Читать книгу The Love Islands Collection - Jane Porter - Страница 20
ОглавлениеTHEY RETURNED TO KATAPOLA, the main harbor, for a late breakfast after checking out of the hotel.
Nikos had wanted to stay in Chora for the meal, but Georgia pleaded to return to Katapola so they could have their last meal on Amorgós be at one of those charming restaurants on the bay.
In town, Nikos let Georgia pick the restaurant, and she took the task seriously, studying the outside of each place before examining the posted menus before finally selecting a small outdoor café close to the boats.
It was clearly a place for locals—and by locals, it appeared the local men—but Nikos entered and took a table on the shaded patio, ignoring the curious glances from the patrons already seated at tables.
They knew who he was, she thought as he held her chair for her. Just as the woman in the bakery had seemed to recognize him yesterday. Just as the woman behind the counter hadn’t been friendly, these men weren’t welcoming, either.
“I know you studied the menu outside, but almost everything was for lunch. Greeks don’t have a big breakfast. For some it’s just a coffee and cigarette, not that I’d recommend that for you,” he said. “For others, it might be some yogurt with almonds and honey, or maybe a slice of cheese pie or spinach pie.”
“So what would you suggest?”
“What are you hungry for?”
“Do you think they have eggs?”
“I’m sure they could cook eggs for you. I will ask.” He leaned back in his chair, looking carelessly at ease.
But Georgia wasn’t relaxed. She could feel the stares of the men at the table in the corner. It wasn’t comfortable. She shifted in her chair, trying to block them from view. “Have you been here before?”
“To this restaurant or the island?”
“Both.”
“Not to the café, but to the island, yes.”
She couldn’t help glancing back over her shoulder, her gaze sweeping the corner table as well as the pair at an adjacent table. Not one of the men smiled or nodded.
“Kind of an interesting energy,” she said.
“Very polite of you.”
She focused on him. “So you’re aware of the cold shoulder?”
“Absolutely. I’m not wanted here.”
“Why?”
“They are uncomfortable with me here.”
“Why?”
He didn’t immediately answer, and then he shrugged, wearily. “They call me teras. Thirio.”
Georgia silently repeated the words. “What does it mean?”
“It’s not important.”
“Tell me, Nikos.”
He sighed. “Monster.” He hesitated. “Beast.”
“What?” Her jaw dropped, shocked. “Why?”
He gestured to his face. “This.”
“That’s ridiculous. Those are burns. You were injured—”
“It bothers people here that I live and she does not.”
“Were you at the wheel?”
“No. I wasn’t even in the car.”
“Then how can they blame you?”
“It’s a small island. I live close by and yet I’m a stranger to them.”
“I find it hard to believe that’s why they call you such horrible things.”
“I’m an eccentric.”
“Yes, you are. But does that warrant such cruelty?”
“I don’t know. I don’t really care anymore. I just try to avoid this place. It’s why I didn’t want to come here. It’s why I stay on Kamari. It’s home.”
His refuge.
Georgia swallowed hard, hating what he’d told her and yet also understanding his desire to be alone. To have his own space. To be free of ignorant people’s hatefulness. “How do they even know about you and Elsa? Didn’t you meet her in Athens?”
“No. She was here on Amorgós on holiday with girlfriends, visiting from Oslo. They’d booked a villa for a number of weeks during the summer and while here, she met a handsome young man, a local fisherman named Ambrose, and they fell in love. He proposed. She stayed. The wedding was planned. And then she met me.”
“And she abandoned Ambrose for you.”
“Yes.”
“People took sides.”
“Yes.”
“And when she died in the accident, they blamed you.”
The edge of his mouth curved, but it wasn’t a smile. “You know the story already.”
“It’s horrible.”
“I am, yes.”
“No.” She frowned at him. “You’re not horrible. The story is horrible. And they are horrible, too, if they call you such terrible names. You are not a beast or a monster—”
“I don’t blame them. She’s gone and look at me.”
“I see you. And I think you’re beautiful.” And then Georgia shocked everyone in the café by leaning across the table and kissing him on the lips. “Let’s go back to Kamari,” she whispered. “I’m tired of playing tourist.”
* * *
It rained during the return trip to Kamari. The clouds had been gathering during the morning and by the time they boarded the boat at noon the sky was gray, the clouds ominously low.
“I am wishing I’d requested the yacht,” Nikos said, taking Georgia’s hand to steady her as she stepped into the low, sleek speedboat. “But maybe we’ll beat the storm.”
She’d had such a great day and a half on Amorgós, had loved her night with Nikos, enjoying every moment of their trip until they’d sat down in that café on the harbor.
Now it was hard to get the villagers’ cold stares out of her head. Nikos’s explanation didn’t help, as she sensed there were pieces missing from the story. She wanted to ask more questions but didn’t think this was the time. “I’m not worried about getting wet,” she said, flashing him a quick smile. “It’s just rain.”
“You might feel different when we’re flying at high speed across the water.”
The storm broke while they were halfway between Amorgós and Kamari, and there were a few drops and then the skies just parted and the rain came down hard, and the wind whipped at them. The rain was cold and fell in heavy wet sheets, pelting them. On the speedboat there was nowhere to go, and so the rain drenched them, water streaming from Georgia’s sweater when it could hold no more.
Nikos had offered his jacket when the first raindrops fell, but she’d refused. Now he simply overrode her protest and peeled off his coat, wrapping it around her slim shoulders and buttoning it over her chest.
“Nikos, I’m fine,” she laughed, pushing wet hair back from her face.
“You’re not. You’re chilled through,” he said. He reached out to touch her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “Your skin is cold.”
“I’m not that cold.”
“You’ll get sick.”
“We’ll be back soon.”
“Not soon enough,” he said, drawing her into his arms and holding her securely against him. “Not taking chances.”
“You never do,” she answered as he shifted his hold, one of his arms circling her shoulders to keep her upright, while the other moved below the hem of his coat to clasp her waist.
She had been cold, but his body was warm, penetrating her damp clothes. She loved the feel of his hand on her waist, too. The intimacy of the touch wasn’t lost on her. From the beginning Nikos had been protective, and on Amorgós he’d remained close, always watchful, always there to lend a hand as she stood up or navigated a steep set of stairs, making her feel safe, desired.
It had been a long time since anyone was there for her. She’d grown accustomed to taking care of herself, taking care of others, and it was a novelty to have Nikos want to care for her.
Nikos’s hand at her waist was sliding down to her hip, and she sucked in air, eyes half closing, trying to ignore the faint shudder of pleasure.
“I knew you were freezing,” he said, his mouth near her ear, his warm breath stirring her senses.
She wanted to tell him he didn’t need to worry, that she wasn’t cold, just sensitive, her body still humming with emotion and sensation from their night of lovemaking.
The speedboat hit a wave and lifted. Nikos’s arm tightened around her, holding her steady.
Just then the baby kicked. Nikos’s head dipped. “I felt that,” he said.
Georgia’s heart turned over. A lump filled her throat. She put her hand over his, trying to control the panic rolling through her.
How was this going to work?
How was she going to do this?
How was she going to just get on a plane and leave Nikos and the baby?
* * *
Back on Kamari, Nikos disappeared into his room to shower and change and work, and Georgia did the same, except after her hot shower she couldn’t seem to settle down enough to focus on her books.
She sat on the couch and stared off into space, her attention drawn now and then to the window, where the rain drummed against the glass.
She had to study. The exam was important. Her future was important. Her goals hadn’t changed. Her priorities were still the same. Weren’t they?
But as the rain pounded on the roof and the wind howled outside, tugging at the old wood shutters, she found herself unable to see herself back in Atlanta.
She couldn’t imagine returning to school as if none of this had ever happened.
Uneasy with the future, unable to answer any of the questions eating away at her, Georgia forced herself to read. She would study. She had to study. Right now preparing for the test was the only thing she could control.
* * *
That evening they met for drinks in the library since the rain hadn’t let up. Nikos had laid a fire and the room was toasty warm.
He’d seated Georgia in one of the oversize wing chairs flanking the fire, and he took the other. The steady drumming of the rain was almost like music. Nikos couldn’t remember when he last felt so comfortable.
He was content.
It had been a good trip to Amorgós. It had been time well spent.
Georgia was studying the fire, and he used the opportunity to study her.
She was so beautiful. So uniquely Georgia Nielsen. Fierce and frustrating, provocative and strong, and ultimately breathtakingly wonderful.
He remembered tracing her face in bed, lightly running his fingertip over her stunning face, following the elegant arc of her winged brows, and then down her straight fine nose, over the generous softness of her full lips.
“You are so incredibly pretty.”
He didn’t even realize he’d said the words aloud until she turned and looked at him, those lovely, tempting lips curving up in a smile.
“I have a feeling blue-eyed blondes are your type,” she said, her voice warm with amusement.
He frowned. “Why did you say that?”
“You were very specific in your quest for a donor. Height, weight, hair color, eye color, ethnic makeup.”
“I also wanted healthy, educated, intelligent—”
“Blonde.” But her lips still curved. “But I’m not shocked. Men have types. Your type just happens to be slender blondes from Scandinavia.”
“No, my type just happens to be you. The world is full of blondes, but there is only one you.”
They ended up eating dinner in the library and then it was just a short walk to his room.
Georgia felt Nikos’s impatience as he shut the door behind him, locking it.
“I’ve never been in here,” she said, looking around. His room was simple with a large elegant bed, low handsome nightstands and a stunning glass chandelier overhead. “It looks Venetian,” she said.
“It is. I have a weakness for Venetian design.”
“Maybe you have some Venetian in your blood.”
He reached for her, drawing her to him. “I know I have you in my blood.” He lifted her face to his, kissing her lightly, his lips brushing over hers, teasing, making her sigh and arch into him.
“Kiss me,” she urged, sliding a hand into the thick, glossy hair at his nape and giving it a little tug. “Make me feel good.”
That was all it took for the simmering heat to ignite.
Nikos deepened the kiss, his lips parting hers even as his hand slid down her back, to the dip in her spine. He pressed her there, urging her closer. She loved the feel of his hand in the small of her back and the way his skin warmed hers from the inside out. She could feel his palm and the press of each finger, awakening nerves, making her spark and tingle.
His tongue teased hers. His hand slipped to her hip and then to the curve of her butt, holding her securely to him, letting her feel the thickness of his erection.
She rubbed herself against him, sighing as his shaft brushed her where she was sensitive. His fingers followed, cupping her there, between her thighs, and then stroking with expert fingers, sending a bolt of white-hot sensation right through her.
“Are you wet?” he murmured at her ear.
“Yes.”
“How wet?”
“You could take me now, here, and I’d come like that.”
“You are too easy.” His teeth nipped at her neck; he stroked and pinched her breast. “We should make this a challenge. Not let you come—”
“No, not fair.”
“Force you to wait, hold back.”
“That will just torture me.”
“But it will make the orgasm even better.”
“I don’t know that I’d survive it.”
He laughed softly, his hands slipping beneath her blouse, circling her waist before sliding up her rib cage to cup her breasts. “I promise you’ll survive. I would never let anything happen to you or hurt you.”
“You have happened to me,” she said, suddenly breathless as he peeled the lace cups from her breasts to rub his palms over her taut nipples. The pleasure was intense. He made her feel wild...desperate.
Before Nikos, she didn’t think she’d ever really been touched before.
She didn’t think she’d ever met a man who understood a woman’s body the way he did. Nikos was a master of sensuality, an expert in seduction, and she wanted it all. She wanted everything he could give her, aware that this might be all they ever had, and it would have to be enough.
Her clothes seemed to fall away, and he drew back to look at her, his dark eyes hot and bright. He examined her from head to toe, ownership in his eyes, along with pride.
It felt good to be wanted...desired...claimed.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured, brushing a hand across one of her rosy-tipped breasts, her breasts so much fuller now that she was pregnant.
“I think you’ve been starved for attention here on Kamari,” she said.
“I am starved for you,” he answered.
“You had me not even twenty-four hours ago.”
“That was a taste. I want a feast.”
Her cheeks flushed. She burned.
He watched her face as he stroked her nipple again, tugging on the sensitive peak. She gasped at the ache he caused between her thighs. He was making her body so hot, making her wet.
He tugged on the nipple, rolling the tip between his fingers, the sensation sharp and intense, pleasure and pain, and Georgia sucked in air, head spinning, pulse pounding.
“I don’t know that I can stand much longer,” she whispered.
He swung her into his arms and carried her to the bed. His hands and mouth were everywhere, touching, kissing, stroking, licking.
Her eyes closed as she felt his lips close around her nipple, making her body hotter and wetter, and then he lazily traveled between her breasts, down over the curve of her belly. He kissed the point where her thigh and hip came together, waking every little nerve, before kissing her between the thighs, fingers sliding through soft folds, parting them to expose the nub.
The cool air against her was erotic, but there was nothing like his mouth on her, his tongue and lips covering her clit, sucking hard.
She shattered immediately. She couldn’t help it. He was far too good, and she felt far too much.
“That’s what I mean,” he teased, moving behind her to hold her against him. “There is no challenge.”
“Would it be better if I didn’t come?”
“I would find a way to reach you.”
“So confident.”
He kissed the back of her neck, her shoulder. “I blame you. You have made me so.”
And then he turned her on her side, and eased into her from behind. She was wet, and he was thick and hard. She sighed as he buried himself deeply within her before pulling back, nearly withdrawing.
She protested, and he laughed softly, teasing her for a moment before thrusting deep. He reached around to stroke her as he thrust in and out.
The pleasure built, nerves tightening, sensation focusing. She felt hot, and she was breathing harder, panting as each deep, hard thrust pushed her closer to an orgasm, but she fought it this time, not ready to give in, wanting to prolong the pleasure as long as she could.
Making love with Nikos was powerful...electric. The physical act somehow transformed her—them—into something beautiful and new, as if they weren’t two separate people but one.
One body.
One heart.
And then she couldn’t think about anything but the bright, intense sensation rippling through her, sweeping her into a fierce, brilliant, shattering climax. Her body exploded, and dozens of sparkly lights danced in her eyes, in her mind.
Heaven. It was heaven here on earth.
* * *
Georgia opened her eyes to discover Nikos was looking at her. “How long was I asleep?” she murmured.
“A half hour, maybe an hour.”
“Did you sleep?”
“I just woke up.”
She smiled sleepily. It felt so good to fall asleep in his arms and wake in his arms. She loved how beautiful and special he made her feel, as if she were the only woman in the world.
She could see in his eyes now that she was important to him. She could feel it in the way he touched her.
He always put her first, too. Her pleasure. Her comfort. Her release.
She liked that. Loved it. Maybe even loved him.
There, she’d thought it. Admitted it.
She was falling in love with him, and every time they made love, she fell that much harder.
She leaned toward him, brushed her lips across his. “Are you just going to stare at me all night now?” she murmured.
“I was thinking about it.”
She smiled slowly in response to his husky voice and lazy smile.
She loved the way he looked at her, focused on her. Loved the blistering heat in his eyes. Loved that he made her feel like she was a woman who could do anything.
“Okay,” she said, nestling in and closing her eyes again. “You just do that.”
* * *
Nikos watched her eyes close, and he knew by her breathing when she’d fallen back asleep.
He placed a careful kiss on the top of her head, overwhelmed by her in the best sort of way.
When he’d married Elsa he’d thought he knew what love was and how marriage would be. He’d imagined a relationship like his parents’, traditional, practical.
Marriage to Elsa had instead been a constant source of conflict.
Her death had been a shock but not a total surprise. She’d threatened him so many times...threatened to hurt herself, hurt him, do something awful...
He’d been an only child. He hadn’t been raised with sisters. He didn’t have lots of cousins, never mind girl cousins. As he began dating, women were a bit of a mystery. Their emotions sometimes baffled him, but they also added a level of intrigue. He had girlfriends and lovers in his early twenties, but nothing in his experience had prepared him for Elsa.
He still wondered why Elsa married him. Was it his wealth? The family name? Did she think that one good-looking Greek could be interchangeable with another?
He would never know. He didn’t want to know. He didn’t even want to think of her anymore.
Her death, and the manner of that death, had nearly destroyed him. He was ready to put the ghosts of that past behind him, and he could with Georgia.
Georgia was strong where Elsa had been weak.
Georgia had fire and passion, courage and conviction.
Georgia’s strength freed him. Her confidence and clear sense of self allowed him to be who he really was—a man, not a monster.
Her acceptance changed everything. Her acceptance made him hope for the life he didn’t think he’d ever have.
A wife, children, a family.
* * *
He proposed at dinner the next night. He’d planned on making it special, wanting champagne and flowers, but it was still stormy and there weren’t fresh flowers to bring in or champagne she could drink, so he just blurted the words.
“Marry me, agapi mou,” he said, at the end of dinner, when it was just them at the table, with the flicker of candlelight.
She blinked at him, stunned.
He probably could have introduced the subject better, eased into it. He smiled at her bewildered expression. “Let’s make this permanent,” he said. “Stay here with me. Marry me—”
“What?”
“We are good together. We complement each other. I think we could be happy together.”
She just stared at him, confusion in her eyes.
“I think this is a good solution,” he added carefully, wishing he wasn’t so pragmatic, wishing he was a man of romance. “We would be a family. You, me, our son.”
She rose but didn’t get far. Her eyes were wide. She looked almost afraid. “That wouldn’t work, and you know it.”
“Why wouldn’t it work? You like me. I like you. We made a baby together. We should be a family.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “It’s not that simple.”
“Of course it is.”
“Nikos, I have school...exams...my residency. It will be years until I’m a doctor—”
“So wait until the baby is older and then go back to school.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
She shook her head and walked from the table, across the dining room floor. “I need some air,” she said, heading for the terrace.
“It’s raining, Georgia.”
“Then I’ll go to my room.” She was hurrying to the hall, almost running to the stairs.
“Don’t run,” he commanded, cornering her in the stairwell. “Why are you so upset? You can say no. Just say no. There is no need for this. I would never force you, Georgia, to do anything.”
Georgia shook her head, feeling cornered and confused.
She had been happy these past few days, happier than she could have imagined. And she didn’t want to leave Nikos or the baby, but that didn’t mean marriage was the answer.
“Georgia,” Nikos said quietly, trying to get her to look at him.
She put a hand to his chest, torn between wanting to pull him close and push him away. “I have to finish school, Nikos. I have to finish what I started.”
“But you won’t have to work if you marry me. You can focus on our son. You can be a mother—”
“Nikos!” Her hand balled into a fist, and she pounded once on his chest. “I never wanted to be a mother! I wanted to be a doctor. And I still want to be a doctor. I want the life I planned.”
He let her go.
In her room she curled up on her bed and grabbed a pillow, holding it tight to her chest.
That wasn’t entirely true, what she’d just told him.
She did want to be a mother. She very much wanted to be part of her baby’s life. But to give up her entire world back home? To give up her plans...her dreams?
To give up Savannah?
But, on the other hand, how could she give up Nikos and the baby?
There weren’t tears for something like this. The questions and decisions were too huge and overwhelming.
And now Nikos thought she didn’t want him, and didn’t love their son...
How to fix this? What to do?
And then he was there, at the foot of her bed. She hadn’t even heard him enter her room.
“Georgia.”
“I’m not ready to talk.”
“Okay. Don’t talk. Just listen. I support you wanting to be a doctor. I think you should finish medical school.”
“What?” She sat up.
“I think we can find a way to make this work. You, me, baby, medical school.”
“How?”
“There are things called planes and hotels, houses and internet—”
“No internet on Kamari.”
“Maybe it’s worth the billion to put it in.”
She laughed. “There has to be another answer. That’s too much money.”
“I am sure we can figure it out. If we’re together.”
“Yes.” She left the bed, wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him. “Maybe we should go back to bed and talk about our options there.”
“You have a most voracious appetite, gynaika mou.”
Her lips curved up. “Complaining about carnal activities, Nikos?”
He laughed, a deep, soft laugh that she could feel all the way through her. “Never.” And then he was locking her bedroom door and taking her to bed with him.
