though her mind teemed with all the possible reasons she could think of as to why he didn’t simply announce he was expecting her to act like his fiancée from day one and sleep with him—especially after their explosive kiss downstairs—Ludo’s matter-of-fact answer perturbed her.
‘That’s fine,’ she answered tetchily, immediately on the defensive. ‘As long as you don’t take it for granted that I
will
visit you.’ Two hot flags of searing heat scorched her cheeks. ‘We are only
pretending
to be engaged after all.’
Chuckling softly, Ludo lightly pushed back the slightly waving strand of hair that glanced against her cheekbone, and the movement reacquainted her with the tantalising drift of his provocative cologne.
‘What a charming young woman you are,
glykia mou
. Yet, charming as you are, I hasten to remind you that we made a bargain, did we not?’
Lifting her chin, Natalie scowled, even as her heart thundered at her own daring. ‘Yes, we did. But as far as I can recall our bargain didn’t involve casual sex. We only agreed that I would come to Greece with you and
pretend
to be your fiancée. There was nothing said about our having intimate relations.’
‘Are you saying that you are not attracted to me?’
‘Clearly, after the kiss we shared downstairs, that would be a lie. But just because I find you attractive itdoesn’t mean I’m going to sleep with you at the drop of a hat!’
‘No …?’
Even as he sardonically uttered the word Ludo overpowered her with an ardent embrace and once again captured her lips. As her mouth opened to receive the hot invasion of his tongue and his arms possessively encircled her narrow waist Natalie couldn’t help whimpering with pleasure. Immediately his action acquainted her with the intoxicating heat radiating through his linen shirt, as well as the steely hardness of his strong, hard-muscled body. If he continued to drug her into submission with his arousing kisses, much as she secretly revelled in the seductive attention, she realised she wouldn’t have a prayer of denying him that nocturnal visit—and the implications of such an action
terrified
her.
Dragging her lips determinedly away, she tried to shape what she hoped was a blasé smile. ‘Do you think I might have some time to myself to unpack? Perhaps when I’m done I could join you for that cool drink your housekeeper said was out on the terrace?’
‘You certainly know how to drive a hard bargain, angel. Was that your intention? To drive me crazy with desire so that I will give you anything you ask for?’
‘You make it sound like I have some kind of plan. I definitely don’t. The only reason I’m here at all is because you agreed to pay my father a fairer price for his business. You kept your end of the bargain before we left England and now I’m keeping mine. Other than thatI have no expectations … except perhaps to enjoy a holiday. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a proper break.’
The stunning Adonis in front of her threw up his hands in frustration. ‘Then go and unpack your things and meet me out on the terrace as soon as you can. Just so that you know—my own intention is to monopolise every moment of your time while you are here, Natalie … so much so that when the time comes for you to leave the very notion of parting from me and my country will break your heart!’
Striding to the door, he didn’t spare her a single glance before angrily departing. Staring after him, Natalie moved over to the sumptuous silk-covered bed and sank down onto it, clutching her hands over her chest in bewilderment and shock.
He was not a man to be easily subdued when frustrated. When a long cold shower didn’t help temper his thwarted desire, Ludo strode out onto the private balcony adjacent to his bedroom in an attempt to lose himself in the breathtaking Mediterranean view that for the past three years he had denied himself. Vying with the tantalising images of Natalie he had
‘That’s fine,’ she answered tetchily, immediately on the defensive. ‘As long as you don’t take it for granted that I
will
visit you.’ Two hot flags of searing heat scorched her cheeks. ‘We are only
pretending
to be engaged after all.’
Chuckling softly, Ludo lightly pushed back the slightly waving strand of hair that glanced against her cheekbone, and the movement reacquainted her with the tantalising drift of his provocative cologne.
‘What a charming young woman you are,
glykia mou
. Yet, charming as you are, I hasten to remind you that we made a bargain, did we not?’
Lifting her chin, Natalie scowled, even as her heart thundered at her own daring. ‘Yes, we did. But as far as I can recall our bargain didn’t involve casual sex. We only agreed that I would come to Greece with you and
pretend
to be your fiancée. There was nothing said about our having intimate relations.’
‘Are you saying that you are not attracted to me?’
‘Clearly, after the kiss we shared downstairs, that would be a lie. But just because I find you attractive itdoesn’t mean I’m going to sleep with you at the drop of a hat!’
‘No …?’
Even as he sardonically uttered the word Ludo overpowered her with an ardent embrace and once again captured her lips. As her mouth opened to receive the hot invasion of his tongue and his arms possessively encircled her narrow waist Natalie couldn’t help whimpering with pleasure. Immediately his action acquainted her with the intoxicating heat radiating through his linen shirt, as well as the steely hardness of his strong, hard-muscled body. If he continued to drug her into submission with his arousing kisses, much as she secretly revelled in the seductive attention, she realised she wouldn’t have a prayer of denying him that nocturnal visit—and the implications of such an action
terrified
her.
Dragging her lips determinedly away, she tried to shape what she hoped was a blasé smile. ‘Do you think I might have some time to myself to unpack? Perhaps when I’m done I could join you for that cool drink your housekeeper said was out on the terrace?’
‘You certainly know how to drive a hard bargain, angel. Was that your intention? To drive me crazy with desire so that I will give you anything you ask for?’
‘You make it sound like I have some kind of plan. I definitely don’t. The only reason I’m here at all is because you agreed to pay my father a fairer price for his business. You kept your end of the bargain before we left England and now I’m keeping mine. Other than thatI have no expectations … except perhaps to enjoy a holiday. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a proper break.’
The stunning Adonis in front of her threw up his hands in frustration. ‘Then go and unpack your things and meet me out on the terrace as soon as you can. Just so that you know—my own intention is to monopolise every moment of your time while you are here, Natalie … so much so that when the time comes for you to leave the very notion of parting from me and my country will break your heart!’
Striding to the door, he didn’t spare her a single glance before angrily departing. Staring after him, Natalie moved over to the sumptuous silk-covered bed and sank down onto it, clutching her hands over her chest in bewilderment and shock.
He was not a man to be easily subdued when frustrated. When a long cold shower didn’t help temper his thwarted desire, Ludo strode out onto the private balcony adjacent to his bedroom in an attempt to lose himself in the breathtaking Mediterranean view that for the past three years he had denied himself. Vying with the tantalising images of Natalie he had
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