Dimitri's Moon (18 page)

Wrapping her fingers around his wrist, Landi sat down on the edge of the bed. “I…I’m so ashamed. I thought…I thought—”

“Don’t, Landi. This is a shock to all of us. I didn’t know until I met her at the park and she told me. Now, will you please forget about leaving and come down to meet my nephew?”

Landi licked her lips. “I think this is a time for family.”

A small smile turned up one corner of his mouth. “Baby, you
are
family. Not yet as I’d like, but we’ll get to that later. Please come with me.” Dimitri stood and reached out for her hand.

Worrying her lower lip again, Landi’s insides melted when Dimitri leaned down and covered her mouth with his. It was a gentle, coaxing kiss that eliminated her doubt revealed his feelings.

“Dimitri,” she sighed when he ended the kiss.

“
S’agapo
, Ilanderae. For me…there’s only you.”

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121

Blinking back tears, Landi allowed him to pull her to her feet.

Holding hands, they went to the living room where everyone else had gathered.

A while later, Landi stood off to the side and observed Dimitri playing with his nephew.
He’s going to be a wonderful father.
Just as the thought ran through her head, he looked in her direction and winked.

The happiness he exuded made her heart wrench. This was a man who longed to have children of his own.

A cold blanket of awareness settled around her. She couldn’t promise giving him them. Despite the sadness that settled over her, Landi returned Dimitri’s smile. Should she let him continue to pursue her even though kids weren’t a guarantee with her? Didn’t he deserve a woman who could and would definitely give him that?

Like Austin?

Landi’s fingers tightened around the mug of tea she held. The way Austin kept glancing at Dimitri bespoke of longing and familiarity.

Landi shoved down the anger that threatened to rise up within her. But Dimitri held his nephew so lovingly in his arms, and the way the blonde stared at Dimitri made Landi almost feel like an outsider.

Bringing the mug to her lips, Landi allowed the warm brew to slide down her throat. A vibration at her side pulled her attention off the handsome Greek who played with a child that could be his clone.

“Nycks,” she said. It was Tim at the LA office. Landi entered the house, leaving her cup in the sink, and went to her room to take the call.

Dimitri folded up the blanket his nephew had been playing on in the sunroom. Khristos was off with his folks getting ice cream. A smile filled his face as he recalled his parents’ reaction to Khristos. They were already doting on him.

“I think this went very well,” Austin said from behind him.

Placing the blanket on the back of the overstuffed chair beside him, Dimitri looked at her. “Yes. It’s obvious they love him. I’m glad you told us about him, Austin. Thank you.”

She smiled slightly and cast a glance behind her before she shoved her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. She moved closer to him. “He looks a lot like you…and Khristos.”

“I see some of you in him as well,” Dimitri commented as he sat on the arm of the chair, sending her a kind smile. “He’s a great boy, Austin. Khristos would be proud of the way you’re raising him.”

122

Aliyah Burke

Austin walked closer, her blonde hair swaying in time with each step. “Thank you. Every time I look at him, I miss his father even more.

Some days,” she paused and ran a hand through her hair, “I don’t know how I’m going to make it. I feel so alone.”

“You aren’t alone, Austin. Don’t forget that.” Dimitri swallowed as tears began to stream down her face. He stood and placed a hand slightly on her shaking shoulder. “You aren’t alone. Don’t think like that.”

With a loud sob, she threw herself at him. Instinctively, Dimitri used his arms to support her. She tightened her hold on him and continued to cry. Feeling a bit awkward, he patted her back lightly.

Consoling people didn’t rank high on the list of things he did well.

Licking his lower lip, he adjusted his stance as her face burrowed deeper into his neck. Her breathing slowed and eventually the racking sobs rocketing through her subsided. Austin’s grip on his muscles changed. She inhaled sharply and he felt her breasts slide across the planes of his chest. She froze before drawing back and staring at him, showing him the red-rimmed gaze she retained.

“Sorry,” she murmured, stepping back.

“It’s okay.”

Her eyes flashed back to his and then scanned up and down his body. “You look a lot like your brother.” He smiled slightly and Austin moved forward, erasing the distance she’d put between them. “I bet you hear that a lot though.”

“Not too much,” he said. “I’m not around people who knew him.” His heart clenched with pain as he recalled his brother with his easy-going personality and winning smile.
God, I miss him.

“I did,” Austin muttered, reaching toward his face only to stop at the last second. “I knew him and trust me, there are a lot of similarities.” She placed herself right before him, barely leaving any space between them. “He was so proud of you.”

Dimitri hadn’t any clue Khristos had talked about him. “I didn’t know that.”

“All the time. He always told me to go to you if he couldn’t be reached. That there was none other he trusted.”

One eyebrow arched. Dimitri waited for her to continue. When she remained silent, he said, “You have my nephew; anything I can do to help, I will.”

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Austin reached for his face, touching his hair at the last moment.

Her gaze grew shuttered. The second he wrapped his fingers around her wrist, she closed her baby blues. “I can’t do this,” she whispered.

“Austin,” Dimitri said. “Austin, look at me.” She did and he could see the need in her eyes.

Before he could continue, she cupped his face. “Please don’t make me be alone. It’s been so long,” she told him as her arms wound around his neck. “So long since I’ve been held.”

He swallowed as he gripped her upper arms, setting her away from him. “Austin, I’m not my brother. I can’t be the man for you.”

“I need you!” she wailed and lunged toward him. Her lips pressed hungrily against his, her tongue thrusting into his mouth.

Dimitri jerked away from her and stepped around the chair so it sat like a barrier between them. A flash of movement caught his eye and his heart sank when he realized who it could’ve been. Pinning his gaze on the blonde in the room, he said, “I’m not Khristos.
Don’t
do that again.”

She sank down to sit on the edge of the coffee table, but he didn’t move closer. “I’m sorry. I forgot myself there. Your touch, accent, all of it…please, forgive me.”

Forcing a smile past the dread welling up in his belly, Dimitri nodded once. “Excuse me, Austin. I have to go speak to Landi.” Without waiting for an answer, he left the sunroom and jogged up the stairs toward Landi’s room.

“Landi,” he said as he entered the room without knocking. It was empty. A growl of anger rose up within him. Spinning around, he headed back down the stairs; he needed his phone and it was in the kitchen.

His mom was in there loading the dishwasher. “
Mana
.” Under her watchful eye, he reached for his phone.

“
Gios
,” she responded with affection. Her expression became worried as she continued to watch his face. “What’s wrong, Dimitri?”

“Did you see Landi leave?” His heart clenched as he waited for the response.

“Of course. She said she went to tell you. Did she not?” His mother spoke in Greek.

He
knew
Landi had seen the kiss. “No,” he answered, “I was talking to Austin.”

124

Aliyah Burke

“There is something you aren’t telling me, son.” She closed the dishwasher. “But I’ll assume you and Landi will work it out when she returns.”

Returns? She’s coming back?
In English, he replied, “Yes,
mana
.

We’re fine.”

“Okay. Your dinner is in the oven. Take it out when the timer goes off.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “We’ll be back later.”

Before he could ask, his mother had left the room. In moments, he waved goodbye to his parents, Austin, and her son.

The instant he was alone, Dimitri pressed the call button for Landi’s number.

“Nycks.” Her voice soothed the angered beast within him.

“Where are you, baby?”

“Dimitri.” Her response sounded flat. “What can I do for you?”

“Where are you?”

“The office. I’m a bit busy; can whatever’s on your mind wait for a bit?”

No!
“When are you returning to the house?”

“I’ll be back in about two more hours.” The sound of papers shuffling reached him.

His shoulders slumped. “Okay.”
Really, what can I say?
The al-pha within him wanted to demand she come to him, but Dimitri knew that wasn’t the way to deal with Landi. Never one to back down, Landi had a tongue that could flay the hide off an armadillo without breaking a sweat if someone pushed her.

“Bye, Dimitri.” Her words flowed over him.

“
S’agapo
, Landi,” he muttered to the dial tone droning on in his ear.

Landi sighed as she closed her phone. For the first time in a long time, she longed to forget work and go back to Dimitri. She knew he wanted to discuss the kiss between him and Austin, but now wasn’t the time. Yes, it had hurt to see; but if there were ever a time to trust him, it was now. Tim slid a folder before her dragging her attention from the lingering memory of Dimitri’s voice to the work before her. Soon all her concentration was on the job at hand.

She relaxed in the back of the town car as it drove her back to the Melonakos home. She was tired. Meeting Dimitri’s nephew and Austin had taken a lot more out of her than she’d realized. Heading to
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125

the LA office had truly been a blessing, giving her a moment to step back and get control of her emotions.

Especially her jealousy and anger at Austin kissing Dimitri.

She’d longed to run in there and beat the shit out of her; but instead, Landi had left. Having a brawl in his parents’ house was not high on her to-do list. Landi had told Jason what had happened, and bless him, he’d told her to take a step back and calm down.

Her gaze snapped to the door as the black vehicle gently came to a stop. With a deep breath, Landi grabbed her purse, left the comfortable interior, and, with a wave to the driver, went up the brick steps. The door opened before she got there and her heart lodged in her throat as her gaze ran over Dimitri standing there waiting for her.

He wore black, a color he made look
so
damn good. His shirt hung open on his lean muscular frame, allowing her to ogle the tanned skin of his chest. She could see the silver of his belt shinning in the early-evening sun. The sight before her made her mouth go dry and her pussy flood. As she moved toward him, his golden gaze pierced her. In its depths she read a gamut of emotions.

Licking her lips, she smiled and said, “Hey.”

“Landi,” he murmured as he closed the rest of the distance between them and wrapped his powerful arms around her. His scent gave her the feeling of coming home, being safe and protected. His deep, soothing voice continued on in Greek.

When he stopped talking, she asked, “You the only one here?”

He released her enough to allow her to enter the house. “Yes.

Landi, about earlier…the thing with Austin—”

“The
kiss
y’all shared?” she asked, cutting him off. Her eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“No!” His stare hardened. “We didn’t
share
a kiss. She kissed me.”

Landi could tell he was gearing up for a confrontation. At that moment, Landi realized she didn’t want to argue. Whatever demon that had pushed that button no long had any power. Holding up a hand, she shook her head.

“Leave it, Dimitri. It bothered me, yes. I wanted to hurt you both, yes. But the bottom line is I trust you. There wasn’t anything between you. Drop it.”

Relief flooded his face. “Oh, Landi,” he said, pulling her in close.

“I thought I was going to lose you. I swear it didn’t mean a thing. She wants my brother.”

126

Aliyah Burke

Figures.
“I kinda thought so. I saw the way she watched you more and more.” Landi’s stomach roiled at the replaying image of Austin kissing Dimitri. Squeezing her eyes shut, she did her best to put it behind her.
Harder than I thought it would be.

A squeal escaped as Dimitri swept her up in his arms and carried her up the staircase to her bedroom. Her heart sped up as he turned a warm, golden pair of eyes upon her.

“Love you, Landi,” he announced as he lowered them both to the bed.

I love you, too, Dimitri.
Landi wondered in the back of her mind if she’d ever be able to voice those words aloud to the man currently removing her clothing.

They made love until exhaustion overtook them. After a long shower together, they had dinner. When his parents returned home, they spent the remainder of the evening playing cards.

Fourteen

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The warm sun shone down upon Dimitri as he walked through streets and the numerous vendors lining them. A gentle breeze ruffled the fabric of his blue-and-white Hawaiian shirt. Before long, a beautiful brunette joined him. His gaze ran appreciatively over the blue micro-skirt she wore and the light-blue bikini top that nicely complemented her tanned skin.

As her arm slid through his, they entered a hotel lobby and headed straight to the pool. Dimitri smiled as his date prattled on about where she wanted to go tonight. As he lounged back in the chaise, the cell phone attached to his pocket began to ring.

He answered it with a groan. “Hello?”

“Landi’s here and I don’t just mean in Rio. I mean at the same fucking hotel,” the voice on the other end said without preamble.