The Greek Bridegroom

by Helen Bianchin

  Jace put his hands on her shoulders and turned her away from him, then he began massaging her nape, the tense muscles at the edge of her neck, her shoulders.

  There were kinks, and he eased them out, working at each one until she sighed in gratitude.

  It felt so darned good, she simply closed her eyes and went with it, exulting in his touch, the magic he seemed able to generate without any effort at all.

  ‘Better?’

  Rebekah lifted her head and breathed an almost inaudible, ‘Yes,’ as he gently turned her round to face him. ‘Thanks.’

  He caught up the soap and placed it in her hand.

  ‘Return the favour, pedhaki mou.’

  Her eyes widened as she registered a delightful mix of surprise and reservation.

  ‘Too big an ask?’

  To soap that masculine frame…all over? Maybe she could skip certain parts of his anatomy… Although it seemed ludicrous to feel reticent after last night.

  She didn’t trust herself to speak, and began lathering his chest, completing the upper part of his body, his arms, shoulders, then she stepped behind him and rubbed the soap over the muscular curve of his back, his buttocks, the backs of his thighs. Then she moved in front of him and handed him the soap.

  ‘You can do the rest.’

  His arousal was a potent force, and a soft pink coloured her cheeks.

  ‘Too shy?’

  The pink deepened, and she reached for the shower door, only to have him halt her escape.

  ‘Stay, agape mou.’ The husky plea undid her, and she looked at him blindly as he drew her round to face him. ‘I want to pleasure you a little, then I’ll take you to bed…to sleep, I promise.’

  She stood mesmerised as his hands shaped her breasts, and brushed the tender peaks with the pad of his thumbs.

  Liquid fire coursed through her veins, and a husky groan sighed from her throat as his lips sought the vulnerable hollow at the base of her neck, savoured there, then gently bit the soft flesh, soothed it, then trailed to the slope of her breast, where he suckled until she dragged his head away and pulled his mouth down to hers.

  Her mouth was firm, her tongue an exploratory tease, and he let her run free with it, enjoying her touch as his hand trailed low over her hip, then slipped low to caress the sensitive moist folds, felt the clitoris swell and harden…and absorbed her cries as she went up and over. Again, and again.

  She ached to feel him deep inside her, and in one fluid movement she linked her hands together at his nape, then lifted herself to straddle his hips, where she created a sensual friction that had him groaning out loud.

  ‘Witch,’ he accorded in a husky voice an instant before she sank down onto him, absorbing his length to the hilt in one slow slide. His hands cupped her buttocks as they began to rock, long, leisurely movements that increased in pace as they scaled the heights, poised at the brink, then tumbled together into a glorious free fall.

  Afterwards they stepped from the shower stall, and Jace caught up a towel, fastened it at his hips, then he caught up another and dried the moisture from her body.

  The bruises had become more colourful, and looked vivid against the paleness of her skin.

  Jace swore low in his throat and would have said more in castigation, except Rebekah pressed a finger to his lips.

  ‘Don’t. It’s done.’

  He swept an arm beneath her knees and carried her into the bedroom, then he pulled back the covers, settled her down onto the mattress and slid in to curl her close in against him.

  Exhaustion brought an easy sleep, and contentment kept her there until the alarm buzzed loud in the early pre-dawn hours.

  ‘Stay there,’ Rebekah bade as Jace slid from the bed and pulled on his trousers.

  ‘I’ll make coffee while you dress.’ He snapped the waist fastening closed, and she gathered up fresh underwear and headed towards the en suite.

  There was coffee perking in the coffee-maker when she entered the kitchen, and she tried not to be caught up by the look of him as she collected a cup and filled it with the aromatic brew.

  Lean-hipped, bare-chested, olive-textured skin covering splendid musculature, his hair tousled, and a night’s beard shadowing his features, he was something else.

  ‘Problem?’

  He was the problem. A very big problem. And it was getting worse with every day, and night, that passed.

  Sunday. The word seemed to reverberate inside her head. On Sunday he leaves. Two nights he’d stayed over, and already she couldn’t bear the thought of him not being here.

  How could she become so attached to someone so soon? It didn’t make sense. None of it made any sense.

  Rebekah finished her coffee, then she crossed to the sink, rinsed the cup, then caught up her shoulder bag.

  ‘I have to go.’

  ‘You didn’t answer the question.’

  How could she say she’d miss him dreadfully? Or that her heart would break a little when he left?

  His gaze was steady, his eyes dark with an expression she couldn’t define as she stumbled to find the words.

  ‘I appreciate you being here.’ It was as close as she could get, and his mouth curved at the edges.

  ‘I’ll come down to see you safely into your car.’

  He glimpsed her slight confusion. ‘Have you got a spare key I can use to get back in here?’

  She did, and she fetched it, gave it to him, then walked to the door.

  The basement car park was well-lit, and as silent as a concrete tomb. This morning it seemed eerie, and she suppressed a faint shiver as she slid in behind the wheel.

  Jace shut the door, and watched as she reversed out, then drove towards the ramp leading up to street level.

  CHAPTER TEN

  FRIDAY was always a busy day at the shop, with numerous orders to fill, deliveries to be ready on time for the courier, and they had two weddings booked for Saturday.

  ‘We’d like to have you and Jace join us for dinner tonight,’

  Ana issued soon after she arrived. ‘Luc spoke to Jace before I left and he’s deferred the decision to you.’

  It sounded a lovely idea. ‘Thanks, that’ll be great. What time?’

  ‘Seven?’ Ana’s eyes sparkled with humour. ‘Petros said to tell you he’ll make moussaka.’

  ‘And dolmades?’ Rebekah said hopefully.

  ‘I’ll ring and tell him.’

  With Ana manning the telephone and the computer, Rebekah and Suzie worked with efficient speed, taking minimum breaks for lunch. By day’s end everything was done, preparations were in place for Saturday, the market requirements tabled.

  ‘All done,’ Suzie said with satisfaction. ‘Will you be OK if I leave now?’

  ‘Sure. See you tomorrow.’

  Jace was waiting as Rebekah locked up, and she handed him the keys to the MG while she slid into the van.

  Ten minutes later they rode the lift up to her apartment, and after a quick shower she selected a simple bias-cut dress in topaz-blue, added stiletto-heeled pumps, applied minimum make-up, then she caught up an evening purse and emerged into the lounge.

  Jace was intent on televised news coverage, and he turned towards her as she entered the room. His smile was warm and her pulse tripped then raced to a faster beat.

  ‘Ready?’

  It was a few minutes before seven as Jace brought the MG to a smooth halt immediately adjacent the main entrance to Luc and Ana’s home.

  Petros opened the front door before they had a chance to ring the bell, then Ana was there with Luc to greet and usher them indoors.

  ‘We’ll have time for a drink before Petros serves dinner,’ Ana informed as she moved into the lounge.

  True to Ana’s promise, Petros served dolmades as a starter, followed it with moussaka and delicate slices of lamb, and presented a magnificent fruit flan for dessert.

  Rebekah chose to join her sister and accepted mineral water, leaving the men to drink superb red wine with their meal.

/>   Petros was in the midst of clearing the table prior to serving coffee when the house cellphone rang, and he moved to one side, extracted the unit, spoke briefly, then handed it to Luc.

  The conversation was brief, and Luc’s tone sufficiently serious to warrant concern as he ended the call.

  ‘That was the police reporting a break-in at Blooms and Bouquets. Someone was seen hurling a brick through the front window.’ Luc spared Rebekah a level look. ‘The culprit’s been caught and identified.’

  ‘Brad.’ It was more of a statement than a question, and Luc inclined his head in acquiescence.

  ‘We need to organise for someone to board up the window,’ Ana said at once. ‘Is there any other damage?’

  ‘I’ll go down with Rebekah,’ Jace indicated as Luc put through a call to an emergency repair service.

  Please God, don’t let it be too bad, Rebekah pleaded silently as Jace drove down to the shop. It wasn’t any great distance, and he pulled the car to a halt on the opposite side of the road.

  A police car was parked adjacent the shop doorway, and Rebekah presented documentation as proof of ownership, then she unlocked the front door and entered the shop.

  It was a mess. Vases were overturned, flowers strewn on the floor, and there was water pooling everywhere.

  She felt sick, sickened at the degree of vengeance that had caused Brad to go to this extreme. The risk of being seen and caught was high, for the area bordered on the trendy café district, and was consequently well-lit and frequented by several passers-by.

  Had he wanted to hurt her so much he was prepared to go to jail? She doubted even his mother and her high-flying lawyer would be able to save Brad this time.

  Maybe it would turn out to be a good thing, and he’d finally get the help he needed. But at what price?

  Police procedure took a while, an emergency contractor arrived to board up the window, then Rebekah received clearance to clean up.

  There was a sense of unreality, that the whole episode was merely a bad dream from which she’d awaken.

  With methodical efficiency she began noting down ruined blooms, and made a list of what she’d need to re-order. Now it was a matter of physical work, clearing broken glass and floral debris.

  ‘Where do you want me to start?’ Jace asked as he discarded his jacket and began rolling up his shirt-sleeves.

  She fetched a broom and handed it to him. ‘You sweep, I’ll dispose of the glass.’

  They worked together, and it didn’t take as long to clean up as she’d first thought. When it was done, she rang Ana and gave her sister a personal report, then she checked the locks and preceded Jace to the car.

  ‘Thanks for your help,’ she said quietly as she slid into the passenger seat.

  ‘You imagine I’d have let you come down here and tackle this alone?’

  His voice held a quality she didn’t want to examine right now, and she retained silence for the short ride back to her apartment.

  Inside, she moved straight through to the bedroom, stepped out of her stilettos, slipped off her clothes, and donned a silk robe.

  Bed had never looked so good, and there was the temptation to slip between the sheets, snap off the light and drift into a dreamless sleep.

  ‘I’ve made coffee.’

  Rebekah turned at the sound of Jace’s deep drawl, and tried for a faint smile, only to fail miserably.

  He closed the distance between them and gathered her in against him. He’d expected reaction to set in, but hadn’t bargained on it leaving her dark-eyed and white-faced.

  ‘That bad, huh?’ He felt a tremor rake her slim body and rested his cheek against the top of her head.

  Just hold me, she begged silently. She needed to borrow some of his strength for a while. Even a few minutes would do while she replenished her own. Then she’d sip coffee, maybe put on a video in the hope of losing herself in a light, frivolous movie.

  At that moment the phone rang, and she stiffened, wondering who could be calling at this hour. Then common sense prevailed as Jace released her.

  ‘Want me to take that?’ He didn’t wait for her to answer as he crossed to pick up the bedroom extension.

  His end of the conversation was incredibly brief, just a word here and there in confirmation, and she stood quietly as he replaced the handset.

  There was a part of her that noticed the broad set of his shoulders, his stance, the way he exuded an animalistic sense of power. Inherent vitality meshed with blatant sensuality to compile a forceful image any sane person would prefer as friend rather than foe.

  ‘Luc,’ he revealed. ‘Brad has been denied bail.’

  The relief was palpable. This time he’d gone too far, and he hadn’t been able to slip free of the legal net.

  ‘It’s over,’ Jace assured quietly. ‘Your statement and the evidence is sufficient to ensure he’ll go to jail.’

  ‘His mother—’

  ‘Even her lawyer won’t be able to swing anything. That’s a given.’

  ‘You can’t be sure of that.’

  ‘Yes,’ he said with grim inflexibility. ‘I can.’ Brad Somerville would never have the chance to hurt her again. If he so much as tried, the law would come down on him so hard life as he knew it would never be the same again.

  ‘Now,’ Jace inclined as he pulled her close. ‘Where were we?’

  ‘I think we should go to bed.’

  A husky chuckle sounded low in his throat. ‘My thoughts, exactly.’

  She shook her head. ‘To sleep.’

  ‘OK.’ He swept an arm beneath her knees and carried her through to the bedroom, switching off lights as he went.

  ‘I can walk,’ Rebekah protested.

  ‘Indulge me.’

  Yet it was he who indulged her, and for a while she forgot the ugliness of the earlier hours, then he held her as she slept.

  Saturday proved to be exceptionally hectic, and a few of the regular clientele called in to commiserate over the broken shop window, the break-in. Rebekah and Ana were circumspect in their explanation, even to Suzie, and it was business as usual as the orders were met, deliveries made.

  It was late when Rebekah finished for the day, and she walked out of the shop into Jace’s arms, laughing a little as he drew her close, bestowed a lingering kiss, then caught hold of her hand as he led her to the car.

  Did he have something planned for his last night in Sydney?

  She hoped so. She felt like dressing up, going somewhere special in order to hold the memory of the night forever in her mind.

  He didn’t disappoint. An hour later she sat sipping champagne in one of the finest restaurants the city had to offer.

  The food was exceptional, the ambience fantastic, and the man seated opposite was the embodiment of everything she could ever hope for.

  Yet there was a sad poignancy to the night. This was their last meal together, the last time they’d share the same bed.

  Unless… No, she wouldn’t even go there. Their lives, where they resided, they were too far apart for it to be possible to sustain a successful relationship.

  Sure, they’d call each other. Email, fax, phone. For a while. Then the contact would dwindle down to practically nothing, and eventually cease.

  But it had been great while it lasted. Better than great, she admitted. So much so, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to exist without him.

  They lingered, and returned late to her apartment.

  The loving was the sweetest, the most sensual experience of her life. He made it so good, it was all she could do not to weep from the joy of it.

  They slept for a while, then woke to pleasure each other again before hitting the shower.

  ‘I’ll make breakfast,’ Rebekah declared, and he pressed a finger to her lips.

  ‘We’ll do it together.’

  Bacon, eggs, hash browns, juice and strong black coffee. Except she could hardly eat a thing as she conducted a mental countdown to the time they’d need to leave for the airpo
rt.

  They talked, although afterwards she couldn’t recall a word she’d said, and she cleared the table, stacked the dishes, blindly forcing herself to focus on the mundane as he collected his wet-pack from the en suite.

  She heard him re-enter the kitchen, followed by the soft sound of his overnight bag hitting the floor, then his hands curved over her shoulders as he turned her round to face him.

  His hands slid up to cup her nape, then he covered her mouth with his own in a kiss that seared her soul.

  When he lifted his head she could only look at him in silence, too afraid to say the words bubbling up in her throat.

  ‘Marry me.’

  Rebekah’s jaw dropped, and she struggled to find her voice. An impossibility with a host of random thoughts chasing each other inside her head.

  ‘What did you say?’ she managed at last.

  ‘Marry me,’ Jace reiterated quietly, and witnessed the gamut of her emotions. Shock, confusion, fear. He could accept the first two, but he wanted to wipe out the third.

  ‘You can’t be serious.’

  ‘I am. Very serious.’

  She was lost for words. There was one part of her that wanted to shout an unconditional ‘yes’. Except sanity demanded a different answer.

  He didn’t give her the chance to utter it. ‘You stole my heart when I partnered you at Luc and Ana’s wedding. If I could have, I’d have swept you off to live with me in New York then. But it wasn’t the right time…for you.’

  ‘And you imagine it is now?’ she queried sadly.

  ‘I want to make it the right time. The question is…do you?’

  ‘Jace—’

  ‘I love you,’ he vowed gently. ‘The everlasting, “till death do us part” kind.’ He made no attempt to touch her. He could, he knew, use unfair persuasion. But he wanted nothing she’d regret on reflection. ‘I want to be in your life, and have you in mine.’

  Was she brave enough to reach out with both hands and accept what he offered? She wanted to, desperately.

  The thought of never seeing him again was earth-shattering. Yet…marriage?

  Rebekah met and held his gaze, aware of the strength, the perceptive quality apparent and the integrity. This man wasn’t of Brad’s ilk, and never would be.