Page 37 of A Grecian Getaway

Demetri caught up to her and yelled, “What are you doing? Come out of that water right now.”This silly woman is going to drown herself. What is she thinking?

Noelle giggled and splashed him. “No. I am being wild! I think I may go skinny dipping. Care to join me?”

Skinny dipping?Demetri pointed to Noelle. “What is this skinny dipping? Come out of there!” He pounded his fist into his other hand.She shouldn’t be in the water in her condition. Everything about this situation is dangerous.

“Let me show you.” She pulled off her dress and tossed it at him.

Demetri tossed the dress aside and ran his fingers through his hair, mumbling under his breath in Greek.If you were sober, I would put you over my knee and spank you. Then I would take you to bed and show you how wild we could be together. Dangerous.“Noelle, you come from the water this minute. I have a good mind to put you over my knee and spank you for your behavior tonight.”

She froze, and her eyes widened. “You wouldn’t dare,” she replied with a grin that slowly spreadacross her face.

“Oh, wouldn’t I?” He reached out and pulled her from the water into his arms. “I wouldn’t actually spank you, not as punishment. But you are being such a naughty girl right now, you are making me crazy!”

“Well, you’re making me crazier!” she mumbled.

Noelle held on tight, and he carried her to the boat. She felt good in his arms. If he weren’t so frustrated with her behavior, she would have had a very different effect on him. As they were stepping inside, she threw her hand to her mouth, squirmed from his arms, and ran to the bathroom. She sat by the toilet in her wet bra and panties, the mistakes from the evening spilling from her mouth. Demetri held back sections of her hair that had fallen from her bun as she let everything out of her body.My poor little lamb. So much spirit in such a little body.

Noelle slouched on the floor, shaking, with tears streaming down her face. Once she calmed down, Demetri stood up and got her a wet washcloth and a toothbrush. When she finished cleaning herself up, he carried her to his bedroom.

Demetri handed her a dry shirt. “Take off your wet clothes and put this on.” He left the room to give her some privacy. He was a gentleman, and while he wanted her, she was in no condition for anything.

When he returned to the room, Noelle’s voice shook as she explained what had happened. “I’m sorry I was stupid. I shouldn’t have drank that much, and I shouldn’t have texted you. I shouldn’t have put myself in another bad situation.” Noelle covered her face with a pillow. The bed sank as he sat next to her on his mattress.

“You should text Claire. She is worried about you.” Demetri handed her the cell phone.

Noelle shook her head. “I care for you, Demetri. Why won’t you treat me like you have other women? Don’t you find me desirable? I... I want to have sex with you.”

He covered her up and left the room again.Because you aren’t like other women, Noelle. I find you so damn desirable I can barely think straight. I have feelings for you I can’t let myself have. It’s too dangerous.

Hewalked to the kitchen for a glass of water and aspirin then went back to the room and found her cheeks lined with tears. “Here, take this,” he said as he handed her the aspirin and water. He tucked her in and lay on top of the covers beside her. Silence filled the room.

As much as he wanted to separate his feelings and his desires, he couldn’t with Noelle. They intertwined, and he needed to force himself to separate them.“If you decide you want to have sex with me, you should not be drunk.”

“But, I—” Noelle began.

“No buts,” Demetri interrupted. “This is too important to you. I would never take advantage of you or any woman in this state. You need to know what you are doing, and you are in no condition to decide.”But what am I doing? I am not drunk, yet I am going against everything I said, everything we talked about.“I cannot promise you forever, and I cannot promise you anything more than a little fun. I have told you how I feel. Yet, you keep coming to me. We cannot just be friends.”Clearly, neither one of us is okay with just a friendship. Will you be okay without love between us? I hope so. I hope I can let go when I need to. We will see what tomorrow brings. Tonight, I have to remind myself why I do not fall in love.

Noelle said nothing else. Demetri watched her until she drifted off to sleep, wearing only the shirt he’d given her.I care for you more than you can know and more than I can allow.

Demetri sent a text to Claire, reassuring her Noelle was okay and sleeping peacefully. He asked if she wanted him to bring Noelle back to the hotel, but Claire agreed it was probably better not to wake her after she got sick. Demetri closed his eyes. He was going to have a long night, and he had a strong feeling it wouldn’t include much rest.

Chapter 27

SORRY NOT SORRY ~Noelle~

The next morning Noelle awoke in a strange bed. She turned to find Demetri sleeping on top of the blankets, fully clothed. The embarrassment and sadness hit her as she recalled what had transpired the night before. Her stomach turned over, and she cursed herself for drinking so much. She sent a quick text to the girls.

Noelle: Morning, don’t worry. I’m fine. Demetri is asleep, but I’m sure he will bring me to the hotel when he wakes up. Before you ask, nothing happened, so don’t get your undies in a bunch.

Caroline: My undies weren’t the ones in question. Glad you’re okay.

Claire: Demetri texted us last night and sent us a pic of you sleeping peacefully. He reassured us you were okay after you puked everything up. Are you sure you’re ok now?

Noelle: Yeah. I’ll talk to you when I get back to the hotel. See you soon.

Demetri stirred. When he opened his eyes, he asked, “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay.”

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