Nikos himself met the couple at the airport. He stood outside the white limousine in anticipation and disbelief. Yet not one of his inner thoughts or emotions reached his six foot two rigid stature. Max had told him earlier that week that he'd recently become engaged to Lily. That woman with the supermodel looks without the spoiled demeanor. He was surprised because that night he'd met her for the first time, Max was dating Cybil Dawn and he was undeniably enchanted by the other woman. Cybil didn't even appeal to him for he had his share of women like that and she dulled next to Lily. However, if he reflected back on that evening, Max's attention was undeniably on the other woman during dinner. He was surprised he missed it, because he was usually more astute. Who could blame him? She was perhaps the most stunning specimen of feminine sexuality that he'd ever seen and he still meant to have her. The familiar hum of a jet caught his attention. Glancing at his watch he smiled, right on time. Within minutes, Max's private jet was just rumbling down the laneway toward him. Lily, he thought. He'd already come to terms with the fact that he was going to try and win her away from Max. Engaged or not engaged. Nikos may have only been twenty six but he'd had his share of women and none gave him the rush that Lily did. First of all, he wasn't sure if this engagement was a ruse to deter him. It may be, but either way it didn't matter. Also, he'd found out that Luke was Lily's brother and it all began to make sense. Was the engagement a cover to protect Luke's precious gorgeous sister? He wasn't sure, but over the next few days he would certainly find out. The jet's engines powered down and the door opened. Nikos watched Max emerge holding Lily's hand. Even though he expected her to be beautiful, she still surpassed his expectations. She was absolutely ravishing in a white strapless dress that fit her curves flatteringly coming to just above her knees. Her long sun-spun hair trailed about her shoulders and spilled to her waist. He stepped forward to greet them shaking Max's hand and kissing Lily politely on the cheek telling her she was beautiful.
-My father wanted to greet you Max, but he wasn't feeling well. We'll see him at dinner.
-It's nothing serious is it? said Lily with genuine concern that brought a rakish grin from Nikos. His dark eyes settled on her with a warm glint,
-No nothing unusual, just his diabetes. It makes him tired at times. He'll be flattered at your concern. He said watching her blush. Priceless, he thought, you couldn't pay for that humility. Max tightened his grip on Lily's hand possessively not missing the look of interest in Nikos eyes,
-That's good to hear. If the man thought he was even getting near her he was out in left field. Unknown to Lily Max was sharing the same room with her whether she liked it or not. He was confident enough in his abilities as a man to know she wouldn't argue. His didn't miss the way she had been looking at him for the past few weeks when she thought he wasn't looking. Although he wouldn't compromise her virtue, he sure as hell wanted to. However Max wasn't the only protective man around Lily, Luke threatened to disembowel him if he laid a hand on her like he wanted to. Lily wasn't the type for a one night stand and Max was well aware of it. If she'd walked into his office sooner last week she would have heard the real argument between Luke and himself. Luke knew of his affections and had asked him the first time he saw him look at his sister more than just a friend four years ago. He knew of Max's reputation with women and had no problem voicing his opinion on the matter. Although Luke was his employee, he treated him as an equal and respected him more than anyone else in his life. Luke had been a good friend to him and didn't let Max's wealth stand in the way of their friendship. If he disliked something Max did, he told him so. One good example is when he caught Max looking at his sister with desire clearly registering in his expression while she wasn't looking.
-What are your intentions toward my sister? Luke had asked him shortly afterwards. Max didn't pull any punches. He respected Luke too much as a friend to mislead him,
-I want to marry her.
-She's sixteen! Luke said with a mixture of disbelief and possessiveness.
-Yeah, I know Luke, I'll wait. Besides, she certainly doesn't act or look sixteen. He watched Luke purse his lips and stare at him. Max waited patiently for his reaction while he mulled it over. Luke was right, she was young and normally he would have found the age difference distasteful, but he wanted her. In fact, the more he was around her, the more infatuated he became over her. No other woman had brought that out in him in all of his life. This was an attraction that he had absolutely no control over and he wasn't a man to look a gift horse in the mouth. He figured he'd wait until she was at least twenty-four before he sprung the question because he was twelve years older than her. However, that was before she started getting noticed by every other male within a twenty foot radius. It cost him a lot of money to keep her single and make sure no other man touched her. He hired bodyguards and paid off several men over the following years to keep away from her. Others who wouldn't be discouraged were threatened. Finally after a prolonged silence, Luke held out his hand and Max shook it,
-I'll leave it to you to convince her then Max, because when she goes off to college, she's going to turn heads. Of course he was right and it led to him hire a team just to make sure that she was looked after. He had gotten weekly reports on her social life. Although he never interfered to the point of her knowing, but he made sure that her dates never got too far with her. He was thankful that she was virtuous and possessed high morals or he'd have his hands full with the amount of men that were interested in her. She never let them get beyond a brief kiss and that was hard enough but he did need to let her experience some of life without his interference. Still, he couldn't handle that, someone else touching his Lily. Normally he wasn't so obsessive, but he was crazy about her and when Nikos made his desire known, he told Luke he had to move his proposal up. As he thought, Luke disagreed. Lily was still too young and very naïve. Luke wanted her to at least finish her degree. So they came to an amicable agreement. The engagement was a cover to mislead Nikos, but the engagement ring was real and so was his proposal only Lily didn't know that. He'd bought the ring around three years ago when he saw it at the jeweler's and knew without a doubt it was for Lily. Now, she may not realize it but the engagement was not going to be broken ever, even if she didn't have the ring on her finger. He looked down at her as she asked Nikos a few more questions about his father. Her compassion was real and so was her kindness. He couldn't ask for anything more in a future wife. Already he knew she'd be passionate in bed, because he was experienced enough to see that unleashed desire in her eyes and if she loved like she fought him, he wouldn't be wrong. He studied her profile for another moment and she suddenly turned her head toward him and smiled. Hell, he thought looking down at her lovely upturned face, he sure hoped he could keep his hands off her this weekend or Luke will kill him. The luggage was loaded and the three of them got in the car. As it cruised through the city towards his family's property Nikos explained the heritage of the buildings and surrounding scenery. Lily listened with intense interest. She'd never been out of Chicago before in her life. Max saw the eagerness in her eyes and expression. After they were married, he would take her to his property in Spain for a month and he told her so. She swung her gaze to him with even more keen interest.
-Really?
-Anything for you button. He said thickly forgetting Nikos sitting across from them and almost forgetting that she didn't know they were getting married. The look of excitement on her beautiful face was to blame for that. She was radiant. Nikos surveyed the scene like a cat on the hunt. No, the affection was real, he thought. Then again, a man like Max could easily make any woman fall in love with him. However…he flicked his gaze to Max…obviously he was serious about her. That smile he just gave her was loaded with affection and it wasn't one you bestow on the sister of a friend either. The car pulled up to a immaculate villa that must've had at least twenty rooms from the windows on the front of the place Lily surveyed impressively. Equally impressive was the inside. Max still had a hold of her hand as their luggage was brought in.
-Put it in the same room. He advised the servants in Greek who nodded and disappeared up the stairs. He turned to Lily,
-Go with them, I need a word with Nikos. He said softly.
She nodded, glanced past him to Nikos, smiled, then turned and went up the stairs. Max watched her go admiring the sway of her sexy backside in that dress before he turned to Nikos. Nikos couldn't help but be disappointed. Obviously Max had already laid claim to that delicious morsel and if his instincts served him right, she was virtually untouched. His eyes also followed Lily's walk up the stairs.
-We need to talk. Max interrupted his view bringing his eyes to the pale grey ones he possessed,
-Privately. He added. Nikos took a deep breath,
-Obviously. He motioned him forward to the side doors of his father's private study. Shutting the door he offered Max a drink which he accepted.
-She's mine Nikos. He said with severity.
-I would do anything for her.
-I see that.‖ He answered without contest handing him a glass of amber liquid.
-I waited for years for her to grow up. Do not try to take her from me. She's been in love with me for four years.
-She confessed this to you?
-She did. He lied while staring at the younger handsome man,
-I considered dropping the deal with you over her. She's worth that much to me. Nikos brows rose,
-A hundred and fifty million?
-More if need be. He waved a hand,
-I am a wealthy man already, but this contract could make me more than that with your and the Vassiliadas connections. I won't lie to you. Lily is very important to me and I'm willing to give it up for her. After a length of silence, Nikos finally nodded. Any man that would risk such a deal must love the woman very much. He'd only seen it once before in Demetrius eyes when he first laid them on Sophie, his younger sister. He instantly gave up women and married her. Something Nikos would have never thought possible for he usually had two or more mistresses at a time.
-I wanted you to know the connection we have. It's unbreakable. Max added,
-she means more to me than anything. He studied the older man for a minute,
-I envy you Max. She is rare. I can see where her affections lie. However, I have one thing to ask of you. He downed his drink,
-Set aside the hundred and fifty million, the fact that I'm lusting after your future wife, or that we are both filthy rich.
-Fire away. He said with some apprehension.
-Does she have a sister? Max burst into laughter.
Upstairs in her room, Lily noticed that both sets of luggage were set on the large King sized bed but it really didn't hit home until the servants left and she was standing there staring at Max's suitcase. Shortly after, Max came in and started to undo his tie.
-Max? She said pointing to the luggage.
-I told you we had to keep up the pretense. He managed a slow sensual grin,
-Afraid of sharing a bed with me button? She flushed instantly,
-Share a bed? He walked up to her until their bodies were inches apart peering down at her with a heated gaze,
-Yes, I'm afraid you're at my mercy this weekend. She felt vulnerable and knew it was clear as day in her expression,
-Max what you're suggesting His laughter cut her off, and he leaned down and brushed his mouth across her forehead,
-Don't panic honey, I'll be good. I promise. We just need to keep up the charade. You're a big girl, I'm sure you can handle sharing a bed with me in the most plutonic sense. I swear I don't even snore. He lifted his head and studied her expression,
-You can't believe that I could put my hands on you without Luke tearing into me. I even brought pyjamas and honey, I never wear pyjamas. He added with a sinful grin.
Hands on you…pyjamas…oh lord,
-I don't know what to think. She exclaimed trying to ignore the tingling on her skin where he kissed her and his deeply voiced words,
-You're such a mystery and after all, Luke said I chased your mistress away
-He barked with laughter realizing what she was saying,
-So you'd think any gal would do. Lily, for God's sake I'm not a sex maniac. I assure you I can do without if I need to.
-I can't talk about this. She mumbled and turned to leave, but he caught her shoulders.
-You're a grown woman Lily, are you telling me you can't discuss intimacy with a man?
-It's a private matter. She said unable to look him in the eyes, but kept her gaze averted to the open buttons of his shirt. No she couldn't discuss it and especially not with him. He created that warm floppy feeling in the pit of her stomach whenever he broached the subject. Then she got distracted by his unbuttoned shirt. His tie hung loosely just below there because he hadn't finished removing it. She could see the swirls of black hair there too and it was almost impossible to drag her eyes away from that appealing sight. She knew when she saw him by the pool as a teenager that he had a healthy mat of hair there and wondered what it would be like to move her fingers through it. Max saw where her eyes were and the longing in them. He reached up and finished removing his tie. Then he undid a few more buttons on his shirt. Finally her eyes guided up to his.
-W… what are you doing?
-Changing my shirt, he said huskily,
-Greece is hot.
-I'll leave
-No you won't.‖ he said,
-You running it out of the room wearing that blush will make people think we've been busy. Of course he couldn't care one iota about that. She wanted to see him without his shirt and he was going to oblige her. He knew he had to take it slow with her and hopefully he could keep himself in check long enough to do just that but he wanted her hands on him as much as she wanted to touch him. Lily's blush deepened,
-nothing happened.‖ She said with wide innocent eyes. Not yet. He said stripping off his shirt lazily and tossing it on the bed. Lily's eyes were no longer controlled by her. They became independent of her brain's warning as they slid over his male form. From a thick chest dusted with dark hair down a flat stomach to washboard abs where hair swirled around his navel and disappeared into the waistband of his belted gray slacks .He was beautiful! Unfortunately she said it out loud.
-You think so? He said quietly reaching for one of her hands.
-Think what? She said not understanding what he meant.
-You said I was beautiful.
-Oh God, did I? He had her so spellbound she didn't know she'd spoken her thoughts.
-Here, He chuckled huskily while lifting her hand and flattening it on his chest,
-Touch me Lily. She froze and finally brought her eyes up to his,
-What are you doing?
-I'm doing what you want but don't have the courage to follow through. He answered as he guided his hand across the contours of his chest. God he felt amazing! Warm and hard. She tried one last time to resist him. Where she got the effort while she was running her hand over him, God only knew.
-Max we shouldn't, we're engaged, he interrupted bending his head towards hers.
-It's not real. She murmured as her eyes flicked to his sensual mouth.
-No? He said with amusement as his mouth lightly brushed hers causing it to part in a silent gasp. Her naiveté was refreshing and if anything, completely appealing. Just watching the discovery of her own desire while she moved her hand across his chest shattered his resistance. He had to kiss her. He had to taste those flush rose petal lips and see if they tasted as good as they looked. She stood as stiff as a board, with her hand on his chest and her eyes shut too afraid to open them and find that she was dreaming. Then she heard her name, deeply spoken. Her eyes popped open and he was looking at her, with his face inches from hers. Max smiled arrogantly and lowered his head again. This time he kissed her parted mouth and toyed with her bottom lip between his, suckling and teasing her.
-Come on honey, you know you want to. He murmured against her still mouth before he pressed his lips to hers again. Oh did she ever want to! But she wasn't sure how. She'd only experienced a few kisses in her life, and none of them were like this! Heat started building deep in her pelvis and her knees felt like jelly. Then he nibbled her bottom lip and ran his tongue along it in such a sensual gesture something within her uncoiled. Something liquid and hot. Without realizing it, her arms drifted around his neck and she opened her mouth further to comply with his coaxing.