The Tycoon's Rebel Bride

by Maya Banks

  be lost. He would remember who he was kissing. Instead she focused her energy on making it last as long as she could.

  When his lips left hers and stuttered across her jaw and to her neck, she moaned, unable to remain silent. She shivered and quaked, her senses awakening after a long winter.

  Never had she felt anything like his lips, whisper soft, across the delicate skin beneath her ear.

  Her knees buckled, and she clutched frantically at him. Suddenly his mouth left her, and he cursed. She closed her eyes, knowing the moment was over.

  He yanked her away, his hands tight around her arms. His eyes blazed, equal parts anger, self-condemnation and…hunger. She stared helplessly back at him, unable to say anything.

  He cursed again in Greek and then shook his head before shoving her out of the elevator. He ushered her to the door where he jammed the card into the lock.

  He held the door open with one hand, and she slowly entered. When she turned around to say something, he was already letting the door close. Before it clicked shut, she heard his footsteps hurrying away.

  Turning until her back rested against the door, she closed her eyes and hugged her body as she relived those precious moments in Theron’s arms.

  Their passion had been immediate. The chemistry between them was positively combustible. The last unknown was unveiled. In every other aspect, Theron had proved himself to be her perfect match. All she hadn’t known is if they were sexually compatible, not that she’d harbored any doubts, and now in the space of a few heated moments in the elevator, the last piece had fallen neatly into place.

  Now all she had to do was make him see it.

  Five

  T heron pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers and cursed long and hard. His head felt like someone had taken a hammer to it, he was tired, and he hadn’t slept more than an hour the entire night.

  Madeline kept staring at him throughout the morning as though he’d lost his mind, and maybe he had. He’d forgotten two meetings and had waved off three phone calls, one of which was from his brother Piers.

  All that occupied his thoughts was a dark-haired minx with sultry green eyes. Theos mou, but he couldn’t forget her kiss, the feel of her mouth on his, her body molded to his as though she were made for him.

  He was her guardian. He was responsible for her well-being, and yet he’d damn near hauled her into the bedroom of her suite and made love to her. His body still ached to do just that.

  He shook his head for what seemed like the hundredth time since he’d gotten to his office this morning. No matter what he did, though, he couldn’t rid himself of her image. Her scent. She was destined to drive him crazy.

  Impatient and more than a little agitated, he slapped the intercom. Madeline’s calm voice filtered through as she asked what he needed.

  “Do you have that list drawn up for me yet?”

  “Which list would that be?”

  “The list of eligible men I asked for. The men I intend to introduce Bella to.”

  “Ah, that one. Yes, I have it.”

  “Bring it in then,” he demanded.

  A few moments later, Madeline walked through his door holding a piece of paper.

  He motioned for her to sit down in front of his desk. “Read them off to me,” he said as he leaned back in his chair.

  “Did you sleep at all last night?” Madeline asked, her eyes narrowing perceptively.

  He grunted and closed his eyes as he waited for her to give up and do as he asked.

  “Reginald Hollister.”

  Theron shook his head immediately. “He’s an immature little twerp. Spoiled endlessly by his parents. Bella needs someone…more independent.”

  Madeline made a show of scratching him off. “Okay then, what about Charles McFadden?”

  Theron scowled. “There’s rumor that he abused his first wife.”

  “Bradley Covington?”

  “He’s an ass,” Theron said.

  Madeline sighed and quickly crossed him off.

  “Tad Whitley.”

  “Not wealthy enough.”

  “Garth Moser?”

  “I don’t like him.”

  “Paul Hedgeworth.”

  Theron frowned as he tried to think of a reason why he shouldn’t consider Paul.

  “Aha,” Madeline said when nothing was forthcoming. She drew a large circle around his name. “Shall I invite him to your cocktail party Thursday night?”

  “He’s too handsome and charming,” Theron muttered.

  Madeline smiled. “Good, then Isabella should be well pleased.”

  She glanced down her list then looked back up at Theron. “I think we should include Marcus Atwater and Colby Danforth, as well. They’re both single, very good-looking and aren’t currently in a relationship.”

  Theron waved his hand in a gesture of surrender. This was probably best left to Madeline anyway. She’d know better what Isabella would like than he would.

  They were interrupted when the door burst open and Isabella hurried in, a bright smile on her face.

  “Sorry to just barge in,” she said in an out-of-breath voice. “I didn’t see Madeline…oh, there you are,” she said when she caught sight of his secretary.

  Madeline rose and smiled in Isabella’s direction. “Quite all right, my dear. I was just on my way out. I’m sure Mr. Anetakis has time for you. He appears to have canceled all his morning meetings.”

  He scowled at Madeline, not that she seemed particularly intimidated. She patted Isabella on the arm as she passed and then she turned as she reached the door. “I’ll hold your calls and take messages.”

  “That won’t be—”

  But Madeline was gone, and he was left with Isabella. His gaze drifted over her to see that she was wearing shorts. Really short shorts that bared her long, tan legs.

  A dainty ankle bracelet hung loosely at her foot. She wore sandals that showed off bright pink toenails. As his gaze drifted upward again, he saw that the T-shirt she wore was cut off so as to bare her midriff, and the belly ring she wore, and it molded to her breasts like she was planning to enter a wet T-shirt contest.

  He wasn’t going to survive this.

  He cleared his throat and gestured toward the seat that Madeline had vacated. “I’m glad you’re here, Bella. We need to talk.”

  She turned for a moment, and he caught a glimpse of the tattoo on her back. It sparkled almost. It was either a fairy or a butterfly. He couldn’t tell and it was making him nuts. He wanted to go over and shove her shorts down so that he could see it.

  A tattoo. He caught himself just short of shaking his head again. What had she been thinking? If she was his, she would have never done something so foolish. There was no reason to take such a risk with her body.

  Theos, now he was sitting here considering what he would and wouldn’t allow her to do if she was his. She wasn’t his. Would never be his. He mustn’t even entertain such a thought.

  She settled into the seat in front of him which put her breasts right in his line of vision. He certainly couldn’t accuse her of baring too much cleavage. The shirt covered her very well, but the shirt clung to the globes, outlining every curve and swell. It was far more enticing than the lowest cut neckline.

  “What did you want to talk about?” she asked.

  By now he was hanging onto his temper and control by a thread. And yet she stared calmly at him as though they were about to discuss the weather. He wanted to beat his head on the desk.

  He rubbed his hand tiredly over his face and then focused his attention on the matter at hand.

  “About last night…” he began.

  She held up her hand, startling him into silence.

  “Don’t ruin it, Theron,” she said huskily.

  He blinked in surprise. “Ruin what?”

  “The kiss. Don’t ruin it by apologizing.”

  “It shouldn’t have happened,” he said tightly.

  She sighed. “You’re ruining it. I
asked you not to.”

  He stared at her open-mouthed. How the hell was he supposed to hand her the lecture he’d carefully planned when she looked positively disgruntled over the fact that he’d brought it up?

  “If you positively must regret it, I’d appreciate it if you did so quietly,” she said before he could offer anything further. “You’re allowed to forget it ever happened, you’re allowed to regret it, you’re allowed to swear on all that’s holy that it’ll never happen again. Just don’t expect me to do the same, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t patronize me by making light of it. As kisses go, I thought it was damn near perfect. You saying differently doesn’t make it any less in my mind.”

  He was speechless. A first for him. He who always had something to say. He was the diplomat in the family, always the level-headed one, and yet he’d been reduced to a mindless, gaping idiot by this infuriating woman.

  She crossed one leg over the other and pressed her hands together in her lap. “Now, if that’s all you had on your mind, I thought we could finalize the arrangements for the apartment and plan our shopping trip? I arranged for the papers I need to sign for the apartment to be faxed here since I was sure you’d want to look over everything first.”

  That was it? She could so easily shove what happened the night before out of her mind when he’d been consumed the entire morning? The memory didn’t just consume him, it tortured him endlessly.

  Even now he looked at her lips and remembered the lush fullness against his mouth. He could remember her taste and scent. The throb in his groin intensified as he imagined how she’d look, spread naked on the bed as he moved over her.

  He cursed again and ripped his mind to present matters.

  “Check with Madeline and see if she has the agreement. I’ll have my lawyer look it over if you like. As for shopping, Madeline will know my appointments for the week. Stop on your way out and have her schedule a few hours for us to pick out your furniture.”

  She flashed him a smile that warmed parts of his body that didn’t bear mentioning. With a toss of her long hair, she rose gracefully from the chair. She gave him a small wave bye then turned and walked to the door.

  A fairy. Her tattoo was a fairy with a sprinkling of glittery dust and sparkles radiating from the design.

  It suited her.

  But it brought up another very intriguing thought. Did she have any other tattoos? Maybe one or two that could only be seen when she wore no clothing? It made him twitchy as he imagined going on a hunt with her body as the map.

  Isabella left Theron’s office, biting her lip to keep from smiling. He’d certainly been prepared to give her an endless lecture on how they could never again do what they’d done the night before. It wasn’t anything she hadn’t expected which was why she’d been prepared to head it off before he ever got started.

  She mentally patted herself on the back at the expert way she’d diffused the situation. He was probably still off balance and trying to figure out just what had happened.

  She approached Madeline’s desk and politely asked if Madeline had received a fax for her.

  Madeline tapped a stack of papers at the edge of her desk and then smiled up at Isabella.

  “Did he tell you about the party?” Madeline asked.

  Isabella picked up the rental agreement and frowned. “No, he didn’t mention it.”

  Just then Theron stuck his head out the door. “Bella, I forgot to tell you that I have a cocktail party planned this Thursday that I’d like you to attend. Seven p.m. at my penthouse. Madeline will arrange for a car to pick you up at the hotel.”

  Before she could respond, he withdrew into his office again and closed the door.

  “Well, there you have it,” Madeline said in amusement. “I don’t suppose he’s also told you the occasion?”

  Isabella turned back to the older woman, her frown deepening. “Why do I get the idea that I’m being royally set up?”

  “Because you are?” Madeline said cheerfully.

  Isabella flopped down in the chair beside Madeline’s desk. “Tell me.”

  Madeline pulled out a sheet of paper and thrust it toward Isabella. “I wasn’t told to keep this secret so I’m not violating anyone’s confidence, and I figure if I was invited to a party where my future husband was in attendance, I’d at least want the opportunity to buy a gorgeous dress for the occasion.”

  Isabella snatched the paper and stared back at Madeline in astonishment. “Husband?”

  Madeline’s eyebrows went up. “He didn’t tell you that he was searching for a husband for you? I’d have to think that came up in conversation at least once.”

  “Well it did, briefly I mean. Just yesterday. He’s already found someone?”

  Isabella tried to keep the horror from her voice, but she wasn’t entirely certain she’d been successful judging by the sympathy she saw in Madeline’s eyes. She’d gone along with it because she hadn’t really thought that Theron was serious, and even if he was, she figured she had plenty of time.

  “Maybe he’s in a hurry so that he can concentrate on his own upcoming wedding,” Madeline said in a soothing voice.

  “What?” Isabella croaked.

  “He didn’t tell you that, either?” Madeline asked cautiously. “Well then, you didn’t hear that from me.”

  Isabella leaned forward. “Tell me,” she said fiercely. “Is he really getting married? Is he engaged?”

  Madeline looked stunned for a moment and then understanding softened her expression. “Oh dear,” she breathed.

  She got up and walked around to where Isabella sat stiffly, her hands gripped tightly in her lap. “Why don’t we go into the conference room,” Madeline said quietly.

  Isabella let Madeline lead her into the other room where Madeline shut and locked the door. “Have a seat,” she directed Isabella.

  Numbly Isabella complied and Madeline took the seat next to her.

  “Now, how long have you had this crush on Theron?”

  “Crush?” Isabella asked in a mixture of amusement and devastation. “A crush is a passing fancy. I’ve been in love with Theron ever since I was a young girl. Back then it might have been considered a crush, but now?”

  Madeline shook her head and patted Isabella’s hand. “He has the right idea to introduce you to potential husbands then. He has an arrangement with the Gianopolous family to marry their daughter Alannis. She and her mother arrive in New York in less than a week’s time. I’d hate to see you…hurt. Perhaps the best thing to do would be to focus on the men Theron has in mind for you. This fascination with Theron can only end in disappointment.”

  Isabella knew that Madeline was nothing but well-intentioned, but she also had no idea of the depth of Isabella’s feelings and her determination.

  Still, the thought of Theron already being engaged, of having a commitment to another woman…She closed her eyes against the sudden stab of pain. No wonder he was so put off by the kiss they’d shared the night before.

  “When do they marry?” she asked in a soft voice.

  “Well, he has to propose first, but from what I understand that’s a mere formality. He didn’t want a long engagement, so I imagine it will be this fall sometime.”

  “So he hasn’t even proposed yet?”

  Relief filled Isabella. If he hadn’t asked, then there was time to make sure he didn’t.

  Madeline frowned. “I don’t like the look you’re giving me.”

  Isabella leaned forward and grabbed Madeline’s hands. “You have to help me, Madeline. He’s making a huge mistake. I need to make him see that.”

  Madeline shook her head vehemently. “Oh, no. I’m not getting involved in this. Theron has made his choice, and I make it a point never to get involved in my employer’s personal life. You’re on your own.”

  Isabella dropped Madeline’s hands with a sigh. “You’ll thank me for this when he’s a much happier man.”

  Madeline stood and regarded Isabella with reservation.
“Don’t make a fool of yourself, Isabella. No man is worth losing your self-respect over. If your mother was alive, she’d probably tell you the same thing.”

  “My mother loved my father very much,” Isabella said softly. “He loved her, too. They’d both want me to be happy. They’d want me to marry the man I loved.”

  “Then I’ll wish you luck.”

  Isabella smiled, though it was completely forced. “Thank you, Madeline.”

  They left the conference room, and Isabella quickly signed the rental agreement before handing it over to Madeline. “Let him read over it and if he has no objections, fax it back for me, please.”

  “And your shopping trip? When would you like to schedule that?”

  Isabella shook her head. “I’ll go by myself. When is the cocktail party again?”

  “Thursday night. Seven.”

  Isabella slowly nodded. “Okay, I’ll be there.”

  She turned to walk out of the office, her mind reeling from the unexpected shock of Theron’s upcoming proposal. She flipped open her cell phone and dialed Sadie’s number.

  “Sadie? It’s me, Isabella,” she said when Sadie answered the phone. “Are you busy? I need to come over. It’s urgent.”

  Six

  “T his is a disaster,” Isabella groaned as she flopped onto Sadie’s couch.

  Sadie sat next to her, concern creasing her pretty features. “Surely you aren’t giving up. He hasn’t even proposed to her yet.”

  “Yet. That’s the problem,” Isabella said glumly. “Yet means he fully intends to, so for all practical purposes, he’s engaged.”

  “She might not say yes,” Sadie pointed out.

  Isabella gazed balefully at her. “Would you say no to Theron Anetakis?”

  “Well, no….”

  “Neither will she,” Isabella said with a sigh. She stared up at the ceiling as she raced to come up with a plan. “She’s no doubt a good Greek girl from a good Greek family. She’ll have impeccable breeding, of course. Her father probably has loads of money, and she would probably drink battery acid before ever going against her parents’ wishes.”

  “That exciting of a girl, huh?”

  Isabella laughed as she looked back at Sadie. “I’m not being very charitable. I’m sure she’s lovely.”

  “Now you make her sound like a poodle,” Sadie said in amusement.

  Isabella covered her face with her hands and tried not to let panic overtake her. Or despair.

  “Oh, honey,” Sadie said as she wrapped her arms around Isabella. “This doesn’t change anything. Truly. You still have to do the same thing as always. Get him to see you. The real you. He won’t be able to resist you once he spends time with you.”

  Isabella let herself be embraced by her friend. At the moment she’d take what comfort she could get. Being alone had never really bothered her, but now she was