It's All Greek to Me (23 page)
Read It's All Greek to Me Online
Authors: Katie MacAlister
She was gone before he could respond.
Nine hours later he arrived home, exhausted and desirous of nothing more than for Harry to comfort him.
His heart stopped when he walked into the bedroom.
A woman stood there, a woman with glossy, tawny brown hair that spilled down her back like skeins of silk, little amber-gold highlights catching the subdued overhead lighting.
She turned to face him and his breath caught in his throat.
She was so beautiful, it was all he could do to keep from carrying her to the bed and burying himself to the hilt in her warm, welcoming body.
His heart stopped when he walked into the bedroom.
A woman stood there, a woman with glossy, tawny brown hair that spilled down her back like skeins of silk, little amber-gold highlights catching the subdued overhead lighting.
She turned to face him and his breath caught in his throat.
She was so beautiful, it was all he could do to keep from carrying her to the bed and burying himself to the hilt in her warm, welcoming body.
She froze, as elegant as a gazelle, her eyes watchful as he examined her from the top of her gleaming hair to the face that he knew as well as his own, down to breasts that made his scrotum tighten just thinking about them.
She was wearing a scarlet dress that was gathered and draped across her breasts, flowing down to a skirt that fluttered slightly as she moved.
She was getting bigger now, a fact that filled him with a deep sense of satisfaction.
The dress stopped a few inches above her knees, those long, elegant legs of hers shamelessly bare of stockings, ending in little rose-pink toenails that peeked from the toes of her sandals.
She was a goddess come to earth, and he would be damned if he wasted one single moment of time.
She was wearing a scarlet dress that was gathered and draped across her breasts, flowing down to a skirt that fluttered slightly as she moved.
She was getting bigger now, a fact that filled him with a deep sense of satisfaction.
The dress stopped a few inches above her knees, those long, elegant legs of hers shamelessly bare of stockings, ending in little rose-pink toenails that peeked from the toes of her sandals.
She was a goddess come to earth, and he would be damned if he wasted one single moment of time.
“To hell with the party,” he said, reaching for his tie.
She laughed, the rich, throaty laugh that seemed to resonate within him.
“After I went through the hell of shopping for a dress that didn’t make me look like I was eight months pregnant instead of four?
No, sir.
I have a new dress to show off.
You like it, don’t you?
I think it hides my stomach pretty well.”
“After I went through the hell of shopping for a dress that didn’t make me look like I was eight months pregnant instead of four?
No, sir.
I have a new dress to show off.
You like it, don’t you?
I think it hides my stomach pretty well.”
“Why would you want to hide your belly?”
he asked, shaking his head.
He took her hands in his and stood back, his head to the side as he gave her another once-over, just because he liked looking at her.
“You are carrying my twins.
There is nothing to be ashamed of.”
he asked, shaking his head.
He took her hands in his and stood back, his head to the side as he gave her another once-over, just because he liked looking at her.
“You are carrying my twins.
There is nothing to be ashamed of.”
She gave him an odd look.
“I want to hide it because everyone else at this party is going to be skinny and beautiful.”
“I want to hide it because everyone else at this party is going to be skinny and beautiful.”
“Who said that?”
“Dmitri.”
He frowned until she explained.
“He said that your ex was going to be there.
So in other words, in the midst of all those little petite blond elfin fairy-type creatures who are too ethereal for words, I’ll be lumbering around like a giant ox.”
He frowned until she explained.
“He said that your ex was going to be there.
So in other words, in the midst of all those little petite blond elfin fairy-type creatures who are too ethereal for words, I’ll be lumbering around like a giant ox.”
How it amused him when she couldn’t fight being jealous.
“I never thought you’d fish for a compliment, sweetheart, but if you want one, I’m happy to reassure you that you’re utterly ravishing, even if that dress isn’t green.”
“I never thought you’d fish for a compliment, sweetheart, but if you want one, I’m happy to reassure you that you’re utterly ravishing, even if that dress isn’t green.”
“You have to say that,” she said, her nostrils flaring.
“It’s in our contract.
You are legally obligated to say nice things to me when I’m as big as a house, and I can’t tell everyone in the delivery room that your parents weren’t married, or that you have an unnatural passion for sheep.”
“It’s in our contract.
You are legally obligated to say nice things to me when I’m as big as a house, and I can’t tell everyone in the delivery room that your parents weren’t married, or that you have an unnatural passion for sheep.”
He had a feeling that if he laughed, he’d just hurt her feelings.
He kept his face sober as he kissed first the fingers of one hand, then those of the second, never taking his eyes off her.
“Of course my parents were married.
And how did you find out about the sheep?”
He kept his face sober as he kissed first the fingers of one hand, then those of the second, never taking his eyes off her.
“Of course my parents were married.
And how did you find out about the sheep?”
Her eyes widened and he couldn’t do it any longer.
He couldn’t keep a straight face.
He laughed, kissed her with the passion that he’d been saving up all day, and some minutes later, when he retrieved his tongue from her mouth, he took her hand and placed it on his crotch.
“Tell me I don’t think you’re the most beautiful goddess who ever walked the earth.”
He couldn’t keep a straight face.
He laughed, kissed her with the passion that he’d been saving up all day, and some minutes later, when he retrieved his tongue from her mouth, he took her hand and placed it on his crotch.
“Tell me I don’t think you’re the most beautiful goddess who ever walked the earth.”
She stroked the hard length of him until he groaned and caught her hand.
“I wasn’t fishing for a compliment, you know.
I just feel.
.
.
.
Oh, hell, I guess I was fishing.
It’s my boobs.”
Harry adjusted the chiffon material that was gathered and tastefully draped across her breasts, showing a bit of cleavage but not so much that it would give everyone the idea she was a great big milk cow.
“I wasn’t fishing for a compliment, you know.
I just feel.
.
.
.
Oh, hell, I guess I was fishing.
It’s my boobs.”
Harry adjusted the chiffon material that was gathered and tastefully draped across her breasts, showing a bit of cleavage but not so much that it would give everyone the idea she was a great big milk cow.
“I love your boobs,” Iakovos said, dipping his head to press kisses to the exposed flesh.
“Well, that’s good, because they’re growing.”
He rubbed his hands together, a wicked smile matching the glint in his eyes.
“It’s all going according to my plans, then.
Come along, my beautiful tempest.
Since you suffered for your vanity, the least I can do is show you off to the very boring and not at all elflike Tobias Johnson and his stout wife.”
“It’s all going according to my plans, then.
Come along, my beautiful tempest.
Since you suffered for your vanity, the least I can do is show you off to the very boring and not at all elflike Tobias Johnson and his stout wife.”
Harry hummed to herself as he took a quick shower and shaved, secretly smiling at the looks he shot her way as he dressed in a very handsome blue suit.
It was worth every agonizing hour she had spent trying to find a maternity cocktail dress that didn’t make her look like a hooker or a dowd.
And Iakovos really did seem to be pleased with the pregnancy, insisting on feeling her belly while they were driven across town to a very chic neighborhood.
It was worth every agonizing hour she had spent trying to find a maternity cocktail dress that didn’t make her look like a hooker or a dowd.
And Iakovos really did seem to be pleased with the pregnancy, insisting on feeling her belly while they were driven across town to a very chic neighborhood.
“You will tell me when I must change how I do things,” he murmured in her ear as he kissed her neck.
“Change what things?”
One side of his mouth quirked up.
“My preference for being on top.”
“My preference for being on top.”
“Oh.”
She glanced at Mikos.
The privacy window was down between front and back, so she contented herself with saying in a soft voice, “My friend Bess is a doctor.
She said so long as I was comfortable, we were fine, but if it started to get uncomfortable, then to stop.
But right now all I can think about is jumping your bones, so I suspect stopping isn’t going to be on the plate for a while.”
She glanced at Mikos.
The privacy window was down between front and back, so she contented herself with saying in a soft voice, “My friend Bess is a doctor.
She said so long as I was comfortable, we were fine, but if it started to get uncomfortable, then to stop.
But right now all I can think about is jumping your bones, so I suspect stopping isn’t going to be on the plate for a while.”
“I’m going to risk sounding like a boorish sensualist, but I’m glad to hear that.”
His breath was hot in her ear as he spoke.
She shivered at the promise in his voice, holding on to the warm sense of pleasure until she stepped into the apartment of the rich contractor.
At first the gathering looked like a typical party, with clumps of people mingling, chatting, and laughing.
Cocktails and little plates bearing expensive snacks were brandished, but as Iakovos introduced Harry to the host and hostess, she realized that there was one giant difference between this party and every other cocktail party: every woman here turned to look at Iakovos when he entered the room.
His breath was hot in her ear as he spoke.
She shivered at the promise in his voice, holding on to the warm sense of pleasure until she stepped into the apartment of the rich contractor.
At first the gathering looked like a typical party, with clumps of people mingling, chatting, and laughing.
Cocktails and little plates bearing expensive snacks were brandished, but as Iakovos introduced Harry to the host and hostess, she realized that there was one giant difference between this party and every other cocktail party: every woman here turned to look at Iakovos when he entered the room.
She thought at first that she was seeing things, but as she smiled at the balding middle-aged man whom Iakovos had said he was trying to sweeten, her eyes scanned the room, and she’d be damned if every single woman there—old, young, and everyone in between—hadn’t turned to look at the stunningly handsome man at her side.
And he was stunning.
In that perfectly cut suit, Iakovos looked every inch the world’s fifth most eligible bachelor.
Hell, he looked like the first most eligible bachelor to her, and evidently the women in the room weren’t about to disagree with that assessment.
In that perfectly cut suit, Iakovos looked every inch the world’s fifth most eligible bachelor.
Hell, he looked like the first most eligible bachelor to her, and evidently the women in the room weren’t about to disagree with that assessment.
“Just so you know,” she whispered to him as he escorted her across the room to meet one of the people who worked for him, “if you were suddenly to get leprosy and lose your nose, an ear, and most of your fingers, I’d still love you.”
“You don’t know what a relief it is to hear you say that,” he said, the quirking side of his mouth doing just that.
“I lay sleepless the last few nights worrying about just that very thing.”
“I lay sleepless the last few nights worrying about just that very thing.”
“I’m also not the teeniest bit jealous of the fact that every single woman here wants you.
And yes, I mean that in a biblical sense.”
She smiled brightly at the man who came up to greet Iakovos.
And yes, I mean that in a biblical sense.”
She smiled brightly at the man who came up to greet Iakovos.
And she kept her word, at least until there was a flutter at the door and several people she’d met, but whose names had blurred in her mind, turned to look at her with knowing smiles that raised the hackles on her neck.
Slowly she turned around to see an elfin blonde greet the hostess, size up the room with a quick emerald-eyed glance that sharpened on Iakovos where he stood in conversation with the contractor, and shimmy her way over to them, putting a possessive hand on Iakovos’ arm.
“She’s very beautiful,” a soft voice said at Harry’s shoulder.
She turned to smile at the man who stood there.
“Good evening, Dmitri.
I didn’t know you were in New York.
I thought Iakovos said you were taking care of some business in Greece.”
“Good evening, Dmitri.
I didn’t know you were in New York.
I thought Iakovos said you were taking care of some business in Greece.”
“I was.
Got in this morning, just in time to make the party.
Iakovos said he might give it a miss if you needed him, so I showed up since it was important that someone from the firm make an appearance.”
Got in this morning, just in time to make the party.
Iakovos said he might give it a miss if you needed him, so I showed up since it was important that someone from the firm make an appearance.”
Harry was touched at the thought of Iakovos dragging his cousin all the way over from Greece.
“I’m sorry you had to fly all the way for nothing.”
“I’m sorry you had to fly all the way for nothing.”
“It wasn’t for nothing.
I was coming out anyway.
Jake told me your good news, by the way.
I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to tell you how happy I am for you both.”
I was coming out anyway.
Jake told me your good news, by the way.
I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to tell you how happy I am for you both.”
“Thank you,” she said, warmed by the genuine emotion evident in his smile.
“It wasn’t quite what we planned, but I think it’ll be pretty wonderful nonetheless.”
“It wasn’t quite what we planned, but I think it’ll be pretty wonderful nonetheless.”
He tipped his head toward where Iakovos was leaning down to hear something the ethereal Patricia was saying.
“You’re not going to let that bother you, I hope?”
“You’re not going to let that bother you, I hope?”
“Bother me?
No, not unless she steps over the line.
Then I’ll make it my business to straighten her out on a few things.”
No, not unless she steps over the line.
Then I’ll make it my business to straighten her out on a few things.”
He grinned, and slid a hand behind her, giving her a little squeeze.
“You know, I almost wish she would, just so I could see that, but I suppose it’s better for the business if it doesn’t happen.
Have you met everyone?
Do you need something to drink?”
“You know, I almost wish she would, just so I could see that, but I suppose it’s better for the business if it doesn’t happen.
Have you met everyone?
Do you need something to drink?”
She held up her glass of tonic water.
“I’m fine, thanks, and I think I’ve met everyone.
Do you think it would look very jealous of me if I was to stroll over there and
accidentally
spill my drink down the front of that dress she’s almost wearing?”
“I’m fine, thanks, and I think I’ve met everyone.
Do you think it would look very jealous of me if I was to stroll over there and
accidentally
spill my drink down the front of that dress she’s almost wearing?”
His laughter was loud enough that it caught the attention of several people, one of whom was Iakovos, who turned to smile at her.
The smile faded from his face when he realized that Dmitri’s arm was still around her.
The smile faded from his face when he realized that Dmitri’s arm was still around her.
Harry watched with delighted amazement as Iakovos’ expression turned black.
He shook off the hold tiny little Patricia had on his arm, snapping something to her as he strode toward them.
He shook off the hold tiny little Patricia had on his arm, snapping something to her as he strode toward them.
“Tell me you didn’t do that on purpose,” Harry said out of the side of her mouth.
“Of course I did.
If he gives me a black eye, I expect you to get me some ice,” Dmitri answered, turning to face the wrath of Iakovos.
If he gives me a black eye, I expect you to get me some ice,” Dmitri answered, turning to face the wrath of Iakovos.
Harry didn’t know what Iakovos said because it was in Greek, but the look on his face had her making two mental promises—the first was that she was going to learn Greek just as soon as possible, and the second was that somehow she was going to convince him to give his cousin a raise.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Iakovos snarled to her in an undertone when Dmitri, with a little bow and a wink to her, took himself off.
Iakovos snarled to her in an undertone when Dmitri, with a little bow and a wink to her, took himself off.
“Standing here talking to your cousin.
Did you have a nice chat with Patricia?”
Did you have a nice chat with Patricia?”
“Not particularly.
I want her to do the decorations on a hotel we’re planning to buy and remodel in the Azores.
She is being difficult about it.”
I want her to do the decorations on a hotel we’re planning to buy and remodel in the Azores.
She is being difficult about it.”
“Difficult how?”
He didn’t have a chance to answer before the woman in question wiggled her way over to them.
Honestly, Harry thought to herself, with that dress, and the slinky way she headed straight for Iakovos, she might just as well have stripped naked and put an OPEN FOR BUSINESS sign on her boobs.
Honestly, Harry thought to herself, with that dress, and the slinky way she headed straight for Iakovos, she might just as well have stripped naked and put an OPEN FOR BUSINESS sign on her boobs.
“Iakovos, darling, is this your little wife-to-be?”
The minute little blonde subjected Harry to a detailed scrutiny, making her feel the size of a linebacker.
The blue gaze looked with speculation at her belly before flashing her a wholly shallow smile.
“Or should I make that mother-to-be?”
The minute little blonde subjected Harry to a detailed scrutiny, making her feel the size of a linebacker.
The blue gaze looked with speculation at her belly before flashing her a wholly shallow smile.
“Or should I make that mother-to-be?”
“She’s both.
Harry, this is Patricia.
She’s worked with me for several years decorating my renovations.”
Harry, this is Patricia.
She’s worked with me for several years decorating my renovations.”
“Oh, I’ve certainly done more than just
decorate
your renovations,” Patricia cooed with an obvious meaning that you’d have to have been a Martian to miss.
She made a little kissy face at him and ran her thumb next to his lip, murmuring, “Oh, I left a little lipstick there, darling.”
decorate
your renovations,” Patricia cooed with an obvious meaning that you’d have to have been a Martian to miss.
She made a little kissy face at him and ran her thumb next to his lip, murmuring, “Oh, I left a little lipstick there, darling.”
Harry had to bite her lip to keep from laughing, but she did, knowing that if she said what she wanted to say, it would just make Patricia worse.
Iakovos’ dark eyes met hers, a question in them.
She kept her lips straight, but she knew he saw the smile in her eyes when he relaxed, and allowed Patricia to pull him back to the conversation with their host.
She kept her lips straight, but she knew he saw the smile in her eyes when he relaxed, and allowed Patricia to pull him back to the conversation with their host.
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