Читать онлайн книгу «The Greek′s Forbidden Innocent» автора Annie West
The Greek's Forbidden Innocent
Annie West
The Greeks virgin brideis hiding her royal identity!While helping her friend escape an arranged marriage dutiful Princess Mina finds herself captive on enigmatic Alexei Katsaross luxurious private island! Mina must convince Alexei that shes his future bridebut she doesnt expect their scorching chemistry to be so deliciously overwhelming And after a night in the Greeks bed suddenly theres more at stake than just Minas hidden identityher hearts at Alexeis mercy too!
The Greeks virgin bride...
...is hiding her royal identity!
While helping her friend escape an arranged marriage, dutiful Princess Mina finds herself captive on enigmatic Alexei Katsaross luxurious private island! Mina must convince Alexei that shes his future bride, but she doesnt expect their scorching chemistry to be so deliciously overwhelming... And after a night in the Greeks bed, suddenly theres more at stake than just Minas hidden identityher heart is at Alexeis mercy, too!
Escape to an island paradise with the billionaire and his royal bride!
Growing up near the beach, ANNIE WEST spent lots of time observing tall, burnished lifeguardsearly research! Now she spends her days fantasising about gorgeous men and their love lives. Annie has been a reader all her life. She also loves travel, long walks, good company and great food. You can contact her at annie@annie-west.com or via PO Box 1041, Warners Bay, NSW 2282, Australia.
Also by Annie West (#u7bc6ec93-0453-5048-acd3-10880e5beafa)
Seducing His Enemys Daughter
A Vow to Secure His Legacy
The Flaw in Raffaeles Revenge
The Desert Kings Secret Heir
The Desert Kings Captive Bride
Contracted for the Petrakis Heir
Inherited for the Royal Bed
Her Forgotten Lovers Heir
The Princess Seductions miniseries
His Majestys Temporary Bride
The Greeks Forbidden Princess
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).
The Greeks Forbidden Innocent
Annie West
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-08742-1
THE GREEKS FORBIDDEN INNOCENT
2019 Annie West
Published in Great Britain 2019
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
This story is for Helen Sibbritt
Thank you so much for your enthusiasm,
support and never-failing good cheer!
Contents
Cover (#u6f7101dd-9046-5551-aaba-ef0f84291240)
Back Cover Text (#u78e15d93-1483-56d4-aee6-1035384f2756)
About the Author (#u363a1c6e-4b66-5c78-8911-942331bc7534)
Booklist (#u81502e94-fe0c-58d6-acb5-ded0074257b2)
Title Page (#u3f09e65e-2cda-5773-982b-00fd87410ef3)
Copyright (#u2e19f0d0-9068-5158-b26e-09c65cc8fef3)
Dedication (#u2ab99a19-88e8-51ac-94d6-4200ae6c5ff0)
CHAPTER ONE (#uc1604dae-3029-5aa5-bde6-bcdb19c584bf)
CHAPTER TWO (#u430dd0ff-c59e-574f-8517-8f2d0ad6ba5c)
CHAPTER THREE (#u31307f8a-6539-5039-9d61-9b157c6a9c12)
CHAPTER FOUR (#ud8b41f4e-1225-5f83-b8af-da7d6e43e97c)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#u7bc6ec93-0453-5048-acd3-10880e5beafa)
TAKE A DEEP BREATH, Carissa, and tell me slowly. Mina held her friends shoulders tight. And another. She nodded encouragingly as Carissas breathing grew more normal. Thats better.
While Carissa focused on her breathing, Minas gaze searched for the source of her friends distress. But there was nothing unusual in the entry to the other womans apartment. No blood. No disarray. No intruder. Just a large pink suitcase.
Yet something was definitely wrong. Carissa, the most easygoing person she knew, had grabbed Mina before she could open the door to her own apartment and yanked her in next door. There was real fear in Carissas china-blue eyes.
Come and sit and tell me about it.
No! Carissa shook her head and a cloud of golden curls spilled around her shoulders. Theres no time. Theyll be here soon. But I dont want to go. I cant go. Tears filled her eyes as her voice wobbled. I want Pierre! But hes not here in Paris. Hes abroad.
That at least made sense. Pierre was Carissas boyfriend.
Dont fret. No ones going to make you go anywhere you dont want to. Mina kept her voice calm, ushering her friend into the small sitting room and gently pushing her into a seat. Carissas whole body shook and her face was stark white.
Mina had received enough bad news herself to recognise shock. Her mother had died when she was young and just five years ago, when she was seventeen, her father had died unexpectedly from a brain aneurism.
Memories stirred of that terrifying time, held hostage in a palace coup after her fathers funeral. Then her sister Ghizlans sacrifice, forced to wed the coup leader, Huseyn, so he could become Sheikh. It seemed a lifetime away from Minas life now in France.
Tell me whats up so I can help. Mina pulled a chair close and took Carissas hands. Her face was, for the first time Mina could recall, bare of make-up and her shirt wasnt buttoned right. For Carissa this was a fashion catastrophe. More like Minas usual look than her own.
Minas frown deepened. Has someone hurt you?
Her stomach clenched as she remembered the day of the coup, the drench of icy fear as a soldier manhandled her, stopping her escape with brutal efficiency. She recalled the adrenalin rush galvanising her to fight back. It was the first time anyone had laid a hand on her. The first time shed become aware of the sheer, physical power men could exert over women. Until then, Minas royal status had protected her.
Carissa was trusting and gentle, always looking for the best in people. If someone had taken advantage of her
No, its nothing like that.
Minas shoulders sagged. Relief rushed through her. In the years theyd studied together at a prestigious Paris art school, and since, shed never seen Carissa distraught like this.
So who is coming? Where dont you want to go?
Carissas bottom lip quivered and she blinked hard.
Alexei Katsaros is sending someone. Theyll take me to his private island. A shudder ran through her. But I dont want to go. I cant. Even when Dad told me about it, I never thought it would actually happen! You have to help me, Mina. Please.
Minas worry eased and with it her frantic heartbeat. Not a life-and-death situation, then. She knew who Alexei Katsaros was. Who didnt? He was a megawealthy IT entrepreneur. Carissas father was one of his executives.
Is it an invitation to visit your father? Im sure Pierre would spare you for a short vacation.
Carissa shook her head. This isnt a vacation. Its an arranged marriage! Dad told me he hoped to organise it but I never thought hed bring it off. Alexei Katsaros can have his pick of women.
Mina said nothing. Carissa was extraordinarily pretty and sweet-natured. That, plus her innate desire to please, would appeal to lots of men.
I cant go through with it, Mina. Carissas fingers bit into hers. I could never love a man like that, so hard and judgemental. He wants a trophy wife, wholl do what he wants when he wants. My fathers told him Im pretty and biddable and... Her shoulders shook as the tears became sobs. I never thought it would come to this. It seemed impossible, laughable. But I dont have a choice. My fathers counting on me.
Mina frowned. Arranged marriages she knew about. If her father had lived hed have organised one for her.
Im sure no one will force you into anything. Unlike in Jeirut. Her sister had been forced into an unwanted marriage and Mina remembered feeling utterly helpless at being unable to prevent it. It had been a miracle when, against the odds, the pair later fell in love. The match had seemed doomed to end in misery. Your father will be there. If you explain
But hes not there, Carissa wailed. I dont know where he is. I cant contact him. And I cant say no to Mr Katsaros. Dad warned me thered been some trouble at work. He didnt say what, but I think his jobs on the line. Hes hoping this marriage will smooth everything over. Carissa clung to Minas hands, her fingers curling into talons. But I could never marry such a hard man. He has a new woman every week. Besides, Pierre and I are in love. Were getting married. A flicker of happiness transformed her teary features.
Youre getting married? Mina stared. She shouldnt be surprised; the pair were besotted.
Carissas smile died. We were planning to elope next weekend, when hes back from this business trip. Pierre says it will be easier to face his family with a fait accompli.
Pierre rose in Minas estimation. He was a lovely guy but hed never stood up to his stiff-necked family who wanted him to marry someone from old French money.
But I cant marry him if Im forced to marry Alexei Katsaros! Carissas tears overflowed.
Did Katsaros say he wanted to marry you?
As good as. He said my father had told him about me and he was anxious to meet. He believed wed find a lot in common and that we had a future together. Carissa bit her lip. I tried to fob him off but he didnt hear a word I said. He cut me off and said his staff would be here in an hour to collect me. What will I do?
Mina frowned. She didnt like the sound of this. He might be rich but that didnt excuse rudeness or give him the right to order Carissa around.
Tell me again exactly what your father told you.
But as Carissa spoke, Minas hope that her friend had overreacted dissolved. Thered recently been a rift between her father and his employer. After years of faithful service it seemed Katsaros might dump him. Mina couldnt approve of Mr Carters plan to use Carissa to cement his position, but such things happened. Several of Minas peers in Jeirut had been married to older men they barely knew to strengthen family or business links.
She gritted her teeth, watching Carissas hands flutter as she related the one-sided conversation with Alexei Katsaros. He hadnt invited Carissa to his island hideaway but simply informed her of the travel arrangements. As if she were freight to be transported, not a woman with a life of her own.
Minas temper rose like steam from a kettle.
She prized her freedom, appreciating how different her life was in Paris, away from a world where every major decision was made by the male head of her family. Western women accepted freedom as their right, not knowing how precious that was. And here was some billionaire bully, trying to snatch that from Carissa. With the help of her own father!
It wasnt right.
And theres nothing I can do. Carissa sniffled.
Of course there is. They cant force you onto the plane. Or into marriage.
I cant not go. What about my fathers job? She hiccupped. But if I go, what about Pierre? His family will find a way to stop our wedding.
Mina wanted to tell Carissa to grow a backbone and stand up for herself. But Carissa wasnt made that way. Besides, she cared for her father, though hed got her into this mess. Plus it sounded, from other things shed said, as if Mr Carter hadnt recovered from his wifes recent death. That might explain why hed slipped up at work. A good employer would make allowances for grief. Mina suspected Alexei Katsaros was a domineering tyrant, considering no one but himself.
Irresistibly, her thoughts dragged back to those fraught days after her fathers death. Her future and her sisters had hung in the balance, their fate determined by a man with little sympathy for their hopes and wishes.
Mina remembered the horror of being utterly powerless.
She refused to let Carissa become a chattel to buy her father out of trouble, or satisfy Katsaross desire for a convenient, biddable wife.
Ive packed a bag. I cant reach my father, so Ill have to go. But it means leaving Pierre. Carissa wrung her hands and Mina felt something snap inside.
Carissa was sweet but she had as much grit as a marshmallow. Between them, Katsaros and Carter could herd her into a marriage that would make her miserable for the rest of her life. Mina couldnt change her friend into a woman whod look a thug in the eye and send him packing, or tell her father he couldnt marry her off to a stranger. But she could delay things long enough for Carissa and Pierre to marry. A few days, a week at most.
How long before they collect you?
Carissas answer was drowned by a sharp rap on the door. She gasped and grabbed Minas hands.
The last shred of doubt fled Minas brain as she read her friends terror and despair. Carissa was a pushover, but Mina wasnt.
She got to her feet.
* * *
Still no sign of Carter, sir. He hasnt been home.
Alexeis grip tightened on the phone and he ground his teeth in frustration. But he refrained from chewing out the head of his London office. It wasnt MacIntyres fault Carter had done a bunk. Alexei should have acted sooner, but initially he hadnt wanted to believe Carters guilt. The man had been at his side for years, the only person Alexei really trusted.
That was why his betrayal cut so deep. Trust came hard to Alexei. Hed seen his mother betrayed and cast aside, made into a victim and her life shortened, because she trusted too easily.
Alexei bore a lot of the blame. Hed been gullible, falling for his stepfathers charm, believing the man genuinely cared. Hed persuaded his mother to let the guy into their lives. Too late they discovered hed only cultivated Alexei to get to his mother and her dead husbands insurance payment.
No one could accuse Alexei of gullibility now.
That was what made it so remarkable that, despite his caution, hed come to believe in Carter. It wasnt just his way with numbers. His almost uncanny knack for identifying problems and possible solutions. It was his reticence, his scrupulous separation of business and personal life. Hed been the perfect executive.
Until his double-dealing came to light.
Alexei felt that sucker punch of betrayal. Worse this time because he should have known better. He was no innocent kid.
Keep me informed. Have the investigator check in daily.
Yes, sir. Of course, sir.
Alexei ended the call and scraped a hand through his hair, telling himself hed grown soft. He should have acted sooner. Now he had to play catch-up.
He swung round to pace, ignoring the turquoise water and white sand beyond the window. He didnt want to be in the Caribbean, no matter how restful his private retreat. He wanted to be wherever Carter was. The mans depredations had been deep. Not enough to destabilise Alexeis business but enough to send a ripple of disquiet through anyone savvy enough to discover Alexei had been duped.
Despite his policy of employing the best, most innovative people in the industry, Alexei Katsaros was his company as far as the market was concerned. Hed worked hard to establish one of the worlds leading software companies and build a reputation as a canny entrepreneur. His nose for success was only rivalled by his companys groundbreaking IT solutions. News of his fallibility would crack that image and damage his companys position.
Damn Carter. Where was he hiding?
Alexei slammed to a halt as he heard a vehicle through the open window.
At last. The ace up his sleeve.
Alexei breathed deep, easing cramped lungs, assuring himself that now, finally, he had the upper hand.
He crossed to the window and watched as the four-wheel drive pulled up. The drivers door opened but before Henri could get out the front passenger door swung open and someone alighted.
Alexeis brow twitched into a frown. That couldnt be her. He waited for the rear door to open but it stayed steadfastly shut. Henri walked ponderously to the rear of the vehicle and pulled out a single suitcase of candy pink.
That was all. One suitcase and one passenger, though not the passenger he expected.
Alexeis frown became a scowl. The call from Paris had assured him that shed been collected from her apartment and deposited on his jet. Yet surely this wasnt Carters daughter. Hed expected a fashion tragic with mountains of luggage.
His gaze rested on the svelte figure of a woman who stood, hands on her hips and head back, surveying his home. Far from being addicted to high-end fashion as hed been led to believe, she wasnt dressed in designer casuals for a tropical island holiday, but for...what? A yoga class? An artists garret?
Understanding took root. That was it.
Carter, when hed raised the preposterous idea of a match between Alexei and his daughter, had waxed voluble about the girl hed never mentioned in years of employment. Hed wittered on about her beauty and charm, her sweet disposition and eagerness to please. And her aspirations to be an artist in between shopping. She lived in Paris, playing at an artistic career, no doubt funded by the money Carter had embezzled from Alexei.
Pain radiated from Alexeis jaw down his neck to his tight shoulders.
He yanked his thoughts from Carters crimes to the mans daughter.
She took her pretensions seriously. Or perhaps the outfit was for his benefit, though surely it wasnt designed to please a man. Flat black shoes, black leggings and an oversized black T-shirt that gaped over one shoulder.
Definitely not Alexeis style. He preferred a woman who dressed like a woman.
Yet even as he dismissed Carissa Carter as not his type, his gaze lingered on the length of shapely legs silhouetted in black. Long legs, the sort of legs hed enjoy wrapped around his waist during sex.
His gaze flicked higher, skimming her slight figure. He supposed, in the right gear, shed be a perfect clothes horse, but personally he preferred a woman whose curves were more abundant.
Then the tilt of her head altered and he found himself face-to-face with her.
She was too far away for him to make out her features properly. Just good bone structure and dark hair pulled ruthlessly back into a bun. He had the impression of a wide, mobile mouth, but he wasnt paying attention. His thoughts were on the sudden throb pulsing through his belly.
It couldnt be attraction. Not for the daughter of a criminal. A woman whose lifestyle had probably fed her fathers depredations. He had no proof Carissa Carter knew of her fathers crimes, but shed benefited. Maybe shed been in on the scheme, eager to fund her easy life in Paris. Alexei couldnt trust her. Hed play the part of eager suitor, pretending he was in the market for a wife.
As if he needed a third party to find him a woman!
He stared back at her, expecting her to duck her head and pretend not to see him.
Instead she stood motionless, watching as if he were under the microscope. It was a curious feeling. Alexei was used to people inclining their heads in agreement or deference. Except women, who tended to stare.
Carissas bold regard was something altogether different. It sent heat skittering down his spine, drawing every sense to hyperalert.
Finally, after shed looked her fill, she turned to Henri. Alexei caught a flash of white teeth as she smiled but it was the coltish grace of her movements that held his attention. There was a fluidity to her supple body that reminded him of a Russian ballet dancer with whom hed once shared a fiery affair. Alexei recalled not only the dancers grace but her athleticism and body awareness that had taken sexual pleasure to a new level.
He watched Carissa Carter saunter towards his house. Shoulders back, head up, yet she didnt march. Instead that loose-limbed stroll was a symphony of sensual femininity.
For his benefit?
Of course.
His guest might play at being the bohemian artist, but if she was her fathers daughter, shed have her eye on the main game, getting Alexeis money.
For the first time since hed learned of Carters betrayal, Alexei smiled.
He didnt want the woman here, except as bait to draw her father. The fact shed accepted his summons told him shed sell herself into marriage with a man she didnt even know. Though she knew the size of his bank balance. That regularly featured in rich lists around the world.
It could be amusing watching her try to seduce him.
CHAPTER TWO (#u7bc6ec93-0453-5048-acd3-10880e5beafa)
MINA KNEW ABOUT WEALTH. Shed been born royal. But her family riches and privilege were tied to duty, responsibility and service. The palace where shed grown up had been the nerve centre for her countrys administration.
This was pure sybaritic indulgence.
As if it wasnt enough to own a tropical island rimmed with beaches so white they looked like sugar frosting, Alexei Katsaross home was the last word in luxury. The pool wrapped around the house so every room looked out on water. There was a bar actually in the pool too, so he and his guests wouldnt have to stir from the water to get a drink.
Four-poster daybeds were scattered around the pool, their gauzy hangings romantic and alluring. Her artists eye appreciated the cushions in turquoise, teal and jade that reflected the vibrant shades of the tropical garden and the sea beyond. Then there were the sculptures in pale stone, which she glimpsed through the greenery. She itched to detour and investigate.
Forcibly she yanked her attention back to the house. The huge entry door stood open. Beside her, Henri waited for her to precede him.
Strange, this momentary hesitation.
All the way from Paris shed been buoyed by indignation on Carissas behalf. Now though, Mina knew an uncharacteristic moment of doubt. A wariness at odds with her practice of facing problems head-on.
Her impulsiveness, her father would have said.
Why? Mina wasnt overawed by Katsaross wealth, or cowed by any threat he could make.
Yet for a moment, as her gaze locked on the big man watching her from inside, something unfamiliar quivered through her. Something starkly unsettling.
An inner voice urged her to flee while she had the chance.
Of course she lifted her chin and stared right back instead.
The bright bowl of azure sky above her seemed to drop lower, the air thickening as she drew a slow, steadying breath. Still, he held her gaze.
Her bloodstream fizzed, making her fingers and the soles of her feet tingle. For a second she wondered if shed been hit by a bolt of lightning out of the clear sky, till reason told her that was impossible.
Deliberately she turned away, feigning interest in her surroundings. Yet the image imprinted on her retinas wasnt the white mansion with its picture windows, but the powerfully built man whose eyes locked on her. Everything about him, from his wide-set stance to that deep, muscled chest revealed by his open shirt, screamed strength.
Well, Mina was strong too. No bossy tycoon would intimidate her.
Nodding to Henri, she headed for the door.
She was greeted by Henris wife, Marie, whose smiling eyes and lilting accent made Mina relax in spite of herself.
Alexei is eager to meet you but perhaps youd like to freshen up first?
Mina smiled and shook her head. The flight by private jet had been far from onerous. Thank you, but no. Im eager to meet my host.
How...charming. The deep voice came from beyond Marie. Its cadence drew Minas skin tight, as if someone dragged a length of rich velvet across it. A shimmer of heat flared low in her body and she had to work to keep her expression bland.
Slowly, so slowly she seemed to feel each muscle and joint move, she turned her head towards the shadows.
Never had Mina been more grateful for her royal upbringing. Shed spent seventeen years learning to look composed and calm, even if shed never quite mastered regal. At twelve shed sat on podiums listening to interminable speeches. At fifteen shed held her own at royal dinners. Her polite interest expression could fool everyone but her sister.
Which meant the man watching her through narrowed eyes had no idea she felt as if someone had sliced the tendons at the backs of her legs.
Minas knees shook for the merest instant before she stiffened them, but her cool smile remained steady. As for the sizzle in her blood, no one else knew about that.
She waited for him to frown and say she wasnt Carissa Carter. Yet he simply stared down at her from his superior height. Could it really be that he didnt know what Carissa looked like? That flaw in her plan had kept her awake on the flight from Europe. Yet, against the odds, it appeared he didnt. So sure of himself. Arrogant enough to expect everyone to obey his every whim. So unquestioning.
Mina let her mouth curve slightly. Mr Katsaros. How lovely to meet you at last.
At last, Ms Carter? Youve been waiting to meet me? Surely your trip was admirably quick? His hint of indolent surprise and the tilt of one slashing eyebrow gave him an air of smug superiority.
Oh, it was. Mina looked down and flicked lint from her sleeve. Admirably so. Why, I didnt even have time to check my diary for commitments that might clash before I was whisked away. Or to arrange for someone to keep an eye on my apartment.
She let her brow pucker in a frown. I hope the fruit I bought doesnt spoil while Im away. And the milk. She let her smile widen. But I understand. Im sure youre used to wanting something and having it happen immediately. No time to waste on boring niceties like invitations or queries about whether the dates suited me.
Below his rumpled black hair grooves corrugated that wide brow. Mina raised her hand. Not that it matters. I know how terribly valuable your time is. After all, what could I possibly have scheduled that could be nearly as important?
From behind her Mina heard a snuffle from Henri that sounded suspiciously like a stifled laugh. Then he excused himself, murmuring something about putting her luggage away and prudently followed his wife down a corridor.
Which left Mina alone with Alexei Katsaros.
He didnt even seem to notice Marie and Henri leave. All his attention was on Mina.
If she were in the mood to feel fear it would have swamped her now, for the man watched her with the hyperawareness of a hunter. Then there was the sheer size of him, not only tall but well-built, all muscled strength beneath those straight shoulders. Shed caught a glimpse of a well-developed chest and taut abdominals that confirmed this man did far more than sit behind a desk, making money. His thighs beneath the faded jeans were those of a skier or a horseman, honed hard and strong.
Without taking his eyes off her, he slowly finished buttoning his white shirt. Then he tucked it into his faded jeans with a casual insouciance utterly at odds with the speculative gleam in his dark eyes.
Minas manufactured smile solidified as he took his time shoving the material down, his hand disappearing behind the denim. For reasons she couldnt fathom the sight of him dressing made her pulse quicken. Her palm prickled as if her own hand slid down that flat abdomen.
Im sorry, did my arrival wake you? The snap in her words betrayed her discomfort but Mina compensated for it by slowly taking stock of his tousled black hair and the dark shadow of beard growth across that solid jaw.
His hands fell to his sides and he stepped out of the shadows. The light hit sharply defined cheekbones, a well-shaped mouth and a stern blade of nose, down which he surveyed her. Mina was reminded of precious icons shed seen. But whereas those old saints had looked flat and unreal, this man exuded raw energy and the glint in his dark eyes was anything but unworldly. Alexei Katsaros was too...physical for sainthood. With his imposing size and posture he could model for a cavalry officer from a previous century, supercilious and deadly in a bright uniform, with a sabre at his side.
Mina repressed the warm shiver that started at the base of her spine and threatened to crawl, vertebra by vertebra, up her back.
You know you didnt wake me. We watched each other. His voice was both rough and dangerously soothing.
Mina couldnt explain it but he made the simple words sound almost indecent. As if theyd been naked at the time, or as if shed watched him doing something
So, youre concerned about your groceries, is that right? One dark eyebrow rose and it took a second for Mina to follow the change of subject. She was still lost in a hazy daydream of Alexei Katsaros stripping his shirt away and reaching for the button on his jeans. I can have one of my staff deal with your apartment, Ms Carter, since I put you to such inconvenience.
Mina wrenched her thoughts back to the man before her. The man whose satisfied smile told her he knew hed unsettled her. Whose tone conveyed that shed managed to needle him with her pointed comments about being dragged away.
Thats very kind, Mr Katsaros. She blinked up at him, mimicking Carissa, then thought better of it. Shed never batted her eyelashes in her life and wasnt about to start.
Something in your eye, Ms Carter? Not by a whisker did he betray a smile yet Mina knew he laughed at her.
To her surprise, Mina had to stifle a smirk of her own. He was right. She couldnt pull off such feminine wiles. She was better to stick at being herself.
Sand, probably. She blinked again. My own fault. I insisted on driving with the window down to enjoy the breeze.
Carissa would have shrieked at the thought of her hair getting messed up, but Alexei Katsaros didnt know that. Mina would have to get by with pretending to be a Mina version of Carissa. Less fluttery and uncertain, less overtly feminine, less willing to be bullied.
Thank you for the offer to take care of my apartment but I prefer not to have my home taken over by strangers. Im sure you understand.
He understood all right. His smugness fled as he registered that she referred to his staff whod politely yet inexorably ushered her from Carissas flat.
My staff disturbed you? You felt threatened in some way? His voice was sharp.
Had he really thought shed be happy, herded by armed bodyguards?
Mina remembered Carissas tears and frantic fear. How would she have coped, confronting those big men with cold eyes and suave suits?
Theyd been impeccably solicitous but Mina read in them the same quality shed seen in her fathers royal guards. Beneath the polish were men trained to use force. If shed refused to go, theyd have bundled her onto that private jet without a qualm.
Oh, I didnt feel at all threatened by anyone else while I was with them. She paused, letting him absorb her words. Would he understand theyd been the threat?
His expression didnt alter.
Clearly he had no idea how frightening it was for a woman not used to close personal protection to have stony-faced men wearing shoulder holsters usher her into an anonymous vehicle.
Suddenly weary, Mina suppressed a sigh. What was the point? He wouldnt care even if he understood.
Your staff were polite and incredibly...efficient. Im sure no express parcel could have been delivered to your door more quickly.
She looked away, letting her gaze rove the white marble foyer, taking in the carved Cycladic figurine in a niche on the far wall. Minas pulse quickened with interest but she couldnt afford to be distracted. Slowly she turned back to her host, whose hands, she noticed, were bunched in fists at his sides.
He stepped forward and Minas nape prickled. This close she realised those intent eyes were a stunning dark green, opaque and intriguing. Shed never seen the like. Momentarily she was mesmerised. Then she dragged her thoughts back to their conversation.
I prefer to make my own arrangements, Mr Katsaros. Im sure you understand.
* * *
Alexei understood all right.
He was being taken to task by a woman who didnt know she was playing with fire. Or did she believe she could set her own rules because he contemplated marriage?
That had to be it. There was no other explanation.
Hed wondered if Carters daughter was a spoiled princess. As far as he could tell, shed lived for years off her fathers, and by extension his own, largesse, while enjoying a dilettantes life.
Now he had his answer. Carissa Carter was used to getting her own way. Spoiled rotten, he had no doubt. Her father had led her to expect an advantageous match and she seemed sure it would happen.
Yet her words disturbed him. Had she really been frightened of his security staff? Alexei barely noticed them now, just considered them a normal part of life.
He stared down at the woman who continued to surprise him. It wasnt only her plain outfit, or the accent that wasnt quite as hed heard it over the phone, but then thered been interference on the line. Hed imagined someone more eager to ingratiate herself. More overtly charming.
Carissa Carter was more complex than hed imagined.
She was confident yet not in the way of a woman used to trading on male admiration. She carried herself with an intrinsic elegance that, when she looked down that straight nose at him, bordered on condescension. That intrigued. As did the intelligence shining in those sherry-coloured eyes and in the snarky undercurrent of her conversation.
Hed imagined Carters daughter more eminently dismissible. The man had said her nature was sweet rather than incisive and that she wasnt cut out for business. Alexei had assumed she was pretty but vacuous.
How wrong hed been.
Nor was she as hed expected her to look. He saw no resemblance to Carter in her dark hair, luminous eyes or expressive mouth. Her skin was golden, not pale, and she met his gaze with a direct curiosity that, at any other time, hed appreciate.
It evoked a hungry gnawing in the pit of his belly, a reminder that, despite his preoccupation with her father, Alexei was a vigorous man with healthy appetites.
He drew a slow breath, marshalling his thoughts, and was fascinated to see that, despite her sugared verbal barbs, Carissa Carter wasnt immune to him after all. Her eyes tracked the rise of his chest, her pupils dilating as if mesmerised. Then she blinked and turned away, feigning indifference.
Satisfaction stirred. Hed disliked her jabs about the way hed got her here, had even felt a stirring of remorse. Seeing that chink in her armour pleased him.
How remiss of me to keep a guest standing in the foyer. Alexei smiled and watched a tiny wrinkle appear above the bridge of her nose, as if she concentrated on not reacting. Fascinating.
Wont you come in? He stood aside and gestured for her to precede him into the main sitting room.
Thank you. She inclined her head in the slightest nod.
Alexei caught a hint of perfume as she passed. Another surprise. Hed expected some expensive designer scent but this was one hed never encountered. Instead of florals or cloying sweetness, shed chosen a fragrance that hinted at the exotic Near East. Alexei inhaled cinnamon and spice and a warm, earthy richness that made him think, bizarrely, of veiled temptresses in gauzy silks. He canted towards her.
Fortunately she didnt notice. She entered the sitting room with that leisurely, swaying stroll that spoke of casual confidence. As if she were accustomed to a billionaires luxury lifestyle. But then, given her fathers thievery...
He watched as she caught sight of the ancient sculpture against one wall. The torso of a young man, the musculature and veining of chest and arms superbly executed, the filmy fabric of his tunic the work of a master. She stiffened and drew a sharp breath. A second later she stood before the ruined masterpiece, her hand stretching momentarily towards it before dropping to her side.
Its magnificent. There was genuine awe in her words. Alexei recognised it. He felt the same way about the piece.
His mouth twisted. Despite all expectation he found Carissa Carter...refreshing. Perhaps it wouldnt be so tough pretending to be interested in her till her father arrived.
It was discovered at the bottom of the sea.
As if his words broke the spell of artistic appreciation, she spun around, that oversized black T-shirt swirling wide. What did she look like beneath it? The rest of her was slim and beautifully formed.
You have a very nice home, Mr Katsaros. Her voice appealed too. It was low and musical. Not high and breathy as he recalled it from the phone call. Though hed probably taken her by surprise with his invitation.
Alexeis mouth tightened. She was right. It had been a demand, not an invitation. Carissa had made him sound brutish and that annoyed him. But the situation demanded a swift resolution. He didnt have time for niceties.
Her eyebrows arched when he didnt respond to her small talk.
Call me Alexei.
Thank you, Alexei. Her voice slowed on his name and he felt the oddest sensation, as if shed reached out one slim hand and trailed it down his chest, right to his belly. Abdominal muscles clenched in response. Please, call me Carissa.
Carissa. He tested the sibilant on his tongue and saw her eyes darken. The sight sent another ripple of awareness through him. She was definitely attracted. You have an interesting accent. Not the same as your fathers.
Intriguingly she stiffened as if hed hit a weak point. It was the tiniest movement but unmistakeable to a man whod spent so long studying the vulnerabilities of business opponents.
My fathers accent is English. But we moved around a lot when I was young. I suppose mines a hybrid.
Alexei watched the unblinking way she held his gaze and wondered what she hid.
Yours is interesting too. She spoke quickly, clearly wanting to divert his attention.
Alexei was interested to find that despite his fixation on locating and punishing her father, his curiosity about Carissa increased by the moment.
He gestured for her to take a seat and sank down onto a leather lounge, crossing his ankles and leaning back.
Russian mother, Greek father, moved to London as a kid. He shrugged. Like yours, my accents a hybrid. More like mongrel, he silently corrected. Hed spent too long living precariously in places where the predominant language was that of the violent gangs who ruled through intimidation.
Silently Carissa nodded and sat opposite him. In contrast to her casual clothes her posture was graceful. With that long, slender neck and perfect poise he was reminded again of a dancer sweeping into a low curtsey. He could picture a tiara on her smooth, dark hair and a sheaf of flowers in her arms.
Tell me, Carissa, have you heard from your father?
Hes not here? Her expression flickered but too fast for him to read it.
No, but Im expecting him soon. As soon as Ralph Carter heard his precious daughter was staying at Alexeis private island hed hotfoot it here, hoping the marriage hed suggested would save him from Alexeis wrath. If that didnt work, Alexei had the perfect hostage to lure him from hiding.
I see. She chewed the corner of her mouth and then, as if aware of his scrutiny, offered a small smile. That will be lovely. Once more her direct look suggested she hid something. What?
So you havent heard from him?
No. He seems to have his phone switched off. Do you need to contact him urgently?
Alexei fought impatience. His desire for retribution against the one person hed actually trusted in decades hadnt eased. Fury curdled his gut. He couldnt believe hed been foolish enough to let Carter con him.
Not at all. In the meantime we can get to know each other better. That prospect grew more enticing by the moment.
She shifted in her seat, her first overt sign of nervousness. Intrigued, Alexei took his time surveying her, his fingers tracing a lazy circle on the soft leather of his chairs arm.
I want you to be happy here, Carissa. Let me know if theres anything you want.
Thats very kind of you, Alexei. For that matter, very kind of you to let me holiday here in this glorious place.
Shed changed her tune. Fifteen minutes ago shed been complaining about his staff and the speed with which hed brought her here. What had changed?
Every sense stirred. He scented not fear but caution, as if Carissa suddenly felt out of her depth. Not so sure of herself after all?
She wasnt his target; her father was. Yet that didnt stop a frisson of satisfaction at the suggestion Ms high and mighty Carter had second thoughts about her situation. If she was cast in the same mould as her father, it would do her no harm to learn she couldnt have everything her way. Especially if shed spent the past few years living off money her father had stolen from Alexei.
Oh, I dont consider it a kindness, given our special situation.
She stilled. It looked as if she didnt even breathe. Our special situation?
Of course. This time Alexeis smile was genuine. Since were marrying.
CHAPTER THREE (#u7bc6ec93-0453-5048-acd3-10880e5beafa)
MINAS MOUTH DRIED as she watched a slow smile transform Alexeis face. It wasnt a polite expression of friendship or amusement. It was a wide grin that she could only describe as dangerous.
More than that. Hungry. As if he wanted to sink those strong white teeth into her flesh.
She shivered as heat licked through her. Disgust, of course. She wasnt some dish served up to satisfy his appetite.
Yet, on the thought, Mina realised her response wasnt so simple. A shiver drew her breasts tight till her nipples beaded. Astonished, she realised she was torn between annoyance and excitement.
As if she wanted to satisfy Alexei Katsaross animal appetites. And hers, as well.
The realisation had her fingers clawing the arms of her chair as she fought the urge to reel back. As much at her own confusing reaction as at his overtly masculine perusal. He surveyed her like a man whod just bought a woman.
She despised him. Yet despite her outrage, Mina felt a thrill of anticipation.
By the time shed conquered her shock, there was no sign of that feral hunger in his expression. Had she imagined it?
Mina wasnt an expert on sex but shed had her share of admirers. Men whom she found it easy to resist. For some reason they were fine as friends, but when they wanted more, Mina didnt. Yet she knew what sexual interest looked like.
She couldnt see it in his face now.
Weve only just met. Her tone was cool.
One dark eyebrow rose. It was your fathers suggestion that wed make a good match. He told me youd agreed. Are you saying thats not the case?
Mina swallowed, ignoring the sandpaper abrasion of her throat, and wondered how best to play for time. All the way here shed told herself Carissa had been mistaken and that Alexei Katsaros couldnt want marriage. He didnt need to marry a stranger. He was rich, successful and good-looking.
Also impatient, determined and self-obsessed, if his idea of finding a wife was ordering her to his island and giving her no choice!
What had she landed herself in? Surely he hadnt brought her here for a wedding!
Shock jagged through her, stealing her breath. If so, then this masquerade would be over before it began. Mina forced herself to take a deep breath and think.
He did mention a possible marriage, but...
But?
We dont know each other! I cant agree to marry someone I dont know.
He said nothing, just crossed his arms, the movement drawing Minas attention to the depth of his broad chest and the muscled power of his biceps. He was a man whose physical size and fitness could daunt a woman who wasnt strong enough to stand up for herself.
So youre here to what? Get to know me?
Is that so unreasonable? Mina jumped on the idea like a lifeline. Were talking about a lifetime commitment.
The hint of a smile flickered at the corner of Alexeis mouth. Thats a refreshingly...old-fashioned view.
Mina let her eyebrows climb. Marriage is a serious commitment. Why enter into one if you dont plan to make it work? She wasnt sure why she didnt simply shrug off his comment. But marriage, like the right to make her own decisions, was something she felt strongly about. Her mother had married her countrys Sheikh not for love but because her family decreed it. It hadnt been a happy match.
I see your point. Alexei nodded.
So you understand I need time to determine if a marriage would work. Surely you want that too.
To assess if were compatible? Alexei didnt move, nor did his expression alter, yet the quality of that stare flicked a warning switch. Adrenalin surged in Minas blood. Heat consumed her as if hed surveyed every inch of her body with that searing scrutiny, instead of merely holding her gaze.
How did he do that?
More important, why did she react so?
Mina wasnt oblivious to men but shed never been swept off her feet, or into bed, by one. Her history made her cautious about ceding control to any man. Before his death, her father had mapped out her life, giving her no choice, even about the clothes she wore and the subjects she studied. Since leaving Jeirut for Paris shed devoted herself single-mindedly to art, determined to carve a career in the field she loved. The guys who tried to sidetrack her into a relationship had never caused a ripple in her world.
Now it wasnt a ripple she felt but an earth tremor.
Mina wouldnt let that daunt her.
She lifted one hand negligently. Before we worry about compatible perhaps we should start with finding out if wed survive the marriage without killing each other.
Alexei gave a crack of laughter. Good point, Carissa. The light dancing in his eyes made him look completely different. Like someone she wanted to know.
Mina stiffened.
The first time shed seen Alexei Katsaros, something happened that had never happened before. Her certainty had wavered and with it her confidence. Mina couldnt abide the idea of being tentative around him, like some gullible, awed girl. It was easier to confront him. She suspected if he exerted himself to be nice it would be too easy to feel the force of his charm.
Now, abruptly, as she met his smiling look, the events of the last twelve hours took their toll.
Exhaustion slammed into Mina. Despite her determination not to back down before this man, she felt herself slump. Adrenalin had kept her going. Now that dissipated, leaving her overtired limbs shaky and her head swimming.
She had to get out of here before she made a mistake. Mina was too weary to guard her tongue and thinking straight became harder by the second. This man with the piercing green eyes would trip her up, especially since she wasnt practised at lying.
If he discovered the truth, all this would have been for nothing. Carissa needed time to get away with Pierre and cover her tracks.
Im sorry, youll have to excuse me. Mina lifted her hand to cover a yawn, only to discover the fake yawn was real. Im suddenly very tired.
You didnt sleep on the flight? He looked surprised.
Mina shook her head. Shed been ushered onto the private jet late in the evening for the overnight flight to the Caribbean. But despite the comfortable bed, shed had too much going on in her head to sleep.
Its been a very long day. She glanced at her watch, trying to calculate the time difference but to her surprise, her mind was too foggy. Tiredness and stress took their toll. Ive been awake more than twenty-four hours. And yesterday had been a long day, even before Carissa had dragged her into this mess. Or, to be fair, since shed thrust herself into it to protect her friend.
Time to regroup before she said something she shouldnt.
Mina pinned on a smile, the multipurpose one she reserved for royal meet and greets. She hadnt used it in years and it felt rusty. Im sorry, Alexei, but Ill have to leave you for now. She rose, surprised at the effort it took to stand tall. Her knees were unsteady, and for a second she swayed.
Could you point me towards my room, please?
He loomed before her, the beginnings of a frown creasing his forehead. You look pale.
Im fine, she lied. How many hours had it been since shed eaten? She hadnt been in the mood for food on the plane, refuelling on coffee and lots of it, but now the caffeine had worn off and she felt as powerful as a dandelion in a strong wind. If you could show me the way?
When Alexei didnt immediately answer, Mina swung round towards the entry, remembering Henri heading down a corridor from there.
As she turned, another wave of tiredness hit and her movements lost their usual precise control. Her foot caught the edge of the plush carpet.
She didnt trip or stagger, just paused, swaying as she caught her balance.
Ill take you. The deep voice came from beside her ear as, to her astonishment, Alexei bent and curled his arms around her back and legs. An instant later she was in the air. Or, more precisely, in his arms, pressed against a hot body that seemed to be all solid muscle.
Minas breath stalled, then released on a shaky sigh at how extraordinary this felt. No one had ever held her like this. She registered conflicting feelings: shock, pleasure and an unexpected desire to burrow closer. As if Alexei were someone she trusted. Or desired.
Theres no need. The words were crisp, at odds with the strange wobbly feeling in her middle. It was impossible to sit straighter and assert control when she lay in his arms, unable to get any purchase.
Alexei ignored her words, marching out of the room.
With each step Mina felt her body move against his in a swaying rhythm that was surprisingly appealing. In other circumstances...
In other circumstances this wouldnt happen, ever.
Thank you for your consideration, she said between barely open lips. But I prefer to walk.
That made him pause. He angled his head to look down at her and Mina was bombarded with impressions. The hard perfection of his squared-off jaw. From this intriguing angle, it was a study in obstinate power. The soaring, proud cheekbones that spoke of ancient Slavic heritage. The flare of arrogant nostrils and the fly-away effect of his winged eyebrows. The steady pump of his heart against her ribs and the power of those iron-hard arms encircling her.
Something shivered to life in the pit of Minas belly. Something that grew as she inhaled a tempting cedar-and-citrus aftershave that melded with the hot, salt scent of male skin. Her nostrils twitched appreciatively and the shiver amplified.
Astounded, Mina watched his eyes darken, the pupils dilating.
The world eclipsed to the dark mystery of that shadowy stare, heating her in all sorts of places.
When he spoke the sound vibrated from his chest into her body. Shed never experienced anything as intimate as his voice reverberating through her while his eyes devoured her.
Relax. Im not going to hurt you.
Despite the certainty he wouldnt drop her, Mina couldnt ignore the inner voice screaming at her to get away. Being this close to Alexei Katsaros was perilous, whatever his stated intention.
I prefer to walk. If youll kindly put me down. Tiredness vanished, replaced with quivering watchfulness.
And have you trip and hurt yourself? He shook his head, his rumpled locks swinging free. I wouldnt forgive myself.
His tone was admirably sincere yet Mina read the tiny creases at the corners of his mouth and knew he was enjoying himself. Could he feel her heart hammer? She hated being vulnerable to him.
Before she could read any more, he looked away and began walking down the hall, carrying her easily, as if he carted unwilling women around every day.
Maybe he did.
Contrary to what you might have heard, Mr Katsaros, women are capable of thinking for themselves. We dont appreciate he-men making our decisions for us. I
Is that what you think I am? Annoyingly his pace didnt falter. What exactly does that mean? His jaw jutted as he ruminated. Someone very masculine? Someone who sees an exhausted guest and looks after her so she doesnt hurt herself?
Mina counted to ten. If she thought it would do any good, shed struggle against his hold. But, though fit, she was no match for all that hard-packed muscle, especially given his superior size. He was well over six feet. If Alexei Katsaros didnt want to release her she couldnt make him. The knowledge infuriated her and she began stringing together curses in her own language that she couldnt say lest he wonder how she knew Arabic.
She forced her gaze away from that annoyingly superior chin, focusing on the play of light and shadow on the ceiling as they passed down the hall.
After all, he continued, as you pointed out so eloquently, it was my fault your trip was so...precipitate. If Id been more conscious of your comfort Id have organised for you to travel during the day, or ensured the bed on the plane was more comfortable. Ill have it replaced.
Theres no need for that. The bed was quite comfortable. Even to her ears her voice sounded thin. She held on to her temper by a tiny margin. All her life shed been taught not to reveal anger. This time she dared not lose control because hed see it as a victory.
Then its a wonder you didnt sleep. Perhaps she caught movement in her peripheral vision and turned to see him send a teasing look her way you couldnt sleep because you were excited about visiting me.
Excited! About as excited as if she visited a zoo to see a rattlesnake. Mina sucked in a rough breath, then stilled as the movement made her more aware of Alexeis big hand on her ribs, close to her breast.
Perhaps I didnt sleep because I was busy contacting people to reschedule things for the period Ill be away. Since I had no opportunity earlier. She slanted him a frosty stare only to find that smile lurking around his mouth.
Ah, yes, no doubt your agenda is full of priority appointments. His expression didnt change but his tone revealed how unlikely he thought it.
Mina didnt bother to disabuse him. She might not run a multinational corporation, but nor was she idle. As well as the exhibition she was preparing for, she volunteered with disabled kids and at a nearby nursing home, doing art therapy. Plus, there was some admin work at a womens shelter, the latest design commission for the perfumery in Jeirut and another from a French company that had seen her perfume bottle designs and wanted something similar.
Mr Katsaros. Her patience was perilously close to failing. One more jibe and shed forget her resolve. I really must
Alexei, remember? His voice rumbled through her like an intimate caress. It was the final straw.
Put. Me. Down. Her voice rose from request to imperious command. Now!
Mina caught a flash of white teeth, a glimpse of glinting eyes and suddenly the world fell away as she dropped from his arms.
As you wish, Princess. He spoke as she landed with a puff of expelled air on her back. She was on a bed, looking up into dark, laughing eyes. But Mina was too tired and stressed to be amused. She didnt appreciate being the butt of his jibes or his arrogant certainty that her life was of negligible importance.
Mina jackknifed to a sitting position, swiping a cushion off the bed with one hand and throwing it in the same, fluid movement. She had the satisfaction of seeing it hit him square on his superior chin.
Be thankful that wasnt anything heavier. My aim is as good as any mans. She heaved a breath that, to her horror, felt far too shaky. Now, if youd have the decency to leave, Id like to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
* * *
Damn. Damn. Damn.
Alexei stalked away from the guest wing to the master suite.
What had got into him? Half an hour with Carissa Carter and hed veered between anger, attraction, approval and amusement. And far too much of all of them. He always controlled his emotions; he wasnt undercut by them.
He hadnt expected to be impressed by Carters precious princess. Hed been ready to write her off as a pampered bimbo who viewed the world through the prism of her greed for an easy life. Instead hed discovered someone witty, incisive, challenging and sexy. Ridiculously sexy, given her defiantly unfeminine clothes.
On Carissa Carter even a baggy T-shirt and leggings made his hormones surge. And that mouth. She was sharp-tongued in a superior way that made him want to take her mouth and discover what sweetness lay beneath its cutting edge.
There was definitely sweetness. Hed been surprised, when he held her, at the fretful way her pulse raced. Hed been mesmerised by her contrary reactions as she pretended not to respond. Her breathing had quickened, her pupils dilated, and hed read confusion beneath her scorn and defiance. Even her awe as she admired the sculpture in the sitting room had charmed him.
Hed lit from within at the feel of her, supple, streamlined and, he discovered, curved in the right places.
What would happen if he followed her down onto that bed? He couldnt remember the dark frenzy of desire ever being so immediate or urgent.
The very fact hed thought about it was a concern. Did he really want an affair with Carters daughter?
Logic demanded an unequivocal no. Instinct screamed yes.
Which was an excellent reason to pull back. Apart from the fact he didnt take advantage of vulnerable women.
Alexei rubbed a hand across his jaw as he entered his suite and crossed to the window to stand staring across the infinity pool to the sea beyond.
Guilt trickled down his spine. Bad enough that thered been a kernel of truth in Carissas accusation about how hed got her here. It had solidified into a jagged shard of ice when hed heard the hint of a wobble in her voice as she stared up at him from her bed. Shed been flushed and furious and hed revelled in his power to rile her, till hed heard the tiny crack in her fa?ade of superiority. Suddenly it hadnt seemed amusing.
It hit him that hed behaved like a kid pulling a girls pigtails, desperate to get her attention any way he could.
Him, desperate?
Hardly. Certainly not for the likes of Carissa Carter.
Except she wasnt as hed expected.
He scraped his hand across his chin, feeling the stubble he hadnt bothered to shave. He shouldnt allow himself to be diverted by her. She was incidental to his plans.
But, pending Carters arrival, there wasnt much he could do to bring those plans to fruition. Steps had been taken to contain the damage, and while Alexei checked in daily, working via computer and phone, his team was working hard.
Which gave him leisure to ponder his would-be bride.
Alexeis brow scrunched. Funny. Hed assumed Carissa would be eager to marry. Her father had come up with the idea, no doubt desperate to cement personal ties that would save him when his embezzlement came to light. The fact a woman in her mid-twenties was willing to go along with such a plan pointed to her being venal, marrying for money and position.
Too many women had tried to tie him down. Not for love, but as their ticket to wealth and privilege. Alexei didnt fool himself into believing they were attracted by his character or sense of humour. Some were drawn by his looks but money was the deciding factor.
Yet Carissa hadnt given an unequivocal yes.
Why? Did she believe if he had to work for what he wanted, hed appreciate her more? Because men enjoyed the chase?
He huffed a breath. Maybe she had something there. If shed walked in the door and promptly agreed with everything his interest wouldnt have been piqued.
Except by that delectable body, which hed discovered was curvier than hed first thought.
Except for her intelligence and sensitivity.
Alexei shoved his fists in his pockets and rocked back on his feet, annoyed. Hed been so caught up in the need to draw Carter out of hiding, he hadnt bothered researching the mans daughter.
Hed acted rashly, driven by fury that the one person hed trusted since his mother died had betrayed him.
That was a slashing wound that wouldnt heal till Carter was made to pay. It overset Alexeis equilibrium, evoking unwanted feelings that interfered with his decision-making.
It wasnt so much the money, but the personal affront of betrayal. The cold slap of horror that hed let himself be gulled into believing the man, liking him.
Carter had made a fool of him, conning him into giving his trust. Not just because of the mans work qualities.
But because Carter reminded him of his father.
Like Alexeis father, Carter appeared taciturn to outsiders, but his features broke into smiles when he mentioned his family. Uncannily, Carter also had a mannerism, a tilt of the head, that echoed Alexeis precious memories of the father whod died when Alexei was six.
Then there was his utter devotion to his spouse. Thered been no mistaking the mans devastation when his wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness. His stoic determination to do all he could for her had touched a chord with Alexei. Plus there was that unexpected weakness for silly puns and his scrupulous honesty, both hallmarks of his dad.
Alexei shook his head. Scrupulous honesty!
For years Alexeis motto had been trust no one. He and his mother had suffered because theyd been taken in by a conman. After his stepfather thered been others, loan sharks, employers, landlords, vultures whod preyed on his vulnerable mother, turning her life into a misery till finally loss and disappointment crushed her.
Alexei scraped a hand across his jaw, dragging himself back to the present. To the woman in one of the guest suites.
Hed acted instinctively, securing her to give him an edge. He should have ordered a dossier on her so he knew something about her before acting.
All he remembered from Carters conversations was that she lived in Paris, where shed attended an exclusive art school. She loved fashion and shopping and wasnt cut out for a commercial career. Alexei had gained the impression of a pampered airhead pretending to be an artist. A blonde airhead, he remembered from the photo Carter had waved before him and which he hadnt bothered to take in.
So Carissa Carter had dyed her hair. That was one extra fact about her.
Alexei considered ordering a full report on her. But why bother?
She was here. Whatever Alexei wanted to know, hed find out for himself. Hed enjoy the process.
CHAPTER FOUR (#u7bc6ec93-0453-5048-acd3-10880e5beafa)
MINA STARED AT the bathrooms enormous, full-length mirror and suppressed a groan. She looked like a stranger.
Carissa had said pink calmed her and made her feel centred. It was proof of how stressed shed been that shed packed only for her favourite colour. Almost everything in the case was pink. Candy pink, flesh pink, cerise, rose madder and more.
Minas mouth curled in an unwilling laugh as she surveyed herself. She wore a candy-pink skirt with matching strappy sandals and a pale pink top with a silver logo that incorporated a highly stylised Eiffel Tower and an open book. Carissa had designed it for an indie book festival in Paris, one of her first commissions.
Had Carissa really planned to wear these clothes to visit Alexei Katsaros? If so shed clearly had the Caribbeans casual, sunny reputation in mind, rather than any desire to dress up.
Or was her friend savvier than Mina gave her credit for? Maybe this wardrobe was her secret weapon, to prove she wasnt cut out to be a billionaires wife.
That stifled Minas humour.
Carissa needed her help and Mina wasnt quite as sure now about her ability to deal with her host.
Especially in a skirt that rode high on her thighs and a top that was more fitted than anything she usually wore. Mina wasnt ashamed of her body, but she covered more of it than her friend did. Plus Carissa was shorter and smaller in the bust, so the top was a snug fit. As for the miniskirt...
Mina shrugged. She had more to worry about than how much bare leg she displayed. Her only clothes were what shed worn on the plane and the ones Carissa had packed. Besides, she was on a tropical island. Alexei Katsaros would be used to guests wearing shorts or swimsuits. Or, given his reputation and the knowing gleam in those remarkable eyes, nothing at all.
How many beautiful women had he seduced here?
Mina blinked as she caught the direction of her thoughts. That wasnt her concern. Deftly she caught up her long hair, winding it round and up into a tight knot at the back of her head. She jabbed in a securing pin and turned away.
If Alexei dismissed her because of her clothes, or because she wasnt the biddable woman hed imagined, all the better. Clearly he hadnt expected her to voice her opinions or have more than a couple of brain cells to rub together.
It would be better if he concentrated on running his multibillion-dollar empire than on her. It hadnt even occurred to him that getting to know the woman he planned to marry was a good idea.
Remarkable!
Unbelievable!
What sort of man thought like that?
One who didnt expect to be questioned.
Who expected everyone to bend to his wishes.
Mina put away the hairdryer shed used and entered the palatial bedroom where shed slept like the dead for hours.
Her gaze rested on the bed shed remade after her nap. Inevitably the image that filled her mind was of looking up from there into that fabulously sculpted face, into eyes alight with mockery, and knowing that physically she was at his mercy. It had infuriated Mina, for shed had no choice but to put up with his macho posturing and derision.
That still smarted. She drew taller, pushing her shoulders back, as she relived the scene and wished she still had the small jewelled dagger shed worn as a ceremonial courtesy in Jeirut. It had been decorative but deadly, and Mina had insisted on knowing how to wield it. Would he have taken her more seriously if hed known she was fully capable of looking after herself, no matter what the situation?
The idea conjured suitably satisfying images, but her smile faded as she faced the real source of her concern.
Her reaction to Alexei Katsaros.
It wasnt only fury shed felt. Hed been interesting.
Lips twisting, Mina shook her head. Hed been fascinating. That combination of bold assurance and blatant sexuality would catch any womans attention. Especially since physically his form was...pleasing. But add to that occasional glimpses of humour and penetrating understanding that punctured her initial estimate of a smug bully, and you had a man who left her unsettled.
Mina tried to tell herself the disorientation of tiredness had made her react to him. But innate honesty wouldnt let her pretend.
She had to face the truth.
She disliked Alexei Katsaros and his high-handed ways. He was exactly the sort of man to make her hackles rise. Yet he made her blood heat.
She was attracted to him.
The situation shed rushed into for Carissas sake became fraught with unseen snares, like the notorious patches of quicksand in the desert of her homeland.
She hadnt reckoned on anything like this when shed blithely decided to help her friend. Dimly, she heard her fathers voice in her head, the memory of his disapproval as he complained of her impulsive ways. Shed tried to make him proud, do her duty no matter how dull or out of tune with her own interests. But shed been a source of frustration for him.
Face it, Mina. Nothing you did could satisfy your father. He didnt want a daughter who craved love, but an automaton who could be diplomatic on every occasion, no matter what the provocation.
Shed failed there, hadnt she?
Abruptly she spun on her foot and crossed to the glass doors that gave out onto a crystal pool and, beyond that, the tropical garden.
Minas eyes were drawn to the profusion of flowers, cadmium yellow, pale ochre and magenta. She felt the old temptation to reach for her sketchpad. To find peace by losing herself in art.
Instead she simply stood a little longer, inhaling the fragrance of salt air and unfamiliar floral perfumes, then set her shoulders and turned away. She couldnt hide forever. It was time to face her host.
* * *
She found him on a deep, shaded veranda. Overhead, a fan rotated lazily and the combination of wicker furniture and wide, wooden floorboards hinted at gracious days gone by, though the sprawling villa was modern.
Alexei sat, feet up, on a lounger, typing into a tablet. His hair was ruffled as if hed combed his fingers through it and his shirt was open again. Mina saw the dark smattering of hair on his sculpted pectorals and jerked her gaze away.
That tiny sizzle deep inside didnt bode well. Shed felt it before, when he carried her in his arms. Now just the sight of him set it off.
Frowning, Mina surveyed the garden, trying to control feelings she couldnt fully identify. On the other side of the pool, a sculpture caught her eye.
Youre awake. Excellent. Reluctantly Mina turned, fixing a bland expression on her face. Shed known this would be difficult but shed hoped her earlier response to him had more to do with fatigue than genuine attraction.
Fate was clearly laughing at her naivety.
Alexei set the tablet aside and swung his feet to the floor.
Please dont get up on my account. Youre working. Ill come back later. She was only too happy to delay being alone with him.
No, Ive finished. He gestured to the seats grouped around him and she had no choice but to take one.
Instead of a recliner, Mina selected an upright chair, conscious of the way her skirt rode even higher up her legs as she sat. Resisting the urge to tug her hem in a futile attempt to gain an extra few centimetres, she crossed her ankles and tucked her feet under her chair. She didnt look directly at her host but felt his gaze. It raked her from head to foot, then lifted again to linger on her legs and higher
Mina swung her head up abruptly and met his enigmatic dark gaze.
Had she been wrong? She could have sworn hed been ogling her. Or did her sensitivity about wearing Carissas clothes make her imagine things? The way her breasts tingled
What would you like to drink? As he spoke Marie rounded the corner of the veranda, as if in response to the summons of a silent bell.
Something cold would be good.
Champagne? A cocktail? Gin and tonic?
Mina glanced at her watch. Early afternoon. Obviously his usual guests indulged themselves. Mina, on the other hand, needed a clear head. Besides, she was in no mood to kick back and pretend this was a holiday. She felt too agitated around Alexei Katsaros.
A juice would be lovely, thanks. She smiled at Marie.
Of course, maam. And Ill bring some food.
Mina was about to protest that she wasnt hungry, then remembered she hadnt eaten in ages. Shed feel stronger after food. Shed better!
Marie turned to Alexei, a question on her face. In response he shook his head and gestured to a half-full jug of iced water. Im fine.
So he expected Mina to indulge while he stuck to cold water. Interesting. But then, hed been working and he hadnt built a hugely successful corporation by drinking the day away. Mina shot a glance at that firm chin and those uncompromising features and guessed Alexei Katsaros was good at discipline and control. Then her gaze collided with his and the impact sent a silent shudder of reaction through her.
.
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Annie West
The Greeks virgin brideis hiding her royal identity!While helping her friend escape an arranged marriage dutiful Princess Mina finds herself captive on enigmatic Alexei Katsaross luxurious private island! Mina must convince Alexei that shes his future bridebut she doesnt expect their scorching chemistry to be so deliciously overwhelming And after a night in the Greeks bed suddenly theres more at stake than just Minas hidden identityher hearts at Alexeis mercy too!
The Greeks virgin bride...
...is hiding her royal identity!
While helping her friend escape an arranged marriage, dutiful Princess Mina finds herself captive on enigmatic Alexei Katsaross luxurious private island! Mina must convince Alexei that shes his future bride, but she doesnt expect their scorching chemistry to be so deliciously overwhelming... And after a night in the Greeks bed, suddenly theres more at stake than just Minas hidden identityher heart is at Alexeis mercy, too!
Escape to an island paradise with the billionaire and his royal bride!
Growing up near the beach, ANNIE WEST spent lots of time observing tall, burnished lifeguardsearly research! Now she spends her days fantasising about gorgeous men and their love lives. Annie has been a reader all her life. She also loves travel, long walks, good company and great food. You can contact her at annie@annie-west.com or via PO Box 1041, Warners Bay, NSW 2282, Australia.
Also by Annie West (#u7bc6ec93-0453-5048-acd3-10880e5beafa)
Seducing His Enemys Daughter
A Vow to Secure His Legacy
The Flaw in Raffaeles Revenge
The Desert Kings Secret Heir
The Desert Kings Captive Bride
Contracted for the Petrakis Heir
Inherited for the Royal Bed
Her Forgotten Lovers Heir
The Princess Seductions miniseries
His Majestys Temporary Bride
The Greeks Forbidden Princess
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).
The Greeks Forbidden Innocent
Annie West
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-08742-1
THE GREEKS FORBIDDEN INNOCENT
2019 Annie West
Published in Great Britain 2019
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
This story is for Helen Sibbritt
Thank you so much for your enthusiasm,
support and never-failing good cheer!
Contents
Cover (#u6f7101dd-9046-5551-aaba-ef0f84291240)
Back Cover Text (#u78e15d93-1483-56d4-aee6-1035384f2756)
About the Author (#u363a1c6e-4b66-5c78-8911-942331bc7534)
Booklist (#u81502e94-fe0c-58d6-acb5-ded0074257b2)
Title Page (#u3f09e65e-2cda-5773-982b-00fd87410ef3)
Copyright (#u2e19f0d0-9068-5158-b26e-09c65cc8fef3)
Dedication (#u2ab99a19-88e8-51ac-94d6-4200ae6c5ff0)
CHAPTER ONE (#uc1604dae-3029-5aa5-bde6-bcdb19c584bf)
CHAPTER TWO (#u430dd0ff-c59e-574f-8517-8f2d0ad6ba5c)
CHAPTER THREE (#u31307f8a-6539-5039-9d61-9b157c6a9c12)
CHAPTER FOUR (#ud8b41f4e-1225-5f83-b8af-da7d6e43e97c)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#u7bc6ec93-0453-5048-acd3-10880e5beafa)
TAKE A DEEP BREATH, Carissa, and tell me slowly. Mina held her friends shoulders tight. And another. She nodded encouragingly as Carissas breathing grew more normal. Thats better.
While Carissa focused on her breathing, Minas gaze searched for the source of her friends distress. But there was nothing unusual in the entry to the other womans apartment. No blood. No disarray. No intruder. Just a large pink suitcase.
Yet something was definitely wrong. Carissa, the most easygoing person she knew, had grabbed Mina before she could open the door to her own apartment and yanked her in next door. There was real fear in Carissas china-blue eyes.
Come and sit and tell me about it.
No! Carissa shook her head and a cloud of golden curls spilled around her shoulders. Theres no time. Theyll be here soon. But I dont want to go. I cant go. Tears filled her eyes as her voice wobbled. I want Pierre! But hes not here in Paris. Hes abroad.
That at least made sense. Pierre was Carissas boyfriend.
Dont fret. No ones going to make you go anywhere you dont want to. Mina kept her voice calm, ushering her friend into the small sitting room and gently pushing her into a seat. Carissas whole body shook and her face was stark white.
Mina had received enough bad news herself to recognise shock. Her mother had died when she was young and just five years ago, when she was seventeen, her father had died unexpectedly from a brain aneurism.
Memories stirred of that terrifying time, held hostage in a palace coup after her fathers funeral. Then her sister Ghizlans sacrifice, forced to wed the coup leader, Huseyn, so he could become Sheikh. It seemed a lifetime away from Minas life now in France.
Tell me whats up so I can help. Mina pulled a chair close and took Carissas hands. Her face was, for the first time Mina could recall, bare of make-up and her shirt wasnt buttoned right. For Carissa this was a fashion catastrophe. More like Minas usual look than her own.
Minas frown deepened. Has someone hurt you?
Her stomach clenched as she remembered the day of the coup, the drench of icy fear as a soldier manhandled her, stopping her escape with brutal efficiency. She recalled the adrenalin rush galvanising her to fight back. It was the first time anyone had laid a hand on her. The first time shed become aware of the sheer, physical power men could exert over women. Until then, Minas royal status had protected her.
Carissa was trusting and gentle, always looking for the best in people. If someone had taken advantage of her
No, its nothing like that.
Minas shoulders sagged. Relief rushed through her. In the years theyd studied together at a prestigious Paris art school, and since, shed never seen Carissa distraught like this.
So who is coming? Where dont you want to go?
Carissas bottom lip quivered and she blinked hard.
Alexei Katsaros is sending someone. Theyll take me to his private island. A shudder ran through her. But I dont want to go. I cant. Even when Dad told me about it, I never thought it would actually happen! You have to help me, Mina. Please.
Minas worry eased and with it her frantic heartbeat. Not a life-and-death situation, then. She knew who Alexei Katsaros was. Who didnt? He was a megawealthy IT entrepreneur. Carissas father was one of his executives.
Is it an invitation to visit your father? Im sure Pierre would spare you for a short vacation.
Carissa shook her head. This isnt a vacation. Its an arranged marriage! Dad told me he hoped to organise it but I never thought hed bring it off. Alexei Katsaros can have his pick of women.
Mina said nothing. Carissa was extraordinarily pretty and sweet-natured. That, plus her innate desire to please, would appeal to lots of men.
I cant go through with it, Mina. Carissas fingers bit into hers. I could never love a man like that, so hard and judgemental. He wants a trophy wife, wholl do what he wants when he wants. My fathers told him Im pretty and biddable and... Her shoulders shook as the tears became sobs. I never thought it would come to this. It seemed impossible, laughable. But I dont have a choice. My fathers counting on me.
Mina frowned. Arranged marriages she knew about. If her father had lived hed have organised one for her.
Im sure no one will force you into anything. Unlike in Jeirut. Her sister had been forced into an unwanted marriage and Mina remembered feeling utterly helpless at being unable to prevent it. It had been a miracle when, against the odds, the pair later fell in love. The match had seemed doomed to end in misery. Your father will be there. If you explain
But hes not there, Carissa wailed. I dont know where he is. I cant contact him. And I cant say no to Mr Katsaros. Dad warned me thered been some trouble at work. He didnt say what, but I think his jobs on the line. Hes hoping this marriage will smooth everything over. Carissa clung to Minas hands, her fingers curling into talons. But I could never marry such a hard man. He has a new woman every week. Besides, Pierre and I are in love. Were getting married. A flicker of happiness transformed her teary features.
Youre getting married? Mina stared. She shouldnt be surprised; the pair were besotted.
Carissas smile died. We were planning to elope next weekend, when hes back from this business trip. Pierre says it will be easier to face his family with a fait accompli.
Pierre rose in Minas estimation. He was a lovely guy but hed never stood up to his stiff-necked family who wanted him to marry someone from old French money.
But I cant marry him if Im forced to marry Alexei Katsaros! Carissas tears overflowed.
Did Katsaros say he wanted to marry you?
As good as. He said my father had told him about me and he was anxious to meet. He believed wed find a lot in common and that we had a future together. Carissa bit her lip. I tried to fob him off but he didnt hear a word I said. He cut me off and said his staff would be here in an hour to collect me. What will I do?
Mina frowned. She didnt like the sound of this. He might be rich but that didnt excuse rudeness or give him the right to order Carissa around.
Tell me again exactly what your father told you.
But as Carissa spoke, Minas hope that her friend had overreacted dissolved. Thered recently been a rift between her father and his employer. After years of faithful service it seemed Katsaros might dump him. Mina couldnt approve of Mr Carters plan to use Carissa to cement his position, but such things happened. Several of Minas peers in Jeirut had been married to older men they barely knew to strengthen family or business links.
She gritted her teeth, watching Carissas hands flutter as she related the one-sided conversation with Alexei Katsaros. He hadnt invited Carissa to his island hideaway but simply informed her of the travel arrangements. As if she were freight to be transported, not a woman with a life of her own.
Minas temper rose like steam from a kettle.
She prized her freedom, appreciating how different her life was in Paris, away from a world where every major decision was made by the male head of her family. Western women accepted freedom as their right, not knowing how precious that was. And here was some billionaire bully, trying to snatch that from Carissa. With the help of her own father!
It wasnt right.
And theres nothing I can do. Carissa sniffled.
Of course there is. They cant force you onto the plane. Or into marriage.
I cant not go. What about my fathers job? She hiccupped. But if I go, what about Pierre? His family will find a way to stop our wedding.
Mina wanted to tell Carissa to grow a backbone and stand up for herself. But Carissa wasnt made that way. Besides, she cared for her father, though hed got her into this mess. Plus it sounded, from other things shed said, as if Mr Carter hadnt recovered from his wifes recent death. That might explain why hed slipped up at work. A good employer would make allowances for grief. Mina suspected Alexei Katsaros was a domineering tyrant, considering no one but himself.
Irresistibly, her thoughts dragged back to those fraught days after her fathers death. Her future and her sisters had hung in the balance, their fate determined by a man with little sympathy for their hopes and wishes.
Mina remembered the horror of being utterly powerless.
She refused to let Carissa become a chattel to buy her father out of trouble, or satisfy Katsaross desire for a convenient, biddable wife.
Ive packed a bag. I cant reach my father, so Ill have to go. But it means leaving Pierre. Carissa wrung her hands and Mina felt something snap inside.
Carissa was sweet but she had as much grit as a marshmallow. Between them, Katsaros and Carter could herd her into a marriage that would make her miserable for the rest of her life. Mina couldnt change her friend into a woman whod look a thug in the eye and send him packing, or tell her father he couldnt marry her off to a stranger. But she could delay things long enough for Carissa and Pierre to marry. A few days, a week at most.
How long before they collect you?
Carissas answer was drowned by a sharp rap on the door. She gasped and grabbed Minas hands.
The last shred of doubt fled Minas brain as she read her friends terror and despair. Carissa was a pushover, but Mina wasnt.
She got to her feet.
* * *
Still no sign of Carter, sir. He hasnt been home.
Alexeis grip tightened on the phone and he ground his teeth in frustration. But he refrained from chewing out the head of his London office. It wasnt MacIntyres fault Carter had done a bunk. Alexei should have acted sooner, but initially he hadnt wanted to believe Carters guilt. The man had been at his side for years, the only person Alexei really trusted.
That was why his betrayal cut so deep. Trust came hard to Alexei. Hed seen his mother betrayed and cast aside, made into a victim and her life shortened, because she trusted too easily.
Alexei bore a lot of the blame. Hed been gullible, falling for his stepfathers charm, believing the man genuinely cared. Hed persuaded his mother to let the guy into their lives. Too late they discovered hed only cultivated Alexei to get to his mother and her dead husbands insurance payment.
No one could accuse Alexei of gullibility now.
That was what made it so remarkable that, despite his caution, hed come to believe in Carter. It wasnt just his way with numbers. His almost uncanny knack for identifying problems and possible solutions. It was his reticence, his scrupulous separation of business and personal life. Hed been the perfect executive.
Until his double-dealing came to light.
Alexei felt that sucker punch of betrayal. Worse this time because he should have known better. He was no innocent kid.
Keep me informed. Have the investigator check in daily.
Yes, sir. Of course, sir.
Alexei ended the call and scraped a hand through his hair, telling himself hed grown soft. He should have acted sooner. Now he had to play catch-up.
He swung round to pace, ignoring the turquoise water and white sand beyond the window. He didnt want to be in the Caribbean, no matter how restful his private retreat. He wanted to be wherever Carter was. The mans depredations had been deep. Not enough to destabilise Alexeis business but enough to send a ripple of disquiet through anyone savvy enough to discover Alexei had been duped.
Despite his policy of employing the best, most innovative people in the industry, Alexei Katsaros was his company as far as the market was concerned. Hed worked hard to establish one of the worlds leading software companies and build a reputation as a canny entrepreneur. His nose for success was only rivalled by his companys groundbreaking IT solutions. News of his fallibility would crack that image and damage his companys position.
Damn Carter. Where was he hiding?
Alexei slammed to a halt as he heard a vehicle through the open window.
At last. The ace up his sleeve.
Alexei breathed deep, easing cramped lungs, assuring himself that now, finally, he had the upper hand.
He crossed to the window and watched as the four-wheel drive pulled up. The drivers door opened but before Henri could get out the front passenger door swung open and someone alighted.
Alexeis brow twitched into a frown. That couldnt be her. He waited for the rear door to open but it stayed steadfastly shut. Henri walked ponderously to the rear of the vehicle and pulled out a single suitcase of candy pink.
That was all. One suitcase and one passenger, though not the passenger he expected.
Alexeis frown became a scowl. The call from Paris had assured him that shed been collected from her apartment and deposited on his jet. Yet surely this wasnt Carters daughter. Hed expected a fashion tragic with mountains of luggage.
His gaze rested on the svelte figure of a woman who stood, hands on her hips and head back, surveying his home. Far from being addicted to high-end fashion as hed been led to believe, she wasnt dressed in designer casuals for a tropical island holiday, but for...what? A yoga class? An artists garret?
Understanding took root. That was it.
Carter, when hed raised the preposterous idea of a match between Alexei and his daughter, had waxed voluble about the girl hed never mentioned in years of employment. Hed wittered on about her beauty and charm, her sweet disposition and eagerness to please. And her aspirations to be an artist in between shopping. She lived in Paris, playing at an artistic career, no doubt funded by the money Carter had embezzled from Alexei.
Pain radiated from Alexeis jaw down his neck to his tight shoulders.
He yanked his thoughts from Carters crimes to the mans daughter.
She took her pretensions seriously. Or perhaps the outfit was for his benefit, though surely it wasnt designed to please a man. Flat black shoes, black leggings and an oversized black T-shirt that gaped over one shoulder.
Definitely not Alexeis style. He preferred a woman who dressed like a woman.
Yet even as he dismissed Carissa Carter as not his type, his gaze lingered on the length of shapely legs silhouetted in black. Long legs, the sort of legs hed enjoy wrapped around his waist during sex.
His gaze flicked higher, skimming her slight figure. He supposed, in the right gear, shed be a perfect clothes horse, but personally he preferred a woman whose curves were more abundant.
Then the tilt of her head altered and he found himself face-to-face with her.
She was too far away for him to make out her features properly. Just good bone structure and dark hair pulled ruthlessly back into a bun. He had the impression of a wide, mobile mouth, but he wasnt paying attention. His thoughts were on the sudden throb pulsing through his belly.
It couldnt be attraction. Not for the daughter of a criminal. A woman whose lifestyle had probably fed her fathers depredations. He had no proof Carissa Carter knew of her fathers crimes, but shed benefited. Maybe shed been in on the scheme, eager to fund her easy life in Paris. Alexei couldnt trust her. Hed play the part of eager suitor, pretending he was in the market for a wife.
As if he needed a third party to find him a woman!
He stared back at her, expecting her to duck her head and pretend not to see him.
Instead she stood motionless, watching as if he were under the microscope. It was a curious feeling. Alexei was used to people inclining their heads in agreement or deference. Except women, who tended to stare.
Carissas bold regard was something altogether different. It sent heat skittering down his spine, drawing every sense to hyperalert.
Finally, after shed looked her fill, she turned to Henri. Alexei caught a flash of white teeth as she smiled but it was the coltish grace of her movements that held his attention. There was a fluidity to her supple body that reminded him of a Russian ballet dancer with whom hed once shared a fiery affair. Alexei recalled not only the dancers grace but her athleticism and body awareness that had taken sexual pleasure to a new level.
He watched Carissa Carter saunter towards his house. Shoulders back, head up, yet she didnt march. Instead that loose-limbed stroll was a symphony of sensual femininity.
For his benefit?
Of course.
His guest might play at being the bohemian artist, but if she was her fathers daughter, shed have her eye on the main game, getting Alexeis money.
For the first time since hed learned of Carters betrayal, Alexei smiled.
He didnt want the woman here, except as bait to draw her father. The fact shed accepted his summons told him shed sell herself into marriage with a man she didnt even know. Though she knew the size of his bank balance. That regularly featured in rich lists around the world.
It could be amusing watching her try to seduce him.
CHAPTER TWO (#u7bc6ec93-0453-5048-acd3-10880e5beafa)
MINA KNEW ABOUT WEALTH. Shed been born royal. But her family riches and privilege were tied to duty, responsibility and service. The palace where shed grown up had been the nerve centre for her countrys administration.
This was pure sybaritic indulgence.
As if it wasnt enough to own a tropical island rimmed with beaches so white they looked like sugar frosting, Alexei Katsaross home was the last word in luxury. The pool wrapped around the house so every room looked out on water. There was a bar actually in the pool too, so he and his guests wouldnt have to stir from the water to get a drink.
Four-poster daybeds were scattered around the pool, their gauzy hangings romantic and alluring. Her artists eye appreciated the cushions in turquoise, teal and jade that reflected the vibrant shades of the tropical garden and the sea beyond. Then there were the sculptures in pale stone, which she glimpsed through the greenery. She itched to detour and investigate.
Forcibly she yanked her attention back to the house. The huge entry door stood open. Beside her, Henri waited for her to precede him.
Strange, this momentary hesitation.
All the way from Paris shed been buoyed by indignation on Carissas behalf. Now though, Mina knew an uncharacteristic moment of doubt. A wariness at odds with her practice of facing problems head-on.
Her impulsiveness, her father would have said.
Why? Mina wasnt overawed by Katsaross wealth, or cowed by any threat he could make.
Yet for a moment, as her gaze locked on the big man watching her from inside, something unfamiliar quivered through her. Something starkly unsettling.
An inner voice urged her to flee while she had the chance.
Of course she lifted her chin and stared right back instead.
The bright bowl of azure sky above her seemed to drop lower, the air thickening as she drew a slow, steadying breath. Still, he held her gaze.
Her bloodstream fizzed, making her fingers and the soles of her feet tingle. For a second she wondered if shed been hit by a bolt of lightning out of the clear sky, till reason told her that was impossible.
Deliberately she turned away, feigning interest in her surroundings. Yet the image imprinted on her retinas wasnt the white mansion with its picture windows, but the powerfully built man whose eyes locked on her. Everything about him, from his wide-set stance to that deep, muscled chest revealed by his open shirt, screamed strength.
Well, Mina was strong too. No bossy tycoon would intimidate her.
Nodding to Henri, she headed for the door.
She was greeted by Henris wife, Marie, whose smiling eyes and lilting accent made Mina relax in spite of herself.
Alexei is eager to meet you but perhaps youd like to freshen up first?
Mina smiled and shook her head. The flight by private jet had been far from onerous. Thank you, but no. Im eager to meet my host.
How...charming. The deep voice came from beyond Marie. Its cadence drew Minas skin tight, as if someone dragged a length of rich velvet across it. A shimmer of heat flared low in her body and she had to work to keep her expression bland.
Slowly, so slowly she seemed to feel each muscle and joint move, she turned her head towards the shadows.
Never had Mina been more grateful for her royal upbringing. Shed spent seventeen years learning to look composed and calm, even if shed never quite mastered regal. At twelve shed sat on podiums listening to interminable speeches. At fifteen shed held her own at royal dinners. Her polite interest expression could fool everyone but her sister.
Which meant the man watching her through narrowed eyes had no idea she felt as if someone had sliced the tendons at the backs of her legs.
Minas knees shook for the merest instant before she stiffened them, but her cool smile remained steady. As for the sizzle in her blood, no one else knew about that.
She waited for him to frown and say she wasnt Carissa Carter. Yet he simply stared down at her from his superior height. Could it really be that he didnt know what Carissa looked like? That flaw in her plan had kept her awake on the flight from Europe. Yet, against the odds, it appeared he didnt. So sure of himself. Arrogant enough to expect everyone to obey his every whim. So unquestioning.
Mina let her mouth curve slightly. Mr Katsaros. How lovely to meet you at last.
At last, Ms Carter? Youve been waiting to meet me? Surely your trip was admirably quick? His hint of indolent surprise and the tilt of one slashing eyebrow gave him an air of smug superiority.
Oh, it was. Mina looked down and flicked lint from her sleeve. Admirably so. Why, I didnt even have time to check my diary for commitments that might clash before I was whisked away. Or to arrange for someone to keep an eye on my apartment.
She let her brow pucker in a frown. I hope the fruit I bought doesnt spoil while Im away. And the milk. She let her smile widen. But I understand. Im sure youre used to wanting something and having it happen immediately. No time to waste on boring niceties like invitations or queries about whether the dates suited me.
Below his rumpled black hair grooves corrugated that wide brow. Mina raised her hand. Not that it matters. I know how terribly valuable your time is. After all, what could I possibly have scheduled that could be nearly as important?
From behind her Mina heard a snuffle from Henri that sounded suspiciously like a stifled laugh. Then he excused himself, murmuring something about putting her luggage away and prudently followed his wife down a corridor.
Which left Mina alone with Alexei Katsaros.
He didnt even seem to notice Marie and Henri leave. All his attention was on Mina.
If she were in the mood to feel fear it would have swamped her now, for the man watched her with the hyperawareness of a hunter. Then there was the sheer size of him, not only tall but well-built, all muscled strength beneath those straight shoulders. Shed caught a glimpse of a well-developed chest and taut abdominals that confirmed this man did far more than sit behind a desk, making money. His thighs beneath the faded jeans were those of a skier or a horseman, honed hard and strong.
Without taking his eyes off her, he slowly finished buttoning his white shirt. Then he tucked it into his faded jeans with a casual insouciance utterly at odds with the speculative gleam in his dark eyes.
Minas manufactured smile solidified as he took his time shoving the material down, his hand disappearing behind the denim. For reasons she couldnt fathom the sight of him dressing made her pulse quicken. Her palm prickled as if her own hand slid down that flat abdomen.
Im sorry, did my arrival wake you? The snap in her words betrayed her discomfort but Mina compensated for it by slowly taking stock of his tousled black hair and the dark shadow of beard growth across that solid jaw.
His hands fell to his sides and he stepped out of the shadows. The light hit sharply defined cheekbones, a well-shaped mouth and a stern blade of nose, down which he surveyed her. Mina was reminded of precious icons shed seen. But whereas those old saints had looked flat and unreal, this man exuded raw energy and the glint in his dark eyes was anything but unworldly. Alexei Katsaros was too...physical for sainthood. With his imposing size and posture he could model for a cavalry officer from a previous century, supercilious and deadly in a bright uniform, with a sabre at his side.
Mina repressed the warm shiver that started at the base of her spine and threatened to crawl, vertebra by vertebra, up her back.
You know you didnt wake me. We watched each other. His voice was both rough and dangerously soothing.
Mina couldnt explain it but he made the simple words sound almost indecent. As if theyd been naked at the time, or as if shed watched him doing something
So, youre concerned about your groceries, is that right? One dark eyebrow rose and it took a second for Mina to follow the change of subject. She was still lost in a hazy daydream of Alexei Katsaros stripping his shirt away and reaching for the button on his jeans. I can have one of my staff deal with your apartment, Ms Carter, since I put you to such inconvenience.
Mina wrenched her thoughts back to the man before her. The man whose satisfied smile told her he knew hed unsettled her. Whose tone conveyed that shed managed to needle him with her pointed comments about being dragged away.
Thats very kind, Mr Katsaros. She blinked up at him, mimicking Carissa, then thought better of it. Shed never batted her eyelashes in her life and wasnt about to start.
Something in your eye, Ms Carter? Not by a whisker did he betray a smile yet Mina knew he laughed at her.
To her surprise, Mina had to stifle a smirk of her own. He was right. She couldnt pull off such feminine wiles. She was better to stick at being herself.
Sand, probably. She blinked again. My own fault. I insisted on driving with the window down to enjoy the breeze.
Carissa would have shrieked at the thought of her hair getting messed up, but Alexei Katsaros didnt know that. Mina would have to get by with pretending to be a Mina version of Carissa. Less fluttery and uncertain, less overtly feminine, less willing to be bullied.
Thank you for the offer to take care of my apartment but I prefer not to have my home taken over by strangers. Im sure you understand.
He understood all right. His smugness fled as he registered that she referred to his staff whod politely yet inexorably ushered her from Carissas flat.
My staff disturbed you? You felt threatened in some way? His voice was sharp.
Had he really thought shed be happy, herded by armed bodyguards?
Mina remembered Carissas tears and frantic fear. How would she have coped, confronting those big men with cold eyes and suave suits?
Theyd been impeccably solicitous but Mina read in them the same quality shed seen in her fathers royal guards. Beneath the polish were men trained to use force. If shed refused to go, theyd have bundled her onto that private jet without a qualm.
Oh, I didnt feel at all threatened by anyone else while I was with them. She paused, letting him absorb her words. Would he understand theyd been the threat?
His expression didnt alter.
Clearly he had no idea how frightening it was for a woman not used to close personal protection to have stony-faced men wearing shoulder holsters usher her into an anonymous vehicle.
Suddenly weary, Mina suppressed a sigh. What was the point? He wouldnt care even if he understood.
Your staff were polite and incredibly...efficient. Im sure no express parcel could have been delivered to your door more quickly.
She looked away, letting her gaze rove the white marble foyer, taking in the carved Cycladic figurine in a niche on the far wall. Minas pulse quickened with interest but she couldnt afford to be distracted. Slowly she turned back to her host, whose hands, she noticed, were bunched in fists at his sides.
He stepped forward and Minas nape prickled. This close she realised those intent eyes were a stunning dark green, opaque and intriguing. Shed never seen the like. Momentarily she was mesmerised. Then she dragged her thoughts back to their conversation.
I prefer to make my own arrangements, Mr Katsaros. Im sure you understand.
* * *
Alexei understood all right.
He was being taken to task by a woman who didnt know she was playing with fire. Or did she believe she could set her own rules because he contemplated marriage?
That had to be it. There was no other explanation.
Hed wondered if Carters daughter was a spoiled princess. As far as he could tell, shed lived for years off her fathers, and by extension his own, largesse, while enjoying a dilettantes life.
Now he had his answer. Carissa Carter was used to getting her own way. Spoiled rotten, he had no doubt. Her father had led her to expect an advantageous match and she seemed sure it would happen.
Yet her words disturbed him. Had she really been frightened of his security staff? Alexei barely noticed them now, just considered them a normal part of life.
He stared down at the woman who continued to surprise him. It wasnt only her plain outfit, or the accent that wasnt quite as hed heard it over the phone, but then thered been interference on the line. Hed imagined someone more eager to ingratiate herself. More overtly charming.
Carissa Carter was more complex than hed imagined.
She was confident yet not in the way of a woman used to trading on male admiration. She carried herself with an intrinsic elegance that, when she looked down that straight nose at him, bordered on condescension. That intrigued. As did the intelligence shining in those sherry-coloured eyes and in the snarky undercurrent of her conversation.
Hed imagined Carters daughter more eminently dismissible. The man had said her nature was sweet rather than incisive and that she wasnt cut out for business. Alexei had assumed she was pretty but vacuous.
How wrong hed been.
Nor was she as hed expected her to look. He saw no resemblance to Carter in her dark hair, luminous eyes or expressive mouth. Her skin was golden, not pale, and she met his gaze with a direct curiosity that, at any other time, hed appreciate.
It evoked a hungry gnawing in the pit of his belly, a reminder that, despite his preoccupation with her father, Alexei was a vigorous man with healthy appetites.
He drew a slow breath, marshalling his thoughts, and was fascinated to see that, despite her sugared verbal barbs, Carissa Carter wasnt immune to him after all. Her eyes tracked the rise of his chest, her pupils dilating as if mesmerised. Then she blinked and turned away, feigning indifference.
Satisfaction stirred. Hed disliked her jabs about the way hed got her here, had even felt a stirring of remorse. Seeing that chink in her armour pleased him.
How remiss of me to keep a guest standing in the foyer. Alexei smiled and watched a tiny wrinkle appear above the bridge of her nose, as if she concentrated on not reacting. Fascinating.
Wont you come in? He stood aside and gestured for her to precede him into the main sitting room.
Thank you. She inclined her head in the slightest nod.
Alexei caught a hint of perfume as she passed. Another surprise. Hed expected some expensive designer scent but this was one hed never encountered. Instead of florals or cloying sweetness, shed chosen a fragrance that hinted at the exotic Near East. Alexei inhaled cinnamon and spice and a warm, earthy richness that made him think, bizarrely, of veiled temptresses in gauzy silks. He canted towards her.
Fortunately she didnt notice. She entered the sitting room with that leisurely, swaying stroll that spoke of casual confidence. As if she were accustomed to a billionaires luxury lifestyle. But then, given her fathers thievery...
He watched as she caught sight of the ancient sculpture against one wall. The torso of a young man, the musculature and veining of chest and arms superbly executed, the filmy fabric of his tunic the work of a master. She stiffened and drew a sharp breath. A second later she stood before the ruined masterpiece, her hand stretching momentarily towards it before dropping to her side.
Its magnificent. There was genuine awe in her words. Alexei recognised it. He felt the same way about the piece.
His mouth twisted. Despite all expectation he found Carissa Carter...refreshing. Perhaps it wouldnt be so tough pretending to be interested in her till her father arrived.
It was discovered at the bottom of the sea.
As if his words broke the spell of artistic appreciation, she spun around, that oversized black T-shirt swirling wide. What did she look like beneath it? The rest of her was slim and beautifully formed.
You have a very nice home, Mr Katsaros. Her voice appealed too. It was low and musical. Not high and breathy as he recalled it from the phone call. Though hed probably taken her by surprise with his invitation.
Alexeis mouth tightened. She was right. It had been a demand, not an invitation. Carissa had made him sound brutish and that annoyed him. But the situation demanded a swift resolution. He didnt have time for niceties.
Her eyebrows arched when he didnt respond to her small talk.
Call me Alexei.
Thank you, Alexei. Her voice slowed on his name and he felt the oddest sensation, as if shed reached out one slim hand and trailed it down his chest, right to his belly. Abdominal muscles clenched in response. Please, call me Carissa.
Carissa. He tested the sibilant on his tongue and saw her eyes darken. The sight sent another ripple of awareness through him. She was definitely attracted. You have an interesting accent. Not the same as your fathers.
Intriguingly she stiffened as if hed hit a weak point. It was the tiniest movement but unmistakeable to a man whod spent so long studying the vulnerabilities of business opponents.
My fathers accent is English. But we moved around a lot when I was young. I suppose mines a hybrid.
Alexei watched the unblinking way she held his gaze and wondered what she hid.
Yours is interesting too. She spoke quickly, clearly wanting to divert his attention.
Alexei was interested to find that despite his fixation on locating and punishing her father, his curiosity about Carissa increased by the moment.
He gestured for her to take a seat and sank down onto a leather lounge, crossing his ankles and leaning back.
Russian mother, Greek father, moved to London as a kid. He shrugged. Like yours, my accents a hybrid. More like mongrel, he silently corrected. Hed spent too long living precariously in places where the predominant language was that of the violent gangs who ruled through intimidation.
Silently Carissa nodded and sat opposite him. In contrast to her casual clothes her posture was graceful. With that long, slender neck and perfect poise he was reminded again of a dancer sweeping into a low curtsey. He could picture a tiara on her smooth, dark hair and a sheaf of flowers in her arms.
Tell me, Carissa, have you heard from your father?
Hes not here? Her expression flickered but too fast for him to read it.
No, but Im expecting him soon. As soon as Ralph Carter heard his precious daughter was staying at Alexeis private island hed hotfoot it here, hoping the marriage hed suggested would save him from Alexeis wrath. If that didnt work, Alexei had the perfect hostage to lure him from hiding.
I see. She chewed the corner of her mouth and then, as if aware of his scrutiny, offered a small smile. That will be lovely. Once more her direct look suggested she hid something. What?
So you havent heard from him?
No. He seems to have his phone switched off. Do you need to contact him urgently?
Alexei fought impatience. His desire for retribution against the one person hed actually trusted in decades hadnt eased. Fury curdled his gut. He couldnt believe hed been foolish enough to let Carter con him.
Not at all. In the meantime we can get to know each other better. That prospect grew more enticing by the moment.
She shifted in her seat, her first overt sign of nervousness. Intrigued, Alexei took his time surveying her, his fingers tracing a lazy circle on the soft leather of his chairs arm.
I want you to be happy here, Carissa. Let me know if theres anything you want.
Thats very kind of you, Alexei. For that matter, very kind of you to let me holiday here in this glorious place.
Shed changed her tune. Fifteen minutes ago shed been complaining about his staff and the speed with which hed brought her here. What had changed?
Every sense stirred. He scented not fear but caution, as if Carissa suddenly felt out of her depth. Not so sure of herself after all?
She wasnt his target; her father was. Yet that didnt stop a frisson of satisfaction at the suggestion Ms high and mighty Carter had second thoughts about her situation. If she was cast in the same mould as her father, it would do her no harm to learn she couldnt have everything her way. Especially if shed spent the past few years living off money her father had stolen from Alexei.
Oh, I dont consider it a kindness, given our special situation.
She stilled. It looked as if she didnt even breathe. Our special situation?
Of course. This time Alexeis smile was genuine. Since were marrying.
CHAPTER THREE (#u7bc6ec93-0453-5048-acd3-10880e5beafa)
MINAS MOUTH DRIED as she watched a slow smile transform Alexeis face. It wasnt a polite expression of friendship or amusement. It was a wide grin that she could only describe as dangerous.
More than that. Hungry. As if he wanted to sink those strong white teeth into her flesh.
She shivered as heat licked through her. Disgust, of course. She wasnt some dish served up to satisfy his appetite.
Yet, on the thought, Mina realised her response wasnt so simple. A shiver drew her breasts tight till her nipples beaded. Astonished, she realised she was torn between annoyance and excitement.
As if she wanted to satisfy Alexei Katsaross animal appetites. And hers, as well.
The realisation had her fingers clawing the arms of her chair as she fought the urge to reel back. As much at her own confusing reaction as at his overtly masculine perusal. He surveyed her like a man whod just bought a woman.
She despised him. Yet despite her outrage, Mina felt a thrill of anticipation.
By the time shed conquered her shock, there was no sign of that feral hunger in his expression. Had she imagined it?
Mina wasnt an expert on sex but shed had her share of admirers. Men whom she found it easy to resist. For some reason they were fine as friends, but when they wanted more, Mina didnt. Yet she knew what sexual interest looked like.
She couldnt see it in his face now.
Weve only just met. Her tone was cool.
One dark eyebrow rose. It was your fathers suggestion that wed make a good match. He told me youd agreed. Are you saying thats not the case?
Mina swallowed, ignoring the sandpaper abrasion of her throat, and wondered how best to play for time. All the way here shed told herself Carissa had been mistaken and that Alexei Katsaros couldnt want marriage. He didnt need to marry a stranger. He was rich, successful and good-looking.
Also impatient, determined and self-obsessed, if his idea of finding a wife was ordering her to his island and giving her no choice!
What had she landed herself in? Surely he hadnt brought her here for a wedding!
Shock jagged through her, stealing her breath. If so, then this masquerade would be over before it began. Mina forced herself to take a deep breath and think.
He did mention a possible marriage, but...
But?
We dont know each other! I cant agree to marry someone I dont know.
He said nothing, just crossed his arms, the movement drawing Minas attention to the depth of his broad chest and the muscled power of his biceps. He was a man whose physical size and fitness could daunt a woman who wasnt strong enough to stand up for herself.
So youre here to what? Get to know me?
Is that so unreasonable? Mina jumped on the idea like a lifeline. Were talking about a lifetime commitment.
The hint of a smile flickered at the corner of Alexeis mouth. Thats a refreshingly...old-fashioned view.
Mina let her eyebrows climb. Marriage is a serious commitment. Why enter into one if you dont plan to make it work? She wasnt sure why she didnt simply shrug off his comment. But marriage, like the right to make her own decisions, was something she felt strongly about. Her mother had married her countrys Sheikh not for love but because her family decreed it. It hadnt been a happy match.
I see your point. Alexei nodded.
So you understand I need time to determine if a marriage would work. Surely you want that too.
To assess if were compatible? Alexei didnt move, nor did his expression alter, yet the quality of that stare flicked a warning switch. Adrenalin surged in Minas blood. Heat consumed her as if hed surveyed every inch of her body with that searing scrutiny, instead of merely holding her gaze.
How did he do that?
More important, why did she react so?
Mina wasnt oblivious to men but shed never been swept off her feet, or into bed, by one. Her history made her cautious about ceding control to any man. Before his death, her father had mapped out her life, giving her no choice, even about the clothes she wore and the subjects she studied. Since leaving Jeirut for Paris shed devoted herself single-mindedly to art, determined to carve a career in the field she loved. The guys who tried to sidetrack her into a relationship had never caused a ripple in her world.
Now it wasnt a ripple she felt but an earth tremor.
Mina wouldnt let that daunt her.
She lifted one hand negligently. Before we worry about compatible perhaps we should start with finding out if wed survive the marriage without killing each other.
Alexei gave a crack of laughter. Good point, Carissa. The light dancing in his eyes made him look completely different. Like someone she wanted to know.
Mina stiffened.
The first time shed seen Alexei Katsaros, something happened that had never happened before. Her certainty had wavered and with it her confidence. Mina couldnt abide the idea of being tentative around him, like some gullible, awed girl. It was easier to confront him. She suspected if he exerted himself to be nice it would be too easy to feel the force of his charm.
Now, abruptly, as she met his smiling look, the events of the last twelve hours took their toll.
Exhaustion slammed into Mina. Despite her determination not to back down before this man, she felt herself slump. Adrenalin had kept her going. Now that dissipated, leaving her overtired limbs shaky and her head swimming.
She had to get out of here before she made a mistake. Mina was too weary to guard her tongue and thinking straight became harder by the second. This man with the piercing green eyes would trip her up, especially since she wasnt practised at lying.
If he discovered the truth, all this would have been for nothing. Carissa needed time to get away with Pierre and cover her tracks.
Im sorry, youll have to excuse me. Mina lifted her hand to cover a yawn, only to discover the fake yawn was real. Im suddenly very tired.
You didnt sleep on the flight? He looked surprised.
Mina shook her head. Shed been ushered onto the private jet late in the evening for the overnight flight to the Caribbean. But despite the comfortable bed, shed had too much going on in her head to sleep.
Its been a very long day. She glanced at her watch, trying to calculate the time difference but to her surprise, her mind was too foggy. Tiredness and stress took their toll. Ive been awake more than twenty-four hours. And yesterday had been a long day, even before Carissa had dragged her into this mess. Or, to be fair, since shed thrust herself into it to protect her friend.
Time to regroup before she said something she shouldnt.
Mina pinned on a smile, the multipurpose one she reserved for royal meet and greets. She hadnt used it in years and it felt rusty. Im sorry, Alexei, but Ill have to leave you for now. She rose, surprised at the effort it took to stand tall. Her knees were unsteady, and for a second she swayed.
Could you point me towards my room, please?
He loomed before her, the beginnings of a frown creasing his forehead. You look pale.
Im fine, she lied. How many hours had it been since shed eaten? She hadnt been in the mood for food on the plane, refuelling on coffee and lots of it, but now the caffeine had worn off and she felt as powerful as a dandelion in a strong wind. If you could show me the way?
When Alexei didnt immediately answer, Mina swung round towards the entry, remembering Henri heading down a corridor from there.
As she turned, another wave of tiredness hit and her movements lost their usual precise control. Her foot caught the edge of the plush carpet.
She didnt trip or stagger, just paused, swaying as she caught her balance.
Ill take you. The deep voice came from beside her ear as, to her astonishment, Alexei bent and curled his arms around her back and legs. An instant later she was in the air. Or, more precisely, in his arms, pressed against a hot body that seemed to be all solid muscle.
Minas breath stalled, then released on a shaky sigh at how extraordinary this felt. No one had ever held her like this. She registered conflicting feelings: shock, pleasure and an unexpected desire to burrow closer. As if Alexei were someone she trusted. Or desired.
Theres no need. The words were crisp, at odds with the strange wobbly feeling in her middle. It was impossible to sit straighter and assert control when she lay in his arms, unable to get any purchase.
Alexei ignored her words, marching out of the room.
With each step Mina felt her body move against his in a swaying rhythm that was surprisingly appealing. In other circumstances...
In other circumstances this wouldnt happen, ever.
Thank you for your consideration, she said between barely open lips. But I prefer to walk.
That made him pause. He angled his head to look down at her and Mina was bombarded with impressions. The hard perfection of his squared-off jaw. From this intriguing angle, it was a study in obstinate power. The soaring, proud cheekbones that spoke of ancient Slavic heritage. The flare of arrogant nostrils and the fly-away effect of his winged eyebrows. The steady pump of his heart against her ribs and the power of those iron-hard arms encircling her.
Something shivered to life in the pit of Minas belly. Something that grew as she inhaled a tempting cedar-and-citrus aftershave that melded with the hot, salt scent of male skin. Her nostrils twitched appreciatively and the shiver amplified.
Astounded, Mina watched his eyes darken, the pupils dilating.
The world eclipsed to the dark mystery of that shadowy stare, heating her in all sorts of places.
When he spoke the sound vibrated from his chest into her body. Shed never experienced anything as intimate as his voice reverberating through her while his eyes devoured her.
Relax. Im not going to hurt you.
Despite the certainty he wouldnt drop her, Mina couldnt ignore the inner voice screaming at her to get away. Being this close to Alexei Katsaros was perilous, whatever his stated intention.
I prefer to walk. If youll kindly put me down. Tiredness vanished, replaced with quivering watchfulness.
And have you trip and hurt yourself? He shook his head, his rumpled locks swinging free. I wouldnt forgive myself.
His tone was admirably sincere yet Mina read the tiny creases at the corners of his mouth and knew he was enjoying himself. Could he feel her heart hammer? She hated being vulnerable to him.
Before she could read any more, he looked away and began walking down the hall, carrying her easily, as if he carted unwilling women around every day.
Maybe he did.
Contrary to what you might have heard, Mr Katsaros, women are capable of thinking for themselves. We dont appreciate he-men making our decisions for us. I
Is that what you think I am? Annoyingly his pace didnt falter. What exactly does that mean? His jaw jutted as he ruminated. Someone very masculine? Someone who sees an exhausted guest and looks after her so she doesnt hurt herself?
Mina counted to ten. If she thought it would do any good, shed struggle against his hold. But, though fit, she was no match for all that hard-packed muscle, especially given his superior size. He was well over six feet. If Alexei Katsaros didnt want to release her she couldnt make him. The knowledge infuriated her and she began stringing together curses in her own language that she couldnt say lest he wonder how she knew Arabic.
She forced her gaze away from that annoyingly superior chin, focusing on the play of light and shadow on the ceiling as they passed down the hall.
After all, he continued, as you pointed out so eloquently, it was my fault your trip was so...precipitate. If Id been more conscious of your comfort Id have organised for you to travel during the day, or ensured the bed on the plane was more comfortable. Ill have it replaced.
Theres no need for that. The bed was quite comfortable. Even to her ears her voice sounded thin. She held on to her temper by a tiny margin. All her life shed been taught not to reveal anger. This time she dared not lose control because hed see it as a victory.
Then its a wonder you didnt sleep. Perhaps she caught movement in her peripheral vision and turned to see him send a teasing look her way you couldnt sleep because you were excited about visiting me.
Excited! About as excited as if she visited a zoo to see a rattlesnake. Mina sucked in a rough breath, then stilled as the movement made her more aware of Alexeis big hand on her ribs, close to her breast.
Perhaps I didnt sleep because I was busy contacting people to reschedule things for the period Ill be away. Since I had no opportunity earlier. She slanted him a frosty stare only to find that smile lurking around his mouth.
Ah, yes, no doubt your agenda is full of priority appointments. His expression didnt change but his tone revealed how unlikely he thought it.
Mina didnt bother to disabuse him. She might not run a multinational corporation, but nor was she idle. As well as the exhibition she was preparing for, she volunteered with disabled kids and at a nearby nursing home, doing art therapy. Plus, there was some admin work at a womens shelter, the latest design commission for the perfumery in Jeirut and another from a French company that had seen her perfume bottle designs and wanted something similar.
Mr Katsaros. Her patience was perilously close to failing. One more jibe and shed forget her resolve. I really must
Alexei, remember? His voice rumbled through her like an intimate caress. It was the final straw.
Put. Me. Down. Her voice rose from request to imperious command. Now!
Mina caught a flash of white teeth, a glimpse of glinting eyes and suddenly the world fell away as she dropped from his arms.
As you wish, Princess. He spoke as she landed with a puff of expelled air on her back. She was on a bed, looking up into dark, laughing eyes. But Mina was too tired and stressed to be amused. She didnt appreciate being the butt of his jibes or his arrogant certainty that her life was of negligible importance.
Mina jackknifed to a sitting position, swiping a cushion off the bed with one hand and throwing it in the same, fluid movement. She had the satisfaction of seeing it hit him square on his superior chin.
Be thankful that wasnt anything heavier. My aim is as good as any mans. She heaved a breath that, to her horror, felt far too shaky. Now, if youd have the decency to leave, Id like to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
* * *
Damn. Damn. Damn.
Alexei stalked away from the guest wing to the master suite.
What had got into him? Half an hour with Carissa Carter and hed veered between anger, attraction, approval and amusement. And far too much of all of them. He always controlled his emotions; he wasnt undercut by them.
He hadnt expected to be impressed by Carters precious princess. Hed been ready to write her off as a pampered bimbo who viewed the world through the prism of her greed for an easy life. Instead hed discovered someone witty, incisive, challenging and sexy. Ridiculously sexy, given her defiantly unfeminine clothes.
On Carissa Carter even a baggy T-shirt and leggings made his hormones surge. And that mouth. She was sharp-tongued in a superior way that made him want to take her mouth and discover what sweetness lay beneath its cutting edge.
There was definitely sweetness. Hed been surprised, when he held her, at the fretful way her pulse raced. Hed been mesmerised by her contrary reactions as she pretended not to respond. Her breathing had quickened, her pupils dilated, and hed read confusion beneath her scorn and defiance. Even her awe as she admired the sculpture in the sitting room had charmed him.
Hed lit from within at the feel of her, supple, streamlined and, he discovered, curved in the right places.
What would happen if he followed her down onto that bed? He couldnt remember the dark frenzy of desire ever being so immediate or urgent.
The very fact hed thought about it was a concern. Did he really want an affair with Carters daughter?
Logic demanded an unequivocal no. Instinct screamed yes.
Which was an excellent reason to pull back. Apart from the fact he didnt take advantage of vulnerable women.
Alexei rubbed a hand across his jaw as he entered his suite and crossed to the window to stand staring across the infinity pool to the sea beyond.
Guilt trickled down his spine. Bad enough that thered been a kernel of truth in Carissas accusation about how hed got her here. It had solidified into a jagged shard of ice when hed heard the hint of a wobble in her voice as she stared up at him from her bed. Shed been flushed and furious and hed revelled in his power to rile her, till hed heard the tiny crack in her fa?ade of superiority. Suddenly it hadnt seemed amusing.
It hit him that hed behaved like a kid pulling a girls pigtails, desperate to get her attention any way he could.
Him, desperate?
Hardly. Certainly not for the likes of Carissa Carter.
Except she wasnt as hed expected.
He scraped his hand across his chin, feeling the stubble he hadnt bothered to shave. He shouldnt allow himself to be diverted by her. She was incidental to his plans.
But, pending Carters arrival, there wasnt much he could do to bring those plans to fruition. Steps had been taken to contain the damage, and while Alexei checked in daily, working via computer and phone, his team was working hard.
Which gave him leisure to ponder his would-be bride.
Alexeis brow scrunched. Funny. Hed assumed Carissa would be eager to marry. Her father had come up with the idea, no doubt desperate to cement personal ties that would save him when his embezzlement came to light. The fact a woman in her mid-twenties was willing to go along with such a plan pointed to her being venal, marrying for money and position.
Too many women had tried to tie him down. Not for love, but as their ticket to wealth and privilege. Alexei didnt fool himself into believing they were attracted by his character or sense of humour. Some were drawn by his looks but money was the deciding factor.
Yet Carissa hadnt given an unequivocal yes.
Why? Did she believe if he had to work for what he wanted, hed appreciate her more? Because men enjoyed the chase?
He huffed a breath. Maybe she had something there. If shed walked in the door and promptly agreed with everything his interest wouldnt have been piqued.
Except by that delectable body, which hed discovered was curvier than hed first thought.
Except for her intelligence and sensitivity.
Alexei shoved his fists in his pockets and rocked back on his feet, annoyed. Hed been so caught up in the need to draw Carter out of hiding, he hadnt bothered researching the mans daughter.
Hed acted rashly, driven by fury that the one person hed trusted since his mother died had betrayed him.
That was a slashing wound that wouldnt heal till Carter was made to pay. It overset Alexeis equilibrium, evoking unwanted feelings that interfered with his decision-making.
It wasnt so much the money, but the personal affront of betrayal. The cold slap of horror that hed let himself be gulled into believing the man, liking him.
Carter had made a fool of him, conning him into giving his trust. Not just because of the mans work qualities.
But because Carter reminded him of his father.
Like Alexeis father, Carter appeared taciturn to outsiders, but his features broke into smiles when he mentioned his family. Uncannily, Carter also had a mannerism, a tilt of the head, that echoed Alexeis precious memories of the father whod died when Alexei was six.
Then there was his utter devotion to his spouse. Thered been no mistaking the mans devastation when his wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness. His stoic determination to do all he could for her had touched a chord with Alexei. Plus there was that unexpected weakness for silly puns and his scrupulous honesty, both hallmarks of his dad.
Alexei shook his head. Scrupulous honesty!
For years Alexeis motto had been trust no one. He and his mother had suffered because theyd been taken in by a conman. After his stepfather thered been others, loan sharks, employers, landlords, vultures whod preyed on his vulnerable mother, turning her life into a misery till finally loss and disappointment crushed her.
Alexei scraped a hand across his jaw, dragging himself back to the present. To the woman in one of the guest suites.
Hed acted instinctively, securing her to give him an edge. He should have ordered a dossier on her so he knew something about her before acting.
All he remembered from Carters conversations was that she lived in Paris, where shed attended an exclusive art school. She loved fashion and shopping and wasnt cut out for a commercial career. Alexei had gained the impression of a pampered airhead pretending to be an artist. A blonde airhead, he remembered from the photo Carter had waved before him and which he hadnt bothered to take in.
So Carissa Carter had dyed her hair. That was one extra fact about her.
Alexei considered ordering a full report on her. But why bother?
She was here. Whatever Alexei wanted to know, hed find out for himself. Hed enjoy the process.
CHAPTER FOUR (#u7bc6ec93-0453-5048-acd3-10880e5beafa)
MINA STARED AT the bathrooms enormous, full-length mirror and suppressed a groan. She looked like a stranger.
Carissa had said pink calmed her and made her feel centred. It was proof of how stressed shed been that shed packed only for her favourite colour. Almost everything in the case was pink. Candy pink, flesh pink, cerise, rose madder and more.
Minas mouth curled in an unwilling laugh as she surveyed herself. She wore a candy-pink skirt with matching strappy sandals and a pale pink top with a silver logo that incorporated a highly stylised Eiffel Tower and an open book. Carissa had designed it for an indie book festival in Paris, one of her first commissions.
Had Carissa really planned to wear these clothes to visit Alexei Katsaros? If so shed clearly had the Caribbeans casual, sunny reputation in mind, rather than any desire to dress up.
Or was her friend savvier than Mina gave her credit for? Maybe this wardrobe was her secret weapon, to prove she wasnt cut out to be a billionaires wife.
That stifled Minas humour.
Carissa needed her help and Mina wasnt quite as sure now about her ability to deal with her host.
Especially in a skirt that rode high on her thighs and a top that was more fitted than anything she usually wore. Mina wasnt ashamed of her body, but she covered more of it than her friend did. Plus Carissa was shorter and smaller in the bust, so the top was a snug fit. As for the miniskirt...
Mina shrugged. She had more to worry about than how much bare leg she displayed. Her only clothes were what shed worn on the plane and the ones Carissa had packed. Besides, she was on a tropical island. Alexei Katsaros would be used to guests wearing shorts or swimsuits. Or, given his reputation and the knowing gleam in those remarkable eyes, nothing at all.
How many beautiful women had he seduced here?
Mina blinked as she caught the direction of her thoughts. That wasnt her concern. Deftly she caught up her long hair, winding it round and up into a tight knot at the back of her head. She jabbed in a securing pin and turned away.
If Alexei dismissed her because of her clothes, or because she wasnt the biddable woman hed imagined, all the better. Clearly he hadnt expected her to voice her opinions or have more than a couple of brain cells to rub together.
It would be better if he concentrated on running his multibillion-dollar empire than on her. It hadnt even occurred to him that getting to know the woman he planned to marry was a good idea.
Remarkable!
Unbelievable!
What sort of man thought like that?
One who didnt expect to be questioned.
Who expected everyone to bend to his wishes.
Mina put away the hairdryer shed used and entered the palatial bedroom where shed slept like the dead for hours.
Her gaze rested on the bed shed remade after her nap. Inevitably the image that filled her mind was of looking up from there into that fabulously sculpted face, into eyes alight with mockery, and knowing that physically she was at his mercy. It had infuriated Mina, for shed had no choice but to put up with his macho posturing and derision.
That still smarted. She drew taller, pushing her shoulders back, as she relived the scene and wished she still had the small jewelled dagger shed worn as a ceremonial courtesy in Jeirut. It had been decorative but deadly, and Mina had insisted on knowing how to wield it. Would he have taken her more seriously if hed known she was fully capable of looking after herself, no matter what the situation?
The idea conjured suitably satisfying images, but her smile faded as she faced the real source of her concern.
Her reaction to Alexei Katsaros.
It wasnt only fury shed felt. Hed been interesting.
Lips twisting, Mina shook her head. Hed been fascinating. That combination of bold assurance and blatant sexuality would catch any womans attention. Especially since physically his form was...pleasing. But add to that occasional glimpses of humour and penetrating understanding that punctured her initial estimate of a smug bully, and you had a man who left her unsettled.
Mina tried to tell herself the disorientation of tiredness had made her react to him. But innate honesty wouldnt let her pretend.
She had to face the truth.
She disliked Alexei Katsaros and his high-handed ways. He was exactly the sort of man to make her hackles rise. Yet he made her blood heat.
She was attracted to him.
The situation shed rushed into for Carissas sake became fraught with unseen snares, like the notorious patches of quicksand in the desert of her homeland.
She hadnt reckoned on anything like this when shed blithely decided to help her friend. Dimly, she heard her fathers voice in her head, the memory of his disapproval as he complained of her impulsive ways. Shed tried to make him proud, do her duty no matter how dull or out of tune with her own interests. But shed been a source of frustration for him.
Face it, Mina. Nothing you did could satisfy your father. He didnt want a daughter who craved love, but an automaton who could be diplomatic on every occasion, no matter what the provocation.
Shed failed there, hadnt she?
Abruptly she spun on her foot and crossed to the glass doors that gave out onto a crystal pool and, beyond that, the tropical garden.
Minas eyes were drawn to the profusion of flowers, cadmium yellow, pale ochre and magenta. She felt the old temptation to reach for her sketchpad. To find peace by losing herself in art.
Instead she simply stood a little longer, inhaling the fragrance of salt air and unfamiliar floral perfumes, then set her shoulders and turned away. She couldnt hide forever. It was time to face her host.
* * *
She found him on a deep, shaded veranda. Overhead, a fan rotated lazily and the combination of wicker furniture and wide, wooden floorboards hinted at gracious days gone by, though the sprawling villa was modern.
Alexei sat, feet up, on a lounger, typing into a tablet. His hair was ruffled as if hed combed his fingers through it and his shirt was open again. Mina saw the dark smattering of hair on his sculpted pectorals and jerked her gaze away.
That tiny sizzle deep inside didnt bode well. Shed felt it before, when he carried her in his arms. Now just the sight of him set it off.
Frowning, Mina surveyed the garden, trying to control feelings she couldnt fully identify. On the other side of the pool, a sculpture caught her eye.
Youre awake. Excellent. Reluctantly Mina turned, fixing a bland expression on her face. Shed known this would be difficult but shed hoped her earlier response to him had more to do with fatigue than genuine attraction.
Fate was clearly laughing at her naivety.
Alexei set the tablet aside and swung his feet to the floor.
Please dont get up on my account. Youre working. Ill come back later. She was only too happy to delay being alone with him.
No, Ive finished. He gestured to the seats grouped around him and she had no choice but to take one.
Instead of a recliner, Mina selected an upright chair, conscious of the way her skirt rode even higher up her legs as she sat. Resisting the urge to tug her hem in a futile attempt to gain an extra few centimetres, she crossed her ankles and tucked her feet under her chair. She didnt look directly at her host but felt his gaze. It raked her from head to foot, then lifted again to linger on her legs and higher
Mina swung her head up abruptly and met his enigmatic dark gaze.
Had she been wrong? She could have sworn hed been ogling her. Or did her sensitivity about wearing Carissas clothes make her imagine things? The way her breasts tingled
What would you like to drink? As he spoke Marie rounded the corner of the veranda, as if in response to the summons of a silent bell.
Something cold would be good.
Champagne? A cocktail? Gin and tonic?
Mina glanced at her watch. Early afternoon. Obviously his usual guests indulged themselves. Mina, on the other hand, needed a clear head. Besides, she was in no mood to kick back and pretend this was a holiday. She felt too agitated around Alexei Katsaros.
A juice would be lovely, thanks. She smiled at Marie.
Of course, maam. And Ill bring some food.
Mina was about to protest that she wasnt hungry, then remembered she hadnt eaten in ages. Shed feel stronger after food. Shed better!
Marie turned to Alexei, a question on her face. In response he shook his head and gestured to a half-full jug of iced water. Im fine.
So he expected Mina to indulge while he stuck to cold water. Interesting. But then, hed been working and he hadnt built a hugely successful corporation by drinking the day away. Mina shot a glance at that firm chin and those uncompromising features and guessed Alexei Katsaros was good at discipline and control. Then her gaze collided with his and the impact sent a silent shudder of reaction through her.
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