Page 35 of Greek's Temporary Cinderella

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...

Safe from all the sorrows and difficulties of her life...from all the grief and the sacrifice, all the loss and heartache.

From all the guilt.

She went on dreaming. This was the sweetest dream she had ever had...

Light was filtering through the heavy drapes across the windows, slowly rousing Leandros to consciousness. But he did not want to wake. He was fine as he was...where he was. Just fine. His arm was over Eliana, and somehow his own body was cradling hers, separated from him only by the cotton of her nightgown. It felt good. So very, very good.

He hovered a while between sleeping and waking, but slowly the latter gained ground, as daylight played on his closed eyelids. He opened them, seeing first the glorious swathe of pale golden hair across the pillow, exposing the tender curve of Eliana’s neck. He could not resist it. He moved slightly to drop a kiss on her nape, as lightly as a feather.

Would it rouse her? He didn’t know—knew only that her limbs were starting to stretch languorously, her low breathing changing subtly. He stilled. Full consciousness came to him, and the memory of all that the night had brought.

He eased away from her, sliding out of his side of the bed, sitting for a moment, taking in all that had happened. His mind was unsure, uncertain.

He twisted his head, looked back at where Eliana had slipped back into sleep again, lying still. He could not see her face—he had been holding her from behind—only that glorious swathe of hair across the pillow and the tender nape he had just kissed.

For one moment longer he felt that uncertainty, confusion, hold on to his head. Then, with a decision he had not known he had already made, he let it fall away. Oh, it might still be there somewhere, ready to rise again, to pluck at him, disquiet him, but right now...

He got to his feet, walked across to the windows, drew back the drapes. Sunshine flooded in, mild and autumnal, filling the room. He glanced out of the window. The roofs of Paris stretched beyond...the whole city stretched beyond. Inviting and entrancing. He gave a smile. The day looked good.

He padded quietly from the room. Out in the drawing room he phoned through to the butler, ordering breakfast to be served. While he waited he went back into his bedroom, not disturbing Eliana, but whisking away the remains of their midnight milk and coffee, busying himself with the washing up, finishing just as breakfast arrived.

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