Chapter Twenty-Eight
Pavlaki, siko.
Siko, Pavlaki.
A beam of light crept into the room, and reflected off the glass featuring the predawn sky. Paul disentangled his leg from between Justin’s thighs and smoothed his palm over Bethany’s shoulder, then turned to look at the open door. Recognizing the broad figure illuminated in the light, calling for him to wake up, he raised his arm in acknowledgement.
Marveling at how deep they both slept, Paul grinned and left the bed. He reached into his duffel bag and felt for a pair of gym shorts, stepping into them before he walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Christo had the briki on the portable gas burner, warming water for Greek coffee.
“I thought you weren’t coming home tonight,” Paul said, dropping into a chair.
“It’s morning. Six o’clock. And we have a new problem.”
“Ochi, pote problima.” Paul looked at his cousin, conveying their situation was never a problem. “They’re mine. Both mine. And I don’t care what anyone thinks about it. No one will hurt my family.”
“Michaels requested a private meeting. You, me, Theo, and him. His professional demeanor is gone.” He scooped two heaping teaspoons of the dark powder into the water, added four of sugar, stirred, and stared at the mixture. “Family, eh?”
“Justin, Bethany, and I are together. Forever.”
“Pavlaki, a fun, summer romance is one thing. Forever is different.” Christo glanced at him. “There are major consequences with such an arrangement.”
“There are major consequences without it. We’ve thought about it, and we’re willing to deal with anything that comes our way.”
“Where will you live?” Christo lifted the briki and poured the creamy coffee into two demitasse cups.
“I’m going to talk with Theo about his offer. We’ll stay on Mykonos for the summer.” It made sense. It gave them the opportunity to adjust and enjoy.
“What about your company?”
“Justin is figuring it out.”
Christo placed the coffee on the table, wiped a palm down his face, and sat across from him. “Okay. So you have a plan for the immediate future and work, but how are you going to deal with society’s judgment down the line? How are you going to deal with her father in half an hour?”
Paul had dealt with society’s judgment for the past decade, and narrow-minded people didn’t intimidate him. What happened inside his house was no one else’s business.
“If it were up to me, I wouldn’t care what her father thinks or does,” Paul admitted. “But it’s not, because she cares. So, we’ve agreed to tell him together and deal with him together. What matters is what we have, not what anyone else thinks.”
“I think you’re blinded by your love for them, and you believe what you’re saying, but are you willing to subject them to the nasty bullshit in the world? Questions, sneers, gossip are just the tip of the iceberg.” Blowing out a frustrated breath, Christo shook his head. “There’s more to consider than her father. What if she gets pregnant? What will you do then? It’s not like any church or court would recognize a marriage between the three of you. What will the child have to deal with?”
Swallowing the coffee like it was battery acid, Paul lowered his cup and met his cousin’s gaze. Christo had a valid argument, but Paul wasn’t about to give up. They’d figure it out when they’d get there. He couldn’t walk away from them. “I know it was a quick fall, but I can’t imagine a day without them. I can’t.”
“I have your back. Any way you need. They’re now my family, too.”
“Thank you,” Paul said, knowing his cousin would do anything to keep his family safe from the ugliness of people’s words.
“No thank you needed between us,” Christo said, shaking his head. He stood and collected the coffee cups. “Let them sleep. Use my bathroom to wash up. Choose anything you want from the closet. And please pick a shirt to cover that hickey on your collarbone.”
* * *
Paul had all of thirty seconds with his uncle before a knock sounded on the front door.
“I stand with you on anything you decide,” Kosta said, tapping his finger over Paul’s heart. “Trust yourself, my boy.”
Christo swung open the kitchen door and indicated for them to join him and Edward Michaels in the sitting area. Inhaling deep, Paul walked toward the man who had caused so much pain to the people he loved.
“Edward Michaels, this is my uncle, Constantine Lallas.” Christo made the introduction. “You’ve already met Paul.”
Refusing Kosta’s outstretched hand, Michaels nodded. “I’ll make this quick. There’s no reason to pretend this is anything other than a twisted and juvenile ploy.”
The skin on the back of Paul’s neck prickled. He crossed his arms and stared into the cold eyes of a man who embodied the ugliness Christo and he had discussed. Ugliness he wouldn’t let near Bethany.
“It has come to my attention that Justin Bentley has a personal interest in Vaso’s Dream and has been dangled as bait to lure my daughter to invest in the resort.”
“Not so,” Kosta said. “Bethany had no idea about Justin’s connection.”
Her father waved his hand in the air. “Regardless, Bentley has no place in my daughter’s future.”
Christo placed a steadying hand on Paul’s shoulder. “You said together,” he said in Greek, preventing Paul from lunging for the man. Paul shrugged off Christo’s hold, but remained in place.
“I’m offering double the agreed-upon price for the resort to get his boyfriend out of my daughter’s bed for good. Out of her—”
“Get him the fuck out of here before I tear his piece of shit heart out of his chest,” Paul said, a primitive growl escaping his chest as he shoved his cousin toward the other man. “This conversation is over.”
“Double,” Michaels repeated, looking back over his shoulder as Christo pushed him toward the door. “She’s my daughter. Not a plaything for two gay men who want a temporary woman. It took me a little while to make the connection, but I recognized you from the pictures on the internet. You’re not only Bentley’s business partner. You’re his bed partner. And you don’t even bother to hide it.”
“Why would they hide it?” Kosta asked. “There is nothing to hide about making a life with people you love.”
“She deserves more than you,” Michaels spat. “She deserves the kind of life I raised her for. A life with proper etiquette and respect. You won’t use her as your beard—”
“Don’t go there,” Christo warned. “Have more respect for your daughter.”
Paul’s gut tightened. Pressure pounded in his head and his eyes burned. Edward Michaels had the power to hurt Bethany again. He felt it. He wasn’t exposing her to him again. Not personally. Not professionally. Not until he was certain she’d be safe from the venomous words and archaic beliefs.
“I will pay double,” Michaels repeated, the veins at his temples pulsing. “Leave my girl to me. In time, she’ll forget about this fiasco. She’ll be happy with the resort. Fuck it. I don’t care about the money. State your price.”
“Vaso’s Dream is not for sale to you,” Kosta said, stepping in front of Paul and blocking the path to Michaels. “Christo will arrange for you to be delivered wherever the hell you choose to go. Take your money and your company, and get off my property, Michaels.”
“It’s a lot of money. More than you’ll be able to spend in your—
“Malaka! You put a price on that beautiful girl’s happiness,” Kosta called, lunging forward, his fist so quick that Paul almost missed catching it in midair.
“Get him out of here. Now,” Paul roared, lifting his chin to Christo, while holding his uncle back as Christo shoved Michaels out of the house. It took everything he had not to go after him, but he’d glimpsed more than the man’s ego. He’d seen protective intent. There was more to this than what appeared on the surface.
He let him walk. For Bethany’s sake.
When the door closed, and Christo had led him to a car, he turned to his uncle.
“The malaka is Bethany’s father. Putting him in the hospital will only hurt her. We don’t hurt the woman I love.”
Kosta blinked and nodded. “Okay.”
Deciding on how to keep his family happy wasn’t difficult. Ready and willing, he met his uncle’s gaze.
“Anything, Theo?”
“Anything,” Kosta confirmed.
“Okay.” Paul walked to the antique coat hanger and retrieved a set of keys hanging on a brass hook. “I’ll be back.”
* * *
Bethany stretched her arm over her head and past the pillows, but only found more pillows. Paul and Justin were not in bed. She was alone.
She reached for her phone and checked for texts. None.
Seeing it was almost ten o’clock she sighed. It had been ages since she’d slept so late. Years since she’d awoken so rested. She climbed from the bed, feeling sore muscles she’d never known she had, and smiled as she pushed her hands into the sleeves of Paul’s shirt. She glanced back at her phone, then dropped it back in the shirt pocket.
Coffee first.
Shower later.
Practically skipping down the stairs, she smiled when Justin looked up at her. Flashing her a dark and sexy grin, he stretched out strong arms, which she gladly walked straight into. She curled on to his lap. She nuzzled against his neck and inhaled the unique scent of Justin she so loved. “Good morning.”
“Kalimera,” he said, sinking his fingers in her hair and tipping her face up to his. “Since we’re going to spend the rest of the summer in Mykonos, we may as well start saying good morning in Greek.”
“Kalimera, kalimera, kalimera,” she said, loving the way the syllables rolled off her tongue and sounded in her mind. Plus, she didn’t miss his statement about spending the rest of the summer in Mykonos.
She brushed her lips over his jaw as she sang her happy song, enjoying the feel of rough stubble, and reveling in the dreamy bubble being near him had created.
“Kalimera, Justin mou.”
“Kalimera,” he repeated, dropping a kiss atop her hair. “The three of us in Greece…the three of us together…sounds pretty perfect to me.”
“Do you really think we can do it? Will City Wings be okay without you there?” Hope and joy danced inside her, as her fingers moved through his dark hair. Maybe life had put responsibilities on her shoulders, but she’d do anything to experience more of what she had over the past few days. Anything.
“I may have to go back to settle some things, but I’ve been working on the nitty-gritty details for the past two hours, and I think it’s very doable,” he said, lifting his chin to the computer screen. “Have you thought how spending the summer here would affect your job with Luxury Homes?”
She shrugged, feeling irresponsible, but not one bit regretful. “I’m not married to it, J. It was a job, a job I really enjoyed, but you know it was a way to prove to my father that I’m a competent businessperson. Suddenly, that’s not important enough for me to not live life. I’ll find another job if my dad doesn’t want to keep me on because I want to be with you. Nothing is as important as you and Paul.”
“I like your priorities, sweetheart. In fact, I love them.”
The way his eyes sparked and showed his appreciation released a slew of dancing butterflies in her belly. His mouth touched hers, his tongue swept over her lips, and time ceased to matter.
Sighing in contentment, she felt his smile. Only one person could add to her joy.
“Where’s Paul?”
“Probably at the resort. He was already gone when I got up,” Justin said, reaching for his phone and engaging the camera. “Let’s give him an incentive to hurry back.”
She leaned into Justin and puckered up.
“Love it,” she said when it showed on the screen. “Can I send?”
He nodded, and she did.
“But it would be nice to hear his voice, too.”
“Of course. Sure he’d love to hear you just as much, Bethy. Especially when the sexy cute and sweet sleep is in your voice.” Justin pressed the contact on the screen, immediately placing the call on speaker. It went to voice mail.
Disappointed, she sank against him and pouted. “Not what I meant when I said it would be nice to hear his voice.”
Justin called the Greek cell number, but again it went to voice mail on the first ring.
“Strange,” he said, adjusting her in his lap and typing out a quick IM on his MacBook. “Both lines shouldn’t be occupied.”
No return message.
No call back.
“Let’s give it a few minutes, and I’ll try him again. Want some coffee?”
“Sure,” she said, her mind flipping through all the potential scenarios Paul could be involved in, then skidding to a halt over family expectation. His family’s expectation. “Do you think Kosta has a problem with me in your life?”
Justin surprised her by laughing. Shaking his head, he placed her feet on the ground and moved to the kitchen.
She followed close behind, pasting her chest to his back as he poured.
“Kosta has already admitted to playing matchmaker in order to introduce you to us. Trust me, he has no problem with you in our life. He adores you.”
“It’s hard to process everything that has happened this past week,” she said, admitting that she never thought she could love two people at the same time.
Justin placed the mug on the counter, and turned to wrap his arms around her waist, helping her process exactly what she felt. Comfort. Belonging. Love.
“I knew I loved two people, beyond any measure, the moment we saw you on the ferry. I just didn’t know what to do with it. I couldn’t lose you again, so I had to find a way to make sure you didn’t push us away.”
“I mean the physical attraction was definitely there from the first moment. I’m not revisiting the love-hate-love I had for you for years, but when I saw you on the ferry, I totally freaked. I wasn’t sure I could handle being near you again.” She pressed her cheek to his chest and simply inhaled. Damn she loved his scent. She’d never get enough of it.
“That’s what worried me. And while I knew Paul would love you, we had that agreement of no permanent additions in our life. Anyone other than us was only a sex partner.”
“Did you do that often?” After all, they had lots of energy, were phenomenal lovers, and not shy about taking what they wanted.
“No.” He feathered his fingers over her face. “Do you really want to know?”
“I don’t want to invade your privacy,” she said in a barely audible tone.
“Nothing is off base for you. So ask anything you want, anytime.”
She didn’t want to know, but she did. Truth was she’d always question why she was the exception to their temporary rule if she didn’t ask. She nodded. “Yes, if you don’t mind sharing.”
“Twice to be exact,” he said. “Once in school at one of those weekend-long parties and once a few years ago.”
“You didn’t like it?”
“The sex was good,” he admitted. “But it was just sex. An experiment of sorts. The truth is we didn’t need it. We agreed to remain open to future possibilities if either one of us wanted to try it again.”
“Whose idea was it to try it again with me?”
With a big grin on his face, he touched a gentle finger to her mouth, and she realized she’d been nervously scraping her teeth over her lip.
He lowered his head and soothed the ache with a gentle swipe of his tongue. “Paul suggested it that first day on the ferry. I said hell no.”
Perplexed, she searched his eyes. The chemistry with Justin had always been off the charts. Why wouldn’t he have gone for bringing her into their bed, especially if Paul had been okay with it? Suggested it, even.
“You may have freaked, but so did I. I wasn’t losing you again…not because of the temporary agreement or anything else. I didn’t want you regretting anything new about us.” He went on to explain the painful attempt at friendship, how each time he and Paul made love they’d end up discussing her, how seeing her with Christo or thinking she could end up with someone else had them climbing the walls, and how in the end he’d lied to himself about being okay with temporary if it meant he could be with them.
“I can’t tell you when it happened for Paul, but I think it was way before last night. Your father’s arrival last night had him admitting it aloud.”
“Because it’s scary, J. Being in love with two people at the same time is scary. It’s not as easy as admitting I love you or you love me. Loving you was practically a given,” she said.
“If you didn’t hate me.”
“Deep down, you knew I couldn’t hate you. I knew you too well.”
He brushed his lips on hers and she felt him smile again.
“I’ve loved you since forever. Loving Paul so much hit me out of the blue. I fell so hard and fast for him, I definitely lied, not to myself, to you, about wanting only one night of pleasure in order to be able to have you both.”
“And I’m so glad you did, my brave, beautiful Bethy. So very glad.” He wiped his thumb across her cheek and looked at her with such cherishment, it made her body tingle with need as she fought the sting of happiness building behind her eyes.
“That doesn’t mean I love you any less, because I love you completely, J. I love him completely, too,” she said, blinking back the tears and swallowing past the lump in her throat. “It’s difficult to understand, so I’m not sure I’m even explaining it right.”
“You don’t have to explain, Bethy. I know.” He placed the mug in her hand and led her back to the table. “I feel the same. I love you both, so I know.”
“Don’t misunderstand me, but I miss Paul. I just wish he was here. He should be with us for this talk.”
“I know.” Justin tried calling again, but both calls went directly to voice mail.
“If Paul’s not here, it’s his loss,” Justin teased, skimming his finger down the bridge of her nose. “Now drink your coffee. As soon as you’re done, we’re heading for a shower. I want you very alert for that. Can’t miss washing a single inch.”
She giggled, sipped, and very much looked forward to their shower.