“Amaya,” Theo said. He sat in one of the chairs, but the stiffness of his shoulders and the blank stare in his eyes didn’t fool her. He was worried about his father. He’d been talking to a couple of doctors who popped in with updates as they worked on his father to make sure they kept him stable. But none of it removed the concern from his expression.
“I’m sorry. I feel so helpless. Is there anything I can do?” She stopped moving and came to his side. They still had on the casual workout shorts and shirts they’d worn for their Botanic Gardens visit. There hadn’t been time to change, anyway.
He held her hand and gave her a close-lipped smile. “You’re here. That’s enough.”
Her heart sang. She threaded her fingers with his, chastising herself for the pang of hope filling her chest. He’d said a month with her wasn’t enough before they had sex. Before she demanded he take her there and then. Now he enjoyed her presence during a hard time. Did any of this mean anything?
Perhaps I should call Madame Alexa. Though the idea of asking if any of her virgins ever had a happy ending with a buyer seemed beyond naive. Madame Alexa would probably laugh or say something condescending to put her in her place.
“Thanks,” he whispered, “for coming with me.”
She touched his forearm. “Of course.”
“Theo,” a familiar male voice said, and she turned her face in its direction.
Kostas marched into the room, holding the arm of a petite lady with striking hazel eyes. Amaya automatically let go of Theo and cleared her throat. A shiver raced down her spine.
Kostas tilted his head, and she nodded at him. Theo stood and hugged his mother. Then, the three of them engaged in a conversation in Greek she had to be fluent to understand. In the past several days, she’d been learning basic greetings and words from an app, but she couldn’t carry a conversation. At least not one that didn’t include some ridiculous touristy line like, Where’s the zoo? anyway.
Amaya sucked in her breath, her fingers fidgeting on her lap. She reached for a lifestyle magazine from the coffee table, but since it was all in Greek, she pretended to look at the pictures as she flipped through the pages.
“Amaya,” Theo called her, and she stood a bit too quickly. “This is my mother, Cordelia Rhodes.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Rhodes,” Amaya said. “I’m sorry about the circumstances.”
His mother straightened her shoulders, then angled her head. “Thank you.”
The same doctor who’d shaken hands with Theo earlier appeared, walking up to them and holding a heavy chart. He proceeded to explain something that must have been good news, for Theo’s mom sighed and looked up at the ceiling as if she thanked God or superior beings for the doctor’s words. Kostas nodded, and Theo remained calm, asking a couple of questions.
“He won’t need heart surgery,” Theo said, translating to her after the doctor left. “With some lifestyle changes and no stress, he should be okay for a while.”
“Oh that’s good,” she said, sighing in relief. She wanted to hug him, to put her arms around his neck and kiss his cheek, but she restrained herself.
“We can visit him when he’s transferred to a room, where they’ll keep him overnight,” Kostas said, in English, looking at her.
A pang of relief loosened her shoulders. She watched Theo’s reaction, and the contours of his handsome face softened. The tips of her fingers still itched to touch him, but she did not, and shuffled her weight from one foot to another. The main thing was his father would be okay. Theo wouldn’t experience the pain of losing a parent prematurely.
The nurse called his mother, and Cordelia rushed to go visit her husband.
Kostas’s phone buzzed, and he dashed off to take the call away from them. She imagined family members had found out about what happened and wanted an update on Theo’s father’s health.
“Are you okay?” Theo asked, erasing the distance between them.
She didn’t resist, and stroked his cheek, her fingers slightly trembling. What if he pushed her away? He’d tried to during their visit to the garden, but she’d been able to reel him back in and have a fantastic time with him. But, this was real life—and his family. “Of course. I’m glad your father’s well. You should see him when you get a chance.”
He kissed the back of her hand and shot her an intimate glance. “I will.”
“I hope he’ll get to go home soon. It’s the best way to heal, really, with your loved ones. I hate hospitals.”
Theo made an invisible pattern on her palm. The gesture soothed her and sent a delightful sensation through her. “I’m sorry. I just realized being here must bring up some bad memories for you.”
“It’s okay.” She forced a smile. His kind words and touch clutched her hard. “It’s okay,” she repeated, more to herself than to him. He gave her a hug, and the irony of him soothing her when she should be the one comforting him wasn’t lost on her. She embraced him back, holding him tight like some powerful force threatened to take him away from her.
Tears prickled in the back of her eyes, stingy and hot. When she’d lost Melina, her parents mourned too. When she’d lost her parents, she had Diego to look after. She grieved, of course, but had to be strong for her brother. And now…now she literally had a shoulder to cry on.
Damn, a month wouldn’t be enough with him, either. A whole lifetime wouldn’t. But what could she do? His father just suffered a heart attack. Was she in a position to ask him to go against his father’s wishes? He kissed the top of her head, and, for a moment, doubts melted away.
The sound of a throat clearing made her disengage from Theo. His mother had returned and said something in Greek to him.
He sighed. “My father wants to see me. I’ll go say hi and check on him. I’ll be right back.”
Amaya watched him disappear into the restricted area, following a male nurse who had been waiting for him. She touched her neck, unsure. His mother sat in one of the chairs. “Is there anything I can get you?” Amaya asked, peering at her. “Would you like some water? Would you like me to go fetch Kostas?”
She stared at her. “No. I’m good.”
Amaya scratched her head. What to do now? Should she keep standing and pretend to admire the minimalist decor of the waiting area? Or sit across from his mother? Certainly, not next to her—that’d be far too bold at this point. “All right.”
“I heard you’ve been staying at my son’s,” his mother said, cutting the silence.
Amaya touched the back of her neck. “Yes. He’s a gracious host.” Among other things… Amaya pressed her fingers into her skin in a silent plea with herself to be proper. Say the right thing.
A ghost of a smile formed on his mother’s mouth. “How do you like Athens?”
“Oh, I love it. It’s so pretty. And the food is delicious,” she said. Sure, she could point out some places she’d visited, but did his mother really care?
She crossed her legs and a dark gleam touched her hazel eyes. “What brought you here, Amaya?”
“Your son.”
Cordelia exhaled. “Obviously, my dear. But you’re a young woman who seems to be smart. What could you be expecting from Theo when he’s committed to someone else?”
Unofficially committed. The question sent Amaya’s pulse skittering. She swallowed hard, hoping to extract the courage to answer. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and looked at his mother quietly. She couldn’t tell her about the virgin auction or about how they’d met. But if she lied, she’d open a different can of worms—more like a box of poisonous snakes.
“I wish I had a smart answer to give you,” Amaya said at last. “You’re a strong woman who raised two great sons, so I’m sure you appreciate the direct approach. Truth is, I happen to really care for your son. Even though I know about his situation.”
“Your honesty is refreshing. I’m not sure you know, but there’s a lot at stake for my family if he marries Talia.”
“You’re his mother. With a
ll due respect, don’t you think he should choose?” Amaya said. A second later, regret thickened her throat. Her palms got clammy, panic twisted inside her gut.
“He is—by making the right choice,” Cordelia said in a steady but determined tone. She clutched her pearl necklace, then quickly unclutched. Was she nervous too? “I hope when the time comes, you won’t be in the way. If you truly care for him, do what’s best for Theo and his family. The people he cares for.”
Amaya looked at her square in the eye, her heart pulsing in her ears. “I will,” she said in a determined voice, making a promise to his mother and herself. A promise that would cost her her own happiness. A promise she couldn’t take back.
…
Theo undid his tie. He called Amaya’s name, but didn’t hear her reply as he made his way through the foyer and into the living area.
For the past three days, she’d been amazingly supportive. She’d asked about his father, offered help, but always waited for his lead.
His father, thankfully, had just been released from the hospital. Theo tossed his briefcase across the sofa. His mother hadn’t mentioned Amaya even once, even after having met her at the hospital and seen her in passing during another day when Amaya accompanied Theo.
He’d expected her to meddle, to annoy him, and hell, maybe even be rude to Amaya. But no, his mother acted like a true lady and had been polite though distant. He scratched his chin. What the hell did her uncharacteristic aloofness mean? Did she see Amaya not as a real threat, so she didn’t bother?
“Amaya?” Theo called, raising his voice. Shit, she was the biggest threat he could ever imagine.
They hadn’t had sex in almost three days, and yet her support and companionship showed him the great partner she could be.
When he neared the staircase, a path of small-lit candles grabbed his attention. He bit back a smile, and anticipation thrummed in his blood. He removed his shirt, tossing it across the room. He enjoyed the new routine of having his housekeeper leave early so they enjoyed dinner together—a meal that often Amaya prepared.
He unzipped his pants, pulling them down until his briefs were the only thing he wore.
When he entered his bedroom, the trail of candles rounded his bed where Amaya sat. Wearing a pirate hat and the same sexy thigh-high boots she had on at Seth’s party, and nothing else.
“Ahoy, mate,” she purred.
“Ahoy.” He basked in the perfect image of Amaya on his bed, the seductive smile on her lips. God. His cock hardened, his balls heaving with a lust he couldn’t contain. “An old nautical superstition didn’t allow women on merchant or military vessels. Sailors believed women meant bad luck and would anger the gods.”
“Really? How silly.”
“I agree. Having you like this, in my bed, is all the luck I need.” And he was far from angry.
He walked up to her, and she lifted her hand in protest. “No clothes are allowed in this ship.”
“By all means…who am I to defy the captain?”
He got rid of his boxers, his dick springing free against his stomach. She scooted to the edge of the bed, gesturing for him to come near, and within a second, she reached for his cock. An immeasurable amount of blood rushed from his brain to his cock.
“Good job, matey. Now it’s time for me to check out your sword. Make sure it’s in good shape.”
Lord…did she want to kill him? She took him in her mouth, showing him she’d learned so much since the first time she’d done it. She took him halfway between her lips, while her hand clenched around the rest, pumping him up and down.
He thrust his fingers into her hair as heat radiated from his chest, drilling every part of him. She undulated her hips, letting a moan slip from her lips. Damn her, she enjoyed this as much as he did.
She licked him up and down, each time alternating with a suck—each time trying to fit him deeper into her throat, her muscles working to adjust to him. He growled, feeling pleasure building in his core. Pre-cum leaked from his tip, and she swirled it with her sinful tongue. “Hhmmm…I want more.”
She cupped his balls, squeezing them, driving him to the edge. He glanced down at her, watching her suck him with gusto, her hips undulating on the bed. He caught a generous amount of her hair, and pulling the strands a bit, positioned her head so he could command the thrusts of his cock into her mouth.
He fucked her mouth, with quick plunges, until pleasure washed over him and he could no longer control his own release. She latched onto him, closing her lips around him like she didn’t want to waste a drop, which only aroused him even more. “Yeah…swallow my cum, baby. It’s all for you,” he said, tugging at her hair, then closing his eyes as a colorful palette exploded behind his lids. His body convulsed, and he emptied himself inside her.
His orgasm finally subsided, and he pulled his cock out from her. She licked her lips and let out an adorable sigh. “This was the best surprise.” He fell on the mattress next to her.
“And it’s not over yet.” She swung her head in the direction of the nightstand, showing the tube of lube he’d used before, and one small, diamond-shaped vibrator. “I went shopping when I was looking for the pirate costume, remember? I put it away, and long story short, we never got to try my new toy.”
He propped himself on his elbow and turned to his side to contemplate her beauty. A mischievous glint lit her eyes, and he wished he could take a picture of her like this…
Naked, naughty, and relaxed. “You’ve been through quite the transformation, Amaya Lopez.”
She chuckled. “Madame Alexa would be proud.”
He rolled on top of her, nearly crushing her with his weight. “Me too,” he said, a lump lodging in his throat. “I’m very proud of you.”
Chapter Fifteen
Amaya fused her lips with his, excitement about to burst from her chest.
Hell yeah, she was proud of herself too. She’d decided on enjoying the remaining time she had with Theo, and fuck—what better way to do it than giving them both a little prize?
She rotated with him on the bed until she straddled him, and she ripped her mouth from his, enjoying the view of that gorgeous man under her. He crossed his arm under his head and gazed at her with so many unspoken emotions, her heart felt filled. Filled with the affection he showed her but didn’t talk about.
She inhaled. That makes two of us. Especially after the conversation with his mother, she couldn’t tell him how much she’d come to care for him. She could only let her body express the feelings she couldn’t voice.
She leaned over him, running her fingers down the hard ridges of his chest and abs. She felt him shudder and shot him a triumphant smile. “You’re all mine, pirate.”
“Good.” He lifted his head and kissed her, then outsmarted her and rotated her on the bed, switching positions again. She chuckled, reveling in the brushes of his cock on her skin. Each time, a flutter zapped down her pulse. “I need you standing.”
He scooted down the bed, and took her with him until her boots reached the rug. What did he have in mind? “Hold on to the post facing the bed frame.”
She did as asked, wondering why she’d need to stand. A thrill of anticipation zig-zagged down her body, unsettling her core. She watched him grab the dildo from the nightstand, along with the tube of lube, and bring it with him. Maybe he’s going to finally screw me in the ass. That’s what she’d intended with the surprise tonight. What she wanted.
He kneeled behind her and nudged her legs apart with his hand. She gripped the wooden post, drumming her fingers on the smooth surface. She tossed a glance behind her shoulder to find his gaze fixed on her butt. Inhaling, she turned her head and focused on the bed frame and the beautiful work carved on it.
Soon, he massaged her ass with vigorous strokes. A shiver raced down her spine, his touch re-igniting responses in her body—her nipples tightened, and her flesh…he managed to heat up every inch of her that he fondled, kneaded, and kissed.
She gasped. Her chest
squeezed, and for a second, she thought she couldn’t take the sensations overwhelming her already. He gave her cheeks open-mouthed kisses, earning a few moans, then started to alternate with nips. She curled her toes inside the boots, restless, finding it impossible to keep still.
“Theo, you’re killing me.”
“Should I stop?”
“No!”
She didn’t see but felt his smile against her ass.
He continued his caresses and kisses, each time becoming bolder. He licked the dimples on her lower back, the tip of his tongue tracing a path further down. Separating her cheeks with his palm, he licked between them, all the way down to her hole.
With his hand, he pressed into her back, prompting her to bend a little. She followed his silent command, noticing this way he had more access to her ass, and the flicks of his tongue became stronger. Deeper.
She closed her eyes, loving the sensations burning though her. Lust boiled in the pit of her stomach. Then she felt something poking her thigh. Quickly, she glanced down to find him holding the dildo, the diamond tip rubbing against her wet folds. Hhmmm…
“Theo. God, this is…” She trailed off when he thrust the dildo inside her pussy without much warning. He then drew it out a bit, teasing her, only to return with quicker, harder plunges. At the same time, he thrust his tongue inside her back hole, stroking it in and out.
She clenched the poster with both hands. The sweat from her palm almost slid her hand off of it, but she grasped the piece of wood, afraid she’d lose her balance and pass out otherwise. Too much. His tongue, the skillful way with which he worked the dildo in and out of her cunt…
When he nipped the back of her thigh, she growled. She contracted her body once, in a last attempt for control, but when she released it, the pleasure that’d been boiling in her burst out, detonating through her. Spasms waved through her, bright fireworks exploding in the corner of her eyes. She called his name until her throat became dry. He didn’t let up, and continued licking her, stroking, and touching until her climax rode one last wave, leaving her exhilaratingly sated.
Auctioned to the Greek Billionaire (The Highest Bidder Book 1) Page 12
