Niko's Stolen Bride (15 page)

An answering smile crossed his face as he shifted his angle of penetration. She gasped at the increase in pressure as rational thought dissolved into sensation. Her hands moved over him, following the bunched muscles in his arms until she found his hands on either side of her head. She wrapped her fingers around his wrists, clinging, anchoring herself in the only reality that she could comprehend.

Lowering his head, he took her mouth, smothering her cry and his own as they peaked together, joined on a different level for this one moment in time. She shifted her hands to his back, pulling him down into the bed with her, reveling in the shudders of sensation that continued to jolt through her.

He was as stunning as a Greek god, primal yet tender. Everything she’d ever wanted in a man. And he was hers for the night.

It was more than she could have ever hoped for. And more than she deserved. She would make sure that he had no regrets. It was, she already knew, going to be impossible to leave him without a few of her own.

Kara sat beside Niko in the pilot house as he steered the
Black Magic
through the heavy traffic of Nassau Harbor. The day had dawned clear and cloudless, the air so devoid of humidity that the heat waves rising off the ship were nearly opaque. Dozens of sailboats were anchored on either side of the strait between the islands, their colorful sails furled as they rode at rest. The yacht shared the channel with small, powered boats that zipped around them, reminding her of dragonflies trying desperately to escape a black bat that had appeared in their midst. The ship was amazingly stable, barely bobbing in their frothy white wakes.

Earlier, Niko had radioed Nassau Harbor Control and gained clearance to enter the port. Now he was on the radio with the Atlantis Marina, requesting help with docking because they had an injured crew member. Eduardo was outside on the fly deck, on the watch for wayward power or sail boats that might come too close. On Niko’s orders, George was still in the guest cabin, though he claimed to be perfectly capable of doing his job.

To the left, there was a white lighthouse, perched on the very tip of what Niko had pointed out as Paradise Island. Ahead, two colossal, white cruise ships were berthed at Prince George Wharf. People poured down the gangplank of one ship, landing on the dock like brightly colored ants, marching in an unending row toward the vivid green and yellow of the Customs buildings. Kara watched for a moment, enjoying the feeling that, for once, she was not one of the masses, relegated to viewing the world in the small bits of time allotted to them by a cruise ship’s schedule. It made her feel special. As did Niko.

She would miss him.

She leaned back in the padded leather seat so she could study him surreptitiously. Dark blue jeans and a white button-up cotton shirt he’d left out of the waistband made for a casual look. The top three buttons of the shirt were undone, giving her a glimpse of the scattering of dark hair on his chest. His sleeves were rolled back to reveal the thickness of his forearms on which he wore a wide silver watch with a black face.

Beside him, she felt unkempt. Because the plan had been for a day trip, the only clothes she had with her were the shorts and casual shirt she’d worn yesterday, a pair of old jeans and tank top, and the dress she’d had on when she came on board. She hadn’t bothered to wash the dress and it reeked of stale cigarettes from the bar. She’d opted for the jeans today, hoping to find something to add to her wardrobe while Niko was busy at the hospital with George. It was foolish, but she wanted an outfit that was flowered and feminine, something that made her feel attractive.

Taking in his casual elegance, the distance between her circumstances and his seemed to broaden into an unreachable gap. It was hard to believe that they had held each other and shared themselves just hours ago. Her body told her otherwise. Her skin craved the touch of his. The inner muscles tightened, readying for the pleasure he could bring her. He was an intense and tender lover. She had no regrets other than the sure knowledge that this was going to end today.

Ahead of them were the twin arches of the bridges that crossed between Nassau and Paradise Island. To the left rose the unmistakable twenty-four-story, coral-colored buildings of the Royal Towers hotel at Atlantis. The two towers of the hotel were spanned by an arched walkway that included an exclusive suite of rooms, the nightly rental fee roughly equal to a month of her salary. The world-renowned resort was their destination. Powering slowly through the harbor, they passed waterfront mansions with privacy fences surrounding lush green gardens and large yachts docked outside.

Niko pointed out several that he knew were owned by celebrities she would have heard of. She wasn’t usually interested in following the personal lives of actors or singers, but listened attentively to his velvety voice. His eyes were covered with sunglasses, so she couldn’t read his expression, but she remembered what he’d looked like when she’d waked this morning to find him staring at her, his gray-blue eyes shadowed by his long lashes.

“Kalimera
, Kara,” he had whispered. “Are you well?”

“Tired,” she’d managed to murmur.

His grin was unrepentant, even a tad wolfish. “Sorry about that. Should I let you sleep a little longer?”

“Did you have something better in mind?” After an extended session of making love, she had a good idea of what he liked. Already, her body was starting to come alive, humming with expectation.

“Coffee.”

She had smiled at that, stretching luxuriously then stiffening as the aroma of the beverage permeated her brain. Her gaze had zoomed back to his expectant features. “You’ve already made it.”

His grin widening, he turned toward the bedside table then rolled back, a white ceramic mug in his hand. “I didn’t know how you liked it, so I guessed. Two creams and a sugar?”

She pushed the pillow against the headboard of the bed and sat up, pulling the sheet over her bare breasts as she reached for the cup. “I will love you forever.”

“The payment’s a bit steep for a cup of java.”

His tone had been playful, but there had been something in his eyes that belied it. He hadn’t liked her using the word love so flippantly. Groggy from sleep, she couldn’t quite grasp the issue. Before she could form a question, he had bent to kiss her and it was forgotten.

Once they were dressed and making breakfast, she’d been grateful he’d spared her the embarrassment of being overtly affectionate in front of George and Eduardo. Now that they were alone for a moment, she had to admit she was feeling bereft. She didn’t intend a repeat performance of last night, but still she would have liked some acknowledgement that he remembered it. A touch of his hand, an innuendo.

“Niko?” She heard the hesitancy in her voice and cursed herself for a fool, speaking before she had fully formed the thought.

He turned his head and lifted a hand to raise his sunglasses, concern shadowing his features. “Yes,
kardia mou
?”

When she didn’t immediately respond, he spoke again. “Is everything all right?”

Yes, she decided, it was. She nodded and let a relieved smile curve her lips. “Never mind,” she said, letting out a sigh as he turned his attention back to the harbor traffic. She didn’t know what the words
kardia mou
meant, but suspected it was some type of endearment. He’d spoken similar words to her during the night and she’d cherished each whispered syllable. That he’d said it now was evidence that she was being overly sensitive. He wasn’t being stand-offish, just courteous of her in front of the other men.

His morning-after etiquette was not the issue, she realized. She was the one with the problem. She’d surrendered herself willingly to the hands of the Greek beside her and now was faced with the bitter truth she’d known all along. In the ancient stories, humans were allowed but a whisper of time with their deities and suffered for it the rest of their lives. She had walked into this relationship convinced that she could move on with her life as soon as she was home. It had been sheer stupidity to think it possible.

As the ship turned toward the entrance to the marina, the buildings along the shore came into view. Painted in intense shades of pink, light green, blue and yellow, they were three or four stories in height, built side-by-side. They appeared to be condominiums or apartments, each with its own balcony overlooking the harbor. The bright colors, trimmed in fresh, clean white, lent a festive look to the resort. Once the channel to the marina was clear of other boats, they entered, following the curving canal past more buildings that echoed the coral theme with domed, bright blue roofs. Niko slowed the engine, and they glided into the yacht basin.

“Oh my,” Kara said on an exhaled breath. “I thought this was a large yacht, but I was wrong.”

Niko laughed, a rich, deep sound that sent a thrill through her, making her smile in return. “This is considered a sports yacht. The lines are sleeker and the profile is lower.”

As they passed the other ships docked there, she understood what he meant. Some of the ships towered over them like lumbering white elephants. “I like this one better.”

“Me too.” They shared a grin before he turned his attention back to navigating the ship into the marina. It was bittersweet that they should have these moments of connection when she might never see him again after tomorrow. Or worse, she would see him only at family events.

It was going to be awkward, hearing his name dropped in casual conversation, perhaps sitting across the dinner table from him. Pretending that they didn’t have intimate knowledge of each others’ bodies and exactly what could send them over the edge into blissful oblivion.

What would it be like, to sit near him with a new man at her side? Would she make unfavorable comparisons between them? Would any man ever be able to stack up against Niko? Her mind filled with memories of both his tenderness and his power as he pushed her to unknown heights. She couldn’t imagine that any other man could hold her attention with Niko in the room.

Four men wearing the resort’s uniform were waiting at the berth to help bring them alongside the dock. Eduardo called out greetings and instructions, and in minutes, the ship was tied up, hooked to electrical power, phone and water lines. The crew, including her and Niko were ushered to a six-person golf cart that carried them to the Customs office. Niko gathered their passports then stepped into the head administrator’s office to explain their medical emergency.

While they waited, Kara fussed over George. He seemed too warm and his eyes were bright with fever. It would be a relief to have him checked out by a doctor. In moments, they were approved for entry. Ushering Kara outside, Niko hailed a taxi for himself and George.

“Doctor’s Hospital,” he told the taxi cab driver as he helped the younger man to a seat in the back. He hesitated with one hand on the open door then turned to her. Reaching to place one hand on the back of her neck, he pulled her to him, kissing her with a hard, quick press of their lips. “Eduardo will watch after you until I return. Don’t leave the ship. Please,” he added with a contrite smile. “The resort has very good security and is perfectly safe, but I want to show you around myself.”

Lifting a hand to touch her lips, she nodded agreement. Not that she intended to go back to the ship and wait. She had plans to make.

At the ship, Eduardo showed her how to use the satellite telephone and then went to work outside, cleaning the salt spray from the deck and making a list of the damage to be repaired. Niko had told her that he’d called her father when they left Key West to let him know that she would be returning a day later, but after all that had happened, she felt the need to hear his voice. He picked up on the first ring, assuring her that everything had gone as well as could be hoped after the abruptly cancelled wedding. She described the pirate attack and finally convinced him that she had suffered no ill effects.

Hanging up from the call, she wandered to the large windows that lined the main cabin. It was beautiful here, a tropical paradise of palm trees, blue sky and cool water. She could remain here one more day with Niko and share the night with him as they returned home. Or she could leave now. It felt cowardly to sneak away, but her conversation with her father had centered her, bringing her back to reality. She had obligations and a life back in New York. It was time to go home.

Her next call was to the airport. She was given several choices of airlines that flew from the Nassau airport, including commercial airlines and private charters. The small sea plane that made a regular run between here and Miami seemed the best option. While checking availability of flights, she realized that Niko still had her passport. Without it, she couldn’t leave the country.