Page 42 of Marriage Masquerade

She began to relax. The evening was behind her, and she hadn't made a single faux pas.

But how could anyone relax with Nikos so close? With his fingers in her hair? His scent surrounding her?

“You handled yourself well. We'll be obligated to attend a certain number of similar functions during the year. In the future, I'll consult you before having Elise send an acceptance.”

Gemma smiled, despite the flutters his touch brought. “Thank you.”

“I think our being married is going to be an interesting time for however long our journey lasts.”

“Journey?”

“To our final destination.”

“Which is?”

“That’s part of the interesting aspect—we don’t know the final destination yet.”

Gemma knew where an interim destination would be if Nikos didn’t stop touching her, toying with her hair.

But she wasn’t ready for something like that. Until a few weeks ago, she’d thought herself in love with James. No, shehadbeen in love with him. His deceit had killed it instantly. But it would be safer to go through life without the complications of falling for another man. Especially one who'd never love her in return.

Even one as exciting as Nikos.

Hal delivered them to the door and drove off to park the car. Gemma followed Nikos into the elevator, her nerves stretched tighter every second as the car silently rose to their floor.

Nikos let them into their apartment. Hal had propped up a note on the small entryway table. Nikos picked it up as Gemma shed her coat.

“Important?” she asked.

“Probably not, or Hal would have mentioned it in the car. It’s a message from my father,” Nikos said.

He skimmed the words again and shrugged.

“It seems Allessandros discovered our marriage and informed my father. He wishes to speak with me.”

Gemma almost giggled. She caught her lower lip between her teeth. Nikos made it sound like he was a recalcitrant teenager about to be hauled on the carpet.

“I take it you didn’t tell your parents,” she said when the danger of the giggles had passed.

“Not as yet.” He glanced at his watch. “It's morning there. I’ll phone him now.”

“Then I guess I’ll head for bed.”

Nikos watched her hurry down the hall almost regretfully. He didn’t want the night to end. He knew she’d be in bed before he finished his phone call. Either asleep or feigning sleep.

Should he call her on it tonight? Talk to her in the dark, learn more about the woman than what he thought he knew from working with her?

After the way she attacked Morganstern’s antiquated ideas, she could obviously hold her own in various situations. Yet she still acted like a skittish filly around him.

Pretending to be a devoted couple was wearing on a man, especially when his wife kept that bright smile trained in his direction. What would Gemma do if he kissed her, ran his hands over that sexy body, felt the heat of her skin, the softness of its texture?

Her hair felt like silk. How would her skin all over feel?

A man could only withstand so much temptation before giving in. And he’d been a long time without a woman. He wondered if he’d ever made love to such a contradiction of shyness and boldness. Her dress caused quite a stir tonight, yet the shy innocence that shone from her eyes was a direct challenge. One he wanted to take on.

First, however, he needed to talk to his father. He knew the man would be disappointed he hadn’t told him about his marriage.

How Allessandros had discovered it was another question.

---