Chapter 5
Emma slid down in the bath a little further and thought again about Cassandra and Nikos. She knew without a doubt that nothing had happened in the office before she got there. He had told her the whole story. Apparently, Nikos had had a bit of a crush on Cassie, as he called her, growing up, and she had exploited that more than once. He had been so adorable when he admitted how much he mooned over her. Poor Nikos- a girl like that would use and abuse his heart of gold. Emma completely trusted him, but there just seemed like there was more to the story. Old flame or not, it seemed like bizarre behavior to half undress in the middle of an office as a flirt. There was something about Cassandra that set Emma on edge.
Try you’re so jealous you can barely see straight. There was that. Cassandra was truly stunning with her long legs, tanned skin, dark eyes and body that a supermodel would be proud of. How could Emma not be jealous of someone like that? It came down to trust and she trusted Nikos implicitly. Cassandra was a completely different story.
She was rapidly turning into a prune and the water was starting to cool. It was time to stop chasing doubts and worries that she could never catch. Emma stood and shivered just a bit as the cool air hit her warm skin. She toweled herself off and wrapped herself in one of the fluffy robes hanging on the back of the door. She found Nikos sitting in the dark on the small balcony off the bedroom looking out at the shining Acropolis.
She watched him for a moment and felt that now familiar tug at her heart. She had fallen well and truly in love with him. Emma knew a crossroads was rapidly approaching. She either needed to confess everything to him or she needed to move on. Her past wouldn’t stay buried forever. Tonight wasn’t the night, however. Coward, she thought. There is never going to be a good time for that conversation. Pushing away her maudlin thoughts, she stepped onto the balcony and poured herself a glass of wine. She sipped letting the warmth roll through her and looked out over the city.
“You are far away tonight, lígo kléftis mou,” Nikos said using her pet name, my little thief. “Will you come be here with me?”
The simple question twisted her heart. She couldn’t be completely with him until there were no secrets between them. Maybe tonight would be as good as any other. These things didn’t get easier to say. She took another sip for courage and stepped closer to him.
Nikos reached out and pulled her to him. He needed her tonight. The ghosts of his past were dancing in his mind, and he needed her to banish them. His hand slid under the robe across her satin skin. She stood in front of him and he leaned into her, resting the top of his head on her hip. His hands slid lightly up and down the back of her thighs.
Emma stood, caught by surprise. Her hand brushed the curls of dark hair off his collar and traced the back of his neck with her fingertips. The tenderness of the moment threatened to shatter her as emotions chased each other through her heart. He let out a sigh as some of the tension left his shoulders. Slowly he sat up and looked up at her. She smiled and all thoughts of confession left her, chased away by the plea of desire in his eyes. She didn’t know what was haunting him this evening, but she did understand the need to erase it.
With slow deliberate movements, Emma pulled on the tie around her waist. The robe fell open, and his hungry gaze raked her body. Taking a deep drink of wine, she sank onto his lap, straddling his legs. She kissed him and let the wine swirl over their tongues. He sucked at her tongue and lips swallowing the sweet liquid. He pulled away and traced his tongue along her lips.
“The ’95 was a particularly good vintage, but I don’t recall this reaction to it before.” He pulled her hips against his hard cock straining to break free of the confines of his jeans.
Emma grinned and rocked herself over his hardness. His groan made her pulse with desire. She dipped a finger in her glass of wine and traced her nipple with the wet tip before sucking it clean. Nikos watched her every move. She cupped her breast and offered him the nipple with the drop of wine clinging to its tip. He lowered his head like a man in the desert who had been offered a glass of life saving water.
His lips closed hard over the sensitive nub. His tongue pulled across its tip. Her back arched toward him, asking for more. He suckled and kissed feverishly. Emma moaned and her hips rocked against him. Delicious pleasure spread through her body. She wanted, needed, more of him. She dipped her finger again and traced the other nipple liberally with the liquid. Her head fell back in bliss as his mouth claimed the other breast. His arms pulled her solidly against him and he ruthlessly teased and bit at the aching tip. Her hips worked of their own accord, grinding against him, seeking the completion of his body.
Nikos devoured her like a man possessed. He feasted on her breasts, lost in the feeling of her turning to fire in his arms. He needed more of her. He grabbed the glass of wine from her and drained it a long swallow. Setting the glass aside, he cupped her ass and pulled her hard against his cock. She moaned and her fingers dug into his shoulders.
“Nikos, please,” she whimpered against his neck.
Emma desperately rocked against him. Her core ached and pulsed. The need for more, for him to touch her, to dip into that liquid heat was driving her mad. A frantic desire gripped her, and she pushed his hand down between them. His low growl answered her moan as his fingers parted her aching lips and stroked her firmly. She bucked against his hand and he stroked her harder. She pulled his mouth to hers for a searing kiss. Their tongues slid over each other as her body fell into a frenzied rhythm. Her head fell back, releasing him as she lost herself in the ecstasy building inside her. His mouth closed gently on her neck, just above her shoulder. Her nails bit into his arms. She groaned and rocked harder. Her world shrunk to nothing beyond motion of her body, the heat of Nikos’ kiss, the drive for release. It tore through her like an avalanche. Her ragged moan cut through the night, and she rode his hand like a wild thing. His hand twined firmly in her hair and pulled her mouth to his for a passionate kiss as her pleasure pulsed through her again and again.
Nikos released Emma’s mouth as her climax passed. He stood and pulled her to her feet with him. Wordlessly, he spun her around. She automatically widened her stance and bent to brace herself against the rail. He freed himself from his jeans and flipped the robe over her back. He didn’t pause before sheathing himself completely within her heat drenched center. His moan was primal, deep, and on the edge of control.
The Acropolis swam in his vision as he lost himself in the pleasure of her. His tempo quickened, and Emma tightened blissfully around him in response. With every thrust, he pushed the worry and stress of the day further and further away. She rocked to meet him. Her panting moans and white knuckled grip on the iron rail drove him on, harder and faster. I’m not the only one banishing demons, he thought dimly before organized thoughts left him all together.
The tidal wave of pleasure crashed through him as he slammed into her and then held her hard against him, pouring himself with a loud groan into her. She rocked back against him. Her hips pressing hard against him, she moved in short hard motions until her groan picked up where his left off.
Emma clung to the metal, now hot under her grip. The glorious energy rolled through her again as her body shuddered and shook until finally they were both still and sated. Slowly, she straightened and turned into his waiting arms. His tender kiss sang of love and the sweet promise of safety. The muddy doubts and anxieties of the day finally washed away in a way that no soap and water could ever achieve. The balm of Nikos’ body, heart and strength was the only thing that could ever put her shattered soul back together again.