Dea stared listlessly out the window while she lay in bed. She paid little attention to the glorious view of Athens. Her head still ached from her restless night. She had wept until she had succumbed to a restless sleep. The discussion she had with Theo kept running around her mind… Theo had every right to be angry with her. To hate her even… She had lied to him, held back information, and created a mess in his life. She knew he was ruthless enough to take her baby. He didn’t play fair and he would cut her out of the baby’s life if he thought she was a threat. She didn’t have the power to fight him. Dea tensed when she felt as though she was being watched.&nbs
He didn’t want his mother and Dillon to notice the cracks in his relationship with Dea. They would use it and he would lose the ground he had already conquered.“Then don’t do anything that requires me to fight back,” Dea said and paused, clearly considering her next words. “And don’t give them any details about us.” Theo tilted his head to one side as he released his hold on her.“I’m not one to confide in others.”“No one needs to know that you…” Dea’s hands churned as she struggled to find the right word.“That you detained me at the island… And they certainly don’t need to know what happened in the wine cellar… years ago.”“I have no intentions of displaying my lack of judgm
“Are you sure about this?” Dea whispered to Theo as they walked through the museum to the Kralidis collection.“I’ve been looking forward to this event,” Theo replied as they entered the archway that led to the exclusive party. “The Kralidis family donated historically important artifacts to the museum and it will be on tour for years.”“No, that’s not what I meant. I know you want to be here… I was talking about me being here… With you?” Theo stopped and studied her strained smile.“You’re nervous,” he said in disbelief. Of course, she was nervous! She didn’t want to let him down. Her spine grew rigid when she felt all eyes on her. Theo splayed his hand against her back. The casual
A week later, after the museum event and his heated discussion with his cousin, Theo cautiously approached Dea’s bedroom as he planned his next move. He felt like he was flying without a net. What he said or did next could ruin all of the groundwork he’d covered so far. The door to her room was ajar. There was a clatter of something hitting the floor and Dea’s muttered expletive followed. Theo tapped his knuckles on the door before he pushed it open. His eyes lit up with appreciation when Theo saw Dea. Her lime-green top and charcoal-gray yoga pants clung to her curves. She was stretching, extending her arm as she reached for something at the top of her closet. Wisps of her dark hair were escaping from her short ponytail. It took him a moment
Theo had heard that suggestion from everyone, but lately, he felt as if he’d dodged a bullet. She looked at the window.“Maybe I should go back to New York…” She sounded preoccupied as if she was already making plans.“Yes… It would be better for both of us.”“No! Absolutely not!” He moved in front of her, blocking her from the suitcase. She took a step to the side.“Don’t worry, I can be back in time for the birth.” He stretched out his arm to stop her.“No! That is out of the question.”“The baby will be born in Greece, I promise you that. You can trust me, Theo.”“Trust?” he spat out. “I find your req
“‘Theo?’” He heard Dea from far away as if she was a spirit. Blackness surrounded him and he tried to kick and claw his way to the surface. He had to get to Dea. She needed him… She sounded desperate. Afraid.“‘Theo?’” Her sharp voice cut through the last barrier.“‘Please, Theo… Wake up… Follow my voice and come back…’” Theo was suddenly awake. His heart was pounding against his chest as he took big gulps of air. His eyes burned as he looked around, in every corner of the room.“I’m… here… Home…” he said hoarsely through parched lips.“Theo…” she whispered and very lightly, touched his arm. Dea… Theo turned his head to the side and saw Dea leaning over him. He was no longer in the loud and chaotic police station where his family had been irrevocably torn apart. He wasn’t the vulnerable child who couldn’t bear to be touched or held. He was safe. No one could hurt him. He wasn’t alone anymore.“What happened?” Theo a
Dea murmured and sighed with contentment as she gradually stirred from her sleep. She was surrounded by heat and wiggled closer. She frowned when she felt Theo’s big hands grasp her arms as the delicious heat faded. Theo carefully held her away.“Dea… Don’t stand so near… I’m not a saint...” Her eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes.“What… What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice groggy from sleep. The bedroom was dark but she saw the first streaks of dawn filter through the curtains.“You’re too close, glikia mou.” He growled in her ear.“I knew this would happen if we shared a bed.” ‘Too close?’ She blinked a few times and discovered that instead of keeping a safe distance, she was clinging onto Theo. Her head rested against his bare chest as she listened to the solid beat of his heart. She had draped her arms around him in a loose embrace and her hips were flush with his. At some point in the night, she h
She lay limp beneath Theo, her lungs aching as she tried to catch her breath. Through heavy eyelids, she watched him shove off his pajama bottoms. He gathered Dea in his arms, his chest hot and damp to the touch, before he rolled over. Dea straddled his hips. Anticipation pulsed through her body when she felt his throbbing erection against her. She slowly sat up, dragging her hands down his broad chest. She smiled when she saw the hungry glitter in Theo’s hooded and dark eyes, locked on her face. “Now it’s my turn to control the pace… My turn to make you scream my name…” Dea whispered.“Ride me, Dea,” he panted. “I need you.” Dea reached for the hem of her nightie and slowly removed it, inch by inch. His fingers flexed on her thighs as she stretched and rolled her hips. She barely heard Theo’s ragged breath over her pounding heart as she tossed her nightie to the side.“You’re so damn sexy…” Theo murmured. He reached up and roughly caressed he