Page 31 of Vows of Revenge

‘Total thirties Hollywood,’ he said. ‘The pair of us! We just need to be in black and white!’

Kassia’s eyes met his in the mirror. That intense glow was still in them.

‘You look amazing yourself,’ she said.

Her eyes lingered on him, and he felt another surge of triumph go through him.

‘We definitely both look the part,’ he agreed. ‘Oh, Kassia...’ His voice changed. ‘I just can’t get over how sensational you look!’

‘Me neither,’ she said. She gave a laugh as tremulous as her smile had been. ‘I’m in shock—I know it. I just didn’t realise—’

She broke off, and Damos picked up her words. ‘But I did, Kassia,’ he said. ‘I realised that you simply believed your parents’ verdict on you. But don’t you see?’ His voice changed again. He wanted,neededher to understand. ‘They judged you by their own standards. Think about it... Your mother is petite and full-figured—you said so. And that, obviously, is the look that drew your father to her. It’s the look he likes. But you, Kassia, are like a thoroughbred racehorse!’ He gave a laugh, low and triumphant. ‘Tonight,’ he said to her, ‘everyone—and I meaneveryone!—is going to think I’ve got the latest supermodel on my arm!’

He squeezed her hand lightly, then let it go. Triumph was still surging through him. He’d wanted so much for Kassia to see herself differently, to be freed of that self-deprecating self-image she’d lived with. And now she was—because surely she could not deny what her own eyes were telling her. It would be impossible to do so—the evidence was right there. And he could tell she was beginning to get used to it, to accept it. She was still gazing at her reflection, glowing at what she was seeing, partly in disbelief, partly simply looking alight with delight.

‘Let’s have a drink before we head up to the roof terrace,’ he said now. ‘We’ve plenty of time. What can I pour you?’

Her gaze dropped from her own reflection as if reluctantly. ‘Oh. Um...if there’s wine later, then probably just another OJ spritzer is best now.’

‘Coming right up,’ Damos said, crossing to the sideboard and deftly pouring her a long glass, handing it to her, fixing himself a non-alcoholic mixer. He’d already had a whisky, and alcohol would be flowing tonight. He didn’t want to drink too much...

Because there is only one way that I want this night to end.

His eyes went to her again as they clinked glasses, their gazes entwining. He felt his pulse kick...saw the sudden flaring in her eyes...felt his pulse kick harder.

He felt desire creaming in him and he knew, with a surge of triumph that was the strongest yet, that finally Kassia would accept that desire. Would believe it possible.

She cannot deny the beauty that is hers. The beauty that glows in her eyes has been revealed not just to me, but to her.

As he clinked his glass to hers he could see that belief taking a stronger hold yet in her. She was throwing little glances at her reflection, and he saw how doing so brought a curve of delight to her lips, intensifying the silvery sheen of her eyes.

‘To tonight,’ he said now, his voice low. ‘To a wonderful evening!’

Silently he added his own coda.

And to an even more wonderful—wondrous!—night together.

Because one thing was for sure. Tonight, without the slightest doubt, was the night she would become his.

He only had to let his gaze rest on her, drink her in, to tell him why he was so determined on it.

Because any other outcome right now seemed quite, quite impossible...

This feasting of his gaze on her, on all the stunning beauty that she herself could now finally believe in, would this very evening release her to him.

Kassia was in a dream. A dream of disbelief and delight...delight and disbelief. But disbelief was impossible—every glance at her reflection told her that.

And more than her own reflection was the look in Damos’s eyes as he gazed at her.

It was the look she had longed to see but never thought to. Had thought it pointless to yearn for. Never thought it possible.

But now...now it is.

She felt her heart rate give yet another skip, her breath catch yet again.

Now, thanks to the hours of grooming and pampering and adorning, she could hold her head up and know with the wonderful, heady delight inside her that no longer did she have to hopelessly, resignedly envy that parade of svelte, glamorous beauties the Internet had shown her draped all over Damos Kallinikos. Now she was one of them...

I truly am! I can see it for myself. Staring me in the face...

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