Alistair braced himself on one elbow and leaned to kiss awake Sophia; her creamy velvet skin warm against his lips, her ink-black hair, silk on his fingers.

Her golden eyes were yet hazy with sleep when they fluttered open. She stretched in his arms, “Is it time to wake up already?”

“Aye, slugabed.”

“Slugabed? How dare you.” Fingers threading through his hair, she claimed a deeper kiss that reminded him he was wrapped around her finger. “Good morning, Handsome.”

“Morning, Beauty.” He could never tire of looking at her. “Do you have any idea of the erotic dreams I had just because I slept with you?” He pressed his hard length on her ass, “Do you know what inhaling your scent does to me?”

She was suddenly too hot, her skin on fire. “Mmm…”

His thumb traced her lower lip and he pressed at the center of her mouth, his eyes glowing. “I want you, Sophia. I want to bury myself inside you until we’re both too exhausted to move, think or feel.”

He’d already tugged down the sheet to reveal her breasts, and was caressing her with teasing strokes.

Sophia’s response was a husky laugh that filled his heart. She turned in his arms. “What are you waiting for? Do wicked things to me.”

Alistair was enthralled by the stunning and happy woman under him. She threatened his control like no other ever had. He wanted to take her, hard; he wanted to slowly savor every inch of her. He didn’t know what he wanted anymore. He only knew that he felt like the luckiest man on earth.

“You’re the most enticing woman I’ve ever known,” he whispered in her ear as he flung the sheets far, adoring her with his eyes and the tips of his fingers. “You’re…” He shook his head. “I have no words, Sophia. You’re unique.”

She smiled at him, “You know, you can do more than these teasing touches.”

He moved in to kneel between her legs and he caressed her softly with his fingers as he kissed his way down from her neck.

“What do you think you are doing?” Sophia arched under him with a soft gasp, her hands clenching his hair hard enough that it hurt, an exquisite pain that he wanted to grow addicted to.

“Teasing. To start with,” he answered with a devious smile, as he rubbed his unshaven jaw against the soft skin on the outside of her breast, loving the sound of the throaty moan that escaped her as he licked the underside of her breast. “Tell me what you like the most.”

“Everything. With you. Anything.” Her hands roamed over his shoulder and she raked her nails down his back.

He groaned and paused above her. “Again.”

She did it, and incapable of holding back, he lowered himself over her and pushed in. “I love this.”

She smiled mischievously at him and clenched her inner muscles around his arousal.

“Ah-ah. Stop,” he warned, as a painfully pleasurable shudder racked his body. “I want this to last.” I want this to last forever.

“I love that horny voice of yours.” Biting gently at his jaw, she interlocked her wrists above her head. “With what new torment do you plan to torture me?”

“Are you testing me, lass?” Another time, he might have played one of his erotic games with her, but having kept Sophia awake well past midnight, he was feeling as satisfied as a big cat who ate an entire bowl of cream. “Are you getting attached to scarfs and dishcloths?”

“I’m getting attached to you,” she retorted and purred. “Take me. Have me as you wish.”

“Mmm. A long and slow fuck this time.” He circled her nipple with a finger. “Very. Slow.”

“Yes, torture me,” she breathed, arching beneath him.

Kissing her lips and feeling desire burn through his veins, he moved his body in a steady, deep rhythm that drew a shuddering gasp of pleasure from Sophia. Even as she moaned and her legs locked possessively around him, he didn’t give in to his own need until he was sure she was as turned on as he was. Until she was as ready as him to fall into an endless abyss of delight.

“Ah, Alistair Connor.” Sophia’s low and sensual cry of pleasure sent them tumbling together into a lush and languid sensation, heart and soul united.

Rippling with aftershocks of ecstasy, Alistair silently promised her that he’d carve out his own heart before he hurt her as he had done the others. He mumbled her name and nestled against her breast, and Sophia felt a swell of tenderness for the big man, who could be so gentle one moment and so fierce another.

Sophia toyed with his hair as he murmured against her breast, “I’m getting used to this. Waking up with you every morning.”

I am, too. You could move in with me. Then she remembered the blonde woman in the restaurant. Don’t rush it, Sophia. Life’s a marathon, not a sprint.

She sighed.

“What?” Alistair said sleepily.

Nothing. Just a ravishing woman making me jealous. Sophia put a hand under her head, staring up at the blue and green canopy, all too aware of the comforting weight of Alistair’s head on her breast, of his hand possessively clasping her hip and a leg over hers, as if he were afraid she’d sneak away while he napped.

“Nothing. Sleep,” she ordered softly as her fingers returned to his hair, the caresses lulling him back to sleep.

* * *

Sophia leaned over Alistair and kissed him on the mouth, “Wake up, you slugabed.”

He stretched his big body and opened his eyes, “Mmm. Now I’m the slugabed?”

“Just returning the compliment,” she teased. “I phoned Garrick and he’s already dropped off your clothes. I’ve hung them in the dressing room for you.”

“Garrick?” He blinked, scowled, and gripped her hand as she tried to walk away from the bed. “Where do you think you are going?”

“To shower. I’m sweaty—”

In a quick movement, he snaked her by the waist and dragged her onto the bed. “How dare you leave me alone in bed!”

“Hey! I’m sweaty all over!” she scolded.

“I forgot! Not cold, not hot.” He laughed as he rolled over her. “But it seems you do sweat. What are you doing out of bed?”

“I was working out. I didn’t have any time yesterday, and tomorrow I only work out for half an hour before I have to leave for Cambridge.”

He kissed her mouth leisurely and whispered on her lips, “I could have given you a better work out. In fact, I think I will,” he ran his hands over her sides, grabbed her thighs, opening them and set himself between them.

“No, no, no. It’s eight o’clock. I have to shower and go to therapy.”

“You’re not leaving me like this,” he flexed his hips, showing her his aroused state.

“My, Alistair. Do you take Viagra?”

“Viagra?” he chuckled. “Oh, no. Now you’re going to pay.” He pulled her top over her head, knotting it at her elbows, binding her arms above her head and cupped her breasts, his thumbs caressing her nipples. “A quickie…mmm?” he asked as he showered her breasts with kisses.

She moaned, “I have to shower.”

He removed the top from her arms and jumped off the bed, holding out his hand to her, “Come. Let’s shower.”

“Alistair Connor,” she frowned at him and crossed her arms under her breasts, “you’re impossible.”

He laughed out loud, too happy to care about the hour, and picked her up in his arms, humming in masculine satisfaction as she let him do what he would.

* * *

A dry knock on the door brought Ethan’s head up from the book he was reading.

“Come in,” he said in Greek.

Suddenly, the big room became small as Niarchos entered his grandson’s bedroom. He was not a big man; by no means fat, tall or handsome. But he exuded such charisma that he seemed taller, broader and more handsome than he was. His aura of power—and his money—made women fling themselves at his feet.

He had a beautiful mane of graying black hair, a slightly beaked nose and sharp, intelligent dark eyes. Always impeccably dressed in tailored clothes and with extremely polished manners, he had worked his way up to the top of Greek society and the business world through hard work, and also lies and deceit.

Ethan was grateful his grandfather adored him, because Niarchos was unstoppable when he wanted something. His only weaknesses in life were his late wife, to whom he had been faithful for the thirty-three years of their happy marriage, and his only grandson.

“Good afternoon, Grandpa,” Ethan stood up and kissed him on the cheeks, an admiring look in his eyes.

“Always studying,” Niarchos shook his head as he looked around his grandson’s shaded room and walked to the curtains flinging them wide open. “You need more sunlight in your life, Ethan. It will keep your eyes healthier for longer.”

Ethan was a very handsome young man. He’d had perfect skin during his teenage years and he was starting to fill out nicely, building muscle. He was already tall. His silky brown hair had turned to a dark blond under the Greek sun and his amazing azure eyes, so uncommon in the Angepopoulos family, were bright.

Nonetheless, Niarchos worried about him.

Since Ethan had arrived from London, more than two years ago, with a haunted look in his expressive and gullible eyes, he had made no friends, and had had no girlfriends, either. He expressed no wish to socialize with his school friends at the beach or at parties. He was extremely shy. The only place he felt comfortable was in the security of his bedchamber or in the gazebo near the private beach, accompanied by his books. Even when Niarchos traveled around the globe, be it on business or on vacation, Ethan refused to leave the house in Mykonos.

Niarchos had to use lots of gentle persuasion to take Ethan out of the darkness of his room. Ethan refused to talk about his feelings, even to the therapist his grandfather made him see, and his depression continued. Niarchos had also started seeing a therapist to see if he could help Ethan. In his last attempt, Niarchos took him to a psychiatrist, who prescribed anti-depressives and that seemed to help a bit.

Since the only things that make Ethan feel a little better were his studies, his books, and his computer, Niarchos enrolled him in the best school, paid private tutors to teach him languages and bought all the books and new technology he wanted. Ethan had a very sharp mind, and although he was socially withdrawn, he was a sponge when it came to knowledge.

Still, that wasn’t enough to make the haunted look and the depressed state go away.

Niarchos had decided he would change that. Even if he had to betray his own grandson’s trust. He reasoned with himself that it was small price to pay to teach Ethan the ways of life.

“I want to talk to you, son. Come outside,” Niarchos ordered and crossed the threshold to the veranda, sitting on the comfortable chair.

Ethan eyed Niarchos as he crossed his legs, and blinked nervously. Stop this. You know Grandpa doesn’t like you blinking like this.

Niarchos smiled gently at Ethan and motioned for the chair beside him. “My son, I need your help.”

Ethan’s lips opened in a smile, “Of course, Grandpa. Whatever you need.”

Niarchos sat more comfortably and launched into his prepared speech.

* * *

Niarchos motioned to Ethan, who was standing stiffly beside him, and spoke in his accented French, “And this is my grandson, Ethan Ashford. Ethan, this is my dear friend, Isis, and her daughter, Eve.”

“You never told me you had such a handsome grandson.” The older brunette pursed her lips in a charming pout at Niarchos. She put her manicured hand on Ethan’s cheek, before bending and pressing her face to his. “Where have you been hiding, gorgeous?”

Ethan smiled, embarrassed, but said in his perfect and fluent French, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“They are going to live with us for a few months,” Niarchos explained.

Ethan’s gaze lingered on Isis. She was a mature woman of fifty. Tall, curvy, a bit on the plump side, she had luscious brown hair that touched her shoulders and a very interesting and charming face. Then his gaze moved to Eve and paused there.

The teenage girl was shyly looking down. He thanked his tanned skin for hiding his blushing cheeks. He was arrested by her beauty and delicate movements.

Eve was average height, with a lean body full of curves in the right places and peachy cream skin. Her hair was long and ink-black. Her nose was up-turned and her mouth small and full. She was wearing an expensive light-pink dress and pink-and-white flats. His grandfather had described her perfectly: a shy girl that had just left a Catholic boarding school.

To Ethan, she looked like an angel.

An angel he had a sudden and uncontrollable desire to touch.

“Eve is starting at your school this month, Ethan.” Isis softly nudged Eve in Ethan’s direction. “Eve, say hello to Ethan. He is going to help you adjust, aren’t you, Ethan?”

Ethan nodded and opened his mouth to say something, when Eve raised her eyes and, with an enchanting smile, greeted him, “Bonjour.”

He discovered that her eyes were a beautiful shade of chocolate. He felt his grandfather press a hand on his back, motioning for him to kiss the girl. He stepped forward and kissed her cheek.

She blinked twice, smiled a bit more and then looked down again.

“Good morning, Eve.” He liked the way her name sounded. “Nice to meet you.”

Isis smugly smiled to Niarchos, who said, “Let’s move to the terrace and have some coffee while Athena arranges your things in your rooms.”

* * *

And do you like to read?” Ethan asked Eve as they strolled through the gardens. Books and studies were the only topics he didn’t have any problem talking about.

She looked up at him and a smile graced her naturally pink lips, hypnotizing Ethan.

“Oh, yes, I do. You know, the Abbess at my old school was very strict about what we could read.” She giggled and the sound went directly to Ethan’s heart, making it beat quicker. “But my friends would always smuggle a forbidden book to my room at night.”

“I see.” They had reached the end of the enormous garden by the beach. “Do you want to sit a bit? The view here is incredible.” Ethan loved the wide square gazebo his grandfather had built specially for him. It had a white trellis with pink and orange bougainvillea. In the spring, the flowers attracted hummingbirds. When it rained, he would spend hours there, reading, admiring the transparent blue Mediterranean Sea and listening to the sound of the rain on the wooden roof and the leaves. The gentle lapping of the waves on the sand brought Ethan peaceful and happy thoughts. It was his favorite place.

He waited for her to sit on the sofa and admired her shapely legs as she shed her flats and tucked her feet under her thighs, leaning on the pillows. He sat beside her, keeping a respectable distance. “So, what kind of books did you read?”

“Oh, you know…” she giggled again and bit her bottom lip, looking down at her fingers.

He shifted a little closer keeping his half-arousal concealed. The girl was doing things to him he didn’t understand, and although he was afraid of those feelings, he was unable to stay away. He wanted to touch her skin to see if it felt as smooth as it looked.

“I don’t. Tell me.”

She raised her puppy eyes to him and whispered conspiratorially, “Promise you won’t tell my mother?”

The way she was confiding in him made him feel bold and he scooted closer to her. “I promise.”

Eve shifted on the seat, slid one of her bent legs closer to him and her double buttoned dress with pleated skirt climbed up a bit, revealing more of her soft rounded thighs.

Ethan’s mouth dried. He licked his lips. “So? What kind?”

With her knee touching his hip, she leaned over, balancing herself with a hand on his thigh and put her mouth near his ear. Her warm hand sent electric shocks through him and her soft breath tickled his ear when she murmured, “About sex.”

“Sex,” he repeated hoarsely as a thrill of desire ran directly to his crotch. Jesus! I want this angel.

His breathing became uneven. He raised his hand to touch her face. When she didn’t recoil, he put his open palm on her cheek, the tips of his fingers touching her silky hair. His eyes fluttered closed. Such softness. I want to touch her all over. But I don’t know how. What—

A soft kiss on his lips interrupted his thoughts. His eyes flew open and he gasped.

Eve backed away, blinking. “I’m sorry. I—”

She put her hands over her face and her hair covered her lowered face.

He awkwardly put his hand on her bare knee. “I’m sorry. I don’t…” I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to do. I’m so clumsy.

She looked at him between her fingers.

“Please? Eve?” Ethan squeezed her knee lightly. What should I do?

Eve took her hands slowly from her face. “Don’t tell anyone. Please? It’s just that you are so…handsome.” She put her hand over his and moved it further up her thigh, under her dress, and she pressed her hand down on his. “I have never seen such a handsome man. You know,” her eyes fluttered innocently, but her gaze never strayed from his, as she once more leaned in his direction and, a breath away from his lips, whispered, “I never had a boyfriend.”

Ethan didn’t resist temptation and closed the space between them, putting his lips over hers. Oh. Soft lips. Sweet lips. Angel lips.

His platonic thoughts gave way to fierce feelings as her tongue slid over his lips, her hands wandering gently in his hair and she murmured on his closed mouth, “Oh, Ethan, you make me want forbidden things. Open your mouth.” Her soft tongue probed and found entrance.

Ethan succumbed.

He forgot all his mother and father had done to him.

He forgot all about that awful night and worse morning.

Eve’s kiss was all he could think about.