In Petrakis's Power (16 page)

Ludo yanked down the delicate silk and lace to bare her breasts. With a bold glance that challenged her to deny him he cupped her and brought his mouth firmly down onto a stinging erect nipple. His hot wet tongue caressed her flesh and his teeth bit, sending shooting spears of molten lightning straight to her womb. The pleasure-pain was so intense that she grabbed on to his head with a groan. A few sizzling seconds later he
looked up and with a devil-may-care glance dragged the rest of her dress down to her feet and helped her step out of it. As Natalie tremblingly kicked off her shoes he kept her steady by holding firmly on to her hips. When she was done, he deftly unhooked her bra and let it fall to the floor.

‘Do you know how beautiful you are? You are like a goddess,’ he declared, sweeping his gaze appreciatively up and down her semi-nude figure. ‘So beautiful that it hurts me to look at you.’

Ludo meant every word. She had the most exquisite shape, highlighted by an impossibly tiny waist and gently flaring hips. And with her river of shining hair cascading down over her pert breasts she reminded him again of mythological depictions of Athena and Andromeda. His attempt to make peace with his father earlier had been anything
but
a success, but being here with Natalie like this, fulfilling the fantasy that he’d been gripped by since first seeing her on the train to London, was going a long way to helping him set aside his personal pain.

Her luminous grey eyes widened as he stooped to position one arm beneath her thighs and the other round her back. The texture of her matchless smooth skin was like the softest velvet, and the experience of holding her semi-naked body in his arms was one of the keenest pleasures he had ever known. With her luxuriant hair brushing tantalisingly against his forearm and the scent of her perfume saturating his senses like a hot and thirsty sirocco, she was a woman to weave serious sexual fantasies about.

But it wasn’t just Natalie’s looks that made her appeal to him more than any other woman he’d been attracted to before. There was an air of innocence about her that was utterly refreshing after the parade of hard-nosed businesswomen, models and gold-diggers he’d dated from time to time. He’d known his parents would love her … how could they not? She was just the kind of girl they’d always hoped he would meet. And behind his desire, behind the hope he dared not give a name to, there was a nagging sensation of being jealous of any other man who had known her intimately. Had they realised at the time what a prize they’d won for themselves?

Pushing his jealousy aside, he tipped Natalie back and carefully lowered her onto the opulent silk counterpane. As he stood beside the bed, taking the opportunity to survey her loveliness, she returned the compliment by letting her gaze avidly roam him. The hunger in her eyes was unmistakable, and it hardened Ludo even more.

Natalie caught her breath. The well-defined biceps beneath Ludo’s naturally bronzed skin intensified the desire that had been building in her blood all day. She was suddenly impatient for him to join her, so that she might know first-hand the raw power that his strong, fit body exuded so effortlessly. The man was temptation personified, and it never failed to strike her how perfectly proportioned and beautiful he was.

As soon as her glance fell into that sea of sapphire-blue once more he gave her a dazzling and knowing smile and dropped down next to her on the bed. The need for conversation redundant, he moved over her with graceful fluidity and straddled her hips with his
strong, long-boned thighs. When he sat back on his haunches to undo his chinos her ability to think clearly utterly fled. All Natalie knew was that she wanted Ludo as much as he wanted her—if not
more
. Yet she momentarily closed her eyes when he dispensed with his trousers and the navy silk boxers that he wore underneath simply because she couldn’t stem her anxiety over not being able to please him as much as a man of his experience might be expecting her to …

How could she when she’d never gone all the way with a man before?

Would he be furious with her when he found out? She’d long realised she must be in quite a minority to be still a virgin at twenty-four.

Her nervousness immediately evaporated the instant Ludo touched his lips to hers. The man’s deliciously expert kisses were to
die
for. When she responded eagerly, her own lack of expertise didn’t seem to matter one iota. Winding her arms about his strong neck, she gave herself up to the passionate embrace with all her heart, and didn’t tense when he caught the sides of her lace panties and rolled them down over her thighs. The only feelings that washed though her right then were excitement and lust, and when he returned to claim her mouth in another avaricious kiss Natalie couldn’t help but wind her long slender legs round his hard, lean waist. It all seemed so natural and so right.

‘Let me love you,’ he entreated against her ear, murmuring low.

With her hands resting on the strong banks of his
shoulders, she gave him a tremulous smile. ‘There is nothing I want more,’ she admitted softly.

Somewhere along the line he had retrieved a foil packet from his trouser pocket and he briefly sat back on his haunches to deal with protection. But not before Natalie allowed herself a curious glimpse. With a contented sigh she rested her head back on the sumptuous silk pillow and readied herself to receive him.

She bit down hard on her lip at his first eager invasion, and couldn’t deny the initial sting of pain that she experienced—but when Ludo’s muscular body suddenly stilled in surprise she pulled him against her to encourage him to continue, kissing him. There would be plenty of time for that particular awkward discussion later, she thought. Right now all Natalie wanted was to be made love to by the man she now knew without a doubt was the thief of her heart. A man who on the surface appeared to have everything that was supposed to signal success in the world … wealth, property, business acumen second to none, as well as movie-star good looks.

But in truth, she reflected, he was clearly lacking the one thing he perhaps craved above all else—the thing most people yearned for. Unconditional love and acceptance. From family, friends and colleagues, and—given time—
the person they fell in love with
. Even though that last part of her realisation made her pulse race, Natalie knew she wouldn’t deny her lover anything. Not now, when she’d just surrendered her most precious gift to him.

Pressing himself deeper and deeper inside her, Ludo wound his fingers through hers as they began to move
as one, his breathing becoming more and more laboured as he succumbed fully to the passion that drove him so hungrily to seek release.

For Natalie, the tide of molten heat that had consumed her from the moment he’d welcomed her into his room was now at its peak, and the power of it was like a ferocious drowning sea, sweeping her away to a heart-pounding place of no return …

Wrapping her in his arms as he lay spent beside her, Ludo felt his mind teeming with questions. His heart thudding, he lightly twined a long strand of her silken hair round his fingers and asked, ‘Why didn’t you tell me that this would be your first time?’

Meeting his glance with her big grey eyes, Natalie gave him a long, considered look. ‘Would you have still made love to me if I’d admitted it?’

‘You are far too irresistible for me
not
to have. But I would have tried to be a little more gentle … more considerate.’

‘I loved it that you were so passionate, Ludo. I may not have much experience, but even so I have desires—just like you.’

His heart thudded a little less hard but he was still confounded by her frank response. Confounded and enthralled. He’d never met a woman like her. ‘What made you wait so long to give yourself to someone?’

She blushed, and because she looked so adorable Ludo couldn’t help planting a light kiss on her forehead.

‘My mother always told me to wait until the time was right … until I was sure that the man I gave my virginity
to was worthy of it. Well, today was the day I knew the time was right and the man more than worthy.’

‘See what you’ve done, my angel?’

‘What do you mean? What have I done?’

‘You have made me want you all over again.’

With a shameless grin, Ludo impelled her firmly onto his aroused manhood, proud and pleased that she fitted him like the most exquisite satin glove.

‘Except this time, although I will be no less passionate, I will endeavour to go more slowly … to take my time and savour you more so that you may experience the utmost pleasure.’

Her long hair cascaded down over her naked breasts like a waterfall and her beautiful eyes widened to saucers. ‘Like lessons in love, you mean?’

With a throaty laugh of sheer delight, he stilled any further inclination she might have to talk by capturing her lips in a long and sexy, heartfelt kiss …

E
VEN THOUGH THE
afternoon at his parents’ had not gone as well as he might have dared to hope, it had been one of the most wonderful evenings of his life. Natalie had Ludo in a spin. The air of innocence that he’d sensed about her from the beginning had been proved to be right. But he was stunned at just how far that innocence had extended. More than that, at the fact that she would willingly surrender that innocence to
him
. In spite of the upsetting altercation with his father earlier, he was walking on air—and predisposed to take his lover out to dinner.

He no longer cared that the locals would see him and know that he’d returned, or indeed if they made private unflattering judgements about him. It was strange, but with Natalie by his side Ludo felt as if he could deal with just about
anything
—even the painful realisation that he would probably never have his father’s love and regard.

His favourite local restaurant overlooking the moonlit bay was heaving with tourists and locals alike tonight, and as soon as he and Natalie walked in heads turned to observe them. Deciding it was because his partner looked so ravishing in her mint-coloured dress
and the cream pashmina that she’d draped round her shoulders, Ludo felt a strong glow of pride eddy through him.

‘Kopiaste
… welcome. Come in and join us,’ the restaurant staff eagerly greeted them. Accustomed to getting a table wherever he went, whether he’d booked ahead or not, Ludo decided not to go elsewhere when he was told they were fully booked tonight but would not dream of turning him and his beautiful partner away. He smilingly kept hold of Natalie’s hand and waited patiently while a space in one of the most attractive parts of the restaurant was hastily made available and an extra table was laid. The friendly
maître d’
, whose family Ludo had known for years, attended them personally, and on his instruction a young waiter and waitress brought appetising plates of
mezes
and some complimentary
ouzo
to their table in celebration of his return home.

But although the staff behaved impeccably Ludo could see in their eyes that they were having difficulty containing their curiosity. He had read the speculation in the Greek press three years ago about why he’d left the country so abruptly following his brother’s funeral. The picture they’d painted of him had not been a good one …

‘Everybody seems so pleased to see you,’ Natalie commented, her grey eyes shining.

‘Of course.’ Ludo couldn’t help being wry. ‘Money talks.’

‘Please don’t be cynical. Not tonight. I’m feeling so happy and I want to stay feeling that way … at least until the evening is over.’

Reaching for her small elegant hand, he could have bitten off his tongue for bringing that wounded look to her eyes. ‘I fear my cynicism about people has become a habit. But it doesn’t mean that can’t change,’ he added, smiling.

‘No, it doesn’t,’ she agreed and, lifting his hand, brushed her soft lips across his knuckles.

‘You are a dangerous woman, Natalie Carr,’ he responded, deliberately lowering his voice. ‘A small kiss and one approving glance from your bewitching grey eyes and I’m undone. All I really want to do now is take you home and teach you some more lessons in love.’

Her pretty cheeks coloured, just as Ludo had known they would.

‘Well … I know I have a lot to learn. But, as tempting as that sounds, I’d really like something to eat first. What do you recommend?’

He didn’t even bother to glance at the leather-bound menu he’d been given. He knew it like the back of his hand. There had been many occasions in the past when he and his brother Theo had dined here. He deliberately set the heartrending memory aside to concentrate on Natalie.

‘Leave it to me.’ He smiled, and immediately signalled for the
maître d’
, who had made sure to stay close by in readiness to take his order.

That night Natalie fell asleep in Ludo’s arms, with the sweet scent of night-blooming jasmine drifting in through the open windows of the bedroom. It seemed that everything that had happened was taking on the
magical qualities of a dream, and she wished that life might imitate that dream forever.

When she woke early the next morning, with her head on Ludo’s chest, Natalie couldn’t resist spending several minutes just breathing in his unique warm scent and observing the handsome features that looked more peaceful and vulnerable than she’d ever seen them. There was nothing remotely threatening or untrustworthy about him, she concluded. He had a good heart. Why couldn’t his father see that? She refused to believe her perception was coloured rose just because she only saw the good in Ludo, and because she was head over heels in love with him.

Hugging herself at the reason why she suddenly felt so light and free, she planted the softest kiss on the blade of his chiselled jaw and regretfully left the lavish warm bed. Leaving him to sleep on, she dressed in a pair of light blue denims and a white cotton shirt, then made her way downstairs in search of some coffee and perhaps some delicious Greek bread to go with it. Making love certainly built up an appetite, she thought. She was absolutely starving!

She was drinking her second cup of coffee, courtesy of Allena, when Ludo walked out onto the patio to find her. He too was wearing jeans, but with an ice-blue shirt that emphasised the stunning hue of his incredible eyes. She noticed that he hadn’t had a shave, and his jaw was shadowed with bristles. There was no question that it suited him. The less groomed look made him appear dangerous and sexy as hell, Natalie decided, the tips of
her breasts tingling fiercely at the delicious memory of his ardent lovemaking last night …