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Authors: Sara Craven
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rid of you. And I have no intention of sleeping with you, either.?
His brows lifted. ?Most people who share a bed sleep at some point, pedhi mou .?
?I am not your little one,? she denied curtly.
?Then do not behave like a child.?
She set her lips mutinously. ?And I prefer to sleep alone.?
He shrugged. ?In future, you will heed my preferences. Did I not make that clear also?? He paused. ?Now, will you go with me willingly, or must I carry you a second time?? His smile did not reach his eyes. ?I have no objection, you understand, except it might prompt me to test my powers of recovery sooner than you may wish.?
She was in no doubt as to his meaning. She bent her head defeatedly. ?I?I?ll walk.?
?You are learning,? Alex approved softly.
She hesitated. ?But if?if there was just something I could wear. I?m just not used to being without my clothes?in front of people.?
?Your modesty is laudable, but unnecessary, Natasha mou. Because I am not merely people. I am your lover, and your body is a delight to me, so I wait impatiently for the moment when you will be as joyously naked with me as you once were, alone in the moonlight.
?And I do not share your inhibitions, agapi mou,? he added lightly. ?So you must accustom yourself to seeing me without my clothes. However, for you, I am already prepared to make a concession.?
He led her back into the bedroom, before opening another door adjacent to the bathroom and walking into what Natasha realised must be his dressing room.
He returned a moment later with a length of silver satin draped over his arm, which he handed to her.
It was a robe, she realised, admittedly without buttons or a zip, but better than nothing. And certainly better than a damp bath sheet, she told herself as she emerged discreetly from the folds of towelling, and slipped it on.
?Designed to fit all sizes, I presume,? she said coolly, as she wound the long sash securely round her waist.
?Bought yesterday for you, and no one else.? His correction was immediate and curt. ?Do you wish to see the receipt??
She bit her lip. ?No,? adding stiltedly. ?It?s?beautiful. Efharisto.?
?Parakalo,? he returned politely. He walked to the bed, straightening the sheets and putting the pillows back in place with casual efficiency.
?Feel free to join me as soon as you wish,? he told her, yawning, as he slid under the covers. ?Tomorrow will be a very long day.?
The satin whispered around her as she obeyed. It seemed he was quite serious about his intention to rest, because he was already turning on his side, his back towards her. Which presumably entitled her to do the same, she decided as she climbed into the other side of the bed, tucking the robe more firmly round her.
But, long after he was asleep, Natasha was still awake, unable to find oblivion so easily.
She tried to tell herself that it was anger and disgust holding her captive. That it was impossible for her to relax when the man who had used her so despicably for the sake of some shallow revenge was lying beside her.
At the same time she was aware that, if she was honest, it was only part of the truth. That her greatest struggle was against the edgy restlessness of her own body, which seemed determined to allow her no peace.
And for that, she realised, she could blame that endless, languorous time with him in the shower, which, for the first time in her life, had left her aroused in a way she?d never dreamed of.
Something for which she would never be able to forgive herself, she thought grimly. Especially as she suspected he?d done it quite deliberately to punish her for her earlier display of indifference.
But, whatever his motivation, and Alex Mandrakis was clearly a law unto himself, Natasha could neither explain nor excuse the way he?d made her feel. She only knew that she was shamed to her soul by the effect he?d had on her?and with so little effort too.
But that, of course, was how he?d earned his reputation. And it was her own small tragedy that her
His brows lifted. ?Most people who share a bed sleep at some point, pedhi mou .?
?I am not your little one,? she denied curtly.
?Then do not behave like a child.?
She set her lips mutinously. ?And I prefer to sleep alone.?
He shrugged. ?In future, you will heed my preferences. Did I not make that clear also?? He paused. ?Now, will you go with me willingly, or must I carry you a second time?? His smile did not reach his eyes. ?I have no objection, you understand, except it might prompt me to test my powers of recovery sooner than you may wish.?
She was in no doubt as to his meaning. She bent her head defeatedly. ?I?I?ll walk.?
?You are learning,? Alex approved softly.
She hesitated. ?But if?if there was just something I could wear. I?m just not used to being without my clothes?in front of people.?
?Your modesty is laudable, but unnecessary, Natasha mou. Because I am not merely people. I am your lover, and your body is a delight to me, so I wait impatiently for the moment when you will be as joyously naked with me as you once were, alone in the moonlight.
?And I do not share your inhibitions, agapi mou,? he added lightly. ?So you must accustom yourself to seeing me without my clothes. However, for you, I am already prepared to make a concession.?
He led her back into the bedroom, before opening another door adjacent to the bathroom and walking into what Natasha realised must be his dressing room.
He returned a moment later with a length of silver satin draped over his arm, which he handed to her.
It was a robe, she realised, admittedly without buttons or a zip, but better than nothing. And certainly better than a damp bath sheet, she told herself as she emerged discreetly from the folds of towelling, and slipped it on.
?Designed to fit all sizes, I presume,? she said coolly, as she wound the long sash securely round her waist.
?Bought yesterday for you, and no one else.? His correction was immediate and curt. ?Do you wish to see the receipt??
She bit her lip. ?No,? adding stiltedly. ?It?s?beautiful. Efharisto.?
?Parakalo,? he returned politely. He walked to the bed, straightening the sheets and putting the pillows back in place with casual efficiency.
?Feel free to join me as soon as you wish,? he told her, yawning, as he slid under the covers. ?Tomorrow will be a very long day.?
The satin whispered around her as she obeyed. It seemed he was quite serious about his intention to rest, because he was already turning on his side, his back towards her. Which presumably entitled her to do the same, she decided as she climbed into the other side of the bed, tucking the robe more firmly round her.
But, long after he was asleep, Natasha was still awake, unable to find oblivion so easily.
She tried to tell herself that it was anger and disgust holding her captive. That it was impossible for her to relax when the man who had used her so despicably for the sake of some shallow revenge was lying beside her.
At the same time she was aware that, if she was honest, it was only part of the truth. That her greatest struggle was against the edgy restlessness of her own body, which seemed determined to allow her no peace.
And for that, she realised, she could blame that endless, languorous time with him in the shower, which, for the first time in her life, had left her aroused in a way she?d never dreamed of.
Something for which she would never be able to forgive herself, she thought grimly. Especially as she suspected he?d done it quite deliberately to punish her for her earlier display of indifference.
But, whatever his motivation, and Alex Mandrakis was clearly a law unto himself, Natasha could neither explain nor excuse the way he?d made her feel. She only knew that she was shamed to her soul by the effect he?d had on her?and with so little effort too.
But that, of course, was how he?d earned his reputation. And it was her own small tragedy that her
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