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.”