‘You wanted your freedom,’ he said.
Still she held tight. The heat of her infernal fingers scorched him. The light in her eyes reached into his dark places. Damn her. It would take him an age to recover from this.
‘You touched me and I discovered what freedom was. It’s inside myself, not outside the walls which surrounded me. It’s loving with all that I am and all that I have. I’m free with you.’
When he looked at her face he saw it shining from within. Love. It poured from her and into him. How could she feel this way when he had nothing to give? And yet the pain of her absence cut through him.
He fell to his knees in front of her. ‘I told you never to kneel. You should kneel to no man.’
‘I’m not kneeling to any man. I’m kneeling to the man I love. The man with whom I want to spend the rest of my life. For better. For worse. Though I can’t imagine anything worse than the pain of this time without you.’
‘What are you asking?’
‘Marry me.’
Time stopped. In this room, on his knees, looking into the soul of the woman he now knew he’d loved for months. She was handing him her heart. Did he have the courage to accept it and honour her the way he should?
‘I don’t know that I’m worthy.’
‘You prove yourself worthy every day. I see it. Your staff see it. The only person who doesn’t believe is you. So answer my question.’
He cupped her face in his hands. This incredible woman. He’d give her anything to ensure her happiness. Even his cracked and broken self. Because she wanted him. Believed in him.
He’d punished himself enough over the years, absorbing his parents’ disapprobation. But why accept their opinions about him when he rejected their judgement on everything else? Perhaps he did deserve the love Thea showed him now.
There was only one way to find out.
‘I zoí mou, s’agapó. My life, I love you.’
He’d fight every day to keep that smile on her face. He stood, pulling her with him. Holding her tight. Accepting all she offered.
‘Yes. Was there any doubt of my answer?’
She nuzzled into his chest. ‘Life’s full of doubt. But I see you like you saw me. Only a man who truly loved me would have let me go.’
And only a woman who truly loved him would have asked for him back.
‘My brave, beautiful Thea.’
‘I must be brave. It seems I have a wedding to plan.’
She ran her hands through his hair and all he could think about was the bedroom down the hall and staying there for days.
No, she deserved more.
He grabbed his phone and called the harbour master. ‘Yanis—ready the yacht. I’m travelling tomorrow. First light. With my fiancée.’
Thea raised her eyebrows.
‘You can plan the wedding,’ he said, ‘but I intend to start the honeymoon early.’
He swung her into his arms and she squealed with laughter. ‘I was right when I said you were a romantic.’
‘It’s all for you, Thea,’ he murmured, brushing his lips across hers.
She cupped his face in her hands. ‘No, not for me. From now on it’s for us.’
He smiled at this woman who would hold his heart for ever.
‘Always.’
EPILOGUE
WHITE MUSLIN CURTAINS billowed in the warm breeze from the Aegean. Each time they parted Christo caught a glimpse of the azure blue sea surrounding their island. Exquisite, but nothing matched the woman sprawled with him, replete on the rumpled sheets. Her bare skin like honey against the crisp white cotton.
Their trip here had been an escape after visiting Maria’s grave on Karpathos. Tidying the space, leaving flowers. For him, comforting his wife. Such a strong woman Maria had borne in Thea, it left him in awe. That day at the cemetery Christo gave a silent word of thanks to the mother-in-law he’d never known, for giving him such an incredible young woman to cherish.
Six months on from their honeymoon on this island, and he was still immersed in the fulfilment of every day. The magnificent whitewashed mansion had become their haven and escape where they relived their renewed vows and commitment to one another. With Raul and Elena as witnesses, it was all they’d needed, standing barefoot on the golden sand here and declaring their love. Nothing more, nothing less.
There was a rustle beside him. He remained still, lying on his stomach as Thea sat up. She leaned across his body, her long hair trailing over his back sending goose bumps of pleasure shivering across his skin. Her warm breath ghosted over his right shoulder blade, before she dropped her mouth in a gentle kiss. Right over where he now had his own tattoo, of a bluebird like hers.
‘Did it hurt?’
‘You’ve asked me this before.’ He felt her smile against his skin. ‘Many times.’ And each time he answered with the truth, she’d kiss all of him better. Inflicting her own kind of agony with her lips and hands. Now, it was his turn to smile. She bent down and kissed the upturned corner of his mouth.
‘Tell me again,’ she murmured, tracing the tattoo’s outline with her clever fingers. He closed his eyes, allowing her to explore for a while, even though his body had other ideas which involved him being far more assertive, and preferably inside of her.
‘Excessively.’ He’d wanted to experience a little of what she’d gone through. Anyhow, the pain had been worth it to honour Thea, and nothing compared to her past hardships. It was also a reminder of what bound them together. The bluebird a symbol of joy, not suffering.
There’d be no more suffering, not if he could help it.
‘My darling, brave husband.’
‘I’m hardly brave.’ He shrugged. ‘My wife leaves me in her shadow.’
‘You have your own fine attributes.’
Christo looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow. ‘Well endowed?’
Thea tossed back her head, hair tumbling in unruly waves over her glorious, naked torso. Her throaty laugh sending a
