When Christakos Meets His Match(24)

                * * *

                When Alexio could finally get away from his meeting, which he’d cut ruthlessly and uncharacteristically short, he headed for his office, pulling at his tie impatiently as he did so. Sidonie. When he’d ordered his driver to turn around before they’d hit the main motorway into London he’d felt like an abject fool. But the compulsion to go back and see her again had been too great. To find her, persuade her to stay.

                And then she’d been standing there, like a lost waif, looking at his card, and the sheer relief that had rushed through him had eclipsed any niggling concerns about his uncharacteristic behaviour.

                And now she was here, waiting for him. Alexio gritted his jaw to stop his body reacting. He had to get it together. It had been hard enough to concentrate in the meeting.

                When he went into his office he didn’t see her and his blood turned to ice.

                She’d left.

                But then he saw the open terrace doors and his heart started beating again. He went forward and saw her slimly curvaceous form, that plump bottom, as she leant against the railing, taking in the view.

                He went right up behind her and put his arms next to hers on the railing.

                She started for a moment. ‘You scared me.’

                Alexio imagined that he felt her heart pick up pace—or was it his? Her lush derriere pressed against him right there. And Alexio didn’t have a hope in hell of controlling his body.

                She was tense in the circle of his arms. ‘Your meeting wasn’t very long.’

                Alexio put out his hand and pulled her long, rippling hair over one shoulder, baring her neck. It was a crime to confine such hair. He bent his head and pressed his mouth to the soft skin just under her ear. Immediately she quivered and her bottom moved against him. His other arm came down and wrapped around her midriff, dragging her in tighter.

                Theos. He would take her right here and now if he could.

                He drew back slightly, dragging in breath, control. ‘I told them I had urgent business to attend to.’

                Sidonie turned around in his arms and that was worse—because now Alexio’s steel-hard erection was pressed against her soft belly and the hard tips of her breasts were visible through her sleeveless vest tops.

                ‘Alexio...’

                Alexio dragged his gaze up and met two pools of aquamarine.

                ‘Hmm?’

                ‘If I stay with you tonight...that doesn’t mean I’m going to sleep with you...’ She bit her lip. ‘I’m not saying I don’t want to, but I’m not like that.’ She winced. ‘I mean...I won’t sleep with you as some sort of payment. I would prefer to stay in a hostel or something.’

                Alexio cupped her jaw. She would sleep with him. They both knew it.

                ‘I think you’ve already made your morals clear, and I respect that. Firstly, you are not staying in a hostel or anywhere else.’ His voice was rough. ‘Secondly, I do not expect you to sleep with me to pay me for the room. If you sleep with me it will be because you want to. Not for any other reason. We’re two consenting adults, Sidonie, not bound by any ties. Free to do as we wish...’

                She was breathless now. He could feel her chest moving against him and he wanted to groan.