Greek's Marriage Bargain (7 page)

Nikos lifted her onto the bed, lying down atop her. As he caressed and kissed her to a fever pitch, she touched him, drinking her fill of him. Leah ached to be one with him, and when he finally positioned himself between her thighs, poised to enter her, she clutched his buttocks, lifting herself to meet him.

Leah winced at the sharp pain accompanying their union. Nikos froze, looking down at her with an expression of mingled surprise and wonder. “You are a virgin?”

“Was,” she managed to say while lifting her hips, taking him completely inside. After a brief pause, Nikos resumed thrusting, and she strove to match his rhythm. They found release together, and her body convulsed under him.

What could have been minutes or hours later, Nikos rolled to her side, wrapping her in his arms. To her consternation, tears streamed from her eyes. Nikos sat up abruptly. “Are you hurt? Did I hurt you? I’m so sorry, Leah.”

She shook her head. “It’s not that,” she said in a wet voice. A cough cleared her throat, and she sounded more like herself when she said, “It was wonderful. Amazing. I guess I was just thinking about how this is just a brief interlude. When our marriage ends…” She shrugged a shoulder. “I guess I’m just overwhelmed.” That wasn’t the truth, but Leah wasn’t about to compound her mistake by admitting she was in love with him and had already started mourning losing him, even before they parted.

He laid his head on her upper arm. “It doesn’t have to.”

Leah craned her neck to see his face. “What doesn’t?”

“Our marriage doesn’t have to end.” He trailed a finger across her stomach, making her tremble. Nikos changed positions to straddle her. “Let’s forget the agreement we had and make a new one.”

Eyes wide, she stared up at him. “We agreed to three years.”

Nikos shrugged. “Is there some reason why we shouldn’t at least try to have a real marriage?”

Leah floundered, not even certain how she felt. It was tempting to agree, but she would fall even deeper in love with Nikos. If he decided it wasn’t what he wanted, could she weather the emotional devastation? “Why do you want to change things, Nikos?”

“We’re good together. We like and respect each other.” He thrust against her suggestively. “I think we’re sexually compatible.”

She frowned. “What about more? Don’t you want to marry someone you love?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so. We have the foundation laid for a strong marriage. Maybe we’ll even love each other in time.”

She tried to reject the thrill of hope his words imparted. It had been an afternoon of recklessness, and she decided one more act wouldn’t make a difference. “Perhaps. I’m willing to renegotiate our deal. Do you want to add six months?”

“I do not think we need to impose a deadline,
agape mou
.” Let’s just see how things progress.” Nikos slid slowly down her body, placing kisses as he went—across her neck, breasts and stomach, progressing lower. When he reached his destination, Leah became incapable of any further discussion or thought.

The next several weeks passed in a happy haze for Leah. She and Nikos spent most of the days and all of the nights together. Not only were they learning about each other’s physical needs, they were connecting on a deeper level. She was afraid of how much she had started to love her husband. If he changed his mind, she didn’t know how she would survive walking away.

That fear still couldn’t keep her from loving him. Leah watched him with Arianna, patiently listening to her instructions on where to move the furniture to clear the room for her birthday party that night. It was a task any of the servants could have performed, but Nikos had volunteered.

She had dreaded this day coming for a long time. With Arianna turning eighteen, she was no longer needed. Leah hadn’t been sure what she would do with herself, beyond finishing her botany degree. Now, she dared to tentatively envision a future with Nikos.

He looked up from sliding a wingchair out of the way and caught her staring at him. Nikos winked before resuming his task.

Which brought her back to her own task. Leah focused her attention on arranging flowers in the vases around the room. She was nearly finished when Nikos came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her body to draw her against him. He was hard and ready for her, as he always seemed to be, but there was no time to indulge their physical needs at the moment.

Leah giggled when he nuzzled her neck. “Stop it. I have to finish this.”

“It looks fine to me,” he said, cupping her breast. “Perfect.”

“Arianna…”

“Is busy,” he said against her skin. “She’s with Irina, going over the menu. Again.” He chuckled.

“You don’t turn eighteen every day.” Leah allowed him to turn her around, so she was facing him. She dropped the bunch of hyacinths she’d been holding to put her arms on his shoulders. “What were you like then? I didn’t really know you.” She had been ten and had only just started noticing boys. Even then, she’d found Nikos attractive, but he’d seemed much too old.

“I don’t even remember being eighteen.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I remember never being able to live up to my father’s expectations.” A sad smile drifted across his lips. “He told me multiple times he was thankful for Dmitri, because I would never be fit to run the Andrakis Corporation.”

Leah stroked his neck. “That must have been difficult.”

Nikos shrugged. “It is the way of many fathers.” His lips firmed. “It will not be my way though.”

She touched her tongue to her dry lips. “You want children?”

He quirked a brow. “Of course.”

She swallowed, searching for courage. “With me?”

Nikos frowned at the question. “Of course,
agape mou
, but not until I have had you to myself for a long time yet.”

She tilted her neck so he could nibble the flesh, feeling content. Nikos wanted her to have his children. That must be a good sign that they had a strong future ahead of them. As he lifted her into his arms, she wrapped her legs around his waist, silently concurring with the idea to wait a while to have a child. She could spend years getting her fill of his body before she was ever ready to share her attention.

He spirited her to their bedroom, closing the door with his foot. Leah gasped when he pushed up her skirt, bracing her against the wall.

“I love when you wear dresses.” He stroked her sensitive flesh. “Along with those silky little panties.” Nikos pushed them aside to touch her bare flesh. She was wet and eager for him.

“Please, Nikos.” She dug her hands into his shoulders as he shifted positions to take a foil packet from the nightstand. When he had it open, she lent him a free hand with slipping it on. “Now.”

Nikos plunged deep inside her, pushing her against the wall with each thrust. It was unbearably erotic, to be trapped between the unyielding wall and his almost equally unyielding body. Leah arched against him, losing herself in the rhythm he set. She climaxed several times before he finally let himself find satisfaction.

Sweaty and exhausted, but energized, Leah laid her head against his shoulder, kissing his chest gently. She couldn’t imagine being happier than she was right now. Her only regret was they had wasted three years living as distant roommates.

Leah assisted Arianna with her hair later that evening, pinning up the black strands into a sophisticated up-do. The younger girl had chosen an aquamarine gown that was slightly sexy, but wouldn’t have Nikos trying to send her back to her room to change. Leah pressed a kiss to Arianna’s cheek. “You look beautiful, and all grown up.” Tears filled her eyes, and she had to blink several times.

Arianna looked alarmed. “Are you all right, Leah?”

She nodded, wiping away the few tears that had escaped. It was a good thing she was running behind and hadn’t yet applied her own makeup, or she would have to redo it now. “I’m fine, and so proud of you. You are a lovely young woman.”

Arianna dragged her lower lip between her teeth, looking uncertain. “Do you think so? Truly?”

Leah nodded. “Of course I do.”

With a quick glance around, though they were the only two in Arianna’s room, the girl lowered her voice to say, “Loukas wants to…you know. I want to as well, but I’m scared.” She looked up, eyes full of fear. “Do you think I’m old enough?”

Leah blinked. Only five years separated them, but she suddenly felt a thousand years older. “I think that if you can’t even say make love, you’re probably not ready to.”

Arianna looked a little disappointed, but nodded. “What’s it like?” She quickly held up a hand. “I don’t want details about
Theo
Nikos and you, but is it… well, is it what everyone says it is?”

With a sigh, weighing her words, she said, “It can be. With someone you love, sex can be amazing. It’s so much more than physical.” She wanted to roll her eyes at herself, sounding so knowledgeable about something which she had just recently discovered. “When you find the right person, you’ll know. That doesn’t mean you have to be married to him, but you should at least love him.” She put an arm around Arianna’s waist. “Does that help?”

After a moment, Arianna nodded. “Thank you, Leah.”

“You’re welcome.” She dropped her arm with a glance at the clock on the wall. “Now I really have to hurry to finish dressing, or I’ll be wearing my dressing gown to your party.”

“At least you wouldn’t outshine me,” said Arianna, a teasing gleam in her eyes.

“Darling, no one can outshine you, especially tonight.”

Despite her time constraints, Leah dressed with care. She wanted to be beautiful for Nikos, without any possibility of outshining Arianna. With that in mind, she chose an elegant black sheath with no straps. It hugged her curves before flaring slightly at the hips to swing around her legs at mid-thigh. High heels that killed her feet and the anniversary earrings completed the look. She had time for only a cursory makeup session, but added a little color to her cheeks, used mascara, and applied a pale pink lip gloss. Knowing Nikos liked her hair down, she left it flowing to her shoulders, noting in passing that it was time for a trim. She had lost all sense of time while on the island, immersed in her husband. Had it really been only three weeks since they had first made love?

Leah closed the drawer on her vanity and got to her feet, wincing at the heels. If they didn’t do such amazing things for her legs, she would kick them off and throw them away. Nikos waited in the bedroom, looking incredibly handsome in a lightweight black suit with a scarlet tie. He growled low in his throat as she walked toward him.

“Are you wearing those silky little panties I adore?”

With a sultry smile, Leah lifted her skirt to show him her lace underwear and garter belt securing black thigh-highs. When he reached out to touch her, she lightly smacked his hand. “There’s no time for that. Yet,” she added in a throaty purr.

With a groan, Nikos offered his arm instead. “You are killing me.”

She patted his hand on her arm. “You’ll survive.”

“Heartless temptress.”

Leah couldn’t hold back a laugh, unashamed she was silently enjoying his alleged misery. He had teased her often enough that it was satisfying to turn the tables. Not to mention his blatant desire boosted her ego and made her more aware of her own sensuality.

They arrived downstairs shortly before the influx of guests began arriving. When the doorbell rang a few minutes later, Nikos whispered in her ear. “We would have had time,
agape mou
.”

Leah smiled wickedly. “Perhaps ten minutes would satisfy you, but I require more time.”

His lips twitched with suppressed amusement. “You will pay for that. You will have so much time, you’ll beg me to stop.”

She shook her head. “Never,” she said with complete seriousness.

A group of giggling teenagers interrupted them, and they ended up separated as they mingled, acting more as chaperone than party guests until some of the older guests began arriving.

Leah spent the next hour circulating among the guests, making sure everyone had what they needed. It was strange to see some of Arianna’s friends drinking as heavily as some older guests, but she knew alcohol wasn’t the taboo in Greece that it was in America. She observed Arianna surreptitiously and was pleased to see the girl nursing the same glass of champagne she’d taken at the beginning of the party. Her handsome Greek boyfriend, Loukas, seemed just as sensible.

Shortly after, a slight disruption drew Leah’s attention to another part of the room. Her stomach clenched when she recognized Maia Papadas at the center of a small group. A group that included her husband. Leah’s eyes narrowed at the way Maia leaned toward Nikos, tossing her hair back as she laughed at something he’d said. Her hand settled on his forearm, but he made no move to brush it off.

Resolutely, Leah turned away from the sight, determined to ignore Maia’s behavior. She had to trust Nikos if they were going to have a real marriage. He didn’t seem to be in love with Maia any longer, so she had nothing to fear. She almost convinced herself of that as she greeted more guests and ensured the catering staff kept the food in steady supply. It was a party much like any other, despite Maia’s unwelcome presence.

When the caterer indicated the birthday cake was ready, Leah nodded. She craned her head, finding Arianna easily. Leah approached the other girl, who was deep in conversation with Loukas, clearing her throat as she neared to avoid overhearing anything personal. “The cake is ready.”

Arianna smiled. “So am I.” She looked around. “Where is
Theo
Nikos?”

“I’ll find him,” Leah said. She turned from Arianna to scan the room, not spotting Nikos. Her eyes seemed to have an unerring ability to zero in on him wherever he was, but she didn’t see him. With a small sigh of impatience, Leah went in search of Nikos.

She searched his study and their bedroom, along with the rooms near the party. As she passed near a small salon, the sound of Maia’s voice made her pause. Leah turned to the door, peeking inside cautiously. The salon led to one of the gardens, and Maia was out on the patio, with the French doors still open. Standing near her was Nikos.

Leah gasped softly when Maia pressed herself closer to Nikos, putting a hand on his shoulder. “
Erastís
, you must forgive me. I was young and foolish. It scared me how much I loved you, so I ran away.”

“Right into
Kyrios
Milanou’s arms,” said Nikos sardonically.

Maia clutched his lapels, looking up at him with a pleading expression. It was clearly contrived, but Leah wondered if Nikos had realized that. “I married Giorgis to please my father. He wanted the union.” Her voice dropped an octave, forcing Leah to ease closer to hear. “You must know I had no love for him. When he held me in his arms, it was unpleasant to have that old man touching me.” She trailed a hand down Nikos’s chest, stopping dangerously close to his belt. “I only got through it by imagining it was your hands on me and you making love to me.”

“Perhaps you imagined it was my fortune when you spent large amounts of his vast wealth?” Nikos shook his head. “No, it couldn’t be, because you broke off our engagement when my father threatened to disown me if I didn’t follow his plans for my life.”

“That wasn’t the reason—”

“Save it,” said Nikos harshly, finally pushing her away. “I truly do not care any longer, Maia. I am not in love with you and haven’t been for a long time.”

“You could be again, with a little persuasion.” There was a hint of petulance in her expression, despite her seductive drawl.

“I am married,” said Nikos coldly. A smile spread across Leah’s face, and she pressed a hand to her chest to still her racing heart. Perhaps she shouldn’t take such joy in his rejection of his old lover, but she couldn’t summon any guilt. The other woman was skulking about, trying to seduce her husband. No wonder she couldn’t feel badly for her.

Maia’s laugh was icy and stark, with no trace of real amusement. “You must be kidding. That girl is hopeless. It is clearly a sham marriage. I know your big heart and somewhat inflexibly morals, Nikos. You probably married her to take care of her after her father died in your brother’s service.”

Leah flinched at the almost accurate assessment of their situation.

“You know nothing of our relationship.” Nikos looked pointedly at his watch. “It must be nearly time for the cake.”

Taking that as her cue, Leah strode into the room, deliberately clicking her heels against the marble floor with more force than necessary. She pasted on a fake smile as she approached them. “There you are. The caterer is about to wheel out the cake.” Leah walked straight to Nikos to put her arm around his waist. “She’ll be heartbroken if you aren’t there. She’d miss you almost as much as I have the last few hours.” With a sexy smile, she lifted her head in his direction. Nikos instantly responded to her cue, bending his head to capture her mouth.

It had started as a way to demonstrate their marriage wasn’t fake—at least not anymore—but the kiss quickly escalated. Nikos gathered her into his arms as his mouth plundered hers. Vaguely, Leah heard Maia say something in Greek. She didn’t understand the words, but the tone revealed the other woman’s rage. When neither of them broke apart, Maia said something else that sounded crude and spun on her heel. Her shoes tapped across the marble in staccato rhythm as she strode from the room.

Even with her gone, Leah couldn’t tear herself from Nikos’s embrace. In the back of her mind, she knew time was a precious commodity, but couldn’t remember why they shouldn’t be doing this now.

Fortunately, Nikos seemed slightly more clearheaded. He withdrew his mouth, lifting his head with a sigh that sounded regretful. “Cake now,
agape mou
, and you later.” He seemed to struggle to step away. “Both will be sweet, but I have no doubt which dessert I shall prefer.”

Leah smothered a yawn, finding it difficult to keep her eyes open. The party was finally winding down, and most of the remaining guests were Arianna’s friends. She cast a longing glance at the doorway, wishing she could excuse herself and go to bed. She’d spent too many nights with Nikos, not getting much sleep.

“Tired?” he asked, coming up behind her to put an arm around her waist.

She nodded. “Very. I hope the kids leave soon.”

“Why don’t you go on up to bed? I’ll keep an eye on them.” He glanced at his watch. “I need to check the markets anyway.” Nikos waved a hand at the small group. “I don’t think they can get into much mischief with me down the hall.”

Another yawn escaped, and Leah let herself be persuaded. “I’ll be lonely without you.”

He chuckled. “Liar. You’ll be sleeping.”

“You can wake me up,” she said in a husky whisper.

With a shake of his head, he patted her bottom and scooted her in the direction of the door. “I will be gallant and allow you to sleep tonight.” His expression turned wicked. “For a while.”

Leah had fallen into a deep sleep almost the instant her head hit the pillow. She awoke disoriented, uncertain what had awakened her so abruptly. A second later, she heard raised voices and realized the sound of an argument had roused her. She listened for a moment, recognizing Arianna and Nikos’s voices. It wasn’t like them to argue, and she slid from bed and wrapped herself in a robe before leaving the bedroom.

They stood down the hall, near Arianna’s bedroom. Nikos was yelling and waving his hands, occasionally pointing at Arianna and Loukas, who stood beside her, looking frightened but determined not to show fear.

“What’s going on?” Leah asked as she approached them.

“I caught this boy sneaking out of Arianna’s room. They had…” He switched to Greek, unleashing a new wave of anger on the young couple.

“He was not sneaking,
Theo
Nikos. I am an adult, and I can do as I please.”

“An adult?” His cold laugh made Leah flinch almost as much as Arianna. “You are a stupid girl, led by a stupid boy.”

“She’s not stupid,” said Leah. “Arianna is a young woman, Nikos. This sort of thing is natural.”

“Not for good Greek girls,” he snarled. “You wait for marriage,” he said to Arianna.

She rolled her eyes. “Your attitude is archaic,
Theo
. In New York, no one would think anything of me making love with my boyfriend.”

Nikos winced, clearly disconcerted to hear the words coming from her. “We are not in New York. With this act, I see you have not spent nearly enough time in your homeland, learning proper behavior.” He cursed. “You should be ashamed, both of you.”

Loukas bowed his head, but Arianna straightened her shoulders. Leah stepped closer, sensing the situation would continue to escalate unless she could convince them to stop arguing. “It’s late—”

They both ignored her. “I feel no shame. I love Loukas, and it was as Leah said.”

Nikos turned his glower on Leah. “What did Leah say?”

“She told me sex can be beautiful with someone you love. You don’t have to be married to be in love.”

Leah gulped, not liking the way Nikos’s eyes darkened. “It’s late,” she said again. “Why don’t we go to bed and talk about this in the morning?”

He regarded her with an unreadable expression for a long second, before transferring his attention to Loukas. “I will escort the boy home.”

Seeing Loukas tremble, Leah put her hand on Nikos’s arm. “I’m sure he can find his way home just fine, Nikos.”

“Yes,
Kyria
Andrakis,” said the boy eagerly. He paused long enough to squeeze Arianna’s hand before practically running down the stairs. His escape might have been amusing if not for the heavy tension remaining between her husband and his niece.

“I am going to bed,” said Arianna haughtily as she spun on her heel and marched back into her room. The resounding slam of the door echoed through the hallway.

Leah stood awkwardly beside Nikos. His silence worried her, and she found herself trying to fill it. “It isn’t the end of the world, you know.”

He regarded her coldly. “I do not expect you to understand our ways. I also wouldn’t have expected you to deliberately steer her down the wrong path.”

Leah’s mouth dropped open. “I didn’t steer her anywhere, Nikos. She asked me a question, and I gave her the best answer I could.”

“No. You gave her a trite, Western answer that excuses promiscuity.”

She threw up her hands. “I can’t reason with you when you’re like this. I’m going to bed too.” Leah turned and strode back to the bedroom, anger making her heart thump in her ears. She felt a tinge of guilt, wondering if his words were correct. Had Leah given Arianna an answer based on the values of her society instead of the girl’s? With a shake of her head, she closed the bedroom door behind her. Whether he liked it or not, Arianna was a product of both cultures. She was also an adult, and Nikos would have to accept that.