Chapter 26
Three days later…
“And do you Stephanie Harris, take Ries Kafatos, to love and cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, to be your beloved husband?” the priest asked.
“I do,” Stephanie told him, her voice ringing out loud and clear for their guests.
There weren’t many, just family, the Moustakas cousins and their wives, and the few friends and associates who had helped them get to this point.
Behind them, the sun was setting over the Mediterranean, setting the sky on fire.
“Ries and Stephanie, in as much as you have both declared your love for one another before these witnesses, I am privileged to declare you husband and wife. May the gods be with you on your journey through this life.”
Ries smiled down into her eyes and Stephanie was amazed at how full her heart felt.
She could see the promise in his eyes, as well as the unremitting lust that three days of abstinence had wrought.
She herself was so in tune with him that just the touch of his hand on hers had her heart racing and her body warming.
Ries bent to kiss her and she whispered against his lips, “How long do we have to stay at the reception?”
“Just a few minutes and then I’m taking you away on our honeymoon. I intend to have my way with you. Over and over again.”
“Yes, please,” Stephanie told him as he kissed her, dipping her backwards over his arms to the delighted cheers and claps of their guests.
He stood her back up and Damon and Nicolai were both there to congratulate them. Everyone was cheerful.
The Moustakas wives had insisted on taking over the planning of her entire ceremony. Stephanie had told them about the wedding she’d always envisioned for herself, and they hadn’t let her down. Every single item had been there, down to the blooming lilacs she held in her bouquet.
Stephanie smiled and exchanged hugs with her new group of friends, accepting their well-wishes and realizing that not only had she gained a family with Ries, but she’d gained a life she’d never have been able to imagine in her wildest dreams.
It was the perfect life for her, and for the first time in her adult life, she wasn’t worried about how she was going to pay the rent or when someone was finally going to realize she had a brain and didn’t mind using it.
With Gemma’s help, she was going to begin working with the Greek Ministry of Historical Artifacts after her honeymoon on a part-time basis.
Her degree was finally going to be put to use helping to educate the public about their culture, and she couldn’t wait.
For Stephanie, it was no longer about the money, but about using the knowledge she had and her love of artifacts.
“You’re not paying attention to anything I just said,” Kassi complained, breaking into Stephanie’s fantasy about the weeks and months to come.
Stephanie shrugged, “Sorry. Have we been here long enough that we could sneak off and no one would be terribly offended?”
Kassi laughed, drawing looks from others close by. “I can’t believe you. Are you in such a hurry to start your honeymoon?”
Stephanie blushed, unable to take her eyes off of the elegant man making his way toward her. “Never mind, I have my answer.”
She walked toward Ries, meeting him halfway and giving herself over to the kiss he gave her. “Let’s go,” he grabbed her hand, raised his voice and gained everyone’s attention. “Thank you all for coming. We’ll see you all in the future. Enjoy yourselves.”
Leo and Alexi gave him knowing looks when he swept Stephanie up in his arms and carried her through the crowd and out to the driveway. Chris was waiting there with the limo and opened the door for them.
Stephanie slid over on the leather seat, making room for Ries. A bottle of champagne awaited them, and Ries popped the cork and then poured them both a glass.
“To us,” he touched his glass to hers.
“Se mas.” Stephanie smirked when Ries raised a brow at her use of his language. “Nicolai has been helping me learn, as have all of the security guards and the Moustakas women.”
Ries nodded and then set his glass and hers in the holders. He pulled her onto his lap, rucking her dress up until it was gathered around her upper thighs and she was straddling his lap. “Have I told you how much I love you today?”
“About a thousand times, but I could hear it a thousand more,” she replied.
“S’ agapó.”
Ries reached over and rolled down the connecting window an inch. “Chris, how long do we have before we arrive?”
“Ten minutes is all,” Chris replied quietly.
“Thanks,” Ries rolled the window back up and then told her, “I don’t want to rush this. We’re going to wait and do this right.”
Stephanie nodded and then kissed him, pressing the apex of her thighs down on his hardness. “I want you,” she whispered.
Ries groaned, gave her a hard kiss, and then lifted her off his lap and placed her on the opposing seat. “Here, drink your champagne and hold that thought.”
Stephanie grinned at him, already imagining the wild night they were going to have.
“We’re here,” Chris announced via the intercom a few minutes later. Stephanie couldn’t wait to see where Ries had brought her. He’d been very secretive about his plans but had assured her that she wouldn’t be disappointed.
Chris opened the door and Ries stepped out first, reaching inside for her and pulling her out to stand beside him.
Stephanie was instantly in love with the azure seas, white sand beaches, and white pillars leading down into a freshwater pool. Pine trees and palm trees share the space, with lush gardens filled to overflowing with flowers that comprised the entire rainbow.
“Oh, Ries. It’s beautiful.”
“I thought you might like this place. Let’s take a walk,” he suggested, nodding to Chris who dropped back along with one other guard.
Stephanie was becoming used to having at least one, more often than not two, guards tailing her at all times.
What once felt like a prison now felt like part of her newfound privilege.
Ries led her down a set of stairs and Stephanie could see the small cabana set up on the beach. She looked and was surprised to find that they were entirely alone here. “Why aren’t other guests out enjoying this place?”
“Because there are no other guests,” Ries informed her. “I’ve rented out the entire resort for the next few days. I wanted a chance to just be with you. No distractions. No worries about the media or being spied upon. Just you and me.”
“And ten of your most trustworthy guards,” she added.
Ries looked at her and then gave her a sad smile, “I wish I could make them disappear, but I can’t risk it.”
Stephanie smiled, “I was only making a comment. A bad one it seems. I understand their presence and I’m okay with it. I promise.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Ries took her hand and led her the rest of the way to the cabana where Stephanie was surprised to see a king-sized bed, with billowing white curtains on each of the four posters, a pile of colorful pillows piled at the top.
A small table and cooler laden with all sorts of beers and wines sat in the corner.
“Did you ask for all of this?” she asked him quietly.
“I asked for the general idea. They have certainly outdone themselves.”
Ries led her to the center of the cabana, and then poured them both a glass of wine. “Mrs. Kafatos.”
Stephanie grinned, “I could get used to that.”
“Good. Now, are you ready to get out of that amazing gown?” Ries asked, setting his glass down and turning her to face away from him.
Her wedding dress had been approved by all of the Moustakas women and Nicolai. He’d had a smirk on his face when they’d started talking about the honeymoon and he was sure his brother would have ‘a good time’ getting Stephanie out of her dress.
Stephanie felt Ries’ hands at the nape of her neck as he began to undo the tiny seed pearl buttons that spanned the entirety of her spine. With each button he released, her breath hitched at the feel of his fingers on her bare skin.
Ries was making good progress, but Stephanie was about to go insane with wanting his hands on her person. “Ries, just cut it off already,” she pleaded with him.
“Patience, Stephanie. Patience.”
“Why? You’ve already made us wait three days.”
“Anticipation is good for the soul.”
“My soul is just fine. Get my dress off so that I can return the favor.”
“Your wish is my command,” Ries told her, placing an opened-mouth kiss on her spine before she felt a tug and then the entire dress loosened at once.
Stephanie took a deep breath, and then gasped when Ries slid his hands around her torso, cupping her breasts at the same time he bit down on the tendon that connected her neck and shoulders.
“That feels good,” she murmured to him, closing her eyes and dropping her head back to lean against his shoulder. “Make love to me?”
“With pleasure.” Ries made short work of removing the remainder of her clothing and then he started in on his own. Stephanie had turned toward the bed and was now sitting in the middle of the mattress, posing as coyly as she could and watching him undress with hungry eyes.
“See something you want?” he asked as he kicked his boxers off.
“I see something I need.”
Ries crawled up on the mattress, settling himself between her thighs and holding her head between his hands while he kissed the breath out of her.
He used teeth, tongue, lips, and hands to stir the passion in her to a frenzy.
Only then did he join their bodies together, entering her without the aid of a condom for the very first time.
It was like heaven, feeling her wet heat against his bare skin.
“So, you know how we talked about having kids?” Ries asked, holding himself deep inside of her.
“Yes?” Stephanie answered him, pausing as he moved experimentally within her. “You’re not wearing a condom.”
“No. Is that okay?” Ries asked her, holding himself still even though it was killing him to do so.
Stephanie’s answer was in the relaxation of her body and the smile that curved her lips upward. “I can’t think of anything better. I love children.”
Ries kissed her and then began to move within her. Stephanie arched her back and her moans of delight spurred him onward. He loved her, he adored and worshipped her with his body, and when they experienced the ultimate passion together, Ries felt like a god.
Much later, Stephanie lay in his arms, idly playing her fingers across his chest. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything,” he kissed her head.
“We’re still in danger, right?”
“Yes, but not like before. Why?”
“Can you promise me that you won’t ever keep me in the dark again?”
Ries rolled her to her back and met her eyes, “I will never lie to you, or keep things from you again. Well, except for presents and surprises. But when it comes to things that directly affect you, I will never keep you in the dark again. I promise you that.
“There’s a big world out there that hates me and my brothers simply because we have wealth. They don’t know us, and don’t want to get to know us. They simply want to make us pay for what we have, and they don’t. It’s not fair, but nothing in life is fair.
“There are always going to be threats against our family. It is just something that goes with all of those zeroes at the bank. You will always need a bodyguard with you, as will our children.”
“I can handle that. I just want to know what’s going on. I promise to follow your lead.”
“That’s all I can ask for. Now, about those children…
” Ries rolled himself on top of her and reached down, pressing her thighs apart and making room for himself.
He wanted her again, and when she put up no resistance, going so far as to arch her hips up to meet his body, he knew the same fire burned within her.