by Maya Blake
I frowned, the change of subject from the soul-stirring miracle of Andreos’s birth to the mundanity of high fashion throwing me for a few seconds. ‘I don’t need a new wardrobe.’
‘Perhaps not—but might I suggest you let the stylists come anyway? Who knows? You might find something you like for our first engagement on Saturday,’ he replied.
The last tendrils of yearning had left his voice, to be replaced by the cadence I knew best. One of powerful mogul. Master of all he surveyed. Despite the pleasant heat of the sun a cool breeze whispered over my skin, bringing me harshly back to earth.
‘What’s happening on Saturday?’
‘It’s been four days since you returned. It’s time we presented you properly to the world. My mother has organised a party in your honour. She was unwell when we married last year, and couldn’t make it to the ceremony. She’s anxious to meet you. And, of course, she’s yet to meet her grandson. Call this a belated welcome, if you will, but several business acquaintances will be there, so it’s imperative that everything goes smoothly.’
‘Is it really necessary to parade me before your friends and family?’
‘I think it’s best to put the rumours to rest once and for all. Then we can concentrate on our son.’
While his attention to Andreos warmed my heart, the prospect of being paraded before his family and business didn’t. ‘And how do you propose we do that? Is there a storyline I need to follow, chapter and verse?’
He smiled as if the thought of playing out a role so publicly was water off his back. ‘Leave that to me,’ he stated cryptically. ‘All I require from you is to present a picture-perfect image of loving wife and mother. I trust I can count on you to do that?’
For the sake of uninterrupted bonding with my son I would go to hell and back. ‘Yes.’
Perhaps my agreement was too quick. Perhaps the depth of feeling behind it was too revealing. Whatever, his gaze grew contemplative, stayed fixed on me.
And when he walked away, moments after the meal was done, I got the distinct feeling there were more bumps and curves on this peculiar road I’d taken than I’d initially realised.
CHAPTER SIX
A PRE-PARTY FAMILY MIXER.
A harmless-sounding statement until you were confronted by the full might of the formidable Xenakis clan.
The gathering had been deceptive. Over the course of two hours they’d trickled in—some by car, others by boat. And Axios’s formidable-looking brother Neo, looking a little distracted and a lot harassed, had come by sleek helicopter, with the iconic Xenakis Aeronautics logo emblazoned on its side.
Inexorably the trickle became a stream, and then a torrent. By four p.m. the largest salon in the villa, the surrounding terrace and the perfectly manicured lawn were overflowing with aunts, uncles, cousins and distant offshoots—some from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand.
Fascinatingly, despite the low buzz of tension surrounding their interactions, there were no overt signs of dissent.
Perhaps because I was their main focus.
I didn’t want to admit it, but the six-hour makeover session I’d endured earlier in the day boosted my confidence now, as impeccably dressed men and couture-clad women approached the place where I stood next to Axios, with a wide-eyed Andreos nestled in my arms.
My hair had been brought back to shoulder-length, layered and trimmed into loose stylish waves that gleamed with new vitality. And the rails upon rails of new clothes hanging in the closets of my vast dressing room, complete with matching accessories and priceless jewellery, were the pièce de résistance.
After months of wearing flats and tie-dye sundresses, and ponytailing my hair, the transformation took a little getting used to. While the teardrop diamond necklace glittering just as bright as the pristine white linen shift dress and tan platform shoes were making me feel intensely aware of the kind of circles I’d married into.
The most striking of the women within those intimidating circles was Electra Xenakis—Axios’s mother.
Her hair was a distinctive grey, which had been used to enhance her beauty rather than been dyed away, and it framed an angular face, highlighting superb cheekbones and the striking grey eyes she’d passed on to her sons. Tall and slender, with a ramrod-straight posture, she was formidable—until she gave a rare smile. Then warmth radiated from her every pore, and the icy grey palazzo pants and matching top she wore were suddenly not so severe.
On meeting Andreos she dissolved into hearty tears. And that unfettered display of love for her grandchild thawed the cold knot of apprehension inside me, easing my anguish at the thought of a permanent separation from my child.
The distance I’d needed to get my composure back after handing Andreos over to his grandmother lasted mere minutes before I sensed a presence beside me. It wasn’t as visceral and all-encompassing as Axios’s, but it demanded attention nevertheless.
I glanced up to find Neo Xenakis standing before me.
‘I never quite got the chance to welcome you into the family last year.’ His tone was measured, his eyes just as probing as his brother’s.
‘I guess the circumstances weren’t exactly...conducive,’ I replied.
‘Ochi, they weren’t. But your disappearing act didn’t help matters, I expect?’
I stiffened. ‘I had my reasons,’ I replied.
Without answering, he dropped his gaze to the contents of the crystal tumbler he clutched. ‘Whatever they were, I hope it was worth keeping a father from his child?’
Again his tone was more appraising than censorious, as if he was attempting to understand my motives. Again my guilt resurfaced. And this time brushing it away wasn’t easy.
Before I could formulate a response, a deeper and more visceral voice asked, ‘Is everything all right?’
For me not to have sensed his arrival spoke volumes of the kind of magnetism the Xenakis men possessed. And now Axios had arrived next to me the force of their presence had doubled. Their sole focus was on me, but one set of grey eyes was vastly more potent than the other, sending my composure into free fall.
I took a long, steadying breath to reply, ‘We’re fine.’
Axios’s gaze slid from mine to his brother, a clear question in his eyes.
Neo’s expression clouded for a moment, then he shrugged. ‘Like your wife said, we’re fine. No need to go Neanderthal on me.’
Before either of us could enquire what he meant, he excused himself and struck out for the large gazebo on the south side of the garden, currently decked out with fairy lights and free of guests.
‘Is he okay?’ I felt compelled to ask.
Axios’s gaze stayed on him long enough to see his brother lift a phone to his ear before he turned to me. ‘His issues aren’t mine to disclose, but Neo is touchy on the subject of babies. Like the rest of the family, news about his nephew’s existence surprised him. But, since Andreos is single-handedly winning everyone over, I suspect the circumstances of his arrival will be forgiven soon.’
Had he deliberately excluded himself from that statement? Unwilling for him to see the bite of anguish that distinction brought, I turned my gaze to where the majority of the Xenakis clan had now gathered, choosing to see the bright side.
Andreos was indeed holding centre stage, tucked into his favourite blanket and nestled lovingly within his grandmother’s arms. The absolute devotion on the older woman’s face eased my heartache, but in the next moment the sudden thought that my own mother hadn’t met my son hit me with tornado-strength force.
‘What is it?’ Axios asked, the eyes that hadn’t left my face since his brother’s disappearance narrowing.
The fleeting thought to shrug off his question came and went, and I couldn’t help the small shaft of pain that came with it. ‘My parents haven’t met him yet.’
His face tightened, the mention of Yiannis
Petras drawing a reaction I would have preferred to leave out of the already fraught atmosphere. I held my breath, ready to fight my corner.
‘We can arrange a visit for your mother later...if you wish?’
Surprised by that response, I blinked. ‘I do. Thank you.’
After another minute of assessing scrutiny he nodded. ‘Whatever your reasons for fleeing Agistros, I accept that I could’ve handled our last meeting a little better,’ he said, his voice a deep rasp.
My lips were parted in shock when another wave of Xenakises wandered over. Axios’s droll look and almost-smile told me he’d seen my shock at his apology.
I managed to get my emotions under control beneath his family’s probing glances, watching their silent musing as to what had transpired with Axios’s stray wife. I was grateful for their circumspection because, as baptisms of fire went, it could have been worse.
It was with far more trepidation that I contemplated my extensive closet three hours after everyone had disappeared into their various guest rooms and private homes to get ready for the main event. The knock on the door barely snagged my attention. Absent-mindedly I responded, my fingers toying with the tie of my bathrobe as I contemplated the stunning array of clothes.
‘As much as you seem to enjoy simply staring at them, you do actually have to pick an outfit to wear for the party, you know?’ Ax drawled, his deep tone more amused than I’d ever heard him.
I jumped and turned around, barely able to hold back a gasp at the sight of him, standing a few feet away, wearing half of a bespoke tuxedo. His pristine snow-white shirt was half buttoned, but neatly tucked into his tailored trousers, and his bowtie was strung around his neck.
The intimate knowledge of what resided beneath his clothes dried my mouth as I stared, slack-jawed, several superlatives crowding my brain.
Debonair. Breathtaking. Insanely gorgeous.
Slowly the silence thickened and he raised one sleek eyebrow. ‘Can I help with anything?’
The hand I waved over my shoulder at the closet was irritatingly fluttery. ‘I can’t decide what to wear. Meeting your family was one thing... This is a different ballgame.’
His gaze travelled from the top of my hair, which still held its earlier style, thanks to the expertise of the stylist, then lingered at the belt holding my robe closed, before moving to my bare feet. Each spot his eyes touched triggered fiery awareness.
‘You handled my family admirably and won them over with Andreos. Even Neo—and he’s a handful at the best of times,’ he added dryly. ‘You’ll excel just as well tonight.’
The deeply spoken reassurance made my heart lurch. To hide its effect I scrambled for something else to concentrate on, and spotted his dangling sleeves and the cufflinks in his hand.
‘Do you need help with those?’ I asked, even though assisting him would involve stepping closer, breathing in the intoxicating scent that clung to him and never failed to send my senses haywire.
He held out his arms. ‘If you wouldn’t mind?’
Breath held, in the hope that it would mitigate the erotic chaos stirring to life inside me, I reached for the two halves of his shirtsleeve in one hand and held out the other for the cufflinks. The tips of his fingers brushed my palm as he handed them over, and every inch of my skin responded as if set alight.
Intensely aware that my nipples were hardening, and that a pulse had started throbbing between my thighs, I hurried to finish my task, my own fingers brushing the inside of his wrist in the process.
Axios inhaled sharply, an incoherent sound rumbling from his chest.
Could we not even exchange a common courtesy without feeling as if the world was about to burst into flames?
Evidently not.
Which was probably all the warning I needed to keep my distance. Never to repeat what had happened on his sofa.
‘Efkharisto,’ he murmured, his voice deep and thick.
His eyes were molten, as heated as that needy place between my legs. Unable to withstand his gaze, for fear I’d give myself away, I turned to face the rack of clothes. Of course my senses leaped high when he stepped next to me, then took another step closer to the open closet.
To my shaky memory this was perhaps the first time I’d been this close without having his laser eyes on me. The opportunity to give in to the urge to stare was too hard to resist.
The breadth and packed strength of his shoulders.
The vibrancy of his lustrous hair.
The sharp, mouthwatering angle of his freshly shaved jaw.
Too busy fighting the way every inch of Axios triggered this unwanted but unstoppable reaction, I didn’t notice he’d made a selection until he pivoted, the momentary gaping of his shirt delivering one final punch of his sheer magnetism before he drawled, ‘You’ll look beautiful in any one of these gowns. But this one will do, I think.’
Heat engulfed my face as I reached out and snatched the gown from his hand, hastily stepping back. ‘I...thanks.’
‘You need help with the zip?’ he asked, in a voice thicker than before.
Aware of the dangerous waters I was treading, I shook my head. ‘I think I’ll manage. Thanks.’
He hesitated for a stomach-churning moment, then nodded. ‘I’ll return in fifteen minutes. We will go downstairs together, if you wish.’
I nodded my thanks.
Contrary to his stealthy arrival, I was conscious of Ax’s departure for the simple reason that he seemed to take the very air out of the room with him, leaving me breathless as I shrugged off the robe and slipped the gown over my head.
Barely paying attention to the design, I zipped it up and stepped into the heels that had been helpfully paired with the dress, spritzed perfume on my neck and wrists, and was adding the finishing touches to my make-up when his knock came.
Very much aware of the silk clinging to my hips and breasts, I prayed my body wouldn’t give me away as I opened the door.
For the longest time he simply stared at me. ‘Beautiful,’ he finally stated, and the sizzling gleam in his eyes only lent him a more dangerous air, rendering all my efforts for composure useless as I accepted there was no level this man couldn’t reach in the drop-dead gorgeous stakes.
‘Thank you,’ I replied, my voice a husky mess.
He held out his arm. I took it, and was still in a semi-daze when we exited the limo at the entrance to the six-star luxury hotel in the middle of Athens where the party was being held.
The moment Ax and I stepped into the ballroom silence fell over the guests, every eye fixed on me.
‘I don’t know whether to smile or scowl. What’s de rigueur these days?’ I murmured.
‘Just ignore them. That’s what I do when I feel out of place.’
I laughed, mostly to hide his unabated effect on me. Besides, I couldn’t help it, because picturing Axios as a fish out of water was like attempting to imagine what the landscape inside a black hole looked like.
‘Something funny?’
‘You wouldn’t look out of place amongst a clutch of nuns in a prayer circle.’
He smiled, and just like that my body went into free fall, breaking one tension while ratcheting up another. And as I was crashing down, towards some unknown destination, it struck me that this was the first time I’d seen any semblance of a smile from the man I called my husband.
‘An unusual compliment, I think, but thank you all the same,’ he said.
‘You should’ve told me the whole of Athens would be here tonight,’ I said, a little desperate to maintain a disgruntled distance from him.
He lowered his head even closer to murmur in my ear, ‘Put your claws away, pethi mou. You look much too beautiful to pick a fight.’
‘I’m sure we can find something to fight about if we look hard enough.’
Was I really that desperate to start a fight? Simp
ly to stop this unruly attraction in its tracks?
His amusement disappeared, to be replaced with the unwavering regard that never failed to trigger mini-earthquakes inside me. My breath snagged in my throat as he stepped closer, until there was nothing but a whisper of space between us. To anyone observing us we’d look as if we were sharing an intimate moment. But I knew what was coming even before he spoke.
‘Keep tossing those little challenges at me, Calypso, and I’ll delight in picking you up on one.’
The electric promise in those words sent a bolt through me. It lingered through all the introductions to influential individuals, A-list celebrities and even more of the Xenakis clan and it slowly began to re-energise, that spark of rebellion re-ignited.
For some reason I wanted to challenge him.
So when I found a moment’s reprieve I looked up from my untouched glass of champagne into his face. ‘Do you know what I think, Axios?’
A simple but effective hitch of his brow commanded me to continue.
‘I don’t think you will pick me up on any challenge. I don’t think you’ll do anything to risk this reputation you’re bent on protecting.’
‘Are you brave enough to test your theory, I wonder?’ he asked, and something untamed pulsed beneath his civil exterior. Something that made the glass in my hand tremble wildly.
His gaze dropped to it before returning to my face. With a wicked smile he raised one imperious hand and traced his knuckles down my heated cheek.
‘Pick your battles with care, Calypso. You look stunning in this dress—every eye in the room keeps returning to you time and again, and I’m the envy of every man here. You should be celebrating that, not picking a fight with your husband.’
With that, he leaned even closer, replaced his hand with his mouth for the briefest of moments...
And then he walked off.
Leaving me shaking with a cascade of emotions.
The only reason I felt out of sorts was because that little incident in my dressing room had thrown me—shown me a different side to Axios that had intensified the illicit yearning inside me. And while standing next to Axios wreaked havoc with my equilibrium, watching him, the most prominent man in the room, walking away left me with a yawing hollow in the pit of my stomach.
