Her legs felt like soggy noodles.
The butler appeared. Offered her a drink.
‘Your smoothest Scotch,’ she whispered. ‘No ice.’
She swallowed it in one and then looked up the winding staircase.
The liquid medicine wound its way into her chest and with it came the clarity she’d been searching for.
All her life Lucie had known that to get what she wanted, she had to work at it and take it for herself because no one else was going to help her. She’d neverwantedanyone’s help. Everything she’d achieved in her life had come off her own hard work, so why was she still letting Thanasis dictate all the terms when she’d resisted being dictated to since hitting double digits?
Because deep down had been the fear that he was right and none of her feelings were real.
But theywerereal. As real as the air she was breathing and as real as the cool tiles beneath her feet.
He wanted her. She wanted him. He loved her…
She laughed.
He’d never said those words before. Not to post-amnesia Lucie.
Kicking her shoes off, she ran up the stairs.
* * *
Thanasis stripped off his shirt in front of the mirror. He swore he could see the thrashing of his heart against his chest.
He unzipped his chinos and let them fall to the floor.
He felt sick. Sick with himself. Sick with what he had to do and what the ramifications could be.
He needed to press the nuclear button.
He couldn’t marry her. Not like this. Lucie deserved to know the truth before they made their vows.
But not now. In the morning. First thing in the morning. Let her have peace for one more night before her peace of mind was shattered for ever. He owed her that much.
So caught up was he in his despairing thoughts that the first tap on his door didn’t penetrate.
It was the hairs rising on the back of his neck that told him.
On legs that didn’t feel like they belonged to him, he crossed the room.
He could smell her perfume before his hand touched the door.
Swallowing hard, he opened it, and then sucked in a breath.
It was the last breath he was capable of making for a long, long time.
Lucie was naked.
Heaven help him, she was fully, proudly naked and far more beautiful than his wildest imaginings, her chin lifted, her hair loose and as wild as the expression in her eyes.
She took a step towards him.
Oh, God help him.
‘Lucie…’ He lifted a hand to ward her off and tried to speak through his clenched teeth.‘Please.’
