by Zoe Chant
“No, it’s true,” Josie continued. “You didn’t have to say yes. Do you know how many times I’ve been turned down for things like this? But you saw the value in it. And for that alone, I’m grateful. And as for everything else... well, that has been beyond an added bonus.”
She saw at once that Isaak understood what she meant. Heat flared in his eyes. Josie had never wanted to kiss anyone so badly before in all her life – but first, they had to get their little discovery back out into the world.
Josie extended her arm, holding the bird out to him. “Just gently put two fingers either side of her neck,” she said, as Isaak lifted his hand almost nervously. It was strange to see it – not that Isaak had been anything other than gentle with her, but he was a big, strong guy, and his physicality was one of the most attractive things about him. He looked as if he could pick her up with one hand if he’d wanted to – as if she weighed no more than a bird herself!
“Like this?” Isaak asked, as he took the bird from her hand, cradling it gently between his fingers.
“Exactly,” Josie said, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
He isn’t a monster.
The thought was in her head in an instant – not that she had ever thought he was. How could he be? Regardless of what he had said yesterday, she simply couldn’t bring herself to believe it.
She could see how someone might come to believe such things about themselves, after the life Isaak had had – no matter that his adoptive parents were wealthy, he had clearly had a difficult early life, growing up in an orphanage. Maybe he had never even known who his real parents were. And then, after that, the people who had taken him into their hearts and into their home had died when he was still only nineteen.
How would a person cope with so much tragedy?
Josie herself knew she would probably want to retreat from the world too.
Could she really blame him for seeing himself the way he did?
I’ll help him to see how wonderful he is, she decided suddenly. How kind. How gentle. The opposite of a monster!
“Well – here she goes,” Isaak said, opening his hands.
To Josie’s surprise, the kingfisher didn’t immediately spring out of his hands and into the air. She stayed where it was on Isaak’s palm, blinking, and seeming perfectly content to take her time.
Josie had never seen such a thing before – unless a bird was too surprised at its sudden freedom to take off, they almost always leapt straight into the air, eager to be away from their captors, even if the captors had meant them no harm.
This... this was different.
The kingfisher cocked her tiny head, regarding them, before calmly preening down a feather on her wing that had become disarrayed. Then, and only then, did she take off, fluttering onto a nearby branch, before disappearing into the forest.
“Wow,” Josie said, once she was gone. “Someone’s made a friend!”
Isaak stared reflectively after the bird for a long moment, before turning to her with a somewhat wistful smile.
“Josie, that was amazing.” He reached out, taking her hand. “You’re amazing.”
“Me?” Josie started to say – until suddenly Isaak’s lips were on hers, caressingly at first, but then with increasing hunger.
He tasted like nothing she’d ever known before: spices, honey, and heat.
And in that second, she knew she wanted more.
If she could have gone on kissing him forever, Josie was certain she wouldn’t have minded one bit.
How could anyone who can kiss like this be a monster?
The thought might have been naïve, Josie thought – but it wasn’t only that Isaak seemed to know just how to angle his head, just how to curve his tongue to make her see stars of desire.
It was also the connection between them – the strange, smoldering connection – that made her feel as if they were joined by a golden thread, their hearts beating as one.
What is this? Josie thought breathlessly as Isaak pulled back slightly, his green eyes looking directly into hers.
She’d never felt anything like this before.
How was it that he could make her skin tingle with desperate need?
How was it that he seemed to know exactly what she was thinking at every moment – and vice versa?
How was it that she had come to care so deeply for him in such a short space of time? Leaving him would be like cutting off a limb – or worse.
Ordinarily she might have felt melodramatic for having such a thought.
But with Isaak, it didn’t seem like an exaggeration in the slightest.
As his hands came up to clasp her back, Josie couldn’t help but gasp.
He was so powerful – so masculine –
The circle of his arms around her was irresistible, and she fell against his chest willingly, wanting to taste him, smell him, feel him...
Josie didn’t know how long they stood there together, lost in their kisses and each other.
And between them, somehow, she could feel the sapphire of her grandmother’s ring, burning, glowing, like a hot coal – that somehow didn’t hurt her.
Gasping, Josie pulled back, glancing down at it where it rested between her breasts... but it didn’t look any different. Its deep blue depths were calm. It wasn’t burning or glowing at all.
But even so, Josie felt she could detect some kind of... power emanating from it, something that throbbed deep within her core.
This is too strange, she thought, feeling dizzy.
“Whoa – are you okay?”
Josie didn’t realize she had swooned a little until she felt Isaak’s arms holding her up, her knees wobbling like Jell-O.
Swallowing, she shook her head, trying to get her thoughts together.
“Yeah, I – I’m fine,” she said, though Isaak’s expression remained doubtful. “I guess I... well, the last couple of days have been a lot. I guess I’m just a little overwhelmed.”
For a moment, she considered trying to explain the strange feeling from her ring... but in the end, decided against it. How would she even go about explaining something like that? She didn’t even think she had the words to describe it.
“We... should go check the nets and take them down,” Josie said once she felt a little less breathless. “I don’t want any birds being stuck in there for long. And I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
She hadn’t realized until that moment just how hungry she was. As if to emphasize her point, her stomach let out a long, low growl.
Isaak laughed softly. “So I hear.”
They were making their way back to the mist nets when a wild idea came into Josie’s head.
Maybe if he weren’t so isolated here... she thought suddenly, glancing across at Isaak’s face as they walked. Maybe if we went on a normal date... he could see there’s nothing monstrous about him at all.
“Isaak,” she said as they reached the nets and began taking them down. “Can I ask a favor?”
“Anything.”
Josie licked her lips. “Will you take me to the mainland?”
Isaak glanced across at her. “I can arrange a boat to come and pick you up, if this is what you wish.”
She shook her head. “No, that’s not quite what I meant. I meant... will you take me to the mainland. I want for us to go there. Together.”
Isaak stopped what he was doing and stared at her for a long moment. “Anything except that.”
“But why not?” Josie asked, the words bursting from her lips before she could stop them. “When was the last time you went there?”
Isaak was silent for a long moment. “Four years ago.” He wouldn’t meet her eyes.
“That’s a long time to be alone,” Josie murmured, wanting to reach out to him. Finally, she put a hand on his arm, only to find him practically vibrating with tension.
“You know why I had to do it,” Isaak said softly. “I told you about –”
“I know. But I’m telling you that that’s not how
I see you. You’re not any of the things you said you were.” Josie licked her lips, leaning into him. “Please – let me show you just how far from a monster you are.”
Isaak’s brilliant green eyes at last flicked up to meet hers. No matter how many times she saw them, Josie thought, she didn’t think they would ever fail to take her breath away. She’d never seen eyes so green.
“I don’t know, Josie... if only you knew... if only you could understand...”
“I do understand,” Josie said firmly. “I understand that you’re kind, and gentle, and birds like you, and you’re an amazing kisser, and amazing at... uh, other things too.” Josie felt herself blush to the roots of her hair, but she kept going. “And... and I’d like you to take me on a date.”
Isaak’s lips quirked into something that might have been the beginnings of a smile. “A date?”
Putting her hands on her hips, Josie mock-glared at him. “Yes! A date! Is that so weird? Just because we took things fast yesterday doesn’t mean I don’t want to be treated like a normal girl today. And I’d like to go on a date.”
“Are you sure about this?” Isaak asked, turning back to the nets, slowly unslinging them from the poles. “I have a... a reputation, you might say.”
“Maybe so,” Josie replied as she too began to take down the nets. “But I didn’t get any chance to go exploring before I came out to Calauria. Maybe you could show me around.”
Isaak didn’t answer her for a long time. Josie instinctively knew to keep her peace until he had finished thinking it over. At last, when the last of the nets were rolled up and the poles taken down, he looked her in the eye.
“All right, Josie. You know I can’t refuse you. We will go.”
Chapter Eight
Isaak
The ocean waves slapped against the sides of the small motorboat as it made its way toward the mainland.
Sitting in the back seat, Isaak did his best to ignore the sidelong glances the pilot kept shooting in his direction – as if he was trying to see whether the monster of Calauria was really as monstrous as the rumors claimed.
Isaak had his own boat, of course – but after four years of disuse, he would have needed to clean it up significantly before it was ready to go anywhere. As reluctant as he was to make this trip, he couldn’t stand the idea of making Josie wait. Who even knew if he’d have the parts he needed to make the boat seaworthy once more? The simplest thing had been to arrange for a boat from the mainland to come and pick them up.
Catching the pilot staring at him once again, Isaak swallowed. “Keep your eyes on where you’re going, please,” he said to him in Greek. The man’s face immediately snapped back to face forward, though he did not answer.
Isaak’s growing sense of unease was suddenly pierced by the sound of Josie’s laughter as the boat bumped over a particularly rough wave. Immediately, a sense of glowing warmth began to fill his belly as he turned to look at her.
She was wearing a beautiful floral summer dress that hugged her breasts and flowed down from the gorgeous curve of her hips, dropping almost to her shapely ankles. She was trying desperately to hold her wild auburn tresses in the loose bun she had pulled them into when they’d returned to the villa after finding the white speckled kingfisher, but it was a losing battle. Josie grinned at him as she shoved a handful of hair out of her face, though a moment later the rushing wind had obscured it again.
She’s beautiful.
It seemed unbelievable to him that someone so beautiful, so intelligent, so... so full of life and joy could want to be with him. He had been prepared for her to run far, far away from him when he had told her about the darkness inside him – but instead she had met his fear with kindness – with love.
Doubt rose inside him as he watched her, however. Did she really understand the danger of being with him? Could anyone but he really comprehend the beast within him?
Wouldn’t she be better off with another man? Someone who could truly take care of her?
She is ours.
As if on cue, the monster roiled up inside him.
Ours to protect. No one else’s.
Isaak swallowed, closing his eyes.
You... you want to protect her?
The monster’s green eyes seemed to glow in the darkness, flaring as if he had offended it.
Of course! Of course we would only protect her! She is our m–
“We’re here, sir, madam.”
Isaak’s eyes snapped open again at the sound of the pilot’s voice, and the green eyes retreated, whatever the beast had been about to say lost. The boat slowed as it carved an arc through the water to the docks, the wind that had been whipping past them becoming little more than a gentle breeze.
“That was fun,” Josie laughed as the boat pulled into its berth. “Good Lord, I must look like a complete mess, though.”
Isaak couldn’t help but smile as he stood, before helping Josie up. Her hand was warm in his. “You look beautiful,” he said, and meant it. If anything, with her hair in such disarray, Josie looked even more fetching than she had when they left. The wildness of her hair, the flush of her cheeks and the brightness of her eyes reminded him of how she had looked just after they had made love.
Heat immediately flooded him at the memory, and, from the way Josie’s eyes darted to his, it was almost as if she had read his thoughts. She bit her lip her long lashes sweeping down coyly. It was a look that was both shy and flirtatious – and which held a world of promise.
Tonight.
It took every ounce of self-control Isaak had not to sweep her back into the boat and order the pilot to take them back to Calauria right this instant.
He controlled himself with difficulty. Josie had wanted to come to the mainland. Surely he could control his desire for her for a few hours? And if not...
... Well, that was what hotels were for.
He held her hand as she stepped up onto the dock. On her finger was the enormous sapphire, sparkling in the late afternoon sun. He felt the same strange, tingling sensation as earlier as it came into contact with his skin.
Apparently seeing him looking, Josie wiggled her finger playfully. “I don’t usually wear it like this,” she said, as they walked along the dock toward the cobbled streets of the town. “But... well, ever since you told me what it was worth, I feel like I don’t want to take my eyes off it, even for a moment.” She glanced up at him. “I suppose it would have been safer back on the island, though...”
Isaak felt sudden possessiveness rise up within him. “I won’t let anyone take it from you. Not now, and not ever.”
Josie blinked, clearly surprised at how fervent he sounded. To tell the truth, Isaak had surprised himself. He hadn’t meant to sound so harsh.
He forced himself to swallow down the strange feeling within himself.
“I’ll keep you safe,” he said. “You have nothing to be frightened of.”
Josie nodded, her eyes drifting admiringly over his shoulders. “It must be nice – I can’t imagine anyone would be willing to pick a fight with you.”
Shaking his head, he shrugged. “You’d be surprised. When I was young, I got into many fights.”
Josie looked up at him, eyes wide. “Really? What about?”
“Nothing important.” Isaak frowned as he thought back to his childhood. “When I first came here after Nikos and Adriana adopted me, I didn’t speak Greek very well. I had a private tutor, but they felt it was important for me to go to school, to spend time with other children. They were right, of course – but I was too nervous to talk much, since I didn’t know the language. I suppose some of the other children saw my silence as a weakness. So they didn’t hesitate to pick at it.”
What has made me think of these memories now? Isaak wondered. He hadn’t thought about such things in years. That had been long before his monster had even reared its head – but it had still been something that had made him feel different, somehow apart from everyone else.
“Oh,” Josie s
aid quietly. “I’m sorry to hear that. Sometimes children don’t realize how hurtful they’re being.”
Isaak nodded. “That’s true. They were only children, though.”
“I didn’t realize you weren’t actually Greek,” Josie said. “Where did your parents adopt you from, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Not at all,” Isaak responded, and was mildly surprised to find that it was true. Usually he didn’t enjoy people asking questions about his past. But with Josie, things were different – that had already been made more than clear to him. She was different. “They adopted me from Romania. There’re a lot of children in orphanages there, as there are all over eastern Europe. I don’t know if that’s where I was born, though, or what country my parents might have been from.” He paused, glancing down at her. “Sometimes I think perhaps I’ll go back there, or try to re-learn the language. But other times I can’t see the point. I don’t feel connected to it anymore.”
Josie nodded, before smiling sadly at him. “I think I understand what you mean. My mother is annoyed with herself for not forcing me to speak more Spanish when I was a kid. These days I hardly speak any at all, though I understand a lot more. After my grandma died, it almost felt like my last link to my roots had been broken. I mean, I had a quinceañera of course, but aside from that...” She shrugged. “It’s never too late, though. I don’t want to let that part of me go.”
“Perhaps you’re right,” Isaak said – and again, to his surprise, he found himself believing it. When he was with Josie, possibilities that he had once thought closed now seemed to be open once more.
She gave him a sense of peace, somehow. The thought that perhaps things were not as bleak as he had once thought.
She gave him... hope.
“Again, feel free to tell me to mind my own business, but... did you always call your adoptive parents by their names?” Josie asked.
“Yes,” Isaak responded. “I was already old enough when they adopted me to know that they weren’t my biological parents. So they never had to explain any of that to me. They gave me a choice, but said they didn’t mind if I wanted to call them by name. They said they loved me, and what I called them wasn’t important. That in the ways that mattered, I was their son.”