Overwhelmed by Thomas's presence, the trio of men refrained from approaching Leah directly, opting instead to linger with unabashed stares and soft words of admiration. Leah, feeling exposed and vulnerable, sensed the heat rising in her cheeks under their scrutinising gaze. Grateful for Thomas taking her hand, she followed him towards the elevator, aware of the lingering gazes and the symphony of mournful sighs blending with the rhythmic click of her stiletto heels on the marble floor. Her discomfort heightened, imagining that they were probably fixated on her backside. A cold sweat broke out on her neck, and she couldn't shake the unsettling feeling of being under a microscope. Puzzled and self-conscious, she wondered why the intense scrutiny occurred until realisation struck like lightning. It was the dress. The small red dress she had plucked from her closet in his father's mansion, deeming it the simplest and most comfortable choice in her limited wardrobe, initially envisioned
As the sun gracefully descended over the Grand Canal, the scene exuded undeniable romance, yet comfort eluded Leah. Her black stiletto heels, stylish but impractical, threatened to twist her ankles with every step. The discomfort, however, paled in comparison to the constant awareness of men's lingering stares along the walkway. Thomas, acutely attuned to the attention she garnered, clung to her arm possessively, casting glares at any man who dared approach or gaze too intently. He resembled a protective lion, ready to defend and even eliminate any perceived threat to his female companion. Leah couldn't shake the vulnerability that enveloped her, feeling like a gazelle on the brink of being torn apart for some lion's dinner – the specific lion almost irrelevant in her anxious state. Casting a sidelong glance at Thomas, a strange fear gripped her, one she attributed to her lack of memory about him. Would she be afraid if she remembered him? The uncertainty lingered in her thoughts. Be
Once settled within the luxurious confines of their penthouse suite, Thomas promptly released Leah’s hand. Emerging from the bathroom a good ten minutes later, having diligently attended to her nightly dental regimen, he remained engrossed in his laptop work at the sleek desk positioned near the window, scarcely sparing her a glance. Through the window behind him, she observed the mesmerising spectacle of ferries crossing the Adriatic Sea, their twinkling lights resembling distant constellations.Awkwardly breaking the silence, she expressed gratitude for borrowing his pyjama top, her tone tinged with an uneasy laugh that resonated as nervous and somewhat goofy, even to her own ears. “I must have lost mine. There was nothing in my suitcase.”Casually, he dropped the bombshell, “You always slept in the nude.”Attempting to maintain composure, she swallowed, her gaze fixated on his profile, acutely aware of the bed looming behind her. “Well, um…”“You take the bed.” He rose, closing his
Thomas wished he could get her out of his system once and for all. Until he never wanted her again. Until the thought of bedding her was as disgusting as a flawless Baccarat crystal decanter of imported single malt Scotch.Turning off the water, he towelled himself dry. He pulled his clothes from the closet, where someone on his staff had neatly put them away. He stepped into his boxers and black pants, then stared at himself in the half-fogged mirror. He took a deep breath.No.He wouldn’t give in to lust.He wouldn’t be seduced by her again.Fiercely, he pushed aside the thought of Leah in his bed, her skin glowing with rough lovemaking and her eyes full of desire.He’d once planned to take her new fortune from her under threat of prosecuting her for theft and corporate espionage.But now…All he wanted was for their child to be safe and healthy in his arms. And Leah disappears from their lives forever after the baby is born.As he buttoned his sharply tailored white shirt, he glare
The sunlight streamed weakly through the palace windows, casting a pattern on the marble floor. Thomas admitted he initially doubted rumours about Leah’s beauty until they met. His intense gaze made her feel mesmerised. He resembled a pirate, ready to plunder, which startled her. He recalled seeing her in a red dress, determined to have her even if she was with his rival. He would've pursued her, even against the devil.As he came up the stairs toward her, she was unable to move. Unable to breathe.“You made me pursue you across Venice for a week before you finally surrendered and agreed to accompany me to Athens. Where I finally discovered to my surprise that you were a virgin.” He fixed his dark eyes on her, and a flash of heat coursed through her body. “For the first time in my life, I found myself wanting a woman more after I had bedded her, instead of less.”He bent his head toward her. She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe.“The more I had of you,” he whispered, “the more I wanted
The sensation of kissing Leah was akin to plunging headfirst into the inferno of hell itself. Thomas thought. It ignited a blazing fire within him, a searing heat that coursed through his veins with an intensity that left him breathless. Thomas found himself unable to resist the primal urge to draw her closer, “Oh, Leah, my Leah,’ his hand instinctively finding its place on the back of her head, fingers entwining in the silken strands of her hair as he fervently deepened the kiss.For months, he had harboured a potent mixture of resentment and longing towards her, a tumultuous whirlwind of emotions that had consumed his every waking moment. And now, as their lips met in a fervent embrace, he was overwhelmed by a tidal wave of sensation unlike anything he had ever experienced before.Yet, as the kiss reached its zenith, Thomas couldn't help but feel a pang of disquiet gnawing at the edges of his consciousness. It wasn't just desire that fueled the intensity of the moment; it was Leah h
“But I understand,” Leah said with a sigh. “You don’t want to bother your friends on their anniversary.” She brightened. “Perhaps we could wait a few days, plan something here in Venice, and invite them.”“All right,” Thomas said through clenched teeth. He would lose this battle to win the war.“All right?” she repeated.“We’ll wed in Athens.”“Oh, thank you!” she cried, whirling around in his arms to embrace him. “You’re so good to me!”“I’ll get my car,” Roger said.“No.” Holding her in his arms, Thomas looked over her head at Roger. “My men will sort out your car. We’ll take my plane. There must be no delay.”“I understand.” Glancing between the two of them with an amused grin, his friend gave a snort. “I’ve felt that way myself, too.” He pulled out his cell phone. “I’ll tell Lia we’re on our way.”Leah had never expected, when she woke up that morning, that today would be her wedding day. Or that she would get married in a castle in Athens.The beautiful Lia Notthill, called Conte
From the very moment Thomas laid eyes on Leah, resplendent in her wedding gown, radiating a captivating blend of sweetness and innocence with her shy yet elated smile, a seismic shift reverberated through the depths of his soul, stirring dormant emotions and igniting a fervent longing within him.Leah adorned herself in a simple yet elegant cream-coloured wedding dress, a stark contrast to the opulence often associated with such occasions. Her dark locks peeked out from beneath a delicate veil, framing her features with a soft halo of ethereal beauty, while she cradled flame-coloured roses in her unadorned hands, their vibrant hues a striking juxtaposition against her understated attire. There was an undeniable purity and authenticity about her, devoid of any pretence or artifice, her beauty emanating from within like a beacon of light amidst a world shrouded in darkness.As Thomas leaned in to bestow a fleeting kiss upon her lips, a tumultuous whirlwind of emotions consumed him, his