For almost two days Alexandra had behaved. And she was driving him crazy.

She and Eva had been dressed and ready to go when he’d knocked on the penthouse door. Both girls had been full of high spirits, and they’d admired his new yacht—which, he had to say, was worth admiration.

The Kairos was a hundred and sixty feet of sleek beauty with every modern convenience, teak decks, a lounge and dining room, and could sleep six, as well as hold a crew of ten. He was proud of the Kairos since he’d worked with the shipbuilders on the design.

With GPS and radar, solar and wind power for electronics, full recycling of waste, and a desalination rig, and engines that could run on diesel or bio-diesel, it could stay on the water almost indefinitely. He’d been dying to take her out. Except for a few minor issues, she sailed as smoothly as he had hoped.

During the day, Alexandra and Eva had lounged on the deck, both in skimpy bikinis. Alexandra had insisted on Dareios putting on her suntan lotion. He’d frowned, thought about telling her to have Eva do it, but that seemed too much like backing down.

In the evenings, they’d dined on deck and played card games. He’d almost begun to think Alexandra had given up on the idea of anything happening between them—and he wasn’t about to admit to any disappointment.

And then on the afternoon of the second day, the captain had come to him with a course request that Alexandra had made.

Heading up on deck, he found Alexandra lounging in the sun. Eva was not in sight, so she must have gone to her cabin for a nap—which seemed to be her habit. Dareios stopped at the sight of Alexandra’s naked back, baking in the sun. His heart rate quickened and his mouth dried. All that beautiful, golden skin.

Grabbing the tanning lotion, Alexandra waved it at him. “Just in time. Be a darling and rub some lotion on my back. I don’t want to burn.”

Swallowing, Dareios came over to her and sat on the chair next to her lounge. “You keep this up you’ll get skin cancer.”

Alexandra smiled and pushed the lotion at him. Her long hair lay in a braid that she’d pulled to one side. Her gold bikini barely covered her butt. “Not if you put sunscreen on me. And I’m very careful. Besides, a little sun is good for you.” She tucked her hands under her cheek. With her top undone, he could see the sides of her breasts as they pressed against the beach towel that she had spread over the lounger.

Dareios popped the top of the lotion and squirted it onto Alexandra’s back. She gave a gasp and her feet kicked up. “That’s cold—you could have warmed it.”

He started to rub it in, trying to ignore how smooth her skin was under his hand. “Why did you ask the captain to head to Methoni?”

She had on sunglasses so he couldn’t see her eyes, but he thought her smile became a little stiff. “It has a lovely castle.”

“Which we’ve all seen. You’re not answering me.” He rubbed lower on her back, his fingers skimming close to her ass. She had a beautiful butt—wide hips and firm muscles, and…and he wasn’t going to think about that.

“Do the back of my legs, too, please,” she said and turned away from him.

Swallowing, Dareios shifted onto her lounge chair so he could reach. Her thigh brushed his leg—and he wished now he’d worn jeans and not shorts and canvas shoes. It seemed ridiculously hot now, even though a cool breeze came off the sea as the Kairos skimmed over the blue waters. “We’re not going to Methoni unless you tell me why.”

“Oh, it’s for Eva.”

He smeared lotion onto her thighs, and then on her calves, and finally came to her feet. He’d always loved beautiful feet, and Alexandra’s were perfect—high arches, narrow, beautifully shaped. Capping the lotion, he stood up. “What is for Eva?”

Her voice muffled by her hands, Alexandra said, “She needs to be in Methoni by the fifth.”

“Why? And when did you find out about this?”

Alexandra turned to face him and sat up slightly. Dareios stared at her, his mind suddenly empty. She smiled. “Eva remembered that she agreed to help out at a camp for kids. She said she can’t cancel—it’s important. So we need to leave her in Methoni.”

Pushing his hands through his hair, he glanced around. He realized he’d just pushed his fingers—still sticky with sunscreen—into his hair.

Alexandra kept smiling at him, her breasts barely covered. “Eva’s going to help the children with their art projects. Isn’t that great? They use art as a way for the children to cope with grief.”

He frowned and tried to focus on the water. But he couldn’t keep his gaze away from Alexandra—from those shapely legs and trim waist—and all that skin. “A worthy cause, to be sure. But that leaves us with another problem.”

“I don’t see a problem.” Alexandra turned away again.

“You wouldn’t. But then there is the little problem of your brother.”

“Antonio is not little.”

“That is the problem. The last time we boxed together, he proved he was faster than I am.” He wet his lips. What was he going to do? He didn’t know if he was strong enough to be alone with Alexandra on the Kairos for even a day. Yes, they’d have the crew, so there were ten others, including the cook and the waiters and maids. But they’d dine under the stars, just the two of them. They could anchor and swim in the water, just the two of them. They could…

He cut off the thought, because he was seeing Alexandra here on the deck, without that bikini on, and picturing himself going down on her, spreading her legs, tasting her, pleasuring her.

No…just no.

He let out a breath. “We’ll talk about it at lunch.”

He headed to the other end of the Kairos—and suddenly a hundred and sixty feet of length didn’t seem enough distance.