Holding Electra out at arm's length she ran down to the sea with her, laughing and pretending to throw her into the water. This was Electra’s favorite game. Mother and daughter’s laughter mingled in the warm afternoon and Melanie felt, as she always did when she was with Electra like this, that whatever happened to her in the future she would never forget these days with her beloved child.
‘Here let me have a turn.’ Nicos had come up behind them, his bare feet silent in the soft sand and Melanie, intent on the game, was taken unawares. She let Nicos take Electra from her and he waded out into the deeper water, dipping the baby in and out of the warm waves as she squealed with pleasure.
‘Careful,’ admonished Melanie worriedly. ‘Don’t take her out too far.’ He waded back to her. ‘This one will never be afraid of the sea’ he said happily. ‘She was born to sail, you will see.’ His face was alight with joy and Melanie could not help but be touched.
‘Here, take her other arm.’ he said, and swinging and supporting her gently between them, they walked together along the shore. ‘We must look every inch the happy couple, thought Melanie, and found herself wishing with all her heart that it was true.
He led them to the shady shelter of a rock where, to her surprise, Melanie saw that a tartan picnic rug had been spread on the sand and set with a wicker basket. Nicos settled mother and baby on the rug and disappeared, reappearing in minutes toting a cool box that he placed triumphantly beside them.
‘Dah, dah!’ he shouted triumphantly. His boyish enthusiasm was infectious and Melanie found she was enjoying herself. Digging into the box Nicos produced ice-cold lime soda for himself and Melanie and a baby bottle of orange juice for Electra. A plastic box contained a variety of bite sized sandwiches. Tiny almond biscuits completed the picnic.
They ate in compniable silence. Melanie was touched to see how tender Nicos was with Electra, breaking the tiny sandwiches into even smaller pieces for her and wiping egg mayonnaise from her face with wet wipe he fished from the cool box. ‘You thought of everything,’ she said smiling. She wondered idly what was in the wicker basket since the cool box seemed to contain enough food for a feast, never mind a picnic.
After they had eaten their fill she found out. Nicos sat Electra in front of the basket, and undoing the leather straps, threw back the lid. The interior had been emptied of its fitment of cups, plates and cutlery and was filled with toys. Electra dug her little hands in gurgling with delight. Nicos looked on entranced as she pulled out one thing after another. A big gaily striped plastic beach ball, a bucket, a spade and small bat with ball attached made a heap in the sand.
Nicos and Melanie’s eyes met over their baby’s head and they smiled at each other. Melanie was glad to see that none of the toys he had bought was expensive. Electra was going to grow up heiress to a global empire. Nicos could buy her anything her heart desired but he hadn’t. As if reading her thought Nicos said, ‘I think simple toys are best for children. They are quickly bored with expensive battery driven things. We won’t spoil her.’
The word ‘we’ hung in the air between them. They looked away from each other and Melanie busied herself packing up the cool box. A sudden thought occurred to her. ‘What made you think we were coming down to this beach? I often take Electra down to the east cove instead.’ ‘I know,’ said Nicos. ‘I put a picnic down there, too.’
Melanie laughed, astounded. ‘What about the toys? Don’t tell me you doubled up on those, too.’
‘Of course,’ said Nicos, sounding puzzled.
Melanie’s heart contracted. Had she forgotten how thoughtful he could be, how he loved organizing surprises? How simply loving. ‘No, not forgotten,’ she told herself. ‘I just don’t want to remember.’
Melanie saw little of Nicos over the next few days. She took to eating her lunch in the nursery and requesting her evening meal be served early in the dining room. Sometimes his deep voice, Katerina’s brittle laughter, the sound of cutlery against china and the clink of fine crystal drifted up to her room from the terrace. She resisted the urge to look out of her window to the couple dining below. To her chagrin she couldn’t deny she was jealous.
In her mind she gave herself a severe telling off. ‘So you’d like a repeat of the last evening you spent on the terrace with Nicos Chalambrous, would you? her inner voice queried sarcastically. But she couldn’t still the pictures that flashed through her mind. Nicos, his powerful body bleached from bronze to silver by the moon’s light, the beauty of his nakedness, her own limbs wrapped around his waist, her arms tight around his neck bringing his lips down to hers. The way she had taken his size into her, willingly, wantonly.
What had he said? ‘You can’t fix something that’s broken with sex.’But it hadn’t felt just like sex. It had felt like love. She shook her head angrily. ‘I won’t think about it.’ But she did, constantly.
After their afternoon on the beach he had made no attempt to see her. Instead Maria was sent to take the baby to him. Uneasy, Melanie asked the girl what they did on these occasions and was relieved to hear that Nicos played alone with Electra walked her in her buggy down to the harbor or carried her down to the beach.
Her mind circled round the enigma that was Nicos Chalambrous. One minute he appeared kind and loving towards her, the next his eyes were filled with suppressed anger. And she was woman enough to recognise that in his unguarded moments he looked at her with unmistakable naked desire.
It had all been so different when she had first come to Skiapolos with him. The Villa when she first saw it glowed softly in the evening light, it’s white walls and tiled terraces seemed about to tumble from the hillside into the sea below. They had wandered the island hand in hand. Nicos showed her all his favorite places, the sandy coves hidden from view unless you knew the secret pathways; the vine covered hillsides cool in the heat of the day.
They made love wherever and whenever they wanted. Sometimes Nicos was gentle and tender with her, at other times savagely demanding. She could never get enough of his lovemaking. He in turn wanted her all the time, never seemed to tire of gazing at her face and her body.
She learned things about him one the island. He was short tempered in the morning till his first cup of thick black Greek coffee. He suffered no fools around him. He was intolerant of mistakes. He was often demanding and arrogant with the villa’s staff. She remonstrated with him once when he had barked at one of them over some misplaced object. ‘Oh, did I?’ He sounded puzzled. ‘They know me. They know how I like things.’ But it was clear those who served him loved him.
The only one he was unfailingly patient with was old Anna. Melanie guessed she must be nearly 80 but she was spry and light on her black shod feet, her black clad figure upright as a girl’s. Anna, who had regarded Melanie with suspicion when she first arrived on the island, had taken to her. She would chuckle and pat Melanie’s arm as they passed each other in the corridor. Melanie did not realise that Anna spoke English till one early evening, when Nicos was over on the mainland, and not expected back until late. Anna came to where she was sitting on the terrace.
‘You love Mr Nicos,’ she stated abruptly in her heavily accented English.
Surprised Melanie could only answer, ‘yes, very much.’
‘Yes, I see that. Then you must know things about him. He is good man. We don’t mind if he shout. He send our children to school, pay for our medicines, he take good care of us.’ Anna’s sharp brown eyes bored into Melanie’s. ‘I look after him when he small. Not happy boy. Make my heart break. He tell you yet.’
‘No,’ said Melanie uncertainly. ‘I thought he was happy on this island when he was a boy.’
‘Yes, he happy here,’ said Anna. ‘I look after him here. Make him have nice time. But he not here much. They send him away.’ Anna turned as the sound of the speedboat’s engines below heralded Nicos’s return. ‘I go now. No tell Nicos. You wait for him to tell you.’ But Nicos had never told her of his past, just as she had never told him things he ought
to have known about her.
He had loved her, she knew. He had told her she was his world, the woman he had been looking for. As her thoughts wandered regretfully over the past the germ of an idea began to take shape. Nicos had loved her. He still desired her. If only she could make him love her again. ‘What have I got to lose,’ she asked herself. ‘I have already lost my daughter. If I can bring Nicos back to me then Electra comes, too.’
Once the idea had taken hold Melanie’s mind began to race. She needed to get Nicos alone, away from Katerina and with plenty of time together to put her plan into action. In a flash of inspiration the thought came to her. His at sea with no one else but just the two of them,; perhaps weighing anchor at a small deserted island where they could bathe naked. Perfect!
Now all she had to do was get him to invite her. She couldn’t do that while skulking away in her room every evening. Tonight she would have to brave the terrace. She dressed carefully, choosing one of the more low-cut dresses from the loft collection. The moss green swathed chiffon encrusted with crystals clung daringly to her breasts and the folds of the skirt stopped just short of her knees. Thin-strapped gold sandals with the highest of heels showed off her long slim legs. The color of the dress brought out the deep green of her eyes complementing the pale bronze of her skin and the tawny sheen of her hair. Surveying the result in the mirror of her room she was pleased. Subtle but undeniably sexy.
She waited till she heard their voices on the terrace. Peeking out of the window she saw that Nicos and Katerina were enjoying their aperitif at the far end of the terrace. She wondered if either of them had noticed that the dining table was set for three as she had earlier asked the staff to do.
Nicos rose to his feet at the sound of her heels on the marbled terrace. She saw from his expression that her outfit had hit the mark. He looked stunned as she walked towards him, his face registering first surprise then appreciation and an unmistakeable gleam of lust. ‘Good,’ she thought. ‘First score to me.’
Katerina, whose back had been turned to Melanie, swung round imperiously her face like thunder when she saw the newcomer. But Nicos was ushering Melanie to the table, pouring champagne from an ice bucket into a crystal flute and handing it to her. Melanie sipped silently her eyes on Nicos over the rim of her glass. She studiously ignored Katerina and devoted all the attention to Nicos.
She was pleased and amused to see that he was having trouble keeping his eyes from where the mounds of her breasts rose from the silky chiffon folds. As they proceeded to the dining table she was sure she could feel his eyes caressing her slender calves. Katerina was beside herself. She vetoed the chair Nicos offered opposite him and plonked herself down next to him with a glare at Melanie. That left Melanie facing Nicos, a much better arrangement from her point of view. It meant that Melanie could keep her gaze on Nicos throughout the meal, and he had a perfect view of her candle lit curves. She said very little, and was seemingly entranced with every word he uttered. She hoped she wasn’t overdoing it. She was almost sure that from time to time she saw a glint of amused understanding on his face.
Melanie moved the conversation round to sailing, an easy task where Nicos was concerned. As he expounded enthusiastically on the joys of ocean racing Katerina looked bored. In contrast, Melanie found that her interest, at first feigned was become real as he talked about his sailing yacht, “Dancing Queen”. ‘I’m taking her out tomorrow morning,’ he told Melanie. ‘I’ve had some new rigging fitted I want to try out. You must come with me. I’ll teach you something about sailing.’
Melanie couldn’t believe her luck. This was what she had planned. But belatedly Nicos had turned to Katerina and was saying, ‘You, too, of course.’ Melanie hoped Katerina would decline but though she hardly looked delighted at the prospect she seemed determined to go along.
‘We leave early tomorrow, so no late night,’ Nicos announced. ‘But Nicos,’ Katerina protested, ‘I thought we were going to finish out drinks out here. It’s still very early.’ Turning to Melanie she said dismissively, ‘You go. You have to be up early with your charge.’
‘No, we’ll all go up now,’ said Nicos, flashing her a look of irritation. Melanie hid a smile. She had won several rounds tonight and if Katerina was determined to be on the boat tomorrow Melanie would find another way to get Nicos alone.
She was down on the harbor early, Electra left behind in the competent care of Maria. Nicos was already there talking to one of the boatmen. He looked up, smiling approvingly at her. ‘We’ll get going as soon as Katerina gets here,’ he said. Fifteen minutes later Katerina had still not arrived and Nicos was looking impatient. Melanie hoped she wasn’t coming but after another ten-minute wait she came sauntering down the path.
‘Sorry, darling,’ she carolled to Nicos, ignoring Melanie completely. ‘I overslept. I’m so not used to early starts.’ ‘Well, you’re here now,’ said Nicos shortly. ‘Jump in the dinghy and let’s get going.’ Melanie, already seated in the sturdy rubber inflatable, moved up to make room for her but Katerina pointedly sat down next Nicos who was busy lowering the outboard and locking it in position. ‘Shove over,’ he said to her. ‘Give me room.’ Katerina looked affronted but Nicos didn’t seem to notice.
The dingy headed out to the deep water where the sloop was moored and Nicos courteously helped them up the ladder into the cockpit. Once aboard he made them put on bright orange life jackets. ‘This is so uncomfortable. I don’t want to wear this,’ said Katerina peevishly trying to undo straps.
‘On this boat you will do as I say, ordered Nicos, all courtesy behind him. ‘When I give an order you will obey instantly and without question. This is for your safety and you are my responsibility.’ Katerina looked mutinous and Nicos, softening a little, added, ‘Storms can blow up without warning in these waters and should that happen there is no time for argument. All crew must react instantly to what the captain orders. And that’s me,’ he said decisively.’
Leaving them in the cockpit he moved along the deck making ready to sail. Melanie watched with interest as he winched up the anchor and pulled in the weighty white rubber fenders protecting the sides. Back in the cockpit he started up the engine and headed out to sea. Melanie, watching the huge circle of the ship’s wheel turn beneath his hands, felt a frisson of excitement. His well-muscled forearms held it steady, his dark eyes flicking from timed to time to the instrument panel, where the wind speeds were recorded. His long well muscled legs were braced apart as he learned against the helmsman’s seat. Melanie thought he had never looked more attractive.
He set a course for a small group of islands and moored in a cove where the blue waters lapped against the white sand. Melanie thought what a great place for a seduction scene it would have been. It was just the sort of beach she had imagined them finding.
They swam off the boat, Katerina eyeing Melanie’s well-worn bikini, its colors faded with the hot sun of several summers with near contempt. She had the latest Christian Dior and Melanie had to admit to herself that she looked good in it. But she was more than sure that it was she that Nicos watched as she made her way to the bows of the yacht and dived cleanly into the clear waters. Nicos dived in after her, swiftly followed by Katerina and the three struck out for the nearby shore.
Nicos outstripped them easily and Melanie found herself in competition with Katerina who appeared bent on beating her to the beach. Her fighting spirit surfaced and she determined to be first ashore. But as she had seen before Katerina was no slouch in the water. Nicos sat on the sand watching them an amused grin on his face.
‘I think that was a tie,’ he said easily as they waded ashore. They sunbathed for a while, and then set off back to the boat for the picnic placed on board by one of the boatmen. Melanie thought what an ideal day it would have been if she had been there alone with Nicos. She realised with a guilty start that it had nothing to do with her seduction plot. She just wanted to be alone with him.
They set sail again in the afternoon and Melanie for
got all her subterfuge of seducing Nicos in the sheer enjoyment of having him teach her to sail. She learned to call lines ‘sheets’ and the names of all the different sails. He conveyed his enthusiasm to her in such a way that at the end of the afternoon she felt she could sail round the world single-handed.
‘I don’t think you’re quite ready for that yet,’ he laughed. ‘But you’re a good pupil and when we go out again I’ll let you take the helm.’ Melanie’s heart lifted at his words. ‘When we go out next time…..’ clearly he intended to take her sailing with him again. Her plan was working, but somehow the elation she felt was not only due to the success. She’d been so happy all day, being close to Nicos, his bare arm brushing her own as he taught her the rudiments of sail and every time they touched she felt as though an electric current had passed between them.
Intent on each other Katerina had faded into the background. Melanie suddenly realised that she was no longer in the cockpit, but had gone below and was lying on one of the narrow bunks, eyes closed. ‘I don’t feel well,’ she complained. Seasick, thought Melanie gleefully and then felt guilty. She and Nicos had been so wrapped up in each other all afternoon they hadn’t given a thought to her. Contrite, Melanie offered to get her a cold drink from the icebox and was rewarded with a groan.
It was late afternoon when they return to the harbor. Ashore once more Nicos stopped to give the boatman instructions and Melanie and Katerina set off up the path for the villa.
‘I don’t think those sailing boats are very comfortable.’ Katerina huffed. ‘Thank goodness Nicos and I will be on the big boat soon.’ Melanie’s heart dropped. ‘You mean Nicos’s motor yacht? The Athena?’
‘Of course. We have been planning the trip for some time. We’ll be leaving very soon to sail round the Greek Isles. But I think I will get Nicos to go back to the south of France. I can’t wait to get away. It is so boring here. There is no one to talk to.’
The Passionate Greek Page 7