The Billionaire's Runaway Bride (3 page)

However with surprise she had turned to look at him, her face not full of the panic he had expected, but of excitement, her hazel eyes smiling through the face mask. As he had made to pull her away, she had seemed to want to move closer, Alexos stunned. Signalling she was sure, her empathetic shake of the head had made him smile, the two swimming closer to the long sleek animal, Alexos aware that she as he was scanning for others, surprised that she should know to do that with this particular kind, most sharks being solitary creatures.

Following the shark for a few minutes, he had finally halted her, showing his air gauge with less than a quarter reserves, Grace instantly moving back with him to where they had left the boat.

Breaking the water the two had swam on the surface to where the rustic Greek fishing boat had bobbed in the water waiting for them, the two men with lines thrown overboard as they had fished. Seeing the two they had hauled the stab jackets on board as the two had removed them in the water, throwing up their face masks too as without a thought Grace had laughed loudly.

“Oh my God…that was amazing”

Alexos grinning back, his head shaking softly. “I thought you would take one look at that and panic” he had chuckled, seeing as she had fixed him with eyes that shone with wonder

“It was a blue…they are not dangerous…but what a gorgeous creature!”

Pulling her up into the boat Alexos had once more admired Grace, groaning softly at the perfection of her small curvatious body, her bottom the perfect peach shape as she had been raised above him. Closing his eyes he had felt the sudden pang of lust run through him surprised at the intensity of it, glad of the cold water.

As he had joined her on the wooden deck, she had been bursting with excitement, jumping from foot to foot as she had talked about the different marine life they had encountered. Alexos watched in fascination as she had come alive. One fish in particular had caught her attention, he surprised to realise that it was not the shark but a small colourful fish, Grace determined to find out the name of it. Pulling out her bag she had wrapped the towel around herself before dragging out a sketch book and with sure and precise flicks across the page drawn the fish from memory. Watching her sketch the three men had immediately recognised it, giving her the name, as with thankful and happy smiles she had written the title under her drawing.

Alexos had watched her with eyes full of surprise. This woman was an enigma, so different from those he had met before. True she was no model, but she was beautiful, her creamy skin with faint freckles powdered around her small perfect nose. Tiny delicate features perfectly proportioned and a mane of glorious golden hair, hair that he had found himself wondering what it would feel like to run his fingers through. Her eyes however, stood out, large round and windows into this woman’s every emotion the different colours coming into sharp focus with her mood. Right now the gold of the orange shone as she had smiled with the most perfect mouth he had ever seen.

Groaning gently, Alexos Manetas had sat down heavily, a small smile sitting on his wide sensual mouth as he had stared at the ground with disbelief.

“Thank you for a wonderful morning” her gentle voice had brought him round, his head rising to smile at her.

“Thank you Grace…I enjoyed it tremendously”. Pulling on his sunglasses he had tried to hide the way his eyes seemed unable to stop staring at her. Rising quickly he had checked his watch, grimacing.

“OK back to the freak show” giving her a grin as she had looked back with surprise, biting her lip not to ask the question that had formed in her mind. The trip back to the harbour had been as enjoyable as that out, Grace standing to allow the air to quickly dry her bikini pulling her shorts and t-shirt back on as soon as she was able. Beside her she had become very aware of Alexos standing close, closer she thought than necessary, her eyes trying hard not to stare at his wonderful body, the muscles on his arms corded as he had leant against the railing at the bow, his chin in his hands as he had watched the water with her.

Once more in the car, he had again steered the magnificent vehicle towards the large wonderful villa, reminded again of how impressed both she and her mother had been as the car sent to bring them to the only house on the island had turned the corner, Grace gasping at how beautifully it sat in its setting.

Frowning, she had looked questioningly over at Alexos as he had pulled the car over to a clearing near the cliff, his mouth curling in a grin as he had jumped out to open her door.

“Let me show you the best view on this island”

Grace moving cautiously out of the car and following him. From the point where someone had placed a wooden bench she had gasped. An outcrop of rocks allowed the water to break over them, the white frothy surf finally making bubbles on the long sandy beach. However, it was the animals dotted on the rocks and sand that had seen her peer over with excitement.

“Are…are those monk seals?” she had whispered in awe, seeing the wide smile fill his features.

“Yes” part of the island is a sanctuary for them “Not many would recognise them” his voice questioning as she had flashed him a small smile, her wide eyes returning to look at the wonderful animals on the sand.

“Oh my God Alexos…they are so rare…and you have a whole family!”

Hearing the low rumble of laughter she had finally pulled her eyes from the scene below to look questioningly at him, flushing seeing the way he was staring at her.

“I do not get you Miss Leotta” His words filling her with both confusion and a strange growing awareness of his closeness. Giving a small shrug she had tried to make light.

“What is there to get? I like animals” her breezy answer seeing as thoughtfully he had shaken his head giving another laugh.

“No…I’m sure the girls at the villa love animals…especially soft fluffy ones” Grace having to hold back the peal of laughter that rose to her lips as her mouth had quirked.

“No…you don’t mind my driving, you don’t mind getting your hair wet….you don’t shop and you don’t swim away from a shark. Now add to that you can recognise a specific breed of seal from afar…what are you not telling me?”

Dropping her head she had looked back at the animals, so relaxed as they basked in the morning sunshine.

“Perhaps you have just never asked the right question Mr Manetas” her soft clever words seeing him grin “Perhaps you are right”

As he had moved closer to her Grace had bitten her lip not sure why he was causing small flutters to fill her stomach, the sound of her beating heart filling her ears. Making to turn back to the car, he had stepped even closer, his hands moving to hold her shoulders. Looking up into his face, her surprise had been so evident, along with the discomfort of his hands on her.

“I…we should…my mother” she had stuttered softly, words failing her as his head had bent towards her. Trying to move, he had held her tighter, his fingers sliding around to her back holding her harder against himself, Grace feeling as she had shivered against him just as his mouth had met hers. The kiss was soft, gentle. She froze in his hold, shock filling her. As the tip of his tongue had run against the softness of her lip she had once more felt the shudder race through her, her mouth parting to allow his to take possession, the kiss deepening as with a will of their own her hands had slid up his chest and around his neck, pulling him harder to her.

As his tongue had plundered the softness of her mouth, she had groaned, her whole body on fire with sensations so foreign to her. Alexos had pulled her body even harder against the hardness of his own, Grace feeling the unmistakable arousal against her, not aware as she had sighed softly.

“Bella Cara” he had whispered against her mouth, Grace unable to believe that a man like Alexos Manetas could desire her. As his hands had moved to cup her bottom, the flash of molten need had pooled somewhere deep within her, the intensity both thrilling and terrifying as with a gasp she had pushed away, her shaking hand rising to her mouth as she had stared with incredulity at him.

“W…what are you doing?”

Her voice tremulous as she had stared at him with shock and disbelief on her beautiful flushed face, lips so red from his kiss.

Alexos had wanted to pull her back into his arms, swallowing down the desire that held him as he had taken in her eyes, now the green flecks so visible with the passion that had erupted so brightly and so briefly between them. Pulling himself taller he had moved a step back from her too, a smile lighting his handsome features as he had drawled softly.

“Kissing you…would you like me to show you again?” Grace shaking her head violently as her whole body had grown rigid, her hands balled by her side.

“No…no…you had no right”

His eyes laughing down at her “Has no man kissed you before little one?” the rush of colour on her face answering his question as she had dropped those wonderful eyes from him, so embarrassed as he had given a disbelieving groan. “Oh my God, I speak the truth don’t I?”

Grace raising her head to glare back at him, not liking the mocking tone in his voice, especially not liking the way her whole being buzzed for him to pull her back into his hold and kiss her again. This man was a serial womaniser, definitely not the kind of person she wanted to become involved with. Turning she had moved quickly back to the car.

“My mother will be waiting for me” she had bitten out sensing his shock. As she had reached the car, his hand had stopped her, turning her around to face him, a strange expression on his face.

“I am sorry Grace. I didn’t realise” With eyes full of shame she had nodded her head, “its fine. Please just…forget it” her voice trailing off as he had hooked her chin raising her head to look up at him. With a soft sigh he had smiled gently down at her.

“No…I am sorry Grace. I guess that sometimes I forget that there are truly pure souls in this world, and it is more to be admired in a person” Looking closely at his face she had searched for the signs of sarcasm but finding none had finally gave him a small smile.

“Thank you” once more so aware of the feel of his hand on her. Blinking he had dropped his fingers, opening the door for her to step into the car before moving around himself.

As the two had once more driven to the villa she had looked over at him “Why did you say ‘freak show’ when talking about this weekend?”

Grimacing he had flicked her an apologetic look “My father doesn’t keep well Grace”

She had murmured something vaguely apologetic and comforting, as he had smiled.

“He wants to see me settled, married. So these are meant to find me the perfect wife”

Giving a soft sigh she had chuckled “Parents!” her eyes once more alive with laughter “So how did my name end up on your list? And exactly how do you choose future soul mates?”

He had laughed back, picking up on the fun in her voice.

“Well. The secret is not to get involved. Allow your father to be in control. I do think that perhaps he has a list of eligible women…which I imagine your name landed on”

Laughing, the sound strangely so pleasant to him she had once more thrown her hands over her eyes in a dramatic pose. “I feel so special”, Alexos laughing with her.

As they had neared the estate she had become more serious. “Why do you do it? Why go along with something you so obviously hate?”

She had heard him sigh deeply “It means so much to my father Grace…and I think that I can manage one weekend a month” his voice faltering slightly as he had added more surely.

“Also I am tired of being the 25 year old playboy…this way my father is slowly allowing me more involvement with the day to day working of the business”.

Nodding softly she had smiled “Well he is lucky to have you” Alexos giving her an approving smile.

Pulling up at the villa, the two had moved together into the house, the sound from the dining room hitting them as they crossed the threshold. She had watched as he had breathed in deeply, pulling himself up taller giving her a reassuring wink.

“Once more into the breach” the two moving into the dining room together. Grace had been aware of the icy looks thrown at her from the other women and also the suave and charming persona that seemed to descend on him, Grace surprised to realise that he had seemed so different when they had been alone together, more natural, sweet almost, mentally shaking herself she had given a rueful smile sure that ‘sweet’ was not how most would describe Alexos Manetas.

Even now he had moved between his other guests with an ease that astounded Grace, his dark eyes playing with each of the other women until they were once more gushing with how pleased they were to see him. Moving to the other end of the table she had silently watched as he enthralled the four with such effortless charm and a ready smile her mind likening him to a predatory panther, sleek and perfectly poised playing with the women like a cat with a mouse.

Dropping her head she frowned, not sure why the feeling of being played sat so unwell with her. Why was she bothered what a man like Alexos did, he was so far out of her league it was laughable, shocked to realise that despite knowing this that she did indeed care.

For the rest of the day and night the group had repeated the previous day, spending too much time by the pool where once more Alexos had been the centre of the women’s attention. Grace had ignored her mother’s pleas to join the others, her eyes looking at them with barely concealed contempt.

“I do not think so” had been her only comment, ignoring the small sounds of disapproval coming from the older woman as she had pulled open her notebook, taking time to fill in the colour and feel of the fish she had discovered that morning, writing notes on the opposite page about the encounter and the habitat itself.

“You really captured the look of that”

His warm sensual voice at her shoulder, where he squatted down had made her jump. Grace dropped the pad, as he had retrieved it, her pulse racing as the back of his hand had scraped along her bare leg.

“T…thank you” she had muttered, grabbing the pad from his offered hand, her eyes finding his, those dark eyes framed by the most wonderful long lashes on a man as they had delved so deeply back, a warmth deep within them.