Chapter 36
KRISTA
He said all the right things. And he did it all while staring into my very soul. My heart was fluttering and jumping around. I was trying to think of the right words. It had to be right. I had the last twenty-four hours to think about this speech and I forgot all of it. The moment was so perfect.
And then he started laughing at me. I flinched and leaned back, pulling my hands away. I had half a mind to slap him. He was laughing? I just ripped open my chest and let him see all of me at my most vulnerable and now he was laughing at me?
“What the hell?” I muttered.
He reached up and held my face in his hands, rain streaming between us.
“Krista, you are so many things. Fierce. Terrifying. Gorgeous. Merciless. Gentle. Mean as hell. Sexy. Mine,” he finished with a growl that sent heat straight through my core.
“But you are not a fairytale princess. I never thought you were even for a second. You’re not a damsel. You’re a reckoning. My reckoning.”
He kissed me so hard it made me dizzy. This brilliant, infuriating, beautiful man knew me better than anyone. He’d seen every ugly, broken part of me and he was still choosing me. He wanted me. Not some fantasy version. Not the woman I thought I needed to be. Just me.
I’d never dreamed a love like this could find me.
I’d convinced myself I wasn’t built for it.
In my mind, something inside me was fundamentally wrong, too damaged to deserve this kind of tenderness.
But here he was, holding my face like I was precious, kissing me like I was his entire world.
I had never imagined that little old me could ever hold the attention of a massive personality like Dash.
He pulled back, still holding my face in his hands.
His eyes were kind, but his jaw was set with determination.
“I was lost before you, Krista. I’ve been lost since my dad died.
And now? I’m planted firmly right here. With you.
You’ve cleared my vision. I feel like I see the entire world in a different light. I’m a new man. A better man.”
I was crying. I couldn’t stop. I had shed more tears in the last week than I had my entire life. It felt good. Cathartic. Everything was perfect.
“I love you,” I said, the words tumbling out. “I’m so in love with you it scares the hell out of me. But I want to try. I want to figure this out with you, even if I’m terrible at it. Even if I mess it up a thousand times. People always say let your heart lead. I want to try that.”
“I love you too.” He kissed me again, softer this time. “And you’re going to mess it up. So am I. That’s what people do. But we’ll figure it out together. We know how to work together. That’s huge. Everything else is easy.”
Then he took my hand and pulled me to my feet. “Let’s go.”
We started walking back toward the hotel. I looked down at my feet, watching the pretty gold sandals get completely ruined by the puddles.
“I’m destroying these sandals,” I said with a laugh. “My ugly sandals would have been better for this kind of thing.”
“We’ll buy you new ones. Pretty ones and ugly ones. Whatever you want.”
“I might want both.”
“Good. You should have both.”
We walked in the rain for a few minutes, then stopped at a food cart that was still open despite the rain. The smell of grilled meat and spices made my stomach growl. I realized I hadn’t eaten since the plane and that meal wasn’t exactly filling. Or good.
Dash ordered us both gyros and we stood under the vendor’s small awning, eating and watching the rain come down. The meat was perfectly seasoned. It was one of the best things I’d ever tasted, or maybe everything just tasted better when I was with him.
“I didn’t rent a room,” I said between bites. “I chased you to New York first and then found out you were here. I didn’t think, I just flew.”
He grinned around his gyro. “You chased me to New York?”
“I was in Forida to visit my dad, but I wanted to see you. So I went to the Blackwell offices. Adrian told me you were here. I didn’t even go home. I went straight to the airport and got on the first flight I could find.”
“That’s very impulsive of you.”
“I’m learning from the best.”
He finished his food and pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me despite both of us being soaked through. “You can stay with me. My room has a ridiculous view of the Parthenon. And a very large bed.”
“Is that so?”
“It is. And I have absolutely no intention of letting you get any sleep in it.”
I felt that delicious heat spread through my body. “That sounds perfect.”
We finished eating and walked back to the hotel hand in hand. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, but we were already drenched. The lobby staff gave us towels without comment, probably used to tourists getting caught in sudden storms.
In the elevator, Dash pulled me against him and kissed me until I couldn’t breathe. His hands were in my hair. I could feel him hard against my hip. I wanted him so badly I was shaking.
“We’re almost there,” he murmured against my mouth. “Five more floors.”
“That’s too long.”
“I know.”
The elevator dinged and we practically ran to his room. He fumbled with the key card, cursing under his breath. I laughed at his impatience. Finally, the door opened and we stumbled inside.
The lights from the city shone through the window.
I wanted Dash, but I needed to check out the view.
I walked to the window, drawn by the illuminated columns that seemed to glow against the night sky.
Even through the rain-streaked glass, the Parthenon was breathtaking.
I pressed my palm against the cool surface, feeling like I was in a dream.
“What are you even doing here?” I asked, turning to look at him. “In Athens, I mean. I thought you’d be back in New York.”
He was pulling off his soaked shirt, and I momentarily forgot my question as I watched water droplets trail down his chest. He caught me staring and grinned.
“Focus, Hedley.”
“Oh, I’m focused.”
He tossed the wet shirt aside and moved to the mini bar. “The Greek tourism board and commerce officials wanted to honor me. Apparently, our campaign created a significant tourism boost. They threw this whole event tonight—very formal, very Greek, very over the top.”
“That’s amazing.” I felt a swell of pride for him. “You deserve it.”
“That’s the thing.” He pulled out two bottles of champagne, the good stuff, not the cheap mini-bar variety.
Someone had clearly sent these up special.
“I told them it wasn’t just me. I told everyone in that ballroom tonight that you were the one who made it all possible.
That you were integral to the entire operation. ”
I stared at him. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did.” He popped the cork on one bottle and poured two glasses.
“Because it’s true. And because I’m not going to stand there and take credit for your work.
” He handed me a glass. “I also told them that anyone looking for someone who can execute flawless operations under impossible circumstances should contact me for your information.”
My throat tightened. “Dash.”
“What? You’re amazing at what you do. People should know that.” He clinked his glass against mine. “To us. And to Greece, for bringing us together.”
“To Greece,” I echoed, taking a sip. The champagne was perfect with just the right amount of bubbles. “And to you, for being the most incredible man I’ve ever met.”
His eyes darkened. “Keep talking like that and we’re never going to finish these drinks.”
“Maybe I’m thirsty for something besides champagne.”
“Krista.” On his lips, my name was a warning and a promise all at once.
I took another sip, deliberately slow, watching him watch me. “Tell me more about tonight. What did they say?”
He moved closer, and I could smell his cologne despite being drenched. “They said tourism numbers are up thirty percent. They’re expecting next year to be even better. They want to work with us again—more campaigns, more events. They even offered to give me private tours of historical sites.”
“That’s incredible.” I set my glass down on the windowsill. “You’ve opened so many doors.”
“We’ve opened doors.”
My heart galloped behind my ribs. Dash’s proximity was intoxicating, and I couldn’t resist him any longer.
I reached out and began to unbuckle his belt.
He raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips, but he didn’t stop me.
Instead, he took another sip of his champagne, his eyes locked onto mine over the rim of the glass.
I slid his belt from the loops, the sound of leather against fabric filling the quiet room.
I popped open the button of his pants, my knuckles brushing against the soft skin of his abdomen.
He drew in a sharp breath, his eyes darkening with desire.
I slowly pulled down his zipper, my heart thudding in my ears as I sank to my knees in front of him.
I tugged at his pants and boxers, pulling them down his muscular thighs until they pooled at his ankles.
He stepped out of them, kicking them to the side, standing before me completely naked.
And then he took another sip of his champagne in the cockiest, sexiest move ever. Damn, I was lost for the man.
I took a moment to admire him, his body a chiseled masterpiece in the soft glow of the city lights. Then I leaned forward, my breath hitching as I ran my tongue from base to tip and then down the other side. He groaned with his free hand sliding through my wet hair.
“Damn, woman,” he murmured. “That tongue is dangerous.”
“Wait until you see what my mouth can do.”
I took him into my mouth, just the tip at first before I slowly took him deeper and deeper. He groaned, his head falling back, and I swirled my tongue around his tip, tasting the saltiness of his skin.
I wrapped one hand around his shaft, the other resting on his thigh, feeling his muscles tense beneath my touch. I began to move, taking him deeper into my mouth with each bob of my head. He threaded his fingers through my hair, not guiding or pushing, just holding, connecting us even more.
I glanced up once and saw him holding that champagne glass tight enough to shatter.
I went at him harder and faster. I could feel him throbbing against my tongue, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
I looked up at him, seeing his chest heave, his eyes closed in pleasure.
He took a shuddering breath, bringing his champagne glass to his lips once more, sipping while I continued to pleasure him.
The sight of him enjoying himself so thoroughly sent a wave of heat between my legs.
I kept going until he tried to pull away. Not a chance. I was all about finishing what I started.