“Kalimera.” Everyone in the vicinity stopped whatever they were doing to greet the young dark-haired man half-racing down the expansive marble steps of the resort. Their heads bobbed as he walked past them, their grins widening when the man greeted them back and addressed all of them by name.

Best boss to work for, the female lifeguard on duty thought, humming happily to herself. There were over a hundred of them working for the master, and yet he knew all of them like they were family.

Quite unlike his father, the head gardener thought while meticulously shearing the landscaped bushes in front of him. How Dario Gazis had been able to produce such a responsible and kind son would always be one of life’s strangest miracles.

The devotion commanded by the young master did not go unnoticed even among the guests lounging by the pool. The bikini-clad women eyed him hungrily, taking keen note of his tall and powerfully built physique. Even dressed simply in a plain shirt and jeans, he exuded the kind of strength that didn’t rely on famous last names or material possessions. He was a man’s man, and when he turned partially towards the pool while talking to the resort manager----

His face was of a Greek god, his dark brown hair streaked with varying shades of gold when touched by sunlight. His eyes, for those close enough to see, were a captivating shade of hazel, and his skin was made bronze by the Mediterranean sun.

Aaaaah. This sigh was more felt than heard, a sensation of pure lust overcoming the women. They struggled to maintain their air of jaded boredom while resisting the urge to tear off their skimpy swimsuits and beg the Greek god to fuck them.

One of them was Minnie, a twice-divorced American in her late twenties. The exquisitely handsome specimen walking past her had Minnie sitting up straight on her lounging chaise. Carelessly dumping her margarita on the side table, she imperiously signaled at the closest waiter to her and fumed impatiently as the grey-haired man slowly made his way to her. When he was within earshot, she said demandingly, “Tell me who he is.”

Realizing whom she was pointing at, Anton thought, Someone who is not for the likes of you. But out loud, all he said was, “He is Kyrillos Gazis, the owner of the resort, madam.”

Minnie was shocked. “So young?”

Anton’s smile dimmed. “Yes, madam.” The twenty-four-year old had come to his unexpected inheritance when his parents had died in a plane crash last year.

Minnie took another sip of her margarita, a pensive look on her face. She had heard of men being compared to Greek gods countless times, but this was the first instance Minnie saw the description actually proving apt. Maybe even insufficient, she thought. If he happened to have a huge dick, too, that was it. She was moving to Greece.

“Is he single?” Minnie asked abruptly.

Anton gave the guest a pitying look. She was just like the rest, thinking that the young master would be so shallow as to fall for anyone marginally attractive. “He has been known to see someone local,” he said tactfully. It was an understatement, though. Everyone in the island knew the master only had eyes for his childhood sweetheart.

“Mm…as long as he’s not married, I should still have a shot.” Minnie released a wistful sigh as the resort owner disappeared back into the resort. “Is he going to attend the dinner tonight?”

“Yes, madam.”

“I’ll make sure to dress up,” she said absently. “I’ll show him what fun really means.” Leaning back, she closed her eyes and began to daydream about a hot, wild fling with Kyrillos Gazis.

All these city girls were the same, Anton thought disapprovingly as he placed the empty cocktail glass on his tray and walked away. They always assumed showing a little flesh was all it took to seduce a man.

The master of the island was a proper gentleman, and his long-time girlfriend, Ana, a rightfully proper girl. Certainly, they would never think of “fun” the way the American guest so brazenly suggested.

In this case, however, the conservative, middle-aged employee was absolutely wrong.

Some distance away, behind a locked washroom door, Kyrillos Gazis was quietly but forcefully fucking his beloved Ana. He had caught Ana on her way to the resort’s service kitchen, carrying a basket of fruits from her parents’ farm. Sweat had plastered her thin cotton shirt to her pert breasts, and her long dark hair swayed behind her back as she walked, matching the gentle but sensual movement of her hips.

One look at her, and Kyr had been hard as a rock. By the time she realized he was there, he had already caught her by the waist and pulled her to the closest room.

Now, Ana’s back was against the wall, arms wound tightly around Kyr’s neck, and her legs embracing his waist. Both of them were fully dressed, with Kyr only managing to toss her skirt up and unzip himself before he was driving his engorged cock into her already wet and aching pussy.

As Ana’s cries became increasingly loud, Kyr swiftly covered her mouth with his hand, saying hoarsely, “Keep it down, agape.” But his eyes were gleaming with masculine satisfaction, a part of him enjoying the way his usually cool Ana only came apart in his arms.

Ana only dug her nails into his shoulders, a silent, demanding urge for him to fuck her harder. He obliged, pulling all the way out before slamming back in hard. Ana’s body jerked violently, and she cried out against his palm. Her release took them both by surprise, and the sudden rush of wetness triggered Kyr’s climax. With a muffled groan, he thrust faster and harder, shuddering in his release.

In the aftermath, they simply clutched each other, their breathing ragged, their bodies still racked with brief, violent shudders. Lifting his head, he said with a sexy, unrepentant grin, “Sorry.”

Ana made a face and socked his shoulder. “You never mean it.”

They disentangled themselves afterwards, dressing up with the kind of comfort that long-time lovers only usually had. And this was true in their case, since their first times had been each other, in Ana’s bedroom, when they were both fifteen.

And that was nine years ago, Kyr reminisced.

When they were properly dressed, Kyr, by default, stepped out of the washroom first, making sure no one was around before beckoning to Ana to come out.

They walked side by side, Kyr taking the basket from Ana while clasping her hand with his other.

“I had a fight with them again,” Ana said after a moment.

Kyr’s smile faded. “What about?” It was not an unusual thing, and for all that he loved his girlfriend, he wasn’t blind to her faults. She had a tendency to be spoiled and headstrong. But it was only because she was so passionate about life, Kyr reasoned.

“The usual,” Ana answered sulkily.

Pulling her close, he kissed her on the hair, murmuring, “Try to be patient with them, mm? And remember that at least you still have your parents while others do not.” But even before he was finished speaking, Ana was already angrily shrugging off his hold.

“You’ll never understand, will you?”

Her unusually bitter tone stunned Kyr. “Ana---” He tried reaching for her again, but she only shook her head and stepped back from his hold.

“You always take their side,” she accused.

“Of course not,” he refuted strongly. “You know you’re the most important person to me.” He made another attempt to pull her close, but it only made Ana back further away from him. “Ana, for God’s sake, we were just talking. Why are you making such a fuss?”

But she only looked at him, lip trembling, her almond-shaped eyes shining with tears.

He said finally in a quiet voice, “I’m sorry.” Between the two of them, he was always the first to apologize, even when he wasn’t wrong or didn’t even know what was wrong. And Kyr didn’t mind, because wasn’t that how love worked?

He offered his hand again, and this time Ana took it, her fingers slowly twining with his. And then she released a half-gasp, half-laugh as Kyr used her hand to haul her to him. He caught her mouth under his, kissing her long and hard until he felt her melting towards him, her arms going up to snake around his neck.

When he lifted his head, he was satisfied to see her panting slightly and the tears in her eyes had been replaced by desire.

When his lips curved in masculine satisfaction, Ana seemed to recover herself and hurriedly pulled away from him. “Bastard.” But there was no heat to her tone, and her eyes were frequently drawn to his erection, which had made itself felt during their kiss.

Caressing one soft cheek with his knuckles, he said softly, “Give me a few years more, agape. Once I have the island running the way it’s supposed to, you can have everything you want, and I will make sure that your parents understand it is my responsibility to make you happy.”

He cupped her chin, asking, “You’ll wait for me?” Instead of answering with words, Ana pressed herself against him, and Kyr stiffened in shock. It wasn’t like Ana to be this expressive or affectionate in public, but before he could ask her about it, she was already drawing his head down. As their mouths brushed against each other, she whispered, “Take me again, Kyr.”

* * *

Dawn on the island of Teleios was like a pastel masterpiece, with shades ranging from the palest of blues to the most vivid shades of lavender and rose. There were numerous times when Kyr rose early just to gaze at the early morning sky. Always, the sight would fill him with purpose, giving him the strength to face yet another day of doing all kinds of backbreaking work – both behind the table and outside the office – in order to reduce, bit by bit, the debts that his parents had incurred in their lifetimes.

Today, however, was different. A potential investor of the island was due today for a visit, and Kyr wanted to personally make sure that everything at the docks was in perfect order. Upon his arrival, local fishermen already in their boats greeted him. Kyr greeted them back absently, his attention focused on a familiar figure walking up the plank to board the ferry that shipped locals back and forth between Teleios and mainland Greece.

The figure turned towards him, and that was when he realized his instincts had been right.

It was Ana, and she was carrying a heavy duffel bag with her.

His blood ran cold, his mind instantly coming up with a thousand scenarios, and none of them good. Walking as fast as he could, he told himself he was jumping to conclusions. “Ana?” he called out to her as he made it to the plank.

She stiffened visibly before slowly turning around to gaze at him.

Kyr stilled.

She did not want to see him.

And that could only mean one thing.

He forced himself to move, feeling like he was aging a hundred years with each step. To her credit, she didn’t try to escape even though the expression on her face made it clear she would rather that he turn his back and leave without saying a word.

Stopping when he was a foot away from her, he asked hoarsely, “Why?” Because Kyr truly didn’t know the answer.

Why was she leaving?

They had been together for nine years. He had been her first lover, just as she was his. They had shared their dreams together, had started talking about marriage and having kids even before reaching college.

He loved her, and she loved him.

Didn’t she?

“You weren’t supposed to see me leave,” Ana said shakily. “I left you a letter---”

“Then tell me what you wrote.” His voice was cold and controlled, but deep inside Kyr knew he was only using his anger to shield what he truly felt, and it was nothing.

He was nothing if Ana left.

“I promise to come back,” Ana stammered. “I just need to follow my own dreams, too. I can’t wait forever, Kyr. I’m tired, so damn tired of living in a small, old house up in the hills, having to trek half an hour just to get to town---”

“Then live with me!”

“For how long?” she shouted back. It was his first time to hear Ana scream, his first time to see his girlfriend lose her usually serene expression in public. “How sure are you that the resort will still be yours by year end?”

Kyr whitened. He couldn’t believe she had just asked that, couldn’t believe that Ana of all people did not believe in him. Fists clenching, he told himself it was fear that was making her act so selfishly, fear that he could address by reminding her of their life together.

“A few more years, Ana.” It killed him to hear himself practically begging, but because she was the girl he loved, he would do it. “I just need---”

“A few more years,” she echoed, and the unmistakable sneer in her voice cut him dead. “You’re facing a hundred million of euros in debt, Kyr. A hundred million euros. How can you expect me to believe you’ll be able to turn everything around in just a few years? You’re an idiot if you---”

Kyr’s face hardened.

Ana paled, and her mouth snapped shut as if she had only realized what she had let slip. She reached for his hand, but this time he stepped back, and her arm fell limply back to her side at the cold expression on his face.

“I love you, Kyr. I’ll always love you.”

The sweetest words, and yet right now, they hurt like hell to hear because Kyr knew they were no longer enough.

Behind them, the ferry honked its horn thrice, which served as its last call for boarding, and Kyr’s heart cracked at the way panic crossed Ana’s face.

She still wanted to leave, he thought dully.

Even though he was standing in front of her now.

Even though she had to know she was destroying him---

Swallowing, Ana pleaded, “Kyr, please understand---”

“If you leave,” he heard himself say, “then that’s it for us.”

Ana jerked. “Y-you can’t mean that.” When he remained unspeaking, his face hard, she shook her head at him. “Your dream’s impossible, Kyr. Mine’s not. I can make it big off the island, I just know it. I-if you really love me, you won’t stop me. You’ll let me go and s-support me---”

“Like you’re supporting me now?” he challenged bitterly.

Her cheeks flushed, and her tone was defensive when she said, “Can’t you see how – how unfair you’re being? You wanted me to wait for you while you follow your dreams. Why can’t I go after mine?”

The ferry honked its horn one last time, the long sound indicating that it would sail off in five minutes.

Ana and Kyr looked at each other.

Choose me. He begged her with his eyes, but somehow it didn’t feel enough, and before he knew it, he was already repeating the words out loud, his throat tightening with pain with every syllable.

“Choose me.”

And they both knew he was figuratively on his knees, begging for her to stay.

Ana’s head bowed, preventing him from seeing her face. But even so, he heard her loud and clear.

“I’m sorry, Kyr. I can’t.”

He turned around wordlessly, his heart breaking into pieces with each step that took him further away from Ana. By the time he was back on the island, his feet sinking in the hot, powdery white sand of Teleios, he no longer had a heart, and Kyr was glad.