Page 16 of Marriage Bargain with His Innocent
Matias had moved to stand by Georgina, and then he did something both expected and unexpected at one and the same time.
He slung his arm over her shoulders.
Just like that her breasts were suddenly heavy, her nipples pinched and sensitive, scraping against her cotton bra. She wanted to squirm, tomove, because she was gripped by a sudden restlessness. But instead she remained as still as a statue, barely able to breathe as he absently stroked just below her collarbone in small circles, finding bare skin beneath the light silk top.
She knew that Rose was chatting animatedly as they walked into the cool of the house. She was aware of Matias responding. But the details were foggy because all she could think of was Matias’s arm still around her, so close to her breast, his fingers so close to her rigid, aching nipples.
‘I think,’ she heard him drawl in that deep, dark, velvety voice of his, ‘that I’ll leave Georgie to answer that one...’
‘Huh?’ Georgina blinked vaguely and accepted the cup of tea that had appeared in front of her. She looked at Matias and her heart banged in her chest. Her pulses raced and her pupils dilated.
‘How did we meet? My mother wants no details spared.’
Georgina had not taken any physical contact into consideration. But to all intents and purposes they were here together in Cornwall, a couple, doing all the things most normal couples did.
Like putting their arms around one another.
Likethis...she thought, with sluggish fascination as Matias lowered his head.
Her eyes closed and her mouth parted as his lips ever so lightly brushed against hers.
The kiss was over in a heartbeat, but the effect was devastating. She blinked and made a huge effort to get her brain to engage. His attention was back on his mother, and Georgina was furious with herself for letting the kiss get to her. But it had been thrilling. She didn’t know whether that was because it was forbidden or because he was such a good kisser that he’d managed to blow her self-control to smithereens.
She edged away from him and sat down in front of the cup of tea which she had deposited on the table. Rose followed suit while Matias strolled through the kitchen, inspecting stuff.
‘So?’ Rose was pressing. ‘Howdidthe pair of you meet? Silly me! I know you’ve known one another since for ever, but when did you first realise...? Oh, I would never have guessed!’
She was tripping excitedly over her words and thankfully not pausing for breath, which meant that Georgina hadn’t been cornered into answering any direct questions yet—although she knew that it was just a matter of time.
‘You’ve certainly kept it under your hat, Georgie! I had no idea you were going up and down to London, seeing Matias!’
‘The train service is so efficient, so quick...’ Georgina said faintly.
‘And I can understand,’ Rose exclaimed, ‘when Matias says that neither of you wanted to say anything yetjust in case...’
‘Ah...er...yes...’ Georgina’s eyes skittered towards Matias, who raised his eyebrows, sipped his tea and left her floundering in her own panicked witlessness. ‘Well, you know...relationships can be so unpredictable...’
‘Of course, my darling. And you of all people would know that after Robbie. I’m sure you were ultra-cautious...’
‘Yes, ultra-cautious,’ Georgina parroted weakly.
‘But you did the right thing,’ Rose mused thoughtfully. ‘Instead of rushing into a replacement relationship you took lots of time to come to terms with what had happened before dipping your toes back into the dating pool.’
She gazed at her son with affection.
‘Darling,’ she addressed him, ‘I can’t begin to tell you how I hoped...’ Her voice threatened to break and she gathered herself. ‘But you still haven’t told me how all thishappened. Was it as romantic as it sounds?’
Matias fixed his fabulous eyes on Georgina and said precisely what she’d hoped he wouldn’t say.
‘Darling—would you like to do the honours?’
He was such a good actor, Georgina thought with some of her usual spirit. The warm voice, the light touch, the easy proximity... He was probably thinking of the next big deal he had to complete while playing the attentive lover, but no one would ever have guessed—least of all his mother, who looked as though Christmas had come early.
She gathered herself and smiled brightly. ‘Of course...darling...’
Busying herself pouring another cup of tea killed a couple of minutes, during which time Matias sauntered towards the kitchen table, where she had sat down, and rested his hands lightly on her shoulders. He gently massaged the nape of her neck, then lifted her hair to feather a kiss where his massaging thumbs had been.
Breathing became difficult. This was totally out of order, she thought furiously. Some semblance of affection might be permissible, butthis...?
