by Kit Tunstall
Nikos’s expression tightened. “I saw what was so attractive about the garden, Leah.”
She blinked. “I don’t understand…” Leah trailed off as she realized what he meant. “Angelo?”
“Is he your lover?” Nikos delivered the question in a distant tone, but his body radiated tension.
“Of course not.” Leah walked across the room, heading toward the dressing room. “He’s just a boy.”
Nikos followed her. “He isn’t much younger than you. You must find him attractive.”
She turned to face him. “Yes, he’s handsome. He has the body of a Greek god. Is that what you want to hear?”
He flinched. “No.”
“Then stop this. I haven’t slept with him, and I have no plans to do so.” Her hand trembled as she reached for a simple sundress. “He’s a nice boy, but no matter how attractive, I don’t want him.”
“Why not?” rasped Nikos.
Unable to look at him, she kept her gaze centered on the line of clothes hanging before her. “He isn’t you,” she whispered.
His ragged exhalation was the only sound for a long moment. The extended silence unnerved her. Leah busied herself with removing the dress from the hanger and replacing the hanger with exaggerated precision. When he cupped her arms in his hands, she sagged against him, knowing she had been waiting for him to touch her.
As he turned her around to face him, she dropped the dress and wrapped her arms around his neck. Despite the complications, and how it was going to break her heart, she wanted to be with him. Long after their marriage had ended, she would have this memory.
“Leah mou.” Nikos examined her intently. “You are sure you want this? I fear I can’t stop if you change your mind, so be certain.”
She licked her dry lips. “I’m sure.” Without hesitation, Leah took the hand he extended and walked with him back to the bedroom. She dropped her towel near the bed and watched with silent appreciation as he removed his remaining clothes. Here was the body of a true Greek god. Every smooth plane and rounded angle represented perfection. His hot skin burned under her fingers, but it was a pleasant fire.
Nikos lifted her onto the bed, lying down atop her. As he caressed and kissed her to a fever pitch, she touched him, drinking her fill of him. Leah ached to be one with him, and when he finally positioned himself between her thighs, poised to enter her, she clutched his buttocks, lifting herself to meet him.
Leah winced at the sharp pain accompanying their union. Nikos froze, looking down at her with an expression of mingled surprise and wonder. “You are a virgin?”
“Was,” she managed to say while lifting her hips, taking him completely inside. After a brief pause, Nikos resumed thrusting, and she strove to match his rhythm. They found release together, and her body convulsed under him.
What could have been minutes or hours later, Nikos rolled to her side, wrapping her in his arms. To her consternation, tears streamed from her eyes. Nikos sat up abruptly. “Are you hurt? Did I hurt you? I’m so sorry, Leah.”
She shook her head. “It’s not that,” she said in a wet voice. A cough cleared her throat, and she sounded more like herself when she said, “It was wonderful. Amazing. I guess I was just thinking about how this is just a brief interlude. When our marriage ends…” She shrugged a shoulder. “I guess I’m just overwhelmed.” That wasn’t the truth, but Leah wasn’t about to compound her mistake by admitting she was in love with him and had already started mourning losing him, even before they parted.
He laid his head on her upper arm. “It doesn’t have to.”
Leah craned her neck to see his face. “What doesn’t?”
“Our marriage doesn’t have to end.” He trailed a finger across her stomach, making her tremble. Nikos changed positions to straddle her. “Let’s forget the agreement we had and make a new one.”
Eyes wide, she stared up at him. “We agreed to three years.”
Nikos shrugged. “Is there some reason why we shouldn’t at least try to have a real marriage?”
Leah floundered, not even certain how she felt. It was tempting to agree, but she would fall even deeper in love with Nikos. If he decided it wasn’t what he wanted, could she weather the emotional devastation? “Why do you want to change things, Nikos?”
“We’re good together. We like and respect each other.” He thrust against her suggestively. “I think we’re sexually compatible.”
She
frowned. “What about more? Don’t you want to marry someone you love?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. We have the foundation laid for a strong marriage. Maybe we’ll even love each other in time.”
She tried to reject the thrill of hope his words imparted. It had been an afternoon of recklessness, and she decided one more act wouldn’t make a difference. “Perhaps. I’m willing to renegotiate our deal. Do you want to add six months?”
“I do not think we need to impose a deadline, agapi mou.” Let’s just see how things progress.” Nikos slid slowly down her body, placing kisses as he went—across her neck, breasts and stomach, progressing lower. When he reached his destination, Leah became incapable of any further discussion or thought.
The next several weeks passed in a happy haze for Leah. She and Nikos spent most of the days and all of the nights together. Not only were they learning about each other’s physical needs, they were connecting on a deeper level. She was afraid of how much she had started to love her husband. If he changed his mind, she didn’t know how she would survive walking away.
That fear still couldn’t keep her from loving him. Leah watched him with Arianna, patiently listening to her instructions on where to move the furniture to clear the room for her birthday party that night. It was a task any of the servants could have performed, but Nikos had volunteered.
She had dreaded this day coming for a long time. With Arianna turning eighteen, she was no longer needed. Leah hadn’t been sure what she would do with herself, beyond finishing her botany degree. Now, she dared to tentatively envision a future with Nikos.
He looked up from sliding a wingchair out of the way and caught her staring at him. Nikos winked before resuming his task.
Which brought her back to her own task. Leah focused her attention on arranging flowers in the vases around the room. She was nearly finished when Nikos came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her body to draw her against him. He was hard and ready for her, as he always seemed to be, but there was no time to indulge their physical needs at the moment.
Leah giggled when he nuzzled her neck. “Stop it. I have to finish this.”
“It looks fine to me,” he said, cupping her breast. “Perfect.”
“Arianna…”
“Is busy,” he said against her skin. “She’s with Irina, going over the menu. Again.” He chuckled.
“You don’t turn eighteen every day.” Leah allowed him to turn her around, so she was facing him. She dropped the bunch of hyacinths she’d been holding to put her arms on his shoulders. “What were you like then? I didn’t really know you.” She had been ten and had only just started noticing boys. Even then, she’d found Nikos attractive, but he’d seemed much too old.
“I don’t even remember being eighteen.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I remember never being able to live up to my father’s expectations.” A sad smile drifted across his lips. “He told me multiple times he was thankful for Dmitri, because I would never be fit to run the Andrakis Corporation.”
Leah stroked his neck. “That must have been difficult.”
Nikos shrugged. “It is the way of many fathers.” His lips firmed. “It will not be my way though.”
She touched her tongue to her dry lips. “You want children?”
He quirked a brow. “Of course.”
She swallowed, searching for courage. “With me?”
Nikos frowned at the question. “Of course, agapi mou, but not until I have had you to myself for a long time yet.”
She tilted her neck so he could nibble the flesh, feeling content. Nikos wanted her to have his children. That must be a good sign that they had a strong future ahead of them. As he lifted her into his arms, she wrapped her legs around his waist, silently concurring with the idea to wait a while to have a child. She could spend years getting her fill of his body before she was ever ready to share her attention.
He spirited her to their bedroom, closing the door with his foot. Leah gasped when he pushed up her skirt, bracing her against the wall.
“I love when you wear dresses.” He stroked her sensitive flesh. “Along with those silky little panties.” Nikos pushed them aside to touch her bare flesh. She was wet and eager for him.
“Please, Nikos.” She dug her hands into his shoulders as he shifted positions to take a foil packet from the nightstand. When he had it open, she lent him a free hand with slipping it on. “Now.”
Nikos plunged deep inside her, pushing her against the wall with each thrust. It was unbearably erotic, to be trapped between the unyielding wall and his almost equally unyielding body. Leah arched against him, losing herself in the rhythm he set. She climaxed several times before he finally let himself find satisfaction.
Sweaty and exhausted, but energized, Leah laid her head against his shoulder, kissing his chest gently. She couldn’t imagine being happier than she was right now. Her only regret was they had wasted three years living as distant roommates.
Leah assisted Arianna with her hair later that evening, pinning up the black strands into a sophisticated up-do. The younger girl had chosen an aquamarine gown that was slightly sexy, but wouldn’t have Nikos trying to send her back to her room to change. Leah pressed a kiss to Arianna’s cheek. “You look beautiful, and all grown up.” Tears filled her eyes, and she had to blink several times.
Arianna looked alarmed. “Are you all right, Leah?”
She nodded, wiping away the few tears that had escaped. It was a good thing she was running behind and hadn’t yet applied her own makeup, or she would have to redo it now. “I’m fine, and so proud of you. You are a lovely young woman.”
Arianna dragged her lower lip between her teeth, looking uncertain. “Do you think so? Truly?”
Leah nodded. “Of course I do.”
With a quick glance around, though they were the only two in Arianna’s room, the girl lowered her voice to say, “Loukas wants to… you know. I want to as well, but I’m scared.” She looked up, eyes full of fear. “Do you think I’m old enough?”
Leah blinked. Only five years separated them, but she suddenly felt a thousand years older. “I think that if you can’t even say make love, you’re probably not ready to.”
Arianna looked a little disappointed, but nodded. “What’s it like?” She quickly held up a hand. “I don’t want details about Theo Nikos and you, but is it… well, is it what everyone says it is?”
With a sigh, weighing her words, she said, “It can be. With someone you love, sex can be amazing. It’s so much more than physical.” She wanted to roll her eyes at herself, sounding so knowledgeable about something which she had just recently discovered. “When you find the right person, you’ll know. That doesn’t mean you have to be married to him, but you should at least love him.” She put an arm around Arianna’s waist. “Does that help?”
After a moment, Arianna nodded. “Thank you, Leah.”
“You’re welcome.” She dropped her arm with a glance at the clock on the wall. “Now I really have to hurry to finish dressing, or I’ll be wearing my dressing gown to your party.”
“At least you wouldn’t outshine me,” said Arianna, a teasing gleam in her eyes.
“Darling, no one can outshine you, especially tonight.”
Chapter Six
Despite her time constraints, Leah dressed with care. She wanted to be beautiful for Nikos, without any possibility of outshining Arianna. With that in mind, she chose an elegant black sheath with no straps. It hugged her curves before flaring slightly at the hips to swing around her legs at mid-thigh. High heels that killed her feet and the anniversary earrings completed the look. She had time for only a cursory makeup session, but added a little color to her cheeks, used mascara, and applied a pale pink lip gloss. Knowing Nikos liked her hair down, she left it flowing to her shoulders, noting in passing that it was time for a trim. She had lost all sense of time while on the island, immersed in her husband. Had it really been only three weeks since they had first made love?
Leah closed the drawer on her vanity and got to her feet, wincing at the heels. If they didn’t do such amazing things for her legs, she would kick them off and throw them away. Nikos waited in the bedroom, looking incredibly handsome in a lightweight black suit with a scarlet tie. He growled low in his throat as she walked toward him.
“Are you wearing those silky little panties I adore?”
With a sultry smile, Leah lifted her skirt to show him her lace underwear and garter belt securing black thigh-highs. When he reached out to touch her, she lightly smacked his hand. “There’s no time for that. Yet,” she added in a throaty purr.
With a groan, Nikos offered his arm instead. “You are killing me.”
She patted his hand on her arm. “You’ll survive.”
“Heartless temptress.”
Leah couldn’t hold back a laugh, unashamed she was silently enjoying his alleged misery. He had teased her often enough that it was satisfying to turn the tables. Not to mention his blatant desire boosted her ego and made her more aware of her own sensuality.
They arrived downstairs shortly before the influx of guests began arriving. When the doorbell rang a few minutes later, Nikos whispered in her ear. “We would have had time, agapi mou.”
Leah smiled wickedly. “Perhaps ten minutes would satisfy you, but I require more time.”
His lips twitched with suppressed amusement. “You will pay for that. You will have so much time, you’ll beg me to stop.”
She shook her head. “Never,” she said with complete seriousness.
A group of giggling teenagers interrupted them, and they ended up separated as they mingled, acting more as chaperone than party guests until some of the older guests began arriving.
Leah spent the next hour circulating among the guests, making sure everyone had what they needed. It was strange to see some of Arianna’s friends drinking as heavily as some older guests, but she knew alcohol wasn’t the taboo in Greece that it was in America. She observed Arianna surreptitiously and was pleased to see the girl nursing the same glass of champagne she’d taken at the beginning of the party. Her handsome Greek boyfriend, Loukas, seemed just as sensible.
Shortly after, a slight disruption drew Leah’s attention to another part of the room. Her stomach clenched when she recognized Maia Papadas at the center of a small group. A group that included her husband. Leah’s eyes narrowed at the way Maia leaned toward Nikos, tossing her hair back as she laughed at something he’d said. Her hand settled on his forearm, but he made no move to brush it off.
Resolutely, Leah turned away from the sight, determined to ignore Maia’s behavior. She had to trust Nikos if they were going to have a real marriage. He didn’t seem to be in love with Maia any longer, so she had nothing to fear. She almost convinced herself of that as she greeted more guests and ensured the catering staff kept the food in steady supply. It was a party much like any other, despite Maia’s unwelcome presence.
When the caterer indicated the birthday cake was ready, Leah nodded. She craned her head, finding Arianna easily. Leah approached the other girl, who was deep in conversation with Loukas, clearing her throat as she neared to avoid overhearing anything personal. “The cake is ready.”
Arianna smiled. “So am I.” She looked around. “Where is Theo Nikos?”
“I’ll find him,” Leah said. She turned from Arianna to scan the room, not spotting Nikos. Her eyes seemed to have an unerring ability to zero in on him wherever he was, but she didn’t see him. With a small sigh of impatien
ce, Leah went in search of Nikos.
She searched his study and their bedroom, along with the rooms near the party. As she passed near a small salon, the sound of Maia’s voice made her pause. Leah turned to the door, peeking inside cautiously. The salon led to one of the gardens, and Maia was out on the patio, with the French doors still open. Standing near her was Nikos.
Leah gasped softly when Maia pressed herself closer to Nikos, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Erastís, you must forgive me. I was young and foolish. It scared me how much I loved you, so I ran away.”
“Right into Kyrios Milanou’s arms,” said Nikos sardonically.
Maia clutched his lapels, looking up at him with a pleading expression. It was clearly contrived, but Leah wondered if Nikos had realized that. “I married Giorgis to please my father. He wanted the union.” Her voice dropped an octave, forcing Leah to ease closer to hear. “You must know I had no love for him. When he held me in his arms, it was unpleasant to have that old man touching me.” She trailed a hand down Nikos’s chest, stopping dangerously close to his belt. “I only got through it by imagining it was your hands on me and you making love to me.”
“Perhaps you imagined it was my fortune when you spent large amounts of his vast wealth?” Nikos shook his head. “No, it couldn’t be, because you broke off our engagement when my father threatened to disown me if I didn’t follow his plans for my life.”
“That wasn’t the reason—”
“Save it,” said Nikos harshly, finally pushing her away. “I truly do not care any longer, Maia. I am not in love with you and haven’t been for a long time.”
“You could be again, with a little persuasion.” There was a hint of petulance in her expression, despite her seductive drawl.