Page 35 of The Billionaire's Demand

He glanced around. What else might she need?

He saw a tube of face cream on the bedside table, and picked that up too. Plus there was whatever was in the vanity in his own bathroom.

He returned to his own bedroom, laid her quilt over his, draped her nightgown over the pillow on her side, placed the face cream on her bedside table.

Another thought struck him. Hot milk—that might be comforting too, after her bath.

He went out again, heading into the kitchen. He made fresh coffee for himself, heated milk for her, sweetening it with honey, adding some delicate almond biscuits to the tray, carrying it all back with him.

He could hear the bathwater emptying, and he knocked gently on the en suite door, having picked up her nightdress.

‘If you open up, I’ll pass you your nightgown,’ he said.

She did so—just a crack—and he handed it to her, hearing her thank him in a low voice. When she emerged, his eyes went to her. She looked pale still, but better somehow. Her hair hung down her back, a little damp from the bath, curling around her face. She looked younger.

Like I remember her.

‘How are you feeling?’ he asked.

‘Better—thank you. The bath was a good idea.’

She looked around, clearly uncertain what to do.

‘I thought you might like some hot milk and honey,’ he said. He made his voice encouraging.

‘That was kind—thank you.’

He folded back the quilt on her side, gesturing that she should get in. She did, and he propped up the pillows for her, before stepping away again. Then he went round to his side of the bed. He realised, with a start, that he was still naked beneath his bathrobe. He snatched his sleep shorts from underneath the pillow, swiftly pulled them on, adding a tee as well, out of the chest of drawers. Sufficiently decent, he discarded the bathrobe, climbed into bed beside her.

‘One hot milk coming up,’ he said, and reached for the mug from the tray on the bedside table. ‘And almond biscuits.’

‘Thank you,’ she said, and took the mug and a biscuit. She cupped the former and nibbled the latter.

Leandros reached for his coffee. He’d made it milky, with some of the hot milk he’d heated for her. He helped himself to a couple of the biscuits.

‘Be careful of crumbs,’ he warned her. ‘They’re hell to sleep on.’ He kept his voice light.

She gave a slight smile, sipping at her milk, easing her shoulders back into the pillows. She turned to him.

‘Thank you,’ she said. Her voice was still low. ‘For the milk, the bath—and for...being understanding about...’

He felt his hand reach out, touch hers. Lightly. Gently. Saying nothing. Simply wanting...

But he didn’t know what he wanted. Things had changed. But how, and to what extent, he still didn’t know.

One thing he did know.

That to sit here quietly, side by side with her like this, in the midnight hours, in the soft light around them, not speaking but sharing this moment, companionably finishing their warming drinks, sharing the almond biscuits, was good.

And for now, that was enough.

CHAPTER NINE

ELIANA WAS DREAMING. It was the sweetest dream she had ever had. She was warm and safe and tucked under a strong, protective arm, her body nestled back against another body, fitting into the curve of it as if it were the only place in all the world for her to be. She felt herself smile in her dream...a contented, happy smile...knowing with a certainty that was permeating through her, sure and blessed, that this was the only place she ever wanted to be.

Had ever wanted to be...

A happy, contented sigh breathed from her and she snuggled back more still against the warm, protective body cradling her, the strong arm holding her close, holding her safe...

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