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Refilling their glasses with chilled champagne, Nikos handed Kate’s to her. ‘Yamas.’
‘Cheers.’
Raising herself onto one elbow, Kate accepted it with a smile. She would definitely have to make this one her last, though. Already the combination of sun, sea and champagne had gone to her head. And that was before she factored in the lethal presence of Nikos, who lounged beside her in a pair of brief trunks, his olive-skinned, super-toned body on full display.
‘I might go for a swim.’ Setting down his glass, Nikos rose to his feet, his figure so tall that it blocked out the sun.
Kate gazed up at him. Bronzed and muscled, he looked like some sort of Greek god. A perfect specimen of manhood in every respect—as his brief black trunks attested.
‘Will you join me?’
‘No.’ Kate tore her eyes away. ‘I’m going to wait a little after all that wonderful food. You go, though.’
Nikos nodded, and as he turned to stride towards the sea Kate allowed her eyes to feast upon him again, taking in the play of muscles across his shoulders, the narrow waist, the gorgeous tight butt. She hugged her knees tight, trying hard to stem the tide of longing inside her. But it was hopeless. She loved Nikos with all her heart and with every fibre of her being. And it would always be that way.
She watched as he waded powerfully into the water, then dived under the surface, reappearing further out. With a sigh Kate lay back, putting her straw hat over her face and staring up at the pinpricks of light. Within minutes she was asleep.
* * *
Nikos walked back up the beach towards where Kate lay so peacefully on the rug. When she didn’t stir at his approach he realised she was asleep under her sun hat, and quietly he settled himself down beside her.
His eyes travelled the length of her body from the painted toenails on her pretty feet to her long legs, one bent so that it rested against the other, and on to the hollow of her tummy, her ribcage rising and falling with each soft breath, and the swell of her small breasts beneath the flimsy bikini top.
Nikos swallowed hard. His craving for Kate had reached dangerous proportions, slamming into him with hot hard waves, each one more powerful than the last. So all-consuming it made it difficult to breathe, rang in his ears like a warning, blurred his vision. A long, cool dip in the sea had done nothing to cool his fervour—as the painful swell in his trunks made all too clear.
He leant over her, watching the way his shadow fell across her torso. His physical reaction to her needed no explanation—it was obvious: she was completely gorgeous. Far more complex were the other emotions she stirred in him. Affection, tenderness, and the primal urge to protect her from harm, to keep her safe.
She gave him comfort too. Waiting for the court to announce its decision that morning, he had realised that having Kate by his side mattered. Not because they were keeping up appearances, but because she made him strong, made him feel better—about the court case, Sofia, Philippos, about life in general. When she had lightly laid her hand on top of his, giving it an encouraging squeeze, he had been deeply touched. Far more than the modest act had warranted. Far more than he wanted to examine.
But recently he had been forced to examine a lot of things about Kate that he would have preferred to ignore. Her empathy, for example, and the respectful way she treated everyone from the staff at the hotels they’d stayed in to the self-important businessmen they’d dined with. Then there was her kindness towards Sofia—how she had gone out of her way to try and make her birthday special, even if that particular venture had backfired. And her loyalty...
Nikos could see now that Kate’s loyalty to her family was at the heart of everything she did. By saving Kandy Kate she was resurrecting her father’s name, preserving it for posterity. He could even see now why she had sided with her mother when he had turned up in New York. Fiona O’Connor obviously had problems that ran more deeply than he’d realised. And today he’d had a little bit of that loyalty directed at him and it had warmed his soul. Not only that, but it had left him wanting more.
Unable to stand the temptation a minute longer, Nikos dipped his head, planting the lightest of kisses on Kate’s tummy button. Kate stirred, very slightly, and then went still again. Using the tip of his tongue, he circled her navel, then trailed his tongue upwards, its touch feather-light. She smelled of suntan lotion and she tasted of sunshine.
