A mocking smile twisted his lips, as if he recognized her delay tactics. He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat back. “It’s almost ten o’clock.”
“Ten!” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept this late.
He shrugged. “You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn’t have the heart to wake you. But now you are awake, I think we need to have that talk—unless you want to extend our truce another seven days?”
Biting her lip, she shook her head. “No, I think it’s time we put all our cards on the table, don’t you?”
“Yes. I’ll leave you to have your breakfast and shower. Come and find me in the study when you’re finished. Okay?” Intent eyes glanced at the rings once more before coming back to rest on her. He wasn’t really asking as much as demanding.
Grateful for the brief reprieve, she met his eyes.
“Sure. Give me twenty minutes.”
He nodded and stood. Leaning forward, he delivered another searing kiss and picked up his coffee. She followed the solid lines of his body as he sauntered to the door, and desire flooded her as she recalled the feel of him as he’d pleasured her during the night.
When the door shut behind him, she set her glass down. She stared at the rings she’d worn with such pride when they were first married. Although initially overwhelmed by the size of the diamond, she’d fallen in love with it. And on their wedding day, when the simple platinum band had joined it, she’d felt complete.
The intense pain of her heartbreak when she’d taken it off on the day she’d walked out was still a vivid memory.
Setting the tray aside, she got up.
Fifteen minutes later, she was dressed in white capri pants and a matching tank top, her hair brushed and left loose about her shoulders. A quick lick of gloss over her lips, and she was ready. Standing back from the mirror and examining her image, she noted that the bruises of her ordeal in Africa had faded, leaving her skin an even golden hue. She had more gold in her hair, too, now that it wasn’t being bleached silver by the harsh Nawakan sun.
You’re dithering, Belle…
She squared her shoulders, picked up the rings and the breakfast tray, and left the room.
Her heeled mules were a welcome change from the mohair slippers. Her footsteps echoed down the tiled hallway as she headed toward Nick’s study after depositing the tray in the kitchen. Demetra and the maids were nowhere in sight, and she recalled that Fridays were shopping days, which meant she was alone in the house with Nick. Yannis and the women would’ve taken off in the launch first thing in the morning and wouldn’t return until mid-afternoon. Demetra liked to go early to the market in the bustling town of Mykonos to get the best produce and the freshest catch of fish.
Belle opened the study door and entered, renewed pleasure coursing through her at the sight of Nick. A dark green shirt now covered his upper half as he leaned against the window and stared out at the view.
“Hi,” she murmured, her heart performing a wild tango when he straightened and came toward her.
“Hi, yourself.” He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “Mmm, you smell delicious,” came the muffled voice buried in her hair.
“That’s my shampoo,” she responded in a stupidly girlish, breathless voice that made her cringe. As usual, his proximity wreaked havoc on her senses.
“No, it’s all you, baby,” he insisted, kissing along her jaw till he reached the corner of her mouth. “And I bet you’ll taste even better here.” Without giving her time to respond, he took her mouth, tilting her head just so for better positioning.
She groaned, lost in the kiss for a long moment, then reluctantly pulled back. “Nick, you’re not being fair. We need to talk, remember?”
He moved against her, reluctant to let her go, and buried his face in the crook of her neck. “Well, you can’t present me with a delightful offering such as yourself and expect me to hold back. That’s not fair. Besides, all’s fair in love and war, as the saying goes.”
She had no protection against the pain his words brought. “But in our case, it’s more all war and no love, isn’t it?”
Like a puff of wind, the easy banter vanished. He froze, and she felt his tension vibrate through her. He dropped his arms and moved away to gaze out the window again. Rigid silence reigned for a long moment before he turned back to her.
“I see you’re not wearing your rings. Care to tell me why?” His tone was empty, devoid of all emotion.
“To be honest, I’m surprised you kept them.”
His jaw clenched. “Well, I did. And I want you to put them back on.”
“Just like that?”
“Why not? Don’t you want to get back together?”
There was no doubt about it, she wanted her husband back, but— “I do, but I’m not sure we have what it takes. Unless—?