CASSANDRA

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Calix stopped placing tiny kisses on the length of my neck and stared at me with narrowed eyes.

We were resting on the balcony of my penthouse and I was sitting comfortably on his lap after having sex in my bed and treating him dinner in my house as promised. He wore nothing but his pants while I wore his shirt completely naked underneath.

I couldn't help but muse. It seemed that I developed a habit of wearing his clothes after having sex with him, I couldn't explain but I felt more comfortable wearing his clothes around my house instead of my clothes.

"Earth calling Cass..."

My lips curved with a smile while staring at his worried face. I titled my head to the side while playfully running my finger on his naked chest. "I still cannot believe that you are a famous photographer and that you kept that from me. It makes me wonder what other secrets you are hiding from me."

He gripped my slender wrist to stop my finger from touching his chest. I watched him lift my hand and teasingly bite my index finger between his teeth and then brush the tip of his tongue on my fingertip. I threw a disapproving look in his direction but he merely smiled like the devil. "I assure you I am not that famous. Your coworker is just exaggerating."

"But—" the words died in my mouth when he flickered a kiss on my lips that made my brain stop functioning. "What's wrong with you?! I am trying to say something don't interrupt me with your kisses, all right?"

"Nope," he replied mischievously stealing another kiss from my defenseless mouth. "I am having a good time kissing this lovely mouth of yours. I am getting addicted to kissing you like this."

I puckered my lips at him. "Is that even possible? How can you be addicted to kissing someone? I think that's very unlikely from a man like you."

He threw a scowl in my direction pretending to be offended. "I know you don't have a high opinion about me but don't you think that's rather a little harsh, agape mou?"

I wrapped my arms around his neck and grinned. "If I'll ask you a favor will you grant it?"

His eyes narrowed in my direction a distrustful look on my face. "It depends on what kind of favor you're going to ask."

I gave him a bright smile, ignoring how his hands started to make their way to the sensitive part of my stomach. "If I ask you to do an exhibit in our art gallery will you say yes?"

He threw his head backward and let out a loud groan. "I'm sorry but I don't do exhibits with my works, Cass. I told you it was just a hobby and I don't have plans on displaying works to the public."

"Can you make an exception for me? Pretty please?" I told him earnestly. I wanted to work with him and make this exhibit possible and I was sure that this would be successful. He could earn a lot of money by selling his works.

He glanced at me with an exasperated look. "Why are you so eager to urge me to do an exhibit in your gallery knowing there are a lot of more talented people who were suitable for your offer?"

I couldn't help but feel sad about his refusal but I didn't wish to press this issue with him more. I respect his decision. I just wished to oversee his first-ever exhibit how cool was that?

"Tell me," he prodded, seeing my gloomy expression. "What do you get from this if—mind you—if, only, I am not saying that I would agree with this?"

I giggled staring deep into his beautiful blue eyes. I didn't mind staring at those eyes for endless hours. "I think Mr. Braizen will be happy if I manage to get you in the agreement of having your works displayed in our art gallery."

"Mr. Braizen again, huh?"

I frowned when I saw the dark scowl on his face. "What's wrong? Why do you seem upset hearing my boss' name?"

"I don't trust that guy, Cass." He informed me unapologetically. "I think that guy cannot be trusted. I don't like him."

I laughed out loud. "For real? How can you ever dislike a person without even meeting him? He's a nice guy. I think you will like him once you get to know him."

He scoffed rudely. "I highly doubt that."

"Fine," I gave up on the idea. "I will not insist if you don't feel like displaying your works at our art gallery. I know you are a private person besides your family is already wealthy enough that you don't need to sell your work for a living."

He took a deep breath and it took him a moment before speaking as if contemplating his choices. "What will you say if agree to your proposal?"

I sat up from my seat on his lap. "No way! I thought..."

"Of course," he added with a devilish glint in his eyes while gauging my delighted reaction. "I want something in return."

"What is it?" I asked too eagerly.

He tucked some of my hair at the back of my ear which made my heart flip over my chest. "Hmm. How about you do a photo shoot with me?" He raised an eyebrow in my direction as if a direct challenge. "Are you up for that?"

My eyebrows drew together. "Haven't I agree with that already?"

A small smile played on his lips. "This one will be different. This time I want you to pose for me in front of the camera. Will you be able to do my request in exchange for agreeing to work for your art gallery?"

"But..." I bit my bottom lip as I wasn't sure how to respond to his suggestion. Agreeing to take some stolen pictures of me was one thing but it was an entirely different matter when I agreed to have a photoshoot with him. I am not a model in case he hadn't noticed!

"I will give you time to think about it," there was a devilish smile playing on his lips while studying my torn reaction.

"Why does it have to be that way? Can't you just agree without that dubious deal of yours? You know very well that I am a camera-shy woman. Why don't you just ask some professional model to pose for you? I am sure they are more than willing to do your bidding."

"But it's you that I want."

My heart suddenly skipped a beat inside my chest. I knew that he was just about the model thing and nothing more. I have to remember that I was dealing with a certified playboy and this kind of sweet-talking was just normal to him. "I don't know..."

He patted the top of my head like a child. "You can always say no if you are uncomfortable. Remember you always have a choice, Cass."

I sighed deeply while staring deep into his eyes. "I know—" I paused when I heard my phone ring from the table. I stood from Calix's lap and went to see who might be the caller this late. My eyes widened considerably when I saw my father's name on the caller ID. I looked at Calix with horror. "It's Baba!" He immediately stood from his chair and became alert. He stood next to me as I nervously answered my father's phone call. "Baba!"

"How are you, louloudi mou?"

"I'm fine," I replied with a shaky laugh, fully aware that my heart was hammering in my chest. I didn't understand why I was nervous talking with my father. "Why did you call all of a sudden?"

"I want you to come home to Greece for a few days. Do you think you can do that this weekend?"

"For what reason, baba?" I glanced at Calix who was eyeing me curiously. He was probably curious about the content of my conversation with my father.

"I going to attend a charity auction in a few days and I want you to come with me. I am planning on bidding on certain artwork and I want your opinion about it."

I looked at the man standing next to me warily. He gave me a questioning look but I ignored him and just focused my attention on my father on the other line. "Uh, yes, sure, no problem, baba. I will just take some off from the art gallery."

"Great! I will be waiting for you here, my daughter. I couldn't wait to see you again after so many months."

"I miss you too, baba. See you soon," I answered back before disconnecting the phone call. I carefully placed my phone on the table and faced the anxious-looking Calix.

"Well?" he said a little impatiently as he leaned on the table beside us with his hand tucked in his middle. "What does he want?"

I gave him a slight smile while hugging my midriff. "He wants to come home to Greece this weekend because we're going to attend a charity auction. I think he wants to buy some artwork and he wants my opinion on that matter."

He nodded his head, there was something in his eyes that I couldn't pinpoint at the moment. He also seemed to be deep in his thoughts. "So, you will be away this weekend?" the tone of his voice was unmistakably sorrowful.

"Yes. Hey, it's only a few days and I will be back as soon as I can." I said brightly trying to make light of the situation. I didn't understand why he appeared to be sad at the thought of me going to Greece this coming weekend. It wasn't as if I would be away for a very long time.

He stunned me when he suddenly pulled me closer to the warmth of his body. He was still leaning on the table while my body was pressed to him. "This will be a very sad weekend ahead of me, I think."

For some unexplainable reason, my heart pulsated. I grinned at him fully aware of how my heart was beating like crazy inside my chest when he was touching me like this. "I know you will be fine in my absence. Besides, it's not that long."

"That's still too long for me."

"How about you come with me to Greece so you don't have to miss me?" I suggested casually while staring at his sad expression.

He immediately shook his head as if it was a bad idea. "Seeing each other in secrecy in Greece is still dangerous, Cass. Unlike here in New York, we are away from the prying eyes of the society but in Greece..." he shook his head again regretfully. "...it is an entirely different story. If we want to keep our affair secret we must not do it in Greece."

"You were right," I sighed deeply. I knew that being members of the two well-known Greek families almost everyone knew about us and it was likely someone would see us despite hiding this affair like a dirty little secret.

He kissed the tip of my nose affectionately. "I don't want to end this affair yet, Cass. I'm afraid that I am going to lose you if our family learns about this."

"Me too," I admitted as I heaved a sigh and rested my head on his chest. "I don't want to end this just yet. I am still having fun with this and I am not ready yet to give up this happiness I am experiencing with you."

He tightened his embrace around my waist as I snuggled closer in the warmth of his body. I got used to inhaling this familiar scent of his and I felt at ease whenever I was in his arms. It felt like nothing bad could ever happen to me as long as I was in his protective hold. "I will not let that happen, Cass. Never."

"I will miss you..." I said, closing my eyes and savoring the feeling of me in his arms. "...this weekend—that is." I corrected myself in case he misunderstood.

"So do I," he replied with a raspy voice. "Just thinking that you will be away from me again didn't suit me well. I just wished this weekend would pass in a blink of an eye. Because I will surely miss my innocent kitten."

I couldn't help but chuckle. Was this really what it felt like to have a secret lover? The feeling that you were having separation anxiety with that person when you didn't have a relationship with that person.

Whatever we had was just pure lust and Calix was just helping me forget his cousin, Loukas and everything about us including our set-up would end soon or later. I just hope that it would be later than sooner because I was still enjoying this liaison with Calix Spiridakou.

Yep. I would enjoy this illicit affair as long as it lasts...