The Price of Fame (8 page)

Letting out a frustrated scream, she stomped to the front door, yelling, “I’m going. You need to trust me. I am not letting my friend learn about our engagement through other people or the friggin’ media.”

She had marched out of the house, only to realize she didn’t have her car. As she paused to figure out what to do, familiar hands grabbed her, and she was thrown over a muscular shoulder.

She squealed. “Put me down now, Markus Pegios. I’m going. You don’t get to tell me who I see. What has gotten into you? You were never this bossy before.”

He chuckled and swatted her bottom. “Yeah, I do get to tell you who to see, especially if that man is in love with you. And I was this bossy before. You just never got to see it.”

He kept her distracted until they were almost ready to leave. Kylie bit her tongue as images of what he’d done flashed through her mind, sending tingles down her spine and straight to her sensitive pussy. She shot a glare at Markus, who was staring at her.

“What? Is something wrong? Why are you staring at me?” She knew her voice was clipped and sharp, but she was still angry at him about the fiasco over James the night before.

“You still angry at me?” Markus asked.

Lowering her voice so the other passengers wouldn’t hear, she whispered, “You know I am. That was a dirty trick you pulled most of yesterday.”

He raised his eyebrow at her words, and she felt her cheeks flush with heat.

“You know what I mean. I’m an idiot because I can’t resist you.”

A huge grin spread over his face, and he captured her left hand, bringing her fingers up to his face as he played with her engagement ring. “I love knowing I can have you whenever I want, that all I have to do is kiss you and you melt into me, or that I can throw you over my shoulder and go all cave man on you. You like that, don’t you,
omorphoula
?”

Kylie let out a moan and looked around first class, praying no one could hear him. From what she could see of the couple of rows around her, most of the other passengers were relaxing, talking, or sleeping, but a few were staring at them, well, staring at Markus. “Stop talking about stuff like that here. People are staring.”

He shrugged. “Let them stare.” He moved his hands up to her face, leaned down, and brushed her lips with his.

She closed her eyes as his hands slowly moved down her face, leaving a trail of fire, which only he could do to her.

“I want everyone to know what you are to me. I can’t wait to take you home and show you off.”

Giving in and not caring anymore, she kissed him back until finally they pulled apart slightly, panting.

“So, I’m forgiven?”

She looked into his gorgeous face and sighed. “All right, you are forgiven, but next time, trust me. I could have handled going over to see James.”

“It was never you I didn’t trust. It was him. Next time something like that happens, I’ll try not to go all bossy cave man on you.”

Kylie let out a huff. “Nothing like that will happen again. And I don’t mind a little bit of the cave man. He’s hot.”

He laughed, and she snuggled as best she could into him, feeling better and happy they had survived their first fight.

* * * *

Markus had never been the nervous type, even when performing in front of thousands. Right now, though, he was so nervous he felt sick. Looking down at the woman who held everything of his in her small hands, he hoped Kylie could handle the media frenzy he knew would be waiting for them.

They’d waited until last to get off the plane. Turning, he took a deep breath, slowly letting it go as they walked off the plane.

Markus felt Kylie buzzing with excitement. “I’ve never been anywhere besides New Zealand, and that was for only three days with my parents. I can’t wait for you to take me to all the temples, Athens, oh, Mount Olympus, and Santorini. Did I say that right?”

Seeing the gates up ahead, he prayed there weren’t too many paparazzi. They’d been through immigration and customs and were now walking to the exits. “Yes, you said it quite well.” He stopped as they reached security. “Kylie, you need to keep a tight hold of my hand. Don’t let go no matter what, and don’t answer any questions.”

She bit her lip and glanced around them before nodding.

A security guard came over to him with two others dressed in uniform. “Mr. Pegios, Miss Breal, stay between us at all times. I have everything else organized. I have men controlling the fans and media, but I still advise you to stay close. Your luggage is in the limo, ready and waiting to go.” He’d spoken English for Kylie’s benefit. Now he spoke into his walkie in Greek, telling people Markus and Kylie were coming.

Kylie gripped his hand tighter the closer they got to the airport doors. Just as the doors opened, he said, “I love you.”

Cameras flashed in his eyes, and fans and the media swarmed them. A flood of questions from journalists erupted.

“Is this the woman from the video?”

“Do you not like Greek women?”

“Is it true you deliberately went elsewhere to fall in love?”

“Is she pregnant?”

“Are you going to move to Australia?”

“Are you engaged? Is that her engagement ring?”

“Is this all a stunt to prove you’re not gay?”

On the last question, he felt Kylie shaking. He looked down at her to see her trying to stop herself from laughing. He wondered what she found so funny.

Finally, the guards pushed their way through the crowd and to the limo. They got in, and as soon as the door was shut, he asked, “What is so funny?”

She looked him up and down and raised her eyebrow. “Is there some gorgeous Greek man I’m going to have to watch out for?”

It took him a moment to understand before he laughed, pulled her to him, and kissed her.

She pulled away with a coy smile on her face. “You are way too good looking, and it’s always the hot ones who turn out to be gay.”

He gave a growl and pulled her onto his lap. “I’m happy to prove to you that I’m not. We do have a bit of driving in traffic, and since we couldn’t join the Mile High Club, how about—”

Kylie squealed as they were interrupted. Markus looked over to the far corner of the limo to see his manager, Gaelan, sitting with his laptop on his legs and phone in his ear as he stared at them.

“I would rather not see that show,” he said in Greek.

Markus shot a glare at Gaelan. “What the hell are you doing in here?”

Kylie buried her head in his chest, mumbling, “Can you speak English? I don’t understand.” She turned up to him. “Who is he?”

He looked at his manager, hoping he would see he was serious. “Speak English, please. Kylie is only just learning Greek.” Gaelan nodded.

“Congratulations, you are number one in most countries. English and American producers are begging me to put you on their talk shows. Some even want the both of you.”

Slowly, Kylie slid off him, only to shake her head. He knew she didn’t want to be in the limelight. She sat next to him, and he watched as his manager looked Kylie up and down, his gaze stopping on the engagement ring.

Gaelan’s eyes widened for a moment before he spoke in rapid Greek. “You are engaged? When did this happen? Why didn’t you inform me? This changes a lot of things. She is not pregnant, is she? This should keep you at number one for a while. You two chat. I have to find a wedding planner and organize a place to have it all. I will call your mother and sister.”

Kylie was studying Gaelan’s face as though he were a bug under a microscope. “Does he not know much English?”

“He does, but in his excitement, he forgets to speak it. He’s sorry, aren’t you, Gaelan?” Gaelan looked to him, and then glanced at Kylie, nodding.

“What did he say?”

Markus debated what to say as he knew Kylie was already overwhelmed with everything. He didn’t want to scare her off.

“He commented on your engagement ring and asked if my parents knew and what we planned to do.”

She studied his face for a moment before giving a slight nod. “Your parents don’t know. What if they don’t like me?”

He reached for her hands, lifted them to his mouth, and kissed them. “They will love you. I have told them about you. They know how I feel and what you are to me. They want me to be happy. Don’t stress,
omorphoula
. They will love you. Just like I do.”

She let out a sigh and shot a glance at Gaelan, who was talking on his phone.

Kylie glanced out their window with an amazed expression on her face. “Where do you live?”

“I live in Mykonos. I have a house overlooking the sea.”

Her eyes widened, and she pounced in her seat as her lips turned up in a bright smile. “Oh, that was one of the places I hoped we would visit. It’s even better that you live there. You can show me all the cool places.”

He gave her what he hoped passed for a smile because he didn’t want to tell her just yet that he didn’t go exploring often, as he usually got swarmed with fans and paparazzi.

“Do your parents live there too?”

He grinned as he thought of his family home in the country. “No, my family lives a couple of hours away in the country. We own an olive tree farm. I think that’s what you would call it. We produce olive oil and other things from it. My younger brothers run it now.”

“Wow, I forgot there are more men who look like you.” Her hand went up to cover her mouth, and she turned bright pink.

Not able to resist, he leaned down, pulling her hand from her mouth, and gently brushed her lips with his. “I have a little sister I told you about, and did I mention the two brothers are twins? They look like younger versions of me. At least we are told that all the time. Should I be worried? Are you thinking of trading me in for the younger models?”

Her lips curled up in the corners, and her eyes took on a wicked gleam. “Ooohhh, that depends on what the younger model has to offer.” Her hands trailed up his shirt, and her mouth hovered over his ear. “Would a younger model be able to keep up with me all night long? Would he show me who’s boss? Would he know all the right spots?”

He gulped as images flashed through his mind of all the things he wanted to do to her. Growling, he shot a death stare at his manager, and wished he could throw him out. She let out a chuckle as she looked at Gaelan sitting in his corner to make sure he wasn’t watching, and then she slid her hands into his pants. Kylie’s chuckle turned into a groan, and she closed her eyes as her hand brushed his length before she opened her eyes, shot a glance at Gaelan, and quickly pulled her hand out.

Markus counted to ten and prayed for patience as her cheeks turned a pretty pink.

She whispered, “Don’t you just wish you were the younger model right now who didn’t have a manager sitting across from him?”

Oooh, she was going to pay for turning him on and leaving him high and dry.

Not caring about Gaelan, he pulled her the rest of the way onto his lap. “You are going to pay, my
omorphoula
. I hope you have the stamina to keep up with this old man. Because when we get out of this godforsaken limo, I’m going to throw you over my shoulder and carry you to my castle where I will ravish you until you beg for mercy.”

Her eyes filled with lust, and her breath came out in pants. She let out a moan.

“I can’t wait to get you into my house and my bed.” He smirked at her as she pouted.

“How long until we’re at your place?”

* * * *

She survived the longest car ride of her life, which was a feat, as Markus kept whispering all the things he wanted to do to her all night long. They arrived at his house, and true to his word, he threw her over his shoulder, swatted her bottom, and walked to his room. She saw white everywhere she looked and gave a shiver at the cold feel of the house.

He placed her on a king-sized bed, and Kylie watched as he took his clothes off, chucking them into a pile in the corner. “What do you think of my … our house?”

She grimaced. What she had seen hadn’t been very homey. “I didn’t get to see that much of it because an old cave man had me thrown over his shoulder, but what I did see was very, um… white.”

“You can change anything you like. It’s your home too now.” She didn’t say anything, as she wasn’t sure what to say.

He slowly crawled up the bed and pulled her clothes off, but her mind just couldn’t seem to get into it. Did he expect her to move to Greece and live here with him? What was she going to do when he went on tour?

He stopped caressing her stomach. “What’s the matter, my
omorphoula
?”

“What do you want from me? Where do I really fit into your life? My life isn’t in Greece. What am I going to do when you’re on tour or doing other celebrity stuff?”

“I want you to be happy with me. You’ll fit into my life as my wife, partner, and confidant.” Markus pulled her onto his lap so she straddled him. Holding her face in his hands, he looked into her eyes. “I know your life isn’t in Greece, but I want you to give it a chance. I’m happy for us to live some of our life in Australia. My family lives here … your family soon.” Her heart felt as though it were going to explode as the intensity in his gaze sharpened and he stroked her cheek. “I want you with me when I go on tour. I want you to come with me tomorrow.”

Kylie didn’t know what to say. She knew he was a big star, and she would have to spend some time in Europe, but to live here permanently, when all her friends and the only life she knew were in Australia, would be hard. She didn’t think she could leave all her friends and her dancing behind and start anew. She searched his gaze, trying to find what her answer should be. She didn’t want to be in the spotlight or leave the quiet, simple life she had known, but Kylie knew she would try, for him.

Pulling away from him, Kylie sat on the end of the bed. Running her hands through her messy hair, she leaned back over him and kissed his lips. “I love you. I’m going to give this crazy life of yours a try. You have to promise me no pressure, though. If I don’t want to do something or go somewhere with you, you will have to understand. Give me time. This celebrity stuff is all new to me. That chaos at the airport was funny and bearable because it still hasn’t sunk in who you really are.”