Stay

  They got to Lauren’s and the party was packed with people drinking and dancing. Pop music boomed from the stereo. There were no parents and no lectures in sight. It was just what she needed, because tonight had been draining.

  “Mia!” Lauren pressed a shot glass against her lips and poured it into her mouth. “Welcome.” She shoved a second one into Mia’s hand then walked on.

  Alexi narrowed his eyes at Lauren’s back. Mia laughed. “Relax. She only has this party once a year.”

  “Is this the annual party that got you banned from seeing Lauren?”

  “Yep.”

  “Your dad will kill me if I take you home drunk. I know he’s killing Niko right now.”

  “Fair point.” Mia put the second shot glass down. Taking his hand, she pulled him into the room. She wanted him, not a shot.

  Both Quinn and Jake waved. Alexi sank into a chair and pulled Mia onto his lap, his arms around her, secure. Quinn’s eyes focused on Mia’s legs, and Alexi’s frown deepened. Mia grinned up at him. He had no reason to worry.

  Her friends popped down around them, chatting. Mia squeezed Alexi’s arms. Fun, this was fun. She rubbed her hand along his arm.

  Willow sat down and held up a piece of paper. “Fall poll.” Several people groaned and Willow read a few answers to the underground student poll aloud.

  “What’d Alexi get?” Lauren asked. “Pickiest eater?”

  “Best legs?” Mia said.

  Willow pinched her lips. “You two got: Worst brother and sister.”

  Her face warmed. True.

  “That’s true,” Alexi said.

  Quinn finished off a bottle of beer, laid it on its side, centered it on the coffee table, and gave it a spin, staring at Mia while it rotated.

  Alexi’s arms crossed over his chest, and she patted his arm. The bottle stopped with its narrow opening pointing toward Willow. Shrugging, Quinn took Willow’s hand and walked off with her, but he looked back at Mia as they disappeared behind a closed door.

  Alexi’s fists clenched, and his thighs tensed under her legs. Mia smiled up at him. “You don’t want to play this?”

  Looking at the bottle, he said, “Spin the bottle, like on the Americanization plan poster?”

  Mia nodded.

  Alexi leaned down and spun the bottle.

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  Mia laughed in surprise. It had better land on her. Alexi grabbed it before it stopped rotating, ensuring it landed on her. Jake booed at the lack of faith in the bottle’s selection powers. “Not fair.”

  Laughing again, Mia took Alexi’s hand and led him to a door.

  “Seven minutes and counting,” Lauren said.

  “You’re going to explain the poster to me?”

  Mia shoved him into the closet and closed the door behind them. The closet was small and filled with coats. Mia put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him into a seated position. It was dark and intimate. The noises from the party were muffled. She straddled his lap. “What do you want to know?” she asked against his ear.

  ***

  Mia and Alexi left early to beat curfew. Both had had enough of lectures for the night. She checked her watch and smiled, plenty of time for a quick side trip. “Vincent, will you take us by the Houston water wall?” she asked through the intercom.

  “Certainly.”

  Shutting off the intercom, she flipped on music and turned to Alexi with a smile. She reached up and undid her hair clip. Her hair fell around her shoulders, and he touched it reverently. She tossed the bow aside. Reverent was not the expression she wanted to see, so she reached down, crossed her arms, grabbed the hem of her snowflake sweater and lifted.

  Alexi’s eyes got wide as the sweater cleared her head, and she flung it to the floor. He relaxed when he realized she wore the halter top underneath.

  Mia grinned at his expression and leaned against the side of the car, her back against the wall. Stretching out her legs, she laid them over his lap. Alexi rubbed a hand along the outside of her leg, eyes glinting. That was the expression she wanted. She touched his mouth lightly with her fingertips. His lips pressed against her fingers, then moved toward hers. Her arms went around his neck. Best limo trip yet.

  Alexi kissed her neck.

  She shivered. Nice. He kissed her mouth. A light kiss. Another.

  Alexi wore a button-up oxford shirt over a T-shirt. She slid her hands under both of his shirts. Ah, better. Skin. He was warm. How would he feel against her exposed midriff?

  Mia reached to unbutton the oxford shirt.

  He watched her undo each one.

  When she shoved the shirt off his shoulders, the sleeves caught at his wrists. Undoing the buttons on his left cuff, she kissed his exposed wrist.

  Alexi sent her a sweet smile, shrugged out of the left sleeve and held out the right. She pulled it free. She smiled at him as the second wrist was exposed, then bent her head and gave that wrist a lick.

  He blinked. Placing his hands on either side of her face, he kissed her intently. Sensation flooded away her teasing. Mia shoved at his T-shirt. Her thinking had gone fuzzy as to the why, but she knew she wanted it off.

  Alexi hesitated then reached back and removed it, throwing it to the floor. Oh, wow.

  He smiled at her expression. She traced from his shoulders to his waist, beautiful, smooth and warm. More tan than her. She repeated the gesture.

  Alexi groaned. He tugged her closer to the middle of the seat, leaned into her, following her down until she was flat against the leather seat.

  Nice, but not close enough. She slid her legs off his lap. Awkward. She sat up a little. He let go. Sliding one leg behind him along the back of the seat, she put the other across his lap. Better. She put her hands on his shoulders and pulled him close.

  His weight felt wonderful. She pressed her lips against his, and they parted for her. He rubbed his mouth on hers, shifted closer, groaned and pressed into her. His abdomen slid against her bare skin. She sucked in a breath.

  Skin to skin. Better than she had imagined. Far better. A pleased, strangled sound emanated from her lips, or maybe a whimper. She clutched him tighter. Her nails curved into his waist and then relaxed. She ran her hands over his back and kissed his mouth, his neck, and then his shoulder. Warm.

  Her abdomen slid against his, smooth against hard. Perfect. She must—

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  The intercom crackled. “We’re here. I’m going to run into that coffee shop. Want anything?”

  Mia looked at Alexi blindly. Groaning, he reached over and hit the switch. “No thanks. We’re going to tour the fountain.”

  Alexi pulled away from her and yanked on his T-shirt. He exited the car quickly and stood on the sidewalk.

  Mia got out. “Running away?”

  “Yes.” He took a deep breath.

  The water wall crashed nearby, matching the speed of her pulse.

  “I forgot where we were.” He sounded surprised, his voice husky and accented and gorgeous. “I forgot my name.” He ended that on a laugh. “I need to buy a car.” He looked vaguely at the street. “No more drivers.”

  Mia brushed her hair with her hand and straightened her top. She met his gaze. Wow. This was so much more intense than she had imagined. Kisses before Alexi always had turned out ‘less than.’ He was more.

  Alexi touched her cheek, and then took her hand. “Show me this water wall.”

  Her pulse slowed after they walked a few steps. His hand against hers, rough, warm, strong. Her pulse sped back up. She pulled free and wrapped her arms around her waist, needing a minute to clear her head. The water wall—a nice distraction. More than sixty feet of water splashed down from the manmade structure. A few tourists strolled nearby. It was an unusual and romantic sight for Houston.

  Alexi eyed the splashing water with interest. “I’ll show you a waterfall in Greece.”

  “Okay.” She knew she needed to disagree with him sometimes, because he was too spoiled, but she would like to see a wate
rfall, and she couldn’t quite think clearly.

  He slid his hand under the oxford shirt she’d thrown on over her halter and his fingers rested against her waist, stroking her skin with his thumb. She bit her lip to stifle the moan, the sensation wonderful. She put her arm around him, and they walked a bit. When they saw the driver return holding a large coffee cup, they headed to the car.

  Alexi held the door, and she climbed in. He followed and reached over and removed a jewelry box hidden in the car’s minibar. “Shut your eyes. I picked up a present for you.” Her gaze flew to his hands. “Close them.”

  His hands glided over her hair, and the light weight of a necklace landed against her skin.

  “It reminds me of your eyes and the color of the water back home.”

  A round Australian blue opal hung from the end of the gold chain; the colors were a mix of light blues and greens and it sparkled with hidden layers. She loved it. “It’s beautiful, perfect, but I can’t take this. It’s too much…it’s not an occasion.” She paused, then lifted it.

  Alexi stilled her hands with a frown, took the charm and tucked it into her neckline, then kissed her. “Please? It’s our first real date. It’s an occasion to me.”

  She couldn’t argue with that, and she didn’t want to do so. “Yes,” Mia said against his lips.

  He kissed her again. She slid onto his lap and put her arms around his neck.

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  Mia bounced down the steps wearing Alexi’s gift. The necklace was beautiful. Her dark green dress floated just above her knees. It was one of her favorites. He was beautiful waiting for her there at the bottom of the steps. Happy day.

  Alexi smiled and opened his arms, and she threw herself toward him.

  Wrapping her arms around his waist, she hugged him in greeting then turned to her father. “We’re just going to Niko and Hope’s to watch a movie; it’s not far.”

  Alexi jingled a set of keys.

  Dad nodded. “Drive carefully and be home by eleven.” He turned away.

  Mia eyed the keys. She put her lips against his ear. “I’ll teach you a new American experience,” she whispered.

  “The small American car is not something I want to experience.” Alexi held open the front door for her to pass through. “I want you with me in my new car.”

  “You got a car?”

  “Mine.” He shook his keys again.

  “Cool.”

  He walked out the door, and she spotted his Lamborghini immediately. She stopped mid-step and stared.

  It was like something out of the movies—shiny, sleek and extremely foreign. The car negated most of her efforts to make him look like a normal American teen. She found she couldn’t chastise him about that fact. “That’s gorgeous. Niko loves you.” She peered in the window. She winked. “No backseat?” Her tone was playful and disappointed.

  Alexi blinked. “Is that the American experience you were talking about? We can take your car.”

  He’d never fit in her tiny backseat. “Oh, no.” She laughed. “Now that you’ve shown it to me, you have to take me somewhere.”

  He twisted his lips but reached behind her to open the passenger door. Nice manners. She kissed him before she got in. She slid down the seat, trying for graceful, but it was a drop, and the hem on her dress hiked up. He watched her legs as she modestly tried tugging down the hem. Skirts and Lamborghinis don’t mix. Who knew? She latched her seatbelt while he got in.

  “You look pretty.”

  “Thank you.” She assessed his off-white tailored shirt and dark-colored pants. Back in his formal clothes without her there to make him casual, he still was stunning. She rested her hand against his leg. “I can’t believe I can touch you whenever I want now. Not that I was that good at restraining myself before.” She tightened her fingers against the fabric. The muscle underneath didn’t give; no wonder he could kick such long field goals.

  Alexi slid one hand beneath her hair and kissed her. A sweet, quick brush. He deepened the kiss. He moved her to get closer, and his side hit the steering wheel.

  Alexi sighed and let go. “I should have brought the limo.”

  He turned the key. She ran her fingertips down his leg, then her nails. His finger ran along the top of her hand. Her nails were a coral color. They sparkled when she reached for the radio, and a pop tune filled the car.

  She looked up. They hadn’t left her driveway.

  Lifting her distracting hand into his, Alexi placed it on the gearshift and shifted the car into drive.

  “How did you say thank you for this? Or did Niko give it to you because you’re letting Hope paint you? Thank you for that, by the way. I know it’s not your thing.”

  Alexi kept his gaze on the road. “I picked it up. It seemed like a good idea now that the limo’s a bad idea.”

  Mia removed her hand and put it into her lap. “You picked it up?” No one she knew went and picked out their own car.

  “Our mother left both Niko and I money, separate from our father’s businesses.”

  That sounded like he was well-off. Not like the sibling of someone well-off, or the kid of someone with money. Like he had money. They weren’t in the same place at all. She frowned and felt kind of weird about it.

  The car had a smooth ride, odd for something so low to the ground. It covered the distance to Niko’s quickly.

  She was just going to put it out there. “You’re rich.” It came out like an accusation.

  He pulled into Niko’s driveway. “You knew that.”

  “No, I knew your family did okay. That’s Niko, not you. I didn’t know you had money, yourself. Um, I—” Mia looked out the window and put a hand to her hair. She connected so well with him at times, and then there were times when it was as if she didn’t know him at all.

  Alexi shut off the car and turned her toward him. “Talk to me, what’s going on?”

  “I don’t know.” She pulled away, opened the car door and stepped out.

  Alexi took her hand and led her upstairs. The rec room felt familiar, but different, too. He spun her toward him, “I didn’t know that you didn’t know. I wasn’t deceiving you.”

  “It’s not that.”

  “You are mine,” Alexi said. “You’re necessary to me, necessary to my happiness. I’m yours. The rest doesn’t matter.”

  His words crushed the disconnected feeling she’d had and made her melt. “You make me happy, too.”

  Alexi touched the bottom curve of her lip, sending heat through her with just a touch. “You’re too tempting, and it’s too frustrating.”

  “Too tempting is a good thing.”

  “Not when I promised Niko I won’t sleep with you while we’re in high school.” He sounded annoyed with himself.

  Mia turned to look him in the eyes. “What?” Three levels of frustration hit her and she shook her head.

  “I promised Niko—”

  “No, I heard you. I don’t understand. Why does Niko get a say in something that’s between you and me?”

  “I knew your decision when I made the promise. You told it to me the night of the bonfire.”

  Mia gave him a look filled with her opinion and bit her lip. “I decided to wait until I found someone I wanted with my whole heart, and then even if something happened later, and we broke up, I’d have no regrets.” She caressed the side of his jaw. “Without doubt. I had no intention of waiting when I chose you.”

  Alexi stood and ran a hand through his hair. “Mia.” He continued with something in Greek she couldn’t quite catch.

  She wrapped her arms around his waist. “It’s your decision as much as mine, and I respect it.”

  Wrapping his arms around her, Alexi groaned against her ear. “You should have told me.”

  “You should have talked to me about it instead of Niko.”

  “Yes. But now I’ve promised. I want to be the kind of guy who keeps his promises.” Alexi scooped her up and returned with her to their spot on the couch. He slid a hand down he
r arm gently.

  “It’s not my wish, but it’s probably better. You almost choked when I said you got me pregnant.”

  “Don’t say that.” He ran a hand across her abdomen.

  Mia drew in a breath at the feel of his hand, then smiled at the topic. Alexi’s baby would be beautiful. She’d love the wiggly, picky little eater. She could see him spitting out whatever baby food she made him try. Alexi frowned at her smile.

  “You don’t seem scared at all. You don’t get to talk about breaking up with me in one sentence and wear that smile at the thought of a baby in the next. You could be pregnant, raising a baby alone. You don’t get to smile at these thoughts.”

  Mia laughed. “Relax. I don’t want a baby for graduation. Though, I’m not alone. I have Hope and my parents. And as if you’d ever let some other guy raise your kid. You may not know this, but you are totally possessive about what’s yours.”

  He grabbed her arms. “No, Mia, that is not okay, our baby will be raised by us, not…”

  He was easy to rile. She threw back her head and laughed. Leaning forward, she gently kissed his neck until he relaxed and released her arms. She shifted closer on his lap, facing him, and put her arms around his shoulders so she could whisper more soothing, nonsensical words in his ear. When he was totally pliant, she slid her hands down and entwined her fingers in his. She lifted them to the couch by his head and pushed back.

  “So we’re watching a movie? What movie are we going to watch? My choice?”

  He stood.

  Squealing, she secured her legs around his waist and threw her arms around his shoulders. Alexi carried her, wrapped around himself, into his room. Striding directly to the bed, he let her drop.

  Mia bounced down, laughing.

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  Oh. “Alexi.” She laughed.

  Alexi pulled off his shirt and prowled toward her, eyes bright, serious. Leaning down, he put his hands on the foam mattress on either side of her hips and kissed her. His kiss was intense and passionate, no hesitation, no teasing.

  She leaned back on her palms and considered his face with bright, intrigued eyes. His gaze was on hers, unwavering and intent. He undid the hook at the top of her dress and eased down the zipper. He traced the skin of her shoulders.