The Greek Tycoon's Secret Heir (11 page)

With his erection at the portal of her body, he knew this wasn’t the time for a discussion about their family and their future. But before he drove into her and made her his again, he needed to know.

She put her hands on his chest, holding him back from entering her body.

“Would you?”

“Yes,” he said, bending down to capture the tip of her breast in his mouth. He sucked her deep inside, his teeth lightly scraping against her sensitive flesh. His other hand caressed at her other breast, arousing her, making her arch against him in need.

“Should I get birth control this time?” he asked her.

“Or do you want to try for another child?”

Her gaze met his. “Yes, I think I would.”

She reached between them and took his erection in her hand, bringing him closer to her. “I need you now.”

He lifted his head and watched her as he slid deep into her body.

She started to close her eyes as he made love to her. “Keep your eyes on mine, Ava.”

He thrust slowly in and out of her body, building them both toward climax with deliberation. He stared into her eyes, wanting to see—needing to know—how susceptible she was to him. There was no room for lies in their bed and when they were close like this he believed everything about Ava.

She slid her hands down his back, cupping his buttocks as he thrust deeper into her. Staring deep into her eyes made him feel as though their souls were meeting. She started to tighten around him, climaxing before him. He gripped her hips, holding her down and thrusting into her again before he came with a roar of her name. He held her afterwards.

Ava ran her hands slowly up and down his back. He heard her breath catch and then felt the warmth of her tears on the side of his face. Propping himself up on his elbows he stared down at her and wiped the tears away with one thumb.

“What’s the matter?”

She swallowed and then glanced down at his chest, at the gold medallion that swung free from his body. She caught it, tracing her finger over the pattern of the Theakis family crest.

“Ava? Tell me,
moro mou
,” he said.

“I’m just so happy. I never thought you’d forgive me and we’d have this.”

He bent his head and kissed her so she wouldn’t be able to see the doubt that still lingered in his heart about Theo. He wanted the peace he felt to be real and knew there was only way to make that happen.

He was going to have to have the boy tested.

She tried never to think ill of them, but their marital problems were like a disease that had spread out to affect her and Christos, not just in the past, but now.

She’d come to understand a new truth about herself when she’d had Theo. And these past few weeks on Mykonos, she had learned to understand Christos so much better now than she ever could have before. And because she had her own weaknesses, she didn’t want him to feel that way with her. That she was
his
weakness. Christos had given her something she wasn’t sure she could have found on her own.

“Are you sleeping?” he asked.

She felt the vibration of his words in his chest and under her ear. She shifted in his embrace, tipping her head so she could see the underside of his jaw.

“No. Too much to think about.” This had been at once the most terrifying and exciting day of her life. She felt that, if she went to sleep, she might wake up and find none of it had happened. That she was still a single mother living with Theo in Florida.

She tugged on his chest hair in retaliation. “Were you serious about wanting more children?”

“Yes.”

“I’m glad. I think Theo will benefit from having another sibling.”

“Yes, he will. Plus I think it will make our family more solid.”

“Solid is no guarantee of happiness—or safety. Look at what happened to Stavros and Nikki. Who would look after Theo if something happened to us?”

He rubbed his hand up and down her arm. “Nothing’s going to happen to us, but in such a case I’ve asked Tristan to be Theo’s guardian.”

“Shouldn’t you have discussed this with me first?” She liked Tristan, but she wasn’t sure he was parent material. He was more like the crazy fun uncle than a responsible guardian. As much as she didn’t like Ari, she thought he might be a better choice.

“I made the decision before I left for Florida to pick up Theo.”

“Oh,” she said not really sure how to take that. “What about your father?”

“My
patera
isn’t strong enough to contend with a young man. Tristan is the best choice.”

“What if you’re wrong?” she asked. Her heart ached at the thought that something could happen to her and Christos and Theo would be left alone in the world.

“I’m not.”

“I hate when you do that.” His confidence was part of what attracted her to him, but she wished at times he’d at least acknowledge that he was human and was as fallible as everyone else.

“I know. I’m sorry I didn’t consult you, but there wasn’t time. Would you like to ask your friend Laurette to be a co-guardian? I think that Theo will need a female influence.”

“She’s actually his godmother from when I had him baptized. And I do like Tristan.”

“Good.”

“So, having another child…”

“Yes?”

“Does this mean you finally believe me about Theo?”

She held her breath, unable to believe she’d finally had the courage to ask him that question again. He closed his eyes, rolled over so that she was under him. Her legs parted and he settled against her. His arms braced on either side of her body. He brought his mouth down hard on hers.

When he came up for air long minutes later, his hands moved over her body with intent. She was tempted to let him distract her and be swept away by the passion that flowed so easily between them. But she had to know. In a way, she already had started to believe they were going to have a real marriage, yet they couldn’t unless there was real trust between them.

She pulled back, putting her hands on his face and holding him still. She stared up into his obsidian eyes that were so like the son’s he hadn’t acknowledged he believed was his. Sure, to Theo and the world he’d claimed her son, but she knew he had doubts. Had she shown him enough of who she really was to change his mind about her?

“Please answer me,” she said at last.

“Theo is our son.”

She believed him. Christos wasn’t the kind of man to say things lightly. She wondered if she should ask him how he felt about her. If he thought he could ever love her. But those words weren’t easy to find and she was much too scared that she might find out that he couldn’t love her to ever say them aloud.

Instead she lifted her hips toward his and felt him slip inside her body. Their eyes met and held again and he took her with carefully measured thrusts until they both climaxed at the same time. She felt the warm spill of his seed deep inside her body and she wondered if giving him another child would make him love her.

But she knew that she’d done all she could. She’d just have to fill their house and relationship with love. Christos was a smart man and more intuitive than he let on. Instinctively she knew she hadn’t made a mistake in marrying him.

Paris was vibrant and romantic and Ava soaked it up. They’d had dinner with Tristan’s family last night and today Christos was escorting his new bride around the city to fashionable boutiques recommended by Tristan’s sisters.

His mobile rang and he glanced at the caller ID before answering.

“Yes, Antonio?”

“Sorry to disturb you, sir, but Master Theo wanted to talk to you.”

“No problem, put him on.”

“Baba?”

“Yes, Theo?” He missed the little boy and had stopped thinking of Theo as the Theakis heir. How had that happened? When had he gone from thinking of Theo as his nephew to thinking of the boy as his son? It was as if the relationship and his distrust of Ava had nothing to do with Theo. He knew that made no sense. “How was the allergy testing today?”

“Okay, my back hurts and is very itchy.”

“That will go away in a few hours. I’ll have Antonio put some salve on it.”

The little boy talked about other things, games he’d played with his grandfather, and Christos had a new sense of peace about the relationship. He’d asked the doctor to take a cheek swab for a DNA test from the boy while he was conducting the allergy test. He imagined he’d soon have the answers he needed to move forward in his relationship with Ava.

And he needed to know if he or Stavros was the father for insurance purposes anyway.

He wanted to believe Ava, but a part of him, that long-cynical part, was refusing to without proof.

“When are you coming home?” Theo said, a note of something in his voice.

“Not for five more days. Is something wrong?”

“I’m having trouble breathing,” Theo whispered, probably so that Antonio wouldn’t hear him.

“Ask Antonio for your inhaler,” Christos said.

“It’s in the room with Uncle Gui. I don’t want…”

“Theo, it’s not a weakness. Gui has seen me wheezing and using an inhaler many times. Remember when I had to use it on the yacht?”

“Yes.”

“Go now,” Christos said, using a firm and authoritative voice that he hoped his son would obey.

“I…”

“No arguments, Theo. Do it.”

“Yes, sir.” Then Theo heard him calling for Antonio.

Before his butler came back on the line, Ava emerged from the dressing room wearing a slim-fitting black gown that plunged between her breasts and had a slit up one leg. “How do I look?”

“Wonderful. You are definitely getting that one.”

“Is everything okay?” she asked, indicating the phone in his hand.

“Theo was having a bit of breathing trouble and didn’t want to use the inhaler in front of Gui.”

“Let me talk to him,” Ava said, holding out her hand.

“He’s gone already. I’m waiting for Antonio. I’ve got it under control. Go try on another dress.”

“I want to speak to my son,” she said.

“Is he not
our
son?”

“Yes, he is. I’m sorry. I just have a hard time letting go.”

“You don’t have to let go. We’re partners now,” he said. As he spoke he realized how much he wanted those words to be true. The only way that was going to happen was if he started trusting Ava. Truly trusting her. And trusting her meant not relying on a paternity test.

He’d tell the company lawyers that they’d have to find a way to insure Theo without the test. The boy was clearly a Theakis.

He looked into those beautiful sea-blue eyes of hers and realized the truth that he had been running from. That he was lost without this woman. And if she left him again…betrayed him again…he’d never recover.

“Christos?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

“Let me put my own clothes back on and we can leave.”

He nodded and kept listening on the open phone line until Antonio came on. “Theo’s fine now. Would you like me to have the doctor come back and monitor him for the evening?”

“Yes, and then direct him to call my mobile, Antonio.”

“Yes, sir,” Antonio said.

There was a note in his voice that Christos couldn’t place. “What?”

“Your father has hired a nanny for Theo. Master Theo doesn’t understand why she’s here.”

“Thanks, Antonio, for the information. I’ll take care of this with my father.”

“I figured you would.”

He hung up the phone just as Ava came out of the dressing room. She had none of the clothes in her hands that she’d been trying on. “Where are your dresses?”

“I don’t want anything here.”

“Ava?”

“I want to go home. I’m enjoying the city and being alone with you, but I miss Theo.”

Christos drew her into his arms and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. He missed Theo, too, and he had plenty of pressing business to attend to.

“I’ll call the pilot and have him ready the plane. Do you want to leave now?”

“You don’t mind?”

He shook his head. “I want you to be happy, Ava.”

She smiled up at him, that brilliant smile that made his breath catch in his chest. He couldn’t resist kissing her. Running his hands down her back and pulling her firmly into his arms. She was his. His. He’d never had anything that wasn’t given to him because of the circumstances of his birth—aside from Ava and Theo.

“Having your trust has given me a joy that I can’t explain.” Her optimism made him wonder if he should explain right now about the paternity test. But he didn’t want to dim it. Hell, who was he kidding? He knew that she’d be angry and disappointed if she learned what he’d done and he wanted more time to enjoy the peace that had grown between them during their honeymoon.

Christos barely had the car turned off when Theo bolted from the house and down the steps. Ava opened her door and stepped out of the car just as Theo reached her. He jumped up and she caught him in her arms, hugging his small body close to hers. Tears burned her eyes as she held him close. The time spent away from her son had just felt like too long.

Christos came up and Theo immediately wriggled in her arms, trying to get to his father. She handed him to Christos and watched the two embrace. Her life felt complete, so perfect and happy that she almost was afraid to believe it was real.

How had she gotten all of this? She’d been living her single life, so sure that she’d never find a happy ending with Christos, yet here it was. The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow she’d thought she’d never see again.

Christos glanced at her, catching her staring yet again. He gave her one of those long level looks of his and she shrugged.

“I like seeing my guys together.”

Theo had an arm slung around Christos’s shoulder as he walked over to her. “We like seeing you, too, right, Theo?”

“That’s right.”

“We have a surprise for you,” Ava said.

Actually they had all kinds of surprises for Theo. Ava had bought him a stuffed bear in a shop in Paris and Christos had gone wild in another toy store, buying all kinds of things.

“What is it?” Theo asked, jumping from foot-to-foot when Christos put him down.

“I’m not sure we should give it to him,” Christos said, looking very intent and serious.

Ava hid a smile behind her hand, enjoying her son and his father. Just enjoying everything that this moment was bringing her.

“Please,
Baba
.”

“Were you a good boy?” Christos asked.

The two of them joked around as Christos carried Theo up to the house. Ava paused there on the circle drive of the large, luxurious house and for a minute flashed back to the small, single-wide mobile home she’d grown up in. When she’d met Christos, she’d been pretending her past didn’t exist and had built a world based on lies. But now she saw that some of the things she’d told herself weren’t lies. Christos
was
a good man. The kind of man she could safely give her heart to.

She loved him. Heck, she’d always loved him, and acknowledged to herself that she’d never stopped. But now that love felt bigger, more encompassing than it had before, because this time she wasn’t his secret lover.