his room. The king-size bed was so comfortable as to be almost sinful, she discovered seconds later, after throwing herself on the plush surface and burying her face into her pillow to sob out her humiliation and hurt.
His words from the night had imprinted on her brain and still haunted her from time to time. It was true he’d never said he didn’t want her, but she had been able to infer what he was trying to say in his politely remote way. It had taken months, but Leah had eventually recovered from her “love” for Nikos, finally dismissing it as a lingering adolescent crush. The indifference which she displayed toward him after that night had started out forced, but she had mastered her reactions and eventually managed to feel true detachment from Nikos.
With one moment of weakness, she had undone all her hard work. Her body still ached for him, though her mind recoiled at the thought of sleeping with him now. He hadn’t wanted her three years ago, and she refused to be used because she was now convenient. Leah had no doubt sex with her husband would be amazing, but it wasn’t worth the cost to her pride or her emotional stability. She couldn’t risk falling in love with him again.
Nikos took refuge in his study, where men in his family had found solace from the time his father first built the villa. A finger of whiskey remained untouched in the crystal glass, though he swirled it absentmindedly from time to time.
He had certainly mucked up everything. Nikos set aside the glass to wipe a hand across his face. Three years ago, he’d been determined that Leah understand he wanted nothing physical with her. She had been beautiful, standing before him in a white negligee that made his fingers itch to pull off the scrap of fabric and explore the skin beneath. His wife had been desirable, though seeming less experienced than he was accustomed to in a lover. Nikos had exerted every ounce of will power not to accept her shy invitation.
At the time, he had been thankful that his wits quickly conquered his baser urges, and he was able to resist. Nikos had tried to be gentle with his rejection, but still get his point across. After that night, she had acted like nothing more than a roommate that he saw in passing a couple of times per day. Leah hadn’t shown any sign of distress that he’d rejected her consummation attempt, so he had assumed all was well, and she had reached the same conclusion he had—that lovemaking was strictly off-limits if they both wanted to avoid developing deeper emotions.
With a wry tilt of his lips, he acknowledged his assumptions had certainly made him an ass. It wasn’t clear if she had been deeply hurt, but Leah had obviously taken his message to heart. He cursed himself, shaking his head at his own blindness. How could he have been near Leah for the past three years and not taken her to his bed? The idea of losing her now was unacceptable. At thirty-one, he didn’t want to give up the comfort of having a wife, nor undertake the task of finding another when he had a perfect one already. Leah was an ideal partner and he was used to her habits. It was silly to end their marriage. He just had to convince her of that.
His lower body tightened painfully as he relived holding her earlier, her mouth devouring his while their bodies strained to get closer. Leah had been willing and responsive. He could likely seduce her with just a little perseverance, but would that be enough to make her stay?
A conversation from the party replayed in his head, and the seed of an idea germinated. Leah had said it herself. “Children need both parents, particularly when they are young. In that situation, I think you have to set aside what you want and think of your child, at least during the formative years.” If she became pregnant from his seduction, she would have to stay. It wasn’t the ideal way to convince her of the logic of maintaining their relationship, but at least it gave him an option
His words from the night had imprinted on her brain and still haunted her from time to time. It was true he’d never said he didn’t want her, but she had been able to infer what he was trying to say in his politely remote way. It had taken months, but Leah had eventually recovered from her “love” for Nikos, finally dismissing it as a lingering adolescent crush. The indifference which she displayed toward him after that night had started out forced, but she had mastered her reactions and eventually managed to feel true detachment from Nikos.
With one moment of weakness, she had undone all her hard work. Her body still ached for him, though her mind recoiled at the thought of sleeping with him now. He hadn’t wanted her three years ago, and she refused to be used because she was now convenient. Leah had no doubt sex with her husband would be amazing, but it wasn’t worth the cost to her pride or her emotional stability. She couldn’t risk falling in love with him again.
Nikos took refuge in his study, where men in his family had found solace from the time his father first built the villa. A finger of whiskey remained untouched in the crystal glass, though he swirled it absentmindedly from time to time.
He had certainly mucked up everything. Nikos set aside the glass to wipe a hand across his face. Three years ago, he’d been determined that Leah understand he wanted nothing physical with her. She had been beautiful, standing before him in a white negligee that made his fingers itch to pull off the scrap of fabric and explore the skin beneath. His wife had been desirable, though seeming less experienced than he was accustomed to in a lover. Nikos had exerted every ounce of will power not to accept her shy invitation.
At the time, he had been thankful that his wits quickly conquered his baser urges, and he was able to resist. Nikos had tried to be gentle with his rejection, but still get his point across. After that night, she had acted like nothing more than a roommate that he saw in passing a couple of times per day. Leah hadn’t shown any sign of distress that he’d rejected her consummation attempt, so he had assumed all was well, and she had reached the same conclusion he had—that lovemaking was strictly off-limits if they both wanted to avoid developing deeper emotions.
With a wry tilt of his lips, he acknowledged his assumptions had certainly made him an ass. It wasn’t clear if she had been deeply hurt, but Leah had obviously taken his message to heart. He cursed himself, shaking his head at his own blindness. How could he have been near Leah for the past three years and not taken her to his bed? The idea of losing her now was unacceptable. At thirty-one, he didn’t want to give up the comfort of having a wife, nor undertake the task of finding another when he had a perfect one already. Leah was an ideal partner and he was used to her habits. It was silly to end their marriage. He just had to convince her of that.
His lower body tightened painfully as he relived holding her earlier, her mouth devouring his while their bodies strained to get closer. Leah had been willing and responsive. He could likely seduce her with just a little perseverance, but would that be enough to make her stay?
A conversation from the party replayed in his head, and the seed of an idea germinated. Leah had said it herself. “Children need both parents, particularly when they are young. In that situation, I think you have to set aside what you want and think of your child, at least during the formative years.” If she became pregnant from his seduction, she would have to stay. It wasn’t the ideal way to convince her of the logic of maintaining their relationship, but at least it gave him an option
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