For Pleasure...Or Marriage?

She bit her lip. Ten o’clock. It was so late. Of course, he worked ferociously hard. Running an international conglomerate was no sinecure. He spent his life travelling the world—it was no nine to five job, more like twenty-four-seven.

Self-reproach filled her. The last thing Markos needed was criticism from her for working so hard. One of the few things she could do for him, after all, was to make the hours he did not work as easy for him as she could. How could she possibly mind sitting here, waiting for him at ten o’clock?

She would sit on the sofa, slip off her shoes, and rest a while. He was a demanding lover, thrillingly so, and sleep didn’t figure a whole lot in their nights together. And she’d felt extra tired today—it must be that stupid bug getting at her. The journey into the West End on her shopping expedition had been exhausting, even by taxi—she would put her feet up now, and relax.

Markos would be home soon. He was just running late, that was all.

Markos let himself into the apartment, easing his cashmere overcoat from his shoulders and tossing it on a chair in the hallway. That damn business dinner had caught him unawares, but though he’d castigated his PA for having let him in for it, he’d had no choice but to go along. It might have been tedious, enduring a formal dinner at a City livery company, but the table he’d been on had had people on it that were useful to the Makarios Corporation. So, reluctantly but resigned, he’d changed into his tuxedo in his private apartment next to his office and been driven off by Stelios in his corporate limo. It was a bore, but it had to be done.

But now, at last, it was over, and he was home.

He walked into the lounge. The lights were set low, and the scent of fresh flowers caught at him.

So, too, did the splash of vivid, fiery colour against the white sofa. He walked forward, a smile pulling at his mouth.

Sleeping Beauty in person.

His eyes washed over Vanessa in the low light. God, but she was so lovely! For a moment he stood looking down at her as she slept, her long limbs relaxed, entwined with silk. Her breasts rose and fell, the bodice of her dress revealing their soft sweet mounds. He felt desire start in him, his blood quicken.

Time to wake Sleeping Beauty by the traditional means. But in his case, it would go a lot further than a kiss.

He dropped down beside her and lowered his mouth to hers. Her mouth was like velvet.

CHAPTER FIVE

CAREFULLY, VANESSA STEPPED out of the limo. Out in the chill of the still wintry night she was glad of the faux fur coat she was wearing over her thin evening gown. But she was only exposed to the elements for the few moments it took for Markos to unfold his long, lean form from the interior and take her arm to walk her into the famous West End hotel, the doors instantly opened for them by the attentive doorman.

She’d been to the hotel before with Markos, but tonight they were going to a private party being held in one of the function rooms. It was going to be a lavish affair; Markos had wanted her dressed to the nines, and had even come with her to choose her gown. It was a glittering gold sheath, with a décolletage lower than she was comfortable with but which didn’t seem to bother Markos in the least. Indeed, his eyes had gleamed appreciatively when she’d finally emerged from the ministrations of the stylist, hairdresser and manicurist who had been at work on her for two hours that evening.

‘You look breathtaking!’ he’d told her. ‘It only needs one more item…’

As Vanessa progressed across the foyer of the hotel she could feel the ‘item’ nestling in the valley of her enhanced cleavage—a pendant diamond that glittered like an iridescent rainbow.

‘Oh, Markos,’ she’d breathed, eyes wide, as he’d fastened it around her neck, ‘it’s beautiful.’

Now, as she walked beside him—the woman on Markos Makarios’s arm—she knew she looked as beautiful as she ever could. Whatever that bug had been that had been pulling her down, she seemed to have shaken it off at last. She felt healthy again—wonderful, in fact—and it was reflected in the mirror. There was a glow in her complexion, a brightness in her eyes, that was enhancing her beauty. And it was all for Markos. She felt her heart squeeze with emotion as she tilted her head to gaze up at him.

It overwhelmed her sometimes, the strength of her feelings, overpowering her. He was just so handsome, so wonderful, so devastating, so gorgeous. She could gaze at him all day, every day, every night, for ever and ever…

‘Markos!’

A voice called out from a little way away. A man was walking towards them, clad in a tuxedo like Markos, and speaking in Greek to him. At her side, Vanessa could feel Markos tense slightly as he paused.

‘Cosmo,’ he acknowledged.

The other man walked up to them. He was about Markos’s age, but nowhere near as good-looking, with swarthy features and a soft jawline.

More Greek was exchanged, but even as the other man was speaking to Markos his eyes were drawn to Vanessa. She didn’t like it. She was used to male attention, which came in two types—the type that was appreciative but polite, and the type that made her feel uncomfortable. This was definitely the latter. Instinctively, she felt herself stiffen.

‘Come, Markos, don’t be selfish—introduce me!’ The other man had suddenly swapped to English, and now his black eyes were openly lapping her up.

Did Markos hesistate? Vanessa was sure he did, and she was grateful. Then the other man said something else in Greek and gave a laugh.

‘Vanessa, this is Cosmo Dimistris. Cosmo—’

But Cosmo had not waited for the completion of the formal introduction. He helped himself to one of Vanessa’s hands, enclosing it between his own. They felt large and beefy.

‘Hot, Markos, definitely hot—you certainly know how to pick them!’