Nikolas slowly walked back to the couch where his girlfriend Gia sat watching. "Well," she prodded. "What is it?"

"It is an invitation to my father's wedding."

Gia's eyes widened dramatically. " Stefan is getting married? To who?"

"Not Stefan," Nikolas corrected her, finally tearing his eyes away from the simple invitation. "Stavros."

"The Human Popsicle?"

The flip reference to his father made Nikolas' jaw tighten with irritation. "Gia, I have asked you not to refer to him that way."

"Sorry," she replied automatically. Despite all of his disjointed attempts at explanation, Gia had not been able to understand her fiancé's problem with the nickname she had given his father. Nikolas certainly did not seem bothered when Gia referred to his grandmother Helena as "Psychogranny."

"When is the wedding?"

Nikolas dropped down onto the couch beside her and mutely handed her the invitation.

"That's three days from now!" the young woman exclaimed. "Well, that doesn't leave me much time, but if I start now I should be able to find a killer dress to wear. Especially if you use some of your contacts."

"Gia-"

The warning tone of Nikolas' voice did not escape Gia. "Oh, no," she argued. "You are not gonna make me miss this!" Her tone softened. "Nikolas, I know that you have problems with your father." She leaned her body into his and swung her legs across his thighs. "But I want to go."

The determined young woman began to nibble along Nikolas' jaw line. When he did not respond, Gia began to finger the buttons of his silk shirt. "Don't I deserve to see what our wedding will be like?"

Nikolas sighed. "Sparky, you don't understand-"

He started as Gia's hand dropped into his lap. His eyes fluttered closed as she began to caress his growing hardness. "That's not fair," he moaned, shifting his hips.

"So we'll go?" Gia whispered into his ear. "I'll make it worth your while..."

After several moments, Nikolas grabbed her wrist and halted her actions. "Gia!" he uttered harshly, shaking her to command her attention. "You don't understand. The wedding is in Greece."

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