The Billionaire's Runaway Bride (6 page)

The dive site had not been far from where they had moored the cruiser. The size of the ship bigger than any she had previously been on, its six suites and crew’s quarters for the four crew members who had managed the ship so ably. A rib boat had taken them the rest of the way Grace once more not realising how she shone with the anticipation of the upcoming dive.

In the water the two had seemed to almost naturally fall in behind the other, giving each other just enough space, the waters not quite as clear as it had been in Greece, but Grace enjoying every moment. As the hour long dive had come to an end, the two had returned to the ship, both talking animatedly about what they had seen.

For the rest of the day they had enjoyed cruising along the coastline, both relaxing in the sun as she had laughed “This is so decadent” Alexos returning her smile.

“Well, given the fact that I am pulling 12 to 14 hour shifts … I feel that this is just what the doctor ordered”.

Peering at him through her sunglasses, he had indeed looked more relaxed, knowing that even during one of the days he had taken as a holiday he had spent working, Grace had realised that perhaps he was not as much of a playboy as she had initially thought.

As the sun had started to sink the ship had once more moved back to dock. Taking her hand, this small act seeming so natural now, his face had been full of fun.

“OK…We can go back to the hotel and change into evening wear and attend another party….or….we could blow it off and find a nice place down by the water”

Looking up at him she had scrunched up her nose, eyes shining with laughter “Oh I think that another party would be …bad”

Alexos giving her an approving smile “I applaud your decision”

The two had found a quant waterside restaurant, enjoying the authentic local cuisine and house wine. Sitting outside with the sound of the cicadas and the light from the candles throwing shadows around them Grace had looked at Alexos, once more finding her heartbeat thumping so loud in her own ears as she had tried not to stare at the way his handsome mouth had lifted in the corner, his eyes holding hers with real warmth.

“What are you thinking of Grace Leotta?”

His soft question had thrown her, as with a small flush she had given a contented smile back.

“I was thinking….that this had been nice”

Alexos reached over and entwining his fingers into hers he had given a small throaty chuckle.

“This has been……..very nice” the two just looking at each other before the waiter had once more moved to their table breaking the moment.

That night as he had once more moved to her suite he had again taken her hand dropping another kiss onto her velvety skin. This time however, she had moved closer to him bringing their bodies together her face upturned to look at his. As the flecks in her eyes had grown so green they had dropped to flick so sensually to his lips, Alexos groaned as his hands had moved to hold her shoulders. As their eyes had once more locked on each other he had given a small sigh, his mouth falling to kiss hers, not gently or tenderly, but full of fire, her hands moving around his waist hauling her in harder to him as she had risen on tiptoes to deepen the kiss further.

She had felt his fingers slide through her hair, her own hand moving against him as though belonging to someone else, someone less shy, sliding along the waistband of his jeans enjoying the way he had jumped, pulling her in even harder, whispering soft words against her mouth. Taking her key card from her hand and still kissing her he had deftly opened the door, she had moved backwards into the room with him, their hands all over each other, before the bed against the back of her legs had sent her falling onto the softness, Alexos falling with her.

His weight over her had sent a shock of desire through her as her hands had slipped under his shirt, nails scraping his back as she had quivered under him, wanting more, wanting him, the heat of need burning so low in her stomach, Grace writhing under him as he had given a low growl. Raising his head the look of lust on his face had sent a raw satisfaction through her, his head dropping to kiss along her throat, his tongue licking the small pulse beating so fast there.

As his fingers had undone the buttons on her sleeveless shirt she had let him, encouraged him, the shirt pulled to the side his eyes admiring the perfect breasts contained within the lacy lingerie, another low noise leaving him as his head had dropped to nip the nipples which strained against the lace. Grace was out of her mind, never before had she experienced such ecstasy, looking up at him whispering softly.

“Alexos…I…I don’t know what to do” the need in her voice so obvious as he had paused, his hands trembling against her as he had pushed himself away, rising quickly, his back turned.

Grace had whimpered, wanting his return, her eyes flying to his long back seeing the way his hands had scraped through his hair as he had tried to pull himself together, both silent before he had finally turned to face her. His eyes had still shown the desire, half closing as he had once more taken in the glorious sight she made lying on the bed, her hair tousled around her slim body, eyes burning so green, her breathing as ragged as his as her breasts rose and fell, visible within their lacy confines.

Swallowing he had turned from her, his voice hoarse “Forgive me Grace…I made you a promise”

Turning and moving quickly to the door he had taken one final look at the woman who was causing all kinds of disruption to his body “Sleep well; I will see you in the morning”

As the door had closed behind him she had fallen back onto the bed, disappointment flooding through every part of her. She had wanted him to continue, wanted him to remove the rest of her clothes groaning with pain at the realisation that she had wanted it more than he, this fact sending small tears to her eyes.

The next day the two had made the return trip to her parents’ home, Grace once more finding herself enthralled by him as the two had laughed and joked the whole trip, disappointed as the familiar landscape of her father’s estate had appeared. Pulling the car over before they reached the house itself he had looked over at her.

“I have really enjoyed our time together Grace” his voice warm and honest as she had smiled gently back.

“I have too Alexos…really enjoyed it”

With a large smile he had nodded, his hand moving to gently stroke her cheek, Grace feeling the fires within her once more stoked at the mere touch of his hand on her.

“Does that mean that you might consider doing it again…soon?”

Nodding her head furiously he had laughed softly, his head moving to once more take her lips his dark smouldering eyes holding hers.

“We are going to be one amazing couple you and I Grace Leotta a small frown on her perfect features.

“Maybe in a few years..” she had began as he had chuckled, pulling her harder against himself, his voice husky before lost in her mouth “I do not think that I will be able to wait that long Grace”

His kiss had once more made her head reel, her senses leaving her as the animal need for this man had taken over, kissing him back with as equal a passion as his. With a groan he had pulled back, dropping his head to hers his voice tortured “God I never thought it would be this hard”

Grace smiling shyly back as Alexos had once more started the car, driving up to her family home.

Her father had been there to meet them, pleased to see the way the couple almost seemed to naturally fall against each other, his eyes meeting hers with approval, Grace mortified that he assumed the two were already lovers.

For a week after his departure, she had missed him, her mother watching her with happy eyes.

“He is a good man Grace” she had whispered softly, she nodding back gently not aware of the happiness on her own face.

That evening, as they had all sat together each eating dinner, nobody talking as her father had read the paper ignoring the two women she had jumped as he had laughed.

“Seems Alexos is not wasting any time” the name of the Greek making her frown as she had looked back with interest.

“What do you mean father?” her question one which would have usually been ignored, but this time not. Throwing the paper over to her to read, he had laughed cruelly. Picking up the tabloid she had seen the picture of Alexos with Angelica Fleur, the two laughing together as the other woman had her arm draped around his neck. Holding back the gasp, aware that her father was watching her with narrowed eyes and a smile she had read the few lines in which they had both been spotted dancing alone, reading of the resurfacing rumours of a relationship between the two after they had split over two years earlier, the tabloid enjoying the hint of scandal as she was a married woman.

“I…I’m sure that it was nothing” she had finally managed as her father had plucked the paper once more from her hands a sneer on his lips.

“Grow up Grace. He needs a wife and you will be it. Don’t expect the man to live like a saint”

Her mother’s soft voice had broken in “Don’t say things like that to her…he might well be…”

Her father’s contemptuous glare had silenced his wife as she had looked over at Grace with eyes so full of pain.

“He wants a family. You know that. Grace is to be the mother of his children, that is all, and he wants them soon”

Clearing her throat the feeling of panic filling her she had turned pained eyes on her father

“But papa…I want to go to university. Alexos…”

The loud slam of his hand on the wood and his angry cry stopping her

“I have talked with Alexos about this and we will hear no more! He wants children soon, not some wife spending all her time studying. You will marry him. You will bear his children and you will not interfere with his life…do you understand that?!”

Feeling the tears burning her eyes she had lifted her fork, nodding as her mother had looked at her with such pain, her eyes consoling as she had remained silent.

“Yes papa”, the table once more becoming silent.

Grace had not been able to eat any more of the food, her head spinning with her father’s words. So Alexos had talked to him and despite his admiration for her dream it had all just been words. The thought making her feel sick to her stomach. She had thought he was different, that he was special that he was a good man, but he was no different than the man who was now sitting with a look of satisfaction on his face as he had continued to read the paper.

That night she had once more laid in bed her dreams of university disappearing with the expectations of two men. Her father she knew was keen to get rid of her and Alexos, who had already told her that the weekends he had endured were to appease his father, just saw her as a means for him to placate his father. Turning she had punched the pillow as Daryle’s words had once more come to her, Grace finding herself mulling them over with serious thought. By morning she was tired, but with a real plan in her mind.

As she had left the house, her father had smiled at her, a rare event indeed, she returning the smile.

Reaching the shelter she had grabbed a surprised Daryle, dragging him outside where the two had sat on the grass, the sun beating warmly down on them both.

Staring at his friend Daryle had raised his eyebrows at the way her eyes had glowed with excitement.

“Do you remember last month…what you said?”

Frowning he had nodded giving an embarrassed laugh “Yeah…stupid I know”

Her hand had moved to grab his arm, her head shaking furiously “No…no Daryle…it really could work. Were you serious?”

His stupefied face had watched her before a slow smile had spread across his handsome features.

“Are you seriously considering this Grace?” smiling wider as she had nodded, her features so sombre

“It is like you said Daryle. This is my life - why should I not live it the way I want to?”

Laughing he had pulled her into his arms. “Well OK…future Mrs Dionis” the two holding each other as they had had laughed nervously together.

Over the next few weeks the two had put their plan into action. Daryle had contacted the firm in London getting the job after he had informed them of his upcoming marriage. The two had organised for a civil wedding holding their breath for the three weeks in which their names were displayed for everybody to see, both so nervous that they would be discovered and the plan halted before it could take place.

Alexos had continued to phone her and email her, Grace feeling such mournful sadness each time he did, not understanding her own feelings. He wanted a wife, part of her almost wondering if maybe that would be enough, knowing that it would not. Like her mother and father, his lifestyle would eventually become too much for her to bear and then they would become like them, and how would that affect any children they did have?

Each day some small gift would arrive, whether that was flowers, chocolates or small teddy bears and her mother had been beside herself with happiness congratulating her daughter on having landed such a caring, generous and handsome husband.

Grace had felt the tingle of guilt leading Alexos on, but knowing how important it was that nobody be any the wiser to her plans so she had smiled back nodding, hoping that she was carrying off the happy bride to be charade.

Finally the day had arrived for the two to elope, Grace feeling sick with the nerves that had held every part of her. With Alexos expected to arrive for their next official date the next week, his important business finally completed she had obtained her father’s permission to visit her friend in Rome to buy a more suitable wardrobe to meet the billionaire.

With her passport hidden in her overnight bag she had kissed her mother goodbye for the last time desperately holding back the tears which had inexplicably risen to her eyes as she had taken a final look at the home she had grown up in before with determination she had jumped onto the bus, Daryle joining her at the next stop.

The wedding had been fast, with two strangers dragged in from the street to be witnesses for them, Daryle giving them money for their trouble. With the licence safely registered for legal purposes the two had flown to the UK where Daryle had organised for a rental two bedroom flat for them both.