She disconnected the call and turned to see Alexi staring at her with his arms crossed over his chest. “What?”
*****
“Your brother needs to grow up.” Leo had thought her brother was using her before, and now he was convinced.
Gemma’s eyes flashed. “My brother is not your concern.”
“Your brother upsets you, making him my concern. Your peace of mind and health are my prime concerns while you are here in Greece. Anything that affects you will be dealt with. Take a bath and I will return for you.”
He didn’t give her a chance to respond, he simply strode down the hallway and into his own rooms, going straight to his desk. He immediately pulled up the information the private investigator had sent him on Gemma and those closest to her.
Once he’d located Tyler’s phone number he placed a much needed call. “Tyler Larsen?”
“Yeah. Hey, who is this? I don’t recognize this number.”
“This is Leo Moustakas. We met at your sister’s apartment several days ago.”
“Oh, yeah. Her new boyfriend. Hey, man, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but she’s off in Greece—”
“Your sister is with me. Now, I need you to listen and listen very carefully.” Leo’s tone was firm. It was way past time Tyler started carrying his own weight. “I’ve become aware of the way you’ve been abusing your sister’s love and responsibility for you.”
“Wait! Who are you again?” Tyler demanded.
“The man who is going to help you grow up and give your sister some peace and financial relief. I have a proposition for you. I understand you’re studying international business?”
“Yeah, I’m entering grad school in the Fall. What does that have to do with anything?”
Leo restrained his temper. “I am prepared to fund the rest of your education, provided you agree to come and work for my company after your graduation. This offer is contingent on you never asking your sister for money again.”
“Whoa! Man, are you serious?”
“Very. Do we have a deal?”
“You’ll pay for all of grad school?”
“Yes. I will see that the funds are wired to your institution before this day ends. But I must have your promise on the other two conditions.”
“You’ve got yourself a deal. Man, I can’t believe this. Does Gemma know?”
“No, and for now that is the way I wish things to remain. You may call her in a day or two and let her know you found another way to pay for your schooling and that she is relieved from the stress you’ve put her under. Tell her what you wish, but do not tell her where those funds came from.”
“Yeah, sure. I can do that. Hey, she’ll be able to come home sooner.”
“I’m afraid that will not be possible. I require your sister to remain in Greece for a while longer. Maybe you should wait until I give you leave to tell her that her money woes are over. In fact, that is a much better way to play this.” Leo gave the young man an email address. “Send me your educational institutions information and I will take care of the rest. And Tyler, make better use of your time and your resources. I will pay for your schooling, but you will be responsible for any living expenses you incur over the next few years. Delivering pizzas may not be the best way to accomplish that.”
Leo hung up the phone, feeling strangely satisfied. Gemma would be thrilled to find out she didn’t need to stress about money any longer. If I have myway, she will never stress over money again.
He headed downstairs and located his man of affairs flirting with the cook in the kitchens. Petrina was there as well, but Leo ignored her for the moment. “Grigo, I am going to forward you some information. Contact the school and see that Tyler Larsen’s tuition bills are paid out of my personal account for the foreseeable future.”
“Naí, I will see to it right away.” Grigo winked at the cook and the pair of them ducked out the back door.
Leo turned to see Petrina giving him a pitying look. “How the mighty have fallen.”
“What are you talking about? And why are you back here?”
Petrina checked her nails. “That little American whore has wormed her way into your heart.’
Leo shook his head. “Don’t be silly. Everyone knows I don’t have a heart.”
“You didn’t use to, but what you just did… That is completely out of character.” She shook her head and headed for the exit. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but unless you’ve gotten those stock certificates signed back over, you and I have a date with a minister.”
Leo watched her leave, his hands clenched in fists. Never! I will not marry that woman. She would drive me insane inside of a month!
He headed upstairs to retrieve Gemma, his protective instincts once more rising to the surface. He’d taken care of her brother’s constant need for money, and now he needed to figure out what other problems in her life he could fix. The chemistry between them was still there. As he headed up the stairs, he started making plans to show her his Greece. Not the one the tourists saw, but the country of his childhood. The place he called home and would always come back to.
He had a strong desire to make her smile and to taste her kiss once again. To take her away from the demands of his family and the reminders of how different their lives were. At some point, in the very near future, she would have to make some decisions about her and Damien’s future, but not today. Today, I will give her the sunshine, the moon, and the beauty of Greece.
Chapter 11
Gemma had managed to contain most of her anger by the time Alexi returned for her. Seeing Damien happy and smartly dressed also helped. Her son explored their rooms until Alexi came and announced they were going to spend the day sightseeing.
“Come, lígo gáta. Greece awaits you.”
Alexi had a very smart, brand-new looking SUV waiting in front of the estate. A man was there to assist her with getting Damien buckled into the new safety seat that had been installed in the backseat of the vehicle.
She couldn’t help asking,“You had a child seat just lying around?”
Alexi smiled at her. “Whatever you need will be provided. I have told you this before. Maybe now you will believe me?”
Gemma didn’t reply. She double checked the harness to assure herself that Damien was securely buckled in. “Where are we going?”
“I am going to show you my favorite spot here.” He kissed her lightly before helping her into the vehicle and shutting the door. He drove them out of the gates surrounding the house and grounds, heading for the ocean.
Gemma couldn’t help but be delighted with the passing scenery. As they drove, Alexi told her about his country. “Thessaloniki is the second largest city on the main island of Greece. The city is immersed in the varying cultural influences that resided here throughout its rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire.”
She watched as Alexi drove towards several monuments, her artist’s eye not missing a thing. “Hey, is that the Hagia Sophia?”
He grinned. “Very good. It is one of the fifteen UNESCO World Heritage sites located right here.”
Gemma’s eyes couldn’t take in everything, but she tried. As Alexi drove them through the crowded streets, filled with sightseeing tourists and residents going about their daily lives, her anger started to slip away. They didn’t stop at any of the sites, but Alexi promised her she was welcome to return to any of them at a later date.
The city was enormous, with tall buildings, and a multitude of docks and ports. “What does your family’s company do, exactly?” she asked.
“We are in shipping.” Alexi pointed to several large freighters. The Greek characters on the helms were unidentifiable to her. “Those are some of our fleet.”
“Fleet?” Gemma gulped. “Just how big of a company…?”
“We are the largest shipping company in Greece and in this part of the world. We transport everything from oil, to cars, to building supplies. If it can be moved from place to place by trave
rsing the ocean, Moustakas Shipping can handle it.”
“You sound like an advertisement.”
“No, it’s just a mantra that has been drilled into my head since I was a young boy. Speaking of boys, how is Damien doing?”
Gemma cast a look over her son’s sleeping face. “I think he’s still recovering from the time difference. He’s been asleep since we left your home.”
“Ah! Well, when he wakes he will be hungry and anxious to move around. Shall we have a picnic on the beach?”
Gemma shook her head. “I didn’t bring anything appropriate for the beach.”
“That has all been taken care of. My cousin, Kassi, was a great help. You haven’t met her yet, but you will.”
“Your cousin lives with you?”
“For the moment. Her mother was my father’s sister and passed away quite a few years ago. Kassi lived with her father until he passed away last year from a heart condition. She just turned twenty and is enrolled at the university to begin her classes this fall. In the meantime, she spends her days shopping with her friends. When I mentioned my plans for this excursion, she was happy to call her favorite store and have them deliver a selection of suits for you to choose from.”
Gemma’s mouth dropped open. “She called her favorite store…and they just brought over a bunch of clothing?”
Alexi smiled at her, nodding. “Yes. That is the way it works.” He turned the vehicle off the main road.
Gemma realized that while they’d been talking, he’d driven them up and out of the city, heading towards the ocean. He paused at a wrought iron gate and used a keycard to open it. “Where are we?”
“A private beach. We will be undisturbed here and away from the masses of people who crowd the public beaches this time of year.”
“A private beach? Is this like a club or something?”
“Or something.” When she raised a brow, silently asking for more information, he relented. “My family owns this strip of the beach.” He parked the car and she glanced out the window. The green-blue ocean stretched out before them, ending in pristine white sands and several bungalows scattered just above the waterline.
“Do you come here often?” she asked as they climbed out of the car. Damien had yet to wake up. She reached for him, calling his name to slowly wake him up. “Hey, little boy. Time to wake up.”
Damien blinked at her and then at Alexi. He held out his hands to her. She unbuckled him from the child seat and realized he needed a diaper change right away. She grabbed his diaper bag and used the seat to get him cleaned up and into dry pants once again.
She looked up to see Alexi watching her with a look in his eyes she couldn’t quite explain. When she opened her mouth to question him, he stood up. “Hey, Damien. Let’s go see the ocean.”
Damien responded to the excitement in his father’s voice. He went to him, pointing to the ocean. “Water.”
“Yes, that is water. Neró. The ocean. Okeanós.”
Gemma laughed as she followed them. “You know he’s not going to remember a thing you’re trying to teach him?”
Alexi looked at her over his shoulder. “Who says I’m trying to teach him?”
Gemma blushed, seeing the heat in his eyes. He set Damien down near the water’s edge and she watched him experience the ocean for the first time. Alexi was a watchful caretaker, making sure the waves didn’t send Damien sprawling as they receded, pulling the sand from beneath his feet in the process.
She settled on the sand, content to soak up some sun and listen to her son’s joyful giggles. When Alexi and Damien returned, she smiled at Alexi. “You’re very good with him.”
Alexi looked stunned by her compliment. “If you watch him, I’ll retrieve the blanket and lunch the kitchen staff prepared for us.”
“You thought of everything, didn’t you?”
“I hope so.” He jogged back up the beach.
She stared after him, loving the way his body moved so gracefully. He was like a fine animal, his concealed energy just waiting to burst forth. She vividly remembered the way he moved when they had sex. Suddenly her body was on fire for him.
He returned with a large blanket, which he spread on the dry sand. He then settled a large basket in the corner and beckoned her and Damien to join him. “Come and eat.” He began removing things from the basket.
Gemma felt her eyes open wider and wider at the array of food he set before them. There were small containers of marinated olives, grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs, spiced chicken and a platter full of cheeses and breads. There was a salad made of tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, Kalamata olives and feta cheese. Gemma laughed when Damien discovered he could put the olives on his small fingers and then eat them off. Olive spread and a lemon sauce to dip the stuffed grape leaves in completed the meal.
“Here, try this.” Alexi handed her a crystal wine glass filled with a rich, red wine.
Gemma sipped it and then smiled. “It’s good. What is it called?”
“Krasí. Wine. It comes from a local vineyard.” Alexi grinned at her as she took a second sip. “You like?”
She nodded, feeling her cheeks heat. She looked away, seeing that her son had eaten his fill and was now lying on the blanket. His eyes looked sleepy once more. Gemma instinctively reached out and felt his forehead, afraid he was coming down with some illness. To her relief, he was simply tired. “Do babies get jetlag?” she asked, with obvious concern in her voice.
Alexi nodded. “Everyone gets jetlag. It can take a day or two to bounce back. His day has been exciting and worn him out. Let him sleep for a while.”
Gemma followed Alexi to one of the bungalows where he laid the child down on a large cushioned surface. “Sleep, Damien. Your momma and I will be right here when you awaken.”
Gemma watched Alexi with her son. She felt a wave of tenderness fill her. She’d often seen babies with their fathers in the park and regretted that Damien would never know such affection. Now, it seemed the fates had changed course. Can I give up everything I know so that Damien can have a relationship with his father?
“What are you thinking about so hard?” Alexi sank down onto a neighboring cushion. He pulled her down to kneel by his side. He smoothed her hair back, releasing it from the plastic clip and running his fingers through her auburn tresses. “Your hair is like fire.”
Gemma flushed beneath his gaze, “What are we doing?” She couldn’t resist voicing the doubts plaguing her mind. Her body yearned for his touch, but her mind warned her there would be a price to pay for giving into her lusts. Can I pay it? That was the question.
*****
Leo watched her. In his mind he heard his father’s demands that he secure her hand in marriage and rectify the stock situation. He could see the mounting desire in her eyes. With only a little work, he could stoke that fire and keep her focus on the feelings he evoked in her body.
He wanted her. There was no doubt about that. He let go of her hair and slipped his palm around the back of her neck, drawing her mouth towards his own. He kissed her lightly at first, but soon she gripped his shoulders, wanting to get closer to his heat.
He pulled her down beside him, stretching her body out along his entire length and making sure she knew how badly he desired her. He used his hands and his mouth to map his way around her body, removing items of clothing as he went.
Gemma wasn’t a passive observer. She tugged at his t-shirt and the fly of his shorts until he was clad only in his boxers. He sat back on his haunches, watching her as she lay there clad in only her underwear. Her breasts were high and tight, their fullness and the slight stretch marks on their undersides a testament to the fact that she had nourished her child.
Her nipples were peaked and begging for attention. He lowered his head, tugging one into his mouth and laving it with his tongue until she clutched his head to her breast. He gave her other nipple similar attention. Only when she moved restlessly against the cushion did he start his downward journey. He kisse
d her ribs, her slightly rounded stomach, and then trailed wet kisses down one hip until he reached her knee.
He lifted that leg, pushing her thigh up, opening her center for his perusal. He did the same with the other leg. Soon he feasted his eyes on the sweet pink flesh between her thighs. She was damp with her lust for him and he leaned forward, keeping her thighs spread with his shoulders as he made a feast of her.
He played her like a fine instrument, driving her to the pinnacle of passion, but never letting her fall off the edge.
“Please…” She moaned as he stopped, refusing to give her that final touch that would send her out into space. Her body was tight with tension, shaking with her desire for him.
Leo couldn’t wait another moment. He moved up her body, holding her eyes as he slid all the way home. She raised her knees around his hips and he began to move within her. When she would have closed her eyes, he touched her temple with a finger. “Keep your eyes on me.”
She did so. He felt himself fall into her eyes, the feelings they created together more intense than ever. Leo had never experienced anything like this. He had the sudden urge to keep her by his side forever. He increased his speed, loving the little gasps she made as he sent them both soaring into bliss-filled oblivion.
He rolled to his side, pulling her against him. I guess cuddling after sex has its benefits. Leo had never been one for wanting to linger after sex, not until Gemma. Even that first night so long ago, he’d had the urge to hold her close as they settled into sleep. A first for him.
He felt her body relax as sleep claimed her. He turned so that he could watch her. She was gorgeous and not just in a physical way. There was a sweetness and a compassion within her that came forth, even when she was angry with him. And yesterday she’d been so very angry. Petrina hadn’t helped. Leo was afraid more attacks from that quarter would be forthcoming. Petrina wanted his surname and was willing to do much to accomplish her goal.
The sooner you get your ring on Gemma’s finger, the sooner you can put that particular worry aside. Only one worry consumed more of his thoughts. She thinks I’m my brother. How will she react when she learns the truth?
Daddy's RockStar Friends ( A Reverse Harem Romance) Page 18