large smile on her face
“Wakey wakey…”
The rest of the line lost as she had given a small shriek. The two in the bed waking with a start, Grace’s eyes flying open confused as to what was going on, the memories flooding back in glorious Technicolor as she had felt Alexos move beside her.
“I…I’m so sorry” the embarrassed voice of Carol had repeated over and over as she had turned about to flee from the room.
“Wait” the snapshot voice of Alexos had frozen her as he had reached over and lifted the telephone on her side of the bed, leaning over Grace who had held back a groan. Closing her eyes in complete mortification Grace had pulled the sheet up to her neck not sure what to say to her friend and workmate. Speaking quickly and decisively in Greek he had replaced the receiver before giving Carol, who was looking expectantly over at him a wide smile.
“My housekeeper is under instructions to make a huge breakfast for you all, and my grounds man is prepared to help you set up your equipment for the morning. Please Carol, Grace and I will join you in about an hour”
With eyes that had flicked to her Carol had said nothing, merely nodding before moving at speed from the room, so glad to be anywhere but there.
Moaning, Grace had slapped her forehead.
“Goddddd. I didn’t get a chance to set my watch last night” her accusing look aimed at Alexos, who had grinned back at her, Grace feeling the now all too familiar tightening of awareness of her body around this man. Leaning down he had kissed her, the determination to get up right away deserting her as she had fallen back against the bed, arms moving around his neck, the two once more losing themselves in the other.
As the two had moved into the shower together, Grace had given him a schoolmarm look as he had pulled her in harder against him, her bottom against the rising hardness of him. Chuckling she had moved from him grabbing the soap and washing herself as he had too, and so the two were ready moving together back down the stairs, Grace feeling nervous.
Chapter Four
As the two had joined the group the other three had been ready to leave. Grace had felt the embarrassed silence as they had looked at each other, before Carol had given a wide innocent smile.
“Sleep well?”
The others struggled to hold back the laughter before Alexos had dropped his head looking up at her with a return smile “Well speaking for myself one of the best I have had recently - thanks Carol” wickedly turning to Grace who had laughed, nodding softly the air between the group instantly relaxing.
“The car is outside for you, but if you don’t mind I will ensure Grace has something to eat before she joins you”
The three had all nodded throwing her understanding looks as they had moved out of the door. Alone once more she had given a groan.
“They are going to hound me for details”, giving a lopsided grin “good job they break up for a month…they might have forgotten by the time we regroup”
Sighing softly as she had moved towards the dining room, throwing him a pained smile. “But I somehow doubt it”
Alexos had nodded a strange expression on his face “Before we eat can I talk to you?”
Grace stopping in surprise as he had moved towards the room she knew to be his study. Frowning softly she had followed him, curiosity filling her.
He had stepped all the way to his large ornate desk, turning and perching on the edge before pulling her into his arms, Grace standing between his legs, his hands loosely wrapped around her waist.
“Stay with me” his voice soft as his eyes had delved so deeply into hers. “Don’t go. You have a month’s break…stay with me”
Grace had flicked her eyes to his, uncertainty written on every part of her features, before she had again dropped her head, shaking it slowly “I can’t…I really can’t”
Lifting her chin with the hook of his finger he had pulled her head up, a note of pleading in his
James Kakalios
Tara Fox Hall
K. Sterling
Jonathan Maberry
Mary Balogh
Elizabeth Moynihan
Jane Hunt
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley
Jacquie Rogers
Shiloh Walker