Read It's All Greek to Me Online
Authors: Katie MacAlister
It's All Greek to Me (4 page)
“And if I don’t?”
Iakovos asked, his black eyes damn near spitting fire at her.
Iakovos asked, his black eyes damn near spitting fire at her.
“You’re going to be one sad little panda,” she snarled.
“Are you
threatening
me?”
He looked completely outraged at such a thing.
threatening
me?”
He looked completely outraged at such a thing.
“You bet your incredibly attractive and probably hard enough to bounce a quarter off ass I am!”
she snapped back.
she snapped back.
An indescribable look flitted across his face.
“You are the most irreverent woman I’ve ever met.”
“You are the most irreverent woman I’ve ever met.”
“And you’re the handsomest man I’ve ever seen in my life, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to lick you!”
she yelled.
she yelled.
He stared at her in outright surprise.
“Sorry.
That came out wrong.”
Color warmed her face as she mentally damned that odd twist in her mind that led her to speak without thinking.
“Sometimes the dialogue I write in my head comes out of my mouth instead of staying where it belongs.”
That came out wrong.”
Color warmed her face as she mentally damned that odd twist in her mind that led her to speak without thinking.
“Sometimes the dialogue I write in my head comes out of my mouth instead of staying where it belongs.”
“You wish to .
.
.
lick
?”
he asked, the same odd expression on his face.
.
.
lick
?”
he asked, the same odd expression on his face.
“Not
all
of you!”
she said with dignity, straightening her shoulders.
“Just that spot there, where your neck meets your collarbone.
Where that little indentation is .
.
.”
Her voice trailed off as he continued to look at her as if dancing boobs had just appeared on the top of her head.
“Never mind.
It’s not important.”
all
of you!”
she said with dignity, straightening her shoulders.
“Just that spot there, where your neck meets your collarbone.
Where that little indentation is .
.
.”
Her voice trailed off as he continued to look at her as if dancing boobs had just appeared on the top of her head.
“Never mind.
It’s not important.”
He opened his mouth to say something, shook his head, and with a dismissive glance at Cyndi and the others still clustered together in silent shock, pulled out a cell phone and spoke rapidly in Greek.
“A boat will be waiting for you at the east dock.”
His lips tightened as he looked at his brother before jerking him upright.
“I trust that a visit to the hospital will reassure you that your charge has no injury beyond that of her pride.”
“A boat will be waiting for you at the east dock.”
His lips tightened as he looked at his brother before jerking him upright.
“I trust that a visit to the hospital will reassure you that your charge has no injury beyond that of her pride.”
“Pride?”
Harry grabbed his arm as he was about to leave.
He spun around and pinned her back with an outraged glare that she more than met with one of her own.
“She’s battered to hell and back again.”
Harry grabbed his arm as he was about to leave.
He spun around and pinned her back with an outraged glare that she more than met with one of her own.
“She’s battered to hell and back again.”
His black gaze flickered over Cyndi, who thrust out her chest and gave him an antagonistic look.
“I see no signs of battery.”
“I see no signs of battery.”
“She has red marks all over her chest and neck!”
Harry said, pointing at Cyndi.
Harry said, pointing at Cyndi.
He looked at her steadily for a moment, and she could have sworn one side of his mouth twitched.
“Have you never had a lover who had heavy whisker growth?”
“Have you never had a lover who had heavy whisker growth?”
“Huh?”
“It is common among Greek men to have to shave more than once a day, and my brother and I are no exception to that fact.”
She eyed his jaw, squinting slightly.
He did have a slight darkness on his lower face, as if he was about to sport some manly stubble.
He also had extremely attractive lips, the lower one in particular, with its sweet, oh, so very sweet curve, and the upper with a deep indentation up to a long, straight nose.
Like the spot on his neck, she had the worst urge to taste that upper lip dip.
She actually licked her own lips thinking about it before she remembered that ogling a drunk’s brother, especially one who should be on the cover of
GQ
, really wasn’t the thing to do.
“Er .
.
.
what was the question?”
He did have a slight darkness on his lower face, as if he was about to sport some manly stubble.
He also had extremely attractive lips, the lower one in particular, with its sweet, oh, so very sweet curve, and the upper with a deep indentation up to a long, straight nose.
Like the spot on his neck, she had the worst urge to taste that upper lip dip.
She actually licked her own lips thinking about it before she remembered that ogling a drunk’s brother, especially one who should be on the cover of
GQ
, really wasn’t the thing to do.
“Er .
.
.
what was the question?”
He sighed.
“Whisker burn.
That is all the red marks are.”
“Whisker burn.
That is all the red marks are.”
“They are?”
She turned to Cyndi.
“Cyn?”
She turned to Cyndi.
“Cyn?”
“He hurt me,” she said, her eyes filling with tears.
“Even if it was just his rough cheeks, I need to see a doctor.”
“Even if it was just his rough cheeks, I need to see a doctor.”
Amy, Derek’s girlfriend and the other singer of the group, immediately hugged her, her blue eyes worried.
Even Terry, bright, cheerful Terry who always had a joke on his lips, looked somber as he moved closer to the two women.
All four sets of eyes watched Harry with an obvious plea in them.
Even Terry, bright, cheerful Terry who always had a joke on his lips, looked somber as he moved closer to the two women.
All four sets of eyes watched Harry with an obvious plea in them.
“Whisker burn.”
She turned back to face the annoying god with the sexy lips.
He raised an eyebrow, and she was thankful that he was clearly beyond such mortal things as saying I told you so.
She turned back to face the annoying god with the sexy lips.
He raised an eyebrow, and she was thankful that he was clearly beyond such mortal things as saying I told you so.
“I told you she wasn’t hurt,” he said with a slight smirk.
She pointed a finger at him.
“You just knocked yourself off your pedestal, buster.
All right, I’m willing to accept that your brother didn’t intentionally hurt her.
But she’s very upset, and she does have some nasty rashes, so I think it probably would be better for everyone’s peace of mind if she saw a doctor.
If you and Mr.
Grabby Hands over there would just get out of here, I’ll get Cyn dressed and we’ll take her to the mainland.”
“You just knocked yourself off your pedestal, buster.
All right, I’m willing to accept that your brother didn’t intentionally hurt her.
But she’s very upset, and she does have some nasty rashes, so I think it probably would be better for everyone’s peace of mind if she saw a doctor.
If you and Mr.
Grabby Hands over there would just get out of here, I’ll get Cyn dressed and we’ll take her to the mainland.”
His lickable lips tightened as if he wasn’t used to receiving orders, a thought that gave her immense pleasure.
Oh, how fun it would be to take him down a peg or two, to remind him that he might think himself a god amongst lesser folk, but in reality he was nothing more than a man.
An extremely rich, urbane, sexy, and probably quite fascinating man, but still a man.
Oh, how fun it would be to take him down a peg or two, to remind him that he might think himself a god amongst lesser folk, but in reality he was nothing more than a man.
An extremely rich, urbane, sexy, and probably quite fascinating man, but still a man.
She looked at the dip of his collarbone.
Her tongue cleaved to the roof of her mouth.
“Temptation is a bitch.”
Her tongue cleaved to the roof of her mouth.
“Temptation is a bitch.”
“You can say that again,” he muttered, giving her a dark look before turning on his heel and leaving the room, dragging his brother with him.
Chapter 2
T
here was no reason for him to be there.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the woman with whom Theo had gotten a little overly amorous, and yet there he was, standing in a hospital hallway, waiting to hear exactly what he knew—that she hadn’t been attacked.
here was no reason for him to be there.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the woman with whom Theo had gotten a little overly amorous, and yet there he was, standing in a hospital hallway, waiting to hear exactly what he knew—that she hadn’t been attacked.
So why was he there, when he should have been at home keeping an eye on Elena and the guests who filled his house?
The party celebrating his sister’s birthday aside, he had a million other things he’d much rather be doing than standing in the antiseptic surroundings of the small hospital his father had endowed eight years ago, after the death of his beloved second wife.
The party celebrating his sister’s birthday aside, he had a million other things he’d much rather be doing than standing in the antiseptic surroundings of the small hospital his father had endowed eight years ago, after the death of his beloved second wife.
Nurses hurried past him, most giving him nothing but the deferential acknowledgment due the local benefactor, a few casting warmer gazes that lingered with pleasure.
He thought little of the attention they paid him—women had fawned over him since the time he grew hair between his legs.
He thought little of the attention they paid him—women had fawned over him since the time he grew hair between his legs.
“I think I’m going to die,” Theo murmured, his head hanging low between his knees as he hunched over in the chair.
“That woman broke my nuts.”
“That woman broke my nuts.”
“Next time you can’t keep them in your trousers, pick someone a little more experienced,” Iakovos told him, his voice rich with the grim sense of injustice he was cherishing.
That woman had poked him in the chest!
She had
yelled
at him!
That woman had poked him in the chest!
She had
yelled
at him!
Theo looked up with a lopsided grin.
Even half-drunk and suffering a black eye, he possessed the famed Papaioannou charm that had a passing female nurse gasping.
“Couldn’t help myself, Jake.
She was so hot.
Pretended to be shy, but she was rubbing herself all over me, and she had tits that drove me wild.
Everything would have been fine, but then she got demanding, and next thing I knew, that skinny little bit was there screaming that she’d been attacked, and then the two others came in.
Even then I could’ve explained that the shy bird was going off about nothing, but then they had to get that .
.
.
that .
.
.”
One hand cupped his testicles.
Even half-drunk and suffering a black eye, he possessed the famed Papaioannou charm that had a passing female nurse gasping.
“Couldn’t help myself, Jake.
She was so hot.
Pretended to be shy, but she was rubbing herself all over me, and she had tits that drove me wild.
Everything would have been fine, but then she got demanding, and next thing I knew, that skinny little bit was there screaming that she’d been attacked, and then the two others came in.
Even then I could’ve explained that the shy bird was going off about nothing, but then they had to get that .
.
.
that .
.
.”
One hand cupped his testicles.
“Amazon?”
Iakovos asked.
Iakovos asked.
“She-devil.
Did you see how she looked at me?
I thought she was going to skin me alive until you stopped her.”
Did you see how she looked at me?
I thought she was going to skin me alive until you stopped her.”
“It would have served you right if I’d let her.”
His jaw tightened as he looked down at his scapegrace brother.
An only child until his father’s second marriage fifteen years after his birth, Iakovos was almost twenty years older than Elena, while thirteen years stood between Theo and him.
Sometimes, he felt old enough to be their father.
“I told you to lay off the alcohol.”
His jaw tightened as he looked down at his scapegrace brother.
An only child until his father’s second marriage fifteen years after his birth, Iakovos was almost twenty years older than Elena, while thirteen years stood between Theo and him.
Sometimes, he felt old enough to be their father.
“I told you to lay off the alcohol.”
“I wasn’t drunk,” Theo protested.
“I just had a little buzz going.”
“I just had a little buzz going.”
“Your little buzzes are going to land you in the hospital with liver failure if you don’t cut back.
Or jail if you ever again try a stunt like the one you pulled tonight—don’t bother protesting that you didn’t attack that girl.
I know you didn’t.
You still shouldn’t have had her in your room.”
Or jail if you ever again try a stunt like the one you pulled tonight—don’t bother protesting that you didn’t attack that girl.
I know you didn’t.
You still shouldn’t have had her in your room.”
Theo gave him another smile that oozed with charm.
“Come on, Jake,” he said, using the Anglicized nickname that made Iakovos’ lips thin.
“All Papaioannou men have to do is smile, and women fall all over themselves to crawl into our beds.
It’s not like you haven’t ever succumbed to a sweet little thing.”
“Come on, Jake,” he said, using the Anglicized nickname that made Iakovos’ lips thin.
“All Papaioannou men have to do is smile, and women fall all over themselves to crawl into our beds.
It’s not like you haven’t ever succumbed to a sweet little thing.”
“There’s such a thing as fouling your own nest, and I most certainly haven’t succumbed to the temptation of any woman in Elena’s set.
I’d rather not be known as a cradle robber.”
I’d rather not be known as a cradle robber.”
Theo made a rude face.
“You’re thirty-nine, Iakovos, not eighty-nine.
There’s nothing wrong with Elena’s friends.
Some of them are—” He stopped speaking, the smug look on his face swiftly changing to one of horror.
“It’s the she-devil!
I’m getting out of here before she attacks me again.”
“You’re thirty-nine, Iakovos, not eighty-nine.
There’s nothing wrong with Elena’s friends.
Some of them are—” He stopped speaking, the smug look on his face swiftly changing to one of horror.
“It’s the she-devil!
I’m getting out of here before she attacks me again.”
Iakovos turned to watch the woman who was marching down the narrow hallway of the hospital toward him, her long legs eating up the distance, her hair rippling behind her like a banner.
She looked exactly like the personification of a summer storm at sea, one that was about to descend upon him.
For a moment he wondered if he’d be the same once the storm hit, but dismissed it as a fanciful thought, one not worthy of consideration.
Especially, he noted to himself as he allowed his gaze to roam over the approaching woman, as there was such a better use for his attention.
The woman—he couldn’t bring himself to think of her by that appalling nickname—what did she say her name was?
Rose?
No, the French version of that word, Eglantine .
.
.
an unusual name, an old-fashioned name, one that suited her.
She looked exactly like the personification of a summer storm at sea, one that was about to descend upon him.
For a moment he wondered if he’d be the same once the storm hit, but dismissed it as a fanciful thought, one not worthy of consideration.
Especially, he noted to himself as he allowed his gaze to roam over the approaching woman, as there was such a better use for his attention.
The woman—he couldn’t bring himself to think of her by that appalling nickname—what did she say her name was?
Rose?
No, the French version of that word, Eglantine .
.
.
an unusual name, an old-fashioned name, one that suited her.
She was tall, almost as tall as he was, and plentifully formed, not at all his usual type.
She was dressed simply in neutral linen pants and a sleeveless tunic that might have hid her form from other men, but his sharp eyes picked up the alluring curve of her hip when the bottom of the tunic fluttered back momentarily.
Her breasts were decently covered, but nothing could disguise their abundance, or the soft sweep of her upper arms, covered lightly in freckles.
Her face wouldn’t be considered beautiful by the standards held by the women he usually dated, but he found it pleasing nonetheless.
She had a round little stubborn chin, that glorious wide mouth that his gaze returned to again and again, a short nose with freckles, and two eyes that were at this moment looking as if nothing would make her happier than to see him drop dead on the spot.
She was dressed simply in neutral linen pants and a sleeveless tunic that might have hid her form from other men, but his sharp eyes picked up the alluring curve of her hip when the bottom of the tunic fluttered back momentarily.
Her breasts were decently covered, but nothing could disguise their abundance, or the soft sweep of her upper arms, covered lightly in freckles.
Her face wouldn’t be considered beautiful by the standards held by the women he usually dated, but he found it pleasing nonetheless.
She had a round little stubborn chin, that glorious wide mouth that his gaze returned to again and again, a short nose with freckles, and two eyes that were at this moment looking as if nothing would make her happier than to see him drop dead on the spot.
“Eglantine,” he said, acknowledging her when she stopped in front of him, her hands on her hips.
Her nostrils flared.
“Yacky.”
“Yacky.”
He closed his eyes for a moment.
“My name is Iakovos.
If you are unable to remember that, you may address me as Mr.
Papaioannou.”
“My name is Iakovos.
If you are unable to remember that, you may address me as Mr.
Papaioannou.”
She looked incredulous.
“You’re not serious.”
“You’re not serious.”
“I am.
It is my name.
It is not that difficult to say.
I’m sure that you could master it with little effort should you put your mind to it.”
It is my name.
It is not that difficult to say.
I’m sure that you could master it with little effort should you put your mind to it.”
“Yeah, and monkeys might fly out of your butt, but since neither is likely to happen, we’ll just move on, shall we?”
“
What
did you say?”
he asked, outraged to the tips of his toes.
Delightfully irreverent as she was, he had the desperate sense that if he did not take control of the conversation, he would be lost in the storm that seemed to accompany her.
What
did you say?”
he asked, outraged to the tips of his toes.
Delightfully irreverent as she was, he had the desperate sense that if he did not take control of the conversation, he would be lost in the storm that seemed to accompany her.
“I said we should move on, and I—”
“You said—” He breathed heavily through his nose for a moment.
“You said something about monkeys flying out of my ass.
That is the second time you have mentioned that in conversation.”
“You said something about monkeys flying out of my ass.
That is the second time you have mentioned that in conversation.”
“Your ass?
So?”
Her eyebrows rose.
“Do you have a problem with your butt?”
So?”
Her eyebrows rose.
“Do you have a problem with your butt?”
“No, I do not have a problem with it!”
The sense of control slipping away from him grew stronger.
He took a deep breath, and was aware of her unique scent even over the antiseptic odors of the hospital.
“But you seem to have one.”
The sense of control slipping away from him grew stronger.
He took a deep breath, and was aware of her unique scent even over the antiseptic odors of the hospital.
“But you seem to have one.”
She looked surprised, and before he could ask her how the young woman was, she walked around behind him, startling him by pulling up the back of the coat he’d slipped on for the ride over to the mainland.
“What are you doing?”
he demanded, feeling more and more as if he were a bit of flotsam caught in a whirlpool.
“What are you doing?”
he demanded, feeling more and more as if he were a bit of flotsam caught in a whirlpool.
“Seeing if I have a problem with your ass.
I don’t seem to.
Do you mind if I touch?”
I don’t seem to.
Do you mind if I touch?”
Iakovos looked over his shoulder at her, speechless for the first time in his life.
Before he could demand that she treat him with the respect due a man in his position, she put out a hand and cupped one cheek.
Instantly, his groin was flooded with blood, leaving his sex heavy with need.
Before he could demand that she treat him with the respect due a man in his position, she put out a hand and cupped one cheek.
Instantly, his groin was flooded with blood, leaving his sex heavy with need.
He was absolutely, utterly, and completely out of his depth with her.
“Well, it’s kind of hard to see because you’re not wearing skintight pants, but from what I can feel, no, I don’t have a problem with your ass.”
Harry dropped his jacket as he spun around to face her, her fingers tingling from the contact with his warm behind.
Harry dropped his jacket as he spun around to face her, her fingers tingling from the contact with his warm behind.
She badly wanted to use both hands on him, but suspected that would be pushing things too far.
As it was, he had another one of those indescribable looks on his face, as if he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to throttle her or kiss her silly.
As it was, he had another one of those indescribable looks on his face, as if he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to throttle her or kiss her silly.
“I really hope it’s the latter,” she told him.
“What ladder?”
he asked, his eyes taking on a bit of a wild look.
he asked, his eyes taking on a bit of a wild look.
“Sorry, inner monologue again.
It’s not important.
Is the situation with your ass settled?
Good.
Now, if we could address the issue of Cyndi, the doctor says she’s suffering from the abrasions on her chest and neck, her blood pressure is sky-high, and she’s had to be sedated because she was close to completely losing it.
I don’t think she’s in any real danger, but she had worked herself up to such a state, it’s probably better if she spends the night here,” she said, lifting her chin.
She dared him—she just
dared
him—to tell her she was being foolish.
It’s not important.
Is the situation with your ass settled?
Good.
Now, if we could address the issue of Cyndi, the doctor says she’s suffering from the abrasions on her chest and neck, her blood pressure is sky-high, and she’s had to be sedated because she was close to completely losing it.
I don’t think she’s in any real danger, but she had worked herself up to such a state, it’s probably better if she spends the night here,” she said, lifting her chin.
She dared him—she just
dared
him—to tell her she was being foolish.
A muscle in Iakovos’ jaw flexed a few times, but all he said was, “I don’t care if she spends a month here so long as she stops throwing herself at Theo.”
“He didn’t have to accept what she offered.
Not to mention he was stinking drunk, and way too rough with her, as petite as she is,” Harry told him, dragging her mind away from thoughts of what his butt must look like to more important things.
“Amy said she’d stay with Cyndi.
The doctor wants Cyndi to remain overnight, but evidently it’s going to take some time to get her into a room.
He said they’re run off their feet because half the hospital staff went to another town where there was a train accident, so it could be a few hours.
I’m sure you want to get back to your party.”
Not to mention he was stinking drunk, and way too rough with her, as petite as she is,” Harry told him, dragging her mind away from thoughts of what his butt must look like to more important things.
“Amy said she’d stay with Cyndi.
The doctor wants Cyndi to remain overnight, but evidently it’s going to take some time to get her into a room.
He said they’re run off their feet because half the hospital staff went to another town where there was a train accident, so it could be a few hours.
I’m sure you want to get back to your party.”
His brows, straight slashes of ebony against his warm bronzed skin, lowered.
“Are you giving me orders, Eglantine?”
“Are you giving me orders, Eglantine?”
“No, Yacky, I’m not.
I’m simply suggesting that since it’s going to take some time to get Cyndi settled, you probably want to go home.
There’s no sense for you to stay here, too.
I assume you came over in another boat?”
I’m simply suggesting that since it’s going to take some time to get Cyndi settled, you probably want to go home.
There’s no sense for you to stay here, too.
I assume you came over in another boat?”
He nodded, his eyes searching her face as if he sought some answer there.
“You are tired.”
“You are tired.”
“Oh, I’m well beyond tired,” she agreed, giving him what she hoped was a bright smile as she rubbed her arms against the chill in the air.
The hospital was very modern, if small, with an obviously quite efficient air-conditioning system.
“I’ve been awake for over twenty-four hours.”
His frown asked a question.
She answered it with a shrug.
“The kids flew out a day before me.
I wasn’t called in to pinch-hit until this morning.
Er .
.
.
yesterday morning.
Sometime.
I’ve lost track of what time it is since I left Seattle.”
The hospital was very modern, if small, with an obviously quite efficient air-conditioning system.
“I’ve been awake for over twenty-four hours.”
His frown asked a question.
She answered it with a shrug.
“The kids flew out a day before me.
I wasn’t called in to pinch-hit until this morning.
Er .
.
.
yesterday morning.
Sometime.
I’ve lost track of what time it is since I left Seattle.”
He stared at her for a moment, not saying anything, just looking at her.
She couldn’t help but stare at his lips, and wondered what sort of miracle she’d have to pull off to taste them.
She couldn’t help but stare at his lips, and wondered what sort of miracle she’d have to pull off to taste them.
Without a word, he took off his suit jacket and draped it around her shoulders before turning and striding off down the corridor.
The jacket was warm from his body heat, and smelled like him.
The scent of his cologne—lemony and woodsy at the same time—teased her nose as she watched him walk away.
“Oh, I have
no
problem at all with your butt,” she said softly before melting into a chair, suddenly so exhausted she didn’t have the strength to do more than huddle into the jacket and wish she was back home, in her little apartment that was completely devoid of sexy, arrogant, rich playboys with incredibly fabulous butts.
The jacket was warm from his body heat, and smelled like him.
The scent of his cologne—lemony and woodsy at the same time—teased her nose as she watched him walk away.
“Oh, I have
no
problem at all with your butt,” she said softly before melting into a chair, suddenly so exhausted she didn’t have the strength to do more than huddle into the jacket and wish she was back home, in her little apartment that was completely devoid of sexy, arrogant, rich playboys with incredibly fabulous butts.
She woke up to find she was slumped sideways in the chair, drooling on the lapel of Iakovos’ nice jacket.
“Come,” the man himself said, holding out a hand to her.
“Where?”
she asked, averting her face so he wouldn’t see her wipe off a tendril of slobber on the wet patch on his coat.
she asked, averting her face so he wouldn’t see her wipe off a tendril of slobber on the wet patch on his coat.
“There’s a handkerchief in the inside pocket,” he said with martyred resignation.
“Sorry,” she said, dabbing at her lips before offering him the jacket.
He looked at it as if she’d just wiped out a cesspool with it.
“Keep it.
I have others.”
“Keep it.
I have others.”
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep and slobber all over it.
I’ll have it cleaned and sent back to you.”
She stood slowly, feeling as if she were a hundred years old.
I’ll have it cleaned and sent back to you.”
She stood slowly, feeling as if she were a hundred years old.
Other books
Borderlands 5 by Unknown
The Chilling Deception by Jayne Castle
A Shot In The Night (John Harper Series Book 2) by Edward Holmes
The Kanshou (Earthkeep) by Sally Miller Gearhart
Maggie's Door by Patricia Reilly Giff
Slipping by Y. Blak Moore
Smoke from This Altar (1990) by L'amour, Louis
Darius & Twig by Walter Dean Myers
Marked by the Moon by Lori Handeland
The Collected Stories of Amy Hempel by Amy Hempel and Rick Moody
