The Mistress: The Mistress\Wanted: Mistress and Mother (8 page)

For a long moment, they breathed in silence. Warm lethargy
stole over Marley, and sleepy contentment weighed on her eyelids.

“Chrysander?”

“Yes?”

“Was it always like this?” she asked softly.

He went still against her. “No,
pedhaki
mou.
This...this was much better.”

A smile curved her lips as she drifted off, the smell and feel
of Chrysander surrounding her.

Chapter 7

M
orning sun streamed into the bedroom and
cast a warm glow on the bed where Marley lay. She opened her eyes and promptly
burrowed more deeply underneath the covers. Her hand sought Chrysander, but she
found only an empty spot.

She frowned and sat up, looking around the bedroom, but he was
nowhere to be found. The unmistakable whir of the helicopter caught her
attention, and she got out of bed and walked to the window.

Chrysander stood with Roslyn a short distance from the
helicopter, his hand on her arm. She nodded and ducked down to hurry into the
helicopter. A few seconds later, it lifted and headed toward the mainland.
Marley couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

She stood watching a moment longer before she turned and
hurried toward the bathroom. After a quick shower, she pulled on her robe and
walked back into the bedroom to dress. Chrysander was waiting for her.

She eyed him nervously and pulled her robe tighter around
her.

“I’ll leave you to dress,” he said shortly. “I’ll send Mrs.
Cahill up to escort you down in half an hour.”

Without another word, he turned and walked out of the bedroom,
leaving Marley to gape after him. Hurt trickled up her spine. He’d acted as
though he couldn’t wait to be away from her, and after last night, his behavior
certainly wasn’t what she’d expected.

And sending Patrice to collect her? If he was so bent on her
not navigating the stairs alone, then he could at least see to the task himself
rather than foist her off on the hired help like she was some undesirable
chore.

She drew her shoulders up and went to the closet to choose an
outfit. There were enough concerns she had to deal with without adding a surly,
moody man to the equation. Whatever the reason for his fit of temper, he could
damn well get over it.

All warm and floaty feelings from the night’s lovemaking
evaporated as she walked out of the bedroom. She wasn’t going to stand around
like a lapdog and wait to be summoned. It was ridiculous that he insisted on
having her helped up and down the stairs like a child.

She was halfway down when she saw Chrysander standing at the
bottom, his jaw set and anger flashing in his eyes. She faltered for a moment
but gripped the railing and continued downward. It made her feel childish and a
little petty to defy him over such an insignificant matter, but at the moment
she didn’t mind irritating him in the least.

She met his gaze challengingly as she navigated the final step.
His lips thinned, but he said nothing. He put a hand to her elbow to guide her
to the breakfast table, but she firmly moved her arm forward and walked ahead of
him.

They ate in silence, although she couldn’t really say she ate
anything. She pushed the fruit around on her plate and sipped mechanically at
her tea, but the stony silence emanating from Chrysander had her wanting to
flee.

Several times she opened her mouth to ask him what was the
matter, but each time, something in his expression kept her silent. Finally, she
gave up any pretense of eating and shoved her plate away.

Chrysander looked up and gave a disapproving frown when he
noted the food still on her plate. “You need to eat.”

“It’s rather difficult to eat when a black cloud resides at
your breakfast table,” she said tightly.

His lips thinned, and his eyes flickered. He looked as though
he would respond, but then she heard the sound of a helicopter approaching.

“It’s a regular airport this morning,” she murmured.

Chrysander stood and tossed down his napkin. “That will be the
jeweler. I’ll return in a moment.”

Jeweler? She watched him go, confusion running circles through
her head. What the devil did he need a jeweler for? She sat back with a sigh and
wondered where Patrice or Dr. Karounis was. At least with them present, she
wouldn’t have to face Chrysander’s stormy silence.

She stood and looked around for a moment before finally
deciding to venture outdoors. The sun looked warm and inviting, and she had yet
to see any of the island in daylight.

She stepped out onto the terrace and immediately closed her
eyes in appreciation as the sea breeze blew over her face. It was cool but not
uncomfortably so, and sunshine left a warm trail over her skin as she sought out
the stone path leading to the beach.

The farther she walked from the house, the sandier the pathway
became. She stopped on the walkway and shed her sandals, wondering how the warm
sand would feel sliding over her feet.

At the end of the pathway, there was a short drop off to the
beach. When she stepped down, her toes sank into the loose grains, and she
smiled.

The waves beckoned, and so she ventured toward the frothy foam
spreading across the damp sand at the water’s edge. The sea was so blue it took
her breath away. Paradise. It was simply paradise. And Chrysander owned it.

The wind picked up the curls at her neck and blew them around
her face. After several attempts to tuck the wayward strands behind her ears,
she laughingly gave up and let them fly.

She glanced back toward the house, but seeing no one coming,
she continued to walk down the beach, paralleling the water. The sounds of the
incoming waves soothed her, and soon the tension in her shoulders began to
unravel. She felt at peace here, but more than that, she felt safe.

The word startled her, and she stopped where she was, her
forehead wrinkling in consternation. Why wouldn’t she feel safe? Chrysander had
a veritable mountain of security that he insisted on taking everywhere with
them. If anyone was safe, she was. And yet, until they’d landed on the island,
she’d felt uneasy, panic just a heartbeat away.

“You’re losing your mind,” she muttered. “Well, you’ve already
lost that. Maybe the sanity isn’t far behind.”

Marley spied a large piece of driftwood wedged against a mound
of sand, and she walked toward it. There was a place on the end that was
relatively smooth, so she dusted off the sand and settled down to sit.

She sighed contentedly. She could sit here for hours watching
the waves roll in and listening to the soothing sounds of the ocean. If it was
warm enough to swim, she’d be tempted to shed her clothing and wade in. But then
she had no idea where all the lurking security men were, and she had no desire
to give them a free show.

Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention, and
she turned her head to see Chrysander striding down the beach.

She grumbled under her breath even as he approached. Stopping
in front of her, he fixed her with a frown. He pursed his lips then shook his
head before moving to sit down beside her on the log.

“I can see you’re going to keep my security team very busy,
pedhaki mou.
”

She shrugged but didn’t say anything.

“What are you doing out here?” he asked mildly.

“Enjoying the beach. It’s very beautiful.”

“If I promise to bring you out again, will you come back to the
house with me? The jeweler is waiting for us, and he must return to the mainland
soon.”

She glanced sideways at him. “Why is a jeweler here, and why
must we meet with him? Doesn’t one usually visit a jeweler in his shop?”

Chrysander stood and gave her an arrogant look that suggested
everyone came to him, not the other way around. He held out his hand to her, and
she extended hers in resignation.

“You’re really no fun,” she muttered as he pulled her up to
stand beside him.

“I can see I will have to change your opinion of me.”

She tried to pull her hand away as they started back toward the
house, but he held it fast. Hot then cold. At this rate, she’d never figure out
the man. Memory loss or not, she couldn’t imagine not wanting to tear her hair
out around him.

They walked into the library, where an older man was arranging
velvet-covered trays on Chrysander’s desk. When they entered, he looked up and
beamed.

“Sit, sit,” he encouraged as he walked around the desk to grasp
Marley’s hand. He raised it to his lips and brushed a polite kiss over her
skin.

When Chrysander had settled her into a chair, he took the one
beside her, and the jeweler hastened around the desk.

Marley took in the stunning rings, the dazzling array of
diamonds, in front of her, and gasped. She turned a questioning gaze to
Chrysander.

“He is here so we can choose your ring,” Chrysander said
matter-of-factly. As if having a jeweler personally come out was an everyday
occurrence.

“I don’t understand,” she began lamely.

Chrysander picked up her left hand and raised her fingers to
his lips. “It is important to me that you wear my ring,
pedhaki mou.
We had not gotten around to choosing one when you had
your...accident. I want to rectify that matter now.”

“Oh.” As responses went, hers wasn’t terribly brilliant, but it
was all she could manage.

Chrysander urged her to turn her attention to the rings, and
she did so a little nervously. They were so huge. And expensive! She didn’t even
want to know how much they cost. After trying several on, she spotted one that
she loved, but then wondered if he’d be offended by her choice.

Her gaze kept wandering to it even as she continued to try on
the rings the jeweler pressed on her.

“That one,” Chrysander said, pointing to a ring to the far
right.

To her surprise, the jeweler plucked the one she’d been staring
at and handed it to Chrysander. Chrysander slid it onto her finger, and it fit
perfectly. It was smaller than the others, and simple, but it suited her. A
single sapphire-cut solitaire sparkled on her finger, and suddenly she had no
wish to take it off.

“You like it,” Chrysander said.

“I love it,” she whispered, then looked quickly up at
Chrysander. “But if you’d prefer another, I don’t mind.”

“We’ll take this one,” Chrysander told the jeweler.

If the jeweler was disappointed, he didn’t show it as he smiled
broadly at the couple. He efficiently boxed the jewelry back up and stored it in
a briefcase that he locked. A few minutes later, Chrysander walked the jeweler
out to the waiting helicopter but not before issuing Marley a stern order not to
move from her spot.

She giggled as he left. He looked so exasperated, but then he
was probably used to people obeying his every command and staying where they
were put. A sudden thought horrified her. Had she been one of those people?
Surely not. She may have lost her memory, but she hadn’t had a personality
transplant.

With that in mind, she left the library and went in search of
something to eat. Her nonbreakfast was now a regret as her stomach
protested.

Before she could open the refrigerator, she heard Chrysander
enter the kitchen.

“How did I know you would not be where I left you?” he
said.

She turned around and smiled sweetly. “Because you didn’t ask
nicely?”

He let out a low laugh, a sexy sound that vibrated right up her
spine. “I’ve asked the helicopter to return in an hour’s time. If you are
feeling well enough, I thought we could go visit the ruins you were interested
in and maybe take in some of the other sights.”

“Oh, I’d love to!” Forgotten was food or anything else as she
hurried across and threw herself into Chrysander’s arms. She hugged him tightly
in her excitement.

Chrysander chuckled again. “Am I forgiven then for being no
fun?”

She pulled back and made a face. “Trust you to throw my words
back at me. But yes, you are forgiven. Let me just go change.”

“Bring a sweater,” he cautioned. “It will grow cooler toward
evening.”

She started to hurry off, but he caught her hand and pulled her
back to him. She landed against his chest and looked up to see his mouth just
inches from her own.

“Surely I deserve a reward?” he murmured.

She licked her lips, and he groaned. “I suppose a little one
wouldn’t be remiss,” she said huskily.

His mouth closed over hers, and she melted into his arms. She
trembled as he deepened his kiss, and a small moan escaped her lips.

He pulled away, his eyes blazing. “I better take you upstairs
to change, or we will not be going anywhere but to bed.”

She grinned impishly then pulled away and headed for the
stairs. Not that she thought she’d get far, and she didn’t. He caught up with
her before her foot hit the first step.

She gave him an exasperated look as they climbed the stairs. “I
am perfectly capable of navigating the stairs on my own, Chrysander. I’m not
completely helpless.”

“I can be a reasonable man. Just not in this matter,” he said
arrogantly. “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to live with the fact that I intend to
take care of you.”

She rolled her eyes, but a smile twitched at the corners of her
mouth. She could tell she strained his patience, and for some reason that amused
her.

He waited while she changed and handed her a sweater when she
was finished. She laid it over her arm, and once again he took her down the
stairs and out to the helipad, where the helicopter waited.

Soon they were flying over the water and a while later landed
in Corinth. A car was waiting, and to her surprise, Chrysander put her into the
passenger seat of the Mercedes then slid into the driver’s seat himself.

“I do know how to drive,” he said dryly when she looked at him
questioningly.

She laughed. “It’s just that I’ve never seen you do so.” She
frowned as she realized what she’d said. “What I mean is, I haven’t seen you
drive since...”

He laid a hand over hers. “I know what you meant, Marley. True,
I don’t drive very often. I’m usually occupied with business matters, but I have
a car both here and in New York.”

She settled into the soft leather seat as he drove away from
the airport.

They spent much of the morning walking among the ruins. He
explained the history, but she was more focused on the fact that it was a
beautiful autumn day and they were together. No annoying personal assistants, no
doctors or nurses, no business calls or faxes. It was, in a word, perfect.