“I don’t want to.”
“I don’t blame you. After the way I’ve treated you, you have every right to despise me. The truth is, I’m not an educated man with diplomas covering my walls. I don’t know all the things you know and have learned.”
“That’s the reason you were willing to let me go? Just because some pseudoacademic can talk to me about the differences in Pointillism between Seurat and Signac means absolutely nothing to me!”
“You see? I don’t know who they are. I don’t know what Pointillism is.”
“You think I want to talk to you about that?”
“If we went to a party at one of your friends, they’d see my deficits in a hurry and you’d wish you’d never brought me.”
“Oh, Akis—if I took you to one of my parties, the women would fall all over themselves just to hear you speak English with your unforgettable Greek accent. The men would take one look at you knowing they couldn’t measure up to you, and they’d be so jealous of your business acumen, they’d croak.”
“Croak?”
“Yes. Like a frog.”
“Don’t tease me, Raina. You’re brilliant. I can’t do math, I can’t speak intelligently about art or literature. I’m not well read and haven’t traveled the globe. Chloe and Theo have most everything in common. They suit each other in so many ways. But you and I are poles apart.
“I couldn’t take it if we married and you grew bored with me. You told me Byron made a wonderful companion. Even though he betrayed you, he had a cultural background that stimulated you in the beginning. I can’t give you that and I’m afraid I’ll lose you.”
She lifted wet eyes to him. “So you decided to push me away before you gave us a chance to find out what our life could be like? Do you know you could teach a class on Greek history and mythology that would blow everyone’s mind? I know your worth, Akis. You know things no one else knows. You can’t let that be the thing that keeps us apart!”
He cupped her face in his hands. “I was afraid at first, but no longer. I want to be all things to you. You’re my heart’s blood. I don’t want to take another breath if I can’t be with you. I love you, Raina. I love you,” he cried against her lips. “I want you for my wife if you’ll have me.”
“If I’ll have you— Oh, Akis...” She launched herself into his arms. He carried her out of the kitchen and down the hall to the bedroom. When he laid her down, she pulled him to her. “I love you, my darling,” she murmured over and over again between kisses. “I wish we were already married.”
“So do I, but I know a man in high places who can arrange a special license for us tomorrow. We can be married at the church on Paxos. I’ll arrange it with the priest.”
“You don’t want a big wedding?”
“Never. Do you?”
“I did all that once before. What I want is to be your wife and hibernate with you for several months before anyone knows except Chloe’s family, and Vasso, of course.”
“I owe him for getting you here. How did he manage it?”
“His call at three in the morning got my attention in a hurry, but he didn’t have to beg me. The thought of leaving you was so terrible, I doubt I would have gotten on the plane.” By this time she’d broken down in tears of joy.
“Don’t you know I love our differences? No woman could love you the way I do, Akis. I’m so in love with you, a lifetime won’t be enough to show you how much. We were meant to be together, my love.”
“I know that,” he admitted. “My psyche knew it at the reception. One look into your eyes and the hairs began prickling on the back of my neck. They’ve never stopped.”
“I knew I was crazy about you when you ran to my table in desperation.” Their joyous laughter turned into moans of need as their mouths met and clung. Time had no meaning as their legs entwined and they tried without success to appease their unquenchable desire for each other. Akis felt as if he’d been born for this moment.
An all-consuming need to prolong this ecstasy caused him to burn out of control. For the next while he found himself drowning rapturously in her overwhelming response. It was so marvelous to feel this alive, to touch her, love her. She was all warmth and beauty.
But Akis knew that to stay in the bedroom any longer would mean they’d never come out. He relinquished her mouth. “We need to go back to the house and make our plans, Raina. I want to be married before I make love to you for the first time. My father told me it was the best way to start out a marriage. I’d like to be a good son and honor his final advice to me.”
“Then we will, but you’re going to have to be the one with the willpower. Mine has deserted me. S’agapo, Akis.”
His breath caught. “You know what it means?”
“When you told me it was the most important word I would ever say in Greek, I figured out what it meant and have been dying to try it out on you. How did I do?”
He drew her off the bed and crushed her in his arms, rocking her back and forth. “You sounded like a native just now.”
“Then there’s hope for me. I plan to learn your difficult language or die in the attempt.”
“Don’t talk about dying on me,” he begged. “Not ever, and not in jest. This is the first day of our new life together. Kiss me one more time before we leave. I need you the way I need our Greek sun to shine. You’re my life force, Raina. Do you hear me?” He shook her gently.
“I think you have that turned around. You swept across the dance floor to my table, and then you swept me out of the hotel, crutches and all.” She looked into his eyes. “My beloved Poseidon, I’ll love you forever. Do you hear me?”
CHAPTER NINE
Six weeks later
RAINA HURRIED INSIDE the villa with all her packages and put them down on the couch in the living room. Before she did anything else, she needed to call Akis and let him know her plans had changed. But she got his voice mail and had to leave a message.
“Darling? I know I told you I’d be at the penthouse when you got back from Crete, but I decided that since it’s Friday, I’d rather we spent the weekend at the villa so I’ll see you when I see you. Hurry. S’agapo.”
She had no idea when he’d hear the message, let alone when he’d be home. It was already ten after five. Between her shock and excitement since her morning appointment at the doctor’s office in Athens, she wouldn’t be surprised if she were running a temperature.
To get ready for tonight she’d stopped at an internet café to look for the picture she wanted. When she found it, she printed it off. Next, she went to a high-fashion boutique and found the perfect Grecian gown of lilac chiffon that tied over one shoulder.
After running by a florist’s shop, she headed for the hair salon near the Grand Bretagne hotel and asked the stylist to make her hair look like the picture on the printout and twine the small lavender flowers in it. From there she went to a shop to buy a dozen vanilla-scented candles. Last but not least, she stopped at a boutique for infants and bought a beautiful baby book, which she had wrapped.
Once her errands were done, she returned to the penthouse and took the helicopter to Anti Paxos.
Time was of the essence. She made his favorite chicken salad with olives and feta cheese and would combine it with crusty rolls and fresh fruit. With the dinner ready, she went out on the patio to set the table. In between the potted plants she placed the candles, and put the last three for a centerpiece. She hid the baby book behind a big clay pot filled with azaleas.
Now to get dressed. After her shower she put on the gown. While she was tying it at the shoulder, her cell rang. Giddy with joy, she reached for it and saw the caller ID. “Darling?” she cried the second she picked up.
“I just got your message. Vasso and I are headed for the island now. You didn’t want to go out on the town tonight?”
“Not really. Do you mind?”
“What do you think? If I had my way, we wouldn’t go anywhere else.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
“How soon do you think you’ll be here?”
“Fifteen minutes. You sound like you’ve missed me.”
She was breathless. “I know it’s only been two days, but I feel like it’s been a month!”
“I’m never going to spend another night away from you. Not having you in bed with me was torture I don’t want to live through again.”
“Neither do I. Hurry home and be safe.” We have a future awaiting you never thought was possible.
It took a few minutes for her to light all the candles. The flames flickered in the scented air, sending out their marvelous fragrance Akis said he loved. Twilight had fallen over the island. She’d just lighted the table candles when she heard the blades rotating.
He’d be here any second. She walked to the terrace entrance to wait. In a minute she heard him call out, “Raina? Where are you?”
Taking a deep breath she said, “I’m out on the patio.”
Her gorgeous husband appeared in the living room wearing a sport shirt and trousers, but he stopped short of coming any closer. She could see he was almost dumbstruck. Good. That was exactly the reaction she’d hoped for.