His Marriage Trap (10 page)

“I thought we could take a holiday sometime,” Nik said during dessert and Gabby stared at him. She didn’t really know how to answer. If this had been a real marriage then she probably would have been excited to go away with him and spend time together but this was the worst possible timing for him to announce this.

“Sure,” she answered. It wasn’t like she would be around for the holiday anyway when he actually planned it.

“I think it would do us good to get away from everything and actually spend some time together,” he suggested and she gave a smile.

“Sure,” she answered and his eyes narrowed as suspicion swept through him. She was being unusually nice and it made him wonder just what exactly she was up to. He would just have to keep a close eye on her because he didn’t trust her as far as he could throw her. He did wonder how far this nice thing of hers extended though.

After dessert they washed and dried the dishes together and actually continued to get along with each other. They had another glass of wine and Gabby started to relax in Nik’s company. If she didn’t know better she would almost have said that they were acting like a real married couple. When Nik leaned over and removed the glass from her hand she didn’t even protest and when he moved closer and trapped her against the counter with his hands she arched against him. His mouth slanted to capture hers and she eagerly responded to him. Before she knew it he was lifting her in to his arms and without breaking the kiss he carried her upstairs and to his room.

He gently lowered her to her feet and moved his fingers to the zip on her dress. Sliding it down he ran his fingers down her spine causing her to shudder beneath his touch. Then he slipped the dress from her slender frame and let it slither down in a pool of silk at her feet. He unclasped the lacy bra that teased and tortured him with tantalising views of her fabulous breasts. Removing it completely he settled his hands at her waist and then moved them higher to cup her breasts. She gasped against his mouth and he finally broke the kiss to trail his lips across her soft, satiny skin.

Growling low in her throat she reached for his belt and undid it then began to undo his trousers. He was wearing too many clothes and she wanted to see all of him. She had already decided that if she was leaving soon then she wanted to experience this at least once more.

He heard her growl of frustration and with a grin he stepped back to dispense quickly with his clothes before returning to her. Lifting her up against him he laid her on the bed and followed after her. She decided to take the initiative and moved her hands over him as she felt his strong muscles and smooth skin. Her hand skimmed lower and she heard him suck in a gasp as she circled him with her hand. It made her feel powerful to know that she could evoke this kind of response in him and she smiled as she continued to explore his body.

Until abruptly he moved her back against the bed and settled between her thighs. Then in one hard, long thrust he entered her and revelled in the small gasps she gave as her body adjusted to accept him. His jaw tensed as he fought for some control when he all wanted to do was lose himself within her. He began to move, slowly at first, and then increasing his rhythm as they both became swept up in the whirlwind of passion that consumed both of them. 

Gabby watched with fascination as the man who had always been so much in control began to lose it and it gave her that sense of power to watch him fall apart in her arms. She ran her fingers gently down his back as she tried to soothe him and then gasped as he kissed her, savouring her lips as he bought her closer to that all consuming passion that would drive her over the edge.  It didn’t take much before they were both spiralling in to oblivion as pure white hot pleasure exploded within them.

Afterwards he held her close with his arms around her and his hand gently soothing against her back. He kissed her temple and kept her close. For once Gabby didn’t want to tear herself away and start cursing herself for being an idiot. Instead she wanted to just lie there with him and feel loved even though she knew that it was all a lie.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked in a concerned voice as he turned her to face him and she offered him a soft smile.

“No,” she replied and snuggled closer, grateful when he wrapped her even closer against him. She could feel his heart beating beneath her cheek and the whole moment felt so wonderful and relaxed that she simply gave herself up to it and didn’t think about what lay in the future.

She drifted off to sleep still wrapped in his arms and was woken in the early dawn hours by the trail of kisses down her throat. Opening her eyes she smiled up at Nik who had come to mean far more than she had wanted him to. He trailed his lips lower and delivered a sweet torture to her unresisting body. She pressed closer to him and felt how hot, taut and very aroused he was. She felt weak against his desire and couldn’t help herself from drowning beneath the crazy sensations assailing her.

His hand trailed down the length of her back and then slipping lower to caress the curve of her hip and the firm roundness of her bottom.  Her body felt like it was on fire and she shivered as sensations swept through her.

He kissed her deeply and reached between her legs to the welcoming heat that lay within. He stroked her lightly and made her gasp and arched as she begged for more. She ached for him within her traitorous body and when his fingers began working their magic she gasped and fought not to fall apart in his arms. Then suddenly he was there replacing his fingers with his erection and she welcomed him in to her body eagerly. Every move was a seduction of her senses and she was helpless to resist. She tried to hold out but was completely helpless as she shattered in to a million pieces within his arms and she was aware of him following close behind. Wave after wave of sensation hit her and she couldn’t believe that she had waited this long to feel like this. Every time with Nik was an incredible assault of the senses and she could have been experiencing this for the last year.

After, he held her against him and she couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. She felt so safe within his arms yet she knew it was all a lie. She wished that things were different and that Nik actually loved her. If he loved her and only her then maybe they could have actually made their marriage in to something real but he never would and she knew it. Thinking of him with women like Callie made her feel sick to her stomach and just thinking of staying with him while he went off with other women tore her up inside. She couldn’t cope knowing that he could have such passion with her here and then go straight to another woman’s bed.

She knew that she had no choice but to leave Nik no matter how hard it would be. She had to savour these moments with him because her plan would be in motion soon and within a few days she would never see Nik again.

Gabby awoke the next morning and for once the bed wasn’t empty beside her and she didn’t feel the need to run away. Instead she was wrapped up in Nik’s arms and she continued to feel safe and content. She realised that what had happened last night had been a perfectly natural and beautiful thing that she shouldn’t feel ashamed about. She would just have to enjoy it while it lasted.

Nik noticed that she was awake and sent her a smile as he lowered his head and kissed her deeply. It was the kind of kiss that was meant to soothe and show his feelings for her rather than the kind that led in to another round of amazing mind-blowing sex.

Gabby found that she liked waking up like this and it shocked her for she had never thought that she would be like those loved up couples. She hadn’t thought that she would even be comfortable waking up next to a man never mind that she would find it enjoyable.

“What are your plans for the day?” he asked her and Gabby couldn’t believe how tempted she was to cancel everything and spend the day in bed with him but that went against everything that she had planned and she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“I have clients to see. I’m booked solid,” she told him and he gave a sigh of disappointment as he kissed her again, longer this time.

“I would have suggested an early night for tonight but we have that dinner party,” he reminded her and Gabby cursed under her breath. Of course they had something planned for the one night that she really didn’t want to go out.

“I guess we’ll just have to make up for it now,” she suggested huskily and before he could respond she took the initiative and straddled him as she delivered a passionate kiss that clearly had the desired response.

This prompted another round of passionate love making and a leisurely shower together. Gabby was shy at first when he carried her in to the shower but she soon forgot about her shyness when he kissed her. By the time they finished showering Gabby barely had time to get dressed for work.

“Until tonight,” Nik said as he gave her a kiss before they went their separate ways.

When Gabby arrived at work she had a moment of feeling guilty for lying to Nik about everything. She had the urge to be honest with him and see if he felt the same way that she did but before she could decide one way or another her first client arrived and she was kept busy for most of the day.

During her lunch hour Gabby called Nik’s office just wanting to hear his voice but was told that he wasn’t there. This wasn’t unusual as he was often in business meetings but what was different was the fact that it wasn’t Callie who answered. Surely if he was in a business meeting his secretary should have been taking the call and not some stranger. Perhaps Callie was simply off sick or busy but Gabby had a sudden lump in her stomach and a feeling of dread.

She called Nik’s mobile but didn’t really expect him to answer as he was likely in a meeting and wouldn’t have his phone on him. She was surprised when the phone was answered after only a few seconds only it wasn’t Nik who answered.

“Hello?”

Gabby couldn’t believe it. Callie was answering Nik’s phone? Why? What on earth was she even doing with him when she should be in the office?

“Where’s Nik?” Gabby demanded.

“Nik darling,” she heard Callie call and then there was the sound of water and she heard Nik’s voice down the line.

“Take a message,” he growled and Gabby sucked in a sharp breath at that.

“Sorry but he’s in the shower. Can I take a message?” Callie asked and Gabby gave a choked gasp before hanging up.

Pain stabbed through her heart and she bent over with the force of it. How could Nik have betrayed her like this? She had known about him and Callie but she had thought that since they slept together she had been enough for him. How could he have gone from her bed to Callie’s? This morning he had acted like he wanted to spend time with her and like she actually meant something to him. She had even been considering cancelling her plans and giving their marriage a go and the whole time he had been just waiting for the chance to hook up with Callie again.

Her afternoon clients passed in a blur. Her final client was Fiona and Callie’s heart ached for the girl as she walked in looking pale and lost. She took a seat and didn’t say a word as she chewed her lip nervously.

“How have things been?” Gabby asked and Fiona looked at her as she twirled a lock of hair around her finger.

“I decided to keep the baby,” Fiona revealed and Gabby gave her an encouraging smile. She wasn’t here to judge or pressure her to do what she thought was right. She was only here to listen and advise.

“Did you discuss your options?” Gabby asked and Fiona sent her a hesitant smile.

“They said they can offer me as much support as I need. I know it’s going to be hard raising a baby, especially when I haven’t exactly had the best role models,” Fiona offered and Gabby sent her sympathetic smile.

“I’m sure that if this is really what you want then you will do an amazing job,” Gabby said which made Fiona give her a genuine smile and seemed to open her up a bit.

“I thought about getting rid of the baby. I thought about how a baby deserves a good start in life and not being born to someone who can’t even look after themselves. But then I realised something. My parents had it together. They were older, they were married and they had a job and money and a house. I was bought in to a world where my parents had everything they needed to give me a good childhood and look what happened. I realised that I don’t need any of those things. All I need to do is love this child every day of its life,” Fiona said and Gabby thought that was a pretty good attitude to take.

“And how do you feel now that you’ve made the decision?” Gabby asked.

“I feel scared, terrified actually. But I know I’m doing the right thing. This baby deserves to live and I know that I have enough love and enough motivation to make sure that this baby’s life is everything that mine wasn’t,” Fiona answered.

“How do you feel in yourself?” Gabby questioned.

“I feel that what I want doesn’t matter anymore. It’s what the baby needs and I can be a great mother. This baby is going to get everything that I never did,” Fiona said.

The session carried on pretty much the same and Gabby was thrilled by the change in her. She hadn’t thought that Fiona would even give herself the chance. The girl had been so down on herself for so long that she had been convinced this baby would destroy all the progress she had made. Instead it looked like the baby was changing Fiona’s life for the better.

Gabby stayed after Fiona had left to finish up some paperwork. She was dreading the evening ahead. She didn’t want to see Nik at all let alone spend time in his company all evening while they pretended to be the perfect couple. She hated that she had fallen for his charms again and wanted nothing more than to put her plan in to action and leave now. Unfortunately that wasn’t an option and with a sigh she closed everything down and went home.

She arrived home and went to Nik’s room to get a fresh pair of clothes. He was in his room getting ready when she walked in and he looked up with a smile that was aimed at her. Ignoring him she walked straight to the walk-in closet and selected a dress for the evening along with fresh underwear. She went to leave the room again only to find Nik blocking her way.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as he examined her features carefully and Gabby tried to keep her expression neutral.

“Nothing, it’s just been a long day.”

Nik looked like he didn’t believe her and Gabby tried to put on an innocent expression. She didn’t want to rouse his suspicions but she also couldn’t just act as though nothing had happened.

“You’re sure that’s all it is?” he asked and she nodded.

“Of course, what else could it be?” she asked and he finally turned away to finish getting ready. While he was doing that she slipped out the room and back to her own where she showered and dressed while trying not to think of how hard tonight was going to be.

She put off facing Jake until the last moment possible as he found it so easy to see through her lies and she wanted to spend as little time in his company as possible.

When she descended the stairs Nik gave a low whistle at the sight of her in her strapless red gown with a slit up the side that showed a dangerous amount of cleavage and leg.

“You look gorgeous!” Nik told her as he reached out and pulled her close while placing a kiss against her soft lips.

“And you look very handsome,” she replied when he pulled away. It was true that he really did look handsome in his designer suit that was specially fitted so that it showed off his gorgeous body beneath.

Gabby followed him out to the car and even managed polite conversation as they drove to the charity dinner. She kept the tone light and didn’t touch on any subject that she would have to lie about or that could cause an argument. She was quite impressed when they arrived at the dinner without any mishaps or miscommunication.

The room where the dinner was being held was huge and it was a very formal affair with tables having sold for ten thousand each. At the head of the room was a microphone and stand where the night’s entertainment would be. There were a couple of things on the agenda for the night including a fashion parade with a chance to buy the latest fashion must haves before anyone else and an auction later in the evening. There was also singing from a popular band and the evening was being presented by a hardworking actress who dedicated most of her free time to charity.

Gabby and Nik were led to their seats and a bottle of champagne was bought over as soon as they were seated. It was all very well planned out and Gabby began to relax. Perhaps the night wouldn’t be as much of a disaster as she had thought and it was all for a good cause. She might have kept up the optimism if Callie hadn’t chosen that moment to suddenly appear beside them.

“Nik, Gabby. Lovely to see you,” Callie said and Gabby stared at the other woman in shock. What the hell was she doing here?

She looked gorgeous in her short black dress that clung to her every curve and made her look even more beautiful than normal. Her long red hair was tied back in a chignon and her makeup was done to perfection. She made Gabby feel inadequate next to her.

“Callie, this is a surprise,” Gabby said as she shot a glare at her husband who smiled innocently back at her.

“I’m sure I mentioned that Callie was going to be here,” Nik said and Gabby stared at him in disbelief. If he had mentioned that Callie would be here then she would definitely have remembered. He was treating her like a fool and she hated him for it.

“I can’t believe how long it’s been since we’ve seen each other,” Callie said and Gabby smiled tightly. She could have gone a lot longer without seeing the bitch.

“Yes it’s been too long,” Gabby replied though she must have sounded off because Nik sent a sharp look her way.

“I arranged for Callie to join us this evening as a thanks for all the hard work she’s been doing for me lately. Plus we needed to fill up the table,” Nik told her and Gabby gritted her teeth at that. She just bet that she had been working hard trying to please him.

“It’s all for a good cause,” Callie said and Gabby couldn’t deny that. The dinner was to raise money for homeless children and she planned to spend a lot of money this evening.

“There you all are,” said a deep masculine voice and Gabby spun round with a smile at the sight of Luca.

“What are you doing here, cousin?” Nik asked and Luca sent him a charming smile and a look of complete innocence.

“Your father decided not to venture out this evening and I thought that the ticket shouldn’t go to waste,” Luca said while Gabby gazed curiously at her husband. She hadn’t known that Pablo was coming this evening; he hadn’t mentioned it at dinner the other night.

“And of course your motives were purely selfless,” Nik suggested and Luca’s grin turned wicked.

“But of course. It would be so unlike me to convince my favourite uncle that I should go to the charity ball just so I could get a look at some of those models,” Luca said and Nik rolled his eyes.

“We’re glad you’re here Luca,” Gabby assured him and he sent her a grin before he laid a frown on Nik.

“I’m surprised you didn’t invite me to this shindig yourself Nik,” he said and Nik frowned back.

“I didn’t have much space left at the table and didn’t think it would be your sort of scene,” Nik said and Luca let that go and introduced himself to the rest of the guests. Gabby though was suspicious of her husband. He had just said that he had invited Callie as a way to fill up the tables yet hadn’t invited his own cousin? 

The tables slowly filled up and Gabby was pleased to see that Nik had managed to fill their table with some people that she actually liked. She had Luca on one side of her and Nik on the other. Callie had naturally opted to sit next to Nik while a business associate sat opposite with his young wife and daughter. His grown up daughter had chosen to sit next to Luca who didn’t appear to mind the attention of a beautiful young woman. The business associate was one that Gabby had met a few times but it was his wife that Gabby knew best. Lisa was a beautiful woman who had been through more than most people realised. She had grown up in care and had been one of the tough ones who had made it through with a chip on her shoulder. When she had finally left the care system she had hated the world and everyone in it. That was until she had met Frank, her husband. He had seen past her prickly exterior to the vulnerable girl inside. Despite her telling him to get lost on a daily basis Frank had pursued Lisa until she had realised that she was worth loving and that she loved him just as much as he loved her. He had finally won her over and they had been together ever since. He was slightly older than Lisa but had been through his own share of problems. One of those being that he had been only a teenager when he had become a father. But Lisa had been all too willing to overlook the mistakes of his past and to become a stepmother to a girl that wasn’t all that much younger than herself. They had been the perfect couple ever since. But Lisa hadn’t forgotten where she came from or the troubles she had faced. She had spent a lot of her time doing charity work and especially with anything to do with kids in care. Gabby had often worked on charity projects with Lisa and they had become good friends.