THE CHAMELEON (10 page)

“Ewwww, Derek, they’re kissing.”

“God, Emily, can’t you stop for even a second?” Derek chastised Emily, but from the look on his face, he loved every minute of being with her.

Stephan sighed dramatically before he pulled away from Aisling. “Fine, you both can come back for a few minutes but then you have to go.”

CHAPTER 17

(Stephanous Petros: nine years old) Gregory watched as the boy stepped into his office. Stephan’s shirt was stained from remnants of a lunch that obviously had come back up. Silently, Stephan laid the gun on the cluttered desk with shaking fingers, the only physical sign that the murder had affected him. Lifting his eyes to his boss, he nodded, waiting for the return nod, before he walked back out of the door.

The chance of Derek and Emily leaving had long passed before Stephan decided the safest bet for them was to have them crash at his place. For years, no one had ever been allowed into his private space, and now, to him, it seemed as if it overflowed with bodies. Thankfully, it wasn’t too hard to convince them to take it down the hallway to the spare bedroom; after a couple more drinks, they couldn’t seem to keep their hands off each other. He did have to admit he thought the two were funny earlier: drunk, they were downright rude and funny. He had no idea what time it was but he was starting to get uncomfortable.

Frowning as he stepped back into the living room, he didn’t see Aisling anywhere. She had taken the evening in stride, seeming content to let the other two entertain everyone, choosing instead to drive him crazy with her light touches. As they sat together on the couch, she was right up against his side, her hand resting on his crossed legs. When she helped him prepare more drinks at the bar, she wrapped her arms around his waist several times and pressed her head against his back in a warm hug. Of course, it wasn’t just her; several times, he stared down at her until she looked his way, and each time he couldn’t resist kissing her quickly on the mouth, or the nose, or the forehead.

At a noise in the kitchen, he turned, surprised to find her washing the glasses that had been used. She still looked perfect. Her white shirt and skirt were unblemished as if she had just put them on and her hair—God, he loved her hair—not a strand out of place.

“Aisling, you don’t have to wash the dishes.” Walking up behind her, he reached around to remove the glass from her hand and deliberately pressed himself against her backside. He heard her gasp as she felt the outline of his erection, but he pretended not to notice her reaction. “Leave them. Someone will be in in the morning to take care of the mess.” His original intent for the end to his evening was to come back with her alone, and offer her to spend the night in the spare bedroom. Obviously, that wasn’t going to be possible, with the other two fools doing whatever. Maybe it was the fact that he had too much to drink; maybe it was the smell of her perfume, but he didn’t care anymore. He wanted Aisling O’Byrne more than he had wanted any woman before in his life.

“Are the children all tucked in for the night, honey?” she whispered softly.

He lifted her hair gently to one side to expose her creamy white neck. Stephan gripped the sink on either side of her before he leaned in to kiss her softly as he pushed against her gently until her hips rested against the countertop. She had nowhere to go, and they both knew it.

Aisling wiped down the sink, as if he had no effect on her at all, while her legs felt as if they slowly turned into gelatin with every gentle thrust he made behind her. When she shut off the faucet, the only noise that could be heard was the sound of the music still playing softly in the background.

“They are tucked in but I am convinced I will have to have the room steam cleaned tomorrow.”

Aisling smiled at his comment. With his teeth, Stephan snagged her earlobe, earring and all, and sucked gently. Biting her lip, she refused to make a sound, but she knew two people could play that game. Spreading her legs farther apart to plant herself firmly, she pushed back just as he moved forward with his hips to catch him unaware. Stephan moaned against her skin. Aisling reached behind her; her hand slid into his pants pocket so that he would be able to feel the heat from her fingers, but she would be unable to touch him through the fabric. Stephan’s pants became even tighter with the touch, just as she expected.

Stephan knew that she felt as if she had the upper hand with him. Bending slightly at the knees, he slid his hands up under her skirt, following the outside of her leg up to her hips until he felt the thin piece of fabric. With his other hand, he slid it down over her bare cheeks before sliding around to her stomach where he laid his hand flat, pressing to push her back against him and forcing her to follow his rhythm and not hers.

It was strange to her how they both seemed to be battling for dominance even now. Her head bent, she closed her eyes.
Damn, he felt so good.
She reached under her skirt to lay her hand on top of his, pushing it down, while guiding his fingers beneath her underwear and lower until his finger reached the tiny nub that ached for someone to touch it. Stephan’s groan was even louder as he moved his free hand from her hip to wrap around her waist tightly so that she was locked to him as she moved her finger with his.

She was so wet, she was saturating them both, but she didn’t care—she was so close.

Stephan swallowed hard, trying to hold it together. It felt so erotic to have her hand on top of his as their fingers worked to get her off, but he didn’t want that for her yet. It practically killed him, but he pulled his hand from between her legs. What sounded like a growl came from deep in her throat. He guessed she wasn’t pleased. Spinning her around, he ground his mouth against hers before she could say anything as he lifted her up onto his hips.

Aisling wrapped her legs around his waist tightly. “Sorry, but I think I am going to get your pants soaking wet, Stephan.”

“Do you really think I care right now, Aisling?” He continued to kiss her until he reached the door to his bedroom. Pressing her back against the wood, he held her in place and stared into her green eyes, needing to be sure. This was so soon in their relationship, he didn’t want any regrets in the morning. It would kill him. That wasn’t the kind of guy he was or wanted her to think he was. “Please tell me you want this as much as I do, Aisling, because I really don’t know if I could stop once we go through this door.”

Sliding her hands through his hair, she pulled his face close to his. “God, I have wanted this more than you. Are
you
sure? You were the one who wanted to go slow. No regrets, Stephan. Just you and me. Stephan and Aisling. Work stays out. I need to hear
you
say it, because I wanted this on day one.”

He swallowed hard. “I am sure.”

Kissing her hard, he opened the door. She understood the question. In their crazy world and life, tonight was just about them and he suspected that she, like him, had never had that. That’s all he wanted for both of them, even if it was for just one night.

CHAPTER 18

With his hand gently behind the back of her head, he laid her down on his bed and kissed her swiftly.

Aisling rose to her knees and watched as he walked around the room to switch on several lights. The lamp rays were muted but offered her a first look at his space. She was shocked by the gray walls. It would not have been her first color choice but it was actually stunning. The white fabric that fell behind the headboard softened the space. The floors looked almost black to her and she loved them. The space was peaceful, serene—completely unexpected.

Stephan walked back to the bed, staring into her eyes. Aisling cocked her head to one side. He seemed unsure. As tough as he made himself out to be, he really was a true gentleman. She wasn’t going to have any of that. Raising her arms, she undid the clasp on the back of her neck, allowing the two sides to fall softly down the front. The shirt puddled around her waist. Sliding to the edge of the bed, she stood, hooked her fingers into the shirt and skirt, slid it down, and then kicked them away from her.

To Stephan, she was a goddess: red hair flowing, her skin porcelain white, her pink nipples begging him to touch. His hand snaked out as she turned to slide back onto the bed; he grabbed her around the neck and drew her to him.

Aisling melted against him as his mouth came down hard onto hers. She matched his intensity until she wanted more. Pulling back, she unbuttoned his shirt and ran her hand from his throat down to his belt, which she deftly undid. When she pushed down his pants and underwear, her fingers slid around him. They both closed their eyes, moaning when her fingers tightened.

“Aisling, stop.” He could barely croak out the words.

“No. More, Stephan.” Kissing his chest, she flicked his nipple with her tongue. “We have all night, baby. Now I just want it hard and fast—next time we do it your way. Can you handle me, Stephan?”

Entranced, he nodded and picked her up; he threw her onto the bed and covered her with his body. He hadn’t even bothered to take off his shirt. Rising up on his hands, he stared down at her.

“You are perfection to me, Aisling.” Dropping his head, he drew a nipple deep into his mouth, sucking rhythmically, before he focused on the other one. Aisling lifted her knee against his hip and pressed up. All she wanted was him right now. Sensing her need, he rolled over to reach in the drawer. Foil ripped, and seconds later, he nudged her legs farther apart with his knee. Cupping her head in his hands, he put his full weight on her and pinned her down.

Aisling could feel the head of him at her core. She tried to move, but he knew what he was doing as he slowly slid in. Her face flushed. This was personal, intimate. He was making this into an act of caring. Not the basic animal lust that she was so used to. What she always demanded from her lovers. This was not how she had sex. She tried to move her pelvis quicker, but he only allowed just enough room for the slightest of movement.

“You are an asshole!” she panted breathlessly.

“Feel me, Aisling. That is the only thing I want from you right now.”

“I do feel you.” Aisling turned her head on the pillow. He was confusing her.

Stephan rose back up on to his hands as he thrust deep inside her. She closed her eyes at the pleasure he evoked in her. For several moments, he loved her as her hips rose up to meet his. For him, sex wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. Being with her, allowing her into his apartment, into his life: this wasn’t sex for him. He had sex with the whores he paid. He wanted her to understand, somehow.

“Look at me.” Stephan stopped moving his hips. Gritting his teeth, he hoped he didn’t lose it now. Finally green eyes met black, and he exhaled. As he moved gently inside her, he could feel the tension increasing in his body, but he didn’t succumb until he felt her tightening around him. Then and only then did he pick up the pace, finding his own release when she called out his name.

CHAPTER 19

(Stephanous Petros: ten years old) “Stephan, we are heading to the garden to play. Please come?”

Smiling at Thomas, who clutched the soccer ball under his arm, Stephan hesitated. It would be great to take a moment to get away and hang with the other boys. His fingers wrapped around the wad of money that burned a hole in his pocket. Shaking his head, he punched Thomas in the shoulder. “Next time, brother. I promise.” Ignoring the look of disappointment, Stephan headed to his room he shared with the other boys, needing to tuck away the money while no one was around to see his hiding place.

Stephan was the first to wake up. He could hear movement in the other part of the apartment and smell coffee. “All I am going to say is that they better save us some.” As he rolled onto his side, he grinned.

“What the hell are you smiling about?” Aisling sounded irritated. Inside, her heart leapt in her chest. He was even more beautiful waking up with his hair all messed up and morning shadow on his chin.

“Not a morning person, are you?” Stephan asked brightly. He pulled her closer to him and slid his leg between hers.

Aisling lifted the covers. “Are you kidding me?”

Stephan shrugged nonchalantly. “That’s what you do to me.”

“God, you’re insatiable.” Laughing now, Aisling threw a pillow at Stephan’s head, completely missing its mark. Rolling her over on her stomach, Stephan slid on top of her. Lifting her hips, he easily slid inside her. Thrusting against her, he nuzzled her neck. Her face, already flush, had a sheen of sweat coating her skin. She was so easily turned on by him.

“You don’t have to do anything but lay there, Aisling. I will only take a minute.”

Sliding her hand underneath her, she moved her fingers in time to his thrust. It was only a minute later when she came, with him following quickly after.

This morning, there was no sweet talk; this was the kind of sex she liked, unlike last night. Aisling had lost track of how many times they had made love or the positions they tried. With each one, she felt them connect more and more, so much so by the end, she felt drained physically, mentally, and emotionally. He drew her in with his words, his kisses raining over her body. He didn’t fuck her: he worshiped her and it ripped an opening in her hardened heart. For the first time in her life, Aisling was afraid of a man. She jumped from the bed; she had to get away from him for a few moments. “I call dibs on the shower.”

Stephan watched as she scrambled out of bed. He knew that she had to work today, but secretly hoped she would have changed her mind. Reaching out, he grabbed her wrist to stop her.

Stepping back to him, she ran her fingers through his hair. “God, don’t look at me that way, or I will be tempted. I really have to work—I have been slacking too much lately. What you should do is go check on the other two, make sure they are just as happy today as they were last night.”

Groaning, Stephan nodded. “Fine, but if you are free later, maybe we can have dinner?”

Aisling didn’t even hesitate. Smiling at Stephan brightly, she kissed his mouth quickly before she stepped back. “I would love that. We can connect this afternoon and talk about it.”

“That’s fair.”

Aisling waited until he left the bedroom before she sagged onto the bed. She knew that they would not be having dinner later, and more than likely not even tomorrow or the day after. Glancing at the clock on the nightstand, she swore under her breath. If she didn’t hurry up, she was going to miss her flight to Greece.

~~~

Twelve hours later, the private jet touched down in Athens. Aisling was so grateful that her client list was laced with people who had more money than they knew what to do with and just as generous in their favors with people they liked. It had only taken one call to secure this flight, cutting out many questions from security personnel at the airport. She wanted this to be quick. In, get the information, and back out. She had called Stephan at four o’clock his time, telling him that she was still working, asking whether she could take a rain check on dinner. He actually seemed relieved and told her that he had to take care of some stuff in the office.

A car pulled up on the runway as she stepped off the plane. Aisling’s red hair now hidden under a black wig, she slid into the back seat and grinned at the waiting man. “Sammy! So glad you could come.”

Sammy grinned. “How could I resist a request from my favorite lizard?”

Aisling laughed. Sammy was the only person who knew her secret but even he had to pull it out of her. But she owed him that much at the time. He had saved her life after someone had shot her as she was headed to finish a job. Ironically, it was the first man she had thought she loved, only to find out that he had been using her to get to one of her clients. He had left her for dead, but Sammy found her, took her back to his place and nursed her back to health. It was at his place that she found out that he, also, was a contract for hire. They had been good friends ever since and for the next twenty-four hours, Sammy was to be her guide, interpreter, and bodyguard. Greece, Aisling knew, was a very dangerous place when you were looking for answers. Even though she could understand and speak the Greek language, Sammy did not know this piece of information. As good of friends as they were, Aisling kept her secrets close to herself. Even from Sammy.

As she handed him a folder, she checked her agenda to make sure that they were still on track.

“Aisling, this orphanage that you wish to travel to…it is one of the worst. Are you sure I cannot take you somewhere else?”

Frowning, she shook her head. “You know me better than that, Sammy. Is there going to be a problem?” Aisling had no issue with Sammy backing out. This was her project, not his.

“No. For you, no problem. Just wish I was better prepared right now.”

Aisling always made it a point to limit the information that she gave to anyone she was going to use for assistance. The less they knew, the better, even if the person was someone she trusted, as in Sammy’s case. Her rules, as she liked to put it, made her life easy but never the one called in.

As he spoke in rapid Greek to the driver, Aisling had a hard time keeping up with what he said. The only part that she did get was
more guns
.

“It can’t be that bad?” At his look, she snapped her lips shut and glanced out of the window. She wasn’t afraid. She was sure she had been to rougher places; it was the thought of Stephan growing up in that environment that tore at her heart.

When she turned back to Sammy, she tapped the folder. “I found the name of a nun who helped take care of the children. What do you think the chances are that she will still be at the orphanage?”

Skimming the pages, Sammy caught the name and age of the nun Aisling referred to. “Hard to say. Not familiar with the hierarchy of the Catholic church.” Winking at her, he tucked the folder into the leather bag strapped around his shoulder. “You have always had the luck of the Irish on your side, Chameleon—she is probably still there.”

The car slowed down, and the driver let them know that they were there. As she stepped out of the vehicle, Aisling took in her surroundings. This definitely would not be a part of town she would want to live in. The streets had litter strewn everywhere and were crowded with vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. Children and animals roamed freely and several bumped into her. Clutching her bag tighter to her stomach, she had already slung it around her neck per Sammy’s instruction. She could not afford to have her items stolen.

Sammy rang the bell on the left of the black gate. It was a good five minutes before a small man came into view. “What do you need?”

Speaking in Greek, Sammy pointed to Aisling. “My client is doing research on the history of orphanages in Greece and would like to speak to someone here about this. Preferably someone who has been around for a long time.”

Distrusting eyes raked over them both. “Come, I will see what I can do.”

When they stepped through the gate, they were led immediately to what could only be described as a reception area, where a young woman greeted them warmly. The man disappeared the second they were in her care.

Aisling plastered the warmest, friendliest smile on her face and switched to an American accent.

“Hello. Do you speak English?”

The nun nodded, returning Aisling’s smile. “Yes, we all do here. Can I help you?”

Aisling pulled out her notebook from her bag. “I am here on behalf of a client of mine who wants me to put together an ancestry chart. She is getting married soon, and it is to be a gift for her husband. She has no information except for the orphanage that he was raised in.”

“Oh dear. I am not sure how much we will be able to tell you. Our orphanage is filled with children who were just dropped off or found on the streets.”

Writing Stephan’s name on a piece of paper, she handed it over to the nun. “I know it is a long shot, but anything at all could be enough for me to continue digging.”

The woman quickly looked at Aisling and then Sammy. “How curious that this name comes up twice in the same day.”

Gooseflesh broke out over Aisling’s skin. “Someone else has inquired on this person?”

“Yes. In fact, he is still here. I sent him to speak to Sister Katherine.”

“Maybe he might have more information. Do you think we could go find him?” Aisling clasped her hands together, begging with everything she had.

The nun laughed at her expression. “Of course you may. Wouldn’t that be wonderful if you both could exchange information and answer some of each other’s questions? If not, as I told him, Sister Katherine might be able to. You will be able to find her in the rose garden, on the other side of the compound.”

“Thank you so much!” After getting quick directions, Sammy and Aisling stood in the courtyard for a few moments.

“I don’t like this at all, Chameleon.”

“We have no choice. I want to get a bead on this person who is here.”

Sammy looked back the way they came. “Look, I have backup coming and they may be here already. Why don’t you head to the garden, see if you can find the sister, and I will go back to the front gate and make sure they can get in. Keep with the American accent. You are definitely convincing.”

Aisling liked the plan and walked quickly toward the center of the compound as Sammy left her. The directions that the young nun had given her seemed simple but the maze of paths in all directions threw her off. When she heard footsteps, she moved to one of the planters and sat with her notebook open, hoping she looked as if she belonged there. The two men only gave her a cursory look her way as they walked by silently. Aisling was glad she had disguised herself with the wig; she’d recognized the larger of the two men immediately.

Her heart pounded in her chest. What were the odds that Sakis Carras and she would be at the same orphanage, on the same day, at the same time? She could have reached out and touched him, she was that close. Waiting patiently until they rounded the corner, she quickly ran in the direction that they had just come from. Several times she had gotten off course, but was able to quickly fix it each time. By the time she reached the rose garden, fifteen minutes had passed and she stopped dead in her tracks.

Sammy knelt over a body. Hearing her approach, he looked up with a distraught look on his face. “She is dead. Her body is still warm. It must have just happened. We have to get out of here, now!”

Aisling’s blood ran cold. Sammy was right. This was not the country to get caught in a murder investigation.

“Fuck!” Pulling out her phone, she quickly snapped several pictures of the body as voices could be heard off in the distance.

“For God’s sake, hurry up, Chameleon. People are coming.”

With one last look at the figure of Sister Katherine, Aisling ran after Sammy. They slipped through the front gate just as the screams could be heard on the other end of the compound.