The Summer Deal (17 page)

The intensity of his touch was too much to bear. Could she survive?

Physical surroundings faded. She floated in the ecstasy, absorbing the emotion of months of denied passion.

“I want you now,” he said in a low voice. “I can’t wait. Not a minute more.”

“Please,” she cried, and raised her hips against him.

She gripped the tight muscles on his back and welcomed him into her body. With agonizing tenderness, he filled her. Stretching to accommodate the sweet intrusion, her head dropped and she began the spiral into a place only he could take her.

He was deep into her warmth, showing her how this most intimate of connections was intended, with a love and fervor she had only dreamed existed. She matched his rhythm, their bodies in exquisite harmony, and her being ignited with liquid fire.

She moaned aloud with excruciating pleasure, and he crushed his lips to hers, joining her in an erotic release. Her body melted against his, and her world filled with him. It was only the two of them, wrapped in each other’s arms, hearts pounding, lungs searching for air.

“
Agape mou
,” he said, and rolled onto his back, pulling her with him.

Her hair fell on his chest, and his fingers lazily traveled down her back. Still joined, he held her close, making no move to separate from her. Sammy nuzzled his neck and lightly nipped below his ear.

His body, sleek from their lovemaking, instantly reacted and he began to move within her. He laughed and steadied her with a large hand.

“I suggest you stop moving, unless you want an instant replay,” he warned.

“And that would be bad, why?”

“I need to restock while I still have my wits about me.” He indicated the foil package on the nightstand and guided her to the mattress. “You drive me crazy, I almost forgot the first time.”

She didn’t remember him sheathing himself. She had been so aroused, so entranced by his lips, that she could have walked on lit coals to reach him and they wouldn’t have burned. Suddenly embarrassed, she was glad of the darkness that hid the unavoidable flush in her cheeks.

Running his fingers over her breasts, he circled the swollen globes and feathered each aching tip. In a display of incredible willpower, the large masculine hands that had covered every inch of her body pulled back the remaining covers and he stood. Walking towards the bathroom, he looked over his shoulder.

“Don’t you dare fall asleep, or this time, I’ll wake you. No mercy,
koukla mou
. Not a drop.”

Following his shadowed body, she marveled at his taut, muscular shape. She smiled and licked her dry lips, thinking how wonderfully he made her body hum for him, only for him.

She pulled the covers to her shoulders, settled into the soft pillows, and exhaled deeply. She loved him with every ounce of her soul, and the reciprocation of that love was beyond everything she’d ever wanted.

Then a tinge of guilt settled over her.

I should tell you. It isn’t necessary to wait and restock. The doctor said my chances are next to nothing. But I can’t say it, I can’t. I don’t want to lose you just yet
.

Morning seeped through the crack in the shutters with the day’s first light. Roosters crowed their wakeup call, sweet bakery scents wafted in the air, and the echo of voices in the fields played on Demo’s ears as he opened his eyes.

He studied the sweetness of the woman in his bed. She was perfect—the gentle breath escaping her still swollen lips, her body toasty beneath the covers in the morning chill, and her skin like silk under his fingertips.

Sammy’s soft body displayed his passion for her. There was a dull redness under her collarbone and an unruly tangle of bright hair on her pillow. He lifted a long strand and coiled it through his fingers, savoring the texture.

Why had he wasted all this time? He should have made her his months ago. He could have protected her from everything she’d gone through, and he could have made her happy. Annoyed with himself for not having done so before, he vowed to keep her and do just that now.

His hands ached to touch, his mouth parched with the need to taste, and then unexpectedly he dropped her hair, leaving the bed. He needed to put distance between them, or he’d never let her sleep. Demo strode into the living room and toward the balcony doors.

His phone chirped and he turned, surprised by the sound. Grabbing the cellular off the table, he hit the answer button.

“
Ne
?” He waited, no reply. The connection dropped. He was stunned he’d even received a call since the signal was now non-existent. Not being able to retrieve the incoming number, he tossed the phone onto the table.

“Damn,” he said, adding some explicit Greek words for flavor. He pulled on a pair of jeans from a bag on the couch, then reached for a denim jacket hanging by the door and stepped onto the balcony.

It was very early, and the sun still shared the sky with the moon. The morning air was cool and a shiver ran down his spine as he put on the jacket. Choosing a chair in the sun’s emerging rays, he fell into it and stretched his legs.

He needed to get to a landline and call Tony. The call he’d missed could have been news on the
bastardo
. A sudden unease came over him. Demo wasn’t used to not having pertinent information available to him. Why would anyone call minutes after the sunrise unless it was urgent?

He couldn’t do anything now. Sammy was sleeping, and there was no way he would leave her alone and unprotected. He scanned the rough terrain below him. He had a full view of the village and the roads leading to it. Everything seemed normal.

Workers tended the vines, people collected eggs from chicken coops, and smoke rose from the chimney of the wood-burning oven in the bakery. Time must have passed, because the bell of
Agia Irini
, St. Irene, rang seven times.

Feet sounded on the stone floor. Demo turned to see Sammy wrapped in a crochet throw walking toward him.

“
Kalimera
,” she said, her smile brighter to him than the morning sun.

“
Ela
, come,” he said, tapping his knee for her. Once she was settled on his lap, he kissed the side of her neck, inhaling her sweet scent. “Good morning to you, too. You know, I love it when you speak Greek. It turns me on.”

“According to last night’s events, there are many things that turn you on.” Soft pink colored her face, and she laughed as he nuzzled into her and ran his hands over her warm thighs.

“Guilty.” He nodded and raised his brow. “Everything about you turns me on.”

“I must confess, I like that,” she said, offering her mouth for a kiss.

Demo smiled and barely touched his lips to hers. But she refused to move away, and after a teasing chuckle, he nipped her tasty lower lip and kissed her intensely. Craving what she offered, he plunged into her addictive mouth. He didn’t want to let her go. His hands matched his tongue’s exploration, and soon they were breathing heavily, consumed in each other’s existence.

“
Demosthenis, Demosthenis pou eisai
?” A woman’s voice sounded from the garden and brought them back to reality.

“Thea Eleni, please come up,” he answered in Greek. Straightening Sammy’s hair, he whispered to her, “We need to have a serious talk this morning. I have something to tell you.”

They walked back into the house, and Sammy went to dress and to clean up. Demo crossed the sitting area and opened the door for his aunt.

“
Kalimera, paidi mou
.”

“Good morning, Thea Eleni,” he said, and bent to kiss the woman who wore her tight silver bun of hair like a crown. “Come in, we were just about to make some coffee. Join us.”

“I’ll make the coffee,
paidi mou
. I’ve also brought you four fresh eggs and bread just out of the oven. I may be old, but I haven’t forgotten how my Demo likes his morning eggs.” Thea chuckled and went straight to the kitchen. She pulled out a frying pan and got to cooking.

“Thea, you’re fantastic,” he said, and walked up behind her to hug the old woman. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

“Not today. I would like to hear it, though.”

“
S’agapo
, I love you my dear, dear aunt.”

“I love you too,
paidi mou
.” Her hand lovingly stroked the stubble on his cheek, but her eyes showed concern. “Demo, I would never intrude on you and Sammy so early if I didn’t have good reason. Breakfast is an excuse.”

The earlier feeling of unease returned. Thea looked scared, and it was rare for anything to unnerve her.

“Andoni called for you an hour ago. He said it is very urgent you reach him. As soon as possible. He asked if there are any strangers in the village, and if you had the opportunity to speak with the other men yet. Demo, what is going on? Are you in trouble?”

“Thea, are there strangers in the village?”

“No,
paidi mou
. Just the kids—our kids—arriving for the weekend. Tell me, what is happening?”

“I don’t have time to explain, but Sammy is being threatened by a man. He is bad, very bad, and I believe he is in Crete.” He massaged his scalp and shifted his weight. “I need to call Tony immediately. You can’t leave her alone.”

The older woman nodded her head in understanding, and assured him she would stay. Then she walked to the couch and found a t-shirt for him in the open duffle bag. Even in a time of crisis, he could depend on Thea Eleni to make him presentable.

He dressed, standing outside the bathroom door and telling Sammy he needed to step out for a moment. He wouldn’t be long, and he’d be back for the breakfast Thea Eleni was preparing.

“The rifle and the carbine in the cabinet are loaded and ready,” he said to his aunt.

Thea Eleni called to him as he walked out the door. “Does she know?”

“No, not everything.”

“I didn’t think so.”

He heard the disapproval in her voice.

“A Daniel Bradley flew into Chania airport on Wednesday night on a direct flight from London. He was in Crete during the explosion,” Tony said.

“How do you know it’s him?” Demo demanded.

“I spoke to the plane’s stewardess, and she described Daniels perfectly. Down to a snide remark about being able to retire if she worked that ‘delicious hiney’ for him.”

Demo’s skin crawled. He wanted to get back to Sammy. He couldn’t leave her alone with Daniels on the same island. What if he’d found out where she was? Demo kicked the leg on the wooden table where his aunt kept the house phone and switched the receiver to his other ear.

“Where is he now?”

“We don’t know.” A brief silence followed. “Listen, Demo, we’ll find him. I’ve alerted the authorities, and I placed a call to the embassy. I’m –”

“Screw the authorities! They lost him in the first place. We can’t wait on them. Daniels is crazy. He’s snorted stuff up his nose one too many times. Three of his women, bruised and with broken bones, have turned state’s evidence, and a fourth is missing.” Demo’s blood surged through his body and he fought the urge to punch something.

“Listen to me. I was going to say that I had Teddy assemble a team. If he is anywhere in Greece, they’ll corner the rat and take care of things. Only then will they officially bring in the authorities.”

Demo paced the small area the cord allowed. “If he touches a hair—“

“He’s bound to make the wrong move,” Tony interrupted. “It’s Friday, and none of our people have reported him near the typical areas for addicts. We’ve checked. So his withdrawal must be getting bad. He must be in bad shape.”

“Good. Can’t hide for long. He’ll need to come out to get his fix.” Daniels was a bad-guy failure, and Demo laughed at the irony. “What an ass. He’s become addicted to his own goods.”

“Exactly,” Tony agreed.

“Okay, I’ll call you in a few hours. I’ve got to get back to her.”

“No. Wait.” Tony wanted more information. “Did you tell the others?”

“Yes. We were all at the
taverna
last night. I had Manoli give them the details and show them his picture. The only thing that bothers me is the weekend. You know how everybody comes back on weekends, and this one is St. John’s Feast, a three-day weekend. What if they bring friends with them? Too many new faces may confuse the locals.”

“I doubt it,” Tony said. “Was Sammy able to shine some light on the way Daniels may be thinking?”

Silence.

“I haven’t told her.” He leaned on the table, and nervously tapped his fingers on the dark wood. “I was planning to tell her this morning, then Thea Eleni showed up and told me you had called.”

“You’re digging yourself into a grave. Go home right now and tell her. If not for anything else, for the fact that she knows how Daniels’s mind works better than the rest of us.”

“I don’t want her to worry.”

“Don’t smother her Demo. She’s a very strong and smart woman, and she is used to being in control of her own destiny. If you keep this from her, she’ll resent you.”