilate the shocking reality of his presence at the end of her bed. He was tall, lean, and devastatingly good-looking, his black jeans and matching sweater were effortlessly stylish and accentuated his athletic build.

Swallowing hard, Harley closed her eyes. For a few seconds, the image of his bronzed, muscular torso and the covering of fine black hairs that arrowed down over his six-pack abs flooded her mind.

Armel was the epitome of male perfection. For a few brief, incredible months Harley had enjoyed free access to his body and had reveled in the feel of his satiny skin beneath her fingertips as she’d trailed a daring path over the solid strength of his thighs. She still had a vivid recall of how it had felt to lie beneath him, skin on skin, their limbs entwined so that two became one…

With a low murmur, Harley released her breath and stared at his face, noting the male beauty of his sharp cheekbones and square chin, and the way a lock of his dark hair had fallen over his eyebrow.

His eyes were the deep, dense blue of a Mediterranean summer sky… the same shade as little Raphaël’s eyes. The thought sent her crashing back to reality and she frowned at the way her son was sitting contentedly in his arms.

It was a sight she had dreamed of frequently, but never in her wildest fantasies, had she expected it to happen.

“What are you doing here, Armel? And since when did you become Raphaël’s uncle?”

The shock seemed to have robbed her of her strength and to her chagrin, her voice sounded pathetically weak. Armel regarded her silently for a moment, his dark eyebrows drawn together in a harsh frown.

“It was easier to tell the hospital staff that I’m a relative… Or would you rather I’d explained that I’m the man you tried to trick into believing was the father of your child?” Armel queried pleasantly, aware that any hint of aggression in his tone could frighten the little boy sitting on his hip.

Harley gave a bitter laugh.

“Well, Armel, it wasn’t a trick… Raphaël is your son.”

“The hell he is!”

The denial came out as a low hiss and Armel abruptly lowered Raphaël onto the bed.

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To Readers

IN THE ARMS OF LOVE by Emma Swan is a steamy romance novel involving a billionaire. Harley Winston, in the past, believed marrying Armel Mathieu de Roquefort was the best thing in her life. Armel spoils her with everything she wants. From luxury to bedroom pleasures, Harley has it all. However, when Harley informs Armel she is pregnant, he cold-heartedly throws her out. After years of separation, they met again, and their chemistry is undeniable. Armel reveals the reasons why he abandoned her. Can Harley prove him wrong and get back together with Armel?

Comments

user avatar
Malaeka
28.11.2023 wow!!one of the best..and one of my favorite..but i think all of your books are my favorite..xoxo E.S
2023-11-28 10:15:56
2
default avatar
Traci Williams
Another great story from ES. The story is heartbreaking for the L.F. I really hated how emotionally abusive the L.M. is, and I don’t know if he does enough to atone for it. Either way, great story, with super hot steamy scenes throughout.
2023-03-25 04:37:13
2
default avatar
Marta
Great story. No loose ends, and great ending
2022-10-11 06:46:39
3
default avatar
Sheila
Very sweet story. Love a good happy ending
2022-07-30 05:53:14
1
default avatar
kjad74
Wowza!! This one is fire! Two stubborn characters with sizzling sexual chemistry! ...
2022-07-13 06:13:06
1
user avatar
Katrina Taylor
I enjoyed the story
2022-07-29 07:24:13
1
35 Chapters
CHAPTER 1
Armel Mathieu de Roquefort swept along the hospital corridor, paused briefly to check the name above the door before he entered a ward, and strode purposefully towards the nurse seated behind the reception desk. “Excuse me, I’m Armel de Roquefort and I'm here to see Harley Winston. I understand she was admitted yesterday,” he added, the hint of impatience in his voice making his accent seem more pronounced. The nurse gaped at him but Armel was used to being stared at... for so many reasons. Women had stared at him since he was a teenager and at thirty-five his stunning looks, combined with an aura of wealth and power, meant that he was accustomed to being the center of attention. When it suited him, Armel would respond to a flirtatious look with one of his devastating smiles, but today he had other things on his mind. There was only one reason why he was in that damn hospital, he acknowledged grimly, and the sooner he saw Harley and told her exactly what he thought of her latest s
last updateLast Updated : 2022-06-20
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CHAPTER 2
With his halo of golden curls and enormous blue eyes, Raphaël was a perfect little angel. Armel smiled reassuringly at the little boy, making a huge effort to mask his impatience from him. It wasn’t the child’s fault, he reminded himself. No, this was all Harley Winston’s fault… The woman in front of him was a charlatan and the greatest liar he’d ever seen. And if Harley hadn’t looked so damned fragile, he’d be tempted to throttle her for manipulating him into this situation.“I really don’t understand what kind of a game you’re playing… I thought you’ve already learned the lesson, Harley. We already went through this two years ago, remember? When you sprang the news that you were pregnant…? My response is the same now as it was then,” Armel told her coldly. “You might have convinced your grandmother of my paternity but you and I both know you weren’t telling the truth… don’t we, chérie?”“The way you reacted to the news was wrong then, as it is now, Armel. I’ve neve
last updateLast Updated : 2022-06-20
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CHAPTER 3
His deliberate cruelty skewered Harley’s heart and she blinked back the rush of tears that burned her eyelids.“How dare you?” she whispered thickly. “Don’t try and appease your guilty conscience by blaming me. You wanted to get rid of me because you’d set your sights on Chantal Auclair. She was fresh, exciting, voluptuous… Like a juicy orange, ready to be squeezed by Armel Mathieu de Roquefort. You were determined as hell to make Chantal your next mistress, but the stupid little English ex-mistress who was pregnant with your child would have seriously… cramped your style… N’est-pas, chérie? (Isn’t it, sweetheart?)” In her distress, Harley leaped off the bed and her head spun. The blood drained from her face and she swayed unsteadily before collapsing back onto the mattress.“Ça suffit! (That’s enough!)” Armel growled as he stepped forwards and caught little Raphaël who was determinedly trying to wriggle off the bed. “Lower your voice and try to calm down. You’re
last updateLast Updated : 2022-06-20
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CHAPTER 4
Armel watched the shock and confusion on Harley’s face with clinical detachment before he glanced at Raphaël. The little boy stared up at him solemnly, his pretty little face surrounded by her mass of golden curls and his pink cheeks glowing with health. The little boy was not a de Roquefort, thank God, Armel thought with quiet certainty. This child would not suffer the way his twin brothers had suffered… He’ll never be the victim of the devastating illness that had taken his little brothers’ lives before they were one year old. He had been a teenager when his mother had given birth to Gerard and Julian. The twins had appeared normal but within a few months from birth, during a routine control, the doctor told his parents that both Gérard and Julien, suffered from Rett syndrome, a fatal genetic illness, especially in boys. After their sudden deaths, the doctors had warned his parents there was a 50% chance that he had also been affected. Somehow, Arme
last updateLast Updated : 2022-06-23
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CHAPTER 5
After sweet baby boy Raphaël was born, Harley had briefly, just for a few minutes, considered the idea of asking Armel for a DNA test, but, in the end, decided, it wasn’t a very good idea. His reaction to her pregnancy had shown that he abhorred the idea of fatherhood and Harley had feared he would only take a reluctant role in his son’s upbringing. At eighteen months old, Raphaël was a happy, funny, sweet, loving baby boy whose confidence was built on the instinctive knowledge that he was loved unconditionally by his mother… So much so, that a father wasn’t requested in their family picture. Harley made sure of that. She would not allow Armel to destroy that confidence, Harley thought fiercely, and she would do everything in her power to ensure that her little man grew up with a sense of self-worth that she herself had been denied. But now, Armel had his own reasons for insisting on a paternity test. He was convinced that the results would abso
last updateLast Updated : 2022-06-23
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CHAPTER 6
The bright lights of Monaco blazed against a backdrop of black velvet. As the helicopter swooped low over the coastline, Armel glanced over his shoulder. Raphaël was fast asleep, sitting next to the nanny he had hired. “We’re almost there,” he murmured reassuringly to the uniformed woman. “May I say how grateful I am that you were able to join us at such short notice, Mrs. Dean.” Liza Dean smiled. “I’m glad to help, monsieur de Roquefort. With any luck, I’ll be able to put Raphaël straight to bed without waking him. He’s worn out, poor poppet.” With a brief nod, Armel turned back and glanced at Harley who was sitting stiffly beside him, the mutinous tilt of her chin causing him to curse irritably beneath his breath. If anyone had told him when he’d set out for ‘Dynamico’s London offices that he would return to Monaco with his ex-mistress and her child in tow, he would have laughed out loud, he thought with a humorless smile. His eyes trailed over her and Armel felt his body’s
last updateLast Updated : 2022-06-24
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CHAPTER 7
Ten minutes later, the helicopter landed on the roof of the penthouse and Armel lifted Raphaël into his arms and preceded Liza Dean down the steps.“Alain, were you able to carry out my instructions?” he greeted his butler, choosing to talk to him in English not French.“Everything is exactly as you asked, Monsieur de Roquefort,” the butler replied in his usual unflappable manner. “The nursery suppliers delivered a cot and other necessary furnishings and equipment, and the dressing room adjoining the fourth bedroom has been prepared for the child’s nanny.” If Alain was surprised by the request to prepare a room for a baby, his tone gave nothing away and his facial expression remained as bland as ever.“Bon… C’est parfait, merci! (Good… That’s perfect, thank you!)” Armel murmured as he transferred the sleeping baby back into the nanny’s arms. “Would you be so kind to escort Mrs. Dean to the nursery and ensure she has everything she requires?”“Oui, Monsieur de Roque
last updateLast Updated : 2022-06-26
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CHAPTER 8
Harley caressed Raphaël’s curly blonde hair and took in all that calmness.“Oh, my sweet, perfect, little angel…” she whispered touching his rosy cheek, “please, don’t grow up too fast. Stay as innocent as you are right now for the longest time possible. Stay with me as much as you can. You’re the most precious person in my life and I can imagine my life without you. I would love to hold you so much right now, but I must wait until I’ll get better.” The little boy made a soft moan but kept sleeping and dreaming.“I can believe you’re mine… Oh, Raphi… I’m not a perfect person and I’m going to make so many mistakes in my life, but I’ll never stop giving everything I’ve got to be the best mother I can be for you. Sleep tight, baby,” Harley added and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She went back to her room and decided to stay there until the moment Raphaël would wake up in the morning. Harley knew Armel’s house but she didn’t want to go around the house. She didn’t wa
last updateLast Updated : 2022-06-27
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CHAPTER 9
Armel hid his flare of surprise. During the months that Harley had lived with him, he had never really got to know her. His workload had been particularly heavy and after a long day at the office, he had simply wanted to take her to bed. He had asked about her day out of politeness rather than any real interest and had thanked his lucky stars that she wasn’t one of those women who insisted on regaling him with every detail of her life. He had found her quiet, gentle nature soothing, and, if he was honest, he had missed the calming effect she seemed to have on him after he had thrown her out. But now, Armel realized that he knew very little about her. Perhaps it was Harley’s faint air of mystery that intrigued him, he debated as he drained his glass and stretched his arms along the back of the sofa, his eyes skimming over her and lingering on the fall of her silky hair.“It’s obvious from the state of your flat that you’re struggling financially. Why don’t
last updateLast Updated : 2022-06-27
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CHAPTER 10
Harley was running down the hall of the penthouse with Raphaël in her arms, searching for Armel. She could hear his voice ahead of her but the passageway seemed to go on forever and he remained a distant figure who taunted her desperate attempts to catch up with him.‘Armel… please, wait…’ Tears filled her eyes as she struggled on.‘We’re here… Don’t go…’ Raphaël was heavy and her wrist was hurting like hell, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart as she faced the knowledge that she would never reach Armel and she would always be without him…‘Don’t leave me…’ ****“Harley, wake up…” A familiar, terse voice sounded loud in her ear and when she opened her eyes, Harley discovered that she was not in the hall, but in her bedroom, and Armel was standing close to her bed watching her with undisguised impatience.“I’m here because you were screaming in your sleep… You were ha
last updateLast Updated : 2022-06-28
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