23. Tia
The weight of a thousand eyes settled on us as Chrys and I stepped through the grand entrance of the Athens Museum of Art. Crystal chandeliers illuminated the sea of Greece’s elite in their finery. The soft murmur of conversation briefly faltered as we appeared.
Tonight’s charity gala for children’s education was the social event of the season—and apparently, the appearance of the Christakis heir with his African-American fiancée was its unexpected highlight .
“Everyone’s staring,” I whispered, instinctively pressing closer to Chrys’s side, tightening my hold on his arm.
“Not at me,” Chrys murmured, his lips brushing my temple as he guided me forward. His eyes swept appreciatively over the midnight blue gown that hugged my curves before falling in a waterfall of silk to the floor. “You’re breathtaking tonight, aggelé mou.”
Tonight was the first time I’d seen Chrys in formal wear since that dinner, where Kat called me a whore.
The sight of him in his tailored black tuxedo made my heart race.
The crisp white of his shirt contrasted beautifully with his olive skin, and the way he moved through the room with effortless confidence made it impossible to look away.
I fought the urge to fidget with the diamond necklace at my throat—another “small gift” from Chrys. After a week of living at my mother’s rented villa, tonight felt like stepping into a different world entirely. The opulence surrounding us was a reminder of the life I was choosing.
Across the room, my mother caught my eye, resplendent in a gold gown that shimmered with her every movement as she danced with Aristides. The violin’s plaintive notes seemed to guide their steps as they moved together .
My brow furrowed at how closely they danced and at how low Aristides’ hand rested on Mom’s back. Still, I couldn’t help but smile at the friendship they’d formed over the past week in their efforts to become amicable in-laws.
Dimitrios stood nearby, champagne flute balanced elegantly between his fingers, effortlessly charming a cluster of society women while Konstantin and Kayla held court near the auction displays, her hand occasionally drifting to her still-flat stomach.
Chrys leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. “I got us a hotel tonight,” he said, his voice dropping to that low, intimate tone that never failed to make me wet. “I think I’ll wither away if I don’t fuck you soon.”
My face was on fire. Great. Now I was blushing and horny in 4K.
“Really, Chrys?” I chuckled, squeezing his arm. “Thanks for being so patient this week.”
I had spent the past seven days living with my mom at her rented villa since she was leaving for the U.S. in two days. I’d missed her and wanted to spend that time catching up and doing fun things together since I would stay in Greece for the foreseeable future.
Mom and I had discussed many things and cleared the air quite a bit during those long conversations. She was disappointed in many of the choices I made this summer, but supported and loved me, anyway.
As Chrys guided me deeper into the glittering crowd, the weight of tonight’s significance settled between my shoulder blades. Chrys had promised to end Katalina’s interference in our lives permanently. Tonight. Here.
“Are you going to tell me the plan now?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
“You’ll see.”
Before I could press further, we were intercepted by an elderly couple, friends of Yiayia, who insisted on hearing all about our engagement. Chrys charmed them effortlessly.
When we finally extricated ourselves, Chrys led me toward the center of the room, where couples swayed to the orchestra’s melodic tones.
“Dance with me,” he said, turning to face me.
I hesitated, glancing nervously at the graceful couples surrounding us. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I can’t dance.”
Chrys pulled me into his arms, one hand settling at my waist while the other captured mine. “Really? You seemed quite skilled the morning you almost killed me.”
Heat bloomed in my cheeks at the memory of his accident. “You were driving too fast,” I protested as he began moving us in time with the music. “And that was just... moving. This is actual dancing.”
“Trust me,” he murmured, guiding me through the steps. “Just follow my lead.”
And somehow, I did. Chrys moved with the same confidence he applied to everything, making it easy to follow his rhythm. His eyes never left mine, creating an intimate bubble around us despite the crowded room.
“See? You’re a natural,” he said softly, pulling me closer. His fingers traced small circles against the small of my back, sending pleasant shivers up my body.
“Where did you learn to dance?” I asked.
“It was part of my curriculum at my boarding school in Switzerland.”
I was about to respond when a flash of crimson caught my eye over Chrys’s shoulder. My body tensed instantly.
Katalina had arrived, cutting through the crowd. So much for being on bed rest. Her scarlet dress clung to her body like a second skin, drawing appreciative glances from nearby men.
But it wasn’t her appearance that alarmed me. It was the determined path my mother was taking toward her.
“My mother,” I whispered urgently, already pulling away from his embrace. “I need to stop her before she creates a scene. ”
I had barely taken three steps when the lights suddenly dimmed. The orchestra faltered, notes trailing into silence as darkness enveloped the room. Confused murmurs rippled through the crowd.
A projector hummed to life, casting a brilliant rectangle of light onto the main wall. My steps faltered.
“What’s happening?” I whispered as Chrys materialized at my back, his arms wrapping around me.
“The plan,” he replied simply, his eyes fixed on the screen where two naked figures appeared, entangled.
Recognition dawned with horrifying clarity. There was zero doubt as to what was happening.
The room gasped. So did I.
The woman kneeled before the man and he shoved his penis into her mouth. When the camera’s angle shifted, Katalina’s face came into unmistakable focus.
The audio was muffled and distorted, but I was sure I heard Kat’s voice insisting, “Come on my tits! Do it!”
I cringed, fighting the urge to look away from the intimate display. But I couldn’t tear my gaze from the screen.
Chrys’s fingers interlaced with mine, his thumb stroking reassuringly across my knuckles as we beheld the scene unfolding. The man complied with Kat’s demand, while she responded with moans. Mercifully, the screen went black, and the lights returned .
The entire crowd seemed suspended in time. I turned to Chrys, but his attention was fixed on Katalina, who stood frozen like a marble statue, her face drained of all color, hands suspended before her mouth in horror.
Then she broke, emitting a shrill, primal wail. She spun and staggered toward the exit, her perfect poise shattered as she teetered precariously on her stilettos.
Her mother followed, already dissolving into tears, while her father’s face contorted with rage. “Whoever did this, I’m going to sue them! They’ll never be able to show their face in Greece again!”
Even after they vanished, the silence held for several heartbeats before voices swelled, everyone eagerly dissecting what had just become the undisputed highlight of the evening.
“Oh my God.”
Chrys shrugged, his expression coolly satisfied. “I needed to get her out of our lives for good. She’s caused way too much damage.”
Conflicting emotions battled within me. Relief that Katalina’s torment might finally end warred with moral outrage. “You violated a woman’s privacy, exposing her in a very intimate moment,” I stammered. “How could you?”
The orchestra tentatively resumed playing, the melody incongruously cheerful. Chrys leaned forward, kissing me .
“It was a warning, aggelé mou. I don’t play about you. Katalina knows now that when she goes low, I’ll go straight to the underworld.”
He lifted his head, his eyes piercing as they locked with mine. Something primitive and possessive lurked in their depths as he pulled me closer, guiding me toward the exit.
“Where are we going?”
“You owe me seven days’ worth of pussy. I want to get reimbursed ASAP.”
The moment the hotel door clicked shut behind us, I whirled to face him. “That was beyond cruel, Chrys. No matter what she did—”
He silenced me with a kiss, backing me against the wall. My indignation flared, but his lips moved to my jaw, then my neck, leaving a trail of fire.
“I will always,” he murmured against my collarbone, “protect what’s mine.” His hands slid down my sides, gathering the midnight silk of my gown.
“It was still wrong,” I insisted, but my voice wavered as his mouth found my breast .
“Was it?” His teeth grazed my hardened bud. “She tried to destroy you. Destroy us.”
My resolve weakened with each kiss, each touch. His hands slipped beneath my dress, finding bare skin. “Seven days, aggelé mou,” he whispered, lifting me against him. “I’ve been starving.”
I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me to the bed, his mouth never leaving mine. He laid me down gently, covering my body with his as he claimed my lips. His hunger mirrored my own.
“Babe,” I moaned as his lips moved to my neck, his hands exploring my body with familiarity.
He slid the straps of my dress down, exposing my breasts to his hungry gaze. His mouth found one nipple, then the other, lavishing them with attention until they were taut and aching.
“I could spend eternity worshipping your body, aggelé mou.”
He kissed every inch of my skin as if it were sacred ground. I tugged at his jacket, desperate to feel his skin against mine. He shrugged it off, his shirt following quickly behind.
I ran my hands over his chest, tracing the lines of his muscles and the intricate ink that decorated his skin. Each tattoo told a story, a piece of his past, and I loved every inch of him .
He captured my wrists, pinning them above my head as he claimed my mouth once more. I could feel his hardness pressing against me, and I wrapped my legs around him, urging him closer.
“Not yet, aggelé mou,” he murmured, his lips moving to my ear. “I want to taste you first.”
He released my wrists, his hands trailing down my body as he kissed a path down my stomach. He slipped my dress off completely, leaving me in nothing but my panties. His fingers hooked into the waistband, and he exposed me inch by inch, his eyes darkening with appreciation.
I was naked before him, vulnerable, but I felt no shame. The way he looked at me, with such love and desire, made me feel powerful.
Chrys kneeled between my legs, his hands gripping my thick thighs as he leaned in. The first touch of his tongue sent a jolt of pleasure through me. His tongue circled my sensitive bud before dipping inside me.
I gripped the sheets, my body writhing as he brought me closer and closer to bliss. He slid a finger inside me, then another, his mouth never leaving my clit. The sensation was overwhelming, and I came with a shout.
He looked up at me, his lips glistening with my arousal. “I love watching you come. ”
Chrys stood up, his hands going to his belt. I watched as he undid it, his pants falling to the floor. His penis sprang free, ready for me. He crawled back onto the bed, covering me once more.
“Only you,” he said, his eyes locked on mine.
He buried himself deep inside me, possessing me completely. I wrapped my legs around him, my arms around his neck, holding him close.
“Look at me, aggelé mou,” he commanded softly. I opened my eyes, meeting his gaze. There was so much love, so much desire reflected in those blue depths. “I love you,” he whispered, as he continued to pump me.
Chrys rolled us over, so I was on top, straddling him. His hands gripped my hips, guiding me as I rode him. I placed my hands on his chest for balance.
He reached up, his fingers grabbing my braids, as he pulled me down for a kiss. It was passionate, desperate, a clash of teeth and tongues. I could feel his heart racing beneath my palm, his body tensing as he neared his release.
“Come with me, aggelé mou,” he whispered against my lips. “Let go, my love.”
I rode him harder, faster, chasing my release. Our bodies were slick, and I could feel my orgasm building, threatening to consume me .
With a scream, I came, my body trembling around him. He followed me over the edge, filling me with his sperm.
Our love was strong, unbreakable, a force to be reckoned with.