Marriage at His Convenience

by Jacqueline Baird

  ‘Lucas called me last week and told me your good news. My favourite girl getting married! How could I refuse? Then again, your fiancé is a very persuasive man, I doubt anyone dares refuse him.’

  ‘You’ve got that right,’ Amber said with feeling, her smile vanishing.

  ‘Hardly the response I would have expected from a woman in love,’ Tim stated quietly, and, tightening his arms around her waist as they moved slowly to the music, he asked, ‘What’s wrong, Amber?’

  ‘Nothing,’ she murmured. It wasn’t fair to involve Tim in her problems.

  ‘Come on, it’s me, your best pal. I know you better than you know yourself. I’ve watched you all night—your laughter was forced and your smile strained. That is not like you at all. You’re the most genuine person I know.’

  Moisture glazed her eyes. ‘Thanks for that, Tim.’ And suddenly she had the overwhelming need to confess everything. ‘You’re right, Tim.’ And as they moved around the dance-floor she told him about Spiro’s will and the consequences of it.

  ‘That’s Spiro for you,’ Tim remarked dryly. ‘Even in death he causes mayhem. But that is not your problem, Amber. All you need to ask yourself is, do you love Lucas? Everything else is superfluous; believe me, I know.’

  ‘Yes, I never stopped loving him,’ Amber admitted huskily, the sadness in her voice unmistakable. ‘But Lucas had never loved me. I thought he did, and you know what happened. He fell in love with someone else.’

  ‘I’m not so sure about that,’ Tim contradicted. ‘Lucas Karadines is a very traditional Greek male, and at the time he would have done anything to humour his father—the man was dying. He went to great lengths to hide Spiro’s sexuality from the old man. Marrying the girl his father approved of would seem a likely thing for Lucas to do. As for loving her, he might have thought he did, but we men are just as likely as women to mistake our true feelings.’

  ‘Since when did you become such an expert on the sexes?’ Amber asked dryly.

  ‘Since I made a huge mistake with Spiro that could have cost me my life.’

  ‘But you did truly love him,’ Amber responded. ‘I was there, remember.’

  ‘No, it was friendship and infatuation, and the only reason I stayed so long was because Spiro, as the dominant partner, kept telling me we were in love. But once in New York and watching how he behaved, I discovered I didn’t actually care enough to even be jealous, and I realised it wasn’t real love I felt for him. I know the difference now. I have a new partner, David.’ His blue eyes lit up with happiness as he continued. ‘He has a picture-framing business in Newcastle and what we share is true love. So you see, Amber, we can all make quite horrendous mistakes.’

  Amber looked up into his lovable face, believing him. ‘I am glad for you, but it doesn’t really help me. Lucas loved his wife—he can’t even bring himself to talk about her death.’

  ‘But she is dead, Amber, and she can’t come between you any more. Lucas wants a flesh-and-blood woman.’ He held her slightly away from him, his blue eyes roaming the luscious length of her, camping it up with mocking male appreciation. ‘And you are certainly that!’

  Amber grinned at his teasing; she could not help it.

  ‘Look at him—he is watching me like a hawk.’ Tim gestured with his head, and, glancing across the room, Amber saw Lucas rising up from the table, his whole attention fixed on her. ‘Believe me, Amber, he wants you and badly. He and I had a long talk last week. I’m sure he loves you even if he does not want to admit it. Take a chance.’

  ‘Take a chance on what?’ Lucas’s deep, melodious voice broke into the conversation. ‘You are already taking a big chance, Tim, dancing with my fiancée for so long. If you don’t mind.’

  ‘My pleasure.’ Tim grinned and, leaning forward, he dropped a swift kiss on Amber’s nose. ‘Go for it,’ he whispered before placing her hand in Lucas’s.

  ‘Are you sure that guy is gay? I saw the way he looked at you,’ Lucas queried, slipping a long arm around her waist, and clasping her other hand in his, holding her close to his strong body.

  Tilting her head back, she looked up into his oddly serious face. ‘Jealous of Tim?’ she prompted with a chuckle.

  ‘I’m no fool; if your closest male friend had been straight I would never have invited him in a million years,’ he declared bluntly.

  Amber couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing.

  ‘I’m glad I amuse you,’ Lucas said simply. ‘I have been trying to all night.’

  The hint of a smile quirked the corners of his mobile mouth as his hand laced with hers and raised it to his lips. He brushed a kiss along her knuckles, before moving her effortlessly to the soft strains of the music.

  ‘Is that what you were doing?’ Seducing her more likely, Amber thought, and slid a slender arm up around his neck, tangling her fingers in the silky black hair at his nape. ‘I would have called it teasing.’ She pouted and did some teasing of her own, relaxing against him, and moving her hips in an exaggerated sway to the rhythm of the music. Her golden eyes gleamed mischievously up at Lucas.

  His black eyes glittered over her lovely face. ‘Amber.’ One hand caressed her back down her spine, curving her in closer to the hard strength of his body, and heat pooled in her belly. ‘Watch it! You’re playing a dangerous game,’ his husky voice drawled as he curled their joined fists against her breast.

  Her sensitive flesh swelled and her nipples peaked into tight buds against the smooth fabric of her gown as desire, sharp and physical, scorched between them. Amber could not drag her eyes away from his. She wanted him so much, she trembled. ‘I don’t play games,’ she whispered, and then, with courage she had not known she possessed, she asked, ‘but what about you?’ He’d played with her emotions once before; she had no reason to suppose it would be any different this time.

  CHAPTER NINE

  LUCAS had hurt Amber so much before, it terrified her as she waited for his answer. But Tim had told her to take a chance; after all, Christina was dead and Lucas was very much alive.

  Something she was made vividly aware of the next second as, dropping her hand, he placed his through the silken fall of her hair to curve around the nape of her neck and tip her head back. ‘No, I never play games,’ he contradicted fiercely while his other hand, low on the base of her spine, urged her hard against him. ‘Does this feel like a game?’ His lean hips moved urgently against her, making her aware of his arousal. ‘Do you think I willingly walk around in this state aching for you? The chemistry between us is as strong as it always was, always will be.’

  ‘Not always.’ The memory of him walking out on her was ever present.

  Lucas stilled, giving up any pretence of dancing. ‘Yes, even then,’ he confessed harshly. He knew exactly what she meant, and he was ashamed of his behaviour, but at the time he had been too blindly arrogant to see the truth. He had decided it was time he fell in love and married, and had set about doing it exactly the same way as he pursued a business deal. He had been so confident he’d been doing the right thing. Pleasing his father, and expecting it to please himself.

  ‘No,’ Amber denied. ‘Don’t bother lying.’ It was all a game to Lucas, anything to get his own way. ‘I was there, remember,’ she prompted scathingly. ‘You said I was disgusting, a hedonist. You as good as called me a whore,’ she fumed, all the old anger and resentment bubbling to the surface.

  Lucas’s arm around her waist jerked tighter. His superb bone structure tautened and something that looked almost like pain glinted in his night-black eyes. ‘I was disgusted with myself, Amber, never you. Spiro’s statement after my engagement party that he was going to marry you had enraged me, but deep down I suspected it was a lie. Though it did not stop me using it as an excuse to see you again. I had to make sure, I told myself, and, seeing you so strong and defiant and desirable, I was lost to all reason, consumed by such an irresistible passion that nothing else mattered. I betrayed my fiancée, and I hated myself, so I took it out on you. You have
to believe me, and if I hurt you with my brutally callous remarks I am truly sorry.’

  If… He’d almost destroyed her, and he had not even realised he’d been doing it…and yet, looking up into his taut, sombre face, she believed him. Plus he had actually done it, actually managed to say I’m sorry. For once the arrogant, all-powerful Lucas Karadines was admitting he was as susceptible to making a mistake as any ordinary mortal was.

  ‘Amber, I swear it was never my intention to hurt you, then or now. We are getting married tomorrow.’ His sensual mouth twisted wryly. ‘Can we at least try to forget the past and make it work? Make it real.’

  His strong hand moved restlessly up and down her spine and with the heat, the strength of him enveloping her, she was tempted to agree.

  ‘Please,’ Lucas pleaded for the first time in his life. He had behaved like the worst kind of hide-bound, chauvinistic fool when he had let this woman go. Equating great sex with a girlfriend, but talking himself into loving what he had considered an acceptable wife. Now he knew better: love was an illusion; lust was reality. He might not like the way Amber affected him so instantly. But he was not fool enough to believe he could live with her without making love to her. He was no masochist.

  Amber saw his eyes darken. She knew what he wanted, what he was asking, and was dizzied by the sensations snaking through her. She placed a hand on his shirt-front to steady herself. Involuntarily her hand stroked up over the front of his chest, feeling the uneven pounding of his heart beneath the fine silk of his shirt. He wanted her, and in all honesty Amber knew she ached for him. She was older now and she no longer saw Lucas as the perfect, infallible, godlike male she had years ago, yet she still loved him.

  She was under no illusion as to why he was marrying her. He was not prepared to trust Amber’s word she would sell Spiro’s shares to him. It was ingrained in his character to trust no one; an asset in the top echelons of the business world, but on a personal level more of a liability, though Lucas would never see it as such. But the real question was, was she mature enough to forget all her old bitterness and anger, and take what was on offer? A few months of sexual pleasure at least, and maybe, just maybe Lucas might come to love her. Dared she take the chance?

  ‘Amber…’ his long fingers tangled in the silky gold locks of her hair, he urged her face to his ‘…what do you say?’

  She could say no! And deprive herself of six months of pleasure and probably the only sex she would get in her life. She looked into his eyes, and was fascinated by the tinge of vulnerability that even the sensual hunger blazing in their depths could not hide. Or she could say yes! And pray she was mature enough to walk away with her pride intact when the time came.

  Her golden gaze meshed with his. ‘Yes, I suppose…’

  Whatever else she might have said was lost as Lucas covered her mouth with his own, his tongue prising her lips apart, thrusting and tasting with a simmering sensuality, again and again.

  ‘This is becoming a habit,’ a laughing Joe exclaimed. ‘Break it up, you two, it is late.’

  Lucas groaned, and lifted his head. He eased his hand from Amber’s nape but still kept his arm around her waist. ‘We appear to be the floor show, sweetheart,’ he husked, brushing the long fall of her chestnut hair carefully back off her face.

  ‘Oh, heavens!’ Blushing bright red, Amber tried to ease away, horribly aware the music was no longer playing, and everyone was watching them with varying degrees of amusement.

  Lucas grinned and, clasping her around the waist with both hands, he stepped back, his dark eyes, blazing with masculine triumph, flicking over her. ‘It’s all right, you look decent,’ he murmured huskily. ‘But Joe is right. It is late, and I have to leave you before the witching hour, according to your father. If I want to be lucky, and I am going to be lucky tomorrow night…’ He arched one ebony brow wickedly.

  Amber’s blush could have lit the room. She walked back to the table with Lucas on legs that shook. Any thought of trying to pretend she was immune to him was banished for ever from her brain.

  ‘Well, any lingering doubts I had about the haste of this wedding are well and truly put to rest, old man.’ Sir David slapped Lucas on the back. ‘But in future I would try to be a little more circumspect, if I were you.’ He chuckled.

  ‘I will, Sir,’ Lucas agreed and the two men exchanged a very masculine smug grin. ‘And look after Amber for me until tomorrow.’ Bending his dark head, he pressed a swift kiss on her brow. ‘Go to bed. It’s late.’

  She did not need looking after, nor did she need to be told to go to bed. But, then again, after the exhibition she had just made of herself, maybe she did.

  Noon the next day Amber stood in front of the dressing mirror, and barely recognised herself. The sides of her long hair had been swept up into an intricate crown of curls threaded through with perfect white rosebuds and tiny satin ribbons, and the rest left to fall in gentle curls down her back. Her make-up was light but perfect. The wedding dress was a dream, the soft fabric draped narrowly across her shoulders, exposing just a hint of the creamy mounds of her breasts. Cut on the bias, it shimmied across the shapely length of her body to end at her ankles in a scalloped border embroidered in a rose pattern. She glanced around the havoc of the room, and smiled at the three young bridesmaids. They were standing in a stiff line, terrified of spoiling their finery; their dresses flounced like crinolines from fitted waists and copied the embroidery of the bridal gown.

  Someone handed Amber a posy of ivory roses mixed with baby’s breath and her father appeared at her side, resplendent in a pale grey suit.

  ‘You look beautiful, Amber. I am so proud to be your father and I want you to know—I deeply regret all the wasted years when I was not there for you. Especially now when I am losing you again.’ Tears glazed her golden eyes, and she sniffed as he took her hand and tugged it under his arm, adding, ‘Time to go, Amber.’

  Suddenly the enormity of what she was about to do hit her and for a second she panicked. ‘But I don’t even know where I am going,’ Amber wailed.

  Hoots of laughter greeted her comment and someone shouted, ‘Joe has it all arranged,’ as everyone moved towards the door.

  Amber gasped—it was like something out of a Hollywood movie. Joe had done a superb job. A secluded corner of the vast gardens of the hotel was set out with chairs for the guests, the centre aisle leading to a raised dais covered with a delicate arched pergola beautifully decorated with hundreds of tiny white roses and vines.

  The three little girls were solemnly walking down the aisle sprinkling rose petals from decorated baskets, and then it was Amber’s turn.

  Straightening her shoulders, Amber took a tighter grasp of her father’s arm and stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the tall black-haired man standing with his back to her in front of the celebrant. Then he turned to watch her approach.

  The clear blue sky and the blinding sun added to Amber’s feeling of unreality and only hazily was she aware of the guests seated either side of the aisle, her glance captured by Lucas’s intent, unwavering gaze. He was magnificent in an immaculate pale grey silk suit, and white shirt, and a grey silk tie shot through with blue. His thick black hair had been neatly trimmed and he looked exactly what he was: a mature, sophisticated Greek businessman, while Amber, on the other hand, was shaking like a jelly with nerves.

  It was stupid, she knew. She’d lived with the man for a year, for heaven’s sake! She should not be intimidated by what was really a simple civil ceremony—it was not as if she were marrying him for life.

  But as her father left her at Lucas’s side, Amber knew that for her it would be a life sentence. She would never love any man the way she loved Lucas. Looking up into his darkly handsome face, she had to blink hard to stop emotional tears blinding her eyes. ‘You’ve had your hair cut.’ She said the first thing that came into her head to cover her emotions.

  His black eyes widened in surprise and then his lips parted over brilliant white teeth in a beaming s
mile. ‘I’m so glad you noticed,’ he murmured for her ears only. ‘I was afraid you might have changed your mind, and not deign to look at me.’

  Lucas afraid was a novel notion, but she did not have time to dwell on it as she listened to the celebrant and surprisingly a priest appeared. Amber was too nervous to take much in but she must have made the right response. Lucas took hold of her hand and slipped a gold band on her ring finger, and indicated she should return the favour by placing a ring on his finger. Surprised he would want to wear a ring, she glanced up and was captivated by the blaze of emotion in his dark eyes. She hesitated for a moment and Lucas covered her hand with his free one and helped her slip the ring on his finger.

  ‘My wife at last,’ he murmured. Then gathered her into his arms and kissed her. It was a kiss like no other, firm but tender, sensual and seeking. Amber’s head swam, her pulse raced, her full lips parting to welcome him.

  ‘Break it up, you two. You still have plenty of time for that later. We have to party.’

  To Amber’s chagrin, once again it was Joe who’d brought them back to their senses. Flushing scarlet, she glanced wildly around at all the grinning faces, then tilted her head to look up at Lucas.

  ‘You really are a blushing bride now,’ Lucas said wryly. ‘My fault—I got carried away.’ Her heart gave a curious lurch at seeing the glittering intensity of his gaze, igniting sparks of sensual awareness through her whole body. ‘But you are the most beautiful bride. I don’t have the words to tell you how much it means to me you are mine.’ His voice was thickened with emotion and he lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the wedding band.

  Amber wanted to believe his sentiment was genuine but, tearing her eyes from his, she mumbled, ‘Yes, well, thank you.’ She loved him but trusting him again was something else…