His Marriage Trap (14 page)

It was long moments before she came back to herself and she found that Nik had laid them both on the bed with her facing him as he tenderly moved a strand of hair behind her ear.

“You okay?” he asked in concern and she sent him a satisfied smile.

“I am more than okay. That was incredible,” she assured him and he grinned as he leaned over to place a kiss upon her swollen lips.

“I wasn’t too rough? You’re not sore?” he questioned and she sent him an indulgent smile as she kissed him back.

“I’m fine. No soreness here,” she lied. She was a little sore but it had been completely worth it.

“You know? This place is peaceful and quiet,” he murmured as he circled his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to spoon against him.

“Mm,” she breathed and he smiled against her hair.

“Some might say the perfect place for a honeymoon,” he prompted and she turned her head to stare at him in astonishment.

“Are you serious?” she asked and he smiled as he dipped his head to kiss her again.

“I figured this might be the perfect place for us to restart our marriage,” he suggested and she grinned widely at that.

“Like a real honeymoon?” she questioned and he smiled right back at her.

“We didn’t take one the first time around and we should have done. Maybe if we had then there wouldn’t have been so many misunderstandings between us. What do you say to a real honeymoon?” he asked softly and she laughed in delight.

“I say yes!” she squealed and he grinned at her delight. He wanted to make her happy and this seemed to be the perfect way to restart their marriage the right way.

He could take a few weeks off and he just had to make the most of that time to prove to his wife that she was right to take a chance on him and to ensure that this time neither of them went in to this relationship feeling like it was set to fail.

Gabby lay back on the beach towel and let out a contented sigh as she watched Nik make his way back to her from where he had been taking a swim.

It had been three weeks since Nik had tracked her down to the island and what an amazing three weeks it had been. They had spent every moment together either pleasuring each other or actually talking about everything. Even when they weren’t doing anything in particular they felt completely comfortable together. There were none of the usual doubts or insecurities. Their honeymoon had definitely achieved its objective of bringing them closer together and suddenly Gabby couldn’t imagine her life without Nik. He was everything to her.

“Hey sweetheart,”

Gabby sent a seductive smile his way as Nik lowered himself on to the beach towel and leaned over to kiss her. She had never known him to be as affectionate as he had been over the last three weeks. It had bought them closer together and she was dreading the moment when they would return home and back to reality. She had the sense that as soon as reality entered their little bubble then everything would go back to the way it had always been. She wasn’t sure why she was worried about it though. Nik had listened to all her problems that had plagued their relationship so far and he had assured her that he would fix them so that she had nothing else to worry about. He was going to fire Callie for her involvement as soon as they arrived home. It made Gabby feel better that the woman who had tormented her thoughts, and who had convinced her that she didn’t have a marriage worth saving, was finally going to be out of her life.

“I love it here,” she said on a blissful sigh and his smile widened as he leaned on one elbow to observe her.

“I was thinking that we could make this our regular getaway destination,” he confessed and she smiled up at him.

“Really?”

“Well it’s got some great memories here now and I’m sure we can make even more. You never know, we might even conceive our children here,” he said which made her freeze in place for the idea of children had never even occurred to her.

“Children?” she gasped as she tried not to reveal how freaked out she was at the thought.

“You do want children don’t you?” he questioned and she became wide eyed and flustered.

“I do want children but I hadn’t really thought about it until now,” she said which seemed to sooth him because he lay back down with a smile.

“Just think that this time next year we could be here with our first child,” he said with that same smile still in place.

Gabby wasn’t quite as excited at the prospect. She wanted children but she wasn’t sure that she was ready for them. Up until now she hadn’t even had a real marriage so how could she bring a child in to it until she was sure that things were going to last. She’d never been responsible for anyone but herself before and the thought of a child depending on her panicked her. Yet at the same time the thought of children excited her.

“Did you want a boy or a girl?” she asked cautiously and he turned that devastating smile on her.

“It doesn’t matter as long as our child is healthy. Maybe it will be a cute little girl with your dark hair and fiery temper,” he mused and she laughed at that.

“Or maybe it will be an adorable little boy with your dark features and formidable personality,” she teased.

Suddenly the idea of a child didn’t seem so scary to Gabriella anymore and she found that she wanted those children who shared their blood but had their own personalities and futures. She wanted to feel their baby kicking inside her and know that it was a part of them and that their love for each other had created something amazing.

“I think maybe we should get started on this baby making,” Nik murmured in her ear and she chuckled lightly as she turned to kiss him.

“I do believe that we have already had a head start,” she reminded him and he smiled down at her.

“Practice makes perfect,” he reminded her and within a few minutes she couldn’t even remember her own name let alone what they were discussing as he took her to new heights and back with his passion. All she knew was that she loved Nik and she never wanted to go back to the way things were before.

The next morning Gabby awoke and stretched as a contented smile crossed her face at the thought of what they’d done during the night and what they would hopefully continue this morning. That smile faded however when she sat up and found that Nik wasn’t in the room. Wrapping the sheet around her slender frame she went in search of him and found him fully dressed on the balcony. She knew immediately that there would be no leisurely lovemaking this morning. Gone was the relaxed, sensual man who had been enjoying the Island with her and in his place was the serious businessman she had originally run from. She had to stop comparing the two though because no matter what he was Nik was also the man that she loved with all her heart.

“Hi,” she said softly as she approached him and he turned with a quick smile that died almost immediately.

“I have to get back home,” he told her and she gave a faint smile.

“I’ll go pack,” she assured him and he didn’t offer another word as she turned and went back the way she had come. His lack of explanation and abrupt decision to go home hurt her and she wasn’t sure why. She had known that they couldn’t stay on the Island forever and that eventually they had to go back to reality but for some reason she had assumed that she would have prior warning and that she would have time to get used to the idea.

She was in the middle of packing up her few things when Nik appeared in the doorway.

“I’m sorry,” he said and she turned to look at him and couldn’t turn away. He just looked so damn good to her even when he wasn’t trying.

“What are you sorry for? We both knew that we couldn’t stay here forever,” she reminded him and he sighed at that.

“I know, but I wanted to. If I could have then I would have stayed here forever with you,” he said and his words made a tingling feeling spread through her body. All she wanted was to stay here with him too but they both knew that could never happen.

“We have to go back sometime,” she repeated even as the thought depressed her. She just couldn’t shake the fear that everything would change when they were away from the Island. She wanted to stay positive and believe that love could conquer all but the reality was that when they were home everything would intrude on their little bubble they’d created around themselves and she wasn’t sure that things wouldn’t change.

“I wish we could have had more time,” he breathed and she felt guilty at the look on his face that told her he didn’t want to leave any more than she did. She didn’t want to make him feel bad about his need to leave their haven so she put on a smile and strolled over to him.

“Just because we’re leaving the Island doesn’t mean we’re leaving each other,” she reminded him as she leaned up and kissed him long and hard. She wanted to remind him of all the passion that lurked beneath the surface and the fact that if they couldn’t keep their hands off each other here then the same was probably true about when they were home.

“I love you,” he told her as they broke apart.

“I love you too,” she promised him as she turned and finished packing.

Maybe she was just being paranoid. Maybe nothing would change when they got back home. They would have their distractions but that didn’t mean that anything would change between them.

Several hours later they finally arrived home and Gabby couldn’t help the depression that set in as she entered the house and found that it just felt cold and empty. Nik had been distant ever since their plane took off and he had spent most of the flight on his laptop working.

When the plane had landed the weather had been cold, grey and dismal as the rain poured down and soaked them before they’d taken more than a few steps. The fresh air of the beach and the salty scented spray of the ocean was replaced with air filled with fumes. It was already depressing being back from holiday and then Nik informed her that he had to go straight to the office so she was left to go home alone.

Needing to prolong the feeling of intimacy that they had shared Gabby decided that she would insure their honeymoon continued a little longer. Heading out to the shops she decided that she would spend the afternoon making a romantic meal that they could share when Nik got back. He had said that he wouldn’t be late home so that gave her plenty of time to make something special.

She had taken her time preparing it but she felt that her homemade stew would be just the thing to cheer them both up. It was just the type of meal that her own mother used to make to comfort them when they were feeling a bit low. For dessert she had decided that chocolate sauce and whipped cream could be put to good use.

Everything was finished for about the time that Nik usually arrived home and Gabby had even changed in to seductive lingerie and silky robe that she hoped would appeal to Nik’s sexual appetite. Unfortunately the only thing missing was her husband. She waited and waited but as the hours ticked by she started to get concerned and decided to call the office just to check when he would be back. There was no answer. Realising that he was probably already on his way home she gave it another half hour and then rang his mobile. Only he wasn’t the one to pick it up.

“Hello?”

Gabby couldn’t believe it. Nik had promised her that he was getting rid of Callie as soon as he possibly could so why was she answering his mobile the very day they got back?

“Is Nik there?” Gabby asked through gritted teeth.

“Gabriella? Is that you? I am so sorry but Nik’s extremely busy with me at the moment. Don’t worry though because I’ll return him to you first thing in the morning,” Callie assured her and then she hung up.

Gabby stared at the phone is shock. Just what the hell was he playing at?

“Don’t read anything in to it,” she muttered to herself. But it was hard not to. She had opened up to Nik and told him everything. He had assured her that he was getting rid of Callie yet first chance he got he was there with her. Surely there was some explanation to it though. All she had to do was wait and she was certain that Nik would explain everything.

Nik arrived home just as the sun began to rise. It had been a hard day and night and he was absolutely exhausted. He headed to the kitchen to get some water and frowned at the sight of the home-cooked stew that waited there.

He cursed under his breath at the realisation that Gabby must have made it for him and he hadn’t even had the decency to call and tell her he wouldn’t be home. He’d meant to call but things had gotten away from him and it had slipped his mind.

He went upstairs to apologise and froze in place when he realised she wasn’t in his bed. He immediately went to her old room and terror froze his heart at the realisation that she wasn’t there either. Dammit! She couldn’t have left him could she? They had been getting along great on the island and he hadn’t thought that she would run away again simply because he was late home.

He looked all through the house as he ran a hand through his hair in worry and wondered where she could have got to. He was on the verge of panic when he found her curled up asleep on the sofa with tear tracks marking her delicate cheeks. He was more distracted by them than by the fact that she was wearing sexy lingerie.

“Oh honey,” he breathed as he wiped the tears away with his thumbs and leaned closer to kiss her.

“Nik?” she breathed softly as she woke. She blinked a few times and then sent him a smile that melted his insides.

“Hey sweetheart,” he murmured and her smile faded as she took in his suit and tie.

“What time is it?” she asked as she struggled in to a sitting position and he winced at the question.

“A little after five,” he said and she narrowed her eyes on him.

“Where have you been?” she asked but there was no accusation in her tone like he had expected there to be.

“There were some problems at the company and I’ve had to take care of them,” he said wishing that he could reveal the real problems but he was sworn to secrecy even against his own wife.

“What kind of problems?” she asked and he winced.

“Just some problems. Nothing to worry about,” he assured her and she bit nervously at her lip.

“We promised each other no more lies,” she reminded him and he inwardly winced at that. Holding information back wasn’t lying was it?

“I swear Gabby; it’s nothing to worry about.”

“I called you tonight,” she informed him and Nik frowned at that. She had? Nobody had passed the message on and he hadn’t had any missed calls.

“You did?”

“Yes, and Callie answered.”

Nik cursed inwardly at that. Of course that backstabbing little witch had answered and no doubt she had put the knife in with his wife. Except how was he supposed to explain to Gabby why he’d been with her at all? He couldn’t tell her the truth and he couldn’t lie. What did that leave him?

“What did she say?” he asked cautiously and Gabby just kept staring at him as though she could guess the truth just from watching him.

“It doesn’t matter what she said. I’m more interested in what you say. Why was she answering your phone? I thought you were getting rid of her or at least transferring her,” Gabby reminded him.