The Greek's Forgotten Wife (Boarding School #1) (16 page)

Even in the darkness, this man’s image popped into her head.  But she shook that thought away.  This man wasn’t what she wanted for her future, she told herself firmly.  This man was out of her league.  He was tall, dark and terrifying and definitely not for her.  But he was gorgeous, she thought.  That was a safe thing to contemplate since it was undeniable. 

Harrison watched the woman and thought there was something different about her.  A vitality that had been missing when he’d first been introduced to her.  And damn, but that excited look about her eyes only made her more attractive.  He’d come outside to get away from her, away from the confused expression in her eyes as he’d watched her over the past hour. He’d wanted to smash her fiancée’s face in.  Not for any good reason other than pure, unadulterated jealousy.  Harrison was jealous that the idiotic man got to touch this gentle beauty, to kiss her and have a future with him. 

That in itself was startling because he hadn’t wanted a future with any woman.  There were too many of them out there that he could enjoy, why settle for one?  Of course, there was that ridiculous caveat of his inheritance, but he quickly dismissed that.  He refused to rely upon his inheritance for anything.  He’d made his own way in the world and his empire now made his inheritance seem like a pittance.  Let the title pass on to someone else, he thought.  The rules surrounding the damn title were ridiculous and outdated.  He refused to be tied to antiquated rules that he didn’t agree with and wouldn’t comply with either.

Staring at this woman in the moonlight, a sparkle to her gaze that made his body harden with excitement, he thought about her rosebud lips and her soft, pale skin.  She was beautiful, he thought and his body reacted even more, making him grateful for his coat that could hide his body’s reaction.  “I apologize,” he said and stepped out of the shadows.  “Just having a bit of quiet myself.”

She smiled, pulling her coat closer around her shoulders. “I’ll leave you to your drink,” she said.

“Please don’t,” he said just as she was turning to go back inside.  “Stay and talk to me.  I have business with your father but I know nothing about you.”

That was a startling statement and she spoke before she even realized what she was going to say.  “There’s no need to know about me,” she said, her voice soft in the night. 

He didn’t respond for a long moment, his eyes taking in the pink of her cheeks, visible because of the light from the full moon.  “I think there’s every need,” he finally replied.

Sierra’s smile widened and she felt her heart race.  That never happened when she was around Evan.  Or any of the men she’d casually dated in the past.  Her heartrate had always remained calm and unruffled.  Not with this man though! 

“There isn’t really anything to tell.”  She wished that were different.  And it might be different in the future, now that she’d woken up, figuratively speaking. 

“How did you meet your fiancée?” he asked.

Sierra looked out at the dormant gardens, feeling like they represented her life.  “My father suggested we go out,” she explained.  And even that explanation bothered her now that she realized it.  “I don’t remember why,” she went on and she heard the puzzled quality in her voice. 

Instinctively, she looked up into the man’s eyes even though she couldn’t really see them in the darkness.  “I guess it just sort of…happened.”

He moved closer to her and Sierra’s heart pounded harder with each of his steps.  “Do you normally let life just sweep you along in its path?”

She thought about that and didn’t like the answer that popped into her mind.  “I think I do, actually.”  She blinked back the tears of shame with that admission.  “I didn’t realize it until tonight.”

Harrison wanted her smile back.  He was disturbed by her tears and had a strange, unprecedented need to take her into his arms, to comfort her somehow.  “What made you come to that startling realization?”

She laughed self-consciously.  “I guess my eyes woke up at his behavior tonight around his friends.”  She stepped back and looked out again at the snow covered garden.  “He’s not a gentleman,” she announced. 

Harrison chuckled at her startled discovery but he had to agree with her.  Evan Winters was an ass.  “Not many men are.  We’re pretty much trained to conquer and destroy.”  He moved behind her, looking down at the top of her head. 

She could feel the heat emanating from him and she wanted to curl up against him, to feel those strong arms around her.  But she closed her own arms over her stomach instead.  “Is that a warning?” she asked, trying for a teasing tone. 

He was startled by her question, but had to admit that he enjoyed her quick mind.  She wasn’t just a beautiful face, he thought.  But he also suspected that she didn’t know that herself.  “Are you saying that I would be able to conquer you, Sierra?” he asked softly. 

Sierra turned around, her eyes blinking up to his.  “Would you want to?” she whispered, every muscle in her body frozen as she waited for his response.

“Oh yes,” he replied without hesitation. 

Without waiting for permission, he leaned his head down and kissed her.  His kiss wasn’t gentle or tentative as she was used to.  As promised, he conquered her.  Even his hands moved up, cupping the back of her head and pulling her head back so that his tongue could invade her mouth. 

Sierra shivered, thrilled by his dominance.  She lifted up onto her toes, trying to get closer to him, to feel him against her.  Unfortunately, her heavy coat obstructed her efforts.  She wasn’t aware of the sounds of frustration she was making until she felt his hands pushing the wool out of the way, his hands moving against her. 

The sensations washing over her were all new and she wasn’t sure how to handle them.  But when she felt his hand slide up her waist to cup her breast, she gasped in surprise and horror as the reality of what she was doing broke through the sensual haze that had surrounded the two of them. 

She pulled back, her startled eyes looking up at him. 

Harrison pulled back reluctantly.  He was stunned by what he’d just done.  Kissing an engaged woman really wasn’t his style. 

“I guess that’s how men conquer and destroy,” he teased.

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The Texas Tycoon’s Temptation

The Royal Cordova Trilogy

Escaping a Royal Wedding

The Man’s Outrageous Demands

Mistress to the Prince

The Attracelli Family Series

Never Dare a Tycoon

Falling For the Boss

Risky Negotiations

Proposal to Love

Love's Not Terrifying

Romantic Acquisition

The Billionaire's Terms: Prison or Passion

The Sheik's Love Child

The Sheik's Unfinished Business

The Greek Tycoon's Lover

The Sheik's Sensuous Trap

The Greek's Baby Bargain

The Italian's Bedroom Deal

The Billionaire's Gamble

The Tycoon's Seduction Plan

The Sheik's Rebellious Mistress

The Sheik's Missing Bride

Blackmailed by the Billionaire

The Billionaire's Runaway Bride

The Billionaire's Elusive Lover

The Intimate, Intricate Rescue

The Sisterhood Trilogy

The Sheik's Virgin Lover

The Billionaire's Impulsive Lover

The Russian's Tender Lover

The Billionaire's Gentle Rescue

The Tycoon's Toddler Surprise

The Tycoon's Tender Triumph

The Friends Forever Series

The Sheik's Mysterious Mistress

The Duke's Willful Wife

The Tycoon's Marriage Exchange

The Sheik's Secret Twins

The Russian's Furious Fiancée

The Tycoon's Misunderstood Bride

Love By Accident Series

The Sheik's Pregnant Lover

The Sheik's Furious Bride

The Duke's Runaway Princess

The Russian's Pregnant Mistress

The Lovers Exchange Series

The Earl's Outrageous Lover

The Tycoon's Resistant Lover

The Sheik's Reluctant Lover

The Spanish Tycoon's Temptress

The Berutelli Escape

Resisting The Tycoon's Seduction

The Billionaire’s Secretive Enchantress

The Big Apple Brotherhood

The Billionaire’s Pregnant Lover

The Sheik’s Rediscovered Lover

The Tycoon’s Defiant Southern Belle

The Sheik’s Dangerous Lover (Novella)

The Thorpe Brothers

His Captive Lover

His Unexpected Lover

His Secretive Lover

His Challenging Lover

The Sheik’s Defiant Fiancée (Novella)

The Prince’s Resistant Lover (Novella)

The Tycoon’s Make-Believe Fiancée (Novella)

The Friendship Series

The Billionaire’s Masquerade

The Russian’s Dangerous Game

The Sheik’s Beautiful Intruder

The Love and Danger Series – Romantic Mysteries

Intimate Desires

Intimate Caresses

Intimate Secrets

Intimate Whispers

The Alfieri Saga

The Italian’s Passionate Return (Novella)

Her Gentle Capture

His Reluctant Lover

Her Unexpected Admirer

Her Tender Tyrant

Releasing the Billionaire’s Passion (Novella)

His Expectant Lover

The Sheik’s Intimate Proposition (Novella)

The Hart Sisters Trilogy

The Billionaire’s Secret Marriage

The Italian’s Twin Surprise (USA Today™ Best Seller!)

The Forbidden Russian Lover (USA Today™ Best Seller!)

The War, Love, and Harmony Series

Fighting with the Infuriating Prince (Novella)

Dancing with the Dangerous Prince (Novella)

The Sheik’s Secret Bride

The Sheik’s Angry Bride

The Sheik’s Blackmailed Bride

The Sheik’s Convenient Bride

The Boarding School Series – September 2015 to January 2016

The Boarding School Series Introduction

The Greek’s Forgotten Wife

The Duke’s Blackmailed Bride

The Russian’s Runaway Bride

The Sheik’s Baby Surprise

The Tycoon’s Captured Heart