Greek Billionaire's Forbidden Lover (The Rosso Family Series Book 2) (2 page)

Alexandra was starting to regret her decision to come to the party on her own. Since leaving the bar, she’d been propositioned by half a dozen men who needed lessons in the art of talking to a female. Geez, the guys at college had been smoother than that. Now she had a muscled chest encased in a black silk shirt, black cape, and a deep baritone voice blocking her view.

“You look good enough to eat,” he murmured silkily. She looked up to see a would-be Dracula staring down at her with a predatory look in his eyes. When he smiled at her to show off his fangs, she barely refrained from rolling her eyes.

Great, this one thinks he’s something special!

He’d pushed close to her, bringing his body within centimeters of brushing against hers. He brushed a finger over her upper arm. “Sorry, I make it a habit to never become a meal for someone whose name I don’t know.”

The man grinned. “We’re not supposed to reveal our names and unmask until midnight.” He lifted a hand to touch her hair and Alexandra resisted the urge to slap his hand away.

She shifted to move away and told him, “You may not bite, but I do.”

He put his hand on her shoulder. She glanced at his hand and decided he was about to get her drink in his face. She kept her face neutral, and said, “You have five seconds to remove your hand or I will do it for you. And you won’t like that.”

“Don’t be a tease. I’ve been watching you look around. You’re looking for a good time, aren’t you? I can make sure you never forget this night.”

Alexandra was just about to tell him she could do the same for him when another man in black swept in. “Sorry it took me so long, darling. Grab your drink and come with me. Brian has our booth ready.”

She looked up and barely contained a gasp. Dareios had come her rescue. He didn’t seem to recognize her, so she kept her eyes down and dropped her voice to a husky tone. “Thanks, darling.”

Taking the arm Dareios extended to her, she turned away from the vampire and followed toward the back of the nightclub.

Dareios dipped his head and whispered in her ear, “Do I need to take him out back and teach him some manners?”

A shiver ran down her spine. She bit her bottom lip, and then remembered she needed to refrain from acting like Alexandra tonight. She shook her head. “Thank you, but no. And thanks for the rescue.” She flattened her tones and spoke in English. She knew how to hide the faint Greek accent that usually colored her words when she used English. She’d had more than a few American friends in college.

Stopping next to an empty booth, he gestured for her to slide in. She did so and he took the seat next to her. He waved to a waiter to bring them drinks. “I can see why that neck bitter was drawn to you. Your costume is… intriguing.”

Alexandra’s face heated beneath her mask.
Be alluring! You’re not his sister so don’t act like it!
She cocked her head and pursed her lips for a moment. “And you came as Zorro—and here you are, righting wrongs and saving innocent maidens.”

Dareios smiled. Behind his mask, his blue eyes glittered. The waiter brought over glasses of champagne and Dareios offered her one. “Innocent and a maiden? And here I took you for a goddess. I was actually saving that poor vampire from you striking him down with a bolt of lightning.”

“You’re mistaking me for Zeus.”

“No one could make that mistake. Are you Athena?”

“The patron goddess of Athens?” She thought for a moment and ran a finger over the rim of her wine glass. She tried to think of something witty to say, but being so near to Dareios had her senses spinning. Her heart was racing, and there was a distinct wetness gathering between her legs that was hard to ignore. She ignored the urge to cross her legs. “I believe in the battle with Poseidon I would have been just as wise in my gift to the people.”

“Ah, you know Greek mythology. Do you think Poseidon’s gift of sea water was in error?”

Alexandra shrugged. “It gave the people a source of trade, but the water couldn’t be consumed. The olive tree provided not only fruit and oil, but wood. A much wiser gift.”

He leaned closer. “I always envisioned Athena as being proud and full of herself. You seem more like…Aphrodite?”

“The goddess of love and pleasure?” Alexandra gave a small laugh. It felt heady to flirt with Dareios from behind her mask. “You’d like that, would you?”

“She was the most beautiful goddess. You are certainly the most beautiful woman here tonight.”

“I should thank you for the compliment. However, Aphrodite was unfaithful to her husband and countries warred over her.”

Touching his hand to hers, he asked, “Have we met before? There’s something…familiar about you.”

Alexandra’s heart quickened. She sipped her drink and smiled. “I was going to say the same thing. Perhaps we met in another life?”

He shook his head. “No, I would remember I think. Well, if you’re not Athena and not Aphrodite…ah—I know. Artemis!  The smart one. The goddess of the hunt.”

She gave a small nod. She watched his eyes darken. “And since you didn’t come as Orion, you’re in no danger of dying this evening.” The more she thought about it, the more she could see herself personifying Artemis this evening. Hunting seemed like a good description of her activities this night.

“That’s good to know. We’re not allowed to reveal our identities until midnight.” He glanced at his watch. “That gives us more than two hours to get acquainted. Dare I ask the cliché—what brings you here tonight?”

“A worthy cause. Helping children. And you?”

“The same.” He leaned even closer.

She could smell his scent and his breath warmed her cheek. If she stayed in this tight space with him another minute longer, she was liable to embarrass both of them by throwing herself into his arms. “Do you like to dance?” she asked, her voice soft and huskier than she’d ever heard it before.

Dareios looked toward the dance floor and then back at her. “If it lets me hold you in my arms, I’m willing to suffer through it.”  Standing, he held out his hand to her.

His mystery goddess allowed him to pull her from the booth. When she rose to her feet, he wrapped her hand around his elbow and steered her toward a corner of the dance floor that wasn’t crowded.

They stepped onto the dance floor and the music changed from a fast rock tune to a slower ballad. Dareios grinned and whispered, “Much better.” He pulled her against his chest. She smelled like a garden—fragrant and sweet. Tucking her head beneath his chin, she followed his lead.

He lifted her free arm up, wrapping it around his neck before dropping it to join his other hand to rest at the low curve of her back. When he spread his fingers and gripped her lightly, she gave a small sigh. He didn’t want to let go of his goddess. He had to know more about her.

“Do you live in Milan?” he asked. She leaned away slightly and shook her head. “Ah, more mystery. Are you going to make me guess all night?”

Voice low and husky, she said, “I’m just visiting.”

The sensation caught at him that he knew her—that voice seemed so familiar. But her eyes were shadowed by her mask, and he knew now that the blonde hair was a wig. What color was her real hair? Dark? Red?

He knew himself well enough to realize part of her allure was her mystery. He liked that she seemed intelligent—and he wasn’t certain he really wanted to know her identity. His own mask was giving him an anonymity he liked—he was just Zorro for tonight.

A hero, yes, but also a bit of a rogue. Just a man in black, instead of the son of a rich Greek shipping magnate. But he wanted to make certain his goddess was fair game.

“No boyfriend?” he asked.

She tipped her head and smiled. “No girlfriend?”

Dareios grinned. “Dozens of them. But just now you are the only woman who matters.”

His goddess stiffened slightly. “Do you say that to all your girls?”

He shook his head and searched her face, wishing he could better see her eyes. The crowd had thickened on the dance floor and the heat in the room seemed stifling. Lights flitted over them, almost revealing his goddess, casting her into shimmering gold, and then leaving her a shadow again.

“They usually don’t ask—or care. But don’t worry, my beautiful goddess. I won’t risk your wrath by breaking your heart. I’m only here for the fun—for the moment. That’s all we really have, isn’t it.”

“That sounds very…Zen of you. And as if you are avoiding looking into your heart.”

“Now that sounds disapproving.” The music shifted up tempo. Dareios stepped back. “Shall I leave you? Are you looking for an honest man? I am that, for I’ll warn you now the men of my family don’t have very big hearts. We’re…we’re best when we’re not tied down.”

His goddess shook her head. “You are making excuses. And if you abandon me, that vampire may return for more than my blood.”

He grinned at her. Stepping close, he lowered his head until his lips were barely brushing her ear. She had beautiful ears. Small and perfectly shaped. “Then come with me. I want to find a place where we won’t be disturbed for a while and see if your lips are as soft as they look.”

He stepped back. She licked her lips. His pulse kicked up and his breathing quickened. A hint of a smile played around her lips. “That sounds inviting.”

That nagging feeling that he knew her sounded a warning in the back of his head. Why did she seem so familiar—was it her voice, the way she held her head, or that warm smile? He’d had just enough ouzo to leave him able to ignore everything except his intoxicating goddess.

Taking her hand, he pulled her with him. He led her off the dance floor and down a darkened hallway. At the far end, he stopped in front of a door. He keyed in the security code—thankfully Brian hadn’t changed it since Dareios had last been at Club Senza.

From behind him, his goddess tugged on his hand and asked, “Where are you taking me?”

She didn’t sound worried—or nervous. Which meant she was just curious—and probably wanted to be away from the crowd as much as he did. “Someplace…quiet.” He pushed the door open and pulled her into the room.

Inside, he turned on the lights and adjusted the brightness. His goddess glanced around the small apartment, but Dareios didn’t see anything to embarrass. Modern and sleek, Brian kept the apartment stocked with everything—including an incredible wine cellar.

Turning to him, his goddess asked, “Who lives here?”

“The owner Brian and his wife Tia sometimes stay here.”

She tipped her head. “And you just happen to have the security code?”

Dareios smiled and nodded. “Convenient, isn’t it?” He stepped up to her and skimmed his palms down her arms. Reaching her hands, he intertwined their fingers.

He kissed her, softly at first.

She seemed hesitant. But when he deepened his kiss, she opened her mouth and pressed up against him. Her breasts rubbing against his chest. She wrapped a leg around his leg, and he gave a groan. His blood was pounding hard.

He’d never had any woman arouse passion in him so fast. He wanted to drag her with him into the bedroom. Hell, he wanted to take her right here against the wall. He wanted his hands on her skin, and he wanted to see her eyes.

Untangling her hands, she reached up and undid his cape. It slid off his back and he let out a breath. Sweat dampened his shirt. He wanted to push his hands into her hair. He had to see her eyes—to see them darken with desire. He reached for her mask and wig. She pulled back and caught his hand. “No revealing our identities till midnight.”

Dareios smiled. “I’m not of a mind to argue with you right now—not when we could be kissing.”

She came back into his arms, all softness and willing heat. He’d never known a woman like her. He put his hands on her waist and wrapped her close to him—and that’s when it hit him.

Of course he knew this body.

How many times had he given her a brotherly hug? How many times had he been close to her—in strictly a brotherly fashion? He pushed her away and stared at her, his pulse still pounding and his body disagreeing with this move.

No…it couldn’t be. But…hadn’t he known her the instant he’d seen her. He’d also wanted her from that instant—badly. But this…this was Alexandra. Antonio’s sister. And he…god, he didn’t even want to think what he was just about to do with her.

This was…well, she wasn’t family, but she was just about. He’d watched her grow up. He could close his eyes and still see how she’d looked when she’d been a skinny ten year old with long, dark hair and a school girl uniform. He couldn’t…not with Alexandra.

Some women were for fun. Some were for marrying. Alexandra fell into the latter category—and Dareios knew he wasn’t the kind of guy who would ever make a good husband. He’d cheat on her. He’d lie to her. He’d make her miserable. And he wasn’t having a casual fling with his best friend’s sister.

Pushing away from her, he scrubbed a hand over his face, as if he could brush the last few moments in time away. He had to take another step back. He wanted to do the opposite. He wanted her back in his arms. He wanted to leave their masks on and pretend.

But he couldn’t. Taking yet another step away, he shook his head and demanded, “Alexandra? What the hell kind of game is this?”