by Andie Brock
‘But...’
‘There are no buts, Kate.’ He looked deep into her eyes. ‘I want you to stay by my side for ever. I want you to be my wife in the real sense of the word...in every sense of the word. Because...because...’
‘Yes?’ Her voice was a small, cracked whisper.
‘Because I love you too, Kate.’ He lowered his voice. ‘More than you will ever know.’
‘Oh, Nikos!’ Flinging her arms around his neck, Kate raised herself up on tiptoes, moving her hands to cup his face tenderly. ‘Are you sure?’
She gazed at him, blinking back the emotion that Nikos could see was so nearly ready to spill over.
‘Yes, Kate. More sure than I have ever been about anything in my entire life.’ He planted the softest of kisses on her lips. ‘Deep down I have known it all along, but I’ve been so blinded by hurt and pride and downright stubbornness that I’ve refused to admit it. Even to myself.’
‘I guess we’re both guilty of those traits.’ Kate gave him a rueful smile.
‘True. But you weren’t to know that beneath my cocky exterior lay a man riddled with insecurities.’
Nikos saw the flicker of confusion on Kate’s face as his admission sank in.
‘Really?’ She stared at him in disbelief. ‘Is that true?’
‘I would never have admitted it at the time—I wasn’t even conscious of it myself—but I guess I had a few rejection issues. With my mother walking out on me and my father when I was so young I always felt it was somehow my fault. Dumb, I know.’
‘Not dumb, Nikos. Just totally unfair and terribly sad.’
‘I’d made up my mind I was never going to get married. Then you came along. Falling in love with you was a big deal for me. Huge. Far bigger than I ever let on. I didn’t believe love existed. Not real, true love. The sort of love that turns life on its head. And then I met you and I thought you’d proved me wrong.’
‘Only thought?’
‘Yeah, well... After your father died I saw a different side to you. I decided I’d been right all along about the duplicity of women. I didn’t react well to being rejected again!’
‘I’m so sorry, Nikos. I never meant to make you feel that way. It was just such a terrible time. I was so focussed on concentrating all my energies on looking after Mom that I didn’t stop to think how it was affecting you.’
‘You were in a bad place and I was making it worse. I tried to back off, but somehow I couldn’t do it. And then when you were so pleased to discover you weren’t pregnant you touched a nerve. It felt like you were rejecting me as a father.’ Nikos paused, feeling a lump in his throat. ‘I said some unforgivably cruel things to you. Can you ever forgive me?’
‘It wasn’t your fault, Nikos. I should have explained my behaviour from the start. Told you about my mother’s mental health issues.’
‘So why didn’t you?’ His voice was soft.
‘Because my mother asked me not to. She made me promise never to tell anyone, ever. For some reason that was important to her.’
Staring into the depths of her eyes, Nikos suddenly saw the truth. Saw how much Kate had had to cope with. ‘Well, her secret it safe with me.’ He gently stroked her cheek. ‘Am I right in thinking her illness has affected you all your life?’
Kate nodded. ‘I’ve always felt I had to try and be the perfect daughter—balance out her mood swings, try and help her find a way through the dark times. I know she can be very difficult, even when she is relatively well. But she’s my mom and I love her.’
‘Of course you do. And I love you for loving her. But it might take me a bit longer to reach that point.’
Kate laughed. ‘Just loving me is enough.’
‘Then that’s a given. Always and for ever.’ He pressed his lips softly against hers but, feeling the dampness of tears against his skin, pulled back.
‘Don’t cry, agape mou.’
But the tears continued to fall silently, steadily rolling down her cheeks. Reaching out a finger, Nikos tried to brush them away, but her whole body was shaking now with the power of her emotion. Enfolding her in his arms Nikos held her close, absorbing the impact of the tremors, waiting for them to stop.
‘I’m sorry.’ Finally she pushed back enough to look at him, her eyes shining brightly. ‘For so long I’ve held back my feelings for you and...and now I’ve finally let go the floodgates seem to have opened.’
She sniffed loudly, then hiccupped and laughed. She bit down on her lip and smiled. And Nikos thought he had never seen a more beautiful sight in his life.
‘What made you finally decide to let go?’ He cupped her wet cheeks in his hands.
Kate swallowed hard. ‘I was at the airport and my flight was delayed, and the longer I waited the more I realised that I couldn’t leave.’
‘Then I thank God for that delayed flight.’
‘Yes.’ She smiled against his hands. ‘I realised I was walking away from the only thing in my life that mattered. So I phoned Charles Lewis and told him I wasn’t coming. I knew I had to explain to you how I felt, even though I was convinced you would throw it back in my face.’
‘Oh, Kate...’ Nikos felt his insides twist with remorse.
‘And I would have accepted that rejection.’ Her voice was grave. ‘I told myself that as long as I had made you see how much I love you, that was all that mattered.’
‘Which makes you so much more courageous than me.’ He took a breath. ‘Especially after I’ve treated you so badly, been so harsh to you, pushed you away. And all because I was terrified of my own feelings, I see that now. When I woke to find you gone this morning I wanted to run after you so badly—but even then my stupid pride wouldn’t let me.’ Regret clawed at his throat.
‘I figured I couldn’t be any more miserable than I was already, so what did I have to lose?’
The smile Kate gave him arrowed straight to his heart. ‘Darling, Kate.’ Nikos lowered his head. ‘Thank you for being the bravest, most beautiful, most perfect woman in the whole world. And most of all thank you for loving me.’
‘You are very welcome.’ She touched his lips with hers.
‘Would you do me the honour of spending the rest of your life with me?’
‘It would be my pleasure.’
Digging into the pocket of his trousers, Nikos retrieved the wedding ring and ceremoniously slid it back onto Kate’s finger.
For a moment they both stared at it, and then, taking her hands in his, Nikos linked their fingers together and lowered his mouth to meet hers. And as their lips met, and Kate’s eyelids fluttered closed, they both knew that this kiss was very special. Because it was the start of a lifetime of happiness together.
EPILOGUE
‘HOW MUCH LONGER?’
‘Two minutes, fifty-five seconds.’ Laughing, Kate put her phone showing the timer down on the floor beside her.
‘Can’t we just take a look now?’
‘No, we cannot. You’ve got to be patient.’ She held the test stick behind her back.
‘Patience has never really been my thing.’
‘Then do something to take your mind off it.’
‘Hmm...’ Nikos gave her a sexy smirk. ‘I can think of something, but two minutes fifty-five seconds isn’t going to cut it.’
Kate grinned, reaching for his hand. ‘Are you nervous?’
‘More excited. How long now?’
Kate pushed her phone further away from him. They were sitting on the floor in the bedroom, their backs against the wall. It had been all Kate could do to stop Nikos coming into the bathroom with her, and this was as far as she had been able to banish him.
‘Actually,’ she started nervously, ‘there’s something I want to tell you. I’ve made a decision.’
‘Go on.’ Nikos squeezed her hand.
‘I am going to sell Kandy Kate.
’
‘You are?’ Nikos was visibly shocked. ‘You mean if you’re pregnant?’
‘No.’ Kate shook her head. ‘Either way. I’ve spent all this time thinking that Kandy Kate is all that matters, that it’s who I am, all I am, but now, thanks to you, I know that’s not true. I am not that pigtailed girl any more. In some respects I never was. I was always fighting for a part of me that never existed. This is the real me—just a regular New York gal, madly in love with the most wonderful man in the world. You are everything to me, Nikos, and all that matters. Thank you for making me see that.’
‘Oh, Kate, I should be thanking you. For having the courage to knock down the stupid barriers we had put up, to lay yourself bare like that. I love you so much.’
‘And I love you too. More than I can ever say.’
‘So...’ Nikos fought to control the catch in his voice. ‘What will you do, then? I mean, you don’t have to do anything, obviously. If you want to be a stay-at-home wife, that’s fine by me.’
‘I’d like to do more photography, and also get involved in some charity work. It would be good if I could combine the two. And maybe...’ Suddenly Kate felt self-conscious. ‘Maybe I could help your father in the taverna. I know he hasn’t always been the father to you he should have been, but I’d like to try and put that right. That’s if Marios will have me, of course.’
‘Have you? He’ll snatch your hand off.’ Nikos laughed. ‘He’s still running that place single-handed, flatly refusing to retire, even though I’ve made sure he’s financially secure.’
‘It’s not about the money. It’s his life.’
‘You’re right. But don’t expect me to start waiting on tables again.’
‘Aw, shame.’ Kate touched his cheek. ‘You made such a lovely waiter.’
‘Yeah, right.’ Nikos took her hand and pressed it to his mouth. ‘So you’ll be swapping one family business for another?’
‘Sort of.’
‘But definitely no confectionery empire for our unborn offspring to inherit, then?’
‘No, definitely not.’ Kate’s voice was firm. ‘I want our children to have the freedom to do whatever they want, be whatever they want, free from the shackles of responsibility—What?’
Suddenly she realised that Nikos was staring at her intently, his deep brown eyes shining with excitement.
‘You know, don’t you?’
Kate pulled a nervous face, then gave him a quick nod. ‘I feel kind of...different.’
‘Like pregnant, different?’
She nodded again.
‘Come on—hand it over.’
Reaching behind her back, Nikos retrieved the test stick and held it up between them. Kate squeezed her eyes closed. There was an agonising silence followed by a yelp of pleasure, and suddenly she was crushed in Nikos’s arms.
‘It’s positive, Kate!’ His voice quavered with awe. ‘We are going to be parents!’
Cupping her face in his hands, he laid his forehead on hers and for a few precious seconds they stayed like that, quietly breathing in the magnitude of the moment, before instinctively reaching to find each other’s lips for a tender kiss.
And there, locked in Nikos’s powerful embrace, surrounded by the immense power of his love for her and hers for him, Kate felt the rush of joy that told her that this time everything was going to work out just fine.
* * *
If you enjoyed Reunited by the Greek’s Vows you’re sure to enjoy these other stories by Andie Brock!
Bound by His Desert Diamond
The Greek’s Pleasurable Revenge
Vieri’s Convenient Vows
Kidnapped for Her Secret Son
Available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Sheikh Crowns His Virgin by Lynne Graham.
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The Sheikh Crowns His Virgin
by Lynne Graham
CHAPTER ONE
ZOE DESCENDED THE steps of her grandfather’s private jet and as the sunlight of Maraban enveloped her she smiled happily. It was spring and the heat was bearable but, best of all, she was taking the very first brave step into her new life.
On her own, on her own at last, free of the restrictions that her sisters would have attached to her but, most importantly of all, free of the low expectations they had of her. Winnie and Vivi had been amazed when Zoe had agreed to move to a foreign country for a few months without freaking out at the prospect. They had been equally amazed when she’d agreed to marry a much older man to fulfil her part of their agreement with their grandfather, Stamboulas Fotakis. Why not? It wasn’t as though it was going to be a real marriage, merely a pretend marriage in which her future husband made political use of the fact that she was the granddaughter of a former princess of a country called Bania, which no longer existed.
Long before Zoe was even born the two tiny realms of Bania and Mara had joined to become Maraban and apparently her late grandmother, the Princess Azra, had been hugely popular in both countries. Prince Hakem wanted to marry Zoe literally for her ancestry and she would become an Arabian princess and live in the royal palace for several months. There she would enjoy glorious solitude with nobody bothering her, nobody asking how she felt or worriedly enquiring if she thought she should have more therapy to help her cope with ordinary life. Even though she hadn’t had a panic attack in months, her siblings had always been on edge around her, awaiting another one.
Zoe adored her older sisters but their constant care and concern had held her back from the independence she needed to rebuild her self-esteem and forge her own path. And taking part in this silly pretend marriage was all she had to do to finally obtain that freedom.
All three sisters had agreed to marry men of their grandfather’s choosing to gain his financial help for their foster parents, John and Liz Brooke. Winnie and Vivi had already fulfilled that bargain. But in Zoe’s case, no pressure whatsoever had been placed on her and, indeed, John and Liz’s mortgage arrears had been paid off shortly after her sister Vivi’s marriage had taken place. Yes, she thought wryly, even her extremely ruthless grandfather had shrunk from taking the risk of putting pressure on his youngest granddaughter, having taken on board her siblings’ conviction that she was hopelessly fragile and emotionally vulnerable. Nobody had faith in her ability to be strong, Zoe reflected ruefully, which was why it was so very important that she proved for her own benefit that she could be strong.
Like her sisters
, Zoe had grown up in foster care, and a terrifying incident when she was twelve years old had traumatised her. But she had buried all that hurt and fear, seemingly flourishing in John and Liz’s happy home, only for those frightening insecurities to come back and engulf her while she was studying botany at university. Having to freely mix with men, having to deal with friends asking why she didn’t want a boyfriend, had put her under severe strain. Her panic attacks had grown worse and worse and, although she had contrived to hide her extreme anxiety from her sisters, she had, ultimately, been unable to deal with her problems alone. Weeks before she sat her final degree exams, she had suffered a nervous breakdown, which had meant that she had had to take time out from her course to recover.
Although she had subsequently completed her degree and worked through the therapy required to put her back on an even track where crippling anxiety no longer ruled her every thought and action, her sisters had continued to treat her as if she could shatter again at any moment. While she understood that their protectiveness came from love, she also saw that their attitude had made her weaker than she need have been and that she badly needed the chance to stand on her own feet. With her sisters now married, one living in Greece and the other in Italy, coming to Maraban was Zoe’s opportunity to prove that she had overcome her unhappy past.
Zoe stepped into the limousine awaiting her, grateful for the reality that her arrival in Maraban was completely low-key. Prince Hakem had insisted that no public appearances or indeed anything of that nature would be required from her. He might be the brother of the current King but he had no official standing in Maraban. Zoe’s grandfather should have been travelling with her but a pressing business matter had led to him asking if she could manage alone if he put off his arrival until the following day. Of course, she could manage, she thought cheerfully, gazing out with lively interest at the busy streets of the capital city, Tasit, which was an intriguing mix of old and new. She saw old buildings and elaborate mosques with quaint colourful turrets nudging shoulders with redeveloped areas boasting soaring skyscrapers and office blocks. Maraban was evidently right in the middle of the process of modernisation.