by Sarah Morgan
‘Zander—’
Their eyes held for endless moments and then he gave a short laugh and relaxed back in his seat. ‘The deal. What do you want to know?’
‘Well, for a start, why you want to buy the island.’
There was a long silence and she felt the tension building in his powerful frame.
‘Zander?’ She swivelled in her seat and frowned, noting the fine lines of tension around his stunning dark eyes. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing’s wrong.’ He flashed her a smile. ‘And as for why I want to buy the island, it’s a perfect fit for my business.’
As an answer it was both glib and plausible, but she knew instinctively that he wasn’t telling her the truth.
Why did he want the island?
And why was he so tense?
She turned to look at him, her expression suddenly intent. She wanted to know. ‘Talk to me, Zander. Please. Tell me what you’re thinking.’
‘I never tell anyone what I’m thinking. Now get some rest,’ he advised, his tone discouraging further questioning. ‘You look tired.’
And that was that.
‘If I’m tired then it’s your fault,’ she muttered. ‘I’ve been working ridiculously long days to give you the reputation of a saint.’
She settled down in her seat, watching as Zander flipped open his laptop and started to work on a spreadsheet.
His stamina was awesome.
She wanted to question him more but her eyelids felt heavy and she was suddenly so tired that she couldn’t do anything except snuggle into her seat.
She slept soundly, waking to find that they’d landed and the sun was shining.
Groggily she struggled upright, moved the blanket that had been placed over her and looked for Zander.
He appeared from the back of the plane, freshly shaved and immaculately dressed in casual trousers and an open-necked shirt.
‘You’re awake.’ He said something in Greek to the stewardess and then gestured towards the rear of the cabin. ‘Feel free to use the bathroom to freshen up.’
Lauranne stared down at herself in dismay. ‘I can’t see your Kour-Kor—whatever his name is, dressed like this.’
Zander smiled. ‘Then change.’
‘Into what? You didn’t give me time to pack, remember?’
‘Select whatever you wish.’
She stared at him suspiciously and then walked to the back of the plane, pushing open a door that led to an amazingly well equipped bathroom, complete with a dressing area where several outfits hung from a rail.
Zander strolled up behind her. ‘Most of our luggage is packed, but hopefully something there will meet with your approval.’
‘Most of our luggage?’
‘Of course.’ He gave a casual shrug. ‘If we are arriving together as a couple, then so should our luggage.’
‘And if I’d refused to come?’
‘Then whoever unpacked my cases would have thought that I have strange taste in clothes,’ he said dryly, glancing at his watch with a frown. ‘I need to make a phone call.’
Lauranne showered quickly and selected a simple linen dress in a warm shade of peach.
By the time she’d reapplied her make-up and secured her hair at the back of her head, the doors of the plane had been opened.
Zander was talking to his pilot but he broke off as she approached, his dark eyes glittering.
‘Nice dress.’
She glanced down at herself self-consciously. ‘It fits really well. How did you know my size?’
He gave a wicked smile. ‘That is not a question to ask me in public, agape mou.’ He nodded to his pilot and stood to one side so that she could walk down the steps.
Even though it was still early, the heat made her gasp and she reached inside her bag for a pair of sunglasses.
Zander took her arm and led her towards the waiting car.
‘Certainly beats airport terminal buildings,’ Lauranne muttered as she slid into the sumptuous interior.
‘This island has a tiny airstrip,’ he informed her, settling himself next to her. ‘Kouropoulos built it only two years ago. Before that you had to take a boat from the nearest island with a runway if you wanted to stay here.’
‘It must have been nice like that,’ she said wistfully, staring out of the window at the passing landscape. ‘Sort of undeveloped and hard to get to.’
He shot her a look that she couldn’t interpret. ‘It was extremely underdeveloped before Theo Kouropoulos took over.’
‘Did you know it before then?’
He tensed and thick dark lashes shielded his expression. ‘I visited here as a child.’
She looked at him, sensing there was a great deal more than he was saying. ‘On holiday?’
His hesitation was so brief it was barely perceptible. ‘Yes. On holiday.’
She watched him for a moment and then turned her head, gasping with delight as the road curved upwards, revealing tiny bays glistening in the morning sun.
‘The beaches are stunning.’
‘Most of them are only accessible by boat,’ he told her, leaning across so that he could see what she was admiring. ‘It reduces its appeal as a tourist resort.’
‘Kouropoulos obviously didn’t think so?’
‘He built his resort on the south of the island,’ Zander said flatly. ‘It has several pretty, sandy beaches, perfect for safe bathing and water sports. The rest of the island is now uninhabited.’
She eyed him sideways. ‘Where did you used to stay?’
His broad shoulders tensed. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘When you were a child,’ she prompted him gently. ‘Where did you stay when you came here as a child?’
He sucked in a breath. ‘In a house—’
‘Right.’ As answers went it was economical to say the least, but Lauranne knew better than to push. Sharing personal information about himself wasn’t one of Zander’s strong points. She watched him for a moment but his handsome face was as inscrutable as ever. For a man who was so intensely physical, he was ridiculously repressed when it came to expressing other emotions.
Wondering whether his childhood holidays had anything to do with his desire to possess the island, Lauranne turned her attention back to the view, peering out of the window as the road curved again and started moving downwards.
Below she could see whitewashed buildings and curved swimming pools.
‘That’s it. Blue Cove Resort.’
Sensing his tension, she instinctively reached out a hand and took his, squeezing it gently. ‘I’ve never seen you stressed about business. Don’t worry, between us we’ll convince him to sell.’
His glance reflected his surprise and she managed a smile, feeling pretty surprised herself. When had she stopped fighting him and turned supportive?
The driver pulled into a driveway and said something in Greek.
‘We’re here.’ Zander gently disengaged his hand. ‘Now don’t forget, you’re so in love with me you can’t see straight.’
Her heart flipped over. Five years earlier that would have been a perfect description of the way she’d felt about him.
And now?
She swallowed, totally confused about her feelings. She couldn’t think straight when he was near and she couldn’t breathe properly either.
All she knew was that she had to be with him.
Zander was shaking hands with an older man who immediately strode towards her with a smile on his face.
‘And you must be Lauranne! I must admit the cameras don’t do you justice!’
‘Cameras?’ Lauranne looked at him in confusion and then glanced at Zander for enlightenment. ‘What cameras?’
‘Your picture is in every newspaper,’ Kouropoulos told her with a smile. ‘Volakis reuniting with his beautiful wife is the top story. Did you enjoy the film?’
Lauranne froze as she realised what must have happened.
That kiss—
‘The film was very e
njoyable,’ she said stiffly, hiding her growing anger with difficulty.
Just exactly at what point had she become such a gullible fool that she’d believed that Zander wanted her with him for her charms? Business always came first with Zander, and this was obviously no exception.
He’d used her—
Kouropoulos gave her a searching look. ‘You look a little pale. You must be tired. In which case I hope my next piece of news will be welcome. I’m afraid I have to fly to Athens this afternoon to deal with an urgent business issue. I won’t be back until Friday. We can start our negotiations then. In the meantime I’ll arrange for someone to show you to your villa straight away and you can relax. There is a boat at your disposal so that you can explore some of the bays.’
Zander inclined his dark head and Lauranne gritted her teeth, afraid to say anything at all in case she exploded. She was still too angry by the realisation that she’d been manipulated to react to the news that she and Zander were expected to entertain themselves for almost a week before they even had a meeting with Kouropoulos.
She fumed silently as they were driven through the resort, barely aware of the sumptuousness of her surroundings. The resort consisted of individual whitewashed villas, each with its own pool and shady terrace with a fabulous view of the sea. In normal circumstances Lauranne would have been enchanted, but these were not normal circumstances. She was so upset and angry with Zander that she was simmering with suppressed rage, totally unable to relax. She couldn’t believe that she’d fallen for his charm again. All that rubbish about wanting to be with her when all the time he was just manipulating the situation so that he could gain control of his precious island.
Evidently aware that something was amiss, he cast her a searching look, but before he could speak they arrived at their own villa, set in a secluded position at the edge of the resort.
Fabulous for a honeymoon, Lauranne thought, grinding her teeth as she marched up the little path to the front door, her chin and shoulders set for battle.
Once they were safely inside the villa and the door had closed behind the staff member who’d accompanied them, she turned on Zander, eyes flashing, totally oblivious to the extreme luxury of the interior of the villa.
‘So that’s why you kissed me!’ She was so angry and hurt she thought she’d burst. ‘You did it for the cameras! So that Kouropoulos would wake up to a photo of us both. Husband reunited with wife. It was just another trick to convince him that you’re a caring, compassionate guy whereas actually you’re a devious, manipulative—’
‘It’s business.’ Zander interrupted her sharply, a frown touching his dark brows. ‘It doesn’t change the way I feel about you. Calm down. Someone might hear you yelling.’
She glared at him, so hurt that she wanted to commit bodily harm. ‘And blow the cover that you so carefully prepared—’
‘You’re being ridiculous,’ he gritted. ‘What have you been doing for the past two weeks if it wasn’t manipulating the press?’
‘That’s different.’ She sighed, numb inside. How could she have fallen for his patter? How could she have believed that he truly wanted her? ‘You show no respect for me. You may be a billionaire and used to having your own way in everything, but I won’t be one of your toys, Zander, to be discarded when you’ve had enough.’
‘Toys?’ He looked at her with grim amusement. ‘Toys are straightforward and give only pleasure. Handling you requires a qualification in bomb disposal. Believe me, agape mou, if I was after a light-hearted diversion I wouldn’t be with someone who starts a battle every time we’re alone.’
‘You used me!’
‘I was extending what you’d already done,’ he shot back. ‘You wanted the public to take away a certain message and so did I.’
‘That we’re involved.’ She virtually spat the words and he frowned.
‘We are involved.’
‘No.’
‘Yes, we are. The picture spoke the truth. It has no bearing on our relationship.’
‘You used me.’ Her eyes sparkled with the tears she was struggling to hold back and her breathing was jerky. ‘Why did you bring me here, Zander? There are plenty of women out there who would have loved to come with you. Who would have fallen over themselves to pretend to be in love with you. Why pick me? I hate you—’
‘No, you don’t.’ He contradicted her smoothly. ‘You want to hate me but you can’t, just as I can’t hate you. And I picked you because I can’t keep my hands off you.’
Her heart rate doubled and she dug her nails in her palms, reminding herself of what he’d just done. ‘You kissed me for the cameras.’
Even to her own ears she sounded like a sulky child and she almost groaned as Zander gave an all-male chuckle.
‘I kissed you because you looked delectable, agape mou,’ he said softly, closing the distance between them and sliding a long finger under her chin. ‘Look at me.’
She resisted at first but the relentless pressure of his finger increased until she was forced to look at him. He slid his other arm around her hips and pulled her firmly against him.
She gasped as she felt the thickness of his erection through the thin fabric of her dress.
‘Zander—’
‘You think I manufacture this for the cameras?’
He gave a rueful smile and she fell headlong into the charm of that smile with a catch of her breath.
‘You’re a louse—’
He slid a hand round her cheek and ran his thumb over her soft mouth. ‘I refuse to fight with you—’
Her tongue flickered out and touched his thumb and their eyes locked for endless seconds while the tension grew, tension that had been building steadily for the two weeks they’d been together.
They cracked at the same moment.
With a violent curse Zander crashed his mouth down on hers just as she rose on tiptoe, her hands locked in the front of his shirt, dragging him towards her.
It was a bruising, brutal, desperate kiss that was the result of weeks of denial.
He grasped her head in his hands, his strong fingers biting into her scalp as he held her fast. His kiss was dark and dangerous, rough and raw, and her mouth opened under the burning heat of his, welcoming the fire.
Without releasing her head, he pushed her back against the door, flattening her body with his. He ground his hips hard against her and she sobbed his name against his mouth, squirming against the blatant evidence of his arousal.
He lifted her in one strong movement, jerking up her dress and crashing her back against the door, supporting her easily with his powerful body.
She shifted against him, struggling to relieve the throb in her pelvis, and he swore and anchored her with strong hands, his movements sure and skilful as he tore the delicate silk of her panties.
She arched in anticipation, but he held her firmly, his first thrust so shockingly hard and hot that she cried out in shock and relief, the sound mingling with his kiss.
It was sex at its most basic, a splintering, blistering animal mating, so physically intense that it was beyond the scope of human description. It was fast and hard and utterly primitive, each thrust so deep that she sobbed aloud with agonising pleasure.
Her eyes closed and he dragged his mouth away from hers, his breathing laboured as he joined them in the most intimate way possible.
‘Look at me, Anni—’ His hoarse command penetrated her brain and her eyes flew open, connecting with the blaze in his. ‘Look at me.’
So she did and he possessed every single part of her as he drove them both to the ultimate satisfaction.
Sensation ripped through her and her climax hit so hard that she cried out in disbelief, her nails digging into his shoulders as her body convulsed around his. He swore and thrust hard, his body erupting into hers with hot, liquid force and she clung to him, unable to draw breath, suspended at another level until gradually the contractions faded and she went limp in his arms.
He closed his eyes briefly
and then gently he withdrew and lowered her to the ground, stifling her soft gasp with his mouth.
‘God, Anni—’ His arms were still round her, holding her against him, supporting her when her own legs wouldn’t.
Her face was buried in his chest, breathing in his male smell, feeling the dampness of his flesh against her burning cheeks. He was all hard muscle and throbbing masculinity and she closed her eyes tightly, struggling with the reality of what they’d just shared.
She didn’t want to speak.
Speaking just had to spoil it.
And maybe he felt it too, because he swung her off her feet and into his arms, and strode through to the bedroom, his mouth tightly shut.
He lowered her onto the bed and came down over her, his breathing still unsteady as he stared down into her flushed, shocked face.
‘That was not for the cameras.’
She managed a weak smile. ‘I should hope not or your reputation will be shot to pieces for ever.’
He didn’t laugh, his face grimly serious as he stroked her tangled blonde hair away from her face.
‘I have never wanted a woman the way I want you. It scares me.’
She froze, stunned into silence by that uncharacteristically emotional admission.
‘I pride myself on my self-control, but with you—’ he broke off, lowering his mouth to the pulse in her throat like a man who couldn’t help himself ‘—with you I’m just so desperate I don’t know myself.’
It was the nearest he’d ever come to suggesting that what they shared was special and she held her breath, wanting him to say more. Wanting him to reveal something of his feelings.
‘Zander—’
She felt the hot, teasing lick of his tongue against her skin and the immediate response of her own body and then he lifted his head, his eyes glittering as he stared down at her. ‘For two weeks I’ve watched you, wanting to rip off every scrap of clothing and have you under me. I thought I was going mad—’
Lauranne stared at him with helpless frustration, realising that he’d managed to reduce their relationship to just sex once again. And having done that he seemed suddenly energised, the brooding introspection so fleeting that it might never have happened.
Having rationalised his feelings to his satisfaction, he sat up and ripped off his shirt, exposing his powerful chest.
