teased the dark hairs arrowing down to his waist. ‘Do we have any wine?’
‘Red, or white?’
Her faint smile held a wicked tinge. ‘It doesn’t matter.’
‘Want me to check?’
Her fingers were busy, and far too close to a vulnerable part of his anatomy.
‘Uh-huh.’
Nicos moved a few paces, retrieved a small bottle of wine, popped the cork, part-filled two goblets and handed her one.
Katrina dipped a forefinger into the light-coloured liquid, traced a pattern along the edge of his collar bone, then she leaned forward and slowly followed the same path with her tongue.
With one hand she undid the tie fastening his robe and pushed it off one shoulder, then the other, letting it fall to the floor in a heap.
His eyes were dark, and she saw the pulse leap at his throat as she circled one male nipple.
Minutes later his breath hissed through his teeth, and firm fingers closed over her wrist, stilling the evocative trail. ‘Dear God,’ he ground out. ‘Are you done?’
She tilted her head, and her lips curved into a provocative smile. ‘Had enough?’
A muscle clenched at the edge of his jaw. ‘Be warned, I intend to reciprocate.’
A light laugh escaped her throat. ‘I’m counting on it.’
Later, much later, it was she who groaned out loud. She who pleaded, then begged as he took her on a mercilessly provocative journey that explored the senses until she shattered, fragmenting into a thousand, exquisite pieces.
Katrina lay supine, seriously doubting her ability to move. Even lifting a hand seemed to require too much effort. She was barely aware when Nicos pulled up the bed covers, and drew her in close against him.
She slept, waking to the light brush of Nicos’s fingers as he traced a line along the edge of her waist to her hip, then her thigh. His lips teased the soft hollow at the base of her throat, and she moved close to nuzzle his chest.
It was a wonderful way to begin the day. Slow, lazy seduction, and equally slow sex.
Lovemaking, she qualified, glorying in the feel and the taste of him.
Afterwards they hit the shower together, then dressed, they ordered in breakfast and ate it out on the terrace, watching the city come alive as ferries crossed the harbour and road traffic began to build.
A new day, Katrina mused as she sipped the aromatic coffee. The sky was a clear blue, with hardly a cloud in sight, and the sun lent the promise of warmth.
There was a sense of timelessness, and a need to encapsulate the moment and store it somewhere safe.
Nicos studied her profile, the fine bone structure. She possessed a beauty of soul and spirit, an intrinsic quality that was uncontrived.
He felt his body harden remembering the degree of intimacy they’d shared. Two minds so finely attuned, he knew her thoughts, her innermost secrets.
Katrina’s skin prickled, and she turned slightly, met his gaze, and felt her insides begin to melt at what she saw in those dark depths.
‘Time to go,’ she said gently as she rose to her feet and offered him her hand.
Together they took the lift down to reception and collected the car. Ten minutes later Nicos double-parked outside the towering steel and glass structure which housed the corporate offices of Macbride.
Katrina kissed her fingers and touched them briefly to his lips. ‘Until tonight.’
He watched her disappear through the revolving glass doors, then he eased the car into the flow of traffic.
There was a place in the Greek Islands where the sun kissed the translucent waters, vines grew on the gentle slopes, and white-washed villas dotted the hillside. He had an urge to take her there, to relax and enjoy the simple pleasures of life for a while. He’d have his secretary make the arrangements.
Within minutes of reaching his office he picked up the phone, issued specific instructions, and got on with the day.
Across town Katrina viewed the rectangular-shaped package the courier had just delivered, and removed the protective wrapping to reveal the painting she had admired at the art gallery.
She picked up the phone, dialled Nicos’s number, and responded as soon as he answered.
‘Thank you. It’s beautiful.’
‘My pleasure.’
His voice was warm, and sent tingles down her spine.
Minutes later there was another delivery, and she opened the slender florist box to discover a single long-stemmed red rose nestling in a swathe of tissue. The card read, ‘Katrina, agape mou. Nicos.’
My love. She lifted the rose to her cheek, savoured the velvety texture on her skin, then gently inhaled the delicate perfume.
Katrina had a plan of her own, and she implemented the arrangements, rang Siobhan with the invitation, then sank back into her chair with a warm smile.
‘A private dinner,’ Katrina declared as she rose from the bed next morning. ‘In celebration,’ she added, teasing gently, ‘We get to dress up, for each other.’
‘I gather this is something special?’ Nicos queried as he joined her in the shower, and caught her nod in assent.
And it was. Very special. Her gift to him.
Had he guessed? she mused as she led him out into the gardens just before dusk. There, beneath the spreading branches of a beautiful jacaranda, stood a celebrant with Siobhan at his side.
‘A reaffirmation of our wedding vows.’
Nicos drew her into his arms, settled his mouth over hers in a kiss that lasted long and took her breath away.
‘You get to do that after the ceremony,’ the celebrant teased gently.
‘Count on it.’
Siobhan brushed a tear away as the celebrant intoned the words Katrina had requested. With joy for her daughter’s newfound happiness, and the man who so obviously cherished her.
The meal Katrina had Marie prepare was a simple repast served in the candle-lit dining room. Chilled champagne and a single-tiered miniature wedding cake added an unexpected touch.
Afterwards Nicos drew Katrina into the study and slid a diamond-studded ring onto her finger.
‘Eternity. Ours,’ he said gently, watching her beautiful eyes coalesce with emotion. ‘There’s just one other thing.’ He unlocked a desk drawer and handed her a document. ‘Read it.’
Legalese, gifting her the one-third share bequest in Macbride originally assigned
