Page 33 of Her Greek Protector

“About what?” She neared the pool’s edge slowly.

“You are very beautiful. Get in before you get chilled.” He held out his hand.

Aimee’s pulse sped up. She could see the heat in his gaze. His voice had a rough edge to it that set her nerves tingling, while the control in his voice had heat pooling between her legs. When she placed her palm against his, tendrils of electricity raced up her arm. She lowered herself to the edge of the pool as gracefully as possible and then slid into the warm water. She let herself sink below the surface, but Alexi still had hold of her hand and pulled her back up.

She resurfaced only a few inches from his body. Her determination to keep her distance from him wavered. His free hand reached beneath the water, holding her waist and moving her closer to his own body.

She searched his eyes. “Does your head still hurt?”

Alexi’s mouth turned up on one side. “It’s not my head I’m thinking about right now. I had forgotten how nice having a beautiful woman in my arms felt.”

Aimee smirked at his implied meaning. “You weren’t shipwrecked that long.”

“Ah, but you forget the self-isolation I had imposed upon myself even before that. I haven’t actively dated anyone since long before I met Gemma.”

Aimee was shocked. “But that was over two years ago.”

Alexi nodded. “Yes. I’m not saying I’ve been a monk since that time, but I’ve not allowed myself to develop any sort of relationship with a woman in years.”

“Because of the threats?” Aimee grabbed his shoulders to steady herself, as he moved them into deeper water.

“Partly. But even before coming to the States I had decided I would be content with short-term affairs. Men in my position are not often liked for themselves, but for what they bring to the table. I got tired of being treated like a commodity.”

“And so you should have.” Aimee mulled over his words, getting a small glimpse of Alexi’s life. She was forced to confront her own assumptions. Alexi sounded like isolation and being taken advantage of were a normal part of his life.I guess being poor and being wealthy both have their own crosses to bear.

She met his eyes, looking at him in a new light, her belief that all wealthy men were scum severely challenged. Alexi had every right to be angry with the women who had treated him like a thing instead of a man with feelings.

“Thank you for your support. So, what about you? No jealous boyfriend is going to appear from the shadows?”

Aimee shook her head. “I’m like you, I haven’t really done relationships in a while. Maybe it was the guys I was dating, but they were either looking for a mother figure or someone they could treat like a doll they took out of the closet to play with once in a while.”

“You have no desire to take care of the man you are dating?” Alexi tilted his head.

“It’s not even that, I just don’t want to feel like I’m responsible for whether or not he gets up for work on time, or remembers his mother’s birthday.”

“Ah, I see! And the other type of men, the ones who want a doll to play with?”

“I don’t want someone telling me what I can and can’t do. I’ve been making my own decisions for a long time now and while they may not always be the right ones, at least they were mine, as were the consequences. Allowing someone else to call the shots is a way of showing weakness that gets you taken advantage of. Something I can’t afford.”

Alexi pulled her close, pressing her body firmly against his own as he walked them into water that just covered his shoulders. “You like to make up your own mind.”

Aimee nodded, having trouble focusing on his words when her body tingled everywhere they touched. His hands moved up and down her back. Then he reached for her thigh, bringing it up and pressing her leg around his hips. When he did the same with her other leg, Aimee gasped at the sensations that flooded her body.

“Alexi?”

“Shush, Aimee. Relax.”

“What are we doing?” Her voice was hushed. Somehow the moment seemed to require it.

Alexi looked into her eyes, their faces mere inches apart. “What does it feel like we’re doing?”

Aimee turned one side of her mouth up. “Getting ourselves into trouble.” The lust he’d stirred up earlier in her rooms rose up, her body readying itself for the culmination it longed for.

Alexi brushed his lips along her jawline and then whispered in her ear. “I find I like that idea. A lot.” His hands pressed her hips against his own, bringing her intimately into contact with his groin.

Aimee gasped and arched her back. “This is insane.” Alexi’s lips travelled over her neck. He returned to her lips, taking her mouth in a kiss so carnal, she was surprised the water around them didn’t starting boiling.

He didn’t break the kiss until they were both struggling to breathe, and then he quickly maneuvered her to shallower water. “Se thelo.” He moved his lips along her jawline. “It means I want you,” he whispered when he reached her ear.