arrived and Nikos excused himself to speak to him for a moment.
-Max King, isn't it? Max turned to the soft feminine voice and recognized her immediately. She was a close friend of Cybil's and also a fashion model. She was also about Lily's age and striking. She was tall dark haired, brown eyed and slender. He noticed immediately that her eyes had already given him an invitation. However, there was one thing she didn't have. She wasn't Lily.
-I am.
-I'm Melissa Lake.
-Yes. He said politely,
-I remember. She gave him a sultry smile obviously impressed that he remembered her.
-I'm glad. She looked past him to Nikos,
-You are a friend of Nikos.
-He's a business acquaintance.
-I see. So you're here on business. She raised a delicate brow,
-Alone? The tone of her voice and the sensual posturing she displayed was an invitation. In the past he may have taken her up on it, but Lily would be up soon and knowing that Melissa paled next to her, made him easily turn her down. Not only that, he was done filling his bed with unemotional sex.
It was no longer appealing to him. It wasn't the act itself; it was the emotional attachment he wanted to go along with it. Something he always had a problem with until Lily came along. Over the past twenty four hours the little bit of intimacy he shared with her was more sensual and passionate than anything he could remember to have experienced in a long time. He was ready to get married and have children when Lily was ready to do so. He focused his attention back on Melissa ready to turn her down politely,
-Actually, he stopped as his eyes took in a stunning sight past her. An exquisite feminine body wearing a satin cream colored gown that clung superbly to every sensual curve she possessed. Her back was to him, but he knew it belonged to Lily. If her luscious body wasn't a hint, her hair was a dead giveaway and the copper color was a delicious contrast to the gown and the bare skin it showed as it dipped low down her back.
-Excuse me. He said without sparing Melissa another look and brushed by her as if she was a mere stranger.
-What on earth
-she said watching him head toward another woman. Her mouth fell open as he came up behind her and slid his hand down to her lower back while bending down and kissing her on the cheek. Immediately she reached into her bag and pulled out her phone.
Cybil should know that her multimillionaire boyfriend was a busy man. Of course she was hoping to hop into bed with him as easily as one two three, but he just brushed her off for some unknown. Max King was gorgeous and she'd been lusting after him since Cybil brought him to a party over a month ago. The man dripped sexual perfection and she'd heard rumors that he was a God between the sheets. When Lily entered the large room now crowded with guests she had seen Max hovering by a model that she recognized and instantly felt discouraged. She had a burst of reality and remembered who he really was to the public, to women and that she was no less than insignificant. She didn't leave him alone for twenty minutes and one of the world's top models had zeroed in on him like a bee to honey. Turning she went to the bar and got a glass of wine while watching the couple. The woman was leaning into him and she knew Max was having fake lashes batting at him and getting a none too subtle invitation. She tipped her glass and swallowed the contents, set it down and ordered another. She was on her third glass when she felt a warm hand slide down the bare skin of her back.
-Hiding? Max said while bending and brushing his mouth across her cheek,
-My God woman, you could stop the rain with that dress.‖ He murmured in her ear before he lifted his head. Then he saw the glass of wine,
-What is this? You don't drink.
-I'm starting a new sin. She said taking a large swallow not looking at him.
-You don't even have any old ones. He straightened and looked down at her trying to examine her tone. Finally he nodded,
-I presume you saw me with Miss Lake. It wasn't a statement. She shrugged and looked at him over the rim of the glass.
-Okay, that's enough. He said softly while taking the glass out of her hand. She had a good grip on it so it took a few tugs and a stern look. She placed a hand on her hip,
-you know, she whispered harshly. It's not easy keeping up this mock engagement when you have women throwing themselves at you.‖ Slowly he smiled. It was sinfully devilish.
-Stop that, it's not helping. She averted her gaze feeling silly at the wave of jealousy she just experienced. By rights he couldn't help it, he was a force to be reckoned with wearing that expensive tuxedo and it wasn't like he openly encouraged them.
-Let's dance. He said taking her hand and leading her toward the crowded dance floor. She wanted to resist him, she really did, but he looked so distinguished in that tuxedo and combined with the wine she felt oddly warm and submissive. Before she could respond Max turned her about and clasped her body tight to his.
-I hate you. She mumbled.
-no you don't. he mused pressing his hand into the small of her back and rubbing his thumb sensuously over bare skin. She did, she really did.
She had no control over her body around him and it seemed as if even her emotions betrayed her. Now he knew that she was horribly jealous. Yet, he insisted on dancing with her. Max didn't like petty emotions from women especially after he dropped Cybil from the display she did. However, they weren't in a relationship and she had the advantage of being the little sister of his best friend so chances were, he was humoring her. That thought just made her angrier and it must've been visible in her expression because he bent his head to examine her eyes.
-Stop it honey, there's no need to be jealous.
-I know. She didn't deny it. It was too darn obvious. He was just confirming her previous thoughts that he was placating her.
-Do you? She lifted her eyes to his as he turned her about,
-I'm being silly. I know I am, but I can't help but let it bother me Max. I know this is just a game to you, but I'm in trouble.
-Is that right? He said staring down at her letting his smile falter.
-Is this the wine talking?
-No, the wine just eliminated my resistance to tell you. She confessed feeling like she just stepped off a cliff while eyeing him uncertainly. She expected him to be uncomfortable or turn her confession into a thing of humor to make her feel better, but there was none of that in his eyes. He looked completely absorbed in what she had just said. Just as it looked as if Max was going to answer her, Nikos stood on a chair and tapped his glass with a spoon announcing that he wanted to make a toast to his father. Lily couldn't think of a worse time to torture her. She had just told Max how she felt and now her confidence was slipping tremendously by every passing minute that Nikos stood up there and told stories of his father, She felt Max squeeze her hand and she brought her head up to look at him and what was in his eyes wasn't laughter or disappointment. It was the same look he gave her when he kissed her in the bedroom the day before. Somehow he knew how insecure she was feeling and let her know that he desired her too. He always seemed to know what she was thinking. Then he gave a subtle indication with his head toward the exit as he tightened his hand around her waist and slowly moved out of the crowd as Nikos finished his speech followed by loud applause and cheers. Max had barely gotten the door of their stateroom closed when he pushed her up against the wall and crushed his mouth against hers. He already knew he was going to have to replace the dress as he tore it off her shoulders. A small price to pay for what lay underneath.