I clutched him tight to me. My entire body trembled in his arms as I sobbed into his throat, inhaling his scent, praying to find a calm in his arms.
And then he spoke. His voice was low and gruff against my hair - his breath was warm and shaken. “I love you, Nova.”
Those four words changed my world.
Chapter 18
I sat in a small motorboat with Calix and our basket of food packed, courtesy of the yacht’s talented kitchen staff, as we pushed through the gentle waters off the beach of Kythnos. Kythnos is a small Greek island off the coast of Athens. There is a thin stretch of sand, almost like a natural bridge parting the ocean on either side. The island is known for its countless number of beaches and I think Calix is excited to see my reaction when I finally sink the pads of my feet into the soft warm sand. I’ve been chattering endlessly about lying on a blanket, with my toes in the hot sand - so endlessly, one might even say I’m ridiculously obsessed. I wouldn’t say I’m doing much to hide that possible fact.
With the yacht anchored in the port Merihas, Calix is steering the little motorboat north toward the beach of Fikiado. Although we’re driving north, my eyes are glued on the white houses with the tiled roofs climbing haphazardly up the barren sand colored mountain looming over the beach. Even from where I am in the mini boat, I can see that the streets are narrow, much too narrow for the conventional kind of traffic I’m so used to. Seeing this makes my heart jump in my chest with the fired desire to explore. The island and its way of life are obviously quaint, but the knowledge that I’ve come from a new world lifestyle and I am stepping into this old-world beauty is utterly fantastic.
The day is warm, but I’m happy Calix encouraged me firmly to wear the long white, high waist chiffon maxi skirt with the soft pink, airy tank top tucked in at the waist. It was warm, but the sun could be punishing against my frail skin. When Calix had given me a large white floppy hat similar to those I’d seen wealthy, ridiculous people, wear on television, I’d scowled so deeply at him he’d actually cracked a grin. He argued that I couldn’t possibly spend the day on the beach without the proper protective wear. I’d asked to see his fancy protective wear, and to this, he’d done nothing more than smile. However, in the end, I put the hat on and was currently holding the side down to keep the wind from stealing it away. I have to admit, I had thought on countless occasions in the past few minutes about letting the breeze carry it away, but I had a feeling that if I did this, Calix would accuse me of my ploys - so I maintained a firm hold.
“You’re beautiful, love.” Calix said over the breeze. “Stop scowling.”
“I cannot believe you actually made me wear this hat.”
“I don’t want you getting heat stroke.”
“Umhmm.” I bit down on my bottom lip to keep myself from returning his statement with something smart of my own.
Calix grinned, but he didn’t say anything as we came nearer to the beach. I watched as he killed the motor before jumping barefoot into the water and pushing the boats belly up onto the sandy shore. He looked good. He’d opted to wear dark shorts and a black muscle shirt. I’d never seen him wear anything like this before and I decided, that I loved it! He looked normal and at ease.
Watching Calix now, I felt my heart squeeze in my chest. He was so perfect in all his imperfections. Truly, the man was a dream come to life and I was so terribly lucky to have him.
Calix reached a hand out to me and I wobbled from the boat, careful not to step into the water in my skirt. I definitely planned on swimming in the brilliant blue, but I would first strip from the clothing I’d worn.
Once I was settled on the firm sand covered land, Calix moved back to the boat. He pulled the blanket from where it had been placed carefully on the floor, before spreading it on the beach. I wasted no time in settling myself on the blanket, digging my feet into the warm smooth sand. Giggling audibly, I watched as I wiggled my toes and felt the small smooth shards filter through my toes.
Calix chuckled at my childlike excitement as he settled onto the blanket beside me with the picnic basket between his legs. “Are you hungry, love?”
“Um,” I shrugged. “Not really.”
“Would you like a glass of wine?”
I raised a brow. “They packed us wine?”
“This is our honeymoon, love.” Calix said as though that would explain away my startled shock. “Of course they packed us wine.”
Quirking a grin, I replied smartly. “But of course.”
Calix shook his head at me and I marveled at how far we had come together. Only five weeks prior, if I had shot this kind of sarcasm toward Calix, his head would have spun. But now he just soaked it up for what it was, and grinned. It was a beautiful thing to see that Calix wasn’t the only one who had encouraged a change. There was no doubt that he had changed me, but I had changed him too. And I hoped - no, I prayed that I had changed him for the better. I wanted to be the light that pooled in the base of his soul, lighting up the entirety of the space. I wanted to be the hue that fought the shadows and I wanted to be the angel who fought his demons. I knew, that with patience, I could be that for him.