Greek Billionaire's Blackmailed Bride (The Rosso Family Series, #1) by Leslie North Page B

choice.”
    “Remind me to buy them something outlandish as a thanks.” He gave her a wink and rested one hand on her waist.
    The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur. Claire tried to focus on breathing so she wouldn’t pass out. The next thing she knew Antonio had slipped a ring on her finger, they were pronounce man and wife, and Antonio turned to kiss her.

Chapter Twelve
    H e had a reason to kiss her—a good reason. At last. Antonio grabbed her, tipped her backwards, and pressing his body against hers. He wanted her to feel everything—to always remember this moment. He pressed his mouth to hers, heard her gasp, and then he forgot the world.
    There was nothing but Claire—her lips, her mouth, her fragrance. He pressed her closer, feeling her breasts flatten against his chest. He tightened his hold and took possession of her mouth—of her. Finally, he ran out of breath. Head swimming, he righted her. Reluctantly, he let go.
    Claire touched her mouth. He grabbed her hand and pulled her with him down the aisle so they could escape the small crowd for a few moments. He hurried her to another room downstairs that had been set aside for them to have a few moments of privacy before they must greet their guests. And before the wedding party began. He could already hear the music starting—Eva had hired a DJ and dance music blared. There would be no traditional Tsamiko dance—but if he knew his cousins, maybe there’d be ouzo-soaked Zeibekiko dancing later. For now he needed to talk to Claire.
    He pulled her into the room with him and took her hands. “Claire, thank you. From the bottom of my heart for marrying me. I know this is not the wedding you always dreamed of.”
    Claire shook her head. “But it was. I mean, it didn’t start out that way, but your sisters turned it into something I will always remember, only—”
    “Only you wish you could have had your parents here. That you could have married someone you loved for your first time.” Antonio suddenly wished things had turned out differently. He’d had once been in love with her—or he thought he had.
    Claire shrugged. “What happens now?”
    “We go out to talk with our guests. We eat. We must dance. And then we fly to Kato Antikeri and spend a week there.” She parted her lips, and he knew she was about to give him one of her reasons not to do something. He put a finger across her lips. “Trust me, this is for the best. The news media is already at the front gate, and the staff can only protect us for so long. We need a little time so they become interested in some other scandal.”
    Claire nodded.
    A knock sounded on the door and Dareios called out, “Time to make an appearance, you two love birds. Your guests cannot drink until they toast to your happiness.”
    Antonio turned to Claire. “Trust me to make sure everything will be just fine.”
    Claire smiled, but Antonio heard her mutter, “If only that was so easy.”
    But he didn’t know if she was talking about the situation—or about trusting him.
    ***
    “A dmit it, that wasn’t so bad, now was it?” Antonio peeled Claire’s hands from his thigh. He was certain she had left bruises when the pilot had landed the sea plane just off the main bay for Kato Antikeri. The island was small, with only the Villa Livia, goats, sheep, olive groves and white sand beaches. A wooden dock stretched into the bay and the pilot eased the sea plane toward the wooden pier.
    Claire swallowed and shook her head. “Not my favorite way to travel.”
    “Come on, let’s get out and you can take a look. The staff will carry our luggage to the villa.”
    She nodded and allowed Antonio to help her from the plane. She seemed wobbly on her feet, and Antonio kept an arm around her waist. Thanopolis—an ancient who had been caretaker here for longer than Antonio could remember—met them at the dock with his son, Stephan, a skinny man far older than Antonio. Looking up the hillside, Antonio could see Mrs.