Or was it because he had swept her out of her grim, grinding poverty to bring her here, to the land of her forebears, showering upon her this amazing life of wealth and luxury, promising her that never again would she know hardship and deprivation?
She did not know why—she knew only that it was so, and that in Xandros’s arms she knew a bliss that she had never imagined possible.
Why it was, she left unspoken.
Unanswered.
* * *
Xandros crunched across the pebbles, his eyes going immediately to Rosalie, sweeping over her dozing form. He felt desire quicken, as it always did, and he hunkered down beside her, indulging himself in softly brushing his hand over the soft swell of her midriff, exposed by her brief bikini.
Her eyelids fluttered open and her face broke into a smile.
He brushed her mouth with his. ‘Can I tempt you to a swim before lunch?’ he asked, and smiled, drawing back.
‘You can tempt me to anything.’ She gave an answering smile.
‘Now, there’s an offer!’
There was a glint in his eye as she sat up.
Today was their last day on Kallistris—they would be heading back to Athens first thing tomorrow morning. He wasn’t looking forward to it. He never liked to leave Kallistris anyway, but now his reluctance was even more marked. He’d happily spend more time here, lotus-eating with Rosalie, rather than go back in Athens, plunging head-first into all the work that making his merger with Coustakis a reality entailed.
He was conscious of the irony—after all, he had only married Rosalie to achieve the merger he wanted, and yet here he was wishing he could have more time with her here. Back in Athens he’d be putting in long days at the office and would only see her in the evenings.
Well, he would strive to make it possible to get back here as much as he could. Even a weekend would be better than nothing.
He helped her stand up now, and then stripped off to his swim shorts. Both of them waded into the waiting sea.
His thoughts went back to that first swim they’d had together. Before he had made her his own. Was it really only five days ago? They seemed to have been lovers for so much longer. It was as if they’d always been together. As if they always would be.
He frowned, wondering where that thought had come from, and dismissed it immediately as he launched into a powerful freestyle, ploughing out to sea. It was Kallistris, he thought, increasing his speed. It had that effect on him...making him forget about anywhere else. An island, indeed, of lotus-eating, where time stopped and there was neither past nor future, only an endless blissful present.
But time didn’t stop in the world beyond, and back in Athens his time would be busy. His agenda non-stop. Maybe the enchantment he was feeling with Rosalie would start to wear off there. Perhaps here, on Kallistris, where he’d never brought his amours, she seemed more special than she really was.
He left it at that, focussing on exerting his every muscle to accelerate and maintain his speed, then curving around to head back to shallower waters, where Rosalie was sedately criss-crossing the bay in a gentle breaststroke.
He dived under the water, surfacing beside her in a shower of diamond water drops, and she gave a start of surprise. He grinned, and caught her for a kiss.
‘I wonder,’ he said wickedly, ‘what making love in the water might be like?’
She gave a gurgle of laughter. ‘Leave it to the dolphins!’ she quipped.
He laughed in answer, wading ashore with her.
‘Okay, I’ll trade it for a leisurely siesta instead,’ he promised her, with a knowing glint in his eye.
Sleep would not be on the agenda...
Tomorrow morning they might be back in Athens, but for today, at least, lotus-eating and lovemaking were all he would allow.
All he wanted.
* * *
Rosalie stood gazing at her reflection. She had dressed with particular care, wanting to look her most beautiful for Xandros this evening.
Our last evening here...