The sickness returned. ‘Your pilot?’
‘That’s right.’ He opened the door and glanced back at her. ‘We’re going on our honeymoon. Better late than never, as the saying goes.’
‘Honeymoon?’ She gaped at him. ‘But we weren’t going to have a honeymoon. You said you didn’t want to spend that much time with me.’
‘That was because I thought one night with you would be enough. I was wrong. I’ve tried cold water and I’ve tried avoiding you,’ he told her frankly. ‘Nothing works. So we’ll try a different approach.’
Her mouth fell open. ‘You tried avoiding me? That’s why you vanished for two weeks? You were avoiding me?’
‘Yes, but it didn’t work. I’ve accepted the way things are. We’re married. It’s perfectly acceptable for us to spend time together and I need to get you out of my system if I’m ever to stand a chance of concentrating again.’
She stared at him, feeling slightly faint. ‘And how do you propose to do that?’
‘By having endless, uninterrupted sex, agape mou.’ He flashed her a smile. ‘In less than an hour it will be just you and I and a very private island. You won’t even have to dress in underwear—so don’t bother to pack.’
CHAPTER SEVEN
THEY were flying over the sea again.
Was Greece nothing but ocean?
Alesia closed her eyes and tried to visualize land. Tried to control the almost frantic panic that erupted inside her.
‘You can open your eyes,’ Sebastien said, his voice tinged with amusement as he lounged in the seat next to her. ‘We land in less than five minutes and you’re missing the best view in Greece.’
Alesia kept her eyes shut. She wasn’t interested in the view. She was thinking about the water. Fathoms and fathoms of ocean laid out beneath her just waiting to claim the unwary—
‘Theos mou, you are white as a sheet.’ His voice was suddenly sharp with concern. ‘Is this still a consequence of last night?’
She couldn’t speak, fighting her own private battle against the terror that threatened to engulf her.
There was a moment’s silence and then strong fingers wrapped themselves around her cold hand. ‘I remember now that you were the same colour the first time I met you. I didn’t know you were so afraid of flying,’ he said quietly. ‘Forgive me. Next time we use the boat. It makes the journey a little longer but at least it will be more comfortable for you.’
At that her eyes flew open in shock. The fact that he seemed to care whether or not she liked the helicopter surprised her.
Why would he care?
Perhaps he was just afraid that she might be ill. Didn’t men hate it when women were ill? Should she confess that it was the water, not the flying?
That a boat would be even worse.
‘There’s no need to look at me like that,’ he drawled softly. ‘Everyone has a weakness. It’s almost a relief to know that you have something other than just greed. You can relax now. We’ve landed. Welcome to my private hideaway.’
Remembering how close the helicopter pad was to the sea from their first meeting, Alesia was tempted to shut her eyes again but she forced them to stay open, knowing that she somehow had to get herself to the villa.
The sea wasn’t going to leap up and grab her, she reminded herself firmly as she descended quickly and stood on the Tarmac. This fear of hers was totally irrational and it was time she tried to conquer it.
‘You are still very pale.’ Sebastien surveyed her with frowning contemplation and then spoke several words in Greek to his pilot, who melted into the background. ‘You should lie down before dinner. Or perhaps you would prefer a swim?’
Should she confess that she never swam?
Should she tell him—?
She licked dry lips, her heart suddenly racing with fear. ‘Maybe later.’
‘After a few days in Athens most people can’t wait to dive into the ocean,’ he said, amusement flickering in his dark eyes as he glanced in her direction. ‘But there’s plenty of time. I have no plans to rush back to the city.’
Alesia hid her dismay.
How long exactly was he planning on staying?
It would be harder for her to phone her mother from here and if she didn’t receive a call, she’d worry.
Sebastien frowned. ‘You are unbelievably tense and the whole point of this trip is for you to unwind. There is nothing to do here but relax. You must still be tired after last night.’
He sounded as if he cared that she was tired and she stared at him in confusion. Why was he being nice to her all of a sudden?
Alesia gave a stiff smile. ‘I am tired, you’re right.’