“Are you ready to head back to the room?” I asked her after we’d finished our dinners and consumed a few beers.
She nodded. “Definitely.”
There had been a heated energy between us as we talked more about the future and her coming to live in Greece. The more I thought about a future with her, the more excited I became. I was anxious to spend my days and nights with her. I didn’t know what that was going to look like yet, but I felt like we needed to celebrate our reunion, even if we’d only been apart a few short days.
There were three bags sitting just inside the door of our hotel room with the clothes I had asked to be delivered. There was a bottle of champagne chilling on the table, along with several varieties of wine.
“What’s all this?” she asked.
“I was hoping we could celebrate,” I replied.
“With champagne?”
“Yes.”
“What exactly are we celebrating?” she asked coyly.
I put my arms around her waist and pulled her closer to me. “I was hoping we could celebrate us being together again.”
She leaned back a little. “Together together, or just together?”
I shook my head. “I have no idea what you’re asking me,” I said with complete confusion.
She giggled. “Are we together as in, we’re going to be on the same continent and working together, or are we together like an actual relationship?”
I smiled, giving her a kiss on the tip of her perfect nose. “I want to be with you. I want to be your man. I want you to be my woman.”
She giggled again. “I’m waiting for you to start pounding your chest.”
“I will do anything you ask me to do.”
“Anything?” she asked, her voice husky, her eyes dropping to my mouth.
“Anything.”
“I think I’d like to start here, now,” she said, pressing her body against mine.
I inhaled the scent of her and closed my eyes. My mind, body, and soul had missed her. When I had thought I’d lost her, my world had been turned upside down. I wanted to take a minute and simply cherish the moment. Holding her close to me was worth dropping everything and getting on the long-distance flight to track her down.
“I’m ready to start over, start fresh,” I told her. “This is real. There is nothing fake about the way I feel about you. I’m going to show you just how real this is to me.”
I used my hand to push her face up so I could stare into her eyes. I needed her to see I was serious and I meant every word.
“What I feel for you is very real,” she said. “I’m taking a huge leap of faith and following my heart. My dad told me to do whatever I had to, and I’m ready to do whatever it takes. I’ll chase you to the ends of the earth, if that’s what you need to believe I want you for you. Nothing you have makes a difference. It’s you I want.”
Her words resonated deep within me. I couldn’t begin to understand how my soul knew she was the one, but it did, and I was not about to fight it another second. I dropped my mouth to hers, my lips brushing over hers before I gave in to the passion and the heat I felt for her.
Chapter 38
Bella
He tasted so good, I wanted to devour him alive. I was heady with the excitement of being reunited with him and knowing he wanted to be with me. I was with the sexiest man in the world. He was mine. I could call him mine.
I moaned into his mouth. “I want you.”
“I want to take our time. I want to treasure every inch of your body. You are mine.” He growled, his hands reaching down and squeezing my ass.
“You’re mine, mister. All of you. I think I want to check out just what it is I’m buying here,” I joked.
He chuckled. “Is this the, ‘I’ll show you mine if you show me yours’ game?”
I nodded. “You bet your fine ass it is.”
I squealed when he swatted my ass. I dashed into the bedroom of the suite, stopping when I saw the rose petals strewn over the bed.
“Surprise,” he whispered.
“You are good,” I told him.
“I want to make love to you on a bed of roses. This was the best I could do on short notice.”
“This is beautiful.”
“It is, but it’s you I want to see,” he said in a low voice.
I nodded my head, eager to comply. “Have a seat.”
His gaze roamed my body before he stepped back and sat down in one of the plush chairs in the room. I slowly pulled off my shirt before pushing down the jeans I had put on, wanting to be comfortable for the long flight.
“Turn around,” he ordered.
I slowly turned, stopping with my back to him, and looked over my shoulder at him. His gorgeous blue eyes were focused on my ass. Feeling emboldened by the heated look, I reached behind me, unhooked my bra, and let it fall forward to the ground.
I covered my breasts with my hands before turning around again, standing before him in my purple thong. I cupped my breasts and lifted them, my eyes on him as he stared with rapt attention. I slowly walked toward him. I saw the clenched jaw, the eyes that were heavy-lidded, and could practically feel the heat radiating off him.
“Adrian, I want to feel you inside me. I want you.” I stood in front of him, his face in line with my chest.
He looked up at me, reaching up and pushing my hands away from my breasts and squeezing them, gently at first before increasing the intensity. I gasped, dropping my head back and looking up at the ceiling. His other hand slid up my back, pulling me forward. His mouth closed over my nipple, sucking it between his teeth.
One hand on my back held me against his mouth, and his other hand slid between my legs. He yanked at my panties, tugging hard until I felt them tear. I cried out, the very act nearly bringing me to orgasm. It was him revealing that passionate side that he kept contained, except for moments like these. I felt the fabric fall away, leaving me bare. His fingers played over my nether lips before he parted my folds, pushing in one finger.
I cried out. My hands reached for his head and pulled him against my breast, demanding he suckle me. His teeth were working over my hard nipples, and his finger worked inside me. It was too much. My self-control was no match for the ecstasy zipping through my body. My hands fisted in his hair as my body began a slow spiral that left me gasping and crying out his name. I held him close to me as the release took me higher and higher. He didn’t let up for a second.
My body went slack once the orgasm released me from its grip. I collapsed against him. It was his arm around my waist that kept me from slumping to the floor in a pile of heated lava. He stood up and walked me backward to the bed. I slid onto the mattress, sitting and waiting for him to join me. His eyes roamed over my naked body. I wanted to feast my eyes upon his naked glory as well.
“Off,” I ordered. “All of it.”
He smirked. “You’re demanding.”
“I want you.”
“You have me. Never doubt that for a second. You have me. All of me.” His eyes burned with passion.
I watched as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt, taking his sweet time, heightening the pleasure for me. When he opened the shirt, revealing a wide swath of tanned skin and those tattoos along with the smattering of chest hair, I bit my lip. His chest was beautiful.
It took all my self-control to stay on the bed. I wanted to jump him—literally. The shirt hit the floor, quickly followed by his pants and then his underwear. He stood before me, naked and glorious. I stared at the man that was mine—all of him.
He walked toward me, his erection jutting out. I scooted off the bed, landing on my feet. I reached for him, running my open hand across his chest. He reached for me, his hands holding my face as he kissed me.
I leaned against him, and our naked bodies pressed together. The kiss intensified, his mouth working over mine before dropping to my jaw. I rubbed my body against his, feeling the hard curves and the erection pressing against my stomach. He lifted me up, placing me on the bed before crawling over
me. His knee nudged my legs apart as he held himself up on his elbows, staring down at me. I spread my legs wide, making plenty of room for him to nestle in between my thighs.
“You’re so beautiful and so mine,” he whispered, his hand brushing over my cheek before moving into my hair.
“I’m yours,” I replied, staring into the blue eyes I was so familiar with.
His heavy cock found my opening, pushing inside a little at a time. Our eyes were locked as our bodies joined together, connecting us body and soul. I moaned, letting the passion and ecstasy flood my body. I leaned up and kissed him while he pushed deeper, stretching me and filling me completely. I opened my eyes, lying back on the bed, watching him watch me. I felt like we were permanently bonded, our souls imprinted on each other forever.
I sighed with supreme contentment. “I never want to move from this place,” I whispered.
He groaned. “You feel so good. This. This is what I’ve waited my whole life for. You are my everything.”
“I’ve dreamed about you for years, not knowing you were real. I never thought a man as good and as kind and as handsome as you existed. You’re my dream come true.”
I felt his cock jerk inside me, and his eyes dropped closed for a second before opening again. “I’m real. I’m yours.”
I nearly wept with ecstasy. “Please,” I whispered.
He dropped a kiss on my lips and began to move. It was a slow burn, sliding in and out. There was no rush. It was him and me, and the world didn’t matter. I closed my eyes, giving myself completely to him. My hands moved to his hips, pulling him in and pushing him out. The rhythm was slow and steady, each scrape over my raw nerves inciting new electric shocks with each stroke.
“This is what I want,” he rasped.
“Me too,” I moaned, the sensations shooting through me, over me, inside me.
I could feel the tension in his body. It was like a rattler coiled and ready to strike. I could feel rapture hovering just out of reach. I appreciated the slow lovemaking, and it was absolutely decadent, but my body craved more.
“God, Bella, I’m so into you,” he grunted, his words sounding strained and almost pained. “I don’t want you to ever leave me again. Promise you’ll stay with me.”
“I promise,” I vowed. “I promise I’ll be here.”
It was like a switch flipped. He kicked up the pace, his body moving faster, his strokes deeper and longer. I lifted my hips, taking him deeper. He rode me with the greatest care but with a fierce intensity and dedication that moved me more than words could explain. I felt myself climbing that ladder to sweet release. I let him take me higher and higher until I could feel myself cresting.
He groaned. “I have to let go. I’m going to explode. I can’t hold back.”
“Don’t. I want it all.”
“You’ve got it all. You have all of me.” His mouth closed over mine, and his tongue plunged between my lips.
I closed my eyes and shut down my brain, only letting myself feel. It was only him and me and the melding of our bodies and souls. I let out a long keening sound as my body fell over the edge. He’d taken me to heaven, and now I felt like I was floating.
“Oh fuck,” he groaned before I felt him lose himself inside me.
Our bodies came together, erupting and spasming, each of us gasping and groaning as our orgasms mingled together. He gently laid his body next to mine. His chest pressed against my breasts. I could feel his heart pounding. The rhythm was soothing and gave me a sense of complete calm.
“So good,” I murmured.
“Yes, good,” he said.
I giggled softly. “Are you okay?”
“Good God in heaven. If I was any more okay, I would be dead.”
“What are we going to do?” I asked, knowing I was killing the afterglow of a beautiful moment.
“About?” he asked, rolling away from me and pulling me against him.
“About us. I mean, I know you love your mom, and I don’t want to be the thing that comes between the two of you.”
He sighed. “You won’t.”
“Adrian, I heard what she said. I saw how serious she was. She doesn’t like me. She isn’t going to change her mind. I can’t subject myself to that. I’m strong, but that is asking for torture, and I’m not about to do that.”
“It’s going to be fine,” he said. “I’ll take care of it. And you. I will never let anyone disrespect or mistreat you again. You can count on me to be your fierce protector.”
I smiled, believing his words. “Okay then.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m so tired,” he murmured, his voice already sounding very sleepy. “I’m going to pass out fast. I want to stay awake, but my body is demanding sleep.”
“Me too. Sleep. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“For?”
“For giving me another chance,” he said softly. “I won’t screw it up this time. I might make you mad, but I will never let you walk away from me without fighting like hell to keep you.”
“And I won’t run away again,” I replied. “This is something worth fighting for, and you better believe when I fight for something, I fight to the very end.”
I sighed against him, my hand on his chest, my legs tangled with his, our flesh pressed together. It felt right to be in his arms. I had no idea what the future held for us or even if we had a real future, but I took comfort knowing we were both going to fight like hell to be together.
That had to count for something.
Chapter 39
Adrian
“We don’t have to do this,” Bella said as I held her hand, practically dragging her over the stone pathway that led to my parents’ front door. It had been a month since we returned to Crete.
“Yes, we do.”
“You don’t have to do this for me,” she said. “I know where we stand, and that’s all that matters to me. I don’t want to come between you and your family.”
I stopped walking and dropped her hand. With both hands on either side of her face, I looked into her eyes, forcing her to look back at me. “This is something I need to do. I want you there with me. Please?”
She sighed, her eyes softening. “Okay. I’m here for you only. I don’t need this closure.”
“Thank you.”
I rang the bell, nerves flitting low in my belly as I thought about the conversation that was about to happen. I had barely spoken to my mother since the day I had left. My mother was the type that could hold a grudge until her last, dying breath. I knew there was a very good chance she would disown me.
I knew it, but my heart was with Bella. I couldn’t give her up for my mother. My mother’s foolish reasons for me staying away from Bella would only make me miserable. I refused to be miserable and lonely because my family couldn’t see past their own prejudices.
The door opened, my mother on the other side. She looked from me to Bella, her lip curling with disgust. “What are you doing here? With her?”
“I’ve come to talk to you and Dad. Is he here?”
“He’s here, but he doesn’t want to talk to you either, not until you choose better people to spend your time with.”
“Move, Mom. I’m coming in, and you will listen to what I have to say.” My tone left no room for arguing.
I grabbed Bella’s hand again, pushing past my mother and heading into the house in search of my father. He was sitting in the living room reading a newspaper. “Adrian, were we expecting you?” he asked, getting to his feet.
“No. This won’t take long. Have a seat. Mom, sit or stand if you choose, but you will listen to me.”
Her mouth fell open, and I saw the anger flash in her eyes. Twenty years ago, that look would have terrified me. Hell, two weeks ago it would have scared me, but not today. Not anymore. I would always love and respect her, but she would not get to keep treating Bella like shit.
“I’ll sit,” she snapped.
Bella and I stood in fro
nt of them. They both were sizing her up. Bella stood at her full height. We were in control of the room.
“What’s going on?” my father asked.
“I came to tell you both that Bella will be in my life. If the two of you want to be in my life, you’ll have to accept that. You will treat her with the respect she deserves. You’ve judged her without knowing her. You’ve made assumptions about her because of preconceived ideas that have nothing to do with her. You don’t know her. I think if you did, you’d like her. I won’t be back here until you’ve figured out how to accept her as part of my life, and I won’t accept any half-ass attempts. It’s all or nothing.” I looked from my mom to my dad and tried to judge their reactions.
My mother looked downright murderous. I had expected as much but had hoped she’d apologize and welcome us both into her life with open arms. That wasn’t going to happen. My dad was a blank slate. I couldn’t get a good read on him. Then he winked.
There was a hint of a smile and a nod of his head. It was a small relief, but it was my mom’s approval I was most interested in.
“I see that you’ve made your decision then,” my mother said in a cold voice.
I looked at Bella. Her eyes were full of sadness. I took a deep breath before turning to look at my mother. “I have. Goodbye.”
I turned and walked out of the room, pulling Bella along with me. I couldn’t stop to think about what had just happened. I had to keep moving, or I would feel that sense of regret and sadness. I didn’t want to feel any of that. I knew I was doing the right thing. I knew Bella was the woman for me, and I was just going to have to learn to live with that feeling of being alone in the world—besides Bella and Peter.
I drove back to the city, parking my car in the driveway of the small house I had been spending a lot of time at lately. We hadn’t spoken the whole ride back. She was giving me time to process my thoughts, which I greatly appreciated. I wasn’t ready to talk about how I felt.
“I’m sorry,” Bella said when I shut off the car.
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