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As much as he wanted to deny it, that discovery about Alexis...affected him. Perhaps all this was because he hadn’t taken a woman to bed in over a year. Even before their agreement, for some confounding reason, the thrill of the chase always seemed to end somewhere around the second course of a Michelin-starred meal or in the third act of a West End play, seeing him return to his main Mayfair residence alone.
At first he’d thought nothing of it. His workload was crushing, just the way he liked it. But then it always had been. In hindsight he recognised that the niggling dissatisfaction about the state of his transient dating had started when he’d heard Delilah Armitage threatening Alexis on the phone. The distaste and censure on his assistant’s face had stayed with him long after he’d taken care of his ex. Perhaps he’d never thought he would care about being judged over the way he conducted his sex life.
But in that moment, he’d felt...less.
And that had grated.
He lunged to his feet now, unwilling to further explore the reason. Not on top of everything that had happened this week.
He had the time on Drakonisos to figure this dilemma out. And when his phone rang an hour later and he’d finished the brief conversation with his team, he registered that his stride was a little lighter, the anticipation in his belly swelling as he went in search of his assistant.
Perhaps she sensed the shift within him. Whatever. Her eyes widened as he approached her in the plane’s sumptuous lounge and dropped into the seat next to her. ‘I...is there news?’
‘Indeed, there is. The lawyers have secured an injunction hearing first thing on Monday morning. Until then, I have a discreet security team watching that the boy doesn’t come to harm.’
A warm smile curved her lips. His gut tightened and he felt himself growing hard. ‘I’m glad,’ she said. Then her smile wavered. ‘Does that mean...?’
Sunlight broke through the grey clouds just then, bathed her stunning face in light.
And for the first time in his life, Christos accepted that, as his week had gone thus far, maybe the control he’d taken for granted was about to be turned upside down.
Unable to help himself, he trailed a hand down her cheek. ‘Yes, Alexis. It means we’re on our way to Drakonisos.’
CHAPTER FIVE
ALEXIS KNEW THIS trip was different the moment they landed on Drakonisos and spotted the small convoy of vehicles through the window of the plane. Her heart leapt into her throat at the sight of the old man leaning against the first SUV.
With shocking white hair and steely grey eyes, Costas Drakakis stood tall and proud despite the walking stick propped next to his right hip. His olive skin gleamed vibrant under the Greek sun. From where she sat, Alexis could detect no signs of illness or weakness. Certainly nothing that would cause his grandson to commit to spending weeks on end on this island, as idyllic as it was. ‘I thought you said your grandfather was ill?’
It took a moment for Christos to respond, his eyes narrowing at the faintly accusatory note in her voice. ‘One of the first lessons my grandfather taught me as a boy was never to take anything or anyone at face value. He didn’t exempt himself from that assessment and I suggest you don’t either.’
She bit her lip, her gaze swinging back to the unexpected welcome party as the plane finally stopped.
The moment the doors were unlocked and the steps lowered Christos rose, his hand extended to her. ‘Come, Alexis.’
‘If I said I wasn’t ready, would it make any difference?’
The corner of his mouth tilted, but there was very little mirth in his face. ‘The only reason he’d accept our tardiness is if we emerged looking like we’d just had wild sex. Is that the impression you wish to give?’
Heat stung her cheeks and she knew her face was furnace red. ‘Of course not.’
His eyes darkened and those sinful lips twisted. ‘Shame. I find myself in a mood to oblige.’
He was toying with her. Because that layer of tension that’d been evident in his demeanour when he’d spotted his grandfather was still there, perhaps even growing with every moment they delayed.
With very little choice but to remain on this wild roller coaster, Alexis placed her hand in his. And immediately tensed as his fingers closed firmly over hers, giving her no room to escape the electric sizzle that raced up her arm. Caught in a sensual storm, she was all but boneless when he tugged her upright, going willingly into his personal space when he nudged her closer. Then instead of walking her out as she’d expected, he simply stood there, staring down at her.
‘Perhaps I should kiss you, ensure that dreamy look remains in your eyes,’ he mused, his voice a rough rumble that said he was caught in whatever this maelstrom was too.
‘There’s no look...you’re imagining things.’ Her attempt to tug herself out of his hold backfired when he released her, only to slip his hands around her waist, imprisoning her against his lean, muscular body. The heat unravelling through her body intensified.
‘Am I, yineka mou?’
She gave a soft gasp, a reminder of what those two words meant sliding through her hazy brain.
My wife.
He had every right to call her that now they’d returned once more to the location of their agreement.
