The Tycoon's Rebel Bride (The Anetakis Tycoons #2)(46)

Isabella smiled. “I’d love it. I can’t wait to see everything in daylight. It’s beautiful just from what I can see.”

They stepped through the sliding glass doors, and Marley led her down a stone walkway. The sounds of the ocean grew louder and then the pathway gave way to sand. Marley stopped and shed her shoes and urged Isabella to do the same.

“Oh, it’s gorgeous,” Isabella breathed when they walked closer to the water.

The sky was clear and littered with stars, carelessly strewn across the sky like someone playing jacks. The moon was high overhead, shimmering and reflecting off the dark waters.

“This is my favorite place in the world,” Marley said softly. “It’s amazing, like my own little corner of paradise.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so beautiful.”

Isabella walked to the edge of the wet sand and waited for another wave to roll in. Then she stepped into the foaming surf, loving the tickle of water over her toes.

“I told you we would find them here,” Chrysander said in an amused voice. “My wife is forever escaping to her beach.”

Isabella turned to see Theron and Chrysander standing, hands stuffed into their pants as they watched the two women. She couldn’t discern their expressions in the darkness.

“Come, Bella,” Theron said. “Let’s leave the two love-birds. You must be tired from our long trip.”

Marley smiled at Isabella as she walked past on her way to Theron. He held his hand out to her as she neared, and she slid her fingers into his.

He brought them to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss against her knuckles. Isabella relaxed for the first time. It would be easy if Theron acted as though he wanted to marry her, almost as though he felt something beyond lust and desire. And maybe he did. Did he? Could he love her?

She let him pull her back onto the stone walkway toward the house.

“They seem so in love,” she said when she and Theron stepped inside the door.

Theron nodded. “They have quite a story. I’ll tell it to you sometime. Right now, however, I’m only wanting a bed and a soft pillow.”

She laughed softly and ran her hand up his arm. “There are parts of my anatomy that make for a good pillow.”

His lips firmed for just a moment, and he glanced up at her, his expression indecipherable. “I think it would be best if we kept separate bedrooms here.”

She recoiled, her head drawing away in confusion. “I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t we share a bedroom? We’re engaged.”

He pulled her into his arms. “Yes, we are, pethi mou. And as such, I’d show you the respect you’re due by not flaunting our sexual relationship in front of my brother and his wife. It’s enough that he knows I took your virginity, but I won’t draw anymore undue attention to you.”

Hurt and humiliation hit her hard in the chest. “He knows? You told him?”

Theron blinked in surprise. “It is my shame to bear, Isabella. Not yours.”

She closed her eyes and looked away. So Chrysander, and by default, Marley, did know that Theron was only marrying her out of some outdated sense of honor.

“I’ll go up to my room then,” she said quietly. “I assume my stuff will be there. I can find my way.”

“Bella,” he called as she started for the stairs.

She turned and stared bravely at him, determined not to show any emotion.

“I didn’t do this to hurt you.”

She smiled. A tremulous, hesitant smile, but she pulled it off. “I know, Theron. I know.”

Then she turned and headed up the stairs in search of her room.

Seventeen

I sabella stared up at the ceiling, her hands behind her head. Sleep had eluded her, as she’d slept for most of the flight over. She’d opened her window before going to bed, and the sounds of the waves lured her.

A look at the bedside clock told her she’d lain awake for hours. With a resigned sigh, she tossed aside the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. If she were quiet, she could walk down to the beach and watch the sun rise. It wasn’t as if she was ever going to sleep. She was too tightly wound. Too restless.

The air was warm coming in the window, so she dressed in a pair of shorts and T-shirt. Not bothering with sandals, she slipped out of her room into the darkened hallway and crept down the stairs.

The house was quiet and cloaked in darkness as she made her way through the living room. She stepped onto the patio and breathed in the warm, salty air. Briefly closing her eyes, she let the breeze blow her hair from her face, and then she stepped onto the stone path leading to the sand.

The skies were already starting to lighten to the east, the horizon going pale lavender as the morning star shone bright, a single diamond against velvet.

The water was calm, lapping gently onto the shore, spreading foam in its wake. She walked down the beach, letting the waves rush over her feet as the world went gold around her.

A distance from the house, she saw a large piece of driftwood. Marley’s seat, Chrysander had called it laughingly. She settled gingerly on the aged wood and stared at the beautiful scene before her. Truly she’d never experienced anything like it.

Unsure of just how long she sat there, basking in the dawn, she picked herself up and headed back toward the house. Sand covered her feet and she paused at the entryway to the stone path cutting through the garden to clean it off.