Chapter Fourteen
Three years later
Ares watched Bethan adjust her display. A tiny tweak here, removal of an invisible speck there.
He knew she worried it was too soon for a solo exhibition, but she was more than ready, she was gifted.
Already the title cards of several pieces bore the discreet mark signifying they’d been sold and the pre-show reviews had reassured her.
Ares had delighted in quoting extracts from one at regular intervals during her preparations today—
Bethan’s mixed media work intersects fine art and traditional craft.
The intricacy of her beadwork, the ethereal light of her ceramics, the precision of needlework and the dexterity of her brushstrokes all illustrate her command of a breathtaking plethora of techniques.
Beyond brimming with skill, talent, and clever concepts, Bethan transcends her virtuosity and demands an emotional response—
She certainly drew an emotional response from him. Especially wearing that blue-grey silk dress that clung to her body like water and was the colour of his eyes. God, he loved her in it.
He caught her close and murmured in her ear. ‘You transcend, Bethan.’
Chuckling, she turned towards him, colour blooming in her cheeks. ‘I do okay.’
‘So much more than okay.’
He released her as the first guests arrived.
She stepped away, gleaming in the centre of the sublimely lit gallery.
It was a rarefied space in the heart of the exclusive central London hotel that her friend Elodie’s husband owned.
And of course, it was her friends who’d arrived first. He watched her embrace them, basking in the glow of her beauty, confidence, kindness and quietly exulted in the knowledge that at the end of the night she would return to him.
Always she would return to him. Just as he would always wait for her.
Though he felt impatience tease as he scoped the sweep and fall of the silk about her body.
He was very much looking forward to the night ahead.
Happily they were staying right here in the hotel, which meant less than a three-minute walk and elevator ride to a bed.
He couldn’t wait to free her curves from that fabric.
They’d re-married less than a year after their divorce—on their beach again but this time her friends had been there, plus Sophia and Felipe.
Even Gia had accepted the invitation. Ares found he cared less about the past—he had contentment now.
And security. He knew who he was and, while he needed to honour and remember his mother, he’d also begun to accept that maybe his father could be—if not forgiven—at least a little understood.
Growing up in the Vasiliadis compound with Pavlos would damage anyone.
Ares had the capacity to realise that now there was an abundance of love in his heart.
The love Bethan gave him. She gave and he grew and delighted in giving back and somehow it grew between them even more.
Limitless, joyous, so very easy. She’d changed his life completely.
* * *
Bethan sidled towards the rear of the room, needing a quiet moment to power up before more socialising with prospective customers.
She sipped lemonada from a champagne glass, stifling a giggle as she watched Elodie glide about the room.
She was so glad her friends were here. Elodie’s fiery hair, together with the beaded bustier Bethan had made for her years ago, caught the light—sparking an idea for a new creative piece.
Phoebe floated alongside Elodie, proclaiming her delight about enjoying a glamorous night out as if she didn’t fly around the world attending opera and exclusive events on a regular basis.
Both her friends’ babies were safely asleep just upstairs, attended by their highly experienced, highly paid nannies.
Sophia Dimou arrived, immediately gravitating through the throng to the two high-spirited women.
Felipe followed, turning to the two men watching them.
It turned out that, aside from the Vasiliadis connection, Felipe was a business associate of Phoebe’s husband, Eduardo.
Reputation would have the world believe all three of those men were ruthless tycoons, but right now they seemed somewhat helpless—captivated by the vivacious feminine trio.
In moments the men joined them and the atmosphere bubbled higher.
That they’d all come tonight was infinitely precious to her.
Truthfully, it wasn’t her own success that moved her, but seeing those she loved most in the world together and so very happy.
She searched the crowd for Ares, only to find him already looking right at her from the farthest corner.
His mouth curved in that tender, knowing smile that was hers alone.
Despite the distance—the forty people standing between them—she felt his love wrapping around her.
And his love—entwined with that of her friends—was overwhelming.
Blinking quickly, she turned away and slipped out of the nearest exit.
She needed more than a quiet moment to compose herself.
She sniffed and hurried to the elevator.
Ridiculous—to be teary because she was so totally happy?
She needed to get a grip before she wrecked her make-up.
She had to address that entire room soon.
As the elevator chimed, a big hand engulfed hers, his thumb rubbing over the rings she wore—the diamond had been reset to fit and form a knot together with the ruby of their second engagement—their past not forgotten, but celebrated.
‘Surely you’re not running away?’ he teased.
‘I just need to get myself together before I have to talk.’
‘Want some company?’ He tugged her into the lift and wrapped his arms around her.
She closed her eyes and leaned into the hug, feeling his heart beat steadily beneath her cheek.
This wasn’t doing her make-up any favours, or making her any less emotional, but it didn’t matter.
She was what she was and all those people downstairs supported her, not in spite of, but because of her emotionality.
When the elevator opened, Ares led the way, not speaking again until they were inside their hotel suite.
‘Anything I can do to help?’ His gaze roamed over her features intently.
He already was helping and her heart simply burst.
She sniffled, then dragged in a deep breath. ‘Actually there is something else I’d like to make...’
‘Oh?’ His smile turned sinful. ‘You want me to make—’
‘A baby with me. Yes.’
‘Bethan,’ he said slowly, so husky. ‘I would love to do that with you.’
Her eyes filled and as she nodded her tears splashed. ‘Good. Thank you. Please.’
‘Right now?’ He tenderly swiped his thumbs beneath her eyes to stop more falling ‘Sweetheart,’ he breathed. ‘You’re supposed to be giving a speech in half an hour.’
‘I don’t care.’ She sniffed. ‘Okay, I do care.’ Her eyes filled again. ‘About everything.’
He leaned close, all reassurance and strength. ‘You’re going to nail it.’
‘Yeah.’ She giggled through her tears. ‘Because you’re going to nail me now.’
‘Beautiful Bethan, I love you. And I will do anything you want.’ He walked her backwards to the bed, gathering her skirt in his hands as he went—bunching it up and over her curvy hips to her waist.
‘You’re sure?’ She needed to check.
‘Never more sure of anything. I can’t wait to make our family bigger.’ He swept his hand across her lower belly. ‘You think now might be a good time?’
‘Literally. I started tracking my cycle and...’ She couldn’t finish her sentence as he ran his finger along the inside leg of her panties, hooked the elastic and tugged them down, dropping to his knees as he did.
Just being near him made her melt and when he looked at her like this, when he touched her like this...always he set her alight.
‘I...uh...’ She trailed off as he pushed her to sit on the edge of the bed.
He pushed her knees apart. ‘Let me get you ready—’
‘I am ready...’ she moaned.
There was no point arguing with him and honestly? She was the winner here.
He swept his palms up the inside of her thighs and followed their path with his mouth. ‘The more orgasms you have, the more likely you are to conceive.’
‘Is that an actual scientific fact?’ She giggled, arching into his touch.
‘It is in my world.’ A husky, hot whisper before he mouthed her—
‘I...guess I can...uh...’
‘Come on me.’
‘Yeeeeahhhh...’ Pleasure rippled as she rode his fingers, his tongue whipping her higher with a devilish dance. So easily he coaxed her to climax.
‘Ares, love me,’ she whispered brokenly, needing him inside her. Now.
‘I am loving you, darling, I always will.’ Gently he lifted her, setting her on all fours near the edge of the bed.
‘And as much as I want to smother your face in kisses, I’m going to save that for later.
I’m not ruining your make-up now.’ Standing by the bed, he pulled her hips back to meet his.
He wrapped his arm around her waist, leaning over her to whisper in her ear.
‘This way I can go deep, darling. Fill you up with my—’
‘Yes,’ she panted, excitement escalating despite the orgasm only seconds before. ‘Please. I need you. Hard. Fill me—’
‘Like this?’ he rasped.
He slammed deep. She shuddered, bucked, then pushed back so he was locked to the absolute hilt.
‘You feel so good, Bethan,’ he choked.
But he kept control—teasing her with slow strokes, eking out her pleasure, loving her completely. But she rocked on all fours, harder and faster, demanding a faster, fiercer, pace.
‘Bethan—’
‘Please...please...’
His growl reverberated through her as his self-control snapped. He pumped, hard and fast and everything she needed. The force of his final thrust tumbled them both to the bed.
With a combination laugh and gasp he rolled her to her side. ‘Oh, hell, your make-up!’
‘I don’t care,’ she giggled.
‘Because you’ve got what you wanted?’ he murmured wolfishly. ‘Honestly, you look so beautiful right now. I’m going to have to ravish you again as soon as all those guests leave.’
She pressed her hand to her belly. Whether it was instinct or wishful imagination, she had a sudden certainty that his seed had struck.
His eyebrows arched. ‘You think?’
‘It’s possible, right?’
‘Bethan.’ He drew her close and tenderly pressed a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose. ‘With you, anything is possible.’
And sure enough, nine and a half months later their son arrived—impatient and demanding, loving and full of vitality—the perfect blend of them both.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from Tycoon’s Terms of Engagement by Clare Connelly.