The Greek's Secret Heir

“But you aren’t?”

“You know I am, but I’m afraid I might not be able to get pregnant. I talked to my OB here in Salonica the other day. He said that from the ages of twenty-five to thirty-six you have an eighty-six percent chance of conception if you keep trying at the fertile time.”

“I’ll take those odds considering we won’t miss any of your fertile days.”

Oh, Nico. “But the odds aren’t the same as they were when I was seventeen. He also reminded me that it’s harder to stay pregnant if you do conceive.”

“Let’s take it one problem at a time. Right now we don’t have any. In fact I don’t believe we’re in any hurry to get you home.”

“Don’t joke about this, Nico. Four months might not be long enough. I don’t want you to have to wait another second beyond that time before you find another woman who can give you children.”

His eyes wandered over her. “We’ve already had this conversation and have produced the perfect child together. You’re young and I don’t anticipate any problems. Now let’s stop talking.”

Within seconds he’d covered her mouth with his own and set her on fire as only he could do. She lost all sense of time while they found ways to bring each other pleasure. Nico created ecstasy beyond comprehension.

It was dark outside by the time she stirred and eased away from him.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“To the bathroom for a shower. I need to get back home.”

He drew her back against him. “What if I ask you to stay the night with me?”

She wanted that more than he knew. “If we’re trying to keep our marriage a secret, then it wouldn’t be a good idea.”

Nico pulled her closer. “The thing is, tomorrow I have to go out of town on important business. I might be gone several days and am not certain when I’ll be back.”

That shouldn’t have upset her. “Where are you going?”

“Not far.”

She frowned, sensing he was keeping something from her. “You can’t tell your own wife?” she teased.

“I promise to tell you everything after I return.”

Suddenly the idea that he was leaving Salonica for any reason at all frightened her. The last time he’d flown away from her, he’d never come back. It was silly of her to be this worried, but she couldn’t help it. “I’ve a feeling this doesn’t have anything to do with your work.”

“My lips are sealed for now.”

Alexa knew it, and didn’t like the sound of it. But she didn’t want to behave like a nagging wife. Instead, she slid out of his arms and hurried across the room to the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later he walked her to the door of her grandfather’s home. She could tell he was preoccupied. “I’ll text you when I can.” After a hungry kiss, he walked swiftly to his car. Naturally there were no words of love from him.

How long are you going to wait for something that’s never going to happen, Alexa? How long do you think you can play house with him, knowing the most important ingredient for you is missing?

It took all her self-control to keep from crying out her love for him. If she did, she’d never stop.

* * *

Over the next two days, Alexa lost a lot of sleep. Until she heard from Nico, she knew she wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything. On Wednesday morning she was so anxious, she had no desire to go on her morning run. It wouldn’t help her.

Dimitra had just left the house for the university with Kristos. Her daughter had no reason to be concerned that her father was away on business. Alexa went into the kitchen to make coffee, all the while waiting for her husband’s call. She could hear her grandfather talking to Phyllis while he was get

ting dressed. It might be a normal day, but it didn’t feel like one.

While she was pouring coffee into a mug, her phone rang, causing her to spill some on the counter. She grabbed her cell without looking at the caller ID. “Nico—” she cried.

“No. It’s Giannina.”