Jak had been a careful lover, and her memories of him were fond and grateful, but Nikos—ah, Nikos was in a league of his own. All the promise...all the shimmering awareness of the irrepressible physical attraction that had flared between them right from their first intemperate encounter...had exploded on their first night together. And now, night after night, when he took her in his arms, skilfully caressed her body to melting, she felt transported to a level of sensual satiation she had never known existed. And it was Nikos who took her there...
Will there ever be anyone in my life like him again?
The question was in her head before she could stop it. And so was the answer.
How could there be? How could there be anyone like him again—how could there be a time like this ever again in her life?
A little quiver went through her, but she silenced it. She had come away with Nikos with her eyes open—knowing he wanted only a brief, passionate affair and nothing more. Knowing that that was exactly what she wanted, too. A fabulous, gorgeous, breathtaking entrée in the feast of freedom that was to be her new independent life.
Nikos was for the wonderful, wonderful now, and that was how she was going to enjoy him—how she was going to enjoy their time together, night after night, day after day.
Speaking of days...
‘We still haven’t done the Crystal Caves,’ she said. ‘Could we visit them today?’
‘Why not?’ Nikos answered with lazy complaisance. ‘We can take the hotel launch around to Hamilton, do a spot of shopping, have lunch and take a taxi on to the caves.’
His eyes rested on her warmly. How right he’d been not to let her fly off to Spain and disappear on her travels without him. Instead he’d brought her here, romanced her and made love to her, and he was with her day in, day out.
Satisfaction filled him—more than satisfaction.
Contentment.
He wondered at it. It just seemed to be so easy to be with Mel—so natural, so absolutely effortless. Conversation was easy with her. They still sparked off each other, just as they had right from the first, but now it was always humorous, easygoing, mutually teasing each other, but with a smile. And it was as easy not to talk as it was to talk. They could wander or lie on sun loungers or watch the sunset in happy silence.
Yes, being with Mel just seemed to...work. That was the only way he could explain it.
Not that he wanted to analyse it, or find words to describe being with her. No, all he wanted to do was enjoy this time with her. Enjoy it to the full. In bed and out.
And that gave him an idea—a very good one, now he came to think of it.
He glanced at his watch. ‘I think the hotel launch leaves every hour to make the crossing to Hamilton. Do you want to make the next one? Or would you prefer to skip it and we could take an early siesta, maybe?’
He threw her an encouraging look.
Mel gave a splutter of laughter. She knew perfectly well what he meant. And sleep would not be involved!
‘Early siesta? It’s barely gone ten in the morning!’ She got to her feet, stooping to whisper to him, ‘You’re insatiable—you know that? Honestly. Come on.’ Her voice was bracing now. ‘If we get going we can get the next launch.’
‘So keen to go shopping in Hamilton?’ It was Nikos’s turn to sound teasing.
She gave another splutter of laughter. ‘No. I don’t need a thing—my bathroom’s chock-full of complimentary toiletries.’
Nikos smiled indulgently. ‘So easily pleased...’ he said fondly.
‘Well, I am!’ Mel riposted. ‘Everything...’ she waved her arms expansively, taking in the whole resort and the island it was on ‘...is brilliant.’ She turned a warm gaze on Nikos. ‘And you’re the most brilliant of all.’
He reached to stroke her sun-warmed bare arm. ‘That’s the right answer,’ he laughed. ‘I am definitely more brilliant than complimentary hotel toiletries,’ he finished feelingly. ‘And if you really, really insist...’ he gave an exaggerated sigh ‘...I shall deprive myself of our...er...siesta...until after we get back from these Crystal Caves you’re determined to drag me to.’
‘Oh, you’ll love them,’ she assured him with a playful thump. ‘They’re a marvel of nature, the guidebook says. Limestone caves with pools and walkways all illuminated like something out of a fairy tale. What’s more...’ she glanced at him with a determined look in her eyes ‘...we won’t need a taxi—you can get there by bus from Hamilton. I think we should do that—I’d love to see Nikos Parakis on a humble bus.’
He laughed, and they finished off their breakfast companionably, in harmony with each other and with the day ahead.