AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How long are you thinking?”
“A lifetime, at least.”
Her heart jumped about wildly, and she dropped her gaze, not sure if she was understanding him.
“I love you. I am always going to love you. And one day, when you’re ready, I want to stand in front of the world and make that official.”
Tears, happy tears, filled her eyes, as she blinked up at him. “Is that a proposal?”
“Would you accept?”
She laughed. “Hedging your bets?”
“What can I say? I like to win.”
“I think you’ve won.”
He sobered, stroking her back so shivered, desire stirring anew. “I really have. And I’ll never forget it, nor how close I came to losing.”
“But you didn’t. I’m right here.”
Cora weavedamongst the well-heeled guests, and felt something tighten in the center of her chest. How was it possible she felt lonely in the midst of family?
Because she was alone, she thought wistfully, looking down at her empty ring finger, frowning. Divorce was hard, but marriage had been harder. She was free, and she was glad for that, but that didn’t mean there weren’t times when she regretted, when she wished…but she’d never make that mistake again. Her marriage had been a disaster, just as her parents and cousins had warned it would be. Who met their life’s partner at seventeen? In a typical rush of spontaneity and over-confidence, she’d married in haste, on her eighteenth birthday, the enormous party at Ibiza a deliberate snub to her family and an invitation to the world.
She groaned softly, forcing her attention back to the room, her eyes landing quite naturally on Anastasios and Phoebe. Their backs were to her, as they spoke to one of Greece’s most well-known politicians, but their hands were clasped behind her back, and even from this angle, their love was palpable. Cora turned away quickly, shocked by the tears that stung her eyes.
Her marriage hadnotbeen like their relationship. The mutual support and affection had been missing from the start, and whatever physical attraction had been there at the beginning had begun to wane until the dislike overtook everything else. It was a miracle she’d managed to keep it together for as long as she had.
She jostled through the room, needing fresh air, needing to be able to breathe properly, and as she cut through the room, not looking, not concentrating, her shoulder connected with something so hard and firm that she almost spun out of control. A hand reached out, curving around her upper arm, steadying her and holding her, so she blinked up into a face that was vaguely familiar and completely overpowering for how compelling handsome it was.
“I’m so sorry,” she murmured, her words raspy. “I wasn’t looking—,”
“No, you weren’t.” The voice was accented and gruff. Her stomach twisted. “You were in an awful hurry.”
“I just needed some air.”
“Dressed like that?” His eyes travelled the length of her body and suddenly, the stunning couture gown she’d chosen for the occasion felt as though it might as well have been a string bikini. A thousand lights fired to life inside her bloodstream. She tilted her chin with a defiance she didn’t feel, as her nipples tingled against the expensive silk.
“What’s wrong with how I’m dressed?”
“It’s snowing.”
“Oh.” She looked outside, her inability to breathe now had nothing to do with memories of her ex-husband and everything to do with the powerfully attractive man staring down at her.
“But if you insist, at least wear this.” He shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to her. She took it on autopilot, frowning a little.
“That’s very kind, but I have a jacket somewhere.”
“This is here. Isn’t it easier?”
Nothing about this was easy. Her eyes latched to the breadth of his torso, revealed by the removal of his jacket, and her first thought was one of utter awe. He struck her not as a man, but as a minotaur, half man, half beast, pure muscle and strength. Her throat was as dry as a desert.
“Are you sure?” Damn it, her voice was quivering with desire.
“I never offer what I’m not willing to share. Take it, alsaghir.”
The foreign word tripped of his tongue and she trembled a little, wrapping his jacket around her shoulders then closing her eyes as his scent engulfed her. Masculine, exotic, spiced. Her knees trembled.
