the Billionaire’s Secret Desire(33)

‗what?‘ and he shook his head subtly and gave her a charming

smile. Slowly she returned it and he reached over and took her

hand.

When the helicopter landed, he still had a hold of it and

as far as he was concerned, he wasn‘t letting go.

Nikos led them around the estate for a tour before they

hopped in the cars to the yacht. It was equally impressive. Lily

couldn‘t have even imagined anything so beautiful if she tried.

The place was like a paradise out of a novel and she instantly fell

in love with it.

The cars were two white hummers with tinted windows.

Nikos and Helene got in the first one and she and Max got in the

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second one after their luggage was transferred.

―You like it here.‖ Said Max seeing her expression.

―Oh Max, it‘s so amazing.‖ She breathed looking out over

the ocean. ―I never fathomed water to be so blue.‖

―If we had more time, I‘d take you swimming. Next time I

promise I‘ll set aside time for the both of us.‖

―Really?‖ she was ecstatic. Did he really mean it? That

they would have another trip to Nikos‘ estate and Demetrius‘

island? Even though it was for business, she didn‘t care as long

as she did have time with Max in this paradise.

―I promise.‖ He said and he meant it. She may think it‘s

about business, but he was already planning their honeymoon.

Thinking of the business deal reminded her of

something, ―I‘ve been wondering how is it that it‘s Nikos that

you‘re dealing with and not Demetrius? I mean this is a lot of

money to spend—isn‘t it?‖ She‘d thought about it before but

didn‘t bring it up because they‘d been so busy since they got to

Greece, but now she had him alone.

―Demetrius is chasing after his wife.‖ Max said.

―Chasing?‖

―Nikos said that she took off nine months ago and they

don‘t know why.‖ He stared at her a moment deep in thought.

―What?‖ she said seeing his expression.

He leaned toward her with a serious look. His pale eyes

seemed to darken for a moment, ―If you ever did that to me, I

swear to God I‘d track you down and lock you up for the rest of

your life.‖

What brought that on? Was he kidding? After a moment

it was obvious that he was deadly serious. There was no teasing

glint in his eyes or a hint of a smile, ―Max, are you serious?‖

―Very.‖ He said.

She blinked.

―Let me explain. If you put Luke and I through that much

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worry, you‘d better be prepared to see me at my worse.

Demetrius came to Nikos this morning before you joined us and

he looked like hell. Obviously he was clearly distraught and it

had been nine months.‖

Luke and him. Whatever hope was just building in her

got squashed. ―He must love her very much.‖ Lily said quietly, ―I

saw a picture of her in the tabloids. She‘s very beautiful.‖

Max stared at her, ―You are too Lily.‖

She stilled, ―Do you think so?‖

―Don‘t you?‖

She shrugged, ―I can never seem to get a date and when I

do, sooner or later they take off, or do what David did when he

saw you.‖

Max didn‘t realize the repercussions of his actions by

keeping men away from her. Lily was possibly the most beautiful

woman he‘d ever laid eyes on. He‘d been with other women over

the years but there was no personal attachment. What she didn‘t

know is that he hadn‘t been with a woman for over a year. He

had lied to her when he told her about Cybil being good in bed.

That was one of the reasons Cybil was so angry. She‘d seen the

way he looked at Lily and it was a look that was covetous and

heated. One that he didn‘t bestow on his own girlfriend. It was

getting harder to keep his emotions out of his expression. Now,

he‘d given her a complex that she‘d kept well hidden from him

and everyone else that was close to her. He didn‘t realize that

he‘d done such a thing in his selfishness to keep her chaste.

―Lily.‖ He said reaching out and cupping her face in his hands, ―I

think you are possibly the most beautiful woman I‘ve ever seen.‖

His eyes guided to her mouth as it parted in a silent gasp, ―If you

weren‘t Luke‘s sister I‘d have seduced you years ago.‖

That confession near made her faint. Was he just saying

it because she looked crestfallen, or that he felt sorry for her?

Regardless she couldn‘t help but feel her heart swell with it,

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―Really?‖ After a moment she realized he really meant it.

Especially with the serious look in his pale eyes and the tone of

his voice. If Maximilian King thought she was attractive, maybe