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CHAPTER 36
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
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LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 1
‘Is this a joke?! What the hell is she doing here?’ Tension gripped Theo Kralidis as he stood alone on the balcony that jutted out from his cousin’s luxurious mansion. He completely ignored the iconic view of the Parthenon against the blue September sky as he scowled at the dark-haired woman at the garden party below. ‘Aundrea Etheridge… The American beauty everybody called Dea…’ His worst nightmare… His darkest, most painful secret… His stepsister… Burning hot fury ate away at him as he watched Dea glide through the crowd of Athens’s high society, talking to people like nothing ever happened… Like she was as innocent as an angel and sweet as a baby. But she wasn’t… She was a conniving little bitch and her place was somewhere else, far away from this place and from this gathering. She was like a timebomb ready to explode and wipe away the most important business deal for the Kralidis Family. Theo gave her a look fro
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‘God… Some things never change,’ Dea told herself. She flashed a friendly smile at one of the older Kralidis women. But, as expected, the old crow dressed in unrelieved black didn’t reciprocate as she drew the lovely heiress she just talked to earlier, away from the crowd, to the other side of the garden. Well… once a black sheep, always a black sheep. It was as if the Kralidis family believed she could corrupt the young woman with just her mere presence. So narrow-minded, so unbelievably quick to judge. Dea strolled along the garden, sipping from her water glass as if she didn’t feel all eyes on her. As if she didn’t feel the skin on her back burning. She was being paranoid, she knew that. Many of the relatives had been indifferent to her when she had lived in Athens. Yet no one seemed content that she had returned. And, somehow, she knew the reason of their reaction… She sensed a strange undercurrent that hung in the late summer breez
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Dea swallowed the gasp of outrage and fought the compelling need to fling the contents of her glass into his face. Damn it! Her new and improved image was already slipping. She was never in control when she was around her stepbrother. She had to get away from Theo or risk making a scene. Making a scene wouldn’t help her gain forgiveness from her father.“Don’t confuse me with the women you associate with, Theo.” Dea turned on her heel.“Running away already, Aundrea?” She whipped around, wobbling to a standstill as she glared at him. Theo had sounded disinterested and bored while she was a jittery mass of nerves. It wasn’t fair.“I don’t run away. I never had and never will. That’s your signature move, stepbrother dear, not mine.” The muscle bunching in his cheek was the only indication that her words had hit the target.“You know how to create a disaster and leave without a trace while everyone else deals with the aftermath. Th
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“Aundrea, dear, would you care for some more coffee?” Demitra Kralidis asked.“No, Demitra, thank you very much,” Dea replied as she studied her father and stepmother from across the breakfast table. What should have been an intimate meal was more of an exhausting, unnecessary interview. Well, it wasn’t like she didn’t expect that. After her awful encounter with Theo, she had been prepared for this one too. Dea wished she could spend some time with her father in private but getting him alone was proving extremely difficult. But she was determined to succeed. She was, however, making some small progress, since she was back in the Kralidis ‘fortress’, the Greek family house. She was absolutely stunned by that. Andrea had never considered it a possibility. Yet, two days after she had been invited to Alexis’s housewarming party, she was eating a late breakfast with her father and stepmother while a maid was unpacking her suitcases. How about that?!
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Sweat ran down his spine but he didn’t sound out of breath. He placed his hands on his lean hips and stretched. She was mesmerized by the play of muscles and the faint crisscross of scars that ran down his back.“I have a place of my own but I stay here when I’m in Athens.” Dea stepped in front of him, blocking his way. It was irritating that he wouldn’t deign to look at her. She inhaled his scent and felt she was about to faint. It was hot, sweaty, and... so damn manly. A blush crept up her neck and into her face. She didn’t know why it left her flustered.“And how long are you planning to stay here?” Dea asked. His nearness was almost her undoing. Her breasts felt heavy and tight and she crossed her arms against her chest.“For as long as you are, glikia mou, (Greek for ‘sweetheart’)” he replied. “I’m only here to keep an eye on you.”“Excuse me? Oh, I see it now…” Dea’s lips parted as a thought occurred to her. Her intuition had bee
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‘She’s good… She’s very good…’ Theo thought later that night. He had underestimated his stepsister. Theo considered what he had seen at the family dinner a few moments ago and scowled. Not only had Dea gained her father’s attention with the mention of an expensive gift for his upcoming birthday, but she had also excelled in the area that had consistently been her downfall. During that dinner, she had been the quintessential companion, delighting the grumpiest of his uncles and making fast friends with the younger wives and fiancées. Reluctantly, Theo kept an eye on her the entire evening, admiring Dea’s strategy. She had approached the outer circle of his family and was slowly gaining allies. But that wasn’t okay with him. He couldn’t have this. Theo leaned against the marble newel post as he watched Dea descend the staircase like she was a queen, born and raised. She had reapplied her bright red lipstick after dinner and some
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A few minutes later, Theo joined the crowd into the music room. It had taken some time to purge the thought of Ari Iraklidis and rein in his emotions. Dea had hit her mark and it appeared she had done so without any strategy. It was as though she could see through him however much he tried to dissemble. He stood by the door as he watched one of the guests, yet another heiress and family friend, play his mother’s favorite sonata on the piano. Everyone seemed spellbound by the display of technical precision but the music didn’t reach him. Rarely did anything pierce through his armor these days. Just Aundrea Etheridge. Theo frowned at that troubling thought.“Theo?” He turned and saw Astra Galanis, his cousin’s future wife. He wasn’t sure how long she had been standing there. She was quite petite, with dramatic features, and dressed just like every other female in his social circle.“I’ve been meaning to ask… What exactly is Dea to this family?”“Sh
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“You can’t do that!” Dea exclaimed and looked around. The scent of the briny ocean and the promise of rain were suddenly overwhelming. Her head began to spin as she took deep gulps of air.“I didn’t agree to this. My father is expecting me at this wedding. It will embarrass him if I unexpectedly don’t show up.”“You have no choice in the matter. I suggest you get inside before the storm hits.” She waved her hands in the air as she spluttered with outrage.“Do you honestly believe that I will just follow you? Only because you say so?” Dea reached inside her purse and grabbed her phone.“You forget that I’m not a Kralidis...”“Put that away,” Theo replied. “There is no internet or phone connection on this island.” She refused to believe him. A man as important and powerful as Theo Kralidis would have all of the latest technology. But as she held up her phone, Dea saw he was telling the truth.“People are going to worry if we don’t show up.”
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
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LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 36
“My sweet Dea, what a fool I was,” Theo whispered as his lips moved down her neck, kissing, touching, loving her as she whimpered with the lust she couldn’t, wouldn’t even attempt to deny anymore.“Why, my love?” Her neck arched as flares of sensation began to travel from each point that his lips touched, his tongue licked, and his strong teeth raked. With the tips of his fingers, Theo caressed the curve of her breast, refusing to touch her straining nipple as he continued that slow, oh-so-slow, downward course.“Because I’ve wasted so much time… denying what you give me with your love.” His head lifted. Dea looked into his dark eyes. They were an endless sea of emotion as Dea felt her heart swelling, accepting, and giving in return.“It wasn’t the right time… You weren’t ready, my darling,” she whispered, her hand touching his chest, his heart. She could feel it racing beneath her palm, feel the adrenaline and the hunger that raged in the fiery stiff wid
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 35
But they didn’t talk… Not about the massage or their sexual encounter. He was acting like it didn’t even happen. Like it had been just a dream… Maybe he was waiting for her to bring the subject up? And he wasn’t talking about marriage, which was also strange. Theo was a charming companion at the breakfast table and a supportive father-to-be at the doctor’s office. And without insisting too much, he became the perfect escort to social events. Like that evening. In the last two weeks, Theo respected her boundaries and her space. But he was there when she needed him. The man was determined to prove her wrong. He wasn’t leaving, Dea realized. He really was there to stay. Dea tensed as his hands caressed her bare arms while he removed her coat. She flicked her gaze at him, noting how sophisticated and sexy he appeared in his dark suit and tie. At first, she thought it was simply a battle of wills but now that she had put all the p
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 34
They were having dinner and, as always, Dea was keeping the conversation light. Theo had been in her house for a week now and to her surprise, he was being nice and polite. At this point, Dea said to herself she could do this, allow him to stay in her house without succumbing to his lethal charm. This could definitely work, she thought. While finishing his glass of wine, Theo tilted his head and looked at Dea, his gaze assessing her.“What is it?” he asked.“Nothing… Just thinking…”“I see… About my proposal?” Theo asked and a mischievous light appeared in his eyes. When Dea lifted an eyebrow, he put the empty glass on the table and leaned forward.“As much as I love your apartment, I must say that the bed in the guest room is killing me… Have mercy on me, will you?”“Mercy?”“Let me sleep with you… In your bed…” he added. The silence stretched between them.“I promise I won’t touch you… unless you beg me to…”“What do you have to offer
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 33
Theo sat alone in the ornate living room in Dea’s Upper East Side apartment as he waited for her return. He hadn’t seen her in ten days and he had been in quiet agony. His life had been in disorder and Theo wanted his woman back. He wasn’t certain of his welcome. On his flight over, Theo had imagined that she was at home, pining for him, crying for him day and night. But the surprise was on him. Dea had plunged back into her full social life as if she had to make up for lost time. Theo heard the front door open and he sat up straight in his chair. Anticipation beat wildly inside him when he heard Dea’s familiar voice as she spoke on her cell phone.“Yes!” Her laugh made his heart take a tumble.“We definitely should meet up, Jack. It’s been a long time…” ‘Jack’? Who the hell was this Jack? Hot, bitter jealousy rolled through him and Theo clenched the armrest with his fingers. ‘Who was Jack?’ The security t
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 32
Dea heard the helicopter descend on the island and her smile widened while her heart started beating fast. ‘Finally! My Theo is home!’ One last look in the mirror then Dea swung the door open and ran lightly on the path. She couldn’t wait to tell him how much the baby had kicked during the day. Maybe tonight Theo would get a chance to feel the baby move.“My love…” she whispered while gazing at him, so proud, so gorgeous. After their first night together as an engaged couple, Dea knew without a shadow of a doubt, she could never love another man as much as she loved Theo. And she also knew he had feelings for her. Even if he called her ‘agapi mou’, even if he held her in his arms the whole night through, Theo wasn’t in love, but he felt for her. Her heart felt as though it was going to burst in her chest as she saw him walk down the steps. He was a commanding force in his pinstripe suit and red tie. She met him with a kiss and drew b
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 31
Dea wanted him. She wanted more than simply lying there and taking her pleasure. She wanted to give pleasure. Her head lifted, and her eyes took in the sight of Theo. His eyes were closed, and his tongue was working around her clit with delicious strokes.“I want to touch you.” She struggled against him, the need destroying her.“I want you, too, Theo. I want to touch you, taste you…” His forehead touched her lower belly as he took in a ragged breath, his head shaking slowly, his fingers pausing inside her.“Please.” Dea pushed against his shoulders.“Show me how to touch you… How you like it…”“Dea…” he groaned. “This is all for you… I want to give you pleasure…” She shook her head. She wanted it all. This morning, as the room brightened around them, Dea wanted all of him. His touch, his hunger, even as she touched and hungered. She wanted to spill as much into him as he gave.“No…” she said shaking her head. “Please, Theo. Show me… Te
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 30
The morning light filtered through the bedroom curtains. Dea opened her eyes and for a second didn’t know where she was. Well, she was at home. The morning after their engagement party, Theo had brought her to Saint Marie, their getaway island… their nest. Hearing Theo breathing calmly near her was so wonderful and comforting. Since they started to sleep together every night, there were no more nightmares plaguing him as they had in the past. And Dea slept comfortably against Theo’s chest. She was warm, cuddled close against his chest, her leg thrown over one of his as he wrapped himself around her. Protecting her. Lately, the security team around them was much more present, while Theo was with her as much as he could. Something was going on, but she didn’t know what. The day before, Dea heard him talking on the phone with the head of security, demanding to be kept in the loop about some matter, but when Dea approached him, asking what was that a
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 29
Theo stood in the entrance hall of the Kralidis estate. He felt the bite of frustration as he looked for Dea. Their engagement party was coming to an end and he was eager to have her to himself. He should have been able to spot her instantly or hear her bold laugh from across the room. Dressed in a purple chiffon gown and wearing the Kralidis yellow diamonds, his fiancée was an intriguing mix of a mischievous fairy and a perfect queen. ‘Fiancée…’ Dea Etheridge, the mother of his baby, said yes and she was about to become Mrs. Kralidis… Finally! There were moments when her stubbornness outmatched his tenacity, but she accepted his proposal. Triumph and pride flared inside Theo along with the unfamiliar sense of satisfaction and… as strange as it might seem… peace. Theo shook his head. Peace was not related to explosive Dea. The woman used to infuriate him. She tested him and pushed him to the
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 28
She lay limp beneath Theo, her lungs aching as she tried to catch her breath. Through heavy eyelids, she watched him shove off his pajama bottoms. He gathered Dea in his arms, his chest hot and damp to the touch, before he rolled over. Dea straddled his hips. Anticipation pulsed through her body when she felt his throbbing erection against her. She slowly sat up, dragging her hands down his broad chest. She smiled when she saw the hungry glitter in Theo’s hooded and dark eyes, locked on her face. “Now it’s my turn to control the pace… My turn to make you scream my name…” Dea whispered.“Ride me, Dea,” he panted. “I need you.” Dea reached for the hem of her nightie and slowly removed it, inch by inch. His fingers flexed on her thighs as she stretched and rolled her hips. She barely heard Theo’s ragged breath over her pounding heart as she tossed her nightie to the side.“You’re so damn sexy…” Theo murmured. He reached up and roughly caressed he
