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A whimper escaped, and she turned in his arms. One of her hands slipped into his waistcoat and pressed into the compact muscle of his chest; the other covered his cock. “You’ve convinced me.”
His smile was brief but happy, not victorious, and then his mouth was on hers, his tongue stroking. Before long, he broke the kiss. “I forgot myself.” He looked around them, his gaze rueful. “We have a family Christmas ahead.”
She laughed, but she couldn’t help but trail her fingertips over his tight sac through his trousers. “I want the necklace, Nicholas, but I want youmore. God, I have never prayed for my monthlies as hard as this very moment. It feels like I can’t live another night without you inside me.”
He swallowed, his gaze hooded, and pulled her hand away from his groin. “One day…”
In her thoughts, she finished his sentence with her own wish.One day you’ll come inside of me any time of the month we want.
She closed the space between them and fastened her mouth on his neck, spurring another round of kissing that left their mouths swollen and shiny.
“We must stop this before the search party arrives,” he said, breathing hard.
She both laughed and grimaced, imagining the trio of his parents and sister arriving on scene any moment. “I know.”
In the end, they lingered long enough to quell—however temporarily—the flames of passion, but also long enough his family was compelled to seek them out.
“Nich-o-las! Hel-en!” Pen called out from the drawing room before stepping out into the hallway. “Oh, there you are! Come, Papa is pouringeveryonea glass oftsipourobefore dinner!”
“Good. We can celebrate. Aristotle”—Nicholas gestured to the bust—“has persuaded Helen it would be a crime for that necklace to part with her beautiful neck.”
Laughing, Helen clucked her tongue. “Hehas done no such thing! Butsomeonedid!” Serious now, she addressed all of them. “Your gift is the most generous I have ever received, and I thank you for it. Thank you foreverything.”
Nicholas was right—delight radiated from all the Siderises at her announcement. Sirena and Pen each took one of her arms, and they made their way back to the drawing room. A few minutes later, Vassilis brightened further when he spied the servants entering with a tray of glasses and the bottle of the Greek spirit.
Once they each had a glass in hand, they raised them while Vassilis made an uncharacteristically brief toast, but one uttered with all his heart. “To Christmas! To family!”
Helen sipped thetsipouro, which was as clear as water and, being much stronger than the wine to which she was accustomed, was as fiery as hell. “Oh, my!”
Pen blinked rapidly but otherwise swallowed down any other reaction.
“Too strong, daughter?” Sirena asked.
“Never!” Pen choked out.
As they sipped, Nicholas asked Vassilis about the search for a building design for the Great Exhibition. Shortly after the family’s visit to Palm House, the Royal Commission had invited submissions and received hundreds of entries from around the world.
“Turner”—the Irishman who had co-designed Palm House—“remains furious his design wasn’t chosen. He’s demanding compensation and has badgered us mercilessly! No, we will not be swayed.”
Pen looked at her father from over the rim of her glass. “But you were convinced a design like Palm House was suited to the Exhibition!”
“I remain convinced. But Turner’s is too expensive. Yes, it met all of our other requirements, but public subscriptions fund the project. We must find a more economical choice.”
“Youknowwhat it is, don’t you,Patéras?” Nicholas observed.
Sirena looked from her son to her husband. “Do you?”
The man grinned. “I do, I do. Soon to be announced. Very well, I believethisis just the occasion to make a formal family announcement before the prince announces it to the world.” He turned to his wife. “The designer is even a friend of ours!” He chuckled, eyes glinting with satisfaction. “I convinced him to submit a design.”
Pen moved to the edge of the settee cushion. “Who is it, Papa?”
“Paxton!”
Nicholas sat back in his seat, nodding, and Helen had the sense he wasn’t surprised. “It will still be fashioned of glass and metal.”
“Indeed!”
Pen frowned. “Has he designedbuildingsbefore? I thought he was a gardener.”
