Page 75

Story: Climbing Everest

“You mean you’re ready to make it public,” I say teasingly, pressing a quick kiss to the tip of his nose before pushing off his lap.

But he hooks an arm around my waist and pulls me right back down. “I don’t remember saying we were done talking.”

“And I don’t remember asking you.”

“Mr. Antoniou?” Ms. Galanos says from the open door of the office.

This is the first time I’ve seen her since I was carried unconscious through the door.

“Oh my gosh!” I blurt out, wiggling out of Kato’s arms and making a beeline for the older housekeeper. “Ms. Galanos!”

The housekeeper’s brows lower in confusion and she takes a step back, making the sign of the cross over herself. “Everest Sidorova? What are you doing here? Does your husband know where you are?” she asks in her thick Greek accent.

I don’t answer her, instead, I launch myself at her and wrap my arms around her shoulders.

She doesn’t hug me back.

“I didn’t get married. I was never married,” I say, pulling away while holding both her hands in mine.

Ms. Galanos always snuck us treats when we were little and bored out of our minds when the adults had parties or meetings. She was always so sweet and kind.

She’d appeared old to me then, but now I realize she’s maybe middle-aged. Amazing how our brains work when we’re children.

“What…how…Mr. Antoniou, there’s someone here to speak with you,” she says, turning her attention to Kato when it’s obvious she can’t complete her thoughts or questions.

“Who?” Kato asks, pushing to his feet and grabbing his suit jacket from the back of his chair.

Something I’ve never understood is why these made men always insist on wearing suits, even while at home. I get wearing them when out on the town, or at business meetings. But I would rather be comfortable than all professional looking any day.

Case in point – since the guys no longer insist they choose what I wear each day, I pulled on a pair of yoga pants and an oversized sweater for the day. The air is getting crisp, and I swear my men are part polar bear with as chilly as they keep the house.

Though the chilly air is a total bonus at night when we all try to cram in bed together.

I attempt to follow Kato and Ms. Galanos, but he turns and puts out a hand. “Nope. Go to your room, or downstairs. Or anywhere you won’t be seen.”

“Excuse me?” I blurt, slapping my hands on my hips.

He closes the small space between us and cups my face. “Number one – stop being a fucking brat or I’ll put you over my knee and pinken that round little ass,” he whispers before pressing a deceivingly soft kiss to my lips. My mind has turned to mush from his words so I just nod. “And two – we don’t know who’s at the door. No one knows you’re here yet, and I want to keep it that way. We control the narrative. No one else.”

Again, I nod silently, my lips parted and my breath coming in short pants. I don’t know why his whispered threat turns me on so bad, but now I’m tempted to push him to see how far he would take the punishment thing.

“We’re leaving anyway,” Brix’s deep voice says from behind me and I jump with a squeak.

My giant lover is smirking down at me when I turn and crane my neck to look into his face. “Where are we going?”

His eyes drop to my chest and that smirk turns into a mischievous smile. “Gotta get that tattoo finished, and maybewe’ll take Nico’s suggestion and get those pretty little nipples pierced.”

“Absolutely not,” Kato says, buttoning his jacket.

“How the fuck do you think you get to decide?” Brix challenges, lifting his chin and looking down his nose at Kato.

One thing about Kato? The size of his opponent has never intimidated him. Doesn’t hurt that the current opponent is his brother.

“Since I want to play with those nipples, and she’ll need time to heal if you get them pierced.”

My head turns back and forth as the two discuss me and my body as though I’m not standing right here and don’t have a say in what happens to it.

After a few heartbeats, Brixton nods. “Good point. We’ll be back in a couple hours.”