Chapter Three

Thirteen months earlier…

The knock at the door was shocking. Only one person knew Landi was staying here, and that person was busy with a handsome man in her bed. Ilanderae slowly walked to the door and opened it, leaving the security chain intact.

“Yes?” her soft voice asked as she peered out.

Standing on the other side of the door was a man who had invaded her dreams. He was the only thing she saw when her eyes closed at night. He wasn’t that tall; but since she stood five-two, his five-nine frame seemed to dwarf her—then add to that the proud way he carried himself.

He had thick black hair, olive-tanned skin, and eyes that were golden like a lion’s. His nose was crooked, as if it had been broken in a fight a long time ago; but on him, it only added sexual charm. He wasn’t in short supply of that; oh, no, this man dripped it.

The way he looked at her made her feel like he had taken all of her clothes off with his teeth and was preparing to enjoy a feast in which she was all the courses. His clothes were very tasteful and molded to his chiseled body like they had been tailored for him specifically.

“Open the door and let me in, Landi,” his smooth voice said.

Unhurriedly, she did as told. She knew exactly what was going to happen once she did—they both knew. The passion had been building between them since they’d met a few nights ago at her friend’s house.

Somehow, she’d managed to run into him a few more times; and each look, touch, and shared space just made the tension between them increase in intensity. Now that the initial shock had worn off, she wasn’t really surprised to see him outside her door. He was a Navy SEAL, and she didn’t doubt his ability to find a person he was after.

And for the time being, it was Ilanderae Nycks he was after. Not that she minded; it had been a while since she’d had a good session of mind-blowing sex. “Should’ve known you’d find me,” she murmured as she waved him in with one hand.

Dimitri “Merlin” Melonakos allowed his golden gaze to peruse the woman before him. She was very petite. A few inches over five feet, he bet he could lift her with one arm.

She had dark, thick, wavy hair that currently was up in a ponytail held in place with a bright pink ribbon. There was a matching pink spaghetti-strapped tank top covering the smooth dark skin of her torso and she wore a pair of white cotton shorts. She was barefoot and he could see the bright pink polish on her toenails.

“I’m a man who goes after what he wants,” he said in a low voice.

“And that would be me?”

He nodded. “That would be you.”

She closed the door behind him and leaned against it, assessing him with her eyes. He stood there wearing a pair of faded blue jeans with a hole in the left knee that fit him snugly. Stretched across his torso was a white tee shirt that contrasted alluringly with his tanned skin. Covering that was a black three-quarter length leather jacket. On his feet were white tennis shoes.

“Well, now that you’re here, what exactly are you planning on doing to me?” Landi asked as her tongue snuck out to lick her lips.

“Oh, you have no idea what treasures I have in store for you.” His eyes moved in a languid motion across the distance that separated them. It wasn’t more than four steps, and he would be right back into her personal space.

Her feet spread apart as she settled more comfortably against the smooth wood of her door. Thick lashes blinked over her exotic-shaped eyes before she held his gaze. There was no fear in hers, only the sultry assurance a woman had when she knew the man in question belonged, even if just for the moment, to her and her alone.

“And just what treasures are you holding for me?” Her eyes never backed down from the intense passion flaring in his.

“A night that neither one of us will ever forget.” Dimitri spoke with the calm confidence that was bred into every pore of his body. He knew whatever he and this vixen shared would be nothing short of explosive. With ease, he removed his jacket and laid it over the stool by the door.

Landi swallowed as her body reacted to his words, presence, and poise. From the first second she’d seen him standing in front of her friend, Koali, she’d felt a sexual reaction to him. That entire night had been spent exchanging glances, mere brushes of skin, and blatant promises of things yet to come.

Well, now those things had arrived and it was time for this man to make good, a time she’d been waiting for since she’d looked into his golden eyes.

“Take your shirt off.” Her command filled the room.

His hands gripped the hem of his white shirt and he slowly pulled it up over his head. He met her gaze as he dropped the cotton garment to the floor. A totally arrogant smile crossed his face as he witnessed her reaction to seeing his bared chest.

Landi inhaled sharply, her eyes skimming his golden chest. So far there were no tan lines on his body. The sight before her had her body clenching with desire and her panties flooding with more moisture.

He had a decent covering of chest hair, black like the hair on his head. It tapered as it neared the top of his jeans, creating a v that tempted her to follow it and see what lay below the snug material.

Licking her lips, Landi stepped closer to him and reached out her hand. She walked all the way around him, her fingers lightly touching his exposed skin. On his left shoulder was a tattoo of a crescent moon surrounded by five stars. “What does this mean?” she asked as she traced the five pointed star the five individual ones made up.

“It is a symbol of magic. My nickname is Merlin,” he said gruffly.

“Merlin, huh?” she purred while continuing her perusal of his toned body. Her hand caressed over his tight buttocks as she moved to the right side of his body.

“Yep.”

There was another inking on the inside of his right forearm that grabbed her attention. Holding his arm in both her hands, she turned it so she could get a perfect view. Short strokes made up a circle, almost like the sun’s rays in a child’s drawing. “And this one?”

“Explosion.” His body was trembling.

Completing her circle, Landi stopped before him, her fingers dancing lightly against his hairy chest. The coarse tendrils sent volts through her. “Are you a dangerous man, Mr. Melonakos?” She spoke his name like a native Greek.

Dimitri felt his cock swell in anticipation of being inside this little vibrant woman who stood before him in pink. Hot pink, as if that didn’t give him ideas of how scorching she would be.

His eyes burned with a feral golden fire as they met her sultry and teasing gaze. One strong shoulder lifted with a graceful motion. “Sometimes,” he intoned seconds before he reached for her and pulled her body against his.

Landi squeaked in surprise. Then, his mouth covered hers. His thick fingers grabbed her ponytail and pulled her head back so he had easy access to her mouth. She tasted like crème de menthe.

This kiss had enough energy to light up the Eiffel Tower. Dimitri swept through her mouth with his tongue, determined to learn what secrets she possessed. His thick tongue dove deep, retreated, laved all corners, and then repeated itself.

Soon he was just making love to her mouth. Dimitri felt his body shiver as his imagination replaced his tongue with the ramrod erection he pressed against her belly. His cock began leaking at the image his mind painted for him.

One of his powerful hands dropped to her shoulder and slid the skinny strap down over the ball of it. The feel of each callused fingertip against her satin-like skin made them both shudder with anticipation. His other hand began to mimic the motion on the other side.

Dimitri shook with the strength it took for him not to lose control like a youth on his first time. Who knew this woman would test his resolve like this? It was slowly that he drew away from her mouth, holding her lower lip in his teeth, adding more pleasure to her experience. And his.

Moving his hands down her arms, he caught and held her gaze with his own. The blatant desire he witnessed in her eyes, was nearly his undoing. “Your skin is so smooth,” he complimented her as he tantalized her senses by bringing his hands back up her arms.