to make this work, to make her see why it had to work.
‘What are your plans for later?’ he asked abruptly.
She glanced up at him, her eyes wide and clear. ‘Nothing. The pool, probably—why?’
‘Because I thought you and I might spend the afternoon together.’ His dark gaze roamed her face. ‘Just the two of us. There’s something I want you to see…’
* * *
‘You’re sure that Melina is okay about this?’
Turning towards Teddie, Aristo picked up the hand that was clenched between her knees and squeezed it. It had taken some persuasion to convince her to leave their son back at the villa. Now that she was here, though, he was determined to let nothing interfere with his plans.
‘I’m one hundred per cent sure,’ he said firmly. ‘You are allowed to have child-free time. Besides, Melina adores George, and he loves spending time with her—and if there’s any problem we can be back in ten minutes. That’s why we’re taking the boat.’
Grinning, he gestured towards the front of the speedboat, where Dinos sat with one hand resting lightly on the wheel.
‘And Dinos gets to go fishing without Melina getting on his case, so everyone’s happy.’
Teddie shook her head, smiling back. ‘I’ve never really understood fishing—it seems so boring.’
‘It’s not boring—it’s shopping, but with a rod.’
His eyes gleamed and she punched him lightly on the arm. ‘Clearly you’ve never been shopping.’
‘Clearly you’ve never been fishing,’ he countered.
Her eyes widened. ‘And you have, I suppose?’
She felt a rush of heat as his gaze swept over her.
‘Only once.’
He lowered his head, brushing his mouth against her cheek, his warm breath sending a flutter of sensation across her skin so that she felt a bite of hunger low down.
‘But I was careless and I let her get away,’ he whispered.
His head dipped and he kissed her mouth softly, his hands tangling in her hair, pulling her closer as the boat’s engine slowed and then stopped.
Lifting his mouth, he glanced past her. ‘We’re here.’ Turning towards her, he held out his hand. ‘Come on—let’s go see the rest of my island!’
* * *
It was more rugged at this end, Teddie decided as Aristo led her away from the beach and an extremely happy Dinos. Instead of being sandy, the beach was pebbled and the sea was a deep nautical blue.
The light was soft through the olive trees, but as the path climbed upwards she soon started to feel breathless.
‘Sorry!’ Slowing his pace, he glanced down at her, his expression contrite.
Frowning, she stared at the olive grove. ‘It didn’t seem like a hill from down there.’
He grinned. ‘It’s not far now.’
She could hardly believe it was the first time she had left the villa since arriving. But it was hard to keep track of time on the island, and the days had blurred in a haze of eating, swimming and sleeping.
Although neither of them had slept much last night.
The thought popped into her head and this time the heat on her face had nothing to do with the sun.
‘This is it.’
Aristo had stopped beside her and, turning with relief to where he was looking, she felt her heartbeat skip backwards as she stared down at the ruins of some kind of monument.
She breathed out softly.
‘It’s actually why I bought the island.’
He spoke quietly but she could hear the emotion in his voice.
‘It’s incredible.’
She shook her head, hardly able to take in what she was seeing. Juxtaposed against an impossibly turquoise sky, the pale stone columns looked fantastical, so that she half expected a centaur to step out from behind one.
‘Can we get any closer?’
Nodding, he drew her against him, his hand sliding up her back as his mouth covered hers.
Heat flooded her and she could feel herself melting, her body softening against the hard breadth of his chest.
Breathing out unsteadily, he lifted his mouth, and stared down at her, his dark eyes gleaming. ‘Is that close enough?’
Heart thudding, she gave him what she hoped was a casual smile and lightened her voice. ‘I was talking about the ruins.’
‘Come on, then.’
He caught her hand in his and they followed the sage-scented track down the hillside, past clumps of almost violently pink cistus.
Up close, the ruins were breathtaking. Standing in the shadow of the columns, it was impossible for her not to be impressed by their size—and the fact that they were still standing. But it wasn’t just about size or age, she thought, gazing at them in silence. It was about the human cost of building it. How had they got the stone there? And how long had it taken for them to carve it with such precision?
His hand closed around hers and, turning to him, she smiled. ‘Is it a temple?’
He nodded. ‘To Ananke,’ he said softly. ‘Goddess of destiny and necessity. She’s very important because she directed the fate of gods and mortals.’
He was kissing her as he spoke, feather-light but feverish kisses against her mouth and throat. She was losing concentration, losing herself in the feel of his lips on her skin.
Drawing back slightly, she frowned. ‘I’ve never heard of her.’
‘Shh!’ He held up his finger to his lips, but he was smiling. ‘I need to keep in her good books until after I’ve floated the business.’
Teddie glanced at him uncertainly. Why was he bringing up work now—here? It seemed almost sacrilegious, not to say out of place, but the hazy sunshine was touching his dark eyes with gold and she felt dizzy with a longing that was almost like vertigo.
‘I thought it was hard work and a go-getting attitude that built your empire,’ she said teasingly.
His mouth curled upwards and he took a step closer, so that suddenly she was breathless with his nearness.
To hide the tangle of desire and excitement twisting inside her, she slipped free of his grip, stepping sideways and behind a pillar, darting out of reach as he followed her.
‘You’re not
