by Sotia Lazu
“We’re here,” I say a little too cheerfully.
“Finally.” Her excitement sounds forced too. She looks at her bag, then at me. “Is it okay if I leave it here? I’ll take money with.” She seems horrified that she might have let me assume otherwise.
“You’re on company time, so I’m paying. And Hermes can stay with the car.”
“Hermes?” she asks.
“Just crack a window open for me.” My brother’s voice comes from the speakers.
“Isn’t he your head of HR?” Irine asks me, before yelling, “Hi, Hermes.”
“Hi, beautiful,” he says.
I open the door and motion for her to exit. “He’s basically a pain in my ass. Insisted on tagging along, to ensure everything went smoothly on your first day.”
She doesn’t seem convinced, and I can’t tell her my brother came with us to make sure I don’t scare off my only chance for ascension. His words. Though I suspect it has to do with one of the stupid bets he and Hades love so much.
“Then how can he stay with the car? Shouldn’t he be with us all day?”
Fuck.
“That sounds lovely.” The driver’s door opens and slams shut. Next thing I know, Hermes is helping Irine climb from the car, a shit-eating grin on his lips.
My blood boils at the sight of his hand on her bare skin. It’s her forearm, for Chaos’ sake. If I’m not careful, this woman will destroy me as easily as make me a full-fledged Olympian. I try not to smack away his hold or his smug grin as I follow her out.
Jogging here is easy at this time of the morning, with the parking lot that spreads around the harbor mostly unoccupied. Come ten, it’ll start filling up, but till then, we’ll be enjoying our second cup of coffee, by the sea.
We get that coffee a lot sooner than I planned, because the moment we hit the line of cafés leading to the far end of the harbor, Hermes fakes a sprained ankle. I know he fakes it, because since we hit eighteen, we don’t get sprained ankles. One of the perks of having near-indestructible human bodies.
Even when he miraculously recovers an hour later, my goof of a brother screws up the rest of the romantic stroll I had in mind, doing all he can to ruin any hint of a romantic atmosphere. When Irine stumbles, he squeezes between us, to help her find her footing. He plants his ass next to her at lunch and steers the conversation clear of personal subjects.
Outside Antica Gelateria di Roma, the Italian-owned ice cream place, I offer her a taste of my Belgian-chocolate cone. Hermes manages to drop the thing on my shoe.
His money must be on me not managing to make a move.
I’m gonna cost the fucker a fortune.
When he takes her hand and hooks her arm around his, to tug her toward the archaeological museum, I’ve had enough. I step in front of them, cup Irine’s face with both hands, and slant my mouth over hers.
I’ve kissed her before, but not truly. I’ve claimed her lips through the connection that springs between us when she’s aroused, but the real thing is infinitely sweeter. Her lips yield to mine, and she lets out this little moan that travels straight to my dick, as she parts them for my tongue. She tastes of coffee and strawberry ice cream and something earthy. Something so distinctly her, I’ll never be able to kiss another woman again without tasting this flavor on my lips.
This wasn’t the first kiss I’d planned for us. It was supposed to be after champagne and strawberries—the culmination of a perfectly calculated and executed seduction. And I wasn’t to initiate it. Women throw themselves at me. Beg for my attention. I take what I want, because it’s readily available. Irine isn’t like that. Even as her body melts into mine, I feel the tension in her. Her self-restraint. And I want to snap it.
I ache to feel the same abandon with which she came on that plane, when I should have forgotten all about plans and destinies, and fucked her till she couldn’t stand upright.
But then we wouldn’t be here. With her gently brushing her knuckles against mine. Letting me tangle our finger together as I break the kiss. Smiling shyly, as if she didn’t fantasize of choking on my cock just yesterday.
She doesn’t know I know about that.
Ice spills through my veins. Another secret—lie?—I need to reveal. Another wrong to right. I let go of her, to brush a chestnut-brown curl back from her face, then let my arm fall to my side. “Have you been to the church of Panaghia? It was originally built in the fifteenth century.” I point to the small church behind us.
She seems perplexed for a moment, then licks her lips. There’s no gloss left on them. Her ice cream and my kiss left them swollen and rosy. “No. I’d love to see it,” she says, “But I don’t think the priest will appreciate my outfit.”
“Oh, don’t worry. Sei will take care of that, right?” Without waiting for my response, Hermes spins on his heel and tugs her along. Over his shoulder, he throws me a what-the-fuck glare.
I give him the finger.
The church isn’t big enough to keep us busy for more than ten-fifteen minutes, and then we’re out in awkward silence.
Irine is the one who breaks it. “So what’s the deal with you two? Are you trying to... share me or something?”
My anger burns so hot, the air coming out of my nostrils sizzles my upper lip. “No.” And there’d better be no doubt about that.
She hugs herself. “Is this a contest, then? Because I don’t plan on sleeping with either of you.”
That would hurt more if I hadn’t seen the way she gravitated toward me.
“No contest.” Hermes raises his arms, palms out. “I think you’re cool, and I don’t wanna let this guy fuck things up and lose you.”
She arches an eyebrow. Purses her lips. Seems to mull her words over before saying, “As a hotel manager?”
He nods so fast, his head is a blur.
“Right.” Irine doesn’t seem convinced, as she starts back the way we came. She’s still got her arms around her body, keeping us both at a distance. I’ll have Hermes’ balls for this.
We get back to the car, but the day isn’t over yet. I can turn this around. And I’ll have her beneath me by sundown.
Chapter Fourteen – Irine
The guys are quiet on the drive back, and I lean my head against the glass and doze off. I’m exhausted, physically and mentally, from waking up so early and having to deal with the Olympios brothers. Plus, decaf can only keep me going for so long.
I wake up to a hand, caressing my hair. Something hard and smooth is pressed to my cheek. I blink my eyes open and sit up, disoriented.
Sei brushes his thumb across my cheek. “You drool in your sleep. It’s adorable.”
He’s beside me, not across from me. I was sleeping in his lap?
Focus.
“I don’t drool.” I rub my eyes. Great idea. Now I’ll have waterproof mascara flakes under my eyes. “Where are we?”
“Home.”
I look out the tinted window, to see the Kifisia Olympian Plaza. “Not my home.”
Sei lets himself out, and waits while I get my bag and jacket and join him. “Come upstairs. Wash your face. Let’s talk about today, and then you can be off.”
I knew it. He regretted kissing me, especially in front of his HR guy, and wants to clear the air. “Don’t worry about the kiss. I’ve already forgotten all about it. If your brother doesn’t raise a stink with Human Resources, we’re fine.”
He pries my stuff from my grip and tosses it back inside. Reaching past me, he slams the limo door shut, and then presses me between his body and the car. He likes pressing me up against things, and I must admit I’m getting hooked on the thrill of being trapped by his tall, broad body.
When he swoops in for a kiss, I can do nothing but give in. His tongue is wicked, and his lips are soft and demanding, and I don’t even protest when he wedges his hand beneath my crop top to squeeze my breast.
For the second time today, he leaves me panting and squirming to rub my aching center against his thigh. “I don’t give a fuck
about HR,” he says. “Everyone who works in this hotel has seen us kiss. Maybe this time you won’t forget, either. Now come upstairs. I have a fucking big shower cabin I wanna show you.”
He clasps my arm none too gently and guides me up the stairs and to the elevator.
I’m too dazed to protest. Lie—I don’t want to protest. I want him to have his way with me. But rational thought kicks in. “We can’t do this. I work for you.”
He smirks and is all over me again as soon as we’re on the move, one hand kneading my ass, the other caressing my throat as he nibbles a path up my neck to my earlobe. “Not till Thursday.”
Huh? Why does his touch muddle my thoughts? It’s not his touch; it’s my hunger for him that makes everything else seem inconsequential.
I zero in on his words and not his teeth that graze my skin. “Not till Thursday what?”
He picks me up with an arm folded around my waist, and hooks my right leg over his hip, so he can press his cock—holy shit, that thing is huge—to my mound. “That’s when HR will finalize your hire. You’re not my employee till then.”
Cold water douses the flames of desire roiling in my belly, and I climb down his body. Pushing him away takes all I have, but he relents and takes a step back, as the elevator car comes to a stop. He lied about today being a work thing. What else did he lie about?
“You knew I was coming to interview, when you... When you...” Fingered me. Made me come.
“Yes.” He steps into his living room and sits on the couch. Motions for me to come closer, and God help me, I do.
“What kind of sick game is this?” My voice trembles with anger and hurt, but I’ll focus on the anger. I can’t let him see I was starting to fall for his charm.
He pinches the bridge of his nose, and then pins me with his gaze. His eyes don’t seem silver; they are silver. “It wasn’t sick. It was enticing, and you loved every minute of it. I wasn’t planning to seduce you when I saw you at the airport.”
“You’re lying again.” I don’t know how, but I’m certain. I can sniff it in the air between us. That, and sex.
Sei huffs and folds his arms behind his head, his gaze challenging. “Okay, I was. But not right then.”
This doesn’t even make any sense.
“Why give me the interview anyway? Hiring someone you planned to fuck, and then firing her once you got your rocks off, would only lead to a sexual harassment lawsuit.” Will. I should have said, will lead to a sexual harassment lawsuit.
Fast as lightning, he uncoils, snatches my hand, and pulls me on top of him, so I straddle his lap. “This is my company, baby. I make the rules, and I don’t plan on letting you go anytime soon,” he purrs. As he rocks his hips, he has to feel how wet I am. “You’d be an asset to our London hotel. Why should our attraction stop me from hiring you?”
A shiver runs down my spine.
Sei chuckles. “The water is hot.”
I plant my palms on his shoulders, to hold myself upright. “What if I don’t sleep with you? I’m no longer an asset then?”
Sei’s large palm spans my thigh, his thumb tracing the seam of my leggings, and I barely refrain from dry humping him. “I’m not gonna force or con you into anything,” he says. “You can get up and walk away now, and pretend you don’t burn for me.” He lets go, but instead of free, I feel bereft.
His smirk says he knows. “We can have this song and dance for the months—the years—to come, but you’ll eventually stop denying yourself the pleasure you know I can offer.”
Conceited asshole.
He’s right, though. Resisting today would only mean delaying the inevitable. The way my body reacts to his proximity, I’ll yield to his advances sooner or later.
I get up on unsteady legs and watch his cocky expression falter, before I say, “You mentioned a shower.” I’m done thinking. I need to feel him inside me. One time. To get him out of my system. If his only reason for hiring me is that he wants to fuck me, it’s better that I know now, than when I’ve invested in this position.
I hold out my hand, needing the reassurance of his touch. Instead of taking it, like he did that brief moment in Nafplio, he stands and hefts me over his shoulder. His laughter vibrates though my belly when I let out an indignant yelp of surprise and smack his back.
“Hold on tight, baby. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
I squirm, and he slaps my ass. Fuck, that feels good. Pain, pleasure, and a hint of shame tangle together in my belly. I’m a strong, confident woman, and spanking is debasing. It’s demeaning. It’s—
Crack. His large palm lands on my asscheek again. “I feel you tensing up. Don’t think yourself out of this,” he barks.
I squirm, wet sleekness pooling between my thighs. Spanking is hot, damn it. As is his voice when he goes all growly.
As is every single thing about him.
He strides into his bedroom and past his bed, and then a door bangs against the wall and we’re in the largest bathroom I’ve ever seen. When the lights come on, I see our reflection in the gleaming white marble of the flour. The blood rushing to my head must have done a number on me, because there is an odd glow around us, and it’s not coming from the hidden ceiling lighting.
Sei clasps my hips and pulls me down. I slide along the front of his body, his hard muscles—every hard muscle—pressing into me. His palms skate up to my bare waist. He inches his fingers under my top and tugs it off me so smoothly, not a hair comes loose off my bun. He’s a magician, and I want his wand.
Ew. Corny.
Sei rolls off my hair band and runs his fingers through my hair, letting the curls cascade down to my shoulders. He takes a step back, and I cover my breasts with my hands, very aware of how hard my nipples are. His gaze is locked on my eyes though, not my breasts. “Don’t hide yourself from me. Ever,” he says.
I drop my arms to my sides and watch him lick his lips. When he remains silent and makes no move to lose his clothes, I ask, “Aren’t you joining me?”
His nostrils flare, and his eyes are pure silver as he shakes his head slowly from side to side. “Take off your pants.” The intensity of his gaze is intimidating.
“That’s not fair. Why aren’t you taking anything off?” My laugh is strained.
“If I do, I’ll either fuck you upright in the shower, or right here, on the floor, before you take another step. I’m up for either option, but not on our first real time together. Now you will undress for me, shower, and then wait for me in my very comfortable bed, where I will take my time making you mine.”
And can I get any wetter? Not even by stepping under the shower. This man pushes buttons I didn’t know I had. “Okay, then,” I mumble. I barely recognize this lust-crazed creature a few gruffly spoken words reduce me to, but there’s something freeing about following directions. Especially ones that will result to a mind-blowing orgasm, judging by how well Sei uses his hands.
Not bothering to undo my laces, I kick off my shoes and push down my waistband. I’m not nearly as graceful as he was with my top, but with a little twisting and bending, I manage to lose my leggings, underwear, and socks in one long and awkward swoop.
I look at Sei, and he’s still watching me. “Your eyes... They’re silver,” I say.
He blinks, and they’re almost black, his pupils blown. “You’re beautiful.”
My cheeks burn, and in the large mirror behind him, I glimpse the flush spreading down to my chest. Which of course makes me blush more strongly.
“So beautiful.” He tilts his head this way and that. Flares his nostrils. Studies me like I’m an odd life form.
I feel both like dinner and like the luckiest woman in the world, when he looks at me like this.
The gurgling sound of water fills the room, and Sei snaps his attention to my left. “The shower.” He sounds surprised.
I follow his gaze to the two-by-two meter shower cabin. The glass doors are open, and water rains down from two of the four oversize shower heads. Sei makes his w
ay there first and holds his hand under the jet. “The temperature is perfect.” A ghost of a frown ripples his forehead when he faces me, but it’s gone in a heartbeat, and a fierce smile stretches his lips. “Remind me to fuck you here later.”
His conversational tone sends desire sparking along my skin. The hot water doesn’t cool down the fire burning in my core when I step under the jet.
I pour a generous dollop of shampoo in my cupped hand and lather the foam into my hair. It smells fresh, like the night air on the beach. It’s a masculine scent. His scent. And a petty little side of me is happy he has no flowery shampoo—it must mean he doesn’t usually bring women here to shower.
“I don’t. You’re the first.”
Did he speak, or did I imagine it? He couldn’t possibly know what I’m thinking.
I blink eyelids heavy with water and meet his gaze. There’s no doubt his eyes are silver. In this moment, I know he’s more than a man, but if I ask, whatever this is will end, and I don’t want it to.
“Turn around,” he says. But I’m looking straight at him, and his lips don’t move. He’s speaking in my head.
Am I still in the limo, snoring and drooling on him?
Who cares? I don’t. He wants to watch? I’ll give him a show. I close my eyes and turn around, to lean my head against the marble. It’s no longer cold, but warm, like a living thing. I press my cheek to it. My breasts flatten against the hard surface as I arch my back and sway my hips invitingly.
He makes no sound, he’s not touching me, and yet I know he’s stepped in the shower behind me, even before his hands caress the curve of my back. A popping sound, and he glides his hands around front, to work shower gel into my breasts that feel heavy and tender. His hardness digs into my back, and I lift to my toes, to get his cock lower, where I need it.
His chuckle comes from far away, muted by the rush of water. He draws circles down my belly and wedges one hand between my legs. Starts massaging my pussy, like getting me clean is the only thing in his mind. But I need more. I pump my hips into his touch. Try to rub my clit against his fingers. Try to get his cock between my legs.