The house was quiet. No words passed between them as they climbed the stairs together. Diana ignored him and purposely kept her eyes focused straight ahead. If she looked at him, she would be lost. She’d always loved looking at his profile, and he looked even more attractive this evening. There was something very potent and powerful about the picture he made, and she felt a tremor inside knowing she was now married to him.
Diana and Trace were now alone. Stalling, she turned toward her bedroom. Before she took a step, Trace reached for her hand. When she stumbled, he caught her in his arms.
“You’re going the wrong way,” he said with a smile.
“I was going to my room to…”
“Everything you need is in my suite…our suite,” he drawled, caressing her cheek with the palm of his hand.
He opened the door and waited for her to precede him. She walked through and noticed a tray of strawberries, chocolates, and champagne resting on a lace doily on an oval table by the sofa. He came up behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders, massaging them gently. She felt a light kiss at the base of her neck.
“We need champagne,” he said. He walked to the table and uncorked the bottle. Startled by the popping sound, she watched as he poured champagne into two glasses and then handed her one.
He took a deep swallow; she sipped hers. She lifted her eyes and saw his blue gaze fixed on her.
“You are a very beautiful woman. I’m a lucky man.”
She gripped her champagne glass so tightly her hand went numb. She forced her fingers to relax. “Thank you.”
He glanced at her hands. She knew he noticed her nervousness.
“Are you worried about Nicky?”
“What? No. Nicky has never spent the night at Susan’s, but he’ll be fine. He loves spending time with her.”
“That’s good to hear. I want someone who is trustworthy while we are gone.”
“Gone?”
“Yes. We’ll be gone for a couple of days.”
“You never told me we were going away.”
“Every bride expects to go on a honeymoon.”
She met his gaze levelly. “I’m not every bride.”
“But you are my bride, and we are going on a honeymoon. A short one, but nevertheless, a honeymoon,” he stressed.
The thought of a honeymoon, just her and Trace together, caused waves of panic.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Rosa has packed your bags and they are already stored on the jet.”
He was being deliberately obtuse, which frustrated Diana. “Am I to play twenty questions?” She was aware she was being snappish. There was a strained edge in her voice. Trace regarded her coolly as he drank his champagne, looking relaxed and at ease. She felt angry and unbalanced.
“We are going to my villa in Bermuda.”
She lifted her chin. “I guess I should be honored to be Mrs. Trace Montgomery,” she said sarcastically, even as she fought conflicting emotions in saying the name.
“Of course.”
The answer was so unexpected that her lips twitched as she tried to hold onto her anger. “Your arrogance astounds me.”
“Did you expect anything less?” he teased, sounding like the Trace of old. It was a reminder of how they used to be.
“No,” she said. “How long will we be gone?”
“A week.”
“I can’t possibly be gone that long. Nicky just came home.”
“I have talked to Nicky and told him we were going on a trip. He’s four years old and inquisitive. He wanted to know why he couldn’t come. I explained to him that we need to get to know each other. I believe he understood. I promised we would bring him something from the trip. He was very happy about that.”
“It seems you took care of everything.” She turned from him and looked at the bed. She closed her eyes, not wanting to think about what was next. His arms circled her waist. She wanted to lean back against him, but fought to remain still.
“Why don’t you take a shower and get into bed? We’ll leave early tomorrow morning. I have some calls to make.” He turned her toward him, gave her a long stare, and then planted his mouth on hers. The kiss was deep and promised of more to come. He released her and walked out the room. She didn’t know she was holding her breath until she heard the door close and released it.
* * *
Diana woke to the early morning sun shining through the bedroom window. She looked at the pillow beside hers and noticed the indentation. Evidently Trace had come to bed, but he hadn’t wakened her. The clock on Trace’s nightstand said it was only seven o’clock. Diana let out her indrawn breath. Nicky rarely stirred before eight. Then she remembered Nicky had spent the night with Susan. Today she was leaving for her honeymoon…a honeymoon with Trace. Where was he? She threw back the covers and swung her legs to the floor at the same time Trace emerged from the en suite. A pair of linen navy slacks hung low on his hips; the button at the top was unfastened. He wore nothing else. A slow smile curved his mouth as he caught her gawking at him.
“Good morning. I was going to let you sleep for another hour.” His voice was a husky, intimate drawl as he came and pulled her from the bed. She was powerless to prevent the descent of his head. His mouth covered hers in a slow, evocative kiss.
Diana closed her eyes, trying to hide her conflicting mix of emotions. Trace lifted his mouth fractionally, eyes drifting open. His hand slid the thin straps of her gown off her shoulders. He cupped her breast and teased the tender peak before slipping his hand down to the soft curls at the apex of her thighs.
His touch was gentle as he stroked the sensitive bud, and he absorbed the slight hitch in her breath as he sent her spiraling to climax. She floated with contentment as she descended. The hardness of his erection pressed tight against her hips. She tried to reach for him but her arms were lifeless.
At that moment, as he brushed his lips against each closed eyelid, the past didn’t exist. His forehead touched hers in silent communication before he released her.
“Today we begin our honeymoon in earnest.” He ran a finger down her neck into the V between her breasts. His gleaming gaze locked with hers. “I’m tempted to start it this minute.”
Diana pulled the straps onto her shoulders in a delayed sense of modesty as she turned away from him.
He waited until she reached the door of the en suite, and then said quietly, “This marriage will be consummated. We leave in one hour.”
She didn’t answer, for she was unable to find the words for either obedience or argument. She opened the door and walked from the room.
* * *
The car came to a smooth halt at the private airfield. Within minutes, they were escorted to plush leather seats in the plane, sitting opposite one another. Diana still felt out of control. She couldn’t let her guard down again. Trace was hot and cold. One minute he was angry and the next minute he was acting as if everything was fine between them. She refused to be in the position of watching everything she said, having to control every impulse and word. As they took off, she avoided meeting the dark gaze that rested on her.
* * *
Trace took in Diana’s averted profile, the way she held herself stiff and upright. Many conflicting emotions ripped through him. He had seen the sadness behind the sheen of tears as they traveled in the car to the airport. The unshed tears had thrown him completely. Why did it have to be this way? Last night when he entered their bedroom, she had been lying on her side, facing away from him. Although he normally slept in the nude, he had slipped on a pair of pajama bottoms and crawled in beside her. He did it more out of protection for her than himself. She was tired and he wanted her to rest. However, it didn’t stop him from wanting her desperately. Finally, he couldn’t control himself; he had glided up to her back and wrapped his arms around her. She had sighed and snuggled more deeply into him. In sleep, she’d turned to him and he slept peacefully through the night.
His jaw clenched. He had to remember the reason for the marriage. It was so he could be with his son. Diana was just an added bonus. She would not manipulate him. Tears would not move him.
He glanced at her moodily and then stared out the window of the plane at the clouds. She would never know what he felt for her. He wanted to give her time to get used to the idea of their marriage before he consummated the marriage, but he didn’t know how long he could lie beside her and not make her his. He would bed her until he got her out of his system and then they could settle down to a polite marriage of convenience. She would have her own interests and he would have his. Who are you fooling? You know you want more than that with Diana.
* * *
Diana was slightly startled when a gentle hand touched her shoulder. The flight attendant smiled over her. She hadn’t realized she had fallen asleep.
“Mrs. Montgomery, we’re landing in a few minutes.”
Surprised to hear someone calling her that, she frowned momentarily in puzzlement. When she straightened from her cramped position, she was relieved to see that Trace was missing from his seat. She pushed her hands through her tumbled hair and secured it in a knot. She removed the blanket and wondered who had put it over her. The thought that Trace might have done it caused her to frown. She chided herself. More than likely the flight attendant had done it. She looked up when Trace emerged from the cabin in the back. Her cheeks felt hot and her eyes sticky from sleep as he came towards her.
“We’re getting ready to land,” he said.
She just nodded. She didn’t trust herself to speak and diverted her attention to the view outside.
Once they landed, everything happened in a blur. They were out of the plane and, within minutes, sheltered in a luxury four-wheel drive with tinted windows. One bodyguard rode in the front with the driver, the other following in another vehicle with the luggage. She’d always known bodyguards accompanied Trace wherever he went. However, this was the first time that she’d actually seen them. It was unnerving to have these unsmiling but polite men sitting in the car with them.
The hot air caressed Diana’s skin like a thin leather glove as she stepped from the vehicle outside Montgomery Villa. Diana sucked in a surprised breath upon seeing Trace’s house. She was in awe. It was painted a bright white and complemented by beautiful, colorful flowers surrounding it. It was smaller than she’d imagined; although massive by normal standards, it was unassuming and very intimate. The wide veranda leading up to the front door hinted at the luxury that lay inside. Trees were spaced on the grounds in such a way as to enhance the view of the villa, not detract from it.
The front door opened. A full-bodied figure rushed out and down the steps, her round brown face wreathed in smiles. Diana blinked, surprised, when the woman threw her arms around Trace and gave him a big hug. Trace introduced the woman as Cassie, his long-time housekeeper and friend. Diana extended her hand, but Cassie grabbed her and engulfed her in a big hug.
“Welcome to Bermuda, Mrs. Montgomery.”
“Please call me Diana. Mrs. Montgomery is too much of a mouthful.”
Cassie chuckled. “Since I call Mr. Montgomery Mr. Trace, I’ll call you Ms. Diana. Is that all right?”
“That’s fine. Thank you.”
“Good. It’s settled.”
In the entrance hall, Cassie summoned a young maid and asked her to show Diana to the master suite. Diana followed the young girl upstairs. She was tired. She wanted a long bath and a nap. She was in the process of unbuttoning her blouse when Trace appeared at the door, leaning against it nonchalantly.
“Is the room to your liking, Diana?” he asked as he came in. She backed away from the bed, watching him as he walked to another door and opened it. That led to the sitting room. He left it open.
“Yes. It is lovely.”
“Good. I’m glad you like it,” he said with a crooked smile. “There are no locks on doors between us. You can use the sitting room for your private time. I want you to relax and be comfortable here.”
He walked over and stood very close. He reached out a hand and trailed fingers over her collarbone, which was bared. Her breath hitched. The energy crackled between them as his hand went down until his fingers found the slopes of her breast. He watched her intently as he let his hand cup one breast. Her nipple hardened pushed against the palm of his hand. When he took her mouth, she moaned. She couldn’t stop herself. She grabbed him, pulling his head closer. Then abruptly his mouth was gone and he removed his hand from her breast and stepped back. Nothing showed that he shared her turmoil.
“Why don’t you take a bath? It’ll help you relax.”
Diana wanted nothing more than to wipe the smugness off his face.
He walked to the door, turning back just as he reached it. “Dinner will be served at eight.”
She stood for a long time, waiting for her body to cool down. Her head reeled, her emotions still raw. Finally, she sat on the bed. She must keep in mind the reason for the marriage. She wasn’t going to have that fairy tale happily-ever-after with Trace. She needed to keep the promise she made to herself. She wouldn’t let him hurt her again.