The need to see that thick, rich hair unfettered flared through him. But a moment later, the reminder of his friend’s plight caused his jaw to clench. He nodded at the chair. She sat down and crossed her shapely legs.
‘I just spoke to the lawyers. They’re on their way to court. We’ll know in the next hour if we need to change course to Athens instead of Drakonisos.’
‘Have you heard from Demitri? Is your godson all right?’
Her enquiry, though it strayed far too much into personal territory, pleased him, nonetheless. But the tightness in his chest as he answered didn’t. ‘The mother is refusing to let Demitri see him. Same goes for the mother of his older son. She’s refusing to let him see his other son, too.’ No matter how clinically he recited the facts, a part of him bristled with rage.
Alexis nodded. ‘So we might be staging custody battles on two fronts instead of one?’
‘Potentially, yes. But securing the return of my godson is paramount. He cannot remain in that toxic environment.’
Her lashes lifted, her eyes searching his for the reason for his caustic tone. ‘When was the last time you saw him?’ she asked.
A twinge of guilt snagged his gut. ‘Why does it matter?’
‘I have a fair grasp on your daily schedule. For all intents and purposes, we’re joined at the hip. I don’t recall you mentioning Demitri’s son.’
A different sort of sensation attacked his lower abdomen, arrowing into his groin, the image of being attached to Alexis making his temperature rise. ‘I haven’t seen the boy in a...while,’ he confessed, ignoring the bite of shame.
‘So you didn’t know that their marriage was in trouble? That all the things listed as the reason for their divorce...’ She stared down at the tablet to refresh her memory, but Christos knew everything by heart.
‘The infidelity? Neglect of both her husband and her child? Verbal abuse and the as yet unproved physical abuse of her child? All the usual reasons two people who shouldn’t marry ignore reality and end up in these types of situations. I’m not the morality police, Alexis. My only task is to ensure the right people are saved from anguish in the fallout.’
Again, her lashes flew up, questions flitting across her expression. ‘I didn’t mean...of course I don’t think you’re the morality police...’
His teeth gritted, the knowledge that he’d revealed too much biting him hard. Alexis opened her mouth to speak but he waylaid her questions by sliding a sheet of paper across his desk. ‘Contact these clients, let them know we’ll be out of town for a while but that I’ll let them know if there are any developments.’
She nodded, her teeth trapping her lower lip as she glanced down at the page. The sight of the plump curves glistening with the peach gloss she favoured renewed the pounding in his groin.
Her gaze darted up, caught him watching her, and her breath hitched. She raised her tablet to her chest, holding it close like armour.
Christos suppressed a grim smile, even as he clenched his fist to stop himself from tracing his knuckles across her smooth cheek. He momentarily lost track of time, his senses absorbed by the pulse racing at her throat, the susurration of her breathing and the intensifying temptation of her perfume.
His gaze dropped once again to her lips. They parted as if by command and she slicked her lower lip with the tip of her pink tongue.
The mobile phone beeped. She jumped, sending the gadget a startled look before taking a hurried step back. ‘I... I’ll get this done.’
He didn’t answer as she rushed out. He wasn’t sure he had adequate words to describe what the hell was happening. No explanations for his sudden wish to throw caution to the wind, go against his better judgement and test the depths of the blazing awareness between himself and Alexis.
Despite the rumours circulated by gossipmongers, he’d never been interested in mixing business with pleasure. It was the reason he’d sent his previous assistants packing the moment they exhibited signs of unprofessional interest.
But Alexis was different. And not because he’d struck a deal with her twelve months ago and placed a ring on her finger. Although that knowledge seemed to beat a curiously persistent drum in his blood. The kind that reeked of possession.
Her revelation about Hope House had thrown him. Granted, the first time she’d mentioned it, he’d been too preoccupied with sealing the terms of their agreement to pay attention to why a children’s home meant that much to her. None of the women he’d dated in the past would’ve spared a thought for an orphanage past the need to look magnanimous at a fundraiser. But Alexis had reached back into her past with a helping hand. Whereas the only association he wanted with his childhood was the grim and relentless drive it gave him never to return to that helpless state.
As much as he wanted to deny it, that discovery about Alexis...affected him. Perhaps all this was because he hadn’t taken a woman to bed in over a year. Even before their agreement, for some confounding reason, the thrill of the chase always seemed to end somewhere around the second course of a Michelin-starred meal or in the third act of a West End play, seeing him return to his main Mayfair residence alone.
At first he’d thought nothing of it. His workload was crushing, just the way he liked it. But then it always had been. In hindsight he recognised that the niggling dissatisfaction about the state of his transient dating had started when he’d heard Delilah Armitage threatening Alexis on the phone. The distaste and censure on his assistant’s face had stayed with him long after he’d taken care of his ex. Perhaps he’d never thought he would care about being judged over the way he conducted his sex life.
But in that moment, he’d felt...less.
And that had grated.
He lunged to his feet now, unwilling to further explore the reason. Not on top of everything that had happened this week.
He had the time on Drakonisos to figure this dilemma out. And when his phone rang an hour later and he’d finished the brief conversation with his team, he registered that his stride was a little lighter, the anticipation in his belly swelling as he went in search of his assistant.
Perhaps she sensed the shift within him. Whatever. Her eyes widened as he approached her in the plane’s sumptuous lounge and dropped into the seat next to her. ‘I...is there news?’
‘Indeed, there is. The lawyers have secured an injunction hearing first thing on Monday morning. Until then, I have a discreet security team watching that the boy doesn’t come to harm.’
A warm smile curved her lips. His gut tightened and he felt himself growing hard. ‘I’m glad,’ she said. Then her smile wavered. ‘Does that mean...?’
Sunlight broke through the grey clouds just then, bathed her stunning face in light.
And for the first time in his life, Christos accepted that, as his week had gone thus far, maybe the control he’d taken for granted was about to be turned upside down.
Unable to help himself, he trailed a hand down her cheek. ‘Yes, Alexis. It means we’re on our way to Drakonisos.’
CHAPTER FIVE
ALEXIS KNEW THIS trip was different the moment they landed on Drakonisos and spotted the small convoy of vehicles through the window of the plane. Her heart leapt into her throat at the sight of the old man leaning against the first SUV.
With shocking white hair and steely grey eyes, Costas Drakakis stood tall and proud despite the walking stick propped next to his right hip. His olive skin gleamed vibrant under the Greek sun. From where she sat, Alexis could detect no signs of illness or weakness. Certainly nothing that would cause his grandson to commit to spending weeks on end on this island, as idyllic as it was. ‘I thought you said your grandfather was ill?’
It took a moment for Christos to respond, his eyes narrowing at the faintly accusatory note in her voice. ‘One of the first lessons my grandfather taught me as a boy was never to take anything or anyone at face value. He didn’t exe
mpt himself from that assessment and I suggest you don’t either.’
She bit her lip, her gaze swinging back to the unexpected welcome party as the plane finally stopped.
The moment the doors were unlocked and the steps lowered Christos rose, his hand extended to her. ‘Come, Alexis.’
‘If I said I wasn’t ready, would it make any difference?’
The corner of his mouth tilted, but there was very little mirth in his face. ‘The only reason he’d accept our tardiness is if we emerged looking like we’d just had wild sex. Is that the impression you wish to give?’
Heat stung her cheeks and she knew her face was furnace red. ‘Of course not.’
His eyes darkened and those sinful lips twisted. ‘Shame. I find myself in a mood to oblige.’
He was toying with her. Because that layer of tension that’d been evident in his demeanour when he’d spotted his grandfather was still there, perhaps even growing with every moment they delayed.
With very little choice but to remain on this wild roller coaster, Alexis placed her hand in his. And immediately tensed as his fingers closed firmly over hers, giving her no room to escape the electric sizzle that raced up her arm. Caught in a sensual storm, she was all but boneless when he tugged her upright, going willingly into his personal space when he nudged her closer. Then instead of walking her out as she’d expected, he simply stood there, staring down at her.
‘Perhaps I should kiss you, ensure that dreamy look remains in your eyes,’ he mused, his voice a rough rumble that said he was caught in whatever this maelstrom was too.
‘There’s no look...you’re imagining things.’ Her attempt to tug herself out of his hold backfired when he released her, only to slip his hands around her waist, imprisoning her against his lean, muscular body. The heat unravelling through her body intensified.
‘Am I, yineka mou?’
She gave a soft gasp, a reminder of what those two words meant sliding through her hazy brain.
My wife.
He had every right to call her that now they’d returned once more to the location of their agreement.
Alexis swallowed, wondering why the word affected her more now than it ever had before. Love, marriage or emotional entanglements of any kind weren’t on the cards for her. So why let herself imagine what it would be like if this were real? If it weren’t all make-believe?
Strong, demanding fingers slid into her hair, clenching the heavy mass ever so slightly. The barest hint of his power made her hyperaware of the animal ferocity of the man holding her. Of the renewed hunger she’d experienced that night on his sofa roaring to life inside her. The expertise with which he’d delivered pleasure. How much she wanted an authentic repeat performance.
He tugged her head back, exposing her neck as his gaze dropped to her mouth. Spikes of hunger lanced her and she licked her lips.
‘You want it too, don’t you?’ he asked, his voice a low, sexy rasp.
‘Christos...’
‘All you need to do is ask for it,’ he encouraged throatily.
Against her belly, she felt the pressure of his shaft, the sexuality bridled beneath his suit, and the tiniest moan escaped her. Yes, she wanted this. She was human after all. A woman with needs. Needs she’d denied for years.
But with Christos Drakakis? When every single clue pointed to this being a disaster?
‘Don’t overthink it, Alexis.’
The hand she’d braced on his chest unfurled. Searching. Exploring. The quickening tempo of his heartbeat against her fingers made her yearn for skin-to-skin contact. For the pleasure of hearing him just as shaken as she was by their chemistry.
Even if it was pure folly? No. Because Christos wasn’t Adrian. He wasn’t leading her on with clever and manipulative words. He wasn’t leading her on at all. If anything, he’d thrown the ball firmly in her court. And all she wanted, in this moment, was a kiss. Nothing more.
Liar.
His fingers tightened, drawing her attention back to him. To the fevered gaze fixed on her lips. To his lowering head, the brush of his breath on her skin. ‘I want to taste you again, glykia mou. I want to hear that little throaty sound you make when you’re turned on.’
Every atom in her body leapt in giddy excitement, pulling her up onto her tiptoes. Her hand had crept around his neck almost of its own accord and the luxuriant springiness of his hair teased her fingers.
Her gaze swept up, compelled by his. Met and held. Her lips parted, her yes one single breath away—
‘If you weren’t ready to disembark, perhaps you should’ve instructed your pilot to circle the airspace a little while longer.’
The heavily accented rasp of the voice that evoked an image of reckless years spent smoking expensive cigars and drinking ouzo made them spring apart. Or certainly made her attempt to. Christos’s steel-strong arm around her waist and the fingers spiked into her hair prevented her escape.
She turned, a flush creeping up her neck when she saw Costas Drakakis standing ten feet away, walking stick in hand and his eyes fixed firmly on them.
While Alexis burned with embarrassment for being caught in a melodramatic clinch, nothing in Christos’s face betrayed discomfort at being discovered in a compromising position with his executive assistant.
No, not his assistant.
His wife.
Here, now, in this moment, she wasn’t just his trusted employee. She was his wife. As the heavy weight of the priceless diamond and platinum rings on her finger signified.
A wave of icy realisation doused the flames of her arousal as Christos dropped his hand from her hair, his other sliding down her arm to capture her wrist after briefly lingering on the wedding ring.
‘Pappous. We were on our way out. You didn’t have to come up.’
The old man snorted. ‘It didn’t seem that way just now. It was that or burn to a crisp out there waiting for you two.’
Alexis cleared her throat and pasted a smile on her face, even as the cold thought continued to bloom inside her. ‘Costas, it’s lovely to see you again.’
Eyes so much like his grandson’s it was eerie flicked to her. ‘Is it? You could have fooled me by keeping me waiting.’
‘Behave, Pappous,’ Christos chided, his voice wrapped in an undeniable layer of warmth that made her curious about their relationship.
Unlike other families, they didn’t move to hug and exchange exuberant greetings, but a look arced between them for several seconds, as if they spoke their own silent language.
Seconds later, the moment was over. Behind Costas, a tall man dressed in discreet medical scrubs appeared, his eyes on the older man.
Sensing his presence, Costas snorted again. ‘As you can see, my guard dog is at the ready. Be kind and let’s get off this tin can, ne?’
‘Of course. After you,’ Christos invited.
They exited the plane with her hand clasped firmly in his. And while she breathed a sigh of relief when Costas boarded the front vehicle and she and Christos the second, with their luggage loaded onto the third, her nerves were still all over the place as they drove away.
For the first few minutes, she stared out of the window, basking in the stunning vista of Drakonisos under the dappled light of the afternoon sun. As Greek islands went, it was one of the largest privately owned ones. It was named for its dragon-like shape as well as the craggy cliffs that lined the north of the island. Its beautiful underbelly consisted of two jaw-dropping beaches, one on the doorstep of the sprawling villa, and the other in a secluded cove half a mile away. And despite having visited twice, she knew there was far more to explore on the island. But that was a delight for later.
Nerves still jangling and knowing she couldn’t keep the question firing in her brain to herself, she turned to Christos and murmured so the driver couldn’t hear, ‘Did you know he was boarding the plane?’
>
He shrugged with a carelessness that set her teeth on edge. ‘I suspected he might. My grandfather isn’t known for his patience.’
‘And you didn’t warn me?’
One eyebrow quirked up. ‘So you would do what? Maintain a healthy six feet of space between us? Wasn’t it better that he caught us like that? Your blushing certainly added the perfect touch.’
‘I’m glad all this amuses you.’
‘And I’m glad to see you’re aren’t blowing anything out of proportion. At all,’ he said dryly.
Irritation sparked through her, thankfully blanketing some of the arousal still dancing beneath her skin.
‘Are you hanging on to your annoyance in place of something else?’ he enquired, after another scrutiny of her face.
‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’
He gave a lopsided smile, then inclined his head. ‘Take that road if you must. But for the record, I wasn’t pleased that we were interrupted.’
‘Because it would’ve played further into your hands, of course.’
His smile disappeared. ‘What?’ he bit out.
‘It was all staged for his benefit, wasn’t it?’
A harsh gleam flickered in his eyes. ‘What a cynic you are.’
‘I don’t hear you denying it.’
‘Whether it was or not doesn’t matter. You’re not forgetting your role, are you?’ he asked quietly.
Alexis shot a glance at their driver before flicking her gaze his way. She couldn’t quite settle on his face because she was a little terrified she would give herself away. ‘Of course not.’
If anything, his features hardened, as if her flippant answer didn’t please him. ‘Then what’s the problem, exactly, glykia mou?’
That endearment burrowed inside, seeking a vulnerable place she couldn’t allow it to go. ‘I don’t like being blindsided.’
‘Life isn’t set out in perfect little boxes you can tick off at your leisure, Alexis. You need to be prepared for the odd curveball.’
She stiffened. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
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