The Mistress's Secret

She prayed for strength. Strength to endure the love she still felt for Leon Andreakos, would feel till the end of her days — a man who did not love her. Who never had. Who never could.

But who must love Nicky….

Chapter Eight

Alanna stared at the pearls in their velvet case as she sat in the wide leather seat of the executive jet winging toward Athens.

"Let me put them on you." There was a husk in Leon's voice.

"No — no, there's no need. They're exquisite, I can see." Her voice was strained.

"What's wrong, Alanna? You use

d to love my giving you jewelry."

The husk had gone. There was only sharpness now. And questioning.

She lifted her head to look at him.

"Perhaps I've outgrown my greed at last," she answered.

He stilled. "And perhaps," he answered back slowly, "you were never as greedy as I thought you. Perhaps I never realized how deprived a life you'd led. Never realized —" his expression changed "— how unreal my wealth was to you."

"I was like a kid in a candy store," she said, and her eyes slipped away from him, looking out over the cloudscape, remembering, "being handed the most fabulous sweets in the shop by Prince Charming himself. I didn't — I didn't mean to be greedy…but I was. I took everything you gave me and reveled in it."

She swallowed, a hard knot in her throat, and looked back at him, straight in the eye. "But I won't be greedy any more. So please…please don't give me jewels. I'm only your wife for Nicky's sake; I know that. I…won't — won't…presume, Leon. I learned that lesson a long time ago."

She felt her emotions swell and stood up.

"I — I just want to check on Nicky. Make sure he's all right."

She hurried off to the sleeping cabin at the rear of the plane where an exhausted Nicky slept after the excitement of his mother's wedding to his wonderful new Uncle Leon. Alanna's throat tightened.

I've got to tell Leon, she thought. I've got to tell him about Nicky. The truth…

As soon as the ordeal of meeting Leon's parents is over…

* * *

Leon stared after her. He felt his heart scrape. He had married for Nicky's sake, but not just for him, he knew.

Alanna — so soft in his arms, glowing with passion. Hungry for him. Starving…

It was like it had been at the beginning, but it was more. She felt remorse, he knew — had given away Nikos's money, raising Nicky on a pittance.

She'd had the guts, the courage to do that….

And even now, as his bride, she only wanted him to spend his money on Nicky.

His heart squeezed. Nicky — the child of his heart, even if not of his loins. He was drawn to him by a love that had been instant, all consuming.

And Alanna came with him, the little boy he loved already….

Alanna…

His heart squeezed again.

I will make this marriage work! Thee mou but I will do so!