Page 56 of The Greek’s Ultimate Conquest

‘Then you should consider going ex-directory, you know.’ He dragged a hand across his hair and sounded tired as he added gruffly, ‘Let me in, Chloe, please.’

‘All right.’ It took her longer than it should to remove the chain. Her hands, she noticed, viewing the phenomenon with a strange out-of-body objectivity, were shaking violently.

Finally she released it.

She stepped back as Nik walked in; he was real after all. Dreams didn’t smell this good, carrying with them the scent of outdoors underlain with a faint scent of whisky.

‘Beware Greeks bearing gifts,’ she murmured.

Especially tall, lean, gorgeous Greeks with pride etched onto every inch of a classically perfect profile and with explosive tension locked into every muscle.

He held out his empty hands and turned them over. ‘I don’t have any. I wasn’t sure if you’d even let me in.’

‘I wasn’t sure you were real,’ she countered huskily. Then, shaking her head to clear the static buzz, she tried to inject a little normality into what was a very surreal situation.

‘Do you know what time it is?’ She flicked back the hair from her face, the soggy ends dusting her cheek with dots of moisture.

‘I couldn’t wait until morning,’ he said simply.

Struggling to convey a calm she was a million miles from feeling, Chloe met his eyes. The combustible quality in his heavy-lidded stare dried her throat and made her heart thud harder against her ribcage. She cinched the belt even tighter, suddenly very conscious of the fact that she was naked underneath her robe.

‘Why are you here, Nik...?’ Her eyes fluttered wider. ‘Has something happened to Tatiana... Eugenie...?’

‘No, they’re fine,’ he soothed immediately.

Panic subsiding, Chloe let out a relieved little sigh and arched a brow, folding her arms in an unconsciously protective gesture over her chest as she asked again, ‘So why are you here?’

‘Why didn’t you tell me...?’ He stopped and spread his hands. ‘Tonight, you... No, you don’t have to tell me. I know I’ve got no right to encourage your confidence in me.’ He was the last person she’d turn to for support.

‘You saw it on television?’

‘I was there,’ he said heavily. The pride he had felt for what she’d done was still there but overlaying it now was apprehension for her future. For every voice raised in admiration there would be another writing crude, cruel insults, but he’d be there for her, regardless.

She refused to jump to conclusions. ‘Where?’

‘At the theatre, for the bravery awards.’

The muscles along his jaw tightened as he realised with a sudden startling insight what she really wanted. She didn’t want to be protected from people; she wanted to be released to be the brave, beautiful heroine she was. She might make those who cared for her sick with worry on her behalf, but it was a price they’d have to pay.

Nik knew with a total certainty that he wanted to be one of them, even though the idea of anyone hurting her by word or action left a sour taste in his mouth, and rage in his heart.

All he could do was be there for her—if she’d let him.

‘Oh.’ What else could she say? ‘You didn’t stay around for the party, then.’ Her attempt at levity fell flat in the face of his grim-featured non-reaction.

For a big man Nik moved very fast.

The weight of his body made her take a staggering step back as he framed her face with his hands and turned it up to him.

‘It was the bravest thing I have ever seen,’ he rasped in a throaty whisper. ‘Can you ever forgive me? I don’t want to change you, I swear, but I’ll change who I am. I’ll—’

‘I like you the way you are...’

His kiss silenced her. When he finally lifted his head his forefinger replaced his lips. ‘Let me speak without putting words in my mouth...’ She nodded dazedly, and he took his finger away. ‘Tonight I saw the bravest, most beautiful woman I know...do the bravest, most beautiful thing.’

Her eyelids lowered over the haze of tears that shimmered in the swimming azure depths. ‘I was scared stiff,’ she admitted. ‘I thought you’d be angry with me.’

The expression drawn on his chiselled face was one of astonished incredulity. ‘I am angry.’

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