by Marian Tee
“Same nightmare?”
His head lowered against her shoulder. Trust his wife to know what was happening, even without a word being spoken.
“You know it’s silly, right?” A pause, and her fingers on his back stilled as well. When he didn’t speak, she whispered, “I’ll never leave you again.”
After a beat, he said tautly, “You don’t know that.”
She shook her head. Nudged his shoulder until he took the hint and rolled them over, him on his back, his wife on top, but their bodies still intimately connected.
A tender smile formed on her lips. “Of course I do.” She pressed her mouth to his, and as his lips opened, her tongue slid in, making him gasp.
When she pulled away, both of them were breathing harder. For Damen, it was not the only thing of his body that was hard.
“I love you. And you…love me, right?”
He said grimly, “There’s no fucking question about it.”
“Then neither of us is going to leave. It’s that simple, Damen. You, me, and Nala. The three of us are forever.”
Her words washed over him, its sweetness doing its best to eliminate the fears that still lingered in his heart.
He asked slowly, “What do you think…of moving to Florida permanently? You’d be closer to your aunts and…”
Her eyes were wide. “W-what about your work?”
“I can work anywhere,” he said simply. “Would you like that?” He had expected she would, which was why her hesitation bemused him.
Until she spoke.
“What about you? Will you be happy there? What about Diana?”
“My sister would be more than happy to transfer to the school where Katya is studying and…” He held her by the nape. “I will be happy wherever you are.” He pulled her down, kissing her hungrily, and when Mairi’s nipples pricked his chest, he knew the night was far from over for both of them.
Forcing himself to pull away so he could finish their conversation for good, he cupped her face, his thumbs stroking her cheeks. “I want us to start fresh and here…in Greece…there are just too many damn memories.”
She bit her lip. “But Florida…that’s where you…”
He knew right away what she couldn’t say, knew she was talking about the time he had almost gotten beaten to death as he tried to fight against the men preventing him from talking to Mairi.
“I don’t consider that a bad memory, matakia mou.”
“Y-you don’t?”
“That was one of the few moments I could prove to you I truly love you,” he said tightly. “How can I ever consider that a bad memory?”
His words made her smile tremulously. “You w-were hospitalized, s-so many broken ribs, and you had even been u-unconscious for a time.” She choked, holding back both tears and laughter. “How indeed?”
He laughed. Licking her tears, raining kisses over her face, he said, “I love you,” over and over. He couldn’t believe how good it felt, being able to say the words.
When her tears were dry, he asked quietly, “What do you think?”
She laid a hand against his cheek. “Wherever you want to go, Damen.”
Mairi
The sound of an alarm clock buzzing drilled into the silence of the room, causing its sole occupant to stir. Slim, petite, and dark-haired, the girl barely made an impression on the vast bed. Looking at her, most people would be forgiven for thinking of her as a teenager. But she wasn’t that. At all.
Even as she woke up slowly, her fingers were already moving, searching for the feel of a familiar hard body that should be next to her in bed. But it wasn’t, and this made her eyes flutter open.
Oh.
She really was alone.
A note lying against the pillow next to her caught her gaze, and slowly she reached for it.
The masculine handwriting on the note never failed to make her smile, and the thought that her husband, once a self-confessed unbeliever of love, was writing her a note made her lips curve in a wider smile.
Good morning, my love.
I’ve left early for work. Forgive me for not waking you up – I thought you’d need your rest after last night. I’d apologize for that, too – if it wouldn’t be a lie. If you want the truth, I look forward to making love to you over and over tonight again.
If you want it crass…I’m counting the seconds until I can fuck you into passing out.
An embarrassed laugh escaped her at the last sentence. Even now, the fact that her extremely sophisticated husband could talk so dirty made her squirm in a mixture of self-consciousness and desire.
Her eyes drifted back to the rest of the note.
Did that make you wet, sweetheart? I bet it did.
Can’t wait to see you again. Call me when you’re up.
Your husband,
Damen
For several long moments, Mairi could only gaze at the note, her heart bursting with so much happiness that even now it scared her. It was crazy, how it felt like she loved Damen Leventis more and more each day. It just kept growing, deepening, at a terrifying rate – so much so, she couldn’t help ask herself.
Could life truly be this beautiful forever?
As soon as the insidious thought entered her mind, she pushed it away just as quickly. Reaching for Damen’s note, she folded it carefully and took the note with her as she got up from bed. Padding towards her dressing table in one corner of the room, she pulled the drawer open and placed it inside, together with the other notes from Damen that she lovingly cherished.
Pushing the drawer closed, she headed back to bed and reached for her phone on the table.
Mairi: Good morning. I got your note, but I still miss you.
She hesitated before sending it, wondering if it sounded too clingy. Normally she tried to keep it cool, not wanting to risk making her Greek billionaire feel claustrophobic in their marriage.
Whoever said about married couples with fairy tale weddings living happily ever after had it wrong, Mairi thought. Every day of her marriage was a dream come true, but it was also hard work, the way everything felt like a rollercoaster. Her little one was a blessing, and though she loved their baby to pieces, she couldn’t help worrying. Damen Leventis had lived by his own rules all his life. Wasn’t it inevitable he would feel tied down by their life?
Biting her lip, she decided to clear the entire message and start again.
Mairi: Good morning. I got your note – thank you. I’m going to keep it, too. I hope you don’t tire yourself too much at work. I look forward to seeing you tonight, too. I love you. Your wife, Mairi Tanner-Leventis
Sent.
And that was that, Mairi thought. It wasn’t really what she wanted to say, but none of it was a lie either.
She headed to their huge en-suite bathroom, one that also made headlines when Damen allowed a popular lifestyle magazine to feature their home in exchange for having a percentage of their sales donated to charity. The bathroom was tasteful and decadent at the same time, decorated in shades of black, gold, and purple.
Checking her watch, she opted to take a quick shower rather than a luxurious soak in the Jacuzzi. Today would be the worst time to be late, and she didn’t want to take any chances.
****
When Damen Leventis silently entered the bedroom, he found his young wife standing in front of the windows, a wistful expression on her lovely face. She was towel-drying her hair with one hand, and her slim body was hidden under the folds of a thick bathrobe.
His bathrobe.
The sight of her wearing something of his made Damen’s chest tighten in pleasure. He knew then he was right in coming here.
Across him, his beautiful Mairi remained oblivious to his presence, her dark eyes revealing longing. She was staring at the building across their home. It was the new headquarters of Leventis Enterprises, the place where he worked.
He walked towards her, and by the time she became startlingly aware of his presence, Damen was already behind her, his
hand lifting her hair up so he could place a soft kiss on the side of her neck.
“Damen.” A soft whisper, filled with quiet happiness, at the realization that her gorgeous powerful husband was really here, standing behind her.
Wordlessly, he untied her bathrobe and she let him. She blushed from head to toe as the bathrobe fell to the carpeted floor. Even though she knew the glass in front of her was tinted, preventing anyone outside from seeing them, it still felt wicked, standing so promiscuously naked before the windows.
A sigh escaped her as his lips again nuzzled her neck. She melted against him, arching her neck as his arms wrapped around her, one hand cupping her breast, playing with her nipple.
“I love you.”
Damen’s huskily spoken words made her knees weak, and she felt so ridiculously shy as she mumbled back, “I l-love you, t-too.”
Damen chuckled at his wife’s adorably shy tone. Pulling away, he let his fingers slowly drift against her naked back, luxuriating in its satiny texture. She gasped, the sound sensuous, making his cock harden.
“Why…” His fingers drifted lower, reaching the small of her back. “…does it feel like you’re even less used to me saying ‘I love you’ now that we’re married, compared to when we were just going out?”
She squeezed her eyes shut in mortification. “I don’t know myself.” She felt his fingers curve around the cheeks of her bottom, and again a gasp escaped her, just before his fingers tightened, squeezing. A second later, he had her whirling around to face him.
She tried to cover herself right away. It didn’t feel right, that she was completely naked while he was fully dressed in one of his incredibly elegant business suits. But he didn’t let her, capturing her wrists and forcing them down.
She opened her mouth to protest, but he spoke first.
“I love you.”
Her struggles ceased, her gaze flying to him.
Damen’s handsome face was serious, but his lips were curved just the slightest bit. It was the kind of smile she knew he only reserved for her, a smile where he completely shed his cold ruthless persona as a corporate tycoon and became her Greek love, her Damen.
“I love you, love you, love you, matakia mou.”
Everything inside her crumbled, and she threw herself at him. “I love you!”
Damen caught her readily with a laugh, having already guessed how his wife would react. She was, in many ways, unpredictable but when it came to love —
He knew her better than anyone else, better even than her aunts, the pair who had raised Mairi on fairy tales derived not from Hans Christian Andersen but instead from Harlequin paperbacks about Greek billionaires finding love with ordinary girls.
All her life, his Mairi had grown up believing she, too, would fall in love with her own Greek billionaire because it was her destiny. His Mairi was the kind of girl who would never stop wearing rose-colored glasses. And he wanted, needed…loved her that way.
Sweeping his wife up in his arms, he said, “I’d make love to you right now if I didn’t think I’d make you late. And you don’t want that, do you?”
Tightening her arms around his neck, she shook her head, unable to speak because she was just so in love with him.
Damen carried her all the way into their walk-in closet, lowering her only when they had reached the velvet ottoman in the corner. Taking a seat, she watched him with reddening cheeks as he rummaged in her drawer for lingerie. “Y-you’re dressing me?”
Damen nodded. Not looking at her, busy perusing her clothes, he murmured, “I thought if I dressed you up, you’d have more confidence to go to work later.” He pulled out the dress he thought best fit his wife. Glancing back at her, he asked with a raised eyebrow, “Am I not right, matakia mou?”
God, he was so beautiful when he looked at her like that. It rendered her speechless, making Mairi able to only nod. Yes. You. Totally. Right.
When he returned to her side, she allowed him to dress her like a doll. Her breath caught as his lips curved in a wicked smile, and she couldn’t help leaning towards him when he slowly ran her panties up her thighs.
“Pervert!” She glared down at him even as she could feel her body weakening with desire.
Damen was on his knees, placing him on eye-level with her belly. He grinned up at her in response just before moving forward and nipping her silk-covered clit.
Her knees buckled, and she had to clutch his shoulders. “Damen,” she pleaded, looking down at her husband. She mumbled, “I don’t want to go to work with wet underwear.”
The words made him stiffen, the image it evoked in his mind making him feel insanely possessive. He got to his feet and kissed her softly in apology. “Sorry,” he said gruffly. “I’ll behave now. I wouldn’t want anyone to think you’re wet for another man either.”
In minutes, he had her dressed in a semi-tight V-necked peasant blouse, a dark blue box-pleated skirt, and two-inch Mary Janes. The combination made Mairi snap her head towards him in surprise. “Really?”
“Trust me. This will make sure your students will listen to you.” Damen meant it, but he didn’t bother explaining why. The way she looked so innocent right now, anyone who dared disrespect her was sure to feel like the world’s worst bully.
Mairi nodded, knowing that her husband always had her best interests at heart. “Thank you.”
A smile had lit up her face, making her look so hot and pretty it was all he could do not to haul her towards him and kiss her. Only the thought that he would end up leaving her with kiss-swollen lips stopped him. No way in fuck would he allow her to look like a sex goddess in front of testosterone-influenced college boys.
Striving for control and cursing himself for agreeing to let his wife work, Damen held out a hand. “Shall we go?”
Taking it, Mairi smiled up at him in surprised pleasure. “You’re going to drive me to work?”
He rolled his eyes. “You truly thought I’d let you go alone?”
Inside the car, she asked, “Why did you come back?”
“Because your text was weird.”
She gaped. “It was?”
Maneuvering the car for a U-turn, he slanted a look towards his wife. “You keep forgetting, matakia mou. I know you. I know when you’re hiding something from me.”
Five minutes later, they arrived at her workplace – Christopoulos University. As he slowed down, he muttered darkly, “You’ll be the hottest English teacher they ever set their sights on.”
She shook her head. “You’re exaggerating.” She hesitated then impulsively leaned towards Damen, placing a surprising kiss on his mouth. “Thank you for driving me to work.” She flashed him a thumbs-up sign. “Made my confidence level 100x higher.”
He chuckled. “A hundred times?”
She nodded seriously. “A hundred times.”
He got out of the car then, and by now Mairi knew him well enough to wait, knowing Damen preferred to open the door for her. As he helped her out, she said once more, “Thank you again.”
“I’ll fetch you later, too.” A grin tugged at his lips at the way she beamed at his words, like she had just won the lottery.
She fluttered her fingers. “I’m going now.” But as she started to turn around, fingers wrapped around her wrist and then she was being spun back to face her husband. “Damen?”
He raised a brow. “What did you really want to tell me a while ago?”
She blushed but acquiesced, saying shyly, “I just wanted to say I missed you. When I woke up and saw you weren’t there, I really missed you. When I had to shower alone, I missed you even more. And right now…I’m already missing you, knowing I have to spend a whole day away from you.”
Silence fell after she spoke, both of them looking at each other.
His lips finally curved, and her own lips curved, too, their tiny soft smiles saying the rest of what was in their hearts.
“I’m already missing you as well, Mrs. Leventis.”
Her heart skipped a beat.
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He touched her cheek. “Good luck on your first day at work. Remember – you got this. No need to be nervous.”
She blossomed at the words, feeling like she was being so spoiled at the way Damen took the time to comfort her, no matter how frivolous her worries were. “Thank you.”
Damen took a step back. “Until later, matakia mou.” For a fraction of a second, his austerely handsome face softened. “I love you.”
Oooooooh. Her knees threatened to buckle. “I love you very much, too, Damen Leventis.”
His wife mumbled the words so feelingly it had him grinning even as he turned and walked back to the car. Mairi, too, was smiling, a dreamy expression on her face as she walked towards the opposite direction.
A small distance away, a fourth-year student stopped in his tracks, the sight of Mairi catching him unaware. His attraction to her was instant. Powerful.
Whoever that woman was – he would have her.
Chapter One
First day of school didn’t really change, whether you were a student or a teacher. As long as you were the new kid on the block, the day was always likely to be one of the worst days in that person’s life – as well as the most awkward.
It felt like all eyes were on her, as if the students and faculty of Christopoulos University sensed her being out of place. Their stares added to her nervousness, making her blind to the place’s beauty. And it was even more beautiful than the brochures and the YouTube videos had led her to believe. The roads were all wide and paved, lined with colorful flowers and towering trees. The school buildings were a mixture of modern glass and steel structures and vintage-inspired brick buildings. The place definitely deserved its reputation as one of the prettiest school campuses in the whole world.
If only Mandy was here with her, this would have been perfect.
At least she wasn’t really alone, Mairi comforted herself. Damen had told her he had already gained permission from school authorities to have three bodyguards following her around incognito. Those guys wouldn’t let anything happen—