by Jennie Lucas
Talos had believed it to be justice.
He’d never thought of the child Dalton had left behind. He’d never checked up on the man’s brokenhearted widow.
Talos’s first year in America, he’d gone to the Hunters’ Massachusetts estate for Thanksgiving dinner. He remembered Bonnie’s glow as she kissed Dalton, right before serving the turkey she’d lovingly prepared. Their daughter—Evie—had been just a chubby kid then, reading books and eating apples in a sprawling farmhouse outside Boston.
Eve had changed herself completely since then. But now that she was pregnant and her cheekbones had softened to a more gentle, feminine curve, he could for the first time see the resemblance to the girl she’d been.
Christ, he was the one who’d had amnesia—except it had been by choice.
In the scandal that followed Dalton’s death, there must have been no money left. Bonnie Hunter had gone back home to England. Loving Dalton almost to madness, what would it have been like for her to marry John Craig after his death, to get security for her only child?
She died a few months after she moved the kid to England. Something about heart trouble.
Heart trouble?
No! Thee mou. He ran his fingers back through his dark hair, suddenly sweating in the cool morning. No one died of a broken heart anymore.
He looked across the market at Eve. No, they just took revenge.
For ten years, she must have molded her character, changing her appearance, remaking her identity to get close to him—all to repay him in kind. She’d attended the charity ball in Venice on his rival’s arm just to get his attention. She’d purposefully set out to seduce him, so she could stab him in the heart.
It was a kind of hatred he’d never imagined in his whole life.
And now she was pregnant with his child.
No wonder she’d crashed her car when she’d found out she was pregnant. No wonder her traumatized mind had gone blank. It was like a severely injured person falling into a coma. It was for survival.
He watched her now at the outdoor market, laughing and haggling over two pairs of baby shoes, one pink, the other blue. Her face was beautiful and lit up. With the new feminine fullness of her pregnancy weight, he recognized the girl she’d once been. She looked so alive, so bright and innocent.
All this time, he’d thought this version of Eve was an illusion.
He’d been wrong.
This—this—was the real Eve. This was who she would have been if she’d grown up without grief or pain. This was the woman she would have become if Talos hadn’t taken everything from her when she was fourteen years old.
Suddenly, he couldn’t breathe. The air stifled him. He felt as if he was choking. He yanked off his tie.
If she ever regained her memory…
She would hate not just Talos, she would hate their child.
Eve suddenly turned as if she felt his glance. Their eyes met across the crowd. Joy suffused her expression. Her violet eyes shone with adoration and love, her cheeks were pink as spring roses.
She was the most desirable woman he’d ever known. The perfect lover. The perfect wife. The perfect mother. And at that moment, as Talos stood, he came to a sudden wrenching decision.
Slowly at first, then faster, he crossed the market. Taking Eve into his arms without a word, he kissed her fiercely. She kissed him back, then drew back with a laugh.
“What is it?” Suddenly frowning, she searched his face. “Is something wrong?”
“Not a thing.” And he was going to make sure nothing was ever wrong for her again.
He held her tightly against his chest, cradling her as if he would never let her go, pressing a kiss against her hair.
He couldn’t lose her. Couldn’t bear to lose this precious, bright angel who’d burst into his life like a miracle. He knew he didn’t deserve her. But he couldn’t let her return to the person she’d been—another bitter, hardened soul in this cold gray world, seeking revenge, seeking payback. Calling it justice.
For the first time in his life, Talos didn’t care about justice. Instead, he prayed for mercy.
Where could he take her? Where could he keep her safe, far from anyone who could remind her of the truth? What place could they hide where no old memories could ever ambush them?
Holding her hand tightly in his own, he pulled her away from the market.
“Where are we going?”
“Home,” he said suddenly. “I’m taking you home.”
“To the penthouse?”
“To Mithridos.” He took a deep breath, and a cloud of fear lifted off him. “My island.”
To save his family, to save them all, Talos had to pray she’d never remember—anything.
CHAPTER TEN
THE sunlight was bright, almost blinding against the palatial white villa.
Looking between the sky and sea, Eve thought she’d never seen so many shades of blue—turquoise, cobalt, indigo. As she stretched out on the lounge chair beside the infinity pool, the sky seemed to blend with the sea below. Putting down her pregnancy book, she watched the wild surf of the Aegean crash onto the white sands below.
They’d only been here a few hours, but she’d already happily changed into a new yellow floral bikini and pretty, translucent pink cover-up with a loose belt. She now had a closet full of comfortable, pretty clothes, brought here by her very own personal assistant. Curling her toes in pure bliss, she closed her eyes, relishing the feel of warm sunshine on her face and body.
And she wasn’t the only one who seemed to like it. Her eyes flew open and she gasped, placing her hands on her gently swelling belly above the top edge of her bikini.
Had she felt…? Was that…?
“Good morning, koukla mou.”
She looked back to see Talos on the terrace. He was wearing only swim shorts, holding a tray with two glasses of sparkling water and two plates of sandwiches and fruit. She smiled at him, even though she wasn’t terribly hungry.
At least not for food.
Talos was so handsome, she thought, with his tanned, muscular chest, his strong forearms and thick legs laced with dark hair. She still didn’t quite understand the urgency that had brought them here from Athens, but he’d been so loving and charming, it had been impossible to refuse his need to take her home.
Since they’d arrived at the island that morning, he’d gone out of his way to make her comfortable here. Eve could hardly believe she was now the mistress of Mithridos, his lavish estate. The private Greek island off the coast of Turkey was accessible only by yacht, seaplane or helicopter. The many servants who ran the enormous white villa had already disappeared after having respectfully greeted her as Talos’s new bride.
Now, her husband came forward on the terrace, setting down the tray and kissing her softly on her cheeks. “Do you like it?”
As if there were any way she wouldn’t like it!
“It’s like a dream,” she said softly as he sat next to her on the lounge chair, his thighs warm against her legs. “It’s a fairy tale. I love it.”
“Good.” There was something beneath his black eyes, something she couldn’t quite read, that exceeded mere domestic satisfaction. He took a long-stemmed rose from the vase on the tray and stroked the soft petals against her sun-warmed skin. As she inhaled the sweet, heady fragrance, he said quietly, “I want you to be happy. I want to raise our children here.”
“Children?” She had the sudden image of making a permanent home here, creating a large, happy family, raising children with their father’s smile. “How many children?”
“Two?”
“Six?” she countered good-naturedly.
He looked down at her, his dark eyes smiling. “We can compromise. Three.”
“All right.” She leaned against him with a contented sigh. “I’m so happy here,” she confessed. “I never want to leave.”
He flashed her a grin. “Then we won’t.”
“Just what do you have in mind?” she teased. “A
honeymoon that never ends?”
He bent to kiss her lightly, tenderly on the lips. “Exactly.”
He went to the white granite table, removing the two lunch plates from the tray. He set them out with silverware and linen napkins. He brought the two glasses of sparkling water to the lounge chairs and handed one to her.
He held up his glass. “To the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Flushing with pleasure, she clinked the glass against his. “To the most wonderful man in the world,” she said softly. “Thank you for telling me the truth. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for putting it all behind us and bringing me home.”
His dark brows creased, and he looked away. Tilting his head back, he gulped his water down to the very last drop.
Well, it was rather delicious, she thought as she took a sip. Sparkling and refreshing—just like him. Her husband was indeed a long cool drink of clear water beneath the hot sun. She took another sip, her eyes tracing over her husband’s handsome physique.
Then she suddenly sat up straight in the lounge chair. With a delighted laugh, she put her hands on her belly. “I think I just felt the baby move!”
“You did?” He placed his hand on her belly over her translucent pink robe. He waited. “I don’t feel anything.”
“Maybe I was wrong,” she said uncertainly. “I’m new at this.” She frowned, straining to feel that little thrum that felt like music inside her, like champagne bubbles tickling within her belly. Then she did, and crowed with delight. “Did you feel that?”
“No.”
She pulled off the pink cover-up. Pressing his hand against her naked belly, she watched his face as he waited, visibly holding his breath. As if there was nothing more important to him in the world than being with her, than waiting to feel his child move inside her.
Eve’s eyes roamed over his handsome face.
Was any woman ever luckier in love?
Except, a voice inside her whispered, he still hasn’t told you he loves you.
She didn’t need to hear the words, she told the voice firmly. His actions showed he cared. Words were cheap. She could do without them.
Couldn’t she?
“I still can’t feel anything,” he said, sticking his bottom lip out with a boyish scowl.
“You will,” she said, hiding a laugh. “Although it might be a while. The book I was reading says it might be another month or two before you can feel it from the outside. But I love that you care about our child so much. I love…” I love you, she wanted to say, but she choked back the words. She couldn’t say them again. Not when he hadn’t said the words back to her. “I…I’d love some lunch.”
“I exist to satisfy your every desire,” he replied with a growl.
She ate all her sandwich and half of his, laughing with him, loving him. She felt hungry. Happy.
They spent the day kicking in the surf and walking on the sandy bay beneath the villa. Above them, the hills of the small island were rocky and sharp. The sand was hot on their feet, which were then cooled by the swift blue waves.
And every moment, she could feel his dark eyes on her. As the blue waves crashed over their ankles, he kissed her.
His lips were so tender, his kiss so passionate and forceful as he held her.
Holding her breath, she looked up at him through her lashes. The tanned skin of his naked chest gleamed as sea spray trickled down the valleys and hills of his muscular body. The hot Greek sunlight burned down on them as they stood on the edge of the blue waves.
“Don’t ever stop kissing me,” she begged.
Without warning, he picked her up in his arms, lifting her against his naked chest, skin to skin.
“I intend to spend my whole life kissing you.”
He carried her up from the beach as if she weighed nothing at all, walking back to the villa. He took the stairs two at a time as he whisked her upstairs to the master bedroom overlooking the ocean. Behind her husband’s handsome face, she barely noticed the high ceilings, the open balcony doors and the white translucent curtains waving in the hot breeze off the Aegean Sea.
She was shaking with longing, limp with desire. They never even made it to the bed. As they passed the balcony doors with its view of the wide blue sea, he kissed her. She twisted in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist as the kiss intensified.
Pushing her against the sliding glass door, he slipped off her yellow bikini as her trembling hands pulled off his swim trunks. They kissed each other frantically, their hands touching everywhere, straining desperately to be close. As she kissed his naked skin, caressing his muscular body, she tasted salt and sun and sea.
With a growl, he lowered her to the soft rug. The breeze cooled their skin as the sheer white curtains waved and twisted over their naked bodies. He kissed down the valley between her breasts to her belly, pushing aside her thighs to lick and suck her slick core. She gasped as he spread her wide, swirling his tongue over her taut nub until she thought she’d go mad. She clenched his shoulders, digging her nails into his skin.
With every flicker of his tongue, she grew tighter and hotter, until she was being swallowed up by dark heat. She felt him thrust his tongue inside her and writhed, bucking her hips, knowing she was about to explode, desperate to hold on just one minute longer.
“No,” she gasped softly, tugging him upward. “Inside me.”
He needed no further invitation. Rolling onto his back, he lifted her above him then lowered her against his shaft. For a moment she couldn’t move. He filled her so deeply.
Then he lifted her again with his strong arms. His dark eyes were intense as he forced her to hold his gaze.
“Ride me,” he commanded her, and she could do nothing but obey. She gasped with sweet ecstasy as she rocked back and forth against him.
She heard his harsh intake of breath, saw the stark need on his face as he allowed her—encouraged her—to control the pace. She held him tight, very tight, their bodies locked as one, both of them breathless and sweaty and panting. And with one last thrust, she exploded.
“I love you,” she cried out. “I love you!”
“I love you.”
Looking up at Eve sharply as she spoke the words, his body wrapped around and inside her, Talos felt embedded so deeply in her soul that he could not deny it any longer. Not even to himself.
I love you.
Making love to her in Athens had been explosive, mind-blowing. But this was more.
Watching her take her pleasure. Watching her beautiful face shine as she rode him, causing such agony for them both—and such explosive pleasure. When he’d heard her gasp out the words, he could hold back no longer, and he poured himself into her with a sharp cry.
Holding her afterward, he realized why this was like nothing he’d ever felt before. He hadn’t just been making love to Eve.
He was in love with her.
Looking at his beautiful, pregnant wife, his heart lurched in his chest. He loved her. She had brought him back to life, made him feel and see things in his life in a totally different light.
He loved her.
He would die if he ever lost her.
And he prayed they would stay here forever, happy, hidden from the world, where he’d never have to be afraid she might remember—
She suddenly screamed in a hoarse voice that had nothing to do with pleasure.
Covering her face, she rolled away from him.
“Eve!” He cradled her back against his naked chest, trying to see her face. When she finally rolled back to face him, her beautiful face was streaked with tears.
“I had another memory.” Her voice was like a whimper.
The chill of fear struck through his heart. “What was it?”
She blinked up at him, her lovely eyes the chilling blue of ice. “I remembered stealing the papers from your safe. I gave them to Jake Skinner at that restaurant, just like you said. Then I ran away from Athens and kept running. I never wanted you to find me. I hated you.”
Her face looked shell-shocked, bewildered, her eyes filling with tears as she pleaded, “Why? Why did I hate you so much?”
His heart rose in his throat. He stared down at her, unable to speak.
“Tell me why I hated you,” she cried.
“I…I don’t know,” he lied, wanting to protect his wife.
Covering her face, she pushed away from him, curling her body into a fetal position.
“It doesn’t matter.” He forced her to roll back. He looked down at her. “The past doesn’t matter. Not anymore. All that matters is the future. Our baby.”
Naked, she stared up at him.
“Do you love me, Talos?” she whispered.
He hadn’t expected that question.
Yes, he started to say. I love you.
But the words got stuck in his throat. He’d never said them before to anyone.
I love you. And I’m terrified I’ll lose you.
When he didn’t answer, she sucked in her breath. He saw the misery on her face and knew he’d hurt her at the moment she most needed comfort.
“Eve…” he whispered. He leaned forward to kiss her.
Then stopped himself.
He’d thought by bringing her to Mithridos, a place she’d never been before, he could protect her from the memories.
But it hadn’t been seeing the sights of Venice or Athens that had made memories return. She’d had her first memory after kissing him on the Rialto Bridge. Immediately after making love to him in Athens with such joy, she’d been crushed by dark memories of her father’s death. And now, just as they’d made love a second time, she remembered hating him.
Memories returned after he kissed her.
Memories returned when he made love to her.
That night, he held her in his arms as she cried herself to sleep. He knew it was woefully inadequate, but he was unable to do more. He wanted to make love to her. He wanted to tell her the truth.
He could do neither.
Finally, after she slept, he could take it no more. Rising from the bed, he stared out the open French doors to the terrace, as the warm breeze whirled the curtains. He stared at the full moonlight floating against the black waves of the Aegean, like lost ghosts caught and trapped in dark, invisible webs to the earth.