‘What do you not understand, agape?’
‘What happened? Why are you here?’ And then, softly, with a hint of accusation, ‘It’s been so long.’
‘I know.’ He pressed his forehead to hers. ‘Too long. I was a fool, Alice Stathakis. Determined not to love you.’ His eyes held hers, the truth in every fleck of them. ‘I learned the flip side of loving someone at a young age, and I never forgot that pain.’
Alice’s heart broke for the little boy he’d been, abandoned by his mother, made to feel unlovable, made to feel disposable.
‘She was wrong to leave you,’ Alice murmured. ‘Wrong to let her little boy think he wasn’t worthy of love; wrong to let you become a grown man who still believes that.’
And then his smile was blinding. ‘But I don’t believe it any more, Alice. Look what you did for me—look how you’ve loved me. Even tonight, after I broke your heart, you cared enough for me to come to my aid, to put your own pain aside because I asked it of you. There is no doubt in my heart that you love me, and that you will always love me.’
Alice blinked up at him, his words so beautiful, so perfect and all she wanted to do was reinforce that, to agree with him.
‘And there is no doubt in my heart that I love you, and will always love you.’ He brushed his lips over hers, just as he had the first time they’d kissed, and it sealed something inside her, filling her heart with all the joy she could possibly feel—and more, because she knew it was just the beginning.
* * *
‘It was Kosta, you know,’ Thanos murmured, stroking Alice’s naked back, his fingertips revelling in the ability to touch her again so easily, his heart at peace for the first time in three and a half months.
Alice shifted a little in bed, the smile on her lips that he would work the rest of his life to preserve, to earn. ‘What was?’
‘Who helped me see what an imbecile I was being.’ He grimaced, but it was a grimace that was full of the fears that had gripped him—and the realisation of how close he’d come to ruining this for good.
‘Did he, now?’
‘Mmm...’ It was a throaty noise of acknowledgement. ‘He reminded me how lucky I am to have a chance to be with the person I love. Losing his wife hit him hard, and I think he looked at me, a man who was grieving the loss of someone I didn’t have to lose, and he wanted to shake me.’
His smile was rueful.
‘I’m glad.’
‘Me too. Though I have to believe I would have woken up eventually. But who knows if you would have still been here by the time I saw things clearly?’
‘I would have been,’ she promised, entirely serious, no smile on her lips now. ‘Thanos, I’m not going anywhere. Love isn’t like that. When I told you I loved you, I meant it in a for-ever kind of way.’ Heat flushed her cheeks. ‘I gave you my heart with no expectation of ever getting it back.’
His eyes flared at her sweetness and he kissed her, slowly, hungrily, his whole body rejoicing in their closeness.
Later, over a pancake breakfast, he reached for Alice’s hand, not liking how strange it was to see her finger without the engagement ring.
‘I’ve been thinking,’ he said quietly, ‘about your mother.’
Alice’s eyebrows shot up.
‘Wherever we live, it should be near enough for us to see her often. I’ve made enquiries about having a space built on the island—fully staffed with nurses, of course—but I wanted to be sure you were happy with that. If you want to stay in New York, we can.’
Alice felt more love than she’d known possible burst through her. ‘I think she—and I—would like nothing more than to live on your beautiful, sun-filled island, Thanos.’
He beamed. ‘And so we shall.’
* * *
It took six months for construction to be completed, six months for world-class hospital staff to be recruited, and then they were back amongst the rolling green hills of Statherá Prásino.
‘The builders did a great job,’ Alice said quietly, as they regarded the structure from a distance.
‘Yes,’ he agreed. ‘It’s close enough to the house, yet each building feels isolated and private.’
Alice tilted her head to the side, her pulse racing at the secret she’d been holding for just over a week. ‘Do they do renovations as well? Or only new builds?’