The Touch of Aphrodite
Page 16
His voice was dark and husky now, and he was so close that just one small movement of her body would mean they would be touching.
'Stay here with me. Forever," he invited thickly. 'If you get homesick. I'll take you back to England for a holiday. But only in the summer, so that you're always warm and honey-coloured. No more freezing English winters and pale faces. 1 don't want you ever again to be that cold little English girl that I first met in the solicitor's office.'
'I won't be,' she promised softly. 'And I do want to stay here for the rest of my life. With you.'
Nikolaos drew in a quick, unsteady breath. Then he bent his head and kissed her.
It was several minutes later before he raised his head again and gave a brilliant smile. By then, Emily felt as if her body was ready to melt away completely if he touched her just one more time. Her skin was on fire, every inch of her seemed to ache for him, and she could feel the hot urgency of love running through his own body.
'I hope that you're prepared for the full ritual of a Cypriot wedding," he said, his hand already stroking her again, as if to caress away any protests she might be going to make. 'My aunts have been waiting for my marriage for years. They are going to insist on a huge affair, with probably half the island invited.'
'Everyone can come,' Emily said dazedly. 'I don't care.' Then her eyes suddenly focused clearly again for a few moments. 'You will invite Eleni, won't you?'
Nikolaos hesitated for only a fraction of a second. 'Yes,' he said in a firm voice.
Emily relaxed again. Then Nikolaos's fingers ran slowly down her spine and his voice murmured in her ear, 'We haven't discussed children.'
She looked at him slightly anxiously. 'You do want them, don't you?'
'Of course,' he said at once. 'The only question to be settled is —how many?'
'Oh, as many as you like,' Emily said generously.
Nikolaos grinned. 'This is very new, giving in so easily to whatever I ask of you. I think that I like it. What else shall I ask?*
'Anything,' she said softly, totally acquiescent in his arms.
'Do you still have your master key?'
'Yes,' Emily said, slightly surprised.
'Then I think that I shall ask you to lock the door,' Nikolaos said in a voice that had suddenly thickened again.
It took her only seconds to obey him. Then she was back in his arms again, and his hands were moving lovingly over her, gentle and yet urgent, swiftly unfastening clothes, seeking out the hot, eager body beneath. And the words of love they both whispered were sometimes in Greek and sometimes in English, but the language didn't matter —being together was the only thing of any importance.
The sun shone hotly through the window, the crystal-clear sea lapped gently against the shores of the island of love, and maybe Aphrodite herself smiled gently as she spun her old magic for a new pair of lovers.
W e l c o m e t o E u r o p e
CYPRUS-'the island of love'
Cyprus is the birthplace of the goddess of love, Aphrodite, and, with its natural beauty, there could be no more fitting place for her. Past and present live side by side here, while the island glows with the love of life the Cypriots are known for. So come to the island that promises to offer you 'the warmest welcome in the Meditteranean'
THE ROMANTIC PAST
Cyprus stands between three continents —Europe, Asia and Africa —and its colourful history is filled with battles and invasions. It was populated as far back as 5800BC, and has since been ruled by, among others, the Greeks, Egyptians, Romans and British.
Many famous names are associated with the history of Cyprus. The island fell into the hands of Alexander the Great in 331BC, and nearly three hundred years later it was given by Antony to Cleopatra as a symbol of his love for her.
In 1191 Richard the Lion Heart arrived in Cyprus. A previous ship carrying his sister and his fiancee, Berengaria, had already landed, and the cruel ruler of the time was about to attack the ship and carry them off by force. Richard was incensed that anyone should dare to insult his ladies in this way, and he defeated the leader and forced him to flee. Shortly afterwards Richard and Berengaria sealed their love by getting married in Limassol.
Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, supposedly originated in Cyprus. She is said to have risen naked from the waves on a scallop-shell near Paphos. She was so beautiful that flowers grew at her feet wherever she walked, and she is renowned for her many lovers. However, lest anyone should cast aspersions at her morality, it is said that she returned to Paphos from time to time to renew her virginity in the sea!
However, the course of true love didn't always run smooth —even for the goddess of love herself! Aphrodite fell in love with Adonis, the symbol of beauty and love, but so did Persephone, the goddess of the underworld. The dispute was finally settled when Zeus declared that Adonis should spend half a year with each of them.
Cyprus is now split into two parts, with the Turks controlling about a third of the island, in the northern part of Cyprus, and the Greek Cypriots controlling the rest of the country.
There is still a delightful sense of living history in Cyprus, with the many historic sites and quaint customs. Models of sick people, dedicated to the saints who may be able to cure them, can occasionally be seen in country churches, while if you come across handkerchiefs hanging from trees it probably means that there is a shrine with magical properties near by.
THE ROMANTIC PRESENT-pastimes for lovers. . .
One of the most attractive towns to base yourself in must be Paphos. on the south-west coast of the island. When you first arrive, why not soak up the relaxed atmosphere by wandering along by the sea front and admiring the views of Paphos Fortress and the harbour?
But while you're walking, don't be surprised if you come across one of the more unusual residents of Paphos —one of the pelicans which can often be seen wandering around near the harbour!
If you've come to Cyprus to rediscover romance, the Baths of Aphrodite, a short drive from Paphos, must be the ideal place to start. In this quiet, peaceful spot is a pool where Aphrodite is said to have bathed. She met many of her lovers here, and those she rejected supposedly walked to a nearby spring to cool their inflamed passions in the cold water!
But if, rather than rejecting your partner, you want to encourage him to be more loving, perhaps you should move on to the nearby Fontana Amorosa (The Fountain of Love). According to legend, anyone who drinks the water from one of the wells here will fall in love!Another site which has seen romance and passion for centuries, is the Temple of Aphrodite, not far from Paphos. Here the sexual impulse was praised and celebrated, and there were festivals and rites encouraging fertility. Nowadays you can wander hand in hand with your partner and imagine all the lovers who have been here before you.
Back in Paphos itself, there's an opportunity to live out childhood dreams of being an explorer. Visit the "Byzantine" fortress and see the intriguing ruins of what could once have been a Crusader castle. You can roam around at will, descending crumbling staircases, discovering dead ends and unexpected corners —and then coming face to face with your partner at the most unexpected junctions!
Visitors to Paphos shouldn't miss the House of Dionysus, a third-century Roman villa, where you'll find a superb display of mosaic floors, mainly showing mythological and hunting scenes.
And when the sun goes down and it's time to eat, adjourn to an intimate little taverna with dim lighting and brightly coloured tablecloths. Order a meze—and then sit back in amazement as dish after dish is brought to your table. To begin with there will be dips such as homous (ground chick peas in oil and garlic) and taramasalata, served with sesame-seed bread. Next you will be brought fish and meat dishes such as souvlakia (skewered pieces of lamb grilled over charcoal) and stifado (a beef stew with wine, onions and herbs). When the dishes finally stop coming, only the brave few will be able to manage a sweet dessert like baklava (a strudel-like pastry with honey and nuts), but you may well be able
to find room for some delicious fresh fruit.
And to accompany your meal, what could be better than one of the wines Cyprus has been famous for since antiquity? Try Commandaria, a sweet dessert wine, if you want to discover what wine was like in medieval times. Or try the aniseed-flavoured aperitif called ouzo —but take care, as it's quite strong!
After a few glasses of alcohol and with the holiday spirit filling you, you might well find yourself getting up from your table and joining in one of the spontaneous dances that often take place to the sound of bouzouki music towards the end of the evening! Eating out in Paphos is certainly an unforgettable experience!
While there's enough to keep you happy in Paphos for at least a week, Cyprus has so much to discover that it seems a shame not to venture further. The towns of Larnaca, Nicosia and Limassol all have much to offer, or for a change you can discover the quaint, sparsely populated little villages or get away from it all in the serenity of the Troodos Mountains. Don't forget to leave time for looking for souvenirs before you go home, though! Try one of the Cyprus Handicraft shops, where you can buy some world-famous Lefkara lace. Basket-making is another traditional craft, so why not take home a little cheese-basket—filled, of course, with a packet of the local halloumi cheese? It's the perfect memento to remind you of Cyprus's centuries-old traditions and wonderful cuisine at the same time!
DID YOU KNOW THAT. . .?
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Cyprus is the third largest Mediterranean island after Sicily and Sardinia.
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There are one hundred and twenty varieties of flowers that grow nowhere else in the world except Cyprus.
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Like the British, the Cypriots drive on the left-hand side of the road.
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Because of its mild winters, Northern European athletes and football teams sometimes use Cyprus as their training ground.
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When they want to say 'I love you' the romantic Cypriots murmur,
' S'ayapo.'