The Greek's Blackmailed Wife

Still groggy with sleep, the pleasurable ache of her body reminding her of the intensity of their lovemaking, Lauranne struggled valiantly to understand his s

udden change in focus.

Had she imagined it, or had she fallen asleep curled in his arms?

Just exactly at what point had he managed to rise, shower and dress without her noticing? And why was he now looking at her as though she was the biggest mistake he’d ever made in his life?

A walk?

She sat up in bed and he sucked in a breath and took a step backwards, almost tripping over in his attempt to put distance between them.

Wondering what on earth the problem was, Lauranne frowned at him in confusion.

‘Why don’t you come back to bed?’

But Zander shook his head and backed towards the door, fumbled with the handle and exited onto the terrace with an undignified degree of haste.

Totally at a loss to understand his strange reaction, she took a deep breath and slid out of bed, dressing quickly and reaching for a pretty sun hat that she’d found in her luggage. If he wanted to walk, then they’d walk.

He’d obviously gone totally mad.

Opening the door, she paused for a moment, her eyes on those powerful shoulders as he stood with his back to her, staring down at the beach with an ominous frown on his handsome face.

Hearing her behind him, he turned and she felt her heart bang against her ribs as she collided with those amazingly sexy dark eyes.

She ought to be running a mile, she thought helplessly as she floundered and drowned in the intensity of his gaze. She was an intelligent woman and she knew he was never going to change. So why was she still standing in front of him?

Closing the door behind her, she walked up to him, waiting for him to back away again.

But he didn’t back away.

Instead he hesitated briefly and then caught her against him and kissed her as if he couldn’t help himself and then dragged his mouth away from hers with a savage curse. ‘Two weeks without sex is an extraordinarily long time, agape mou—’

She stared at him dizzily, still reeling from his possessive kiss and wondering why he was trying to find excuses for kissing her. She was just relieved and flattered that he found her so irresistible physically. It was obviously all she could expect of him and she was determined to make the most of it.

‘Are you ready?’ Back to his supremely confident self, he threw her a sizzling smile. ‘I want to show you my island.’

‘You haven’t bought it yet,’ she reminded him and he flashed her a smile.

‘But I will.’

‘It doesn’t cross your mind that you might fail, does it?’

He looked amused, evidently considering her question to be totally superfluous. ‘No. It doesn’t. Come on. We’re going exploring.’

‘Do I bring a swimming costume?’

His eyes gleamed with masculine intent ‘Depends on how brave you’re feeling.’

They strolled out of the villa and he hesitated and then took her hand firmly in his, adjusting his long stride so that she could more easily keep pace with him.

Trying not to read anything into that touch, she forced a casual smile. ‘Where’s the photographer this time, Zander?’

He frowned briefly. ‘Can’t a guy be romantic?’

‘Yes, but you don’t do romantic, Zander.’

He looked taken aback, his grip on her hand tightening. ‘What have we been doing since we arrived at the villa?’