by Julia James
His mouth thinned to a tight, taut line.
‘They still can’t be civil to each other, all these years later. They’ve bad-mouthed each other for as long as I can remember. Not a good word to say about each other and expecting me to side with each of them. Yet they absolutely refuse to admit failure and divorce—it’s beyond ghastly.’
Mel kept the sympathy in her voice. ‘I used to feel very sorry for myself when I was young, not having parents, but who knows which is worse? No parents—or parents who make your life a misery growing up?’
‘Yes, tough call,’ acknowledged Nikos, terse now, after what he’d bitten out at length.
Where the hell had all that come from?
He found himself wondering why he’d made any reference to his bumpy childhood and warring family. It wasn’t a subject he discussed with others. It was too deep, too personal. Too painful. But with Mel it had seemed...natural.
He sought for a reason for his embittered outburst.
Maybe it’s because she didn’t have it easy either, growing up with only a grandfather to look after her, missing a mother and father. Maybe that’s why it’s easy to talk to her about such things...
But he didn’t want to think about his endlessly sparring parents and their utter insensitivity to anyone except themselves—their refusal to acknowledge the fact that their marriage was a failure and they should have ended it years ago. He’d washed his hands of both of them and left them to it.
Deliberately he took a deep breath to clear his clouded thoughts. He wouldn’t spoil his time with Mel by thinking about his parents—let alone pouring it out to her again the way he just had. No, it was far more pleasant to know that he was here, with a woman like Mel at his side, making the most of this carefree time together.
With the conference over there was nothing more to do on the island except enjoy themselves. Revel in the passion that flamed between them and relish the absolute leisure and relaxation they had, day after golden day.
It doesn’t get better than this...
The words shaped themselves inside his head and he knew them to be true. Had he ever enjoyed himself more in his life than he was doing now, with Mel? It was just so good being here with her. Oh, the sex was beyond fantastic—no doubt about that—and he’d always known it would be. But it was so, so much more than just the sex.
It’s the being with her that’s so good. Just every day—over meals, on the beach, sightseeing...just everything.
Right now, he thought, I’m a happy man.
It was a good feeling.
As they settled into the taxi, setting off for their own quiet hotel, Nikos gave a sigh of relief. ‘I’m glad to get out of here,’ he said. ‘Now we can get back to the rest of our holiday.’
‘A week to go,’ said Mel lightly.
Her words drew a frown across Nikos’s brow. A week—was that all? It would go by in a flash, as this last one had. His frown deepened. A week wasn’t enough...
Rapidly, in his head, he ran through his diary. Was there anything critical the week after next? Offhand, he couldn’t think of anything. And if there was nothing absolutely critical...
The idea that had struck him was obvious—and inspired, of all things, by the warring Friedmans.
He voiced it over dinner, having checked his online diary to confirm his assumption.
‘Tell me,’ he said as they settled down to their evening meal, which they were taking at the beach bistro, to refresh their spirits after the day’s busyness, ‘are you tempted at all by the idea of going to New York?’
Mel’s face lightened. She’d been thinking along just those lines herself. Going to New York would surely be something to look forward to after this fabulous time with Nikos had ended, wouldn’t it? And she needed something to look forward to...
‘Oh, yes,’ she said. ‘It would make sense, being so close to Bermuda. If I can get a cheap flight, and find a cheap tourist hotel in Manhattan, then—’
Nikos interrupted her. ‘What do you mean?’ he demanded, his buoyant mood altering immediately.
There was an edge to his voice she found unaccountable. She looked at him, confused.
‘Why do you talk about cheap flights and tourist hotels?’ he went on, in the same frowning tone.
It was her turn to look confused. ‘Well, I have to make my savings go as far as they can—’
‘Not when you’re with me,’ he contradicted. His expression darkened. ‘Unless for some reason you don’t want to see New York with me?’
If she hadn’t known better she might have read accusation in his voice. But accusation was so inexplicable it couldn’t possibly be that.
‘Nikos, that’s a daft question,’ she replied, in a rallying humorous tone.
But he was not mollified. ‘Then what is making you talk of going there on your own?’ he demanded.
She looked at him uncertainly. ‘When you invited me to Bermuda, Nikos, you told me it would just be for a couple of weeks—around the conference,’ she said.
He gave a dismissive shrug. ‘So we make it longer. That’s all. I’ve checked my diary and I can bring forward some meetings in New York scheduled for the following month. By extending our stay on Bermuda we can go straight from here to New York. Plus,’ he finished, ‘I could take up John Friedman’s invitation—I dare say it would prove very useful to me.’ He looked across the table. ‘So, let’s do it—shall we?’
His voice was expectant. But Mel’s expression did not lighten in return.
‘Nikos, I’m not sure it’s a good idea—’
His brow darkened. ‘Why?’ His question was blunt.
Her eyes slid away, out over the dark expanse of water beyond the beach. She wanted to put into words her reluctance, and yet it was hard to do so. Hard because shooting through her, making a nonsense of reluctance, was an arrow of sheer exhilaration that seemed to be penetrating to her very core.
He wanted to stay longer on Bermuda, to take her to New York! Wanted to spend more time with her! Wanted not to kiss her goodbye and wave her off out of his life!
She felt the force of it—felt its power.
And it was that that gave her pause.
I came with him for a holiday romance—that’s all. A couple of weeks with Nikos—a glorious, fantastic, fabulous entrée in the banquet of my new life of travelling, of freedom and self-indulgence—that was what this holiday was supposed to be. All that I planned it to be.
A holiday romance was something she could accommodate. Indeed, she’d envisaged fun-filled, light-hearted holiday romances as being an integral part of her new free life. Making up for the lost years of enforced celibacy, for the absolute lack of romance in her life while she’d cared for her grandfather.
But when did a holiday romance turn into something more?
If she let Nikos take her to New York what would come afterwards? He would still go back to Athens, wouldn’t he? Still kiss her goodbye...
Her mind sheered away. She didn’t want to think of that. Didn’t want to think about anything except what she had now—their time together here in Bermuda. Their holiday romance...
Beautiful—and brief.
Her eyes swept back to him, found his resting on her, dark and stormy-looking.
‘Why?’ he asked again. ‘Why is going to New York with me not a good idea?’
He would not let it go. Why was she saying such a thing? Weren’t they having a fantastic time here in Bermuda? Why not keep going with it?
We’re so good together.
That was what was in his head all the time. Simple, uncomplicated and true. There was no reason for her to be unenthusiastic about him going to New York with her. She wanted to go there—he wanted to go there with her. What was the problem?
He wanted her to answer so that he
could dispose of her objections. But at that juncture the waiter arrived with their food, and as he left them Mel determinedly changed the subject.
He could see the ploy for what it was—a way to stop him grilling her—and he accepted it. There were more ways to persuade her than by out-arguing her...
That night, as he took her in his arms, he put into their lovemaking all the skill and expertise that lay within his command, deliberately drawing from her a consummation that left her shaking, trembling in his arms—left him shaking, trembling in hers.
Finally, sated and exhausted, they drew apart and lay beside each other, their bodies sheened with perspiration, their breathing hectic, the echoes of their shared ecstasy still burning between them. He levered himself up on his elbow, smoothing back her damp hair, gazing down into her wide eyes.
‘Come to New York with me...’ he whispered.
His lashes dropped over his eyes, his mouth dipped to graze her lips, parted and bee-stung from his passion.
‘Come to New York with me...’ he whispered again.
Surely she must be persuaded now? Surely she must not want what was between them to end before it needed to? And it did not need to—not yet. They did not have to part—they could keep going—keep going to New York and who knew how far beyond? Who knew how long this romance would last? All he knew was that he had no intention—none at all—of letting it go a single moment before he was ready.
But she didn’t answer him—only let her eyes flutter shut and rolled herself into his waiting embrace. And he closed her against him, hugging her tight, so tight, against the wall of his chest.
In her head she could hear his voice—so low, so seductive, so tempting...
Come to New York with me...
In her body, deep in the core of her, she could feel the hectic pulse ebbing slowly, leaving only the incandescent afterglow of passion. She felt her breathing ease, her heated skin start to cool. But in her heart there was a tightening.
There was one thing she must say to him—only one thing. The sensible thing.
He was nuzzling at her ear, his breath warm, his touch sweet.
‘Come to New York,’ he murmured, coaxing and caressing. His mouth moved from the delicate lobe of her ear, grazing along the line of her jaw. ‘Come to New York,’ he said again.
She could feel his mouth break into a smile suddenly, and his arms tightened around her.
‘Come to New York,’ he said, and she could hear the laugh in his voice. ‘Because I’ll go on asking you until you give in and say yes.’
He was kissing her eyelids now.
‘Give in and say yes... Give in and say yes. You know you want to.’
He was laughing, and so was she, and suddenly, out of nowhere, she couldn’t fight it any longer.
‘Yes! OK—I give in! I’ll come to New York with you!’ Her capitulation was complete.
He gave a low, triumphant rumble and she was grinning, too, half shaking her head and then kissing him. Oh, what the hell? She hadn’t been sensible at all. But she didn’t care—couldn’t care—not now...
Wrapping his warm, strong body against her, she wound herself tighter into his embrace. She felt a singing inside her. She was going to New York with Nikos—their holiday would be longer, their time together would be longer, there were still more glorious days to come.
CHAPTER EIGHT
‘IS THAT YOU guzzling rum cake again?’ Mel’s voice was humorously indignant.
‘Just testing it for quality,’ Nikos assured her, licking his fingers after eating a slice of the cake that was the speciality of the island.
‘Yes, well, if you test much more of it there’ll be none left,’ she riposted, removing the cake tin from him and placing the lid firmly back on top. ‘I’ll keep this in my room, I think.’
Nikos laughed. ‘We can always go to Nelson’s Harbour and restock.’
‘We’ll need to if you keep eating it like that.’
She dropped a kiss on his head before stepping over the dividing wall between their patios and heading indoors. Emerging again, she saw Nikos was pulling on his shirt. Despite the rum cake, his pecs and abs were still spectacularly honed.
Mel felt a ripple of desire go through her. But this wasn’t the time to indulge in a siesta—not least because it was only just after breakfast and they were about to head to the beach.
As they stretched themselves out on their beach loungers, just above the tide line so that the spray from the waves breaking exuberantly into airy foam on the soft pale gold sand could cool their sun-heated bodies, lying on the beach seemed especially blissful.
But that, she knew with a squeezing of her heart, was because their days here were finally running out...
Then they’d be off to New York—for their last, final few days together.
And then goodbye...
Finally, goodbye.
Despite the heat of the beach a sudden draught of cold air seemed to be playing around her body. She fought it back.
But it’s not the end of the holiday yet! I’ve still got time with Nikos.
And yet it was precisely the fact that she’d felt that cold draught that caused her concern.
I shouldn’t be so eager to stay with him—I shouldn’t be clinging to our time together like this. It isn’t what I intended at all. I should be excited at the prospect of going on to see the rest of America—exploring all the places I’ve only ever read about or seen on films or TV. I shouldn’t be wanting to go on being with Nikos all the time—I shouldn’t...
But the problem was she did just want to go on being with Nikos. Here on Bermuda. In New York. And beyond...
For a moment she tried to force herself to imagine exploring the USA on her own—but her mind had gone blank. Beyond New York there seemed to be nothing at all...
Dismay filled her. This was not good—not good at all. For so long she’d thought and dreamt of nothing but being footloose and fancy-free, going where she wanted, when she wanted, making her own way across the world, free as a bird... Yet now there seemed to be only a blank ahead of her.
The time would soon come when they would go their separate ways—she to see the rest of America, he to head back to Athens, to his life. Their holiday together over.
The chilly draught came again.
She didn’t want to think about it—didn’t want to face it. Didn’t want to think that in just a few days’ time it would all be ending.
But what—what will be ending?
That was the question she shied away from answering.
* * *
‘Mel—bad news.’
She turned abruptly, halting in the action of fastening her packed suitcase. Nikos was standing in the open French windows of her room. He was frowning, phone in hand.
‘What’s happened?’ she asked, alarmed.
Their extended time on Bermuda had finally ended, and now they were due to head off to New York.
Mel could not deny that she’d given up on those ambivalent feelings she’d had about his determination to take her to America for a final few days together—she didn’t even try. There was no point. They were going there now, and that was that. They were booked and packed. Any moment now their bags would be collected and the hotel car would take them to the airport for their late-morning flight to New York. So it was too late to question why she was so uneasy about it all—wasn’t it?
‘I’m going to have to change our plans,’ Nikos said, his voice short. ‘We have to head back to Europe. Something’s cropped up and I can’t get out of it—I’m really sorry.’ He gave an annoyed sigh. ‘New York is off the cards—I’m getting us booked on the evening flight direct to London, and then we’ll need to drop down to Athens straight away...’
She was staring at him. Just staring.
He came up to her, slid his phone away and put his arms loosely around her waist.
‘I’m really sorry,’ he said again, apology in his eyes. ‘But on the other hand...’ he dropped a light kiss on her nose ‘...you’ll get to see Athens instead of New York.’
She stepped away from him.
‘Nikos—’
There was something in her voice that made him look at her.
Emotions were shooting through her like bullets. What had she just been thinking? That it was too late to be so uneasy about extending her time with Nikos yet further? Her expression twisted. Suddenly out of the blue, with a phone call that had changed.
‘Nikos, I can’t come to Athens with you.’ The words fell from her lips.
It was his turn to stare. ‘Why not?’ There was blank incomprehension in his voice.
‘Because...because I’m going to New York. Because seeing the USA is what I’ve planned to do.’ She swallowed. ‘I know you were going to be with me for a couple more days in New York, but I’m...I’m going on, Nikos. The way I planned.’
His face was taut. ‘Change your plans. See Athens instead. Didn’t you say you wanted to go “everywhere”?’ he challenged. ‘You haven’t even set foot in Europe yet.’
She shut her eyes. She could hear a kind of drumming in her ears.
I thought I’d have a few more days with him...just a few more days...
But that wasn’t going to happen. It was over—right now.
Because of course she couldn’t go to Europe with him—it was out of the question. Just out of the question.
‘Nikos—no. I can’t.’
‘You can’t what?’ he said, the words cutting into the space between them.
He could feel emotion starting to build in him, but he didn’t know what it was. Knew only that the woman he wanted with him was saying she couldn’t be with him...