There was something defiant in her eyes now. Proud. It impacted on Nikos down low in his gut, pulling everything tight again. Making him want more.
Then she said, ‘That was a mistake.’
The strength of the rejection he felt at hearing her say that surprised him. He shook his head. ‘Oh, no, angeli mou—it’s a bit late for regrets. We knew what we were doing—or are you now going to claim that you didn’t?’
His conscience struck him. She’d been innocent, so technically she hadn’t really known.
Anger eclipsed his conscience. He said again, ‘You should have told me you were a virgin.’
She looked at him. ‘You’re right. I should have, maybe then we would have come to our senses.’
The thought of the dilemma Nikos would have faced had he known of Maggie’s innocence wasn’t lost on him. Would he have had the strength to deny himself? In spite of his lofty assertion that he didn’t sleep with virgins?
And his pride was piqued. ‘Do you really mean that?’
She flushed pinker. ‘I’m disappointed in myself for sleeping with someone like you.’
Shock and indignation rocked through Nikos. No woman—ever—voiced regret for sleeping with him. The opposite, in fact.
He folded his arms. ‘Someone like me? Please elaborate.’
Maggie regretted saying anything, but she couldn’t escape or prevaricate. Nikos’s laser-like gaze wouldn’t allow it.
‘Someone rich and entitled. Privileged.’
Her conscience pricked. She knew her judgement of him wasn’t entirely rational, but from the moment she’d seen him he’d got under her skin and impacted on her in a place where no one ever had before.
After the lessons learnt in her own life, and from her mother, she’d hoped she’d be immune to the lure of a man like him. Cynical. Street-smart. But apparently not.
‘Being rich and privileged isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be—or haven’t you read the books and watched the movies about poor little rich kids?’
Maggie’s skin prickled uncomfortably. There was a mocking tone to his voice, but also something almost bleak.
She said, ‘You’re right—that’s not fair. It’s just...you turned up here, on your first visit to a house you bought sight unseen—’
‘Which is really none of your business.’
Maggie clamped her mouth shut, afraid of what might come out next.
Nikos moved closer. The chilly atmosphere warmed slightly.
‘The truth is that even if you’d told me you were innocent I’m not sure if I could have resisted the temptation. Are you really saying you’re stronger than that? That if you’d had a moment to think about it you would have changed your mind?’
Maggie couldn’t look away from those leonine eyes. Who was she kidding? She had had a moment to think about it and she’d chosen him.
She shook her head jerkily.
‘Neither of us were prepared for this chemistry,’ he said. ‘What happened was mutual, and I for one do not regret one moment. Regrets are for losers. Own what you want, Maggie. You can’t go back—only forward.’
‘Forward...’ she repeated.
He nodded, and as he did so he reached for her, putting his hands on her robe, tugging her towards him. Treacherously, she didn’t resist. So much for her brave declaration.
‘What I propose is that we live for the moment and enjoy this very potent mutual desire. Or do you want your initiation to end here?’
Maggie’s insides tightened and her skin prickled. Heat licked at her core, making her feel needy and greedy again. Would it be so bad to indulge? One more time? Did she want her initiation to end here? Even if it was with the kind of man she’d always sworn she would steer well clear of?
She gave him the only answer she could. ‘No...’