4

I sabella eyed Theron suspiciously, wondering if he’d suddenly developed a

sense of humor.

“You intend to do what?” she asked.

“You want a husband. After my initial misgivings, I’ve decided it’s a sound

idea. A woman in your position can’t be too careful,” he continued, obviously

warming to his subject. “So I’ve taken the liberty of drawing up a list of

suitable candidates.”

She burst out laughing. She couldn’t help herself. As absurdities went, this

might well take the cake.

He blinked in surprise then frowned as she continued to chuckle. “What do

you find so amusing?”

She shook her head, the smile not dropping from her lips. “I’m in the city all

of two days, and already you’re planning to marry me off. And tell me, what do

you mean by a woman in my position can’t be too careful?”

“You’re wealthy, young and beautiful,” he said bluntly. “You’ll have every

man between the ages of twenty and eighty plotting to wed and bed you, not

necessarily in that order.”

She sat back in mock surprise. “Wow. And not a word about my intelligence,

wit or charm. I’m glad to know I don’t plan to wed for superficial reasons.”

Theron sobered then reached over and took her hand. Warmth spread up her

arm as his fingers stroked her palm. “This is precisely why I felt I should be

involved in your search for a husband. Men will try to take advantage of you by

pretending they’re something they’re not. Fortune hunters will pretend they

know nothing of your wealth. They’ll be swept away by your kindness and

generosity. It’s important that any man we allow close to you be carefully

vetted by myself.”

Her lips twitched, but she dare not laugh. He was utterly serious, and she had

to admit that his concern was endearing. It would be quite sweet if he weren’t

so intent on marrying her off to another man.

“Don’t be disheartened, pethi mou,” he soothed. “There are many men who

would give you the world. It’s a matter of finding the right one.”

It was all she could do not to cringe. If that wasn’t a painful lecture, she’d

never heard one.

“You’re right, of course,” she murmured.

Because what else was she going to say? What she really wanted to do was

lean over and ask him if he could be that man. But she already knew the answer

to that. He couldn’t be that man. At least not yet. Not until he had time to get

used to the idea.

Theron smiled his approval and slipped his fingers from hers as he leaned

back in his chair. She glanced down at her open hand, regretting the loss of his

touch.

“So tell me, what are your requirements in a husband?” he asked indulgently.

She gazed thoughtfully at him, her mind assembling all the things she loved

most about him. Then she started ticking items off on her fingers.

“Let’s see. I’d like him to be tall, dark and handsome.”

Theron rolled his eyes. “You’ve described the wishes of half the female

population.”

“I also want him to be kind and have a sense of responsibility. As I’d prefer

not to have children right away, his agreement on that matter would also be

important.”

“You don’t want children?” he asked. He seemed surprised, but then he likely

thought all women aspired to pop out a veritable brood as soon as they got a

ring on their finger.

“I didn’t say I didn’t want them,” she replied calmly. “Let me guess, you’d

want them immediately?”

He arched one brow. “We aren’t discussing me, but yes, I see no reason to

wait.”

“That’s because you aren’t the one having them,” she said dryly.

For a moment it looked as though he would laugh, but then he waved his hand

and urged her to continue with her wish list.

She pretended to consider for a moment. “I want him to be wealthier than I am

so that my money is a nonissue.”

Theron nodded his agreement.

Then she let her voice drop, and she leaned forward. “I want him to burn for

me, to not be able to go a day without touching me, holding me, caressing me.

He’ll be an excellent lover. I want a man who knows how to please me,” she

finished in a husky, longing-filled voice.

He stared at her, his eyes sharp. For a moment she imagined that there was

answering passion in his eyes as they flickered over her exposed skin.

“Do you not agree that these are things I should expect?” she asked softly as

she studied him.

He cleared his throat and looked briefly away. Was she affecting him at all or

was he completely immune? No, there was something in his eyes. His entire

body emanated sexual awareness. She might be young, but she wasn’t naive,

and she certainly wasn’t stupid when it came to men. She’d had her share of

interested parties. She could read harmless, flirty interest, and then there was

the dark, brooding intensity of a man whose passions ran deep and powerful.

Never before had she felt the intense magnetism that existed between her and

Theron. She’d spent years searching for something that even came close to the

budding awareness that had begun in her teenage years.

She’d experimented with dates. Kisses, the clumsy groping that had inevitably

led to her showing the guy the door. There was only one who ever came close

to coaxing her to give him everything. In the end, it had been him who’d called

a stop to their lovemaking. At the time, she’d been embarrassed and certain that

she’d made some mistake. He’d kissed her gently, told her that he was greatly

honored by the fact that he would be her first, but that perhaps she should save

her gift for a man who held a special place in her heart.

Then, she’d seen it as a cop-out, a man running hard and fast from a woman

who obviously equated sex with commitment or at least a deeper relationship.

Now, she was just grateful that she hadn’t blithely given away her innocence.

Travis was right. Her virginity was special, and she’d only give it to a special

man.

She blinked again when she realized Theron was talking to her.

“I think you are wise to place emphasis on…these qualities,” he said

uncomfortably. “You wouldn’t want a man who’d mistreat you in any way, and

of course you’ll want someone who shares your vision of marriage and a

family.”

“But you don’t think I should want a good lover?” she asked with one raised

eyebrow.

His eyes gleamed in the flickering lamp situated in the middle of the table. Her

breath caught and hung in her chest, painful as her throat tightened. She

swallowed at the raw power radiating from him in a low, sensual hum.

“It would indeed be a shame if a man had no idea what to do with a woman

such as yourself, Bella.”

He looked up in relief when the waiter came bearing the tray with their food.

Isabella, on the other hand, cursed the timing.

Theron surprised her, however, when after the waiter retreated, he caught her

eye and murmured in his sexy, accented voice, “Your mother died early in your

childhood, did she not? Has there been no one else to speak to you about…

men?”

She gaped at him in astonishment. Did he honestly think she’d reached the

ripe old age of twenty-two without ever hearing the birds and the bees talk? She

wasn’t sure who was more horrified, her or Theron. He looked uncomfortable,

and hell, so was she.

Picking up her fork, she cut into her fish and speared a perfectly cooked piece.

It hit her tongue, and she nearly sighed in appreciation. It was good, and she

was starving.

Theron was clearly waiting on her to answer his question. His really ridiculous

question aimed more at a fourteen-year-old, pimply faced girl than a twentytwo-year-old

woman.

“If I say no, are you volunteering to head my education?” she asked with a

flash of a grin.

He shot an exasperated grimace in her direction. “I’ll take that as a yes that

someone has spoken to you of such matters.”

“Next you’ll be offering to buy my feminine products,” she muttered.

He choked on the sip of wine he’d just taken and hurriedly set the glass back

down on the table. “You imp. It’s not polite to make someone laugh as they’re

taking a drink.”

“I’ll remind you that you started this conversation,” she said dryly.

She watched him take a bite and then wipe his mouth with his napkin. He had

really gorgeous lips. Perfect for kissing.

“So I did,” he said with a shrug. “I merely wondered if you’d spoken to

another woman about men and husbands and of course which men make the

best husbands.”

“And lovers,” she added.

“Yes, of course,” he said in resignation.

She sat back in her seat and stared at him in challenge. “You don’t want the

woman you marry to be a good lover?”

He gave her what she could only classify as a look of horror. “No, I damn well

do not expect my wife to be a good lover. It’s my duty to…” He broke off in a

strangled voice. “We’re not discussing my future wife,” he said gruffly.

But her curiosity had been well and truly piqued. She sat forward, and placed

her chin in one palm, her food forgotten. “It’s your duty to what?”

“This is not a conversation that is appropriate for us to have,” he said stiffly.

She sighed and nearly rolled her eyes. He sure didn’t mind playing the

guardian card when it suited him, and the last thing she wanted was to plant any

sort of parent role into his brain. But she desperately wanted to hear just what

he considered his duty to be to the woman who’d share his bed.

“You’re my guardian, Theron. Who else can I talk to about such matters?”

He let out a long-suffering sigh and took another sip of his wine. “I don’t

expect my wife to be sexually experienced when she comes to my bed. It’s my

duty to awaken her passion and teach her everything she needs to know

about…lovemaking.”

Isabella wrinkled her nose. “That sounds so medieval. Have you ever

considered that she might teach you a thing or two?”

He set the glass down again, a look of astonished outrage on his face. Clearly

the thought had never occurred to him that any woman could teach him

anything when it came to sex. So he fancied himself a good lover then. She had

to fight off a full-body shiver. She wanted his hands on her body so badly.

She’d be more than willing to be an eager pupil under his tutelage.

“I assure you, there is little a woman could teach me that I am not already well

acquainted with,” he said with a thread of arrogance.

“That experienced, huh?”

He grimaced. “I don’t know how our conversation deteriorated to this, but it’s

hardly an appropriate conversation between a guardian and his ward.”

And up went the cement wall again. At least he was struggling to put her back

on a non threatening level which meant he considered her just that. A threat.

She dug cheerfully into the remainder of her meal, content to let silence settle

over the table. Theron watched her, and she let him, making sure not to look up

and catch his stare. There was curiosity in his gaze but there was also interest,

and not the platonic kind. He might fight it tooth and nail, but his eyes didn’t

lie.

When they were finished eating, Theron queried her on her next course of

action.

“I’ll need furniture, of course. Not to mention food and staple items.”

“Make a list of food items and any other household things you need. I’ll have

it delivered so that you don’t have to go out shopping,” Theron said. “If you

can stand a few more days in the hotel suite, I’ll see if I can fit in a furniture

shopping trip later in the week.”

“Oh, I need everything,” she said cheerfully. “Towels, curtains, dishes, bed

linens—”

He held up his hand and smiled. “Make a detailed list. I’ll see that it is taken

care of.”

He tossed his table napkin down and motioned for the waiter. Then he glanced

at Isabella. “Are you ready to return to your suite?”

Isabella wasn’t, but she also knew that she’d monopolized Theron’s entire

morning, and he was a busy man. She nodded and rose from her seat. They met

around the table, and he put his hand to the small of her back as they headed for

the exit.

“I’ll see you up,” Theron said when they walked into the lobby.

The elevator slid open and the two stepped inside. Even before it fully closed,

Isabella turned to Theron. He was so close. His warmth radiated from him,

enveloping her. She could smell the crispness of his cologne.

“Thank you for today,” she murmured.

She reached automatically for his hands and knew that he was going to lean in

to kiss her on either cheek. The elevator neared the top floor.

“You’re quite welcome, pethi mou. I’ll have my secretary call you about your

apartment and also about our shopping trip.”

As she thought, when the elevator stopped, he leaned down, his intention to

kiss her quickly. She stepped into his arms, her body molding to his chest.

Before he could react, she circled her arms around his neck and as his lips

brushed against her cheek, she turned her face so that their lips met.

The air exploded around them. Their mouths fused and electricity whipped

between them like bolts of lightning. At first he went completely still as she

boldly kissed him. And then a low growl worked from his throat and he took

control.

He yanked her to him until there was no space between them. His arms

wrapped around her body, and his hand slid down her spine, to the small of her

back and then to cup her behind through her tight jeans.

She was intensely aware of his every touch. His fingers felt like branding irons

against her skin, burning through the denim of her pants. His other hand tangled

roughly in her hair, glancing over her scalp before twisting and catching in the

thick strands.

It wasn’t a simple kiss, no loving caress between two people acquainting

themselves. It was the kiss of two lovers who were starved for each other.

No hesitancy or permission seeking. It was like they’d been separated for a

long period and were coming back together, two people who knew each other

intimately.

The warm brush of his tongue coaxed her mouth further open and then he was

inside, licking at the edge of her teeth and then laving over her tongue, inviting

her to respond equally.

She went willingly, tasting him and testing the contours of his lips.

His hand moved from the curve of her bottom up underneath her shirt and to

the small of her back where his large hand splayed out possessively as he

crushed her to his hard body.

Her breath caught, and she gasped when his hand made that first contact with

her bare skin. Her breasts swelled and throbbed against his chest.

She dare not say a word or make a sound, because if she did, the moment

would be lost. He would remember who he was kissing. Instead she focused her

energy on making it last as long as she could.

When his lips left hers and stuttered across her jaw and to her neck, she

moaned, unable to remain silent. She shivered and quaked, her senses

awakening after a long winter.

Never had she felt anything like his lips, whisper soft, across the delicate skin

beneath her ear.

Her knees buckled, and she clutched frantically at him. Suddenly his mouth

left her, and he cursed. She closed her eyes, knowing the moment was over.

He yanked her away, his hands tight around her arms. His eyes blazed, equal

parts anger, self-condemnation and…hunger. She stared helplessly back at him,

unable to say anything.

He cursed again in Greek and then shook his head before shoving her out of

the elevator. He ushered her to the door where he jammed the card into the lock.

He held the door open with one hand, and she slowly entered. When she

turned around to say something, he was already letting the door close. Before it

clicked shut, she heard his footsteps hurrying away.

Turning until her back rested against the door, she closed her eyes and hugged

her body as she relived those precious moments in Theron’s arms.

Their passion had been immediate. The chemistry between them was

positively combustible. The last unknown was unveiled. In every other aspect,

Theron had proved himself to be her perfect match. All she hadn’t known is if

they were sexually compatible, not that she’d harbored any doubts, and now in

the space of a few heated moments in the elevator, the last piece had fallen

neatly into place.

Now all she had to do was make him see it.