Page 30 of Immoral (Park Avenue Kings #3)

BENOIT

Location: On a Plane, Somewhere Over an Ocean

T HERE WAS NO reprieve after we were able to leave the tunnel. Dimitri had been right about a sandstorm blowing in, forcing us to take refuge in the main house on the property.

At least there were showers. And air conditioning.

But there was also electricity, which meant light, which meant looking Dimitri in the face and trying not to think about how hot it’d been underground—and I didn’t mean literally.

Why, why, why did I have to be attracted to the man? It would make this whole situation so much easier if I could just ignore him for the rest of our month together. I wouldn’t care about the powerful way he dominated my body and my mind, and I could just go on my merry way.

But no, every time I looked at him, smelled him, spoke to him, my traitorous body gave me away. My pulse spiked, my blood heated, and my dick had a mind all of its own. One that needed to get with the program ASAP.

We’d been under attack, for God’s sake, and all I’d wanted was to rip the man’s clothes off.

So what if the “attack” turned out to be some yahoo tourists who thought it might be fun to take a few off-roaders and shoot bullets in the desert?

We hadn’t known that, and neither had they.

Poor saps didn’t realize how close they’d come to being face to face with a man who traded in guns and could unload a round with more accuracy than trained military personnel.

And the fact I thought that was hot meant I needed some serious therapy. Something I might actually consider once this month was through.

I stared out the window of Dimitri’s private plane, no clue where we were heading, only that we were flying over a body of water.

“Are you alive over there?” Dimitri’s gruff voice broke through my thoughts just in time. The last thing I needed to think about was how I’d need to pay someone to get him out of my head when I got back home.

The man wasn’t only going to cause emotional damage but also monetary.

“I’m fine.”

“You’ve been quiet for nearly six hours.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“If I’d wanted you to be quiet, I would’ve gagged you.”

I arched a brow, and his eyes narrowed.

“Wow. Still nothing. You’re definitely not fine.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did you think everything would magically be okay because you let me suck your dick? Weren’t you the one who told me it wouldn’t change anything?”

He shrugged. “It didn’t.”

And there it was, that dismissive attitude that really got under my skin. Why couldn’t I be like that? Fuck and run. Oh wait, I used to be—until him. But only because I wasn’t allowed to run.

At least, that was what I told myself.

“Then why do you care?”

“Because we’re about to land, and you need to pull out whatever stick got stuck up your ass between Dubai and now, and smile for the crew.”

I turned it on then, flashing him my most charming, fabulous smile that won even him over the first time, and he rolled his eyes.

“Don’t fucking push it.”

“Hard not to when that’s what I get off on. Pushing every single one of your buttons.”

Our plane landed in Athens, but then the two of us immediately hopped on a helicopter that headed out toward the islands.

Wherever we were going now was definitely more my speed, but who the hell was Dimitri meeting with out here that would need what he had to offer?

That seemed strange, especially to meet them alone, but I wouldn’t question it.

I’d done my job. I was no longer officially spying, had no need to report back every little thing Dimitri did.

Though it wasn’t like I could help but notice my surroundings, file information in the back of my mind. Those things came as natural to me as breathing, so if there was anything Dimitri didn’t want me to know, he wouldn’t have kept me around.

Telltale blue domes set against a pure white cliffside village came into view, and as the helicopter dropped lower, I realized where we were.

Santorini, Greece.

Dimitri’s hometown.

When the helicopter landed on a private helipad atop a hill, I turned to look at the silent man beside me.

Non. There’s no way he’s taking me ? —

“We’ve arrived, Mr. Stavros,” the pilot said in Greek. “Prepare for landing.”

I looked out the window and watched as the skids touched ground, and when the rotors stopped spinning, Dimitri pushed open the door and climbed out. He started toward the house, but when he realized I hadn’t followed, he stopped and turned to see me still sitting in the chopper, staring at him.

“Do you plan to get out sometime soon?” he asked, marching back to the open door. “I only paid to have us delivered, not for you to sit there for the next two weeks.”

“The next two— This is where we’re staying?” My eyes shifted past his shoulder to the gorgeous home perched on the cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea. “The house is stunning but doesn’t look like it has fourteen bedrooms.”

“That’s because it doesn’t.”

“Then how can we stay here for two weeks? What happened to your ‘I only sleep in the same bed once’ rule.”

“This house is different.”

“Pourquoi? Why?”

He leaned into the helicopter and punched the release on my belt. “Because this is mine, and it’s well guarded.”

Mon Dieu. I was right.

Dimitri had brought me home.

“Now get out of the helicopter, Benoit.”

He started off toward the stone-fronted house, and this time I followed.

He wove us up through the landscaped property full of cacti, olive trees, and bougainvillea that added pops of color against the rocky volcanic terrain.

It was beautiful, immaculately kept, and gave a rugged, naturalistic aesthetic to the property that somehow fit Dimitri to a tee.

“You brought me home ?” I finally managed as we reached the top of the stone steps. The idea was still completely unreal to me, considering the utter disdain he’d shown me of late.

“I brought you to where I was going,” Dimitri said without a backward glance. “Which just so happens to be my home. Yes.”

That was a lie if ever I’d ever heard one. Someone of Dimitri’s power would most certainly have backup homes or accommodations should he wish to go there. Even if it was on his home island of Santorini.

I didn’t quite know what to make of the fact he’d brought me back here, to his actual house. Because despite what he was saying, it was a big deal to bring someone into your inner sanctum. And what about the rest of his crew? Would they be joining us later?

“So let me get this straight,” I said as we crossed a terrace and rounded a large infinity pool. But when my eyes landed on the view staring back at me, all other thoughts left my head. “Wow…”

Sweeping views of Santorini and the Aegean encompassed all you could see, and the sight was utterly breathtaking.

Dimitri moved up beside me but didn’t say anything as I started at one of the most spectacular sights I’d ever seen.

“Why would you ever leave?” The question was more for myself than him, but I got a response anyway.

“I have a business to run.”

His answer was so to the point, so him. But I had a feeling there was more to it than that. This place was beautiful, but the strained expression on his face told me there was pain there too, hidden beneath the beauty.

I was about ask, or at least try to engage him in some form of conversation that didn’t involve his snapping at me, when he turned and headed toward the double doors.

“So,” I said, crossing under the shaded area of the terrace to the doors, “you brought me to your house, are dressing me in your clothes… If I didn’t know any better, I would think you might want to keep me forever and ever.”

“Two weeks, Benoit. Then I’ll give you back.”

I ignored the sting of disappointment, because why would I want to stay? I had a life in Manhattan to get back to, fabulous parties, friends, and couture. Not to mention my own things. Being without even a phone made me feel too naked and exposed. I didn’t like it.

“Well,” I said, lifting my chin, “you don’t have to sound so excited about it. You’re the one who wanted me here.”

“Maybe I wanted to keep an eye on you. Make sure you didn’t fuck up my meetings.”

“Oh, I think you wanted to keep an eye on me, all right. But you really could’ve chosen clothes that would give you a better view.” I pulled at the hem of the plain, boring t-shirt and made a face.

“There’s no one for you to impress here. Those will do.”

That was what he thought.

Venturing over to the set of plush outdoor chaise longues that looked comfortable enough to sleep on, I pulled my shirt over my head, tossed it in Dimitri’s direction, and spread out on top of a lounger. The shirt hit his chest, and he caught it as I turned my face toward the sun.

“Ah. Much better.”

Dimitri didn’t say anything, but he didn’t have to.

I knew his eyes were on me even though mine were closed.

He had such a penetrating stare that I could feel it anywhere, and it made me shiver with unrequited anticipation.

Our quick encounter in the desert had been a fluke, not something he seemed eager to repeat.

So why had he brought me here?

I opened my eyes, and just like I thought, Dimitri was watching me, my shirt crumpled in his hands. I couldn’t read his expression, and that bothered me more than I expected.

“What are you thinking?” I asked.

He only stared at me, those dark eyes unreadable, but there was a faint line etched between his brows.

I stood up, not sure why I felt the need to go to him. Maybe it was just being sensorily overwhelmed, his striking face and powerful body against such a gorgeous backdrop. Or maybe I sensed that he wanted to tell me what was on his mind.

And that was when I realized I really wanted him to. I wanted to know more about this complicated man. Why he’d chosen this life for himself, what he’d lost along the way that had closed him off so much. The things he liked and loved, his family, the people he kept close and trusted.

Why he was really keeping me around…

I took another step toward him. “Who are you, mon monstre ? Will you show me?”

Dimitri took in a deep breath through his nose, like he was preparing to open up, but the second he let it out, a wary look entered his eyes and he stepped back.

“The house has five bedrooms,” he said, thrusting my shirt back into my hands and then heading back inside the house. “There’s no chef, so if there’s something you want, get it yourself.”

I bit back a sigh and followed him inside, forgoing putting the shirt back on. I was so close. I could feel it. He’d almost opened up, just a little. But Dimitri was a stubborn, stubborn man, something I was all too familiar with, and he’d snapped shut and locked himself away like a private diary.

I’d get my hands on that key, though. Being here, in his private sanctuary, was a step in the right direction, and it only proved he didn’t think I was as much of a threat as he’d proclaimed.

I’d never let an enemy into my home, so whether he wanted to admit it yet or not, he didn’t see me as his enemy.

What exactly he saw me as remained to be seen.