Looking down at her beautiful face, her hair strewn around him, his body had jumped once more with the awareness for her. In sleep she was relaxed, a small smile playing on those lovely lips, Nikos wanting to reach down and cover them once more with his own, to wake her and to satisfy the growing need already building within him, hardly able to believe the strength of his own desire even now. Moving slowly from her he had laid her head onto the pillow, covering her luscious body with the soft sheet as every fibre in his being had wanted to run his fingers along her curves once more. However, she was hurting - the inevitability of her mother’s illness moving to the next level so hard for her and she needed rest. Holding back the small groan he had slid from the bed retrieving his clothes. If he stayed, then he would eventually give in to the craving to wake her, to once more taste that soft mouth, the force of that need causing him to shudder violently as he had averted his eyes, moving from the room needing a cold shower.
Waking, Mina had languorously stretched her limbs, her body turning onto her back, as her hands had flattened out against the bedclothes stroking the soft sheets. The realisation that she was naked and the memories of the previous night had all hit her at the same time, Mina moaning softly, while her eyes had flown open finding herself alone.
Giving a small groan of pain, she had turned onto her stomach, feeling the self-loathing fill her. She had allowed him to seduce her, the very thing she had vowed not to let happen, fought so hard to control, the memories of their lovemaking causing her to colour, while her body still buzzed with the memories, wanting more. Pushing the thoughts from her head with a soft expletive she had moved into the bathroom. He had not even woken her, Mina closing her eyes with pain, knowing that he too would be feeling the self-loathing of what had happened. He thought her beneath him, his words rushing back to her. He did not want her as a mistress, yet it had not stopped him from satiating his lust for her. Well now that he had bedded her he had obviously got her out of his system, his absence a confirmation of his contempt for her. Moving under the shower, to remove his touch and smell from her body she could not even cry. Everything seemed to be stacked on top of her, and this was just one more piece of hurt to add to all the rest, her mother’s frail face filling her mind.
The shower had helped to bring some life back to her body, as pulling out her bag she had packed her clothes, leaving the cocktail dresses behind. Her mother needed her now and what had transpired that night could not be allowed to take up any more of her thoughts. Nikos had got everything he wanted. He had saved his company, and even slept with the daughter of the man he loathed the most. With a small sound of pain she had been angry with herself. He must be feeling really good with himself she had thought, angrily stuffing a t-shirt into the bag. However, with a sound of pain she had known that he was not solely to blame, in the end she had allowed him to do it to her.
Moving downstairs, she had been met by Yanis who had frowned seeing the bag in her hands.
“Mina? What are you doing?”
He had asked in surprise, taking in how pale the lovely woman looked.
With a small attempt at a smile, sadness filling her large green eyes, she had stopped at the base of the steps “I have to go Yanis. My mother is …”
The crack in her voice, had said more than any words could, as he had looked sympathetically at her.
“I am so sorry Mina….Please let me help” he had insisted taking the bag from her fingers before moving out of the villa with her.
“I could drive you” he had offered, seeing as she had shaken her head.
“No…..thank you Yanis, I will need the car, so best to take it with me”.
He had nodded stowing the bag in the boot, before surprising her as he had pulled her into his arms to hug her.
“Take care Mina. Please give our best wishes to your mother, tell her our prayers are with her”.
His words had caused a small lump in her throat, her eyes filling with water. With a gentle smile, he had pulled back his thumb rubbing away the small tear that slide down her cheek, before he had leant down and given her a small gentle kiss on the lips.
“You are family to us Mina……and we are all here for you. Please remember that”.
With a small tremulous smile she had nodded before moving quickly into the car, not trusting herself to say more with the conflicting emotions thundering through her.
For three days Nikos had tried to get in touch with Mina. Angry that she had left without informing him she was going he had told himself that she had made a commitment to him to be available for the many events that he had expected her to accompany him. However, images of her distraught features had kept pushing themselves into his mind, knowing that her mother was now very sick. Other images of her naked, her soft lips whispering his name also pushing their way into his mind making him slam down the phone as she had once more refused to answer. From the door a small face had watched him, shock on her features at the violence of his actions, Nikos immediately fixing a small smile on his lips.