Billionaire's Second Chance (sam, bella and Kate Book 2) (5 page)

His finger moved a hair stuck to her cheek, her voice drawling
sexily, “Why thank you, you are pretty amazing yourself.”

Philippe moved to tenderly kiss her lips before sliding to the side of the bed
, pulling his trousers back on, Bella admiring his back as he looked over at her, “Drink... Definitely need a drink.”

She nodded and grinned back, “May I borrow your t-shirt?”
  Philippe smiled as he handed it to her, closing his eyes softly as it fell to just above her knees, swamping her petite frame, her long tousled hair falling all around her wonderful body, her features glowing with the aftermath of their lovemaking. 

Groaning, he held his hand out for her as barefoot, she took it.  “Why do you look so much better in that than me?”  Bella looked up at him, her features so sweet, as Philippe swallowed the lump in his throat.

Moving back downstairs, Bella took in her surroundings, chuckling, “I didn’t really get a good look on the way up... I think our minds were on other things”,  causing another rumble of laughter from him.  As they stood once more in the large foyer she stared around her, her eyes wide as saucers. “Wow – your home is gorgeous”, she managed, his smile approving.

Moving to one of the rooms off the marble
-tiled landing, she found herself in a large kitchen with seating area, furnished to a high standard, Bella seeing all the top-of-the-range kitchen equipment, admiring the dark granite island.

“Wow
, again”, her eyes taking in how clean the kitchen looked.  “So, tell me.  Do you have a maid in every day?  Or have you NEVER cooked in this kitchen?”

Chuckling, he moved over to the fridge, Bella giving a knowing laugh seeing only beer and champagne inside the sparkling interior.  “Well
, I mentioned that Dante owned restaurants in the village... It would seem wrong not to support them.”

Bella laughed again, “Yeah right
.”

As he opened a bottle of champagne, he poured a glass for her and a half-glass for himself, smiling as the two clinked glasses.  “To us
.”

She gave him a small smile, sipping the delicious wine.
  “So, when are you leaving tomorrow?” Bella tried to keep her voice even, the thought of him leaving sending the strangest feeling of loss running through her.

His eyes met hers
, bearing a similar look.  “Six... Dante is picking me up.”

Bella nodded as she dropped her eyes
, giving a nervous smile, her voice unsure as she looked at the clock on the wall. “So, in five hours then.”  Her smile dropped from her mouth, her voice becoming more serious, “Look Philippe... I know you said that you might consider coming back... But if you have changed your mind after... Well, I understand.”

Hearing his sigh, she raised her look seeing the small frown on his face.  “You think that I only said that to get you into bed Bella?”

She looked nervously back at him, “No, I am just saying that... I would understand.”

Putting his glass down
, he gave a small groan, leaning forward and taking her chin in his fingers.  “I wanted to come back and see you yesterday... But after tonight, there is nothing that would keep me from you”, a look of concern coming to his eyes, “Unless you...”

H
er head shook fervently, “No”, Bella unaware at the way her eyes sparkled with happiness.

Moving up behind her, Philippe looked down at the woman bent over the island, his hands moving to her hips, a sigh leaving her soft mouth.  As she
made to rise, his arms moved around her, one around her waist, the other her breasts.  Bella felt as her body once more reacted to being plastered against his.  “You are so beautiful Bella.”  His mouth kissed her cheek as she began to writhe against him, once more feeling the way the heat of want pooled deep within her belly.  Making to turn, his arms held her where she was, Bella’s breasts tightening instantly.  His hands slowly inched up the material of his t-shirt, a longing sigh leaving him as his fingers finally moved over her velvety skin.  Surely stroking along her spine, he felt satisfaction at the way she quivered with each touch. 

Bella wanted him with a need that was so foreign to her nicely ordered life, knowing that she needed him, needed him with everything in her, her hand moved around to stroke the growing bulge in his trousers, hearing the way he sucked in a large breath of air, muttering in Greek words full of frustration.  She felt her hands pulled back, hearing the sound of his zip being pulled down, the swish of
the material as the jeans hit the floor, his hands cupping her perfectly rounded bottom as he pushed the t-shirt up to her waist.  She felt wanton and completely at his mercy, every part of her buzzing with expectancy as Philippe gently pushed her down onto the cold granite surface.  Bella whimpered with the tremors which once more ran through her.  Gathering her hair in his hand, he twisted it around his palm as he leant over her, the weight of his body pinning her down, the feel of his twitching hardness against her bottom making her groan.

“See how you affect me
?  Can you doubt how much I want to see you again?”  His body moved back slightly, as he thrust once more into her so-willing body. Bella cried out with the suddenness of his penetration, pleasure flooding every part of her.  “Do you want to see me again?”, his voice smooth and soft as she nodded.  “Tell me.”

His hands gripped her hips as she half-cried
, half-groaned a long “Yes...Yes”, the sound of his triumphant growl adding to the sensations running through her as she heard the change in his breathing.

His rhythmic strokes became harder as Philippe cried her name as with a final thrust into her wonderful body, he spilled deeply within her, his whole being shaking with the violence of his orgasm.  Gripping the countertop his legs became so weak that he partially fell over her as he continued moving within her, his mouth kissing the nape of her neck just as Bella cried out, her hands gripping his arm as she too exploded beneath him.  The sound of her pants and cries fueled his own before she became still under him, her breathing ragged and uneven.
  Philippe wrapped his arms around her waist holding her to him, both unable to move for several seconds.

The feel of slight movement under him finally made
Philippe pull himself from her.  He raised her with him and turned her in his arms.  As she faltered, her legs still weak, he bent down and swept her into his arms, Bella wrapping hers around his neck, her head tight against his neck feeling the way his heart still beat so fast against the hand which rested against him. 

Taking her to the huge comfortable couch, he placed her onto the softness
, laying down beside this wonderful woman, holding her possessively to him, his naked body feeling just right against her.  “Well now you really are going to have to clean that surface”, she joked, his laugh lost in her hair as he kissed the top of her head.

“I see what you are doing Miss Smith
– you are trying to bring out the domestic god in me.”

Her lips curled in a smile as she gently kissed his neck.  “Ah
, you’re on to me.”

Looking up into his eyes, his expression
was soft as his look held hers, his fingers running through the silkiness of her hair, his eyes becoming more serious, “You fascinate me Bella.”

Her eyes widened in surprise at his choice of words “Oh.
.. Is that good or bad?”

His mouth curled in
to a large grin.  “Oh definitely good. Tell me about yourself.  I want to know everything about you.”

Sighing content
edly, she snuggled in harder against him, her soft voice captivating him as she began talking.  Bella told him of growing up in England, an only child with loving parents, her voice growing sad as she told of the sudden death of her mother when she was only 14.  Speaking of her father, he heard the love for the man in her tone, pulling her in even closer and once more kissing her head. 

In turn he talked
more about his own childhood, growing up on the island, losing his father when he was only ten and having to look out for his highly fragile mother.  She listened as he described her, and how he would have to deal with all their problems, she not able to handle stress in any way.  Despite this, there was real love in his tone as he talked of her.  Bella dropped a small kiss on his hand as he told of how she had died suddenly when he was only sixteen.  From that age he was forced to fend for himself, Bella’s soft sympathetic noises resulting in his kissing her again.

Hearing of his initial start in business, she realised just how close he and Dante were, the two supporting and helping the other through the years, Bella smiling at their almost brotherly love for each other, knowing that this was how she Kate and Samantha were.  She in turn told him of her dreams of one day becoming a wedding planner, chuckling as she looked at him with eyes full of fun
, “Not that I am in a hurry myself”, seeing the way he returned her look.

“I see...
Don’t see me as marriage material?”, laughing softly she blushed, ignoring the comment, telling him of the scholarship she hoped to win when she returned to the UK, from a prestigious wedding planner in Milan. 

Looking back at her, Philippe was torn.  He wanted her to succeed but there was a burning need within him to see her again.  Bending down, the two kissed, the fires instantly rekindled, his mouth moving down to the long column of her throat as his hands again explored the softness of her body.  The soft sensual strokes of his thumb against the nub of her breasts were driving Bella crazy, the feel of his body stiffening against her sending an all-too-familiar hunger once more rushing through her.  Gasping as his head dropped to bite the
swollen nipple through the t-shirt, her eyes flew open. 

The clock on the wall filled her sight, Bella giving a groan as she pushed him slightly from her.  “Philippe...”, her voice tortured, “
It’s four.”

His disbelieving voice made her smile as he sat up looking at the time before turning to her to give a groan of frustration.  “How can it be? It seems like we have only been together for ten minutes
.”

Bella nodded in agreement.  “Like you said
, time flies when you are having fun.”  She could see the struggle he was having as she sat up beside him, rising and laughing.  “I have a feeling that you are not going to get any sleep tonight”, she chuckling, his arms moving around her legs as his head leant against her hips, Bella stroking his hair with a content sigh.  “OK lover boy… Time to return to reality”, giving a small laugh as he shook his head.

“Don’t want to.
  I like it here.”  She bent down to kiss his head as Philippe gave a long sigh, releasing her. Moving back up the stairs, she retrieved her clothes, pulling his t-shirt over everything as he moved back into the room having retrieved his jeans.  Raising his eyebrow he smiled, “I might need that.” 

Bella shook her head with a grin, “No
, I’m keeping this”, lifting the material as she inhaled the scent, “It smells of you.” 

Philippe gave her a surprised but approving look as he pulled out another t-shirt.  “Well you may keep it until I come back to claim it
.” Bella gave a small humph sound, her eyes dancing, knowing that he would never get it back.  As the couple once more entered his car, the darkness had already started to vanish as the smallest glimpse of daylight greyed the morning sky.

“Maybe you can actually show me around your house next time
.”

Philippe threw her an apologetic look, “I would enjoy that very much
.” Moving the car once more down to the square, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder as the two made their way back to her villa.  Reaching the corner, he again took her into his arms, leaning against the wall, drawing her in between his opened legs and kissing her with a bone-melting passion that left her swaying against him, her eyes struggling to open as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I will miss you”, she whispered against him as he held her even tighter to him.

“Tonight we will eat together and I will show you the rest of the house. I will try to be a gentleman and not drag you straight to bed.”

Chuckling, she felt exhaustion fill her.  “Mmmm I think if we end up in bed together tonight
, it will be to sleep”, his rumble of laughter against her pleasurable, before she pulled herself from him.

“OK...
I will see you later.”  Philippe once more enjoyed the smile full of happiness which covered her lovely features.  He watched her until she slipped into the house, holding down the laugh as she wriggled her fingers in farewell as she took her time to move inside, neither wanting to be apart.

Finally once more inside the house, she crept up the stairs, scrunching up the sheet of paper on the bed, her mind full of the man she had just left.  Removing his t-shirt, she hid it inside her drawer, once more inhaling the smell of him.  As she crept into the small bed
, she was asleep instantly, her dreams filled with the handsome Greek.

Philippe floated back to his car, whistling happily to himself as he waved to some of the early risers he met, all throwing him good mornings as he reached the square which was already starting to bustle with activity.  He just had enough time to return home and shower before Dante rang the bell, his friend entering the house and moving to the kitchen as Philippe made coffee for them both.

Looking carefully at his friend, Dante gave a small frown.  “You OK?
You look tired.”

Philippe struggled to keep the big grin from his face as he turned to pull cups out.  “Yeah...
Couldn’t really sleep”, hoping his voice sounded nonchalant.

The laughter behind him made Philippe turn around in surprise.  “Do you really think I don’t know that look
?  You saw Bella last night didn’t you?” The dreamy look which filled his friend’s eyes answer enough as Dante shook his head.  “So does this mean you don’t need to return tonight?”

Philippe frown
ed.  “Why would you think that?”

Dante gave a half-snort, “You slept with her...
Normally that is the end of a relationship for you.”

Philippe looked down at the black coffee he held in his hand, his voice soft, “Bella is different”
, his tone thoughtful as Dante grinned, giving him a punch on the arm as he laughed loudly.

“You poor schmuck...
You have been hit by the love bug.”

Philippe gave him a lopsided grin. “Well
, never said that exactly.  But she is pretty cool.”  His eyes became mocking, “And look who is talking.  If I remember rightly you should have been joining me going to New York tomorrow.  Could it be a certain Sam has changed your mind?”

Dante look
ed back sheepishly, both men laughing as they clinked cups, Dante making a toast.  “To bewitching English girls – may we avoid falling under their spell.”

Philippe gave an approving smile before his brow furrowed.
“Bella told me that Sam had won the trip...  Who would have this island as a prize for a competition?”

Dante shrugged, Philippe surprised to see an uncomfortable expression cross his features, his friend clearing his throat softly before giving a nervous half-laugh.  “Must be those publicity interviews we have been doing.
  Someone must have been listening.”

Philippe, about to ask more
, heard the sound of a received text, his mind instantly forgetting the conversation with Dante as he pulled the device out.  Expecting to see a message from Bella he was surprised at how even the thought of this sent a happy jolt through him.  Seeing who the text was from, he felt the surge of disappointment before giving a more somber smile; his look flicked to Dante who still seemed ill at ease. “Kai found who has been leaking secrets to the competition.” 

Dante’s interest was piqued as he
stood taller, “In a week!  That man is unstoppable.  Would not like to be on the wrong side of him.”

Philippe nodded in agreement, looking once more at his phone.  It had only been an hour.  One hour since he last saw Bella
, so why did it feel so much longer?

Struggling to open her eyes Bella groaned.  Sam and Kate stood over her, Kate holding a cup of tea in her hands as she looked down at her friend.  “Wakey
, wakey sleepy head... It is nearly ten.  Sam and I were going to let you wake yourself... But oh my God Bella, we were starting to think you were hibernating.”  Giving a small scowl, Bella tried to grab the sheet and pull it back over herself, still feeling tired.

“Oh no you don’t!”
Sam pulled the sheet from her, sitting on the side of the bed and tickling Bella until she laughed. 

“OK
, OK... I’m up.” 

The other girls moved out of the room with the ominous words
, “Five minutes or it is the wet sponge for you”, Bella making a mock horrified face. 

Wide awake, she sat up, her body slightly stiff, the memory of why making her smile as she reached into the drawer
, pulling out his t-shirt and allowing her face to sink into the softness, her eyes closing with the pleasure of his scent which still clung to it.

Lifting her phone, it flashed
, indicating a text, Bella feeling the rush of excitement seeing Philippe’s name.  Opening the text she smiled reading the short note, “Tired. Happy. Missing you.”

Quickly typing a response, her features glowed, “Rested.
  Ecstatically happy.  Missing you too.  Last night was wonderful.”

After showering, she joined the others, glad that the focus seemed to be on Sam and her upcoming date that night with Dante.  She was not sure why she had not shared what happened
the previous night, nor that Philippe would be joining Dante, not wanting to take away from her friend's happiness.

The girls spent the day sunbathing
, Bella glad to just chill for the day after the previous one and her sleepless night, the memory still bringing dreamy smiles to her lips, glad that neither of the others commented, both still believing that it was a result of the boat trip they had all enjoyed.

Throughout the day she would receive short texts from Philippe, quickly firing responses back, each making her grin.  As they moved from the beach to decide on what Sam would wear that night, the other two girls offering her every outfit they had brought with them, the texts stopped.  Bella did not have time to worry about his silence, telling herself that he was travelling.  As she moved back to her room for yet another summer dress she smiled, once more hearing the beep of a received text.

Quickly pulling the phone from her pocket she opened the message smiling happily, the smile dropping from her lips as she read the words.  “Bella I am so sorry.  Something extremely unexpected and serious has come up.  I have to go to New York tonight.  This is making me sick to let you down.”

Sitting on the edge of her bed, she stared at the message, feeling a small tear rise to her eyes.  Was he trying to let her down gently?  Had he only been interested in getting her into bed after all?  Shaking her head with determination she wiped the tear away
, quickly responding, “I hope everything is OK.  Do what you have to do.  You know where I am if you need to talk.  Kisses – Bella.”

Sending it, she retrieved her dress, receiving yet another message “Thank you
Cara
, you have no idea how I needed to hear that.  Kisses back – Philippe.”  Bella smiled, sensing the relief from him and, pulling a happier look to her face, she joined the others.

By the time Dante arrived to pick up Samantha, the other two were glad to see her gone
. Sam had spent much of the late afternoon worrying about what to wear and how to set her hair. Kate and Bella patiently and calmly assisted her, the two grinning at the way Dante stared at their friend, his eyes not even registering the other women as they wished them both a good night.

Finally alone, the two decided to once more have dinner at the restaurant where they first met Dante, the
manager delighted to see them, especially Kate, who had chatted animatedly with him on their first visit, Bella shaking her head at her friend’s flirting.

“You are hopeless”, she laughed
.

Kate shrugg
ed as she chuckled back, “You will thank me when our dinner arrives, and besides, he is nice.”  As the meal was delivered, she had to admit that it was delicious, the manager adding a rose to Kate’s plate.

Looking over at Bella, Kate innocently asked how she was, Bella giving a small frown, not understanding the question as Kate chuckled gently.  “I know where you were last night Bella
.”

S
he dropped her fork in surprise.  “W... What do you mean?”, she murmured nervously.

With another chuckle
, Kate gave her a knowing smile, “I know that you were with Philippe.”

Looking back, Bella licked her lips nervously, “You didn’t say anything earlier.
  How do you know that?”

Kate’s lips twitched gently.  “Well
, I heard a noise last night and came into your room to check that you were OK, and saw your note. I said nothing, because you didn’t and I didn’t want to shock our little Samantha.”

Bella gave a laugh, her eyes shining brightly.  “Oh Kate...
It was wonderful.  He took me to see the moon.  Then, well…”, her cheeks burned as Kate reached over to squeeze her arm.

“I’m happy for you Bella, the way the two of you looked at each other...
It was pretty intense.”

Her friend smiled, Bella’s look dreamy as she nodded. “It was amazing...
I never knew it could be like that.”

Kate no longer laughed as she watched Bella
, a wary look creeping into her eyes.  “Be careful Bella... He may not be looking for anything long-term.”

Bella flicked a nervous
glance at her, nodding her head, “I know, and I don’t expect anything.  I told him that.”

The two ate quietly for a little before Kate gave her an impish smile.  “Shame he couldn’t come back tonight
, although that would have left me all alone. Changed days.”  She frowned as she saw the small shadow cross Bella’s face.  “What... What did I say?”

Bella sighed, “He was supposed to come back, but something came up and he had to return to New York
.”

Kate took in the hurt on her friend’s face.  “I’m sure that it was unavoidable
, and I bet he will be back.”

Bella gave her a small half-smile, “Yeah...
I’m sure he will.”

For the next four days
, Bella heard nothing more from Philippe, giving up texting him herself after sending several messages to him on the first day.  She could hardly believe that he would treat her that way, bitterness tearing at her as with each passing day she watched how happy Sam had been.  When Dante had left the night after his date with Sam he had he sent her a phone so that they could stay in touch, Bella watching as the two communicated constantly through the days and nights.  Kate watched over her, constantly by her side, concern etched on her lovely face as Bella sometimes looked so fragile.  Bella was glad that she was there for her, Kate listening as she told her how little she cared, not commenting on the pain that flashed through her eyes each time she would say it.

With Dante due back the next day, the three girls gave in to Kate’s pleading to return to Philippe’s club, tired of spending their evenings in the tavern
a.  Kate quickly found herself dancing with a handsome German tourist, the man charming as he swept her off her feet, Bella giving her an ‘Enjoy yourself’ look, seeing as Kate watched over her warily.

She and Sam enjoyed dancing with a variety of men, glad not to once more encounter the two Greeks
who Dante had saved them from on their first trip there, Bella finding herself almost enjoying the night.  As Sam gave a cry of delight she looked up at her, seeing the joy in her friend’s face as she grabbed her arm, her stomach flipping hearing her words, “Bella, Dante and Philippe are here.”

Her heart beat
erratically in her chest, panic filling her, her brows knitted together in confusion.  Looking over, she swallowed the groan of need that rose to her throat, dropping her eyes, not sure what to do.  She had not expected him to return, his silence over the past days telling her all she needed to know about his true feelings.  As Sam ran to meet Dante she moved to sit at the table the girls had managed to commandeer, sipping her drink, trying not to show the way her body shook.

“Hello Bella
.”  Philippe’s soft voice washed over her as she fought to keep her expression neutral, raising her head to give him a small smile.

“Hello Philippe
.”  He frowned seeing the coldness in her look.

Moving to sit beside her he made to take her hand, she quickly pulling it from the table out of his reach.
  “I’m sorry I haven’t been in contact.”

Bella fought the desire to yell at him, demand to know why he thought it was OK to play with her emotions, biting back the words that rushed to her lips.  “Don’t worry about it.  Like I said before we are adults”, her
tone flat and emotionless. 

Scowling, he wanted to pull her around just as Sam and Dante arrived at the table, stopping him.  As the other two sat down beside them
, Philippe pulled off his suit jacket, Bella trying not to stare at how wonderful he looked in the business suit.  “Care to dance?”, he asked, his hand extended to her.

To his surprise she shook her head, giving him a polite dismissive smile before rising and smiling warmly at Dante.  “It is nice to see you again Dante”,
real warmth in her voice, Philippe frowning at her obvious snub of him before her look turned once more to him.  “Thank you Philippe but I promised somebody else a dance”, she finally replied softly, moving away from the others.  Philippe stared after her in complete shock, her rudeness cutting him deeper than he would have thought possible, feeling the jealousy fill him as the young man she stood beside placed an arm on her back as he led her to the dance floor, Philippe dropping his eyes as the urge to drag her from the other man swamped him.