Read The Greek's Stolen Bride for Free Online Page A

waiting--"
    "Probably," Theo agreed, and she clenched her hands into helpless fists.
    "Are you amusing yourself at my expense?" she demanded, her voice hoarse now from shouting. "Is this all so very funny to you, Atrikes, when my life, my soul is at stake?"
    Abruptly he cut the engine, turned to stare at her with dark, serious eyes. "It's not funny at all, Ariana. But you seemed panicked enough for both of us."
    "Don't you realize--"
    "Trust me, I realize just what your father is capable of," he cut her off, his voice thrumming with something that sounded almost like anger. "More perhaps even than you do. But as I have said before, you don't know what I'm capable of, and I assure you, this situation is under control."
    Ariana thought of how quickly and brutally he'd dealt with Aries, and swallowed. "All right," she whispered and he smiled, reaching over to smooth a strand of windswept hair away from her face. Even that simple touch, brief as it was, dusted her with sparks.
    "Thank you," he said quietly, "for trusting me."
    And Ariana realized he was right. She did trust him. Whether or not her trust was misplaced, she did not yet know.

CHAPTER SIX
     
    Theo started the boat once more, scanning the flat horizon for signs of another boat. He knew Ariana had been looking for a police helicopter or speedboat, nibbling her lip till it bled as she scanned the sea and sky. Theo had kept an eye out too, for he knew it wouldn't have taken Leotokos too long to find Aries crumpled on the dock, and he possessed the power to see a force quickly mobilized in search of his daughter.
    He wouldn't find her.
    Theo cut back on the engine as he navigated closer to Naxos, avoiding the bustling harbor to come around the other, more secluded side of the island. He heard Ariana draw a sharp breath as he cut the engine back even more and approached a tiny cove surrounded by jagged rocks.
    "Where--"
    She stopped as Theo carefully guided the boat through two wicked-looking boulders and then towards a hidden strip of sand. He turned to Ariana with a smile.
    "Welcome to my home."
    "Your home? "
    "I have a villa on Naxos."
    She stared at him for a long, silent moment, and then she reached out and slapped his face, the sharp crack of her palm echoing through the sheltered cove.
    Theo stared at her in surprise and a little anger. "What the hell was that for?"
    "You didn't think," she demanded, her voice shaking, "that you could tell me you had a home here? You had a plan ? Did it amuse you to see me so terrified? Do you get off on women's fear, Atrikes?"
    "No, of course not," he snapped. Remorse, an unfamiliar emotion, bit him. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I didn't mean to scare you."
    She sat back, her arms folded, eyes narrowed, her chest heaving, which he tried not to stare at. Even in the modest sundress she looked gorgeous, vibrant. Sexy . "Are you really going to try to tell me that it didn't even cross your mind to inform me you had a place here?"
    He considered her question. Why hadn't he told her? He supposed he had, without even realizing it, wanted to surprise her. Impress her even, somehow, by his sophisticated daring-do. He felt like even more of a heel. "I'm sorry," he said again.
    "Two apologies in the course of a minute. That must be record."
    "It probably is."
    Her lips twitched. "You have a handprint on your cheek."
    He touched his still-stinging cheek. "It hurts like hell, too."
    "Poor baby," she shot back, and shaking off his outstretched hand, she climbed out of the boat and leaped nimbly onto the sand.
    Theo watched her for a moment, admiring her straight, lithe figure, the wind blowing the dress to highlight the lush curves of breast and hip. He admired her courage too, and her spunk. She'd actually slapped him! He'd never been slapped by a woman before. His anger melted into amusement and admiration, and after securing the boat he leapt onto the sand. "Let me show you the house," he said and led her towards the rocky path that led