That was the reason? “I didn’t realize, but I didn’t mind it being short.”
“Believe me. Neither did I. It has given us more time to enjoy the rest of the day until we have to fly back.”
Alexa had lost her appetite, but she didn’t want to insult Anna, so she ate as much of the crab salad as she could handle and thanked her. Nico, on the other hand, ate two sandwiches along with salad.
She looked at her wedding ring. “This teardrop stone is dazzling. What kind is it?”
“A natural deep green diamond, very rare. It came from a mine in Africa. I bought it a week ago. It symbolizes harmony, freshness and fertility, the color of nature. The color of your eyes.”
She looked away, unable to meet his piercing gaze.
“I didn’t really believe you meant to marry me today. I’m sorry I didn’t have a ring for you.”
“But you did,” he came back and held up his left hand. “I’m pleased to see you found this ring in that first letter.”
“I was so moved when I read what was engraved on it, I fell apart. It’s been sitting in my jewelry box.”
“But no longer.” He got up from the table. “Why don’t we go to my bedroom so I can put it on you officially.”
Alexa’s heart thudded so violently, it was hard to breathe. She stood and followed Nico to another part of the villa, halting in the doorway of his spacious bedroom with its king-size bed.
The shutters had been closed to darken the room. She could smell the fragrance of orange blossoms. Candles had been lit and placed on the dresser and end tables. A huge plant of blue hydrangeas sat on a coffee table in front of two matching love seats.
“Nico—” she gasped and rested against the doorjamb. “I feel like I’ve entered the cabin on your cruiser and it’s nineteen years ago.”
“That was a night I’ll never forget,” he murmured. “If you’d like to freshen up first, the en suite bathroom is through that door. I’ve put a blue robe on a hook for you.”
Her legs felt insubstantial as she thanked him and walked across the room to his private bathroom. With trembling hands she removed her clothes and took a shower, but all her actions seemed to be in slow motion. Alexa couldn’t believe she was now a married woman. This was her wedding night, even if it was early afternoon.
How different from the first time when he’d carried her to the bed in his cabin below deck. Until they’d had to leave the cruiser, she hadn’t thought about anything but loving him.
Alexa started to be afraid. She had been with other men and thoroughly kissed, but she hadn’t made love since that night with Nico. What if he found her less than satisfactory, especially after his marriage to a young Raisa.
After leaving the shower, she used one of the fluffy towels to dry off, then slipped on the blue toweling robe. Alexa glanced in the mirror, not thrilled with the sight of the thirty-six-year-old woman who looked back at her.
Last week Alexa had finally broken down and done a search of his deceased wife online. She’d been absolutely beautiful, a tall Athenian with flowing black hair and velvety brown eyes. Anyone would think she modeled for a living.
Alexa found photo after photo of the famous couple, including wedding pictures at the church in Athens. Nico had seemed so happy, but when information about the helicopter crash came up on the screen, she’d shut it off unable to go there. It hurt too much to imagine the pain he must have gone through.
“Alexa? Are you all right?”
She’d been so deep in thought, she hadn’t heard the tap on the door.
“I’m fine, Nico. I’ll be right out.”
When she emerged, she found him waiting for her dressed in a black striped robe, looking the heart-stopping male she adored. He walked over and reached for her left hand. “This ring belongs with your wedding ring, Kyría Angelis.” He slid the ring he’d been wearing on his pinky to her finger. “You’re my wife now.”
“I never thought this day would come.”
He put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “Another miracle. Now tell me what’s wrong.”
She looked everywhere except at him. “If you want to know the truth, I’m nervous.”
“Why?” That wicked half smile of his was in evidence. “It isn’t as if we haven’t done this before.”
“That’s true, but it’s been a long time.”
“Then come over on the bed and we’ll talk about it.”
“I’m afraid.”
“Of me?”
“Yes!”
“You’ve known me better than anyone else has ever known me.”
“That’s why I’m terrified!”
He laughed that deep, rich male laugh she loved before he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. Then he rolled on his side next to her and kissed her mouth. “Even if the priest had an emergency, you need to know I didn’t kiss you the way I wanted to at the church because I knew if I did, I’d never stop.”
“Even if that’s not the truth, thank you for saying it.”
The sheen faded from his eyes. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing. I’m sorry.”
“You had a reason for saying that. Talk to me, Alexa.”
She took a deep breath. “You’ve been married. Today probably reminded you of your wedding to Raisa. I could understand why it was hard for you to kiss me at the altar.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong.” He sounded upset.
“Are you saying she’s never on your mind?”
“I’m saying that when I do think about her, it’s more to do with the crash I couldn’t prevent.”
“But it wasn’t your fault.”
“That’s true, but the guilt lingers.”
“Of course it does, and I’m sorry I brought her up. I guess I’m feeling terribly insecure. You have to understand this is all new to me.”
Nico raised up on his elbow. “Are you saying you never slept with those two men you almost married?”
“No. After what happened to me, I vowed I’d never sleep with a man unless we were married first. No matter what, I couldn’t risk the possibility of another pregnancy.”
He looked down at her, cradling her head in his hand. His gaze wandered over every feature. “I know Dimitra has brought you joy, but you’ve suffered too. We need each other,” he said against her mouth.
Suddenly this was the old Nico, kissing her as if it were life to him. They slowly gave each other kiss for kiss, savoring the taste and feel of each other. He might not be in love with her anymore and couldn’t say the words, but their hunger said the powerful physical attraction they felt hadn’t faded with time.
“I can’t believe you’re my wife and we’re married at last.” He kissed every part of her face and throat. “Our last night together on the cruiser was painful for me because I knew I’d be leaving you for a year. You don’t know how close I came to kidnapping you.”
“You don’t mean it.” She searched his eyes.
“I’m ashamed to say I had it all planned. Instead of going to work earlier that day, I loaded the cruiser with extra petrol and food for our getaway to Turkey. Once we arrived there I had contacts who would arrange for us to fly to South America undercover.”
“You’re kidding—” she cried. “Why didn’t you? I would have gone anywhere with you.”
“I know you would have. That’s how much I believed in your love. But after making love to you, guilt and reason held me back. You weren’t quite eighteen yet. If we’d been caught, I would have been sentenced in a court of law for disappearing with a minor and avoiding military service.
“Not even my family would have been able to protect me and I’d lose you forever while I went to prison. The thought of years of separation from you was anathema to me. At the last moment my sanity returned. I realized I would
have to wait a year for you in order to get what I wanted, but I knew it would be worth it.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Instead I’m the one who kept us apart for years.”
He kissed away the moisture. “Hush. Right now all I want is to make love to you. Do you know you’re even more beautiful than ever? I came close to a heart attack when you walked out on Irena’s patio.”
She buried her face in his neck. “I had one when I saw you on TV for the first time. You’ll never know.”
“But I do.” He found her mouth and they began to devour each other. Every touch and caress created such rapture, she found herself in a world of ecstasy she never wanted to end. All the years she’d missed being with him like this no longer mattered. She was in his arms now, knowing a passion that had her spiraling.
Alexa clung to him, relishing the sheer joy of being alive and knowing his possession. How she’d lived this long without him, she couldn’t comprehend. They were so hungry for each other, she lost cognizance of time. It was as if they were trying to make up for all the years of deprivation and couldn’t stop.
She couldn’t get enough of him. It was almost embarrassing how on fire she was, especially when she groaned aloud after his cell phone rang. The sound forced them to get unentangled enough for him to answer it, but their legs were still entwined. She lay back, trying to catch her breath.
The candles had burned down almost all the way. They had to have been making love for a long time for that to happen. She heard a short conversation before Nico leaned over and gave her a long, insatiable kiss. “That was Thanos. Would you believe it’s after eight? The pilot was ready to take us back three hours ago.”
“Oh, no. I need to get home. I promised my grandfather.”
“Don’t worry. He knows where we are and what we’re doing.”
“Nico—” A wave of heat engulfed her body. Inside she wanted to cry out in frustration. To have to leave her husband’s arms was the greatest torture she could imagine.
His deep laughter was the final insult. “I’ll phone him and let him know we’re going to be late. I doubt he expects us at all.”
“But Dimitra will wonder if I get home after she does.”
“Would that be such a terrible thing?”
“I don’t want her to know we’re married yet.” Somehow she managed to elude Nico’s arms and reached for her robe lying on the floor. “I’ll get showered and dressed.”
“Don’t plan to run away from me this fast again,” he warned against her neck before letting her go. It sent delicious shivers through her.
CHAPTER TEN
WHEN ALEXA CAME out of the bathroom a few minutes later, she discovered Nico had already showered and dressed, this time in a sport shirt and chinos. His eyes were dark fires of desire before he extinguished the candles. “You must know the last thing I want to do is leave here.”
“I feel the same way.” But if she bared her soul completely, she’d blurt out her love for him, a love that had never died. Would he be able to say the same thing back? She didn’t know, but prayed she was already pregnant. Alexa had conceived on the cruiser. Why not now, or in the next four months? She wanted to believe it.
Alexa wasn’t the same woman who’d walked in his mountain villa after their wedding ceremony earlier in the day. Nico had made her his wife in every sense of the word. She had to be the envy of any woman who’d ever laid eyes on him and wanted a relationship with him.
Nico would never know how hard it was for her to leave this idyllic place. For a little while she’d been able to pretend that he loved her as he’d once done. Was she wrong and he did have those intense feelings for her even if he hadn’t said the words?
The sound of whirring rotors broke into her thoughts before they approached the helicopter. Nico helped her inside, giving her hip a possessive squeeze before she found her seat and he strapped her in.
“We’ll be there soon.” Nico lowered his mouth to give her a heart-stopping kiss before he climbed in front and put on his headset. As they rose in the air, he looked over his broad shoulder at her. His dark eyes were alive with a light she hadn’t seen in nineteen years.
He hoped he’d already made her pregnant. No one wanted that to happen more than she did.
A glint from her diamond caught her eye. Much as she hated to do it, she put both rings in her purse. That was all Dimitra would have to see. Even if she would be happy with the news. Deep down Alexa wanted their marriage more than anything, but didn’t want their news to take away from their daughter’s wedding day.
Once the helicopter touched down at Angelis headquarters, Nico helped her down and they rushed to his car for the drive home.
“Tomorrow let’s meet for lunch at 7 Thalasses with Dimitra and Kristos. We’ll eat outside. They have excellent seafood.”
She shot him a glance. “Which you love.”
“So do you.”
Alexa smiled. “I admit it.”
He reached over to clasp her hand. “Let’s ask Gavril and Irena to join us so we can wrap up any details for the wedding.”
His warmth crept through her body. “I’m glad you suggested it. Irena and I need to put our heads together.”
“I’ll call her. After we drive Gavril back to the house tomorrow, we’ll slip away to my apartment above the office for a few hours. That’s one time when no one will be around to notice.”
“Let’s hope.” Just the thought of being in his arms again created so much excitement, her heart thumped too hard to be healthy.
When they drew up to the house, she saw no sign of Kristos’s car. Nico walked her to the door and checked his watch. “It’s ten to eleven. Our daughter probably isn’t home yet.”
“I’m not sure.”
Nico pulled her in his arms and kissed her passionately before letting her go. “I’ll be by for you at noon. I don’t know about you, but it’s going to be an endless night for me without you.” On that note he walked back to the car and drove off.
You don’t know the half of it, Nico Angelis.
* * *
Later Nico had only just entered his apartment when his phone rang. He grabbed it, thinking it had to be Alexa. Their wedding day had been cut short by having to leave the villa. To be forced to say good-night at her grandfather’s door when he’d needed the rest of the night to make love to her had come close to killing him. If she felt the same way, maybe she’d changed her mind and wanted him to come and get her right now. With a pounding heart he checked the caller ID.
Disappointment flooded his system before he clicked on. “Giannina? What’s going on?” She’d never called him this late, and this was definitely not the time for a conversation.
“Can I drive over and talk to you in private?”
She sounded on the verge of panic. It was totally unlike her. “Can’t we do this over the phone?”
“No. I have to show you something. It’s an emergency.”
He frowned. “All right. How soon can you get here?”
“Five minutes.”
“I’ll wait for you out in front and we can talk in your car.”
“Thank heaven for you, Nico.”
“Giannina, whatever is going on, it couldn’t be that bad.”
“You want to make a bet?” The line went dead.
Nico needed a glass of water, then he rode the elevator down to the lobby. He nodded to Gus and walked outside to wait for his sister. She drove her dark red Lexus LC overspeed most of the time. Tonight was no different as she screeched to a halt in front of the entrance.
He opened the door and got in. “Drive around the side where we won’t be noticed.”
Within a minute Giannina pulled to a stop and shut off the engine. She reached in the backseat and handed him a mock-up copy of the Halkidiki News. “This will be out in the morning. Read the headline. It has been at
tributed to me of course.” She turned on the map light for him.
Lost Royal Heir of Hellenia Found Alive!
Nico’s head reared. “You broke this story? With civil war close to breaking out in Hellenia, this has to be the biggest news to hit Europe in years.”
“It’s a lie of the worst kind, Nico. You know as well as I do Prince Alexandros disappeared a long time ago and has never been seen again. Since I’m the managing editor, I’ll be blamed for spreading a story that has no proof. Someone on the inside wants me gone from the newspaper and caused it to be printed without my authority. I know who it is.”
Nico was afraid he did too. “You’re talking about Uncle Ari.” The man held dual citizenship and spent a lot of his time in Hellenia. Who knew what was going on inside him?
“He has staffers who are loyal to him and would do something this monstrous behind my back.”
“You’re right. Where is Ari now?”
“Probably at the newspaper.”
“Then I’ll go over there now. After I get a confession out of him, I’ll force him to print a disclaimer before I fire him. Our father should have done it years ago.”
“Thank heaven for you, brother dear.” She reached over to hug him hard. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Nico.” Giannina wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’ve only been talking about my problems. How’s Dimitra?”
“Wonderful. I’ll tell you about her later. Now I’ve got to go. If I don’t find him at the office, I’ll track him at home, then I’ll call you to let you know what happened.”
He got out of her car and walked around the building to reach his car. But before he did anything else, he needed to hear his wife’s voice and know today wasn’t a dream. Then he’d drive to the newspaper and confront their uncle.
* * *
Saturday after lunch, where more plans for the wedding were pinned down, Nico drove Alexa and Gavril back to the house. With Phyllis there, Alexa didn’t need to worry about leaving her grandfather for a few hours.
Before they left for his apartment, she heard Nico ask her grandfather some questions about the political climate in Hellenia, of all things. She wondered why. Her two favorite men had admired each other from the beginning and were more alike than they knew, a fact that thrilled Alexa.
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