Page 30 of The Billionaire's Last-Minute Marriage
A confusing cocktail of emotions began to swirl in her chest, taking her completely by surprise. The termheartachehad always seemed so ridiculous to her, and yet if it had been possible to feel actual pain in that vital organ she’d bet that this was what it would have felt like. Her chest squeezed with pressure, her throat dry and aching as she hid her face in the front of his sweater.
She breathed in, inhaling the scent of his cologne and skin as though she could use it to cement this memory in her mind for ever. Because she knew with sudden clarity that eventually memories would be all that she had left of their time together.
‘You’ve gone quiet on me,’ he murmured, his lips pressed against the side of her temple.
When she didn’t immediately respond, he moved back a couple of inches, gently tipping her chin up to search her face. ‘Hi.’
‘Hello,’ she responded, forcing an easy smile to her lips.
‘Everything okay?’
‘I’m feeling a little...off balance,’ she said, shocking herself with the truth of her words. Surprised that she hadn’t felt the need to lie to placate his feelings. Even more evidence that this relationship was more than anything she had ever thought a connection with another person could be. But, she supposed, she hadn’t actually voiced that development to Xander. So she inhaled a deep breath and braced for the inevitable set-down.
‘The past few days, it’s been like living in a romantic comedy movie montage. The food and the laughter. It’s been amazing, but I know that once we go back to New York... Once this truce is over, we go back to reality and I’m worried we’ll go back to being...what we were.’
‘You mean, you wonder if I’ll go back to the way I was?’ he asked perceptively, his hands still on her, not breaking contact. ‘The cold, aloof, removed bastard of a boss.’
‘I’ve never seen you as cold.’
‘I was a bit of a bastard, though?’ He raised one brow.
Pandora felt a rush of laughter bubble up into her throat, despite the seriousness of the feelings swirling within her.
‘Perhaps just a bit.’ She smiled, biting down on her lower lip as he leaned forward and nipped her jaw playfully with his teeth. She turned her face away, feeling a little whiplash from his swift change from intimacy to humour.
For a long time, no words were spoken and yet his hands remained on hers as the sunlight began to wane and the ferry moved smoothly across the water. She felt the tiredness creep into her bones as they journeyed in silence through the twilight back to the railway station.
The staff greeted them with warm smiles and hot tea upon arrival. Their private carriage had been freshly cleaned and candles had been lit in preparation for another beautiful starlight supper. A light array of snacks had also been laid out on the dining table, including fresh fruits and sweet cakes. But Pandora had no appetite at all. Suddenly she felt the weight of her decision to enter into this brief affair with Xander descending upon her, with all the impossible consequences that she hadn’t foreseen. She had thought she could be spontaneous and carefree, although she should have known better.
When Xander excused himself to take a call, she jumped at the chance to escape to the bathroom, splashing some cool water on her wrists and face. She didn’t know how long she stood there, staring at her own reflection and trying to calm her erratic heartbeat but when she exited into the bedroom, Xander sat on the end of the bed, waiting for her.
‘I just needed to get changed,’ she said quickly, brushing her hair behind her ears and hoping that he didn’t see the evidence of the tears she’d shed. But one look into his eyes and she knew that he’d seen.
‘There’s more to it than that,’ Xander murmured. ‘Agape mou...talk to me.’
She closed her eyes at the endearment, knowing just enough Greek now to know what it meant. But she was not his love. She would never be his love.
She felt the final wall crumble within her and she met his gaze, her voice a breathy shiver.
‘Maybe I’m just inexperienced, but I have no idea how people can share a bed for a week and then go back to normal. This kind of wild sexual abandon isn’t normal for me.’
‘This isn’t normal for me either.’ He paused, an uncharacteristic hesitation and hitch in his breath, and when he looked up at her she caught a glimpse of vulnerability in his expression that shocked her to her core. ‘I knew that there was chemistry between us, but it’s becoming quite the addiction.’
He stood quickly, reaching her in quick strides, and she felt his large hands cupping her cheeks. The single, solemn‘Quinn’that he murmured against her temple was almost more than she could bear.
‘Could you stop being so wonderful?’ She swallowed past the lump in her throat and placed a playful punch on his biceps. ‘Otherwise, when we get back to New York, I don’t know how I’m going to be in a room with you and not want to climb you like a tree.’
A dark look entered his eyes for a split second, then it was gone and he was stepping closer and pulling her against him. He growled her name against the tender skin of her neck, lifting her tighter against him. Their bodies melted into one another like twin flames, and for a moment Pandora felt a little frightened by the intensity of it. The intensity of the passion that seemed to consume her every time he was near. It somehow managed to feel like too much and not enough, never enough.
She would never be free of him.
She closed her eyes and felt a single tear escape her lid, trailing down to fall into his silky salt and pepper hair. He didn’t notice, he was too far gone as he licked and laved a trail down between her breasts. He lowered to his knees on the floor before her, his large hands a dark contrast against her pale hips as he pressed her back against the door of the cabin.
‘Let me help?’ He quirked one dark brow, his expression one of pure sin as he leaned in to press a single kiss against her lower abdomen.
Pandora shivered, her body melting into his caress. His hands were firm as he held her in place, taking one of her knees and hooking it carefully over his shoulder. The train was moving fast now, the world spinning past them in a blur. She closed her eyes as his mouth found its target and began to work, spiralling scorching hot pleasure along her limbs.
Even with her thoughts racing, her release came with shocking speed; the only thing stopping her from falling to the ground was Xander’s strong arms holding her up. When she risked a glance downwards, he was watching her, his expression one she had never seen before. She felt the urge to cover herself or move away from that look, from the vulnerable and shaky feeling it evoked within her.
