Page 45 of Her Greek Protector
Aimee struggled to remove his hands. “Let go of me. I haven’t told anyone anything about you. He was just a reporter and he could speak English. It was a refreshing change to hear someone speaking English and we chatted for a minute. I’ve never met him before in my life.”
Alexi searched her eyes and then cursed once. He pulled her up, slamming their mouths together. The kiss wasn’t polite and it wasn’t gentle. It was a violent exchange filled with pent-up lust and high emotions. Alexi moved his lips to her jaw, nipping his way down to the collarbones. “Don’t talk to those vultures. Don’t even look at them.”
Aimee tried to remember the reasons she’d had for not getting physical with Alexi again, but her resolve had fled the moment he’d placed his lips on her own. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I don’t want you talking to strange men,” Alexi whispered in her ear before nipping the lobe, sending arcs of pleasure racing down her spine.
His words registered just as his hands found their way beneath her shirt and she froze. “You don’t want me talking to strange men?” Aimee’s voice was cold, and she struggled to control her ragged breathing.
Alexi gave her a hot look. “That’s what I said.”
I can’t believe the audacity of the man!She shoved him, putting a chair between them before pointing to the door. “Get. Out.”
“Aimee, why are you upset? So, I’m jealous. I admit it. You should be happy…”
“I should be happy? I’m not your possession, Alexi. I will talk to whomever I want, whenever I want.” When Alexi started around the chair, she glared at him. “If you don’t want me to scream loud enough to bring the entire household running, leave now. You are the most egotistical, narrow-minded idiot I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet. Get out and stay away from me.”
Alexi opened his mouth to argue and then closed it. “Fine. I will give you time to calm down, but this isn’t over between us. I’ve never felt this kind of jealousy before, and while you might not appreciate the way I handled myself, know this. You are mine until I say otherwise.” His declaration made, he left the room.
Aimee’s mouth hung open. She tried to process what had just happened and ended up only more confused. Alexi seemed to think he had some claim upon her person because they’d had sex, no—they’d made love and it had been wonderful…
Aimee allowed the sweet memories to register for a moment, but then his possessive declaration brought her anger back full force. “He doesn’t own me! He doesn’t have the right to tell me who I can talk to! And he doesn’t get to say when things are over between us, because I already said they were. The fact my body goes up in flames every time he walks into the room means nothing. Nothing!”
It took hours for her emotions to calm down. Aimee busied herself with selecting the perfect picture of Leo and Gemma’s wedding to give to the reporter. She briefly toyed with the idea of asking for permission first, but decided it would be better to beg for forgiveness second.
The picture she chose showed Leo and Gemma, facing one another. The love they felt seemed to rise right off the computer screen.So much for me ever finding that kind of love. I only attract possessive assholes who think they have the right to order me around and dictate my life. Gemma girl, you lucked out with Leo. Thank God you didn’t end up marrying Alexi, he would have made you miserable.
*****
After only a few hours of sleep, Aimee awakened, glanced at the clock and grimaced. She rushed through a shower and then tied her hair up haphazardly into a ponytail. She pulled on jeans and a shirt, grabbed the flash drive, and slipped from her rooms.
The quickest way to reach the maintenance gate was the way she’d gone last night, and she stepped out onto the balcony and headed for the stairs. She didn’t see anyone in the gardens below and walked briskly towards the edge of the property. She smiled as she approached the gate and found the reporter waiting anxiously for her. “Good morning.”
James’s smile was relieved. “I thought maybe you changed your mind.”
“No.” She extended the flash drive through the fence. “I think you’ll like what’s on there.”
James took it and then handed it off to a man behind him with a laptop. “My editor sent someone out to verify the picture and bring the check.”
“This is gold, James,” the man whispered excitedly.
“Now for our part of the bargain.” James handed an envelope through the gate.
A loud shout came from behind her. Aimee turned to see Alexi rushing towards her. She clutched the envelope to her chest. “Get out of here!”
The reporter and his colleague needed no further incentive and disappeared, leaving Aimee to face Alexi alone.
Alexi grabbed her by the shoulders, trying to move her out from in front of the gate. “You lied to me!” he roared.
“There’s no one out there.” Aimee struggled to hold her ground.
“Move. Out. Of. My. Way.”
“Okhi!I will not. Besides, he’s gone.”
Alexi was furious. “What were you telling him?”
“I didn’t tell him anything.” She pushed away from him. The envelope James had given her fell to the ground.