Greek Tycoon, Inexperienced Mistress

During the meal, Atreus excused himself to take a phone call, and when he returned, he found Lindy fast asleep in her dining chair.

Lindy wakened in the early hours because she was too warm. Although she could only feel a sheet over her, there was good reason for her high temperature. Instead of putting her in one of his guestrooms Atreus had put her in his bed, with him, and she was clamped to his lean and powerful heat-exuding physique like a second skin.

‘Go back to sleep, mali mou.’ Atreus urged huskily.

A single exploratory shift of position had left Lindy wildly aware of the feel of his aroused body against her own. ‘You shouldn’t have put me in the same bed as you,’ she censured.

‘When did you turn into such a prude?’

Avoiding any form of intimacy was her protection, she admitted inwardly. In her mind she was already fantasising about what he might do next, and the burn of long abstinence from such pleasures sat like a hollow ache at the heart of her.

‘Stop teasing me,’ she urged stiffly.

‘Relax, you’re safe,’ Atreus asserted.

Cut to the bone by that assurance, Lindy sucked in a sustaining breath. Of course she was safe. Why on earth had she thought she might be otherwise? Simple proximity to a female body had caused his arousal. After all, he could hardly find her swollen form sexually appealing. She was amazed he had had an arm round her, and wondered if she had burrowed into him while she slept. After all, he never touched her now in that way when she was awake. There had been no more unexpected kisses, not so much as a flirtatious word out of place.

‘No sex outside marriage,’ Atreus breathed silkily.

Lindy pushed herself up on one elbow. ‘What did you say?’

‘Sex is out of the question unless you’re prepared to marry me.’

In the dim light creeping round the edges of the curtains he was a dark silhouette against the sheets. Lindy glowered furiously down at him. ‘I don’t want sex!’

Atreus just laughed.

‘I mean it, I…don’t…want…sex!’ Lindy launched, even louder, her face burning in the darkness.

‘Liar,’ Atreus murmured softly.

Her teeth gritted. ‘I’m not staying in this bed with you!’ she announced loftily, lunging at the lamp by the bed to switch it on.

‘I know it’s very frustrating to be able to look but not touch. And, yes, I do notice how you look at me,’ Atreus informed her.

‘There are times when I really hate you!’ Lindy hissed.

Atreus slid out of bed with fluid grace, reached for the robe lying by the bed and extended it for her use. Lindy clambered out of bed a great deal more slowly than he had. Although she was ready to hate him she had planned to stay in the bed, but his move called her bluff. She was awesomely conscious of her proportions in the sensible bra and panties he had mercifully left her clad in, and almost in tears of mortification at having to expose herself to that extent. Naturally the robe would not close across her stomach.

He showed her into the guestroom next door.

In silence, Lindy cried herself back to sleep in a cold bed. She didn’t like his sense of humour. Of course he didn’t still want to marry her! But she was cringing at the knowledge that he seemed to have the ability to see through her pretences of being simply pleasant and friendly around him. She felt fat and horrible and deeply unsexy, and she wished she had kept quiet when she’d awoken, so that she could have continued to enjoy lying that close to him again.

There would be no opportunities for such togetherness after the baby was born. Their dealings would become much more detached once their son was in existence. Atreus had a very strong sense of responsibility and he had proved that he was extremely reliable. As soon as he’d realised she was pregnant he had become thoughtful of her comfort and very supportive in every way. But she was already worrying about how they would share their newborn child, and whether it would mean that she had to adjust to being regularly parted from her baby.

Later that morning she was woken up with breakfast on a tray. When Atreus strode in she was happily reflecting that there was a lot to be said for being spoiled, and even more to be said for a man who took the trouble to spoil you.

‘I know the baby is due in only a couple of weeks, but I think I should introduce you to my family before our son is born,’ he imparted, poised at the foot of the bed, looking impossibly sleek and groomed and gorgeous in a business suit.

Lindy avoided looking at him now for longer than two seconds, because she knew that it was not safe to do so. He could spot lusty admiration at fifty paces and she needed to be more careful. But his invitation to meet his family shook her, and she shrank from the challenge of following heavily in tiny Krista’s light and delicate footsteps.