Page 32 of Marriage Masquerade

“Then they spoiled you. You’ve lived in America long enough to know women like to be independent.”

“I’ve had no complaints from you over the last five years.”

“What I put up with at work isn’t the same as what I’m willing to put up with at home.”

He reached out and brushed her hair back from one cheek, letting the back of his fingers caress her skin.

“Your skin is as soft as a baby’s. And your hair is like hot silk.”

“Are you deliberately changing the subject? I don’t think we should do this.”

Where was the decisive tone she needed? Her voice came out totally breathless.

“Ah, but don’t you think a husband and wife are allowed a certain amount of, shall we say, intimacies?”

“But we’re pretending.”

“The feelings I’m experiencing right now don’t feel like pretend.”

Slowly, he drew her closer.

Gemma put up her hands to push him away. Only when her fingers touched his heat, she lost the will to push. She wanted to explore, to touch, to uncover every bit of the mystery surrounding her husband.

When he kissed her, she forgot even that quest. Parting her lips, she returned his kiss with rising passion. Caught up in the moment, she could only hang on while her senses soared. She delighted in the feel of his hard body against hers, in the pleasure that cascaded through her.

When he ended the kiss, he didn’t pull away, but trailed nibbles along her cheek, to her neck and throat, kissing the wild pulse point at its base.

Gemma didn’t know how her arms came to be holding him, or how her fingers became threaded through his thick hair, but she took advantage of the situation, exalting in the sensations that continued to sweep through her.

He wanted her. She was experienced enough to know that. For a moment she almost gave in to impulse.

But caution held her back. Had her slowly release her hold.

Nikos felt the change because the kisses became lighter until they were no more.

He rested his forehead on hers and gazed into her eyes.

“We’re married. And I haven’t lived like a monk. But we will do nothing to ruin this relationship. If you want to take it beyond the platonic, let me know. Otherwise…”

She nodded. She didn’t know what she wanted. Right now she wanted to have more kisses, to feel his hands on her body, to know the soaring ecstasy she suspected only Nikos could give her.

But she didn’t trust herself with men anymore. How did she know what the real agenda might be? After James…

No, she wasn’t going there again. James was her past. Nikos was her present. She didn’t know about the future.

But she was too unsure of anything right now to bank on any certainty.

Gently disengaging herself, she tried to smile. Knowing it was a futile effort, she stopped.

“I guess we need to see how it goes before taking any steps that might complicate things.”

He straightened to his full height and looked down at her.

“Especially when what I have to say will offer another complication.”

“What?”

“I think until the INS finishes its investigation, you need to share my room.”

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