Reasons Why

Chapter Fifteen

As he stood in front of her, nudging his hips between her denim clad thighs, Chloe was glad of the high stool lifting her to eye level with him. The warmth emanated from his brown eyes as he devoured her hungrily, the appreciative smile highlighting the cute dimples that dented his cheeks - Wow, Chloe thought, Luke Petrakis is one handsome man, if there was ever any doubt.              

Watching her intently, a question seemed to dance on his lips for a second, but it disappeared as his mouth flew desperately to hers. The kiss was breathtaking, heart racing, her arms snaked around him pulling him further into her embrace, and Luke was more than happy to settle there, his hard muscular body pressed up against hers.

                “What are you doing here?” he asked finally pulling away, cupping her face in his hands, staring down into her eyes, “I thought you were out with your brother.”

She nipped his bottom lip between her teeth not wanting that kiss to end, “they were all a little loved up after dinner. I needed to escape. But you’re the only person I know here...and you weren’t home. So I came for a beer.”

He grinned, “I’m glad that you found me. I missed having dinner with you...I missed you!”

Laughing, Chloe walked her fingers up his chest in a provocative gesture, “you did huh?”

                “I think Jaako is about to disown me. He was annoyed at being kept up all night; he seems to think that I’ve got mad for you. Can’t think what gave him that idea. Don’t think he’ll forgive me if I leave his lads night for you!”

She craned across the room, the five men were still laughing and joking, no one seemed to be any the wiser. When she told him that, his eyes lit up in a wicked way, and within moments they were bolting out of the side door and running along the darkened streets, not stopping until they were well clear of the bar, his friends and any other distraction.

Slowing down, Luke led her by the hand as their racing hearts started to calm, to a very quiet wine bar, secreted away in a quiet location, somewhere she’d never been before.

                “This is the road just heading out of town. It’s quiet. Isn’t that what we want?”

She nodded, “it is. Can I get you a drink Mr Petrakis?”

He shrugged, “I’m playing tomorrow...I can have one more beer, that’s it!”

In a rare role reversal, he sat and watched her laugh with the barman as he served her a couple of beers, and then eyeballed her hungrily as she crossed the room to him. Sitting opposite she handed him a bottle.

                “So Luke isn’t a very Greek name is it?”

Chuckling he took a mouthful of beer, “you’re right! I am actually Loukianos. But NO one ever calls me that! Well not if I’m behaving myself anyway!”

With wide eyes she stared at him, “Loukianos? Really?” She studied him for a moment, “That REALLY suits you, I think I might call you that from now on!”

Any protest at that was lost in the sexy way that she verbalised his name, suddenly he loved the full version of his name in a way he never had before.

                “It’s a traditional Greek name, and I am the first born son of a proud Greek man! Doesn’t mean I let people call me Loukianos, BUT, I do like the way you say that, it rolls off your tongue in a very sexy way! In fact I think it’s a compulsory name for the bedroom...just maybe not in a bar!”

As she laughed he could imagine her purring that name at him in the throes of passion, and he was glad there was a table between them to hide his rather strong reaction.