Loukas joined her, and set up the coffee-maker, then when it was ready he filled two cups, placed one on the servery and leaned a hip against its marble edge and spared her a discerning look.
‘We’ll stay at my home in suburban Kifissia, then spend a few days on the island.’
Okay, she could do this. Like she had an option?
‘Pack light. My mother and sister will undoubtedly plan at least one shopping expedition.’ He shifted to his full height and indicated his coffee. ‘I’ll take this with me and work for a few hours.’
A full day at the office and packing with lightning speed ensured Alesha didn’t have time to think … which had to be a bonus.
Loukas, on the other hand, juggled everything with admirable expertise, filled a carry-on bag with essentials, and offered a musing smile as she queried, ‘Is that all you’re taking?’
‘I have clothes in each of my homes.’
Of course. ‘You lead a charmed life.’ Not exactly fair, when he worked long hours between office and home, and achieved more in a day than most men accomplished in a week. What was more, he managed to do so with exemplary ease.
He crossed to her side, slid a hand to her nape and kissed her briefly, but with a thoroughness that left her catching her breath.
‘Relax.’
Like she could do that when he invaded her senses and melted her bones?
He made her think of the impossible … only to dismiss it out of hand. They had a marriage. The beginnings of affection … maybe. It was enough. More than she’d expected. So why did she feel as if her emotions were spinning out of control?
Ridiculous, she chided silently as she tossed cosmetics and perfume into a bag and slotted it into a suitcase.
She caught up her shoulder bag. ‘Shall we leave?’
A chartered Lear jet awaited them at Sydney airport, and, once airborne, Loukas opened his laptop and focused on work, while Alesha did likewise.
Although her father had preferred to travel via a commercial flight, she admired the advantage of a chartered jet whose interior held luxurious recliner sleep chairs, together with designer office accessories enabling a corporate high-flier to work in comfort.
For the duration of the flight they both spent large slices of time on their laptops, ate, slept and took the occasional break.
Alesha found it stimulating to discuss Karsouli on a one-to-one basis; to present a few of her ideas for its future … proposals Dimitri had listened to, but not implemented due to lack of capital—something she hadn’t known at the time.
The strategies Loukas intended—some of which were already in place—had her approval, and she could only applaud his long-term plan to return Karsouli to its former power amongst a global industry.
His keen mind, intelligence combined with a certain ruthlessness to elevate him sharing equal prestige with some of the world’s known financial peers.
Qualities that offered a different perspective to the man who’d taken on the husband role … in a business arrangement that, for her, was becoming increasingly personal with every passing day.
Night, she corrected. For she couldn’t deny she found comfort as he held her through the night. To stir in sleep, and have him reach for her. The feel of his lips against the soft-beating pulse at the base of her throat. Just knowing he was there.
And the sex … more, so much more than she’d ever dreamed possible. Wondrous, exciting, magical.
But that’s all it is, she reminded herself. Good sex is just … good sex, and not to be confused with a deeper emotion.
So … enjoy the ride and don’t question the motives?
Fine, if you could separate the prosaic from the illusion.
After all, what was she to him other than a partner in every legal sense?
It was late afternoon when the Lear jet touched down in Athens, and they emerged to balmy sunshine, passed through Customs to be met by Loukas’ driver, Cristos, who transported them via limousine to suburban Kifissia where luxury homes surrounded by trees and beautiful gardens exuded wealth.
Alesha’s eyes widened slightly as the limousine turned into a gated entrance and eased to a halt outside the entrance to a double-storeyed palatial mansion.
‘My home base,’ Loukas informed her as he led her into a large marble-tiled foyer where a middle-aged housekeeper, whom he introduced as Hera, greeted them. Cristos followed with their luggage.
‘It’s beautiful,’ she complimented simply. Elegant, she added silently as he led her upstairs to their bedroom suite. Rich furnishings, solid furniture, imposing mirrors and artwork adorning the walls.
A very large home for one man, she perceived, although fitting given he headed the Andreou consortiums and doubtless entertained … business associates, as well intimate dinners à deux with women.
Had any of his former mistresses shared his home?
And what if they had? His past was his own.
He’d vowed fidelity … the question had to be whether he intended to abide by it.
Emotional introspection following a long international flight, comfortable though it had been, did not make for a good mix.
What she needed was a leisurely shower, a change of clothes, dinner and a good night’s sleep … in that order.
The spacious bedroom suite held one bed, albeit king-size, two walk-in robes with adjoining dressing rooms, two en suites.
Alesha opened her bag, extracted fresh underwear, tailored trousers and a knit top, then she entered the en suite Loukas indicated as her own, ignored the temptation to linger overlong, and chose to sweep her hair into a careless knot atop her head, vetoed make-up with the exception of lip gloss and emerged some ten minutes later to discover Loukas in the process of pulling on a cotton shirt over chinos.
Heeled sandals lent her height and aided confidence, she added silently as she slid them on.
Hera had prepared a delicately flavoured moussaka, a greek salad, with fresh fruit to follow, and Alesha declined coffee in favour of tea, lingered over it and endeavoured to fend off an increasing weariness while experiencing envy of Loukas’ apparent vitality.
How did he do that?
‘Why don’t you go up to bed? I have a few calls to make before I call it a night.’
It was all too easy to acquiesce, and she cast him a musing smile as she rose to her feet. ‘Goodnight.’
‘Sleep well.’
She did, almost as soon as her head touched the pillow, and she was unaware of Loukas’ presence as he slid in beside her, or that he curved her in close against him.
Alesha
