The Renegade Billionaire by Rebecca Winters Page B

her attractive enough to want a relationship with her constituted something of a miracle. She was no femme fatale
,
yet he’d kissed her as if she was the most important thing in his life.
    But the truth had to be faced. There was no good time for them. He’d launched a new multimillion-dollar business here on the island. She’d be leaving Greece shortly. The situation with Tina wasn’t going to go away. Besides a ton of work at the office in Thessaloniki, she had packing to do and still needed to talk to her landlord and Sakis.
    To go on trying to work things out with Stavros when they could find the time to fit it in made absolutely no sense. All it would do was prolong the agony. After losing Ferrante, she couldn’t go through that kind of pain again. Better to cut things off now before they became any more involved. Soon they’d be on opposite sides of the world.
    It was a long time before Stavros spoke. “Fear is the last emotion I want you to feel.” She felt energy shoot through him before he rolled away from her and got to his feet. “What we need is to enjoy the lunch Raisa packed for us.”
    The moment was bittersweet because she didn’t want him to stop kissing her. At the same time, she marveled over his self-control because she didn’t have any. Slowly, she sat up, but it was difficult because the desire she felt for him had dazed her. “We look like we’ve been bathing in sand.”
    â€œWe’ll wash off next to the boat. Come on.” He reached for her hand and helped her all the way up. Together, they walked across the sand into the shallows. The next thing she knew, he’d swung her up in his arms as if she were a bride.
    â€œNo—Stavros!” Her protest came out on a nervous laugh as he waded deeper. “What are you going to do?”
    â€œGive us a proper bath.”
    â€œNo—” she squealed again, but by then they were both immersed.
    â€œThere.” He smiled broadly after bringing them back up. “That wasn’t so bad. Now our sandwiches won’t taste of grit. Let’s see if we’ve gotten all of it off your lips.” Once again, Stavros started kissing her as if his life depended on it and carried her to the boat. She moaned when he finally relinquished her mouth and lowered her onto a banquette.
    â€œI don’t know about you, but that swim for our lives gave me an appetite. Kissing you has made me even more ravenous.” In one deft masculine move, he levered himself inside the boat. “We’re safe here, Andrea. The only thing that’s going to take a bite out of you now is me.”
    After kissing her thoroughly once more, she felt exposed with his all-seeing eyes roving over her figure. Better put on her T-shirt. It wouldn’t hurt to fix her hair either. She reached in her purse for a comb while he opened the hamper. Soon, they dug in to tasty finger food and fruit.
    When Andrea had eaten all she could, she sat back and lifted her face to the sun. “This is one of those moments I’ll treasure forever. Out of all the islands I’ve visited in the Aegean, Thassos is my favorite. Think of all the conquerors and invaders who have left their mark here. I can see why you wanted to make your home here. You have it all. Mountains, beaches, the sun, the perfect climate. It’s like your own fairyland nestled in the greenery.” After a pause, she said, “I have a confession to make.”
    He darted her a curious glance. “What’s that?”
    â€œOne of the commandments says, ‘Thou shalt not covet.’ As I was standing on your patio, looking out over this glorious spot of earth, I understood its meaning for the first time. When you climbed the mountain, no wonder you claimed this place for your own. To live where you live really is paradise on earth. Your mythical Greek gods must be jealous of you.”
    Stavros stared out at the water.