Page 20 of Marriage Masquerade

“No, really, Nikos, this is perfect. And we need to keep up the pretense of a normal marriage.”

“Unless such a time arrives that you feel comfortable sharing my room, perhaps?”

He did read minds.

Mesmerized, she stood still, her eyes caught in his dark gaze, totally unable to form a single sound.

Share Nikos' room? His bed? Her heart thundered in response to the images that danced in her imagination. Of his strong, sleek body pressed against hers, of his mouth kissing her as she had imagined only that morning. Escalating the spark of interest deep within until it raged as full-fledged desire. A conflagration only his touch could ignite and extinguish.

“You never thought of that?”

His voice splashed through her like mulled wine, intoxicating every sense with its melodious tone. His head blotted out the rest of the room when he brushed her lips with his. Gemma opened her mouth slightly and caught her breath.

“I’m not sure this is such a good idea,” she whispered.

Her voice wouldn’t obey her. She wanted to sound firm and assured; instead, she sounded breathless and uncertain.

“Ah, but we need to get to know each other better, right?” he said, his lips scant millimeters from hers.

He closed the distance and kissed her deeply.

Gemma felt as if she were floating as the room spun round. The only solid anchor in a world turned topsy-turvy was Nikos. Naturally, she clung to that anchor. Her hands gripped his shoulders, and she tilted her head slightly. Opening her mouth at his insistence, she felt the wonder of his kiss to her toes. Lost in the magic of his touch, she gave herself up to the sheer pleasure found in his arms.

When he pulled back, she was stunned at her reaction. There was no place for such activity in a business arrangement. The sooner she made her position clear, the better. It was as if cold water had been dashed in her face. She stepped back, feeling almost bereft, but determined not to give in to temptation so easily in the future.

Was Nikos assessing how willing a bride he’d gained? Had the kiss meant anything to him?

Feeling lost, Gemma brushed her hands down her skirt and turned to head back to the living room. Theirs was not a love match—she knew that better than anyone. And she didn’t wish it to be. She’d experienced enough heartache and disappointment. She had no intentions of going down that path again.

Nikos had proposed a business alliance, and that was what she’d agreed to. His kisses were extraordinary. But she’d remain aloof, untouched. She didn’t trust him, nor any man.

But her blood still raced through her veins. Her heart still beat heavily from the excitement of his embrace. She could tell herself to ignore him all she wanted, but she wondered if her body would ever listen.

“Come on, we’ll sit in the living room and talk until dinner,” Nikos said.

Glancing at him as she passed, she was peeved to note he appeared totally unaffected by their kiss. Good.

At least she tried to tell herself that.

Hal had set the dinner table with beautiful china, elegant silver and delicate crystal, Gemma noted when called to dinner some time later. The table looked fit for royalty.

Gemma sat at Nikos' right, doubts and uncertainty plaguing her.

“Do you dine like this every night?” she asked.

“No. Hal has outdone himself tonight for the special occasion of your first meal with us.”

“It’s lovely. I wasn’t sure if I had to live up to this daily.”

She should say something about the kiss, explain what she was willing to do for this marriage and what she was not willing to do, but the words wouldn’t come.

“We’ll have settings like this for special events or when we have guests over.”

“Otherwise it’s paper plates in the kitchen, huh?” she said, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

His gleam of amusement brought a strong sense of satisfaction to Gemma. Sometimes she wondered if she’d lose sight of who she was when she was with this man.

Time to reassert her own personality. If he planned to go through with this charade, it was time he knew what he was getting.

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