by Emma Nichols
Ariana smiled warmly and shook her head. ‘No, I’m not selling the estate, Nikos. I’m so sorry for all the...’ She hadn’t finished the sentence before Nikos had launched himself at her, pulled her into a firm embrace, the vice-grip squeezing the air from her lungs.
Eventually releasing her, Nikos wiped his eyes, allowing the smile to grow on his face. ‘Thank you, thank you!’ he said. He paused as if asking the question.
Ariana rubbed at her crushed chest, recovering her breath, feeling a strong sense of relief that tickled her. ‘I’d like you to stay,’ she said, answering his plea, a beaming grin on her face.
‘Of course, of course,’ he said, unsure of where to put his hands. ‘Thank you, thank you,’ he said again.
‘Is Gianna okay?’ Ariana asked, her tone serious.
Nikos nodded. ‘She tells me she’s in love with Soph and was threatening to stay on the island if we left,’ he said with a wry smile, his shoulders rising and falling with his words. ‘I was trying to explain that might not be possible, but she wasn’t having any of it,’ he added, with a shrug.
‘Ah!’ Ariana nodded. ‘Soph would have gone with Gianna too,’ she said, a swell of pride filling her smile. Gianna and her daughter were well suited, and in love. And, nothing felt better than that.
Nikos blushed. ‘I remember when you were younger,’ he said, with a remorseful smile. ‘Before your mother took you away. You had the same look in your eyes as Gianna does for Soph,’ he said, with sincerity. ‘It hasn’t gone away,’ he added, studying her dark-eyes.
Ariana glowed. ‘No it hasn’t,’ she agreed.
Nikos nodded contentedly. ‘I’m happy you’ve decided to stay,’ he said, with genuine fondness.
‘I’m pleased too,’ Ariana said with a warm smile. ‘We can talk later, I just needed to let you know, and to be sure you wanted to stay,’ she said.
‘I’m sure Soph will tell Gianna before I see her again,’ he said, his eyes scanning the path down which she had scampered, his head shaking to and fro, a compassionate smile starting across his face.
Ariana turned to leave, then turned back again and reached for his arm. ‘Nikos!’ she said, her fingers squeezing tenderly.
‘Yes,’ he replied.
‘It’s Soph’s 18th birthday a week on Sunday. I’m not sure where the party will be, but I’d like you all to come,’ she said.
Nikos nodded. ‘Of course,’ he said, his eyes retrieving the sparkle that had been present in them when she had arrived.
Ariana turned away and wandered back towards the house. She hadn’t thought about Soph’s birthday party, but now it was at the top of the to-do-list. In fact, it was the only thing on the list! An excited smile pinned to her lips, she continued past the house, down the slope and across the beach to the taverna.
21.
‘Looking good,’ Manos said, leaning against the frame of the open workshop, flicking the toothpick across his mouth then sipping at the glass in his hand, holding out a beer in his other hand.
Nikki stood, stretched her back and rubbed her hand across the Mediterranean-blue painted wood on the lower bow of the fishing boat. ‘She does, doesn’t she,’ she said, nodding her affirmation. She traced the letters on the side of the boat. ‘Do you think she’ll like it?’ she asked.
Manos’ shiny cheeks, the curling hair at his dimples and his sparkling eyes answered the question for her. He tried to speak, choked by the emotion caught in his throat and sipped at his glass instead.
Nikki pulled the cover back over the boat, put the polishing cloth down, and took the bottle from his hand. She took a long slug and grinned. ‘Come on Pops; we’ve got a party to prep for,’ she said. ‘We can get her to the water later,’ she added.
‘Kitchen’s ready,’ he said, sucking through his teeth.
Manos had started preparing the food long before the sun had risen, and the volleyball net was up before Nikki had stepped out of her apartment that morning. Gianna and Soph had been practising already and had disappeared over to the rocks on the west coast, no doubt jumping from the ledges of the cliff, and Soph snorkelling around the rocky outcrop with the new mask and flippers Gianna had given her for her birthday. She smiled at Manos’ flustered state, excitement warring with worry deepening the wrinkles on his weathered skin. He wasn’t going to fail his granddaughter on her 18th birthday. Today would be a good day. But, then again, it always was.
‘Hey,’ Ariana said, interrupting the moment passing between her father and Nikki. She flushed, the warmth filtering to her chest.
‘Hey,’ they responded in unison, both wearing a broad smile, their eyes darting, unsettled.
Ariana flitted from one to the other. They were up to something. She grinned. ‘What?’ she asked.
‘Nothing,’ they said, too quickly.
‘You ready to go?’ Nikki asked.
Ariana nodded, squinted at the pair suspiciously and turned into the bar.
Nikki ruffled Manos’ cheeks. ‘We’ll be back in a couple of hours,’ she said.
‘Aye,’ he said, heading into the bar.
Nikki picked up the fishing gear and walked out to the beach. ‘Twenty Euros a fish,’ she said, holding out her hand to shake on the deal.
‘Deal,’ Ariana said with a nod of her head, knowing she had always won the fishing bets they had agreed, even though there was no doubt in her mind that Nikki was both more adept and better practised at fishing.
‘You got enough money to pay your debts?’ Nikki teased with a laugh.
‘I’ll pay in kind,’ Ariana replied, unable to avoid the croak appearing in her voice.
Nikki laughed loudly. ‘Make that two hundred a fish then,’ she said.
‘Deal,’ Ariana responded, her eyes firmly fixed on Nikki’s backside as she strode out towards the motorboat. As Nikki leaned over the boat to drop the gear, Ariana’s hand slid underneath the outside leg of her shorts.
The hand elicited the wet heat between Nikki’s legs, and had her buckling over the side of the boat. ‘Seriously,’ she said, in mock disbelief, the fire bursting through her making it hard to breathe let alone move.
Ariana stepped casually past her and into the water, and started dragging the boat out to sea, leaving Nikki, groaning and hanging onto the side as if her life depended on it. ‘Take me,’ Ariana said, with a seductive glint in her eye.
Nikki gulped, righting herself, pushing the boat into the deeper water.
‘Fishing,’ Ariana added, laughing.
Nikki cursed under her breath, the smile on her lips sending the message that this game was far from over. She held the boat steady, with a beaming grin, indicating with her eyes for Ariana to climb in, watching her intently as she did, her heart melting, her pulse racing. ‘Let’s fish,’ she said, jumping into the boat and firing up the motor. Within a moment they were bouncing out to sea.
*
Manos observed his daughter from a distance, through squinted eyes. He’d never seen her look as happy as she did now, with Nikki, here on the island. He’d never seen Nikki so content, either. He could feel his heart singing. He looked at the envelope in his hand through the soft sheen that made his eyes glisten and blurred his focus. He had been under strict instruction from Sophia not to give Ariana the letter until she had decided to stay. He placed the note with Ariana’s name on it on the side of the bar, next to the envelope with Soph’s name, a sense of pride bursting in his chest. He sucked through his teeth, poured a small glass of ouzo and sat on the lounger on the beach, yawning, the early start and the excitement of the day already catching up with him, and it wasn’t past 10am. People wouldn’t start arriving for the party for at least a couple of hours; there was nothing to hurry for; everything would work out just fine. His eyes closed of their own volition and within a short time the rumble through his nose carried across the west-cove, competing more than adequately with the low hush of the waves lapping at the shore.
*
Soph pulled herself up onto the
rocks and lifted the mask from her face, her eyes alight, her smile all-consuming. ‘Did you see that there must have been thousands of fish,’ she babbled.
Gianna gazed affectionately, in spite of the slight exaggeration. She didn’t care. Soph was enjoying her birthday, and she was enjoying Soph. She closed the gap, her lips redirecting Soph’s thrill to the sensual touch.
Soph could feel the sense of urgency rising within her, the tingling on her lips, Gianna’s breath, her body touching. She traced her fingers the length of Gianna’s strong back, eliciting a moan that enticed her to kiss her harder and love her more completely.
Gianna pulled back, her breath stilled, her legs floundering under the profound passion that challenged her balance. She gazed into the deep-blue eyes, the diamond piercing in the nose; ruffled her fingers through Soph’s wet, mousy-brown hair, her thumb tracing the line of her tanned cheeks and across her shapely rouged lips. ‘Happy birthday,’ she said with all the love in her heart. She pulled Soph into her arms and held her tightly, fighting the tears that threatened to expose the fear that lurked beneath. The intensity was too strong and the bittersweet tears fell onto her cheek, in spite of her efforts to hold them back, sliding and finding the broad smile that lit up her cheeks.
‘Hey,’ Soph said, pressing soft kisses to her damp cheeks. ‘What’s up?’
‘I love you so much,’ Gianna said.
‘Hey,’ Soph repeated, pulling her into a warm hug. ‘I love you too,’ she whispered, her lips tickling Gianna’s ear to reinforce the message. ‘I’m here to stay, I promise,’ she whispered.
Gianna sniffed, the hot breath sensitising her skin. ‘I know,’ she said.
Soph fixed her gaze on the dark, shiny eyes and smiled reassuringly. Moving closer, she sealed her promise with a tender kiss, enjoying the mutual sense of openness that bound them in the moment. Slowly easing out of the kiss, ‘Want to jump?’ she asked, with a crafty smile.
Gianna’s lips curled. ‘As long as you’re not going to freak out again,’ she replied, her eyes smiling excitedly.
Soph chuckled and started to climb, Gianna right behind her. Standing on the bottom ledge together, Gianna counted to three, and they jumped, their delighted squeals lost on the hush of the waves against the rocks.
*
Nikki lay back in the boat, not caring whether the fish bit or not, watching Ariana intently. The way Ariana studied her hands as she hooked the bait, the way she carefully cast the line, the subtle shift in the tightening of the thigh muscles as she moved, the look of concentration that narrowed her eyes a fraction and had her biting down on her lip. The heart-warming smile on Nikki’s face wouldn’t budge, tickling her chest until she released a chuckle.
‘What?’ Ariana asked, suddenly aware Nikki had been staring at her.
‘Nothing,’ Nikki responded, sitting up, the boat rocking gently with the easy movement. She gave a cursory glance towards the float bobbing on the water, before fixing her gaze back on Ariana. She couldn’t prevent another chuckle, at the intensity of concentration on Ariana’s face as she studied the water. She reached across, swept Ariana’s hair behind her ear, determined to distract her.
Ariana flicked her head away at the touch, a smile creeping onto her face. ‘I’m fishing,’ she said, mocking seriousness, trying to ignore the tingling sensation that the touch elicited.
Nikki shifted closer, abandoning her rod to the boat, ignoring the float at the end of the line that continued to dance in the shimmering water. Leaning towards Ariana’s exposed neck, her mouth poised, Ariana’s sweet scent teasing her senses, she could feel the small hairs against the surface of her lips. Her eyes closed, losing her to the subtle sensation, her hunger increasing with every second passing.
Ariana gasped.
Nikki groaned as her lips made full contact with the warm skin, Ariana leaning her neck into the kiss. She shifted to Ariana’s earlobe, nipped, her warm whispers coaxing Ariana away from the float, the sea, the boat.
Ariana shivered, arousal drawing her in. She turned into Nikki’s hazel eyes, the specks of dark-brown entrancing her, causing her mouth to dry. Nikki’s mouth was on hers before she could release the gasp on the tip of her tongue and she fell back into the boat, Nikki pressed heavily on top of her. She had never known such hunger, such desire, or a need so compelling. She caressed tenderly, her tongue brushing lightly across Nikki’s top lip, eliciting a groan from them both, and she could feel Nikki shudder at the delicate touch.
Nikki eased back, gazed at Ariana with a beaming smile, her eyes conveying the deep love she felt, a question held in the space between them. Her mouth opened as if she were about to voice that question, stopped by the whizzing, whistling sound of the reel on the fishing rod unwinding at a pace. She leapt up, grabbed at the rod. ‘Ahhh!’ she shouted, taking control of the reel, and starting to bring the fish closer to the boat.
Ariana jumped up, grabbed at the long pole and leaned over the boat, watching the water, positioning the net beneath the glistening silver fish squirming below the surface. Effortlessly, she lifted the large mullet into the boat, her eyes locking with Nikki’s, beaming smiles on their faces. ‘Damn,’ she said with a sly grin, ‘looks like I’m losing.’
Nikki laughed, unhooked the fish and threw it back into the water. ‘No chance,’ she said.
‘What? That was tea,’ Ariana complained, through the laughter, her admonishment lacking conviction.
‘In kind, remember,’ Nikki reminded Ariana, mischief written across her face. This was one bet she was determined to lose.
Ariana pulled Nikki swiftly into her arms, their mouths clashing clumsily with the fierce embrace, on the moving surface.
Nikki groaned, the subtle taste of iron blending with the salty sweet taste of Ariana on her lips. She eased back, her index finger seeking out the tiny bloody mark on Ariana’s lip and tenderly kissing it better. Holding Ariana’s gaze, her heart skipped a beat, and her throat tightened. The question on her tongue, hovering, the butterflies dancing in her stomach, hopeful, anxious.
‘What?’ Ariana said, her voice broken.
‘I was wondering,’ Nikki started, aware that her hands were now shaking and the words wouldn’t come.
‘What?’ Ariana repeated, the sense that she was missing something bringing with it a wave of uncertainty.
‘We’ve got fish in the freezer,’ Nikki said, diverting her thoughts with a shrug, kicking herself for not speaking her mind and then regaining her composure. ‘I could think of better ways to spend the morning,’ she added, the tip of her tongue tracing her lips seductively.
‘Take me home,’ Ariana said.
Nikki pulled the rods into the boat and turned the engine. They sat in relative silence, bouncing across the water, gazing intently into each other’s eyes, grinning, a light chuckle coming to the surface now and then.
22.
‘Hey Nikki,’ Soph shouted, diving for the ball and directing it over the net, as Nikki approached from the white house.
‘Hey Soph, we’ll be up for the next match,’ Nikki said, beaming a smile at Gianna as she hit the ball back, high over the net, only to have Soph smash it to the ground.
‘One, nil,’ Soph said, with a sly grin.
‘We’re practising,’ Gianna bleated, through uncontrollable laughter.
Nikki laughed with them. ‘You got drinks?’ she asked.
‘Yep,’ Soph said, diving for a smash Gianna had thrown at her, her body hitting the sand after the ball.
‘One, one,’ Gianna said, turning towards the service line with a seductive wiggle of her body.
Soph’s eyes sparkled as she watched the woman she loved taking her position at the service line.
‘Here,’ Manos said, handing Nikki a beer, heading for the fire pit. ‘I’ll get this on the go,’ he said, appearing a little more hurried than usual.
‘Sure,’ Nikki said, taking the bottle and heading for her apartment. ‘A quick shower and I’ll be back,’ she said, not
that anyone responded.
‘She’s in the water,’ Manos added, his eyes directing Nikki’s smiling gaze at the fishing boat glistening, moored behind the ferry.
‘Thanks Pops,’ she said.
By the time Nikki returned, Nikos and Maria stood chatting to Manos, and a couple of other locals at the bar and Ariana sat drinking a glass of wine on the driftwood bench. Nikki swallowed hard; Ariana looked stunning, even though she was only wearing white cotton shorts and t-shirt. Nikki approached the seat. ‘I’ve got something for you,’ she said, drawing Ariana’s eyes.
Ariana’s eyebrows rose, widening her eyes just a fraction, just enough to cause Nikki’s pulse to race again.
‘Come,’ Nikki said, holding out her hand.
Ariana stood, took the offered hand and allowed Nikki to lead down to the water’s edge. She stopped dead half-way up the jetty, her heart skipping a beat. Her eyes studied carefully from one point to the other, the Mediterranean-blue, so distinctive set against the white, and the word ARIANA, handwritten on the front of its bow. She clasped her hand to her mouth, her eyes filling as her mind registered the old fishing boat. ‘This was,’ she started, tears stopping the words.
‘The original Sophia,’ Nikki said, grinning broadly, a sheen forming on her own eyes.
‘The boat we went out on as kids,’ Ariana continued.
Nikki nodded, pride lighting up her eyes.
Ariana stepped closer, her shaking hand carefully tracing the letters of the name on the boat. ‘You renamed it,’ she said.
Nikki cleared her throat. ‘It’s yours,’ she said, her voice still struggling, standing behind Ariana and observing her appreciation with pride. Ariana turned and stepped up to her, her breath warm against her face, her eyes revealing vulnerability, and love. Nikki swallowed hard.
Ariana stood facing the woman she loved, her words stolen by the strength of her emotions.
Nikki kissed away the tears from Ariana’s cheeks and smiled. ‘I’m glad you like it,’ she said, her voice broken.
