Page 76 of Marriage Masquerade

“I don’t know. Xander had a point. Others probably think I’m like Katrina—like that man did.” She raised her chin. “But I’m not.”

“No, Gemma, you’re most certainly not.”

“So we carry on?”

She held her breath.Please say yes.

“Actually, an excellent negotiator knows when to change things,” he murmured, drawing her into his arms. “I believe it’s time to change the terms of our marriage agreement.”

“You do?” Her eyes grew wide. “How?”

“I want to make it real.”

“Oh,” was all she had time to say before his mouth came down on hers.

Nikos felt the blood sing in his veins.She loves me.It was more than he expected or deserved.

Long moments later the sound of voices intruded. Nikos broke the kiss, grabbed her hand, and headed away from the house.

“That’s the problem with parties—there’s no privacy.”

Gemma kept pace, her hand gripping his. When they reached the gate, Nikos urged her through to the pristine white sand.

“Are you sure, Nikos?”

He ran his finger along her cheek, beneath her jaw, savoring the silky texture of her skin. His longing to make her his grew with each passing moment.

“I think I’d like ties and promises if they kept you with me forever.”

She smiled and he smiled back, feeling the relief flow through him.

“I love you, Gemma Petropoulos. I think I realized it the day in the department store when you worried about what I was getting out of our arrangement. I think that is the first time anyone ever worried about my benefits. I know it in my heart and soul—you are all I need and want. You will be all I need for the rest of my life.”

“Oh, Nikos.”

She flung herself into his arms, encircling his neck with hers and hugging him tightly.

“I love you so much. I thought you only married me for expediency, and I vowed I'd never give you a reason to regret it. But I think I’ve loved you for ages. I knew for sure when we stayed at Allessandros’.”

He relished the sensation of her soft body against the length of his.

“I thought you felt gratitude.”

She shook her head. “I do, but that’s only part of it. Mostly I love you.”

“Overbearing and arrogant as I am?” he murmured, his lips trailing kissed along her sweet skin.

She nodded.

“You, on a bad day, are still better than any other man in the world on his best day,” she whispered. “But are you sure? I don’t want to cause a problem in your family.”

“My mother already loves you. My father shall come around. Especially when he sees how happy you make me. But I’m not here to talk about them, only about us. Shall we steal away tonight, lose ourselves in all Greece has to offer, and have that honeymoon Elise has been lecturing me about?”

She gave a gurgle of laughter.

“I can’t see Elise lecturing anyone, especially you.”

“Ah, perhaps they were more like strong hints. But you didn’t answer my question.”

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