Secret Heirs: Baby Scandal

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE SUN WAS streaming in through the windows when Nikos woke the next morning, shocking him. He never slept late. He moved and a sigh of contentment from Serena stirred his senses—along with memories from last night. He’d made love to her until exhaustion had claimed them both. No wonder he hadn’t woken at his usual early hour.

‘Morning.’

Serena’s husky voice caught his attention and he looked down at her as she moved against him, unwittingly enticing him once more.

Never before had he woken with a woman in his bed. He’d always slipped from their beds, early in the morning, preferring not to get into those what happens next? discussions. Leaving them sleeping had always given a clear message. Just as never taking a woman to his own bed served as a constant reminder why he shouldn’t get involved in long-term affairs.

So why had he felt the need to bring Serena here when she’d offered to check into a hotel? Was it just because he was going to marry her? Or was it more than the need to keep her in his life now that she was carrying his child?

He pushed the suggestion firmly from his mind and inwardly cursed his train of thought. What was the matter with him? He’d never agonised over spending the night with a woman before.

‘Are you rested enough to go out today?’ He asked the question as he moved away from the temptation of her lush curves, throwing back the covers and walking naked to the bathroom.

He splashed cold water over his face in an attempt to cool his returning ardour, as well as shock the heavy combination of sleep and passion from his body. An icy shower was what he needed most. And as the cold jets of water pounded his skin he thought back to every minute of last night, to the way Serena had made him feel.

His desire had not been for her alone, but for things he shouldn’t want. From the very first night they’d spent together she’d made him want more, and each time that need filtered through his mind just a little more clearly. But he couldn’t allow it. He would not let himself feel anything other than passion for any woman—especially not Serena. If he did it was sure to spell disaster. Hadn’t his past proved he was incapable of loving or being loved?

With an unsettled feeling he switched off the shower, towelled his hair dry and then slung a white towel around his hips and returned to the bedroom. Serena was still in bed, half asleep and looking as lovely as ever, her red hair not in its usual sleek style, but ruffled from a night of making love.

‘I thought you would be going to the office,’ she said softly, pushing her tumbled hair from her eyes and sitting up, pulling the white sheet against her, looking suddenly vulnerable.

As he watched her it was as if someone had notched something tight around his chest, but he smiled at her modesty, tempted to remind her that last night she hadn’t cared if he saw her body.

‘Not today.’

‘What about your deal? I thought it was getting close to completion?’

She curled her legs underneath her and knelt on the bed, moving the sheet, giving him a glimpse of her thighs.

‘It’s Saturday, and we need to be seen out together.’

He knew what she’d meant, and it had nothing to do with their deal. After each night they’d stayed together in her hotel room in Santorini he’d slipped away as dawn had broken, his job—which she’d believed was fishing—being the perfect reason and therefore not requiring any justification.

‘There is nothing more to be done with that deal until Monday.’

Unlike the deal he’d struck with Serena.

She smiled and something tugged hard on his guilt. She really did deserve a man who could love her—but he could never be that man. He didn’t want the experience of watching someone leave again, her cruel words haunting him ever since.

‘If we must go out, I’d like to go to the Acropolis.’

Her excitement cast a glow over her face and he realised she looked the happiest he’d seen her since she’d returned to Greece. For the first time since her text had come through the thought came that things could work out between them. Providing she didn’t ask for that one thing he couldn’t give—emotional commitment.

‘Then I suggest you get dressed.’

He turned and selected clothes from his wardrobe, dropping the towel with scant regard for his nakedness. Behind him, he heard her intake of breath and smiled. The passion of last night still simmered within her, just as it did for him, and if he didn’t get out of the bedroom now he was in danger of spending all day in bed—and that was something for lovers to do.

* * *

Serena felt as if her whole body glowed as she and Nikos walked along the path towards the Acropolis. The sun was hot, but her memories of last night were hotter, and now, with her hand in his, she felt the fizz of passion brewing again, along with the warm glow of hope. Last night had been just like when they’d first met. It had proved the heated passion that they had always shared was still there—but was it enough?

Around them crowds of tourists posed for photos and admired the view over the rooftops of Athens. Children squealed in delight as they clambered over the many rocks and Serena watched them, the reality of her situation coming to her clearly. This was her child’s history, and by staying and marrying Nikos she would give her sister the same chance of motherhood she now had.

A pang of guilt slid over her.

‘Are we doing the right thing?’ She looked out at the view, not daring to look at him. His hand around hers tightened, but he continued to walk.

‘How can we not be doing the right thing, Serena?’

His words were firm and quiet as he guided her towards some meagre shade, out of the way of a large tour party noisily heading towards them.

She looked up at him, glad of the shade, and waited until the tourists had passed, with their enthusiasm and animated exclamations of delight.

‘I find it hard to believe a man like you hasn’t married.’

His dark brows arched, and she wasn’t sure if it was the shade of the trees or what she’d said that had given his face those stern and sharp lines.

‘A man like me?’ He let her hand go and thrust it into the pocket of his casual beige chinos, his stance suddenly annoyed, his expression confrontational.

‘You have it all, Nikos. Surely women have been throwing themselves at you, looking for marriage? So why me? Why now?’ She pushed on, determined to clear the doubts that had begun to surface since she’d arrived, only to be pushed aside last night by passion. But as that passion had cooled those doubts had slipped back into her mind—like snakes slithering undetected through the long grass.

‘Why?’ His deep voice was harsh, causing a passing tourist to glance their way, and Nikos took her arm and walked her further away from the path and the crowds. He stopped and turned to look at her. ‘Do you really need to ask that?’

She drew in a deep breath, lifted her chin and met his glittering blue gaze. ‘Yes.’

She did need to ask. She needed to know if there was even an inkling of love there for her. Sally’s advice was fading fast as the reality of the deal he’d offered sank in. She didn’t think she could go headlong into marriage without knowing he felt some kind of affection for her. What if he later resented her, when he couldn’t attend parties like last night’s as a single man? What if he fell in love with another woman?

‘You are carrying my child. My heir.’

Fury spiked every word but she stood her ground. She had to know.

‘Nothing else?’ She pressed him further, ignoring the glitter of anger in his eyes.

‘Is that not reason enough?’

He turned away from her, looking out over Athens towards Mount Lycabettus and St George’s chapel reaching into the blue sky. His anger was in complete contrast to the sublime weather.

She moved to stand by him, her flat shoes crunching on the path, the sound so loud it was almost too much in the heavy and expectant silence which had settled around them.

‘Is it right for us to marry just because of the baby? What about the baby’s feelings? Should it grow up thinking it’s the mistake that forced us together?’

The pain and guilt of her own childhood poured from her heart, seeping into every word she said, but still he remained ramrod-straight, looking anywhere but at her. A small part of her wanted to tell him she knew what that was like, but lifelong guilt kept her silent. She couldn’t admit her part in her parents’ unhappy marriage—not out loud.

‘What do you want me to do? Declare my undying love for you?’ His voice was low, vibrating with anger. ‘You accepted my terms. You need this marriage and all it offers as much as I do.’

She balked at his mention of the deal he’d offered—the one she was prepared to take if it meant helping Sally get what she wanted. She still hadn’t told her sister yet. The thought of ringing her and telling her she could continue with IVF treatment was exciting, but explaining how it was going to be achieved was daunting. As was telling Sally of her own pregnancy. It was a conversation to be had face-to-face.

‘We can’t build a marriage on a child and a foundation of lust. What happens when that lust dies?’

She forced her voice to be strong and wished they weren’t surrounded by people of all nationalities, that this discussion was taking place in private—but maybe the restraint of being here was better.

He turned to look at her, his hands taking hold of her arms, forcing her to give him all her attention. Her skin burned where he touched her and a sizzle of undeniable attraction skittered down her spine. How could she find such a ruthless man so attractive?

‘Love dies too, Serena.’

His deep, accented words, said with such earnestness, forced her to search his eyes. They looked so black and solemn that a tingle of fear chased after the sizzle of attraction she’d tried so hard to ignore. The sombre tones of his voice left her in no doubt that he was talking from experience.

‘What happened?’ She wanted to reach for him, to soothe the pain which lingered in his eyes like dark shadows in the night.

He didn’t say anything, and nor did he break eye contact. Even when a particularly noisy party of tourists started posing for photos with Mount Lycabettus as a backdrop, intruding on their private moment, he remained rigidly silent.

He waited, and she hardly dared to breathe, sensing that the impenetrable barrier around him had opened just enough for her to slip through—if she dared.

‘You’ll find it on the internet, I’m sure.’

The spiked and curt words reminded her of the expression of regret she’d seen on his face yesterday, when he’d arrived from the office to find her working on her laptop. She hadn’t been searching for stories of him then, but knew that was what it must have looked like. What was in his past that was so bad? What was he avoiding?

Something akin to fear gripped her heart and she had to hear it from him. ‘I want you to tell me.’ Her voice was a whisper, but a firm and decisive one. He’d said this much and she couldn’t let him shut down on her now.

He let go of her and turned to stand looking out at the view. His profile was set in stern lines, but she moved towards him, her body so close to his they were almost touching. Almost.

‘I’d been here in Athens for two years and had put my every waking hour into Xanthippe Shipping. I’d made the money I wanted and more. Everything finally seemed to be going right—until my mother wrote to me.’

‘I don’t understand,’ she said softly, placing her hand on his arm.

He looked at her, his fierce blue eyes a total contrast to the way he’d just spoken. ‘Don’t you?’

The question hurt. It was prodding, as if to try and revive a dying flame. Memories of a childhood that had made her push men away as a young woman, wary of being hurt, rushed towards her in a stampede.

She shook her head.

‘No, of course you don’t. You had the happy home every child deserves.’ His brow furrowed.

He was too close now to her upsetting childhood, and her heart thumped so hard it blocked out the hum of tourists talking and laughing. There was no way she could tell him the truth. How could she say she’d loved him from the moment they met when he thought she’d only returned for financial gain? Hadn’t she confirmed his suspicions by accepting his offer to fund more IVF for Sally—accepting his marriage deal?

‘You don’t know anything about me,’ she whispered in a half-truth, desperate to look away from the accusation in his eyes but not daring to. ‘And that’s changing the subject. What happened, Nikos?’

She saw his jaw clench, the hard lines highlighting his cheekbones, his eyes hard and suspicious. ‘My mother’s “love” died when she found someone with more wealth, more able to give her all she wanted. She left me with my father. He didn’t care about my pain—just drank himself into oblivion.’

The harsh way he’d all but snarled the word love was not lost on her and she drew in a ragged breath, moving away from him, away from his contempt of the emotion she felt so strongly for him.

* * *

Nikos stood looking at the view of St George’s chapel. The sun was bouncing off its white walls as it sat perched on top of the tree-lined mountain opposite. This was supposed to be a day out. A time for Serena to see a place she’d expressed an interest in—a place that was part of his child’s legacy. Instead it had turned to deep and unwelcome exploration of his past.

He sensed Serena by his side, the heat of her body reminding him of the passion they’d shared last night. That passion would be the foundation for their marriage. Serena had shown her true self in accepting his deal. She would do whatever it took to get what she wanted. Love hadn’t been a part of what they’d shared those few weeks on Santorini, and it certainly wouldn’t be a part of their marriage. Lust was all he could offer—because he couldn’t give more. Not ever.

‘My mother walked away without a backward glance.’ He said the words aloud, not realising he had done so until he felt Serena move at his side. He looked down at her. ‘We are better off marrying for our convenience—and for the baby, Serena. Emotions are messy and complicated things.’

He’d wondered initially at Serena’s motives when she’d returned—had been sure that she’d discovered his true identity, that she was looking for whatever it was his mother had found in the man she’d left his father for. That fear hadn’t dissipated. Still doubts niggled. But one thing was certain. He could not and would not be a victim of love again. He’d care for Serena in every way possible, but never again did he want to expose himself to such rejection, such heartache.

Nothing else in his life compared to the pain he’d carried since the day his mother had left. Her words still haunted him, killing any of the attempts to make amends she’d made over the years.

Serena moved away from him, walking among the scattered stones as they lay in the parched earth and for a moment he couldn’t move. Then she turned and smiled so bright he wondered if he had imagined all they’d just spoken about.

She held out her hand to him. ‘There is more to see?’

He was grateful for the change in subject and, slamming the door of his past shut, he walked over and took her hand.

The wonder on her face as she walked towards the Parthenon a short time later held his vulnerable emotions captive. He watched as she reached out and touched the cream stone that had been there for thousands of years, and despite their earlier conversation he was glad he’d chosen to spend the day with her.

The two weeks they’d spent together on Santorini came back to him. Nothing else had mattered. He’d lived those two weeks only for each moment, for each smile from her adorable lips, each kiss which had set light to him, and each gentle and alluringly innocent touch.

It had been like looking in on the life he could have had—but they would never find that again. No, those two weeks now meant he was to be a father.

The thought filled him with wonder and dread.

* * *

As the sun grew higher in the sky Serena looked weary. She still smiled, still wanted to know all he could tell her about the ancient temple, but she was looking hot and tired. Concern for her and for the baby filled him.

‘We should go now.’ He looked at his watch, surprised that they had been out so long. The appointment he’d arranged with a doctor before leaving Santorini was in just an hour. ‘The doctor is calling later.’

‘Doctor?’ She blinked in confusion and fixed him with those green eyes. ‘On a Saturday? I don’t need to see a doctor that urgently.’

‘Maybe not, but you will. It has all been arranged.’

He took her hand, but sensed her hesitation as they began to walk back through the mass of tourists. At least they would have some time alone at the apartment. His body heated at the memory of their last hours alone together.

‘Do you still doubt you are the father?’

He turned to her instantly, to see that she was looking at the ground, as if concentrating on every step instead of meeting his gaze.

‘In the past two days you have flown across Europe alone and then travelled here to Athens. You admitted you were ill for the first months of your pregnancy. You will see a doctor. I do not want my child being put at risk.’

She stopped and looked at him. Hostility and disbelief were burning in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything. Before he could rein in his frustration at knowing she’d spent those months alone and ill, unable to tell anyone, she began walking again—but this time with purposeful strides which clearly displayed her annoyance.

* * *

Serena answered all the questions the Greek doctor put to her, aware of Nikos’s brooding presence behind her. He didn’t trust her. That much was evident. But was it because he didn’t believe the child was his or because he genuinely cared about it?

As the doctor spoke in Greek over her, ignoring her, her temper simmered. Nikos didn’t care—not about her. All he cared about was making sure the baby was his. How had she been so stupid as to think that the hours they’d spent making love last night would make him see her differently?

She couldn’t sit here and allow them to talk about her like this. It was, after all, her baby they were talking about.

‘What is he saying?’ she asked a little too firmly, her irritation directed at Nikos, not the older man.

‘That you need to rest and must take things easy.’ He looked at her, his eyes glittering like the sea had done on that day they’d first met, as if sprinkled with diamonds.

‘Yes—rest,’ added the doctor in heavily accented English as he made his way towards the door. ‘The nausea will subside and you will feel well again soon.’

She smiled her thanks at him, wondering how she could ever ‘feel well again’, knowing the man she loved would never love her.

‘Thank you. Sorry to have troubled you.’

‘Nothing is too much trouble for Nikos. He was like a son to my cousin and he made him very happy.’

She frowned at his words as Nikos shut the door after the doctor and returned to the living room. ‘Who is his cousin?’

‘His cousin was the man I worked for when I first came to Athens—the man I looked up to and the man who was more of a father to me than my own.’

‘Do you ever see your father and mother?’

As he looked at her she saw his eyes dim, as if a shutter had been drawn down over them.

‘My father died when I was a teenager, but I hadn’t really known him since my mother left. It destroyed him, changed him. I went to live with my grandparents.’

Serena’s heart went out to him as she imagined what he must have felt. Her parents had constantly squabbled, and her home had sometimes felt unsettled as divorce threats were bandied about like a ball on the tennis court, but they had always been in her life.