Page 33 of The Price of Fame

Eleven

KYLIE BERATED HERSELF OVER AND over again for the way she’d acted with Markus. She blamed it on the pain she was in and the hormones of being pregnant. Oh God, she was going to have a baby. Terrified, she didn’t know what on earth she should do. She debated whether to call her friends, but then she thought she didn’t want to hear the “I told you so” from James.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want the baby. It was just that her life right now was a bit of a mess, and she had no idea how to put it back together.

She reached for her phone for the hundredth time to call Markus to apologize for her earlier tirade. Kylie wanted him back to hold her hand the next time her new obstetrician talked to her. He could tell her she wasn’t going to do this all alone, that she and their baby would have a family.

Wiping at the tears rolling down her cheeks, she saw her door open, and a young, very pretty woman came in with a bunch of flowers and box of chocolates. Great, someone had the wrong room. Clearing her dry throat, she said in slow Greek, “I’m sorry, you have the wrong room.”

The woman shook her head and grinned down at her. “He didn’t say you could speak Greek. He left out quite a bit. Argh, not to worry. I’m Bettina, Markus’ sister, but don’t hold that against me. I’m a lot smarter than him.”

Bettina was stunning with long, straight, midnight-black hair, brown-olive skin, full, pink, pouty lips, and the most amazing emerald-green eyes Kylie had ever seen, which shone with mischief and happiness. There was no denying she was Markus’ sister; she was gorgeous.

Bettina sat on the end of her bed. “So, I hear my brother knocked you up. I really appreciate you letting him do that. Because now our parents will be off my back to find a man, settle down, and pop out some grandkids for them. They’re going to love you instantly when they find out you’re giving them what they want.”

Kylie stared, unsure what to say. “Argh … okay.”

Bettina moved up on the bed to hold Kylie’s hands. “I can tell we’re going to become great friends. I always wanted a sister.” She leaned down and hugged her, and Kylie didn’t know how to respond for a moment until Bettina hugged her tighter. Slowly, careful of the drips, Kylie wrapped her arms around her soon-to-be sister-in-law, at least she hoped she still was. She hoped she hadn’t stuffed it up and caused Markus to change his mind about being with her.

They pulled away from each other, and Bettina smiled, leaned down to her, and brushed some hair out of her eyes. Kylie nodded her thanks.

“We’re going to have a slumber party here tonight. Well, I don’t know how much sleep we’ll get when you get woken every hour, but I doubt you want to sleep anyway. You probably want to drill me for info on my brother, and you can because I have all the juiciest gossip. Then, in the morning when you get the all-clear, you’re coming home with me. Markus is busy with interviews and all that, so we will barely see him.”

Kylie watched as Bettina pulled a laptop out of a big backpack, and then came bags and bags of lollies, chocolate, pens, paper, nail products, and lastly, a stack of DVDs. Looking around for the nurse’s call-button remote, Kylie sighed when she noticed a grinning Bettina held it in her hand.

“Oh, looks like Markus did tell me one useful thing about you. You’re a bit of a loner and take some persuading to socialize sometimes. Don’t worry. You won’t be needing this while I’m here.” Kylie watched as Bettina put the call-button remote well out of her reach.

Groaning, she resigned to her fate and listened as Bettina told her about the time Markus locked her in the shed and the revenge she gave back.

Kylie had never been so happy to be home. As soon as she got into the bright-white house, she rushed to her and Markus’ room, praying that his sister wouldn’t follow into their private domain. Going straight to the en suite, she shed her clothes and ran the shower. Getting under the hot spray, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the quiet.

Moments later her eyes shot open as familiar, muscular arms wrapped around her, and the smooth, sexy voice she knew so well whispered in her ear. “I know I should have left you in here by yourself, but how could I resist this beautiful present in my bathroom?” His lips trailed down her neck, and she rested her head back on his shoulder.

God, she loved this man. No matter what he did or said, she seemed to fall more in love with him every time she saw him or touched him.

“I’m sorry, omorphoula. Forgive me. I will do anything if you forgive me. I promise your lips will be the only woman’s lips I ever touch, and your body the only one I feel against mine for the rest of my life. Don’t make me go back to that numb feeling ever again.”

Markus turned her, picked her up, and pressed her back against the tiles as she looked up into his miserable face. His eyes looked dull and overcast and his face drawn.

Wrapping her legs around his waist, she pulled herself up closer to him, tracing his lips with her fingers. “I have learned and discovered things about myself in the last forty-eight hours. First, I’m a jealous woman. Second, I need to work on my social skills a bit more. Third, I won’t share you. If you’re going to be with me, you can’t let other women maul you. And if they do kiss you or fawn over you, get them off you. Markus, you don’t have to be rude to them, just explain that you appreciate their support, but you’re a one-woman man. Consider if the tables were turned and they were men throwing themselves at me.”

Markus huffed. “They have been turned, and I didn’t like it when your lips and body were on another, friend or not. You’re mine.”

His mouth came down on hers, and Kylie pulled him close. “I’m going to give us another chance. The next party and media thing you have, I’m going to stay by your side like I should have. Maybe if I’d stayed there, they may not have kissed you.”

She ran her fingers through his hair. “From what your sister tells me, I should probably make you grovel for a bit more as everything comes so easy to you, including women.” Letting her hands fall and her lips curl up in a wicked grin, she pushed at his chest. “I don’t want you to think I’m easy.”

Markus grabbed hold of her hands, holding them up against the wall. “Omorphoula, you are definitely not easy. You are the only woman who’s ever kept running from me or cares who I touch.” His lips brushed hers. “Only your lips from now on. I promise.”

His naked body rubbed against hers, and she found it harder and harder to resist him as his lips trailed down her neck and he nibbled on her shoulder. “Only you.”

Giving up fighting him, she let her body have what it wanted, rubbing against him, and she arched into him and pressed her lips harder to his mouth. “Kiss me.”

His mouth connected to hers, melding them together. He let go of her hands with one of his and slowly moved it down her body until he found her clit, circling and stroking it. Their tongues tangled as his body rubbed hers. His cock, hard and ready, pressed against her as he moaned into her mouth.

Panting, he leaned away and let go of her hands. He held her waist as she slid down his wet body as the now cold water hit them. Closing her eyes, she arched into him as he sucked her nipple into his mouth while his fingers dipped into her pussy.

“You’re soaking.” He pumped his fingers in and out while his mouth sucked on a nipple, swapping when he nipped the tip.

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