Chapter One
Layla stretched out on the sand and
stared up into the night sky, letting the sea roll over her legs as
the tide moved in and out. Colin would have warned her she’d be
stung by a jellyfish lying there like that, but deep down, Layla
knew better. Nothing from the sea could ever harm her.
She kicked her feet a little,
splashing in the water as it moved back and forth across her legs.
The rhythm of the sea felt exquisite, caressing her body like a
lover, and she sighed because she felt freer than she had in
months. She’d finally made her life her own again.
She had gotten herself settled back in
after the high drama of having broken up with Colin. She’d seen the
light as clearly as any woman ever would and had succeeded in
completely breaking his hold over her. She had to admit she’d
enjoyed the lifestyle he offered her, but she could never have
loved him or been happy with him. He was handsome, unbelievably
sexy, and very successful, but they had no common interests and
always did what he wanted to do.
Because that was the way things went
in Colin’s world—everything was done the way he wanted it done.
He’d always known they had nothing in common, but he’d constantly
tried to draw her attention away from that. He would listen to her
talk about almost anything, but he always nodded in that way that
proved he wasn’t really listening. His parents hadn’t had a thing
in common but money, so he saw no flaws in his relationship with
Layla. He had a beautiful woman on his arm, a woman he thought was
so devoted to him she’d let him walk all over her, and that was all
he needed. The successful Colin Merrick needed a wife and heirs—no
room for anything else. He neither needed nor wanted love, and to
him sex was just that. Sex. Passion and intimacy meant absolutely
nothing to him. Emotions, at least the ones that usually brought
people the most pleasure, were things he simply didn’t have time
for.
When she’d tried one last time to
explain how she felt to him, he’d actually had the nerve to tell
her that she’d never find another rich man who’d want to marry her.
According to his narrow, little worldview, all any woman wanted was
a rich man to take care of her. Thinking he was any girl’s dream
come true with his hot body and fat bank account, he’d just winked
at her and told her she’d always get whatever she wanted. He’d
genuinely thought telling her that would do the trick and she would
fall right into line with his plans and never complain again. He
thought money was the way to a woman’s heart. She’d thrown an
expensive glass of wine in his face, making sure it splashed on his
suit, before storming out of the restaurant. She hadn’t even
bothered telling him that he could never give her the only thing
she needed—love.
So now she was back in her little
cottage by the beach, unsure what her next move would be. But for
now, that was okay. She’d missed her long walks on the shore at
night, the waves lapping at her ankles, and the sound of the surf.
She loved the sea more than anything else, and everything felt
right when she was close to it. She sighed and stretched, staring
up at the sky as the waves soothed her.
She belonged there. She felt the most
peace and happiness by the ocean, even if she was alone. She didn’t
need a man to define her or make her happy. If she did meet the
right one someday, she’d know it. Nothing gave a girl clearer
vision than finally seeing how wrong someone else had been for
her.
* * * *
As he watched the girl on the beach,
Poseidon began to feel playful. He’d been furious after an argument
with his brother Zeus over a girl who had rightfully been his, but
he felt his anger seeping away. Zeus could have the deceitful
trollop. This girl was voluptuous, all curves and long, auburn
hair. She wore a skimpy, black bikini and lay on the sand, staring
up at the stars. Poseidon’s body responded immediately as he
watched the sea lapping at the
Layla stretched out on the sand and
stared up into the night sky, letting the sea roll over her legs as
the tide moved in and out. Colin would have warned her she’d be
stung by a jellyfish lying there like that, but deep down, Layla
knew better. Nothing from the sea could ever harm her.
She kicked her feet a little,
splashing in the water as it moved back and forth across her legs.
The rhythm of the sea felt exquisite, caressing her body like a
lover, and she sighed because she felt freer than she had in
months. She’d finally made her life her own again.
She had gotten herself settled back in
after the high drama of having broken up with Colin. She’d seen the
light as clearly as any woman ever would and had succeeded in
completely breaking his hold over her. She had to admit she’d
enjoyed the lifestyle he offered her, but she could never have
loved him or been happy with him. He was handsome, unbelievably
sexy, and very successful, but they had no common interests and
always did what he wanted to do.
Because that was the way things went
in Colin’s world—everything was done the way he wanted it done.
He’d always known they had nothing in common, but he’d constantly
tried to draw her attention away from that. He would listen to her
talk about almost anything, but he always nodded in that way that
proved he wasn’t really listening. His parents hadn’t had a thing
in common but money, so he saw no flaws in his relationship with
Layla. He had a beautiful woman on his arm, a woman he thought was
so devoted to him she’d let him walk all over her, and that was all
he needed. The successful Colin Merrick needed a wife and heirs—no
room for anything else. He neither needed nor wanted love, and to
him sex was just that. Sex. Passion and intimacy meant absolutely
nothing to him. Emotions, at least the ones that usually brought
people the most pleasure, were things he simply didn’t have time
for.
When she’d tried one last time to
explain how she felt to him, he’d actually had the nerve to tell
her that she’d never find another rich man who’d want to marry her.
According to his narrow, little worldview, all any woman wanted was
a rich man to take care of her. Thinking he was any girl’s dream
come true with his hot body and fat bank account, he’d just winked
at her and told her she’d always get whatever she wanted. He’d
genuinely thought telling her that would do the trick and she would
fall right into line with his plans and never complain again. He
thought money was the way to a woman’s heart. She’d thrown an
expensive glass of wine in his face, making sure it splashed on his
suit, before storming out of the restaurant. She hadn’t even
bothered telling him that he could never give her the only thing
she needed—love.
So now she was back in her little
cottage by the beach, unsure what her next move would be. But for
now, that was okay. She’d missed her long walks on the shore at
night, the waves lapping at her ankles, and the sound of the surf.
She loved the sea more than anything else, and everything felt
right when she was close to it. She sighed and stretched, staring
up at the sky as the waves soothed her.
She belonged there. She felt the most
peace and happiness by the ocean, even if she was alone. She didn’t
need a man to define her or make her happy. If she did meet the
right one someday, she’d know it. Nothing gave a girl clearer
vision than finally seeing how wrong someone else had been for
her.
* * * *
As he watched the girl on the beach,
Poseidon began to feel playful. He’d been furious after an argument
with his brother Zeus over a girl who had rightfully been his, but
he felt his anger seeping away. Zeus could have the deceitful
trollop. This girl was voluptuous, all curves and long, auburn
hair. She wore a skimpy, black bikini and lay on the sand, staring
up at the stars. Poseidon’s body responded immediately as he
watched the sea lapping at the
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