Dimitri's Moon (17 page)

“Dimitri,” she panted, rubbing her bare pussy against his jean-clad thigh.

“Easy, baby, let me love you.” His mouth moved down to replace his hand on her breast. She gasped as he used his tongue to lave the sensitive nipple. He alternated between the two loving how she tasted. His cock grew heavy against the confines of his jeans.

A need to slide into her filled him in a way he’d never felt before. While their attraction had always been intense and powerful, this was more. So much more.

“I need you inside me, Dimitri.”

114

Aliyah Burke

Grazing her nipple with his teeth, he released her breast. In seconds he stood before her naked. Landi lay on her back. A small, gold heart pendant necklace rested against her skin; otherwise, she was completely naked. Her eyes were heavy lidded with passion; her mouth was slightly open; and her bald pussy wept with desire.

Curling his fingers around his cock, Dimitri slowly fisted himself as he stared down at her. His belly clenched when her tongue snuck out to wet her full lips. He moved forward when her legs spread wider in invitation. Lowering himself over her, he settled between her open thighs, the head of his erection penetrating her.

“Please,” she said.

“Protection,” he ground out as he tried to hold on to his control.

Her legs rose and wrapped around him, drawing him closer. A groan slipped past his lips as her internal wet heat gripped his length.

“I’m on the Pill,” she told him.

With a thrust of his hips, he sank fully into her. “Shit!” he hissed. Her muscles gripped him as he withdrew, telling him not to go.

Landi purred and moved with him.

Feeling her wrapped around him without a latex barrier between them blew Dimitri’s mind. He ground his teeth together so it wouldn’t end too soon. Shutting his eyes, he fought for control, but her sexy mewls and pants kept grabbing his attention. He had to watch her beneath him.

Landi unhooked her legs from around his waist and placed her feet on the mattress. Undulating her hips, she offered him deeper penetration and more friction with her tight pussy. He picked up the speed and depth of his unrelenting thrusts.

Taking her hands in his, Dimitri laced their fingers and placed them above her head. Lowering his head to the curve of her neck and shoulder, he licked along her skin. She trembled beneath him as the faint tang of sweat permeated his senses. The scent of lemon, lavender, and peppermint filled him. Grazing the side of her throat with his teeth, Dimitri continued to power into her. His body burned for release, and he could feel her tightening around his shaft as her panting grew higher and faster.

“
Shhh
,” he reminded her. “No noise.”

She whimpered. Her mouth bit down on his shoulder blade as her internal muscles rippled along his length. She came hard. Gritting his teeth, Dimitri pistoned in and out her wet channel until he came
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115

with a powerful jerk. He barely choked back his own roar of pleasure as he unloaded deep within her.

Lowering his trembling body on hers, Dimitri rolled them to the side and held her close as their hearts began to slow. He rested his hand along the curve of her hip and closed his eyes, accepting the feeling of completion this woman brought him.

Landi leaned against the railing as Dimitri’s dad Feodras walked out to join her on the wraparound porch. She and Dimitri had been at his parents’ home for over a week, and she stared out over the beautiful Melonakos backyard. Dimitri’s mother had an amazing garden.

Feodras’s deep voice broke the silence. “My wife loves to garden; gives her a sense of peace.”

“It’s a wonderful one,” Landi remarked, slanting a glace to the man beside her. He looked a little pale still but overall she could see improvement from when he first returned two days ago. His black hair was thick with a smattering of gray throughout it, giving him a distin-guished look. And yet, she could still see the rakish man he must have been back in the day.

“My son is in love with you. He calls you his other half.”

The comments were so matter of fact, Landi wasn’t sure how to respond. Opting for a safe way out, she remarked, “He’s an amazing man.”

A light chuckle filled the air. “I agree.” Feodras sat down on the porch swing at the corner, allowing the person to see both front and backyards, and pushed it gently with one foot, allowing it to flow in the warm afternoon. “Tell me, Landi.”

She sat down on the railing. “What would you like to know, sir?”

“Do you plan on having children?”

For a moment, she took offense.
That’s none of your business!
Staring into his eyes, she then understood he wasn’t being presumptive and demanding, but just curious and straightforward like the rest of the Melonakos men she’d met. Then, she smiled. “I’m not sure. I have other obligations to keep in mind.”

One graying brow rose. “A young thing like you? What could keep you from having kids of your own?”

116

Aliyah Burke

Landi remained silent for a few seconds. This was something she hadn’t told anyone, not even Kacy. Feodras beckoned to her and Landi joined him on the swing. He picked up her hand in his and squeezed. His look encouraged her.

“I have a responsibility to my family that takes precedence over my own personal wants.” Landi smiled to counter his frown. “The man I marry will have to understand I will be my sisters’ caregiver when my parents are no long capable. There aren’t a lot of men out there who would be okay with that. They’d like their own children without having to care for my mentally challenged sisters.”

“You will take care of your family over your own happiness?”

“I love my family, Mr. Melonakos. Caring for them
is
my happiness.”

“I meant no harm, just that you deserve to have children of your own.”

A sly grin crossed his face as he commented in Greek. Then he squeezed her hand and said in English, “You are wise beyond your years, Ilanderae. I understand why my son feels the way he does about you. You have the kindest of hearts.”

Landi gave him a warm smile. Not too many said that about her.

She was well-known for her cutting tongue. “You are very nice, Mr.

Melonakos.”

“Call me,
pateras
,” Feodras ordered with a wink. “I’ve always wanted a daughter. And you, Landi, are perfect for the spot.” He kissed the back of her hand.

“I see where your son gets his charm.”

Feodras grinned and shrugged easily. “Yes, the Melonakos charm.” Gesturing to the backyard, he sighed and changed the subject.

Dimitri moved silently away from the door and sat down in the living room. Idly he picked up a magazine and flipped through it, not really paying attention to the words before him. He and Landi had some things to discuss. Why hadn’t she told him about caring for her sisters? Did she think he wouldn’t agree to watch over them? He adored her sisters and loved how she planned to take care of them.

“
Gios.
”

He looked up from the magazine and saw his mother standing before him. “
Mana
,” he responded with affection. His mother, Airlia, looked much better now that his father had returned home. Tossing the publication on the coffee table, he rose and placed a kiss on her cheek.

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117

She gave him a small smile before sinking gracefully to the couch and patting the cushion beside her. Following her unspoken directive, Dimitri sat down.

“Everything okay,
mana
?”

“This woman you brought here, Dimitri. You were with her when Khristos died?” she asked in Greek.

“Yes.” Airlia arched a brow at him and he smiled. “We were going to be married that day,” he responded also speaking in Greek.

She narrowed her gaze at him and Dimitri knew she wanted more of an explanation. “I was a spur of the moment thing, Mom. We would have had a larger one with the families.”

“And now?”

Dimitri stared at his hands. “Now I’m trying to earn her trust back. I never stopped loving her.”

She tipped his face toward hers. “And this is why you and Alejandro did what you did?”

Damn! How’d she find out about that? I’m gonna kick AJ’s ass when I
see him next!
Dimitri shrugged as nonchalantly as he could. “She was avoiding me.”

Her brows rose again before her beautiful eyes turned sad.

“Don’t let her go then, Dimitri. I can see she is your saving grace. She is a wonderful woman.” Airlia averted her gaze for a moment and commented almost to herself, “I learned my lesson with Khristos.”

Dimitri furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?” When her eyes met his he could see even more sorrow and even some shame in them. He reached for her hands and held them.

“I wanted you and Khristos to marry nice Greek girls, and I think I only succeeded in pushing Khristos further away by always telling him that. He was so secretive toward the end. He introduced us to one girl, Austin, but I only saw her once until the funeral. She stood with some of his other friends. I think…I think he loved her.” With one hand, she wiped her eyes. “Anyway, I wanted to make sure you
knew
how fond I am of your Landi. She makes you happy, which is all I could want for my son. I love you, Dimitri Androcles Melonakos.” One hand touched his cheek before she stood.

“Love you, too,
mana
,” he whispered in English as she exited the room.

Austin. He’d often wondered that as well, but Khristos had never divulged anything to him about her other than they were good friends. His phone’s ringing snapped him away from memory lane.

118

Aliyah Burke

“Melonakos.”

“Hi, Dimitri,” came the soft greeting.

He smiled. “Hey, Austin! I was just thinking about you. How are you?”

“I’m okay. How’s your father?”

He’d called her with the news, thinking she ought to know about it for the simple reason his brother had thought so much of her.

“Doing well, thanks. He’s home now.”

“Wonderful.”

He could hear the tension in her voice. “Austin, what’s going on?”

“Do you have time to meet me?”

“Of course. Where are you?” He listened as she told him. “I can be there in about thirty minutes. Is that okay?”

“Yes, I’ll see you then. Thank you, Dimitri.” She ended the call.

Pressing the button on his cell, he left the couch and went to his room to change. With a quick kiss for Landi, who still sat with his father on the swing, he climbed into the car. As he pulled into a parking spot at the park, his eyes immediately picked out Austin. She stood by a play area, wringing her hands, and looking entirely too nervous.

Thirteen

Landi’s heart caught when Dimitri pulled back into the driveway. Her gaze narrowed as another vehicle followed. Sitting at the wheel of that car was a blonde woman.
What the fuck is going on here?

She remained seated on the porch swing as Dimitri got out and walked back to the other car to open the door for the female.

Long, feminine fingers curled familiarly around Dimitri’s arm as they moved toward the back door of the Nissan Sentra. When the screen door beside her opened, Landi still kept her gaze on the two by the vehicle.

“Austin,” Airlia gasped as she let the door shut behind her.

So the mom knows her.
An ugly wave of jealousy rose up within Landi. The woman complemented Dimitri’s darker coloring with her blonde hair and tan skin. Whoever she was, she stood about two inches shorter than Dimitri and was very beautiful.

A cold chill overcame Landi as the woman backed out of the car holding a young boy. Landi’s stomach sank to her toes. The child was an exact replica of Dimitri. Rising, despite her shaking knees, Landi muttered, “Excuse me,” as she cast one more disbelieving look at the trio before slipping inside the house.

“Landi!” Dimitri’s shout followed behind her, but she didn’t stop. In fact, she increased her steps toward her room.

Tears threatened as she closed the door and sagged against it.

Taking care of her sisters was one thing, but could she really help him raise his son from another woman? It was hard to breathe and she stumbled to the bed, sinking down on the thick mattress.

Do I stay? Maybe it would be better if I left.
Reaching for her cell, Landi scrolled through her address book for the number she wanted to call. With a groan, she snapped her phone shut.

“Get a grip and make up your mind, Landi.” Tossing her phone beside her, Landi stood and reached for her bag. She could get some more work done at the LA office while she waited for the next flight out. It would probably be a redeye, but she didn’t care.

120

Aliyah Burke

Before long, she’d packed her suitcase and zipped it shut. Suddenly, her door swung open. Her breath caught as her gaze landed upon the lean hard physique of Dimitri Melonakos.

“Landi,” he said closed the door behind him. His expression hardened as his golden eyes shot flames when they landed on her packed suitcase. “What the hell is this? Are you leaving?”

“I think it for the best, don’t you?”

“No!” He moved toward her. “Landi, don’t do this. It’s not what you are thinking.”

She bristled. “How do you know what I’m thinking?”

“Baby, it’s all over your face.” He gripped her upper arm and she glanced down at his fingers then back to his face. The look in his eyes softened but was no less serious. “He’s not mine, Landi. That’s my nephew.”

Right.
Her expression must have portrayed her disbelief for he sighed heavily, letting go of her and shoving his hand through his hair.

“Landi. Why would I bring a woman here with a child who’s supposedly mine without telling you first? I couldn’t…I
wouldn’t
do that to you.” He cupped her face, allowing his thumb to stroke along her lower lip. “Her name is Austin and she was pregnant with Khristos’s baby when he died. But she never told us because she didn’t think our parents approved of her. When I’d told her about my father going into surgery, she wanted to make sure he at least got to meet his grand-son.”