Sold to the Enemy Page 14

  ‘But there was no apology.’

  ‘That would have been asking for a miracle.’ Her hand was resting on his chest. ‘Aren’t you going to ask me what else I want apart from help with my business?’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘I want to be with you. I want to go on dates like normal people. I want to have lots of sex.’

  Stefan breathed deeply. ‘You shouldn’t say things like that—’

  ‘I’m just saying it to you. I know I’m asking a lot because you don’t normally date women. This is the part where you tell me you’ll break my heart, you don’t want happy-ever-after and that the longest relationship you’ve ever had lasted three courses over dinner.’ Her arms slid round his neck. ‘And this is the part where I tell you I just want to have fun with someone I trust. I want to explore the chemistry with someone I feel safe with. I want to make love with you the way we did that night at the villa and this time I don’t want to have to rush off in the morning.’

  Heat spread through his body. ‘Selene—’

  ‘But if you’d rather go back to your meeting…’ Her finger trailed down his neck. ‘Or if being hugged is making you uncomfortable and you’d rather go back to living your life in an isolated bubble, that’s fine with me. Actually it’s not fine with me, and if that’s what you decide you’ll probably find I’m just as persistent as you are when I want something.’

  He caught her hand in his. ‘You’re driving me crazy.’

  ‘Good. Because I haven’t slept since that night at your villa. I’ve turned into a sex maniac. If you could do something about that, I’d appreciate it.’ Her fingers tangled with his. ‘Look at it this way—if it doesn’t work out you can just dump me and move on. Isn’t that what you always do? It’s never caused you a problem before. What’s different this time?’

  His collar was constricting his throat and he extracted himself from her arms, yanked at his tie and flipped open the top button of his shirt. ‘Your first instinct was probably the right one. You should stay away from me. I’m not good for you.’

  ‘Maybe you are. And maybe I’m good for you. But if we don’t do this we’ll never find out.’

  * * *

  ‘I know that this product is special. It’s a luxury. A treat. Something to make a woman feel pampered. If we sell it in supermarkets as an everyday item, it loses its appeal. It’s a high-end product. I thought maybe if we made it exclusive to your spa hotels to begin with it might add to the feel that this is a superior product.’

  Selene stopped talking, aware of the twelve people in the room all watching her. It should have felt daunting, but only one person interested her and that was the man who lounged at the head of the table. Stefan hadn’t spoken a word since the meeting began and yet it was obvious from the body language of everyone in the room that his opinion was the one that mattered.

  He’d removed his jacket. On the surface he was no different from anyone else, and yet he throbbed with authority and power. Even without speaking he commanded the room and Selene felt something stir inside her.

  He was shockingly handsome, those dark lashes framing eyes that looked at her with raw sexual promise.

  Imagining that mouth on hers, she lost the thread of her speech.

  He smiled, and the fact that he so clearly knew what she was thinking infuriated her and at the same time made her insides turn to jelly.

  She didn’t want to be that predictable, but she loved the fact he could read her. She didn’t want him to be so sure of her, but she wanted him to know her. She wanted that intimacy.

  ‘Exclusive,’ she said firmly. ‘That’s the approach I think we should take. By making it hard to get, people might want it more.’

  His eyes held hers. Amusement danced there, along with something infinitely darker and more dangerous.

  There was an expectant silence. Heads turned to Stefan and finally he stirred.

  ‘It’s a high-risk strategy but I like it. Put it into five of our hotels to test it and if it’s successful we’ll roll it out across the whole group.’

  Selene felt the tension ooze out of her. She’d presented her ideas to a commercial task force put together by Stefan and they’d discussed everything from packaging options and advertising to demographics and market forces until her brain was a blur.

  ‘Start exclusive.’ Adam, head of Ziakas Business Development, picked up one of the candles and nodded. ‘I can work with that. Jenny?’

  Jenny was head of public relations for the Ziakas Corporation. ‘Yes, our campaign should focus on the luxury element. We’ll invite a few journalists for pamper days—they can share their experiences. Spread the word. Create demand. I’ll have some companies pitch ideas.’

  By the time the meeting eventually finished Selene had been on her feet for almost four hours, but she’d learned so much and her head was buzzing.

  ‘We’re done here.’ Stefan rose to his feet, dismissing everyone, but as Selene closed her laptop—her brand-new laptop—he stopped her. ‘Not you.’

  Finally the room cleared and it was just the two of them left alone.

  ‘So…’ Stefan strolled round the table, his attention focused on her. ‘By making it hard to get, people might want more? I can confirm that’s the case. Do you have any idea how much control I had to exercise today?’

  Shaken by the look in his eyes, she swallowed. ‘Did you?’

  ‘Yes. Normally I like to pace during a meeting. Sitting still drives me mad.’

  ‘So why did you?’

  ‘Because you look disturbingly hot in your suit and I’ve been aroused for the entire meeting. Not comfortable.’ He slid his hand behind her neck and drew her face to him. ‘Are you wearing stockings under that skirt?’

  ‘Maybe. Possibly.’ Her heart was pounding. ‘So you would have said yes to anything? Does that mean you thought my ideas were rubbish?’

  ‘No. It means I thought your ideas were excellent but you talk too much.’ His eyes were on her mouth. ‘You had me sold in the first ten minutes. You could have stopped then and I could have taken you to bed and avoided this prolonged torture.’

  ‘I needed to convince the rest of your team.’

  ‘You only needed to convince me. I’m the one who counts. And now I’ve had enough of talking about candles.’ His eyes gleamed. ‘I’m all burnt out.’

  ‘Very funny. Are you laughing at me?’

  ‘I never laugh at business. You have a good product. A product you believe in. You should be proud, koukla mou.’

  ‘You shouldn’t call me that when we’re working. I don’t want people to think this is favouritism.’

  ‘I don’t care what people think, but just for the record I can tell you that everyone who works for me knows I’m incapable of favouritism.’ He slid his fingers into her cropped hair. ‘I like it like this.’

  ‘So do I. It was a bit of an impulse but now I’ve got used to it I think it suits the new me.’ She was so aware of him, her body stirring at the memories of how it felt to be with him, and her heart went crazy as he curved his hand around her face and kissed her gently.

  ‘Pack up your things. We’re leaving on a market research trip.’

  ‘What sort of market research?’

  ‘You want to sell your product in my exclusive hotels. You’ve never even stayed in one. So we’re going to take your Seduction candle to a hotel and see how it performs in a field test.’

  She gave a gurgle of laughter. ‘Where?’

  ‘Santorini. You once told me you didn’t know Greek Islands could be beautiful. I’m going to broaden your education. It’s time you experienced sex against a backdrop of dramatic views and spectacular sunsets.’

  ‘What? Right now?’

  ‘Yes, now. We’re going to spend time alone together. Just me, you—’ he kissed the top of her nose ‘—and your candle.’

  ‘And my soap. Don’t forget the soap. It’s a useful addition to the range.’

  ‘How can I forget the soap?’ His
hands slid into her hair and his mouth hovered close to hers. ‘I smell it on you and it drives me crazy because it makes me think of you naked in my shower.’

  ‘You have a focused mind, Mr Ziakas.’

  ‘I do indeed. And right now it’s focused on you.’

  * * *

  They flew to Santorini in his private jet and Selene was dazzled by her first views of the stunning volcanic island with its pretty whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches overlooking the sparkling Aegean Sea.

  ‘It’s stunning. I didn’t even know places like this existed.’

  ‘Did you never travel anywhere with your father?’

  ‘No. He liked to give the impression of being loving and protective, keeping us out of the media glare, but in reality he just didn’t want us to cramp his style. I think he probably stayed in places like this all his life, but without us.’

  ‘This’ was the Ziakas Hot Spa, an exclusive hotel consisting of individual private suites nestling into the hillside overlooking the Caldera.

  ‘I never imagined anywhere as romantic as this existed,’ Selene murmured as she walked onto their private terrace and stared across the sea.

  ‘You surprise me. Your brain appears to have infinite capacity for dreaming.’

  ‘I know. It’s what kept me sane. But this…’ She sighed happily and picked up a card from the table placed in a strategic position overlooking the sea. ‘This place even has…’ She read the card and looked at him in astonishment. ‘A pillow menu?’

  ‘Duck as the starter, goose as the main, hypo-allergenic for dessert.’ Smiling, he stripped off and dived into their private pool, soaking Selene in the process.

  She stood there, gasping, showered in droplets. ‘Thank you. Now I’m wet.’

  ‘Good. Join me.’

  ‘We’re in public.’

  ‘We are not in public. This is their best suite and it isn’t overlooked. And I am the boss.’ He gave her a slow, wicked smile. ‘No one will dare disturb us, and if they do you have a choice of over seven different pillow types with which to assault them. Are you going to join me voluntarily or do I have to fetch you?’

  She put down the pillow menu. ‘This is my work suit. It’s wet.’

  ‘I’ll buy you another. You have to the count of three to get naked. One—’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Two—’

  Selene toed off her shoes and wriggled out of her skirt and jacket.

  Stefan groaned as he saw her stockings. ‘You’re killing me.’

  ‘Good.’ She slid the stockings down her legs slowly, enjoying his reaction. ‘By the way, I’m keeping my underwear on.’ As she held her breath and jumped in she thought she heard him mutter ‘Not for long…’ but the cool water closed over her head and felt blissful on her heated skin.

  She surfaced to find him right next to her.

  His hand was on her hip and then her waist, and a fierce stab of excitement shot through her body and pooled in her pelvis.

  I love you.

  The words flew into her brain but for once she managed to stop her thoughts popping out through her mouth because she knew this one would send him running.

  Instead she stayed still and savoured the contrast between the cool of the water and the heat of his mouth.

  She was here. She had now.

  That was enough.

  Behind them, the setting sun was dipping down to the sea, but neither of them noticed the spectacle that drew tourists from all over the world. Their focus was on each other.

  Her mouth was as urgent as his, her hands as desperate to touch and explore, and this time it was all the more exciting because she used the knowledge he’d given her. When she ran her tongue along the seam of his sensual mouth he groaned and tried to take possession, but she held back just a little bit, enjoying the feeling of power that came from knowing she was driving him crazy. But holding back only worked as long as he allowed it, and when he clamped his hand on the back of her head and held her for his kiss it was her turn to moan. His kiss was deliberate and unashamedly erotic, each skilled slide of his tongue a tantalising promise of things to come.

  When he closed his hands over her bottom and lifted her she instinctively wrapped her legs around him. Her sensitive skin brushed against his solid, muscular thighs and she realised she was naked—that somehow in the heat of that kiss he’d removed the last of her clothing and she hadn’t even noticed. But she noticed now, felt the heat of him brush against her, and the contrast drove her crazy. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, felt resistance and hard muscle beneath sleek bronzed skin.

  ‘I want you.’ His eyes were so dark they were almost black, his voice a low growl. ‘Here. Now.’

  Maybe had she been more coherent she would have worried about the danger of being spotted, but she was beyond caring and simply moved her hips against him in a desperate attempt to relieve the ache between her thighs.

  When his hand slid between her legs she gasped against his mouth. The gasp turned to a moan as his fingers explored her with all the intimate knowledge that had driven her wild the first time. His breathing was harsh and shallow, tension etched in his features as he turned her mindless.

  And then he shifted her slightly and surged into her. He was hot, so hot in contrast to the cool water, and it felt so impossibly good that she sucked in air and stopped breathing.

  ‘Cristos—’ His voice was hoarse, his mouth warm on her neck as he struggled to breathe, too. ‘You feel—’

  ‘Don’t stop. Please, Stefan—’ The need in her was so primal she could do nothing but move her hips.

  With a soft curse his fingers tightened on her, his grip almost painful. ‘Just—wait—’

  ‘Can’t—’ Eyes closed, she arched into him, took him deeper if that were possible, and he groaned and gave in to it.

  He felt smooth, hard, powerful, and the excitement spread through her until there wasn’t a single part of her body that couldn’t feel him. She tried to rock her hips but his hands were clamped on her, holding her, limiting her movements, so that he was the one who controlled the rhythm. He was merciless with each stroke until the orgasm ripped through her and she sucked in gasping breaths, only dimly aware that he was gripped in his own fierce climax. And then his mouth was on hers and he kissed her through the whole wild experience, swallowing her cries, her gasps, words she wanted to speak but couldn’t until the whole thing was nothing but a blur of sexual pleasure.

  And when it was over, when her body finally stopped shuddering, he cupped her face in his hands, staring down at her with a stunned look in his eyes.

  ‘That was—’

  ‘Incredible,’ she muttered and he lowered his head and kissed her. But it was a gentle, lingering kiss designed to soothe not seduce.

  ‘I don’t know what you do to me—’

  ‘You were the one doing it to me—you wouldn’t let me move.’

  ‘I didn’t dare.’ He caught her lower lip gently between his teeth, his eyes fixed on hers. ‘You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever met.’

  ‘You better not have lied about the fact we’re not overlooked or I just might turn into the most self-conscious woman you’ve ever met.’

  He closed his hands around her waist and lifted her easily onto the side of the pool. ‘Let’s take a shower. I think it’s time to put in an order from the pillow menu.’ He vaulted out of the pool after her, water streaming from his bronzed, powerful shoulders.

  It was impossible not to stare and of course he caught her staring. ‘Don’t do that.’ Snatching a towel from the nearest sun lounger, he pulled her to her feet and wrapped it around her. ‘I have to— I can’t think when you’re naked—’

  She was about to ask why he wanted or needed to think but his hand was in his hair and he was clearly striving for some semblance of control.

  ‘You’re incredible.’ She could say that, surely, without freaking him out? It wasn’t what was in her heart but it was all she dared say at this stage.
Apparently it was the right thing because he scooped her off her feet and carried her through to the bedroom.

  ‘I’ll demonstrate just how incredible—’

  She giggled and tightened her grip on him. ‘You’re going to do your back in.’

  ‘It’s not my back I’m worried about. It’s other parts of me.’

  ‘Really? Because I might be able to help you with that.’ She slid her arms round his neck and pressed her lips to the damp skin of his throat. Then she lifted her head and looked around the bedroom, with its glorious views over the sea. ‘I love it here. I could stay forever.’

  She felt the change in him. Felt it ripple through him as he lowered her to the ground.

  ‘Why don’t you take the first shower? While you’re doing that I’ll check my e-mails.’

  His tone was a shade cooler. Another person probably wouldn’t have noticed but she was so tuned in to every subtle shift in her father’s moods that she sensed the change instantly.

  Confused, she stood for a moment clutching the towel, watching as he strolled to the bed and pulled his phone out of his abandoned trousers.

  A moment ago he’d been focused on her and now his focus was on his phone. His business. His world. He’d shut her out as clearly as if he’d closed a door between them.

  And she didn’t understand it.

  Selene cast her mind back to try and work out what she’d said. ‘I love you’ had stayed firmly in her head, so it definitely hadn’t been that.

  All she’d said was that she loved it here so much she could stay forever. And that couldn’t possibly—

  Forever.

  Her head snapped up and she stared at the ceiling, wondering how she could have been so stupid. She’d used the word ‘forever’ and it had to be his least favourite word in the English language.

  The fact that it had been a throwaway comment didn’t make a difference. It had triggered alarm bells and he’d backed off—withdrawn as quickly as if she’d booked the church. And now his attention was focused on his e-mails as if their steamy, erotic encounter in the pool had never happened.

  Selene took a step towards him, then changed her mind and instead walked quietly into the shower and closed the door.