‘How did I ever think I wanted to let you go?’
As he said the words her fingers traced the line of hair down over his abs, making breathing almost impossible. She lingered at the fastening of his trousers, the smile on her lips telling him she knew exactly the effect she was having on him.
‘Do you really feel that?’ she whispered, her fingers teasing as they travelled up and down the line of dark hair. But she refused to meet his eyes, shielding her face from him with a curtain of glorious amber hair.
‘Yes,’ he growled harshly, his lips claiming hers as he pushed her back against the bed.
If he said any more now he would be going into emotions he didn’t want to explore—feelings he didn’t want to admit to, let alone experience.
Her hands moved to rest on his thighs, inflicting yet more torture.
* * *
Serena’s heart raced. He hadn’t wanted to let her go. Did that mean he felt something for her? Even if it wasn’t love?
She kissed him hard, demanding more from him as his body forced her to lie back against the bed. Her fingers tightened on his strong thighs and his groan of pleasure exploded into her mouth.
He wanted her—really wanted her. All her naivety and innocence had been left behind as she’d entered the apartment. She was his and his alone.
‘Nikos...’ It was all she could say, her breathing deep and ragged. But she wanted to tell him she was back and that she would never go. They were bound together by their baby, and maybe with passion such as this burning between them he would one day love her.
‘This is too much. You tease and taunt me, pushing me beyond my control.’
He caught her hands in his, holding them against his thighs, preventing her teasing. His face was stern, his eyes so dark that only blue flecks remained.
With a swift suddenness he moved off her, springing to stand by the bed, removing the last of his clothes, tossing them carelessly away. Her heart pumped ever harder and she couldn’t drag her gaze from his magnificent body. Her fingers itched to touch him, to caress every part of him, but most of all to feel him against her, then inside her, making her completely his.
The need she had for him was like nothing she’d ever known. Feeling brazen and emboldened, she looked at his naked and aroused body. ‘No more teasing,’ she said in a broken whisper as heat gathered low in her stomach. If he didn’t make love to her soon she’d go insane.
‘No,’ he said huskily as he lay on the bed next to her, and the command in his voice was palpable. ‘Not from you at least.’
Her eyes closed and a sigh of pleasure escaped her as he bent his head, kissing her nipple and sending shockwaves of pure pleasure through her. She arched her back, lifting herself higher as he nipped gently at it, but when his hand rested on her stomach she almost didn’t dare breathe. After a moment’s pause he slowly moved it lower, exploring the part of her that wanted him with a fiery heat that refused to be put out.
‘It’s my turn,’ he said as he raised his head, her nipple tingling from his kisses.
He turned his attention to the other one as his fingers caressed her, stoking the fire of passion almost to breaking point. She gripped his arm, wanting him to stop, wanting her moment of ecstasy to be shared with his.
‘No, Nikos!’
‘Yes,’ he said against her breast, exerting more of his power over her, and she dug her fingers harder into his arm.
Just when she thought he’d gone too far he stopped the torment and moved over her, his knees nudging her legs apart as he kissed her deeply, bruising her lips with the intensity of his kiss. She felt the heat of him against her and lifted her hips, begging him with her body for release.
Gently he slid into her, bringing tears to her eyes, and she wondered if he was restraining himself, holding back because of the baby. Instinctively she wrapped her legs around him, pulling him deeper into her. His arms, braced tightly to keep his weight off her, began to shake with the effort and she kissed his chest, his neck, his chin until they both lost control.
Nikos kissed her back, interspersing his kisses with Greek words she had no hope of understanding, but it didn’t matter. Her mind was floating too much even to even form the question and ask what he’d said. Maybe it was better if she didn’t. Maybe she should pretend they were words of love...feed her fantasy of a happy-ever-after.
As she moved beneath him she realised it had never been like this before. The wild passion they shared had never tipped her so far over the edge. She clung to him, not wanting the moment to end.
Finally her breathing slowed and he lowered himself over her, propped on his elbows, but his heated skin was still touching hers, sending a tingle of pleasure all over her.
He dropped his head against her shoulder, his thick dark hair tickling her cheek. ‘You will not leave again.’
The words were muffled, his voice hoarse and uneven, but she couldn’t miss the aggressive harshness in it. There was no mistaking its dominance and power. The fairy tale was over.
She closed her eyes and cried inside. He was still angry. Did he even now resent having her in his life? Resent the baby they’d created in the summer? Was she right to have come back? Was she right to have accepted his offer to help Sally, tying herself and her baby to him for ever?
THE SUN WAS streaming in through the windows when Nikos woke the next morning, shocking him. He never slept late. He moved and a sigh of contentment from Serena stirred his senses—along with memories from last night. He’d made love to her until exhaustion had claimed them both. No wonder he hadn’t woken at his usual early hour.
‘Morning.’
Serena’s husky voice caught his attention and he looked down at her as she moved against him, unwittingly enticing him once more.
Never before had he woken with a woman in his bed. He’d always slipped from their beds, early in the morning, preferring not to get into those what happens next? discussions. Leaving them sleeping had always given a clear message. Just as never taking a woman to his own bed served as a constant reminder why he shouldn’t get involved in long-term affairs.
So why had he felt the need to bring Serena here when she’d offered to check into a hotel? Was it just because he was going to marry her? Or was it more than the need to keep her in his life now that she was carrying his child?
He pushed the suggestion firmly from his mind and inwardly cursed his train of thought. What was the matter with him? He’d never agonised over spending the night with a woman before.
‘Are you rested enough to go out today?’ He asked the question as he moved away from the temptation of her lush curves, throwing back the covers and walking naked to the bathroom.
He splashed cold water over his face in an attempt to cool his returning ardour, as well as shock the heavy combination of sleep and passion from his body. An icy shower was what he needed most. And as the cold jets of water pounded his skin he thought back to every minute of last night, to the way Serena had made him feel.
His desire had not been for her alone, but for things he shouldn’t want. From the very first night they’d spent together she’d made him want more, and each time that need filtered through his mind just a little more clearly. But he couldn’t allow it. He would not let himself feel anything other than passion for any woman—especially not Serena. If he did it was sure to spell disaster. Hadn’t his past proved he was incapable of loving or being loved?
With an unsettled feeling he switched off the shower, towelled his hair dry and then slung a white towel