Her voice was soft and fragile as a moth’s wing. Christo swung her into his arms, where she clung. So light...so brittle. Like if he squeezed too hard she’d shatter.
He stalked past the staff, all their faces tinged with concern. The realisation hit him. They cared for her. Deeply. In the time she’d been with him she’d made her mark.
His jaw clenched as a strange thought came over him. This was how it should have been on their wedding night. Sweeping her into his arms. Carrying her upstairs to their room. Making love to her. Loving her. It should have been the happiest day of her life rather than what she’d actually had.
The guilt flooded over him, tainting him like a slick of oil. He needed to wash them both clean of it.
Christo carried her into his suite, set her down in the bathroom. A thready pulse flickered at the base of her throat. She stepped out of her shoes as he turned on the shower, scalding hot. Steam fogged the room.
‘Why, Thea?’
She looked down at her feet and shook her head. He moved behind her and undid her zip, let the dress fall from her body. He unhooked her bra, slid her underwear down her legs till she stood there naked. He removed the pins from her tight bun and ran his fingers through her hair as it tumbled around her shoulders. He took off his watch, kicked off his shoes. Not caring that he was clothed, Christo walked her under the coursing water and held her close.
She trembled in his arms. Her skin was still cold even with the heat pounding it.
Christo took some soap, slicking it over her back and down her arms. He turned her around, checking for any sign she’d been hurt. She leaned forward, splaying her hands on the wall for support as he kept up his slow exploration.
It could almost have been worship as he knelt at her feet, looking up as the water sluiced down her spine through ribbons of dark hair. The light above shone like a halo over her head. He worked slowly. Massaged the taut, bunched muscles of her calves till they relaxed. Stroked the smooth skin of her thighs until she moaned, soft and long.
The sound punched his gut. Whatever haunted her, he’d wash her clean of it. Then he stood. His trousers were tight, the fine wool shrunken. Moving to her hair, he washed it, his nails scraping her scalp. Her head tipped back, her eyes closed, and mascara running down her cheeks in black streaks. He wiped away the last traces with a flannel.
When he was sure he’d washed off as much of the taint of the day as he could, he cast his ruined clothes aside. Turned off the scalding water and lashed a thick towel around his waist.
Then he grabbed a bathrobe from the back of the door and dressed her in it with care. In the oversized garment she looked tiny, vulnerable. He towelled her hair, swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed. The bed he’d sworn never to take her to again. But she needed him now.
He settled with her on the covers, cradling her as she nestled into him, female perfection in his arms. Her damp hair lay cool against his chest. He held her tight. She had to know she was safe. Here, with him.
And he asked the question again. ‘Why did you go to your father’s?’
There was nothing for a heartbeat, and then her slender shoulders rose and fell in a heavy sigh.
‘I went there for you.’
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
NO. NO. SHE shouldn’t have placed herself at risk. Not for him. He’d never have asked, knowing what he did now about her father and brother. To think she’d thrust herself in harm’s way—and for what? There was nothing worth the price she might have paid.
‘Thea. I’d never have asked you.’
‘I know. But my father... Demetri. They won’t let you go. They said they’d destroy you. I had to do something.’
He tightened his arms around her. In that moment he would have given her anything. Anything she wanted. ‘I told you
—Raul and I have enough.’
‘I knew I could access the house. I thought maybe on the computers... I wanted to give you more.’
Christo tensed. He had strong circumstantial evidence. Enough for the authorities. But irrefutable proof... Surely it wasn’t that easy?
‘I tried, but couldn’t figure out the password. He’d changed it.’
Christo relaxed. Of course. Nothing was ever easy for him. It didn’t matter anyway—all he cared about was what had caused the fear he’d had to cleanse from her skin. Because if anyone had hurt her he’d chase them to the gates of Hades and cast them into its pits for eternity.
‘What happened?’
‘No one was supposed to be there. Then Demetri arrived. I couldn’t avoid him.’ Her voice cracked. ‘I pretended I was looking for my mother’s necklace. I’d taken it there. It was in my handbag. I showed it to him.’
He cradled her close. ‘Did he believe you?’