Leandros

by Leandros

  “Thanks. Too bad you can’t come.”

  “Yeah, but that’s okay.” She gestured at the summit. “This is a really good spot and I’ve got my binoculars.”

  His eyes crinkled with amusement. “Don’t miss sunrise.”

  “I won’t.”

  His gaze lingered on her face, prompting heat to her cheeks once more. Though she didn’t feel particularly attracted to him, she always blushed when a man looked at her with interest.

  “I guess I’ll see you in town tomorrow,” Jim said with an expectant note in his voice. His group would descend from a different trail the following day.

  “Yes. Enjoy the hike.” Vicky discreetly closed the subject so as not to get his hopes up. She watched as half the group walked back across the path, then she turned and went into the refuge and ordered Greek coffee.

  Chapter Three

  The following day, they returned to Litohoro, the village at the foothills of the mountain, where their journey first began. They would be staying the night and the schedule was open, allowing the members to enjoy the town as they pleased.

  Vicky had returned to the hotel to shower and change into a white sleeveless dress that fell halfway down her thighs. September in Greece was usually quite warm and the late afternoon sun was a soothing caress on her skin. Despite the hike—eight hours in all—she’d spent most of it under shady trees.

  She felt a pang of guilt for avoiding Jim, but she wanted to explore the quaint village her way, to talk to the locals, shop at her leisure, and wander about without the need to entertain someone’s company. At one of the tourist shops, she bought souvenirs for herself, Mom, and Kay, while practicing the basic Greek she knew. In her opinion, it was unacceptable to visit a foreign country without some grasp of the native language. Before the trip, she’d bought a Greek conversation guide book that came with a CD and she’d learned several common words and sentences. She browsed a while longer and decided to have one last coffee for the day. Taking a seat at a quiet corner cafe, she ordered a cappuccino and couldn’t resist the baklava, a delicate phyllo pastry filled with chopped nuts and honey.

  “Efharisto poli,” the waiter said as she handed him several Euro dollars that included a generous tip.

  “Parakalo.” She returned his smile and slipped her wallet back into her handbag. She was about to close it when something at the bottom caught her eye. She reached in and pulled out a clear little tube. It looked like a perfume sample. Vicky’s brows came together as she tried to remember when she’d received this. Not recently, for sure.

  She rolled it between her fingers and read the black writing on the tube. Drink Me. She raised an eyebrow, finding it an odd name for a perfume. Unless…hmm. She removed the cap and gasped as a sudden, cool wind swept over her, sending a shockwave of shivers through her body. Startled, she looked around for the source. Her napkin was no longer on the table and the wind rustled the plants in their ceramic pots. Then, it just died. Strange. Maybe someone pissed Zeus off, she thought with a chuckle.

  She looked at the tube again, tentatively sniffed the contents and crinkled her nose. It didn’t smell like anything. She closed the cap and looked at the name again. Did it literally mean drink it? She had no clue how it had gotten in her bag so she wasn’t going to do that. The rational part of her brain told her to toss it into a bin, but there was an odd urge to hold on to it. Vicky got up and started back to the hotel.

  * * * *

  Leandros’ head snapped up as the metallic smell invaded his senses like a sweet, deceptive poison. STX. No doubt about it. Any demigod could smell it a mile away. The person carrying it was much closer. He tossed the bag of fruits into the rented Mercedes and followed the trail of scent.

  As a senior crimes agent in the international division of deities, trafficking of STX fell under his jurisdiction. He and his team had cracked down on this problem over the years and had succeeded in removing a large quantity of STX from the black market. No person, human or immortal, had the right to possess this potion. An elusive group of demigods had taken enough water from the sacred well of Styx to create the chemically altered potion. It was a sacrilegious act, made worse by the fact they were selling it to humans.

  The River Styx was as old as mankind. The doctrine of the ancient gods stated that the river was the only passage from life to death. The river itself was virtually ethereal, its only tangible source the well located in a deep cave in Mount Olympus, now guarded day and night by law enforcement officers. Despite its reputation among humans as the river of death, it provided a gentle passage to the other world. Those who came to the well with faith experienced healing miracles. Leandros had witnessed this. Otherwise, the water of Styx belonged to no one.

  If the offender was one of his own kind, Leandros would strip him of his immortality and leave him begging for mercy. If he was human, he’d spend the next three years in prison. As his senses honed in on the young woman crossing the square, a knot clenched his insides, giving his stride pause. Both sexes craved STX, but for some unexpected reason, he was gravely disappointed that his target was a healthy-looking young woman.

  He began walking again, growing angrier by the second. His eyes took in her shapely curves under the white dress, the lovely, toned legs and the silky bounce of her golden hair. His instinct told him the front of her looked even better. A woman like that could have just about anything she wanted if she played her cards right. Why would she risk ruining her life?

  He caught up with her moments after she entered the lobby of a hotel. Her low heels clicked against the marble floor, drawing his eyes to her legs again. Leandros’ blood rushed hot and primal in his veins before pooling in his groin. Damn the woman. The closer he got, the less interested he was in arresting her, assaulted by visions of sexual acts that would even make some goddesses blush.

  Before she reached the elevator, he spoke, “Miss. Can I have a word?” he said in English.

  As she turned around, a delicate, vanilla scent filled his nostrils, and when his eyes met hers, lust hit him in the groin and beyond. Fuck. Humans rarely affected him like this…if ever. Her large, hazel eyes widened in surprise as she stared up at him. Her beauty was pristine, the long dark lashes, the high cheekbones and the deep rose of her full mouth untouched by makeup. When her lower lip trembled a fraction, it communicated a delicate, feminine nature, which made desire twist tighter inside him.

  Her brows arched. “Yes?”

  American. Leandros pulled out his wallet and opened it to the photo compartment, which contained his law enforcement ID. “I’m a deities law enforcement agent.”

  A perplexed look came over her face.

  “I believe you’re carrying STX,” he continued.

  “I’m sorry?” She shook her head. “You’ve made a mistake.”

  His gaze dropped to her bag. “No mistake. It’s in your bag.”

  She glanced down at her bag, still looking baffled. Then her mouth tensed as she offered it to him. “There. Go ahead and search it.”

  He was somewhat surprised by her boldness. She knew he’d find the vial there. He took the bag from her and within seconds produced the illegal substance. He watched a mixture of emotions cross her lovely face, but none reflected guilt.

  She gave a little snort. “That’s STX? Please. It’s obviously some perfume.”

  Leandros frowned. Her acting skills were impressive. “I can smell it,” he responded firmly.

  She pushed out an annoyed sigh and shook her head. “It’s impossible.” She stared hard at the vial before meeting his eyes again, an angry flush on her cheeks. “I hiked for eight hours on that mountain with no need for any unnatural substance. If I wanted to drink it, I would have already.”

  Leandros considered this a moment while watching her. He inclined his head. Her response seemed genuine, yet it didn’t explain how she came to possess it. “That’s a good argument, however, you might just be selling it.”

  Her eyes turned a stormy gray and narrowed as
her hands came on the slim curve of her hips, the motion making his blood pulse harder. His cock pressed against his pants. What is it about the woman? She turned him on even when she was angry.

  “Look. Take my ID and run it through your computer. I don’t have a criminal record. I don’t do drugs of any kind.”

  His profession had honed his ability to read human behavior. This last statement of defense made something inside him click. She was telling the truth. In any case, he was in Greece on vacation. He wasn’t equipped with a work computer to check her record. Of course, he could contact the office in Athens, but that was unnecessary.

  He inclined his head and caught her gaze. “Okay. I believe you, but you’re still in possession of STX.” He paused. “Do you know anyone who would have reason to put it in your bag? To get you arrested, or use you as transport?”

  The anger faded from her eyes and her expression softened. “No…I’m not aware of anyone who would do that.”

  “Did you leave your bag unattended at any point during your trip, or before?”

  She gave her head a firm shake. “I never leave my things unattended, and back home…”

  The catch in her voice was so faint he almost missed it. “What?” he pressed.

  She averted her gaze. “Nothing. I live alone.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “No husband… boyfriend?”

  Her gaze returned to his, resolute once again. “No. Keep that thing. I’ve had enough of this.”

  It pleased him that she was single. Too much. Leandros reached into her bag and opened her wallet to look at her driver’s license. She was innocent, but she wasn’t fully honest with him. He’d let it go for now. His mouth curved into an easy smile. “Vicky. You hiked up the mountain?”

  Her gaze assessed him before she replied. “Yes.”

  “How far did you get?”

  “Refuge A.” Her lips pursed. “I wish I could have gone higher, but…” She shrugged.

  Leandros dragged his eyes from the tempting pout of her mouth. “There’s a house on the mountain at about 8000 feet that is accessible by car…well, my car anyway. It’s almost adjacent to the summit.”

  She cast him a wary look. “There’s no such thing.”

  He let his gaze move over her face and the delicate curve of her bare shoulders. When his eyes lifted to hers, color rode high on her cheeks. “It’s not visible to humans.”

  Her brow lifted in an amused arch. “What is it—vacation home to the gods?”

  He grinned. “You could say that. Only a select group of us can stay there. Humans are generally not allowed, but the ancients let us make exceptions.”

  Apprehension returned to her face. “And why are you telling me this?”

  “I was on my way there when I sniffed the STX on you. I plan to stay for at least three days. You’re welcome to come.”

  Her mouth formed a sexy O.

  Leandros pocketed the vial and gave her the bag. Their fingers touched, sending a sensual current through his veins—and hers.

  A low gasp escaped her and her eyes shot to his. Leandros was no stranger to female body language. This woman with hair the color of honey was not immune to him physically. Her innocent sexiness had awakened primitive instincts he couldn’t ignore. It was all he could do to stop himself from hoisting her over his shoulder and carrying her to the car.

  She seemed to shake herself out of a daze. “Um, you’re going now?”

  He felt the corner of his mouth curl with satisfaction. “Yes, Vicky.” He stretched out his hand. “I’m Leandros.”

  She looked at his hand and swallowed visibly. When she slid her small, soft hand in his, heat pulsed in his cock.

  “Leandros…that’s Greek.”

  He inclined his head. “Every inch of me.”

  Her blush flared and he swallowed a chuckle. Still grasping her hand, he said, “So, are you coming, Vicky?”

  She exhaled an unsteady breath. “I, um…need to contact my travel guide…get some clothes, some other things too.”

  You’ll hardly need those, sweetness. His blood pulsed faster and hotter. “I’ll bring the car round in fifteen minutes.”

  Chapter Four

  What was I thinking? Vicky snuck another furtive glance at the big, gorgeous man sitting next to her in the large sports utility vehicle. Letting a Greek demigod, who oozed dark and dangerous sexuality, take her to some unearthly lodge…obviously little sensible thought.

  When she’d first set eyes on him at the hotel, the shock of his looks made everything around her disappear, even made her lightheaded for a few seconds. Midnight-dark hair, cut long enough for fingers to weave through, eyes the color of the Greek sky, a wickedly full mouth and a rugged jaw. His white shirt and gray slacks outlined a tall, powerful body. Vicky was not as sophisticated in the ways of men as her sister. She’d only had a few long-term relationships, but the primal interest in his eyes was blatant enough to set her nerve-endings on fire.

  He embodied attributes of the men in her erotic fantasies on lonely nights. The kind of men that spelled trouble in real life, as any smart woman knew. Add immortal to that and you had a dangerous package. Vicky had made a hard effort to convince herself that she’d accepted his offer in order to experience a unique view of the mountain, but that was laughable. Her reaction to him frightened her in a way that was too tempting to ignore. Never had she been so deliciously unsettled.

  She let her gaze linger on him and felt once more the sizzle of excitement arc through her. The corner of his mouth lifted yet he didn’t remove his eyes from the road. They’d been going up the eastern side of the mountain, far removed from the hiking trails. She had the sense of ascending quickly and smoothly, and she barely noticed the beauty of her surroundings.

  He reached out and grasped her hand, strong, lean fingers squeezing hers. “Don’t be scared,” he said in good English with an indistinct accent that conveyed the experience of a man who lived in different countries.

  Vicky was nervous, but not scared. “I’m not.”

  “There’s an entrance coming up…it’s an illusion for camouflage purposes.”

  She turned her gaze to the front and her body froze. The car was heading straight for a solid wall of rock and trees. “Oh, God!”

  “It’s not what it seems…you won’t be hurt.”

  Instinct kicked in and she screamed and shielded her face as the vehicle went through. With her heart pounding, she pried her hand away from her eyes and stared through the intact windshield. Impossible.

  “Here we are, Vicky.”

  The vehicle cruised on a smooth road that curved to the front of a stone villa with enormous windows. He cut the engine and stepped out. Vicky was too stunned to move, even when he opened the door for her. Her heart was still racing.

  He held out his hand and she got out on wobbly legs. “That was weird…”

  “I’m sorry…I couldn’t think of any other way to prepare you.”

  As her breath calmed a fraction, Vicky took in the earthy elegance of the villa. Made of tan and gray stone and a dark-tiled roof, it nestled comfortably within a copse of pine trees. Leandros had left her side to retrieve their baggage.

  “So this is supposed to be invisible to the human eye?” she questioned.

  “That’s correct.”

  She looked at him. “Why can I see it, then?”

  He grinned, showing perfect, white teeth. “Because you’re in my company.”

  She gave a wry smile. “Of course.”

  He chuckled and handed her a bag of groceries. The rest, he carried without effort up the few steps to the villa’s front door. Her heart skipped with sudden unease and her steps faltered as she looked at his commanding stature. Vicky wasn’t naive. When a man invited a woman to stay at a residence for a few days, it was about sex. But why me? Her sexual experience with conservative men hardly translated into the image of a sexual tigress—the sort of woman a demigod would want in his bed.

  She realized it was a
mistake coming here. The man was beyond her league. She’d embarrass herself. He must have picked up on her hesitation because he glanced over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow and she forced her legs to move. Too late, Vicky. She followed him into the building and almost pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming—even her most exotic dreams hadn’t taken her to a private dwelling of the gods. The inside was decorated with understated elegance. When they entered the living room, the floor to ceiling windows drew her attention. Placing the bag on a nearby coffee table, she walked over to them.

  Her breath fanned out across the pane of one window as she gazed across at the peaks of Olympus. The villa was so close she could make out the colors of clothing worn by a small group of hikers filing their way along a narrow ridge of loose debris toward the summits. The mists had thinned since yesterday and she watched, mesmerized, as they parted, exposing the distinct characteristics of the three famous peaks. Her breath caught. Though barren and unwelcoming, the ancient rocks possessed a serene dignity that was nothing less than majestic.

  Her fingers brushed against the window as she felt the heat of Leandros’ body behind her, her senses alert to the forbidding energy that set him apart from humans. Her muscles weakened, her body threatening to lean against him.

  “Was it worth the trip?” he asked, his voice a deep velvet.

  Her pulse hadn’t settled. “Yes.” She paused and focused her eyes on a prominent peak that resembled a half-crown. That was Stefani. “Do they live among us like you?” Her voice came out huskier than she wanted and it was getting harder to think with him standing so close.

  “No. They’re spirits that live anywhere they choose. I haven’t seen an ancient in years.”

  As her gaze moved downward to the plunging slopes, a vision of chiseled ridges and thick boulders, his fingers traced a path from the small of her back to her hair and slipped underneath to brush her nape. A delicious shudder danced over her skin.