The Helen Bianchin Collection. HELEN BIANCHIN

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СКАЧАТЬ shower beckoned, and she twisted the dial, adjusted the temperature, then stepped beneath the cascading water, collected the rose-scented soap and began lathering her skin.

      She felt tired and emotionally wrung out and, dammit, she hurt in places she didn’t even want to think about.

      A slight sound alerted her attention, and she turned, gasping out loud as Nicos stepped naked into the shower stall with her.

      ‘What in hell do you think you’re doing?’

      He took the soap from her nerveless fingers. ‘I’d think it was obvious.’

      ‘Oh, no, you don’t,’ Katrina said with a growl as he smoothed the soap over her shoulder. She made to grab it from him, and failed. ‘Give me that!’

      ‘Why don’t you just relax?’

      Relax? She was about as relaxed as a tightly coiled spring. ‘Don’t.’

      His hands were effecting a soothing massage at the edge of her neck, and she gave a silent groan that was part pleasure, part despair as his fingers eased out the kinks, then shifted down her back, inch by blissful inch, then they began working their way up again.

      It felt so good, she forgot her anger, the tension of the day, and she simply closed her eyes and relaxed beneath his touch.

      He soaped every inch of her skin, slowly, and she sighed as his fingers trailed the contours of her breast, then travelled low over her hips.

      ‘We don’t have time for this.’

      ‘Yes, we do.’

      His fingers slid towards her navel, then slipped down to tease the soft curling hair at the apex of her thighs…and stroked with unerring expertise.

      ‘We shouldn’t arrive late.’ She groaned as sensation began a slow spiral through her body.

      ‘No,’ Nicos murmured in agreement, shifting his hands to bring her close against him.

      He lowered his mouth over hers, gently brushing his lips against her own, then he slid his tongue between her teeth and initiated a slow, sensual exploration that heated her blood and sent her pulse thudding to a quickened beat.

      She slid her hands to his shoulders and clung as he deepened the kiss to something so incredibly erotic she lost track of time and place. There was just the two of them, and the magic that was theirs alone.

      Nicos eased back from the brink of passion, softening his mouth as he trailed his lips over hers, pressing light kisses to each corner, the slightly swollen lower curve, before burying his mouth into the vulnerable hollow at the base of her neck.

      How long did they remain like that? Five minutes? Ten? More?

      Katrina felt wonderfully mellow, and filled with a lazy warmth that crept towards wanting more.

      ‘We should get out of here,’ she began to say tentatively, and felt his lips trail up to settle against her temple.

      ‘Uh-huh.’

      She leaned forward and closed the water dial while Nicos snagged a towel, handing it to her before catching up another for himself.

      The temptation to linger was great. Even greater was the need to stay in and not venture from the bedroom at all.

      ‘Later,’ Nicos promised, his eyes dark with slumbering passion as he pressed a finger to her lips.

      The art exhibition was held in a city gallery, featuring up-and-coming artists among whom two were gaining coveted acclaim.

      Katrina wandered among the strategically placed paintings, and gravitated towards one that had caught her eye.

      There was something in the use of colours that reminded her of Monet and the garden theme he so loved to depict on canvas. Beautifully framed, it reminded her of the French countryside with its fresh fields and flowers.

      ‘Like it?’

      ‘Yes, I do.’ It would look perfect in her apartment. Or better yet, hanging on a wall in her office.

      She moved on, aware Nicos had become caught up in conversation with a fellow business associate.

      ‘Dear Katrina, we do seem to garner invitations to the same events.’

      ‘Enrique.’ She acknowledged. ‘Why am I not surprised to see you here?’

      ‘I have contacts, connections,’ he relayed with a glib smile. ‘Schmoozing is the name of the game, and I excel at working a room.’

      ‘Alone?’

      ‘Young, budding artists aren’t Chloe’s thing. Have you thought about my offer?’

      ‘I don’t need to think. The answer, as always, is the same.’

      ‘Katrina,’ Enrique chastised, shaking his head. ‘I’m willing to trade information to your advantage.’

      ‘No.’

      ‘No?’ He waited a beat. ‘Aren’t you in the least curious to hear some interesting facts about Georgia’s love-child? Facts Nicos can substantiate?’

      A cold hand clenched round her heart. ‘That’s old news.’

      ‘It made good copy at the time.’

      ‘Is there anything you won’t do for money?’ she demanded fiercely.

      ‘I have an expensive habit, darling, which needs constant feeding.’ His smile reminded her of a shark baring its teeth. ‘It matters little whether the newspaper pays me, or you do.’

      ‘Go to hell.’

      ‘I take it that’s a no?’

      ‘A very definite and permanent refusal to your demands, now or at any time in the future,’ Nicos said in a dangerously quiet voice. ‘Take heed, Enrique. If you contact Katrina again, I’ll have a restraining order served on you before you can blink.’

      ‘You can’t threaten me!’

      Belligerence tempered with false bravado didn’t augur well with a man of Nicos’s calibre. ‘I’ve stated facts.’ His voice was hard, almost deadly with intent. ‘It’s your choice whether you comply or not.’

      Enrique cast Katrina a look that was filled with animosity. ‘You owe me. Kevin owes me.’

      ‘Harassment is a punishable offence,’ Nicos reminded him with chilling softness.

      Enrique swore. ‘I hope you both rot in hell.’ He turned and began threading his way through the milling guests.

      ‘Charming.’

      Nicos inclined his head. ‘Indeed.’

      ‘I think I’ll go check out some of the exhibits.’

      He СКАЧАТЬ