Brush Strokes Read online

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Chirping birds greeted Scarlett when she woke the next morning. Instead of going home, she’d spent the night in Mikeli’s arms. Yesterday’s late dinner had been her attempt to seduce him, but that hadn’t worked. Despite her desire to, and the tent that had formed in his towel, they hadn’t made love. Maybe she should have been clearer about the fact that she wanted him. Now it was Sunday, and he was off today. There was plenty of time for her to make the first move.

  Scarlett turned onto her back. The clock on his nightstand read eight a.m. After a brief stretch, she sat up in bed. The bathroom faucet was running, and Mikeli was humming off tune. Smiling, she got out of bed and made her way toward the sound. At the entrance to the bathroom, she stopped.

  Mikeli was naked. He hummed as he leaned against the pedestal sink to brush his teeth. Her gaze flowed over his smooth olive skin that was bathed by the sunlight streaming through the open window. His toned body was a work of art. Her heart fluttered. She could spend the rest of her life watching him brush his teeth, and she wanted to do just that.

  His high, muscular ass beckoned her to touch it, but she remained rooted in place. He bent to spit out the white foam. While reaching for a towel to wipe his mouth, he caught her watching him.

  “I hope I didn’t wake you,” Mikeli said. “I wanted to clean up after my run. Perhaps we can go to the harbor for brunch?”

  Turning, he moved toward her. Scarlett’s breath caught in her throat as she watched every muscle of his body work. Mikeli tossed the towel aside and stopped in front of her. Her gaze travelled down his statuesque physique to his flaccid, tan cock that was nestled in a tuft of dark curls.

  Her mouth watered. It wasn’t just lust that caused her to reach out and touch his cock. Scarlett traced the tip with trembling fingers, massaging the soft muscle until it hardened against the palm of her hand. The desire to have him inside of her was strong.

  “Um…” she began.

  “Yes?”

  “I know you have rules and all, but can’t we break them? Just this one time?”

  Scarlett tilted her head back to look into his eyes. Mikeli’s hazel eyes were ablaze with desire. One thing she knew for sure was they weren’t going to be leaving the apartment for a few hours. Releasing her hold on his cock, she touched his waist to steady herself. She stood on her toes and brushed her lips against his.

  That single kiss sparked an avalanche of emotion within Scarlett. And she knew that this was the man she’d been searching her whole life for. She wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer. The taste of his mouth was minty and sweet on her tongue.

  Without releasing her mouth, Mikeli backed her into the bedroom and maneuvered her to the bed. He pulled away briefly to pull her top over her head. Her calves hit the side of the mattress. Moaning, she shoved her pants and panties down her hips. Finally Scarlett lay back on the mattress and parted her thighs for him.

  Mikeli paused. Leaning back, his gaze swept her heaving breasts, smooth abs, and the strip of dark hair covering her pussy before he shoved his cock into her. Scarlett gripped his toned arms. The rhythm of his thrusts was slow and deliberate. This wasn’t a race that he needed to win. Her heart and her body were already his.

  “You’re bad,” he whispered.

  “The race is still three weeks away.”

  “I know. Yet how can I concentrate on that when your pussy feels so amazing?”

  Though his breath was hot on her shoulder, she shivered. His thick cock stretched the walls of her slick pussy to capacity. He, too, felt amazing. Or maybe it was the both of them together that ignited the embers within her. Never before had she felt so complete.

  Scarlett threaded her fingers through his dark tresses and looked into his eyes. Sunlight from the window danced in his hazel irises. She was a goner. There was no turning back from this point. Mikeli was hers.

  “I could spend my life making love to you,” he whispered against her temple.

  “Then do it.”

  With each thrust, the bed swayed beneath them. Mikeli’s cock massaged her pussy with a mixture of gentleness and force. She did her best to hold on to him by wrapping her arms around his neck, but felt herself slipping away. Her mind took her back to the day of the cliff, when he’d brought her to orgasm without even being inside her.

  Scarlett now arched her back in response to the earthquake that rattled her inner core. Mikeli’s hips pounded against hers. His breath was ragged. Sweat splashed on her cheek and mixed with her tears.

  “Mikeli…” was all she was able to whisper before the wave hit. Scarlett’s climax rushed out of her body. This was no mere orgasm, but one that she’d been waiting her whole life to experience by the man she was meant to spend her life with.

  And that man was Mikeli.

  “My dear Scarlett,” he said. “I can’t wait any longer.”

  “Don’t.”

  Releasing his neck, her hands flowed down his back to curve around his hips and hold him firmly in place. She wanted to experience the full impact of him coming inside her. His cock flexed against the opening of her pussy. He pushed up on his hand to drive his dick deep inside her. Mikeli grunted. Soon, his love flowed into her core.

  Only now, when he twisted onto his side and gathered her in his arms, did Scarlett feel remorse. Would Mikeli be mad at her for making him break his rule of no sex before a race? And what if he lost next week? Would he blame her for it?

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered against his chest.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for,” he said, stroking her back.

  “What if you lose?”

  “I won’t.”

  Scarlett smiled. “Are you always this confident?”

  “Yes. Truthfully, I couldn’t wait to make love to you.”

  Closing her eyes, she listened to his heart beat. The quiet morning ticked away. Her stomach rumbled with hunger. She wished the village had a bakery or some kind of café where she could pop in and pick up breakfast. But nothing would rouse her from Mikeli’s arms.

  Desire for him made her open her eyes. His dark nipple came into focus, and she traced it with her trembling index finger. He stirred long enough to pull her closer to him. Moistening her lips with her tongue, she worked up the nerve to ask him a question.

  “Can we do it again?”

  Chuckling, Mikeli pulled her on top of him. Scarlett straddled his hips. In reply to her question, he guided his cock inside her.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Two weeks later, Mikeli entered Scarlett’s spacious art gallery with a heavy heart while butterflies swirled in his stomach. He had easily won his first triathlon in Athens that was his test run, but he hadn’t had the chance to talk with Scarlett about his plan to move to Phoenix, where he would begin training for the Olympics.

  Putting off such a conversation was no longer an option. He would need to leave within the next two weeks to give his body time to adjust before the Games. Tonight, he decided, was the night. That was, if her beauty didn’t distract him first.

  Stopping a few feet inside of the entrance, Mikeli watched Scarlett scrutinize the paintings that adorned her walls. The local artist Scarlett was featuring for the grand opening of her gallery specialized in abstract images. Vibrant slashes of red, yellow, and black adorned the canvas that Scarlett studied.

  She tilted her head to the side. Mikeli shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. His gaze traveled down her slender back. The green off-the-shoulder jumpsuit she wore invited him to plant kisses on her creamy skin. As he moved toward her, Mikeli peeled off his gray T-shirt and dropped it on the floor. He moved directly behind her and kissed the back of her neck. She leaned against him.

  “Mikeli,” she sighed. “Someone could walk in.”

  “Officially, you’re still closed until this weekend.”

  “I know. But…”

  “Frankly, dear Scarlett, I don’t give a damn.”

  Mikeli bent and swept her up in hi
s arms. Scarlett’s chorus of giggles sent a shiver straight to his cock. He pressed his lips against her and kissed her, passionately, for a long time. When he leaned away, her dark eyes sparkled. His heart fluttered. It was a sensation he’d never experienced before.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, laughing. “I’ve wanted to say that ever since I met you.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  In his mind, he knew he should put Scarlett down, but he didn’t want to. He liked the feel of her in his arms. Mikeli kissed her again, and then sat her on her feet.

  “I love you,” he confessed.

  Those weren’t the words he had wanted to say, but he could use them to cushion the blow. Scarlett’s face softened. Instead of replying, she closed the distance between them and pressed her lips against his. The front door squeaked open, announcing the arrival of a visitor. Breaking apart, they turned to see who it was.

  Dionne stood in the doorway. An orange dress covered her lithe body. Her dark curls were fanned around her shoulders. Rolling her eyes at Scarlett, she smiled at Mikeli.

  “Your employees said I could find you here,” she said in Greek. “I saw you on television. And in the paper when they did a story about your first race. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you,” he replied in English. It would be rude of him to answer Dionne in Greek in Scarlett’s presence. Dionne was fluent in English as well. “You remember my girlfriend, Scarlett? Perhaps you should say hello.”

  Dionne flinched. She looked at Scarlett before turning her gaze to him. Her eyes openly swept Mikeli’s bare chest. He picked up his shirt and put it on.

  “We need to talk,” Dionne said, again in Greek, stepping into the gallery.

  “We have nothing to say to each other.”

  “You can’t dismiss what we had together so easily.”

  “I can,” he said. His voice was calm and even. “Because you left me. I’ve moved on. You just can’t let me be happy, can you?”

  “No. Not without me.” Dionne had switched to English. “I love you. We can be happier together. We can share your success together. After all, I’m the one who helped you get there.”

  Dionne strode toward him and placed a hand on the center of his chest. Grasping her wrist, Mikeli pushed her hand aside and moved to Scarlett’s side. Scarlett visibly trembled, he assumed out of anger. He didn’t blame her. Dionne had overstepped her bounds.

  Mikeli moved to usher Dionne out of the gallery, and his life, when Scarlett stepped in front of him. Placing her hands on her hips, Scarlett addressed Dionne.

  “I think it’s pathetic that you keep throwing yourself at someone who no longer wants you.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Dionne countered.

  “I know everything. Mikeli’s told me all about you and your relationship. You didn’t want him back then. You’re only showing up now because he’s successful again.”

  “That’s not true…”

  “I think it is. Anyway, he told you he wants you to leave him alone. And my gallery is closed. It’s time for you to leave.”

  Scarlett walked around Dionne to open the front door. Dionne looked at Mikeli, who crossed his arms over his chest.

  “I think you heard the lady,” he said.

  Dionne’s mouth fell open, but she closed it. Turning on her heels, his former lover left the gallery without another word. Mikeli smirked. It warmed his heart that Scarlett had stood up for him. He would have done the same if the roles were reversed, except with a lot more punches being thrown. Slamming the door, Scarlett locked it before turning to look at him.

  “The nerve of that woman,” she fussed. “Coming up in my place and trying to get my man like I’m not even here.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She waved off his apology. “You have nothing to be sorry about. I trust you.”

  “Thank you.”

  Scarlett moved away from the door. Stopping in front of him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her forehead on his chest. Mikeli held her for a few moments. Then he picked her up, flung her over his shoulder and carried her upstairs to the bedroom.

  CHAPTER NINE

  It was just after twelve thirty a.m. when Scarlett awoke in Mikeli’s arms. She couldn’t sleep because she was excited about her gallery opening this weekend. Her father Rod and his wife, Mona, were flying to Greece for the occasion. Scarlett was nervous about him meeting Mikeli. While she was sure her father was going to like Mikeli, she was afraid of introducing them only to break up with Mikeli soon after.

  But that wasn’t going to happen to them. Right?

  Scarlett glanced over her shoulder at him. One arm was curled around her waist, while the other was draped across his eyes. The moonlight bathed his skin in tones of white light. Quietly, she slipped out of his embrace and got out of bed. She tiptoed into the other room, where she retrieved her sketchpad and pencils.

  Using the moonlight from the window as her light source, she sat naked in a chair beside the bed and sketched Mikeli’s sleeping form. An hour later, he stirred when his arm brushed against her bare feet propped up on the side of the bed.

  “What are you doing?” he mumbled.

  “Capturing you in pencil.”

  “Can I see?”

  “Not until I’m finished.”

  Mikeli twisted onto his side and turned on the bedside lamp. He sat up. Scarlett could tell by the expression on his face that he wanted to tell her something. Instead of pushing him, she waited for the bad news. Her hands trembled, making her once precise lines jagged.

  “I have to tell you something,” he said after clearing his throat. He ran his hands through his dark hair.

  “Okay…”

  “I’m going to Arizona to train for the Olympics.”

  “That’s exciting!”

  Scarlett paused. Wait a minute. If he was going to Arizona, that meant he wouldn’t be here in Rhodes. With her. Suddenly, she felt sick to her stomach. She looked to him for confirmation.

  “I’ll be gone for at least a year,” he said softly.

  “So, you’re going to live there?”

  “Yes.”

  She stabbed the page with her pencil so hard the point broke off. Tossing it and her sketchbook on the floor, she sat back in her chair. Tears threatened to fall, but she wouldn’t let them. Making an Olympic comeback was his dream. Could she be so selfish as to stand in his way?

  “Why Arizona?” she asked. “Why can’t you train here?”

  “It’s a state-of-the-art facility that my mentor runs,” he continued. “I can train year round, because of the weather. My mentor has coached five gold medalists, and he thinks I can be another.”

  Scarlett frowned. “But, you’ll still be representing Greece?”

  He nodded. “The time trials are six months from now. That’s why I need to start right away.” Mikeli paused to take in a deep breath before he continued. “I need to focus on training. Here, there are too many distractions.”

  “Like what?”

  Mikeli gazed at her bare breasts. “Those are two big distractions. Instead of lifting weights, I’ll be thinking of how I want to suckle on your dark nipples until you scream.”

  She bit her lip. “Can I visit you?”

  “Of course.”

  “Naked?”

  He smirked. “I insist on it.”

  “And you’ll make love to me?”

  “Every chance I get.”

  Scarlett put her feet on the floor. She slid off her chair and crawled into bed with him. When he wrapped his arms around her, she burst into tears. His lips brushed against the crown of her head.

  “I don’t want you to go,” she confessed. “But I’d be selfish to stand in the way of your dream.”

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  “I love you, too. And you’d better win a damn medal.”

  Mikeli chuckled. The rumble of his chest against her cheek brought new tears to Scarlett’s eyes. Now she unders
tood the torment Grace and Veronica must have gone through when they were faced with the same dilemma. Scarlett had hoped she would be spared this, but alas, she was wrong. Clinging to Mikeli, she closed her eyes and prayed she’d have the strength to say good-bye.

  CHAPTER TEN

  The grand opening of Brush Strokes was a black-tie affair. While Mikeli was proud of Scarlett, he was in no mood to celebrate. Tomorrow, he’d be on a plane to Phoenix, Arizona. His mentor had arranged for Mikeli to stay with him, but Mikeli was beginning to have second thoughts about leaving. Maybe he was jumping the gun, as his former American coach would say. Maybe his relationship with Scarlett and training for the Olympics was too much for him to handle at the same time.

  Mikeli accepted a glass of champagne from a passing server. When he did, he caught a glimpse of Scarlett. She was across the room, talking with a local reporter. Her pink dress highlighted her tawny skin, while her long, dark curls were pinned behind one ear and held with an orchid. The flower was part of a bouquet he had given her this morning as a gift.

  Looking around, he spotted Grace and Evander in the crowd, as well as Veronica and Stephano. His mother and sisters were also present, but his gaze went back to Scarlett. How he wished that he could spend his last few hours with her alone and naked instead of in a crowded room.

  “She’s beautiful. Isn’t she?”

  He turned toward the male voice. Rod Possi, Scarlett’s father, stood on his left. Rod was a former professional basketball player and towered over Mikeli’s six foot three inch height. During his talks with Rod, Mikeli discovered that he and Rod held many of the same qualities. They were both honest and strong-willed men who loved Scarlett dearly.

  “Yes sir, she is,” Mikeli answered.

  Rod studied him. “Do we need to have a talk about your intensions?”

  Mikeli chuckled. “No sir. Your daughter is very special to me. I care deeply for her.”

  “Good. She’s my only child. If you hurt her, I’ll kick your ass.”

  Mikeli wasn’t unnerved by Rod’s comment because he understood completely. If he ever had a daughter, he’d be the same way. He sipped his wine. Since when did he think about being a father? That wasn’t like him. In the past, he hadn’t had a desire to have a family of his own. His schedule wouldn’t allow it.