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He found himself chuckling—and when was the last time he’d done that? ‘This one is time sensitive.’

Drowsy chocolate-brown eyes flecked with gold opened to meet his. The soft pleasure in them caught him sharply, threatening to pierce the hard shell he deliberately kept in place. The urge to stay where he was, remain in this moment, grew stronger.

Then, vitally, he managed to remind himself of the reasons that shell couldn’t be allowed to crack. After that it was easier to rise, to reach for the swim shorts he’d tossed there a few minutes ago.

‘We’re going swimming?’ she asked, propping herself up on one elbow before gliding her fingers through her tousled hair.

Despite their very recent encounter, Christos found himself growing hard all over again.

‘Eventually. What comes before that you’ll have to get up now or you’ll miss.’ He forced himself to leave the sleeping area before he succumbed to temptation. Before all those risky little thoughts creeping in found fertile ground and sprouted roots.

He was standing on the shore, willing those same thoughts of permanence and possibilities away when he heard her behind him. The compulsion to see her, drench himself in her presence and beauty, propelled him to face her. She’d copied his style and was dressed in a sea-green-and-white striped bikini with a matching sarong, and flip-flops on her feet. Her long hair was gathered over one shoulder, and as she lifted a hand to toss the heavy strands back his gut tightened all over again, that drugging sensation threatening to steal over him again as hunger clawed through him. To counter it, he waved a hand at the small hill a short walk away.

‘That’s where we need to be in the next five minutes.’

She followed his gaze, then nodded. ‘Okay.’

He knew it was foolish but still he held out his hand. Watched her eyes darken and her cheeks flush with pleasure as she placed hers in his.

Their walk was companionably silent, Christos again privately commending her for not filling it with chatter. But not talking meant he was even more painfully aware of how her delicate hand fitted into his, how sexily she moved and, most control-shredding of all, the distinct stamp of his scent on her body.

Primitive urges rose again. And as they crested the low hill, all he could think about was how soon he could claim her again. How indelibly he could stamp his possession on her.

He knew he hadn’t done a good job of hiding his reaction when, reaching the spot he’d chosen and turning to her, he saw her eyes widen. Unable to resist, he dragged her close, slid his hands into her hair and devoured her lips for one long minute.

Only the reminder of why he’d brought her here made him stop.

Reluctantly drawing back, he dropped to the dew-dampened grass and tugged her down in front of him. She settled down between his spread thighs and as he drew her back against his chest, he secretly revelled in her jagged breathing.

Appeased that he wasn’t in this madness alone, he pointed to the eastern horizon. ‘Watch,’ he murmured in her ear, wrapping one arm around her shoulders.

The sunrise was an exquisitely drawn-out symphony of light and colour, a slow, seductive dance of beauty and awe.

He felt her breath catch as golden light blossomed over the horizon like a hesitant flower, bathing the lush greenness of the island in vivid colour as dawn gave way to day.

‘Oh, Christos. It’s beautiful.’

‘Ne,’ he agreed, his voice gruff.

Her hands settled on his thighs as they watched the spectacular sunrise. And as the sun’s heat washed over him, so did that moving sensation in his chest. The one that seemed determined to sink its profound claws into him. The one he felt almost inclined to...give in to. Again.

But hadn’t he sat on this very hill as a child, engulfed in anguish because he’d dared give in to his emotions? Wasn’t it in this very spot that he’d sworn never to allow himself to feel the vulnerability of love ever again?

The reminder was abrasive. Enough to make him tense.

‘Christos?’ Alexis started to twist around, to seek his gaze. ‘What’s wrong?’

He shook his head. ‘I’m reminded why I used to come here.’

Warm fingers found his. ‘Tell me.’

‘I wanted to feel...something other than anger at my parents. Something other than...’ He paused, feeling raw and exposed.

‘Pain? Despair? Hopelessness?’

He glanced down at her, saw that kinship in her eyes once again. She understood. Of course she did, considering her situation. ‘Yes,’ he admitted after a stretch of silence, his fingers rubbing at the tight spot in his chest. ‘It felt like this was the only place I could escape it.’

‘I’m glad you could, if only for a while.’

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