the Billionaire’s Secret Desire(31)

could understand to a point. If Lily ever took off like that, he‘d

be devastated.

―Demetrius spotted my sister by the pool one day and

offered marriage not two hours later. So you‘ll have to excuse

him, he is usually a force to be reckoned with when he deals with

business. He wanted to complete this deal with you himself but

he had gotten a lead on where Sophie was. Over the months

there had been many but obviously this one was the real thing.‖

It was unusual that the press didn‘t get wind of this over

the past nine months because they were a high profile couple,

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―Was it another man?‖ Most men would take this as an insult

but Nikos just grinned and shook his head.

―With other woman maybe, but not Sophie, she loved him

very much. That‘s why none of this made sense. I‘m anxious to

find out why she left.‖ He pursed his lips, ―Unlike Helene,

Sophie was virtuous. She had a softness about her that was

addictive. When Demetrius first laid eyes on her it was a full five

minutes before he spoke. I have never seen my friend speechless

before.‖ He shot Max a look, ―Much like you are with your Lily.‖

Max lifted his cup and sipped his own coffee while his

pale eyes remained on Nikos, ―It‘s that obvious is it?‖

―As the sun shines.‖ He grinned spreading his hands

under the bright light of the Grecian sun, ―Why do you think I

backed off? If it was any less than the look Demetrius gave

Sophie, I would be in hot pursuit.‖

―So you think.‖ He said seriously causing Nikos to laugh.

―Ah, speaking of Lily.‖ Nikos stood up followed by Max as

Lily came out onto the back patio.

If the Grecian sun was bright, Lily entering the picture

just made it seem dim. She was beautiful. Max couldn‘t take his

eyes off her. She wore a dress with a simple style but it was

perfect showing her luscious curves to the point of make a man

want to discover more.

Immediately Max left the table, went to her, and without

warning gave her a long genuine kiss. Lily knew he was acting

because of what he told her about Nikos but she still responded

to him. It was easy to play a part when she was taking it

seriously. Finally he lifted his head.

She looked tired. He already knew that she lay awake like

he did last night although he was better at feigning sleep than she

was. It didn‘t help to know that he‘d seen the thin satin

nightgown she‘d brought with her and knew she was wearing it.

Images of her scantily clad body kept him awake until four in the

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Lietha Wards

morning. She had fallen asleep a few hours before. It would

have been easy to remove his pyjama bottoms and undershirt

then move his body next to hers. Just thinking about it started

the aching in his groin that kept him up most of the night. As it

was he reached over and caressed the smooth skin of her face

and fingered a lock of her hair. She didn‘t wake up with that, but

she released a soft moan that turned him hard as a rock.

When she came out in the light of the bright Grecian sun,

he couldn‘t help himself and had to kiss her. He craved the feel

of her mouth and her taste. He was keeping up the pretence of

the engagement just so she would play along. The more she

played along, the more he had an excuse to touch her. ―How did

you sleep?‖

She glanced shyly up at him, ―Well enough.‖

His thumb caressed a darkened area under one of her

eyes, ―Liar.‖ He murmured.

―Nikos is watching us.‖ She said feeling her rising blush.

―So?‖ he smiled slowly, ―I told you I was going to be all

over you.‖ What he didn‘t tell her and he wouldn‘t tell her is that

Nikos had resigned his pursuit of Lily. Any moment to touch her

and kiss her would be taken advantage of. Unfortunately now

that he started, he doubted he could stop touching her even when

they returned to Chicago.

Her heart jumped at his deeply voice statement, ―I heard

you last night.‖

―Did you honey?‖ He said pulling up one corner of his

mouth.

―I did.‖ She said tersely embarrassed at her reaction to

him and equally embarrassed that she was jealous of Helene.

―Once you told me that you dealt with your stalker.‖

He chuckled, ―Was that what she was?‖ He took her

hands and squeezed them while studying her flushed cheeks,

―You sure play the part well. You acted like a jealous lover.‖

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I wasn’t playing, she thought, I wanted to scratch her

eyes out. She was actually going to tell him that when Nikos

interrupted.

―If you can unhand your fiancé for a minute or two,‖ he

said with amusement, ―She should eat something before we leave