The Greek's One-Night Heir

‘No.’ He waited for her to climb into the helicopter ahead of him.

So now they were en route to who knew where. He helped her with the headset and she then watched out of the window as they took off. The view over the mainland was just stunning—she drank in the blue waters and stunning settlements. Then they seemed to lower and slow a little. She leaned forward, gazing intently as ancient ruins came more sharply into view. Ruins she recognised because she’d studied them online a few thousand times years ago when caught up in the romance of the novel she’d loved.

‘Is that Delphi?’ She turned to him, her heart thudding because she knew it was. ‘You remembered.’ And she was so touched.

‘I remember everything about that night,’ he muttered—all soft, serious intensity.

She couldn’t turn away from him—he was so still, as if he was struggling to contain something. The tension between them tightened. ‘Thank you.’

‘Go on,’ he ordered roughly. ‘Look.’

She turned towards the window again as they circled the site. The setting sun cast a burning glow on the ancient hewn stone. It was majestic and so moving. She knew Theo had timed their trip to perfection so she had this magical view—this was why he’d insisted they leave the compound so suddenly. Her vision misted at his thoughtfulness.

They circled the ancient ruins one last time and then headed away from the mountains, passing over the terracotta roofs of a village below. It was so picturesque, with narrow cobbled streets that she could see even from this height. Eventually the chopper lowered to a secluded property on the far outskirts of the village.

As she stood back on the ground Leah paused, conscious of her appearance as the helicopter lifted up and away. She glanced about anxiously, expecting an assistant to appear to carry their luggage in, but no one emerged from the magnificent building.

‘The staff left about five minutes ago,’ Theo said, lifting the two overnight bags himself. ‘So we’re alone.’

She followed him from the helipad along the pathway until they turned a hedged corner into the private heart of the property. She paused near the edge of the pool and took in the inviting atmosphere. There was soft music playing from discreet speakers. Candles burned in glass jars placed in carefully chosen spots. The small circles of flickering light cast a warm glow around the terrace, almost creating a semi-circular stage.

‘The American half of me wants my first dance.’ Theo dropped the bags and faced her. That rough edge to his voice was even grittier.

She swallowed, realising that he was holding something fierce back. ‘Theo—’

‘I apologise for the lack of a live band.’ He slowly paced towards her. ‘But I wanted us to be alone.’

‘Why?’

‘I’m a terrible dancer.’ He held out his hand and his smile was tight.

‘I don’t believe you.’

He wasn’t terrible at anything. But she put her hand in his and he drew her into that little lit space on the terrace.

‘I don’t know how I’ve resisted touching you all day.’ He pulled her into his arms. ‘I can’t resist any more. You look beautiful.’ He stared into her eyes.

That warmth within trickled more quickly, more deeply—becoming a heat that needed release.

‘And you’re wearing heels,’ he noted.

‘I figured it wouldn’t matter if I fell over when it was only you watching.’

‘Only me?’ He cocked his head and finally his smile appeared.

It was unfair of him to flirt with her when he didn’t really mean it. And the truth was she was likely to tumble because it was him. He put her so on edge, so aware of every movement, every breath when she was with him, yet not with him. Now she simply ached for his touch.

‘This lace thing is pretty, but I’m afraid I’m going to tear it if I hold you closer.’

‘I wore it to cover my shoulders...’ she muttered breathlessly. ‘And to hide the fact that...’

‘That what?’

‘I’m not wearing anything beneath the dress.’ She swallowed. ‘I tried but you could see the lines...’

He inhaled deeply. ‘So you’re telling me that beneath this angelic surface, there’s a temptress. I think I knew that.’ He pulled her hips against his and she felt just how much he liked how she looked. ‘I remember those scarlet panties,’ he whispered.

‘Good thing there’s no audience,’ she said with a chuckle.

‘Right now I wouldn’t give a damn if there was.’ His breathing roughened. ‘I can’t wait any more, Leah.’

That twisting serpent of heat bit her too. She threw herself into the gorgeous escape of this—their touch, in the magic they created together. Hot and dream-like, the searing need enveloped her. They were moving, but not really dancing. Somehow she was back against the wall of the building and she gasped as he plundered, kissing his way down her neck. She threw her head back to let him and glimpsed the darkening sky above and saw the stars emerging. His fingers moved and the silver strap slipped off her shoulder in the haste and the front of her dress dropped enough to bare her breast.

He stared, savage hunger etched on his face. ‘Leah.’

She shivered as his fingers teased in gentle swirling motions that only made her fire flare. She needed him. Now.

‘I don’t know how to get you out of this dress fast enough without damaging it,’ he groaned.

She’d laugh if she weren’t so desperate. ‘Then don’t.’

Looking into her eyes, he moved, freeing himself with the simple slide of a zip, and then he lifted the skirt of her dress and pressed close, nudging her legs further apart with his.

‘You wore the shoes for me,’ he muttered roughly, ‘so we could do this.’

She felt a flash of vulnerability—a sudden fear that the effort she’d gone to revealed something more, something she hadn’t wanted him to see. But there was no time to fret as he took her hands in his, palm to palm, and laced their fingers. She gasped, anticipation soaring as he braced them on the wall either side of her head.

There was this between them. This. Powerful. Primitive. Unsophisticated. Undeniable. The simplest, most basic of needs. The drive to get closer to him pushed her to arch her hips forward as her shoulders pressed against the wall. But not only were her hands locked in his, her gaze was locked in the fierceness of his focus too. Neither smiled; it was impossible in this supreme intensity. She felt him, close and hard and almost hers. Hunger and passion forced her to rock, sliding closer still. And he was right there.

‘See?’ he gritted, almost smiled, but the tension was too strong. ‘Perfect.’

He watched her as he thrust. Her scream echoed through the night. But he didn’t stop. He possessed her—physically and beyond as his gaze seared through to her soul and she met him arch for thrust, in a frantic, fast ride that was so explosive, so powerful it could end only one way. In an almost instant eruption of blinding, white-hot pleasure.

And then there was silence. They were still completely dressed. Still desperately entwined—their fine clothes tangled. But her emotions were torn—because that had been so much more than simple. The sheer desperation, the total annihilation stunned her. As did the deeper, complex yearning it revealed.

‘What a first dance,’ she mumbled, seeking a way to claw some lightness back into the atmosphere because it was so intense that she couldn’t breathe.

She carried her pretty, heeled shoes in one hand while her husband held her other hand tightly, leading her through the silent villa up the stairs to the moonlit room. She faced him and felt that desire ricochet back. Because they were so far from done.

‘Slower this time, Leah.’ He carefully slipped the wrap and the dress from her body and placed them over a chair reverently.

He glanced at her, then practically tore his trousers and shirt off with such fierce speed she chuc

kled. But then he stepped forward and she couldn’t laugh any more and he made true on his promise. It was slow. It was thorough. And it destroyed her.

Long fingers of sunlight slid up the bed, slowly warming and waking her. She felt Theo’s arms around her and smiled secretly. He must have sensed her waken because he began gently tracing patterns on her back.

‘You’re not leaving right away to go to work?’ she asked sleepily.

‘Leah,’ he admonished piously. ‘It’s our honeymoon.’

‘As if that minor fact would stop you.’ She smiled and kept her eyes closed.

‘Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Or just not get enough sleep last night, darling?’ He pressed a kiss to her shoulder and slid out of bed.

She didn’t want to get out of bed ever. She wanted him to get back into it. And he knew. But he didn’t come back to her; instead he picked up her dress from where he’d placed it and carefully put it on a hanger. ‘Thank you.’

‘It’s stunning.’ He picked up the accompanying lace, which had fallen by her side of the bed. ‘Did Amalia loan you this?’

Surprised, she reached out and ran her fingertip over the delicate lace. ‘No, Dimitri gave that to me. You didn’t realise?’

‘Realise what?’

‘He said his wife made it. She wore it on their wedding day.’

He stared at the lacework in his hands. ‘And he gave it to you?’ His lips twisted into a rueful smile. ‘You’ve won him over completely.’

‘It’s because I’m carrying the next Savas.’

‘No, it’s because he likes you. You’re patient with him—I’ve seen you pouring his tea and plumping his pillows.’