The Price of Fame

by Gower, Hazel

  “Mr. Pegios, your fiancée will be fine. She has a concussion from her fall and stitches in the back of her head. Those will need to come out in a couple of days. The baby is fine. At the stage she’s at, they are quiet resilient, although after this incident, and considering her low blood pressure, I want you to book her in and have an obstetrician monitor her. That’s what caused the fall. She hadn’t eaten, and her energy levels were down. Plus, it doesn’t help that she is still clearly jet-lagged. I don’t want her travelling alone or for long periods without her doctor’s consent. And I want her stress levels down. We’ll keep her overnight for the concussion, and if you like, I’ll organize finding a GP.”

  Speechless, all he could do was nod and whisper, “Can I go in and see her?” The doctor told him what room Kylie was in and that, by that afternoon, he’d have OB/GYN check in and touch base.

  Walking into her room, he groaned as she turned away from him, which he saw was quite the feat with the drip in one arm and blood pressure cuff on the other.

  “Go away. I want to be alone.”

  Ignoring her, he pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat next to it. “My family is going to be here tomorrow. My mama is looking forward to meeting you.”

  Turning her head the best she could, Kylie glared at him. “I don’t know if the doctor told you anything, but I’m supposed to be stress free, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t think meeting my boyfriend’s family for the first time isn’t a stress-free situation.”

  He bit his tongue and tried to sort everything he needed to say in his head before he said something that got her worked up again. He noticed she called him boyfriend, and not fiancé. She continued, and his heart sank further with each word she said.

  “The engagement ring is in the drawer.” She turned away from him. “I think we rushed into things. I don’t know if I can be in your world after everything that happened last night. I think I need to take a step back.”

  Gritting his teeth, knowing his voice sounded broken, he whispered, “Don’t. Don’t do this, Kylie. This is just our first big fight. We can get through this. We’re stronger than this.”

  She shook her head as he spoke.

  “Omorphoula, please, I wasn’t thinking when those women kissed me. I should have pushed them away quicker.”

  She huffed.

  “Okay, moved out of their way entirely. Come on, give us a chance. This is all new to me too.”

  Kylie blew a raspberry. “You’ve been a star for many years now.”

  “I’m talking about a relationship with a non-Greek woman.”

  The monitors went off as she turned around, not caring about all the medical stuff.

  “You have got to be kidding me. So, you’re telling me if you were with a Greek woman, she wouldn’t have minded being locked in a bathroom, and then going to a party where her fiancé makes out with several women while she sits in a corner and watches?”

  The nurses came running in and pushed him out of the room before he could respond, and he stared at the closed door, wondering what to do.

  A couple of minutes later, a nurse came out to him. “Mr. Pegios, Miss Breal asked us to give this to you.”

  He looked down to see Kylie’s engagement ring.

  “She also asked us to not let you in anymore.”

  He stared at the door behind the nurse and looked down numbly at the ring. Nodding, he walked away, feeling defeated for the first time in his life.

  Since his teenage years, he’d always gotten what he wanted, first with his modeling career, and then with his singing. Markus had never had any problems with women, as they always threw themselves at him. He didn’t know what to do. He’d never needed to woo a woman. Even when he’d been with Helena, she hadn’t minded the groupies.

  He called his parents and cancelled their visit, telling them he and Kylie needed some special time together, and they would come and visit when Kylie and he were ready.

  After leaving the hospital, Markus drove around for a while, trying to decide what to do. What he needed to do was get Kylie back, and he needed a plan. He made his way back to his house.

  He called his manager when he reached home and told him to reschedule the interviews scheduled for the day, telling Gaelan he would do some by phone tonight, and to figure something out for the others he’d missed and get back to him.

  He felt better now that he had a vague plan on the professional part of his life. Now he just had to figure out what to do with Kylie. Hunger finally made itself known. Making his way into the kitchen, he froze as his sister’s face came into view when she pulled a pan of lasagna from the oven.

  “Oh good, you’re home. Mama called. I know I’m not supposed to be here, but I had a feeling you needed my help, especially when I saw the news about your wife-to-be going to the hospital and you leaving the hospital.” She put her hand on her hips and glared. “So what did you do?”

  Raising his eyebrow at his baby sister, Bettina, he mumbled, “What makes you think I did something wrong? Why do you think it was me?”

  “You’re supposed to tell me you didn’t do anything. Tell me what’s happened.” She cut a big slice of lasagna and placed it in front of him as he pulled one of the stools from under the island and sat.

  Markus told her everything that had happened over the last twenty-four hours. When he finished, Bettina came around the island and whacked him on the head.

  “Ouch, what the hell was that for?”

  “Because you’re an idiot, and I was trying to knock some sense into you. I can’t believe you’re my brother. Markus, you are an asshole, and Kylie deserves better, but since we’re related, I’m going to help educate you. First, you are going to send her favorite flowers to the hospital, and then you’re going to call her best friends and pay for them to come over and visit her to help cheer her up.”

  “I love you, sis, but there’s no way I’m inviting her best friends. I can’t stand one of them. He’s an ass…” He trailed off at the look on his sister’s face. Her eyes were bright, and a grin spread across her face as she rubbed her hands together.

  “Markus, trust me, he’s the friend you want to come. You’re going to be the bigger man and invite him here. Explain the situation. He’ll come.” Bettina grabbed his hand and looked into his eyes. “Are you willing to give up all the women? To not let them fawn all over you? Because, if you’re not, you need to ask yourself if you really want Kylie and if you can be happy with just one woman’s lips and body for the rest of your life.”

  An image of Kylie’s warm, love-filled brown eyes and her smiling face came into view, and he didn’t even hesitate a moment before he answered. “I love her with all my heart. I would be honored and blessed if she was the only woman’s lips I ever kissed again, or whose body I touched.”

  Bettina nodded. “Good then, go get your butt into gear. Time’s a wasting. I’m going to the hospital to meet my future sister-in-law.” And with that, she turned and left him staring at the spot she’d just vacated.

  Chapter 11

  Kylie berated herself over and over again for the way she’d acted with Markus. She blamed it on the pain she was in and the hormones of being pregnant. Oh God, she was going to have a baby. Terrified, she didn’t know what on earth she should do. She debated whether to call her friends, but then she thought she didn’t want to hear the “I told you so” from James.

  It wasn’t that she didn’t want the baby. It was just that her life right now was a bit of a mess, and she had no idea how to put it back together.

  She reached for her phone for the hundredth time to call Markus to apologize for her earlier tirade. Kylie wanted him back to hold her hand the next time her new obstetrician talked to her. He could tell her she wasn’t going to do this all alone, that she and their baby would have a family.

  Wiping at the tears rolling down her cheeks, she saw her door open, and a young, very pretty woman came in with a bunch of flowers and box of chocolates. Great, someone had
the wrong room. Clearing her dry throat, she said in slow Greek, “I’m sorry, you have the wrong room.”

  The woman shook her head and grinned down at her. “He didn’t say you could speak Greek. He left out quite a bit. Argh, not to worry. I’m Bettina, Markus’ sister, but don’t hold that against me. I’m a lot smarter than him.”

  Bettina was stunning with long, straight, midnight-black hair, brown-olive skin, full, pink, pouty lips, and the most amazing emerald-green eyes Kylie had ever seen, which shone with mischief and happiness. There was no denying she was Markus’ sister; she was gorgeous.

  Bettina sat on the end of her bed. “So, I hear my brother knocked you up. I really appreciate you letting him do that. Because now our parents will be off my back to find a man, settle down, and pop out some grandkids for them. They’re going to love you instantly when they find out you’re giving them what they want.”

  Kylie stared, unsure what to say. “Argh … okay.”

  Bettina moved up on the bed to hold Kylie’s hands. “I can tell we’re going to become great friends. I always wanted a sister.” She leaned down and hugged her, and Kylie didn’t know how to respond for a moment until Bettina hugged her tighter. Slowly, careful of the drips, Kylie wrapped her arms around her soon-to-be sister-in-law, at least she hoped she still was. She hoped she hadn’t stuffed it up and caused Markus to change his mind about being with her.

  They pulled away from each other, and Bettina smiled, leaned down to her, and brushed some hair out of her eyes. Kylie nodded her thanks.

  “We’re going to have a slumber party here tonight. Well, I don’t know how much sleep we’ll get when you get woken every hour, but I doubt you want to sleep anyway. You probably want to drill me for info on my brother, and you can because I have all the juiciest gossip. Then, in the morning when you get the all-clear, you’re coming home with me. Markus is busy with interviews and all that, so we will barely see him.”

  Kylie watched as Bettina pulled a laptop out of a big backpack, and then came bags and bags of lollies, chocolate, pens, paper, nail products, and lastly, a stack of DVDs. Looking around for the nurse’s call-button remote, Kylie sighed when she noticed a grinning Bettina held it in her hand.

  “Oh, looks like Markus did tell me one useful thing about you. You’re a bit of a loner and take some persuading to socialize sometimes. Don’t worry. You won’t be needing this while I’m here.” Kylie watched as Bettina put the call-button remote well out of her reach.

  Groaning, she resigned to her fate and listened as Bettina told her about the time Markus locked her in the shed and the revenge she gave back.

  * * * *

  Kylie had never been so happy to be home. As soon as she got into the bright-white house, she rushed to her and Markus’ room, praying that his sister wouldn’t follow into their private domain. Going straight to the en suite, she shed her clothes and ran the shower. Getting under the hot spray, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the quiet.

  Moments later her eyes shot open as familiar, muscular arms wrapped around her, and the smooth, sexy voice she knew so well whispered in her ear. “I know I should have left you in here by yourself, but how could I resist this beautiful present in my bathroom?” His lips trailed down her neck, and she rested her head back on his shoulder.

  God, she loved this man. No matter what he did or said, she seemed to fall more in love with him every time she saw him or touched him.

  “I’m sorry, omorphoula. Forgive me. I will do anything if you forgive me. I promise your lips will be the only woman’s lips I ever touch, and your body the only one I feel against mine for the rest of my life. Don’t make me go back to that numb feeling ever again.”

  Markus turned her, picked her up, and pressed her back against the tiles as she looked up into his miserable face. His eyes looked dull and overcast and his face drawn.

  Wrapping her legs around his waist, she pulled herself up closer to him, tracing his lips with her fingers. “I have learned and discovered things about myself in the last forty-eight hours. First, I’m a jealous woman. Second, I need to work on my social skills a bit more. Third, I won’t share you. If you’re going to be with me, you can’t let other women maul you. And if they do kiss you or fawn over you, get them off you. Markus, you don’t have to be rude to them, just explain that you appreciate their support, but you’re a one-woman man. Consider if the tables were turned and they were men throwing themselves at me.”

  Markus huffed. “They have been turned, and I didn’t like it when your lips and body were on another, friend or not. You are mine.”

  His mouth came down on hers, and Kylie pulled him close. “I’m going to give us another chance. The next party and media thing you have, I’m going to stay by your side like I should have. Maybe if I’d stayed there, they may not have kissed you.”

  She ran her fingers through his hair. “From what your sister tells me, I should probably make you grovel for a bit more as everything comes so easy to you, including women.” Letting her hands fall and her lips curl up in a wicked grin, she pushed at his chest. “I don’t want you to think I’m easy.”

  Markus grabbed hold of her hands, holding them up against the wall. “Omorphoula, you are definitely not easy. You are the only woman who’s ever kept running from me or cares who I touch.” His lips brushed hers. “Only your lips from now on. I promise.”

  His naked body rubbed against hers, and she found it harder and harder to resist him as his lips trailed down her neck and he nibbled on her shoulder. “Only you.”

  Giving up fighting him, she let her body have what it wanted, rubbing against him, and she arched into him and pressed her lips harder to his mouth. “Kiss me.”

  His mouth connected to hers, melding them together. He let go of her hands with one of his and slowly moved it down her body until he found her clit, circling and stroking it. Their tongues tangled as his body rubbed hers. His cock, hard and ready, pressed against her as he moaned into her mouth.

  Panting, he leaned away and let go of her hands. He held her waist as she slid down his wet body as the now cold water hit them. Closing her eyes, she arched into him as he sucked her nipple into his mouth while his fingers dipped into her pussy.

  “You’re soaking.” He pumped his fingers in and out while his mouth sucked on a nipple, swapping when he nipped the tip.

  He kept up his relentless torture until her body bucked and pushed down on his fingers, her back hitting back against the hard tiles.

  “Oh Marrkkusss. My Markus … I … I’m … I’m coming … I’m… Oooooh.” She grabbed his hair as she came around his fingers, panting. Closing her eyes as she basked in the euphoric feeling, she sagged against the wall.

  “Omorphoula, don’t get comfortable because you’re going to come again, only this time around my cock while I ram it into you.”

  Sighing at his dirty talk, she felt the tip of his penis push into her vagina. Leaning against the wall, she wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted, her legs circling his waist as he thrust the rest of the way in. “Mmm, I feel so full.”

  He kissed her, and then moved his hands down to cup her ass, helping hold her weight. Squeezing the cheeks together, he moaned against her lips. “You’re going to scream my name. I want to hear you tell me how I make you feel while I pound into your pussy. Tell me.”

  He picked up his pace, grinding her against the wall. Her body started to heat up, and the tingling sensation built.

  “You make my body burn. Tingles cover my body until I explode. Come on, make me explode.”

  Kylie ground herself against him, pushing him deeper. “Yeah, right there.” The water from the cold shower mixed with the soaps made them more slippery, helping with the friction.

  Pulling herself away from the hard tile wall, she wrapped her arms around his neck and murmured, “Stay in me as you turn off the shower and walk out the room.” She growled, and his hands left her bottom to turn the taps off.

  Markus didn’t grab a towel a
s he carried her, and they moaned every step before he placed her on the bed. “On your hands and knees.”

  She rolled, and he moved her to the end of the bed, smacking her ass. Before she even had the chance to get fully into position, he lined his dick up and slammed back home.

  “Arrrgggh, oh God.” She screamed as his cock hit her in new places.

  He smacked her bottom again, rubbing her tingling flesh. His dick pistoned into her with a renewed frenzy. Her breasts slapped with each hard thrust, and his hands slowly came to cup them.

  Markus leaned over her, causing his penis to go deeper and hit just the spot to make her explode.

  Panting, she began to beg. “I need to come. Make me … oohh … I need…”

  His pace picked up until she was grunting and moving forward with the force of each thrust.

  Feeling his teeth rake down her back, she came undone. “Markus, Markus, Markus.” She chanted his name as she quivered around him. He thrust twice more before yelling her name, and she felt his warm cum flood her.

  Falling to the bed, they lay together, catching their breaths. Markus stroked her arms, whispering things to her in Greek, like how much he loved her and that she was his world. She wondered if now was the right time to tell him she had been learning Greek and understood most of what he said, but he stopped and spoke in English.

  “You have to stop running, Kylie. You have to stay and talk to me and hear me out. You can’t run every time something you don’t like happens. We’re going to fight. Every couple argues. I just want you to promise me you won’t run from me the next time it’s not going how you like.” He hugged her to him. “I love you so much, but you have to learn to trust me and my love.”

  She nodded because she knew she needed to learn to trust him and support him, not just in his normal life but also in his superstar life. Sitting up, she detangled herself from him and got a towel, thinking of all she had to do. Remembering that his sister had told her he would be busy today with interviews and other media things, she thought today, with Bettina’s help, she could go and help support him.