Page 253 of In Love with a Cruel Billionaire

Chapter 11

WHEN THE JET’S DOORslowly lowered, revealing Athens’ airport inch by inch, the first thing Mairi saw was her husband, walking swiftly towards them. Even with his slightly windblown hair, Damen still cut a strikingly handsome figure, with dark aviator glasses covering half of his face and his powerfully muscular body sheathed in a handmade blue suit.

He stopped when he reached the foot of the stairs, and their eyes met. Mairi slowly and carefully climbed down the stairs, her sprained wrist not allowing her to go down with Nala in her arms.

She paused when she was at the second to the last step, but even then her husband was tall enough to put him at eye level with her.

Before she could speak, he was already reaching for her, his hand curling around her nape as he brought her head down for a possessive kiss. When he released her, she said dazedly, “Hi.”

He chuckled, but his voice was husky as he said, “Hi.” They smiled at each other for a moment. This was exactly what they said to each other the morning after they first made love.

Taking her hand, Damen helped Mairi down and after, he reached for their daughter, thanking Jane with a brief smile as he did.

As they started to walk together, Mairi asked worriedly, “Your mother?”

“She should probably be here any minute.”

“Here?” Mairi was stunned.

He nodded briefly. “Yes. It’s best to get it over with right away, and then we’d at least have the rest of the week to enjoy our stay here.”

Mairi considered their surroundings with a frown. “It’s so public.”

“Exactly why I chose this place,matakia mou.”

“If you really think it’s right,” she said reluctantly. She tugged his sleeve. “I just don’t want you hurt by her in any way.”

“She lost the power to hurt me the moment I had you and Nala, Mairi. Even though I had never admitted it to myself, I had always been hoping she would learn to love Diana and me. I never allowed myself to realize the truth – that some people will never be capable of it.” He took hold her hand, squeezing it. “While some people – people like you – can’t help feeling it, even when they’re better off not doing so.”

Mairi stole a suspicious look at him. “If that’s some kind of dig about what I said to Alina...”

“No, but if – what is it you say? If the shoe fits...” As always, his Greek accent thickened whenever Damen was doing his best not to laugh.

“I hate you,” she mumbled.

“What you are,” he countered, “is proud of me. As I am with you.”

“Ha-ha.” She made it clear she didn’t believe him.

“I am,” he insisted. “Especially when you made the Kokinos heiress, who is supposedly one of the world’s most fashionable women, sound like she had batteries for breasts.”

“Oh God.” Mairi wanted to kill herself, recalling exactly how she had described the other woman’s chest.

“Only an English teacher would have such a way with words.”

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