“Yes,” Dash answered hoarsely, his body bent over hers. “But feel free to repeat yourself . . . every hour.”
“Silly.” Lotus wiped her hands on the damp towel an attendant handed her then let herself lean against her husband as he pointed out the many small islands they passed. “I can’t believe your knowledge of this wonderful country. How many times have you visited Greece?”
“I don’t know the actual count, but the First time I visited here was the summer between my freshman and sophomore years in college. I was working on a steamer for the Amopoulos family for the summer.”
“Oh. Were you an officer?”
“No.” Dash chuckled. “I shoveled coal into the furnace that heated the boiler. Hot work.”
Lotus grinned at him. “Poor baby.”
They talked and bantered back and forth, until the moment that Dash pointed past her cheek. “There. That’s the island. We’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
The island was a chunk of rock in the sea with a hilly, grassy plateau. A tiny white village huddled near the harbor and a twist of road rose up from the sea into the high meadow.
Dash pointed to the house as they debarked from the ferry. A battered car and grizzled driver, who glared at Dash and called him a name, were there to meet them.
“What did he call you?”
“Filos, meaning ‘friend.’ He told me he remembers the friend of Athos.” Dash grimaced. “Don’t laugh. He’s liable to order me out onto the fishing boats for a day or two, just to make sure that I’m not out of condition.”
Lotus laughed, making the grizzled driver grunt in her direction, his face not changing but his eyes twinkling.
When they arrived at the villa, Lotus was too awed to move, much less hear what was said to her. The view of the sea and the other islands was magnificent. The breeze had the fragrance of blossoms she couldn’t identify, with a touch of the saltiness of the water.
“Yannis said good-bye to you . . .” Dash said in her ear. ". . . But you didn’t hear him.” He chuckled, his insides melting at the happy look on her face. “I take it you approve of our view. Now come in and see the inside, then we’ll go to the beach.”
“Yes,” Lotus breathed, turning to look at him, then blinking. “Oh, dear, I’m sorry I didn’t say good-bye to Yannis. I hope he won’t think me rude.”
“No, he was very pleased with your reactions to his island.”
They walked arm and arm through the six-bedroom villa. Lotus admired the terraced gardens she could see from the windows and the master suite of bedroom, sitting room and two baths that they would be occupying.
“There are two custodians, a man and wife, Stavros and Maria, who care for the property,” Dash told her as they donned their swim suits and took towels and a blanket with them. “The beach is quite a climb, down a path, then a stairway, but the beach is worth the effort.” Dash led her out to the kitchen where he filled a bag with bottled lime juice and several oranges. “Sustenance for the lady with the big appetite.”
And wait until you find out why, Lotus thought as she followed him out of the house and down the circuitous path to the stairway, then to the beach. “It is worth it.” Lotus inhaled the sweet air, then she dropped her towel. “Race you to the beach.”
Dash was open-mouthed as he watched his nude wife run to the water. Little witch! I thought she had her bikini! He felt his body harden as he watched that tiny but well-formed body hit the water in a clean surface dive. Then he was off and running right behind her into the waves, his long sure strokes carrying him to her. He dived under the surface and caught hold of her lissome form. “Where do you think you’re going?” He held her easily in the deep water.
“Did you like my suit?” She smiled impishly at him.
“No wonder you came out of the bathroom with your robe on. Shame on you, Mrs. Colby. I think you’re a wanton.”
“Right you are, Mr. Colby.” She swam closer to him and pressed her mouth to his, letting her tongue touch his teeth, then enter his mouth.
“Stop that. I’ll drown,” Dash gasped, feeling his muscle tone disappear as she continued to caress him.
“I’ll save you,” Lotus murmured, feeling in that moment that she could have saved him from anything, that she could have prevented the Empire State Building from falling on him.
They played in the water for a long time, but Dash seemed to sense before she did that she was tired and insisted that she get out of the water.
“Are you my keeper too?” Lotus asked him as he kept his arm around her as they walked across the sandy beach, then dried her with a towel.
“Yes. I’ll always be that. Besides, didn’t we say that maybe you could be pregnant very soon after we married?” He inhaled. “You do think I’m able to impregnate you, don’t you, darling?”
Lotus covered her mouth to smother her giggles but she couldn’t. She made an effort to stop when she saw a flash of hurt on his face. “My love, sit down next to me.” She put her arm around his neck and climbed into his lap when he sat. “I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing at us. I have very special news for you, Mr. Colby. We are expecting a baby. . . She put her two fingers over his lips when he gasped. “I’ve talked to Dr. Ellen Ryan about it, and I have figured it happened the second time we made love. I knew you were very concerned about me getting a checkup
with a doctor before I became pregnant, so I didn’t want to tell you until we were absolutely alone on this island.”
“I talked to Dr. Ryan—” Dash shook his head. “She said you were capable of having a baby.”
“I wanted to tell you myself . . . have it be my surprise to you. That’s why she didn’t tell you." Lotus stroked his cheek with her hand.
“Are you well?” Dash croaked, cradling her close to him.
“Very well.Strong as an ox.”
“And with the same-size appetite. . . .” Dash’s smile was crooked as she nodded.
“And no morning sickness, nothing but blooming good health.”
“Oh baby . . . baby . . . baby . . .” Dash held her feeling his body tremble with need and happiness “I didn’t expect this. From the moment we met you’ve been bringing me happiness and now this I love you, Lotus, and if I live a thousand years, I will never be able to tell you how much. Never leave me.”
“Never in this life or any other, because if I leave you, then I leave myself. Love has made me yours.”
“And I belong to you.” Dash made the covenant then pushed her gently back on the blanket to make slow, sweet love to her.
Lotus Blossom Page 23