Rachael Thomas – From One Night to Wife (страница 7)

She shook her head. ‘It will never work, Nikos. Never.’

His hold on her arm tightened, his fingers pressing into her as he pulled her close. She could feel his breath on her face and fought hard against the overwhelming need to close her eyes and press her lips to his. It was as if she’d stepped back in time, back to the first moment they had met, to the spark of attraction that had leapt to life between them instantly.

She became aware of her phone ringing inside her small handbag and the magic around them evaporated, disappearing to leave stark reality. He let go of her, stepped back, his eyes hard and narrowed, full of suspicion. As the phone ceased its insistent ring an ominous silence settled around them, one so heavy that even the waves seemed to have quietened, stilling in anticipation of what was to come next.

‘I am not allowing my child to be brought up in another country. My child will be raised to know its Greek heritage, its Greek family and most importantly its father.’

Each calmly spoken word caressed her face, and even if he’d spoken in Greek she’d have been sure they were words of passion. But she wasn’t fooled—they were words of control.

‘So where do I fit into that?’ She pulled back from him, needing the space to think.

‘That is what you must decide.’ Again it was said in an almost seductive whisper.

‘And if I want to go back to England?’ The question came out as an unexpected hoarse whisper, the pain of it hurting so much.

‘Then you must do so—once the child has been born, here in Greece, where it will remain.’

She gasped in disbelief. ‘You can’t force me to stay. Or expect me to leave without my baby.’

Who was this man? Where had the man she’d fallen in love with gone? This cold, hard and angry man was a total stranger.

‘I’m not forcing you to do anything. The choice is yours.’

‘No, Nikos.’ She stood tall, strength rising up through her. Although she really didn’t want her child to grow up with just one parent. She wanted her baby to have all that onlookers thought she’d had: two loving and happy parents.

‘We will, of course, have to be married.’

He glared at her, hostility emanating from the blue depths of his eyes, and she was thankful they weren’t having this conversation in daylight. She didn’t want to see the full force of that hostility. At least now it was masked by the quickly descending darkness.

Her phone began to ring again, and her heart hammered loudly as he glanced down at her bag.

‘Perhaps you should answer that.’

‘No. I can’t.’

It was all she could manage as the full implications of what he’d just said hit home. Was she referring to the phone or to marriage? She had no idea, and the words he’d said raced inside her head, confusing her further.

They would have to be married.

* * *

Exasperation mixed with fury and fizzed inside Nikos, threatening to explode as he looked down at Serena. Her gorgeous red hair, blown by the warm wind across her face, had created a veil—one she could partially hide behind as she glared back up at him.

‘What do you mean, no?’

Nikos thought of the deal he was about to close for the cruise liner company and the effort he’d put into it. Now, trying to reason with Serena, he realised that the deal was a picnic in the sun compared to the negotiation of this deal and what was at stake. His child—something he’d never thought he’d have because he’d never allowed himself to want the impossible. He couldn’t turn and walk away now. If he did he’d be worse, far worse, than his mother and father.

‘I don’t know...’ she said, shaking her head.

Damn the woman—she was forcing him to strike a deal for his child.

‘Well, you’d better think fast.’

He watched her face, saw the ever-changing expressions, holding her captive with his glare.

‘Did you ever consider marriage when we had our romantic fling in the summer? Our holiday affair?’

Her voice was sharp and strong, but it was her pale face that told him she was having as much difficulty with this as he was. So she should. What woman would consider giving away her child? One just like his mother.

‘You don’t even love me.’

‘Love has nothing to do with it.’ He moderated his tone, aware of his anger rising once more.

‘So why do we have to get married?’ The disbelief in her voice was more than clear.

‘Marriage has never been on my agenda.’

That much was true. After living in the shadow of his parents’ marital breakdown he’d written that idea off as a young man, preferring to enjoy the company of woman without complication and commitment. He only sought the pleasure of a woman’s company for fun. Purely carnal. Nothing more. Which was exactly what he’d been doing with Serena during her stay on the island.

‘And being a father?’

She dropped the question so lightly between them he almost didn’t hear it.

‘I will be a father to my child.’ He evaded her question and the truth that lay buried within him. He wanted to be a father—to have his child grow up in a world of love and happiness—but he was sceptical that such happiness actually existed.

‘Make no mistake, Serena. My child will not be shuffled between countries like an unwanted Christmas present.’

CHAPTER THREE

SERENA STEPPED AWAY from Nikos—away from the anger of his words. ‘I can’t talk about this any more.’ She needed to put distance between them. ‘Maybe we should have this discussion tomorrow?’

He looked at her, unexpected concern in his eyes. ‘Perhaps that is best. When you are more rested you will be able to think rationally. Then you will accept that we should marry—for our baby.’

She bristled with indignation at his comment, sure his ability to use English hadn’t compromised his choice of words. She was perfectly rational, and she had no intention of marrying someone who didn’t love her.

‘Nothing will change.’

‘Where are you staying?’

Nikos asked the question lightly—a little too lightly—arousing her suspicions as to why he appeared to be giving in so easily.

He couldn’t be trusted. He’d proved that with his non-revelation about who he really was. She might not have looked him up on the internet before, but she certainly had now. The uneasy feeling that she was dealing with something much bigger than she’d anticipated filled her with dread. He’d concealed his identity, lied to her. Why? What would he have to gain by doing that?

‘In the same hotel.’

She spoke softly, trying not to think about the nights they’d spent in her room when she’d stayed there before. Why she’d insisted on the same room she didn’t know—romantic notions and memories of being there with the man she’d fallen in love with? Or was it because of the night she’d experienced love with Nikos for the first time?

He’d been gentle and kind then, accepting she was innocent but not knowing just how much. She had been sure he was the man she’d waited for. She’d loved him. She’d wanted him to make love to her because then he hadn’t been at all like the Nikos who now openly admitted deceiving her and was virtually forcing her into marriage.

‘Then we shall go there now and collect your bags.’

He moved towards her, taking her hand in his. She didn’t want to follow, to obey his command, but just the touch of his hand against hers sent a sizzle of heat scorching through her and she knew that, whatever the outcome of her visit to the island, there was still unfinished business between them. Her body still craved his, still imagined his caress, his kisses. Stupid as it was, she still loved him.

The hum of music from the bars and restaurants drifted on the warm night air as the sea became an inky blackness, melting into the star-filled sky. Despite the idyllic setting, the idea of walking hand in hand with Nikos felt anything but romantic. Intimidating, maybe—threatening, definitely—but she was powerless to stop it, unable to resist him.

‘Nikos!’ she gasped, pulling back against him, suddenly regaining her strength, knowing she had to fight. ‘What are you doing?’

He stopped and looked down at her. His handsome face was partially in shadow, but his eyes sparked like a warrior’s, locking with hers, sending a shiver of excitement and apprehension skittering down her spine.

‘Taking control.’

The firmness of his voice, still sexy and accented, hinted at the level of discipline he was currently putting on himself.

‘Of what? Me?’

She stood tall, facing him in the darkness, hoping that he wouldn’t see how unsure she really was, that her voice sounded strong and defiant.

‘Of my child.’

She blinked in shock. Did he think that his playing the role of protector would make her fall in line with his plans? That she would marry him and live happily ever after? How could that ever happen when he didn’t want her, let alone love her? If she married him her child would grow up knowing it was the mistake that had forced them together—something she never wanted a child of hers to feel.

‘You don’t need to come back to the hotel to do that.’

She really didn’t want to be with him at the moment. She needed to think, to re-evaluate things. Nothing had gone as she’d planned. And it was all down to the revelation of his true identity.