The next day dawned with clear skies and calm seas. Antonio planned a picnic and swimming. They did both. They also made love on the beach. Claire had been shy at first about taking off her swimsuit. “What if someone comes by?”

Antonio laughed. “Then they’ll get an eyeful.” He’d yanked off her swimsuit straps.

She’d given a yelp and had dove into the water, but he’d come after her and had swept her into his arms and kissed her senseless.

What happens on Kato Antikeri stays on Kato Antikeri, Claire decided.

That night, she stripped for him in the lamplight while he lay naked on the bed, one hand stroking himself. She watched how his hand moved and then crawled onto the bed on her hands and knees and pressed herself on his body. She kissed him—his chest, his nipples, his belly. She took him into her mouth and sucked hard and copied how he’d stroked himself using her tongue instead of her hands. He’d come in a hot spurt and then had pressed her onto her back and returned the favor.

The next day they’d showered together and had gone swimming again. Coming back to the Villa Livia, Claire asked, “Where is your mother’s grave.”

Taking her hand, Antonio took her to the gardens in the back. Jasmine grew wild here, as did the roses in small buds. He gestured to the marker. “This was her favorite spot. She liked the mountains more than the sea—she always said you cannot trust the sea, but land will feed you and care for you.”

Claire smiled. “I think I’d have liked your mom.”

Taking her hand, Antonio pulled her into the bedroom. That afternoon he made love to her with slow care—and Claire thought she still had not made him come apart the way that he could take her apart.

She also started to count the days they had left. Four remaining now before they had to go back to a pretend marriage instead of…of whatever this was. Was this real? Or was this actually the pretend? She didn’t know.

Antonio took her hiking into the mountains to see the sheep. She picked an olive and bit into it—and found it sour. Antonio laughed at her. “You have to soak them in brine before you eat them.” But he found wild strawberries to pick and bring back for Mrs. Thanopolis to put in honey and yogurt.

The days slipped past all too fast, and Claire woke the last morning to hear the drone of the sea plane. Their time had ended. She glanced over at Antonio, still asleep next to her. She wanted to memorize his face—the straight line of his nose, the firm jaw, the small mole near his right ear. The sun had bronzed his face and chest. His dark hair curled now—and his black eyelashes seemed extravagant against his cheekbones. She put a hand on his chest where she could feel his heart beat. Had she touched that heart? Or was this just pleasure for him?

Getting up, she showered and dressed and tried to put some kind of armor back on.

After breakfast, Claire found her bag already packed. Mrs. Thanopolis hugged her, Mr. Thanopolis bowed, and their son Stephen handed her a bouquet of wild flowers. Claire wanted to cry. But she pushed up her chin and forced a smile.

She didn’t look back as she trudged down the stairs to the sea plane.

* * *

Athens seemed dirty, hectic and loud after a week at the Villa Livia, Antonio thought. He sent Claire onto the estate and stayed in the city to deal with paperwork. Their marriage had been required, but there was still more paperwork to deal with before he could finalize his inheritance. Meanwhile, the businesses needed supervision.

At least he knew that Eva and Alexandra would look after Claire, and she had her recording studio to keep her busy. He knew that her engineers, Steve and George, had gotten everything set up—Dareios had let him know about that.

Antonio stayed in the city that night—and the next. He told himself the businesses needed him, but he knew he needed to distance himself from Claire. That week on Kato Antikeri had been amazing—but Claire would want to go back to her own life soon. All too soon. And Antonio wasn’t certain he wanted to let her go. But how could he keep her?

The truth was he’d fallen for her—again.

This time, however, he’d gone into this with his eyes open and knowing exactly how things must work out. But he kept trying to think of ways to keep Claire with him—and he kept thinking he would only end up ending her career and making her unhappy.

He finally couldn’t stand not seeing her and headed out to the estate.

He found Claire in the drawing room, pacing and talking on her cell phone. “No, Brenna, it’s going to be a couple more weeks before I’m home. But tell them I can get the work done here—I’ve got an amazing studio here, and Steve and George. And if they need to send the director here to get the job done, is he really going to bitch all that much about a trip to Greece?”

Antonio froze in the doorway.

Claire kept pacing, her back to him. “Okay. If I lost that job, I’m not that worried. I know…I know, but one job does not unmake a reputation. If they can’t wait, tell them to get someone else. You know, sometimes it’s good to be hard to get. Okay—yeah. Text me and let me know.” She hung up and turned. Her cheeks pinked. “Antonio, I didn’t—I didn’t think you’d be home today.”

He came in, strode to her side and kissed her cheek. “Sorry. The paperwork piled up while we were gone. Where are the girls?”

“Shopping.” Claire shook her head. “Eva needs to get back to school soon, and I’m not sure what’s up with Alex.”

“Alex?”

“Alexandra. Have you noticed she’s not really happy—I think she’s got some kind of guy trouble brewing.”

Antonio frowned and cut the air with his hand. “No guy trouble. I won’t allow it.”

Claire laughed. “You really can sound just like your dad, can’t you?” She bit her lower lip, and said, her voice quiet, “Sorry. That was out of line.”

“Never mind. Come on, let’s raid Gaia’s kitchen.” He pulled her with him into the kitchen and they dug leftovers from the fridge and sat at the counter to eat. Antonio hadn’t had such a good evening since coming back to Athens.

Dragging him with her to the pool, Claire stripped off her clothes and then went skinny dipping. They ran back up to their room, and Antonio fell asleep in her arms, too exhausted to do more than sleep. He hadn’t slept so well in two days.

In the morning, he woke with Claire draped over his chest, one thigh pressed between his own and riding against his hard length.

She stirred and started to move away. He grabbed her hips and held her in place. “Don’t. Move,” he growled into her ear.

“Tonio, time to get up.”

“I like you right where you are. All over me.” Cupping her butt, he pressing her against his rigid length. She arched her back, moaned and squirmed. He tipped her head up and began kissing her.

She shivered. He pressed her down over him and rubbed against her. Pushing his way between her thighs, he slipped a finger into her. “God, Claire, you’re so wet for me.”

“Make love to me, please,” she said her voice sleep soaked and husky.

He rolled with her and pushed into her. “You are so perfect; it takes my breath away, kardia mou—my heart. Se thelo—I want you!” Placing kisses along her collar bone, he eased into her, slipping in as if he belonged there.

“Yes, I need to feel you inside me—now.”

Antonio pushed into her. He clung to a thread of control, slowly increasing his speed until finally he felt her arch up into his body, yelling out his name as she reached the ultimate pleasure. He thrust into her once more and followed her over the precipice.

He held her close and listened to her breathing slow. Getting up, he headed into the bathroom, peed and came back with a warm washcloth. He gently wiped her clean, and then tossed the towel into the corner. He climbed back into the bed and pulled her against his chest. “I’m sorry.”

Claire leaned up one elbow. “You mean, you forgot to wear a condom?” She smiled. “Fine time to think about that now. Well, you don’t have to worry about it. I’m on long-term birth control shots.”

“No. I didn’t protect you. From my father. I should have.”

She laid her face against his chest. “Let’s not spoil this by bringing your dad into it.”

Antonio ran a hand over her back. He thought about her phone call—how she had work waiting for her. “Claire?”

She gave a low hum.

“Do you love Greece?”

“How can anyone not love this place? I’ll have to come back someday. Maybe.”

Antonio’s chest tightened. She would come back—meaning she would leave. He’d always known that. But now he wanted nothing more than to find a way to make her stay. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t take away the work she loved. He couldn’t do that to the woman he loved.