Speaking softly, I watched him through loving eyes. “Yes, I’ll have a glass of wine, please.”
The shit-grin I loved formed on his very beautiful, very kissable lips, and I found myself aching to kiss him. My entire body was moving slowly toward him and I could see he knew what I was feeling, because in less than five seconds, he’d placed the wine into the sand, gripped my hips, and pulled me into his lap to crush me against him, claiming my mouth. I didn’t care that there was people on the beach, and I was straddling my husbands lap. I didn’t care that I was kissing him with an open need that bordered on hunger. I just didn’t care. In my mind, in this moment, we were the only two souls on the beach. Just me and Calix. Just my husband and I.
Pushing myself against his chest, I lost myself to the feeling of his smooth lips on mine and the taste of him in my mouth when I felt his hands on my waist tighten. And then he pulled away with a strangled breath. “Nova,” he breathed. Taking one look into my lust filled eyes, he groaned. “Fuck.”
I leaned back. “I’m sorry.” I whispered, feeling a blush taint my cheeks. What on earth had come over me?
“Don’t be sorry, love.” He said firmly. “Never be sorry for wanting me.”
My blush deepened, because I knew, he knew, how badly I wanted him in this moment. It had to be written all over my face, no doubt.
Slowly, I wiggled from his lap. A quick glance around the beach showed that not many people cared to watch us. Most were couples so entranced in one another they had no reason to even glance our way. I found I was thankful for that blessing as I settled back beside Calix on the blanket. Again, I dug my feet into the sand before I stared out over the brilliant blue.
“I’ll, um, take that wine now.” I stated after a few moments had passed and Calix had made no move to pour the wine, preferring to watch me with those penetrating blue eyes of his.
Quietly, Calix poured the wine. I couldn’t help but think he looked a little bothered by something, but I’d nearly just kissed the life right out of him, so I didn’t want to ask what was bothering him. I doubted he hated my kiss as he’d been kissing me just as fiercely as I’d kissed him, but I also knew him well enough to know that there was something on his mind.
Calix handed me the glass and I opened my mouth to question him when he spoke. “Nova,” He sounded so unsure. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise in spite of the Greek heat. “I have to talk to you about something.”
I felt my eyes sway to his face even though I wanted to ignore everything he was saying and continue on in the bliss I’d found against his lips only moments prior.
Gathering my courage, I spoke gently. “Okay.”
He took in a deep measured breath and I felt my heart begin an unsteady, thunderous beat in my chest. “I want you to know I’m sorry for everything I’ve put you through. I should never have taken you - I know that. I knew that when I took you, when I was planning to take you, once I had you in my house. I’ve always known that what I was doing was wrong, but in my mind,” He paused on a strangled breath and I knew this was so much harder for him than he’d originally made it seem. “I kept telling myself I was justified. I wasn’t. I know that. My actions don’t deserve forgiveness, but I need it.”
“From me?” I asked in surprise. “You want my forgiveness?”
He closed his eyes. I knew the action wasn’t out of hope, but more because he was too ashamed to look at me. He was ashamed for what he’d done to me. This was the first time I had seen even an ounce of remorse in this man, and it shattered my heart. He was so strong and so capable and so Calix. I didn’t like seeing him this way.
Placing my hand on the side of his face, I turned his face to meet mine. “I forgave you a long time ago, Calix.”
His eyes fluttered open and in their brilliant depths, there was a deep disbelief. “You did?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“But,”
“I love you, Calix.” I whispered. “I’ve loved you since the fourth day you had me.” I didn’t allow my eyes to stray from his even when his mouth parted and his breath caught and my face heated with a blush. “I don’t know how it happened, so please don’t ask me. But I knew, on day four, that I loved you. When you disappeared, I tried to convince myself that I hated you all over again - because you’d hurt me - not because I was confused as to why you’d taken me, but because you’d left me. Then you came back and I was right back to that fourth day. On the dock, I wanted to be with you. I hoped to make you love me in return but I thought,”