Greek God

by Flora Ferrari

  He doesn’t kiss me though, he just looks at me. Just takes me in.

  “What?” I say.

  “Your beauty. It’s captivating.”

  “No,” I say.

  “Yes. Especially in this light. Your skin is already soft but this light reflecting off the sea gives it a one-of-a-kind blue glow which I’ve never seen before. You are absolutely breathtaking.”

  And I am absolutely blown away by his words. I don’t know if he’s learned to talk like this from the poetry that is the Greek literature which he reads but I sure hope he keeps it coming.

  But he goes even one step beyond. He runs his fingers softly back over my collarbone in complete silence. I watch as his eyes follow his fingers down and back, this time crossing over the tops of my shoulders and then reversing their path and continuing down my arm. When he reaches my palm he takes my hand in his and with his other he scoops me up off the floor carrying me to the bed.

  Normally at this point my heart is racing with anticipation but for some reason tonight I’m completely calm. There’s no rush. There’s no possibility of waking anyone. There will be no sex. This will be the ultimate expression of our time together and how we feel about each other. I’m scared to say it, and I know we’ve already done it this past week, but this will be different…this will be the ultimate in making love.

  He lays me down gently on the bed and then lies down next to me. For what seems like an hour he just runs his hands over my body…all of it. I feel the heat, the chills, the shivers, goose bumps. Going at such a slow speed really allows me to experience things I didn’t even know were possible. I never realized how erogenous the back of the knee could be for example, or how a light brush of the back of the hand across the pelvis could cause my pussy to quiver ever so slightly.

  It’s like an exercise in better understanding myself, and understanding just how deep what the two of us has goes.

  I watch as he stays erect for the entire time, wondering just how such a feat is even possible. How can he obviously desire me but show restraint at the same time…and for such a long period of time?

  But eventually the time is right and he slides over on top of me, mounting me.

  But he surprises me with soft kisses on my shoulders and neck and then gentle romantic kisses on my lips. If it were anyone but him it would be hard to imagine someone so big and strong would be capable of being so gentle and tender…but that’s exactly what he is. He is everything.

  And as minutes turn into what seems like another hour he is everything I want. I want to feel him inside of me, but I dare not ask. It’s better just to relax and let him be in charge. He’s obviously pleasing me beyond belief so why should I start with the requests now?

  But I don’t need to. He reads me like an open book, and his lips gently come off mine as he leans back on his shins and looks down at me from above.

  He slides his pelvis in closer to mine and lines the head of his cock up with my opening before very calmly and slowly entering me. I’m beyond wet and my body has had a week to warm up to his size so he slides right in.

  He leans forward and begins kissing me again as his hips move in rhythm as he slowly enters and exits me. At first he always leave the head inside, but then begins to remove it with each pull back only to reinsert the head which only heightens my experience, and I’m sure his as well.

  He doesn’t increase his speed though, just keeps it nice and slow delaying ultimate gratification.

  But as his lips touch mine and enters me in rhythm at some point my mind drifts off and a sense of euphoria rises up from within me. And at that point there’s nothing I can do but to let my body take over.

  I feel my orgasm begin and I try my best to just relax into it and let it happen. I’ve never climaxed in a way that felt so personal, so relaxing, and so connecting. And now I get all three at once.

  And just as I finish I feel his own climax enter me and a wave of heat come over me. I don’t move, I just feel. Feel from within.

  It’s like our two souls have connected and as much as it scares me to say it…they’re now connected forever.

  CHAPTER 13

  Nick

  Day 10 of 10 in Greece

  The drive to the airport is completely silent. It’s a time for reflecting, sorrow, but also thankfulness.

  I’m grateful for everything that has happened between us the last ten days, but I’m hopeful for what can happen between us in the future. I’m not talking about yearly visits to enjoy island holidays. I refuse to not take chances in life when they matter as much as this. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from Greek literature it’s that I’m tired of tragic endings. Hollywood movies may be corny and predictable, but they’re happy and audiences prefer them for a reason. After ten days with this amazing young woman from the West Coast of the United States I’ve become a convert. I don’t want more tragedies. I want a happy ending of my own.

  I pull over just a few kilometers from the airport. There’s a grassy patch where you can watch the planes come and go. I used to come here as a child and lie on my back and watch with binoculars. This time I hope I don’t have to watch that plane go…her plane.

  I open my door and go around to the other side to help her out.

  “What are we doing?” she asks.

  “Please, sit with me for one second.”

  I grab a blanket from the back and spread it out on the grass. We sit down and my eyes immediately go toward those departing airplanes, but my thoughts are still here with her…with us.

  “You know how much you mean to me,” I say as I turn and face her taking her hands in mine.

  “And you to me,” she says.

  “Yes, it is true. We have made magic these ten days, and I cannot imagine not spending ten more days together, and then ten after that, and after that, and after that.”

  She smiles and I see her eyes are starting to water up a little.

  “As a man who is older I know there are many choices in life…many paths. There are a few decisions in life that change the course of our destiny forever. Today is one of those days, but that’s not entirely true. It’s because my destiny does not change today, it changed ten days ago when I first laid eyes on you. And now that I’ve come to know you and experience everything about you I don’t want to ever take my eyes off of you again. I want you to stay here in Greece with me. I will get you the proper papers where you can live here officially and be my partner in both business and in life. This is my wish for us, and I know it is Sophia’s wish as well. I spoke with her yesterday and she wants this very much.”

  “Nick,” she says. She buries her face in my chest. She’s sobbing uncontrollably now. She pulls back. “I want to stay, but I have to go back. I have my family back there and they’re already expecting me. Once I get there we can work something out where I can come back.”

  “Okay,” I say. “I understand.” But I leave off the part that what I really understand is that this means it’s the end. I don’t doubt she will try. I know she will. But once she gets back and her friends explain to her how the idea is crazy, and she gets back into her routine what we have will be lost. I hate to think tragically, but it’s a reality that I’m old enough to recognize and accept…even though I don’t want to accept this fate between us at all. I hate to think that this has just become nothing more than a holiday romance. But as bad as that sounds I know it’s not. I know it’s so much more, but unfortunately it can never be the ultimate thing in life.

  This is just another Greek tragedy with the same ending. I should have stuck with what I know and not expected something more. I tried not to get my hopes up but it was impossible. This isn’t logic we’re talking about, this is a matter of the heart…and now mine is broken.

  “Thank you for these wonderful days,” I say. “I will never forget you.”

  “And I will never forget you,” she says.

  “And when your plane takes off you can look here to this patch of grass. Look for m
y car and then look for the tiny ant next to it. That ant will be me, waving up to you wishing you a safe journey, but secretly calling you back to me.”

  “Okay,” she says, in-between sobs and a little laughter.

  “And just remember, if you change your mind before that plane departs you know where you can find me.”

  “Okay,” she says. But I know it’s too late. I know I’ve lost her and because of this I’ve lost a part of myself.

  “Shall we go?”

  “Okay,” she says again.

  I want to tease her about her use of the word okay three times in a row, but I know this isn’t the moment. This is hard for her too, maybe harder. She is the one who has to leave. Maybe she feels like she’s abandoning me. I really don’t know.

  All I know is that in two hours my life starts over again…without her.

  CHAPTER 14

  Nick

  “Angeliki, do you mind watching Sophia for a little while longer? I think I might need a few hours to myself?”

  “Oh, Nick. Things didn’t go as planned?”

  “Unfortunately not, but tomorrow is a new day. This afternoon I’ll book my schedule full for the next few months and try to focus on work…to do something productive. It’s the only way.”

  “I’m sorry, Nick. I know how much you wanted this to work out.”

  “Another Greek tragedy, huh? It’s what we do best.”

  “Well I’m glad to see you still have your sense of humor. Take your time getting back. Sophia and I are having a great time. She’s asking about Jackie though…a lot. Should I break the news to her?”

  “No, please allow me. It’s my responsibility. I need to sit down with her and explain everything. She will understand some of it, but some of it won’t make sense. She’s very innocent and simple and thinks that love conquers all. Unfortunately it doesn’t always work that way.”

  “You really did love her, didn’t you?”

  “I’m sorry, Angeliki. I have to go.”

  I hang up the phone and stiffen my jaw. I will not allow myself to experience this pain. I have nothing but incredible memories of this past week. I need to focus on those and not what could have been, should have been, but what never will be.

  I pull up the airport’s website and look at the departure schedule. Two more planes and she’s gone.

  I pop the trunk and turn on the old shortwave radio I got as a kid. I saved up all summer to purchase it. It allowed me to listen to the planes communicate with the tower. At the time I thought it was the most incredible thing in the world. Today it will be the most devastating.

  I sit in the grass and watch as the two planes in front of her taxi and take off.

  There’s a gap that seems like forever for the next flight to go, but finally I hear those words come over the radio.

  “Air France flight 1033 to Charles de Gaulle you are cleared for takeoff.”

  I look down at my phone at the airport’s page to confirm that it’s her plane. It is. I set the phone down and stand, preparing to wave.

  I watch as the plane begins picking up speed and finally the front wheel comes up and then the last. I know the passengers chest have sunk in their stomachs right now due to the take off. Mine has done the same except it was because of the descent…my own personal descent.

  I stand tall and wave in big motions one last time. I haven’t waved at a plane since I was a child. I smile at how my life has come full circle here at the airport, but it’s different. I used to waive goodbye to strangers. Today I wave goodbye to my biggest love and now my biggest heartbreak.

  I continue waving hoping she can see me. Hoping she can have this one final memory in the chapter of our story which was written here.

  “People are gonna think you’re crazy if you stand out here waving at airplanes all day.”

  I turn! It isn’t! It is!

  I run to her and scoop her up in my arms and kiss her hungrily as she kisses me.

  “But you’re on that plane?”

  “I couldn’t. I took a cab back this way. Had him drop me off just up the road so I could walk the last bit.”

  “You’re here to stay?”

  “If you’ll have me.”

  “If I’ll have you?”

  I set her down and get down on one knee.

  I open the small black box and watch as her eyes open just as wide. “Will you marry me?” I ask. I don’t need any more words than that.

  “Oh my god. Yes!” she says.

  I slide the ring on her finger and hug her so tight and lift her feet off the ground.

  I spin us in circles until we fall down onto the blanket.

  “I always preferred helicopter rides to airplane rides,” she says.

  “You have been on a helicopter before?” I ask, still with my head in the clouds from the surprise and joy from what’s happened.

  She laughs. “Not a real one, just the pretend one as a kid. Watch, I’ll show you.”

  A few seconds later I’m laying down on my back with my feet in the air. She’s holding my hands and balancing her body on my feet.

  “That’s an airplane ride. For the helicopter ride you have to spin your feet without dropping me.”

  “I’ll try,” I say.

  I get her one revolution around and sure enough we lose our balance sending her right into my arms.

  She brings her body into mine and we look up as the next plane departs.

  It’s just the same as when I was a kid, but different.

  Now I get to watch them go while my girl stays. My girl. My lover. My best friend. And soon to be my wife.

  EPILOGUE

  Jackie

  Five Months Later

  The crowns, known as stefana, which have been blessed by the priest are placed on each of our heads. They’re linked together by a ribbon. The crowns can be ornate metal or fresh floral wreaths. We decided to go with the floral wreaths, to keep things natural. They represent the blessings that God has bestowed upon the lucky couple, and the ribbon stands for the unbreakable bond between bride and groom.

  The priest leads us around the alter table three times to symbolize our first steps together as man and wife. The circular path we take represents eternity as in our eternal bond as bride and groom.

  A few moments later and the Dance of Isaiah begins. Some people toss rice and others flower petals.

  Shortly thereafter the crows are removed and the priest separates our hands signaling the conclusion of the ceremony.

  I look down at my right hand and stare at the wedding band. I never thought I’d wear a wedding band, and definitely never on my right hand as they do in the Orthodox religion.

  I’m filled with joy and now I’m ready for the real fun to begin. The reception.

  For the rest of the day and into the night our friends and family sing and dance on the island of Mykonos on this lovely late spring day.

  It seems like there is no stopping the party but there’s one moment where Nick and I manage to slide away just to ourselves.

  “Thank you for making this the best day of my life,” I say.

  “And thank you for making it the best day of mine,” he says.

  “What about me?” Sophia says. I guess we weren’t alone.

  “Is it the best day of your life too?” I ask.

  “Well, I think being born is still the best but that’s mostly because I’m just a kid. I’m sure when I get married it will be my best day, but today is really, really, great. I’m happy that we are one big family now…officially,” she says.

  “Me too,” I say. “And I’m not only happy that we’re a family today, but that we’ll be a family forever.”

  “Forever,” she says.

  The three of us make a circle and put our hands in the middle. We lower them and then raise them skyward as we yell, “Opa!”

  It’s the ultimate expression of joy and happiness and I can think of no other way than to describe this moment.

  Sophia runs off to get
some more cake and we’re alone once more.

  “I love you, my very own Adonis,” I say.

  “I love you, my one and only Aphrodite.”

  EXTENDED EPILOGUE

  Jackie

  Three years later

  “Very good!” I say.