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Moving into the dining room, she had given a thankful smile as the housekeeper had insisted on preparing some dinner for her, Grace feeling ravenous as she had demolished a large plate of the delicious pasta.
Satisfied and feeling better, she had anguished over returning back to work, groaning knowing that she had to keep on top of the workload. The door opening and the sound of loud voices laughing and joking had caused her to frown softly, curiosity making her move out to the entrance to see who had arrived.
Stopping, Grace had stared in shock, not believing what she was seeing as the four faces had all turned to look at her.
“Professor Dionis “ as one they had all cried, Grace looking at Alexos in dumbfound amazement, quickly smiling as the others had ran to hug her, she laughing back happily.
“W…where…how?” all four chuckling as they had looked over at Alexos, his face breaking out into a large smile seeing the wonder in her eyes.
“I felt bad about all the extra work I had put on you…so I called Carol who told me the names of your research assistants…and they told me that you had originally asked for four…so…”
One of the girls, Pippa had continued, her young face alive with wonder at what had happened
“Mr Manetas phoned and asked if we would be prepared to come over, all expenses paid and do the research work with you…and he is going to provide us with a two week paid holiday on the mainland when we are finished”
Grace had smiled seeing the way the four had hopped excitedly around. It was not often that students were given such an offer, her lips twitching as she had grinned, her eyes full of fun as she had flicked a thankful look at Alexos.
“Well in that case…be prepared to be worked like dogs”. The others nodding happily “Anything you say professor”
Alexos had called his housekeeper to show the new guests their rooms before moving back into the dining room with her.
“Why did you do that?” she had asked softly, her face full of questions as sitting down he had poured himself a coffee
“I wanted you fresh, not so tired each night I had to carry you to bed. So I figured that if I had given you three times the workload…then having four assistants would mean that you were finished faster and would be able to spend more quality time exploring and with me and my father”
He had been surprised to see the tears gathering in her eyes as she had coughed, turning around to hide them from him “Yes…well, I guess that was kind of you” Alexos feeling warmth filling him at her reaction.
More food had quickly appeared in the dining room as the others had rejoined them, all in awe at their surroundings, Grace’s mouth falling as she had discovered that he had sent his own personal plane to collect the group, all excited to have flown in such luxury.
Soon the conversation had moved to the work to be done, Alexos impressed with how organised she was and also with the reverence with which the students had treated her. She was one of the youngest visiting professors that had ever taught in the university, but he could tell that she was well respected and liked by the reaction of the group. Watching her he had once more admired Grace Leotta. Six years ago she had told him that her dream was to become a marine biologist, and she had followed her dream and succeeded, now doing work of such value.
An hour later the students had retired to their beds, all having been up early to get ready for the trip. Wishing them a good rest she had accepted Alexos’ offer of a night cap smiling up at him as she had chuckled “Sure…looks like I may have some free time after all”
Sitting on one of the couches he had poured them both a red wine, Grace allowing him to pull her in against him as they had sipped the expensive drink, soft music playing in the background as he had allowed the flames from the fire to be the only light in the room.
“Why did you never consummate your marriage?” His soft question had caught Grace by surprise as she had stiffened.
“I…I would rather not talk about it Alexos” looking pleadingly up at him. She did not want to get into the whole need for her to escape, bringing up her deception with him yet again. For once she had felt as though things between them seemed so right, knowing that bringing up her elopement would only ruin the mood between them.
Sitting she had turned to look at him, a note of concern on her face. He however, had not dropped the subject
“Given the way that you reacted to me…I do not think that the problem is on your side…” Grace lifting her finger to his mouth before leaning forward and kissing him softly.
“Please Alexos…let’s not ruin things”
His eyes had held hers for several moments before he sighed softly, nodding
“OK” plucking the wine from her fingers and depositing it on a nearby table before pulling her in harder against him
“I will settle for an early night instead” his deep throaty laugh sending small shivers through her. Rising he had held out his hand for her, Grace taking it and standing with him. Frowning, she had paused. He had looked at her questioningly as she had pushed her long hair from her face.
“Alexos…you know that…” her voice full of embarrassment “You know that I never slept with anybody else” a smile filling his face as he had pulled her into the crook of his arms, dropping his head to kiss the curve of her throat
“Mmmmmm…..yes I figured that”, Grace groaning softly as once more the fires had stoked so deep within her.
“Protection” the word had fallen from her lips as she had felt her head becoming fuzzy with the need for him. Sensing his body stiffening she had pushed away from him, her hands primly straightening her shirt.
“W…we haven’t been using protection…and I am not on the pill” stopping to look up at him “I don’t want to find myself stupidly pregnant like some teenager because we didn’t use protection”
Alexos had turned from her, his back rigid as he had once more lifted his nearly full glass of wine, taking a drink before once more turning to her “Would that be so bad Grace?”
She had stared at him in stunned shock “Are you seriously asking me that?” her voice higher than she had expected her eyes staring at him in shock
“I don’t have the kind of lifestyle for a child…dragging it around the world…what kind of life would that be?”
His eyes had dropped to his drink, a thoughtful frown on his forehead as he had mulled over her words, before once more lifting them and smiling.
“I’m just messing with you. Protection not a problem, I’m sure I have some”
Grace giving a nervous tremulous return smile as he had once more reached for her hand leading her to the stairs to their room, pausing as he had looked down at her thoughtfully. “Although…considering we haven’t used any yet…have you thought about what might happen if you already were?”
Biting her lip she had fallen back on science “Statistically it is not probable” she had murmured, unease filling her that she was not a statistic.
For the next two weeks the group had all fallen into a routine working only half days at Alexos’ insistence. For the rest of the day he would take them diving or for tours around the island. Some days they had spent on the beach enjoying the antics of the monk seals, Grace surprised at the knowledge he had acquired about the animals.
At night the passion between the two had burned as bright as ever showing no signs of diminishing, only growing more intense as the two had learnt how to read the other, Alexos finding Grace a keen and eager pupil in bed, not shy or reserved when it came to trying new things. The weeks slipping by in a content blur.
All too soon the work had been completed and hugging the four students with promises to get back in touch when she returned, the two had bade farewell to them, Alexos again thrilling them as he had organised for a speedboat to take them all to the five star hotel he had paid for ,for their holiday. Smiling and shaking her head Grace had chuckled as they had disappeared out of sight
“Where were you when I was a student…could have used holidays like that” closing her eyes and biting her tongue as the memories had flooded back fidgeting nervously “I…I’m sorry…I didn’t mean…”
Alexos waving away the comment, but not before she had seen the strange look that had fleetingly crossed his handsome face, almost mournful. “Forget it”
Regarding her for a second he had taken her softly into his arms
“My father arrives tomorrow. We have been invited over for a couple of nights when he arrives and there is an expectation of a more formal dress code…and he had informed me that he is organising for a party to celebrate our engagement”
Groaning at the thought of a party, not enjoying the prospect of having the deception become so public she had frowned. Over the past two weeks things had gone so well between them that she had forgot about the arrangement that he had made her agree to, Grace nervously staring out to sea as her brows had knitted together.
