Free Greek's Marriage Bargain by Lilly LaRue Page A

to himself that he wasn’t averse to trying to sway her to his point-of-view. Leah would find it difficult to maintain her resolve when he moved forward with his seduction plans.
     
    Leah sought solace in gardening a few mornings later, when she successfully managed to slip away from the villa while Nikos was engaged in his morning business briefings. It was a relief to have some space and a chance to remind herself that she was not going to sleep with him. In light of his siege, it was getting harder to stick with that decision. She couldn’t think of a better word. Nikos was methodically probing her weak points, preparing for invasion. She trembled, liking it too much when her mind supplied an image of him conquering her. If she couldn’t regain focus, he would find easy conquest.
    She couldn’t allow that to happen. Exposed to his presence and undivided attention for most of the past few days, Leah had finally admitted to herself that she had never recovered from her “crush”. She loved Nikos, but it was emotional suicide. He wanted her, for the moment, but that would change as soon as they returned to their real lives, away from Trini Island. It was going to be difficult enough to move on and try to suppress her feelings for him until and after the dissolution of their marriage. Having known the ecstasy of his lovemaking only to have it wrenched away would devastate her.
    “You are quiet, Kyria Leah.”
    She forced a smile for Angelo, pleased he had finally stopped calling her Kyria Andrakis. “I didn’t sleep well,” she said while stabbing a hand spade into the rich soil. That was certainly true. Nikos had teased and touched her most of the day, but had bid her goodnight like a perfect gentleman, other than the wicked gleam in his eye. Her only satisfaction came from knowing he had gone to bed just as frustrated as her.
    Angelo nodded, not speaking again for a few minutes. He seemed determined to cheer her up, as though sensing she was troubled. Leah laughed her way through the next hour, listening to the young man recount in his imperfect English the adventures he and his brother had shared over the years. It was difficult to be so introspective and melancholy with such a charming companion.
    He was midway through a story involving his youngest brother and the family goat when a chill fell over the warmth of the day. Leah shivered, looking up to find Nikos looming over her, blocking out the sun.
    Angelo fell silent for a moment before saying, “Kalimera, Kyrios Andrakis.”
    “Good afternoon,” returned Nikos coldly, making the younger man flinch.
    Leah flinched herself when he turned his scorching gaze on her. She had done nothing wrong but still felt awash with guilt under his accusing stare. She swallowed the lump in her throat, striving to sound normal. “Did you need something, Nikos?”
    He arched a brow. “I needed my wife. I’ve been looking for you for the past two hours.” He curled his lip with contempt. “I should have known I would find you playing in the dirt.”
    She strove to sound disinterested. “Yes. What do you want?”
    Nikos’s eyes narrowed. “You know the answer to that, agape mou .” The term sounded more like a threat than an endearment. “For starters, I would like my wife to behave with proper dignity. We have servants for these tasks.”
    She glared at him when Angelo bowed his head. “Of course, Kyrios .” As calmly as possible, Leah set down the spade and got to her feet, grimacing at the dirt covering her shirt and shorts. It didn’t bother her, but she knew Nikos must be livid to see her looking like one of the staff. Inclining her chin, she met his gaze.
    Nose wrinkled with distaste, Nikos grasped her upper arm, pulling her with him. “This is inexcusable.”
    “Save the tirade for private,” she said, jerking away from his hold. Leah held her head high and marched back to the villa, conscious of his presence directly behind her. A spark of fear ignited as