Those Summer Nights (Corfu, Greek Island Romance) (28 page)

Bucking her hips towards him, she felt his full thickness surge inside her and she gasped, digging her fingernails into his back, aching, wanting more. She clung to him, pushing, pressing, needing to envelop herself around him until they reached that beautiful place together.

He rocked her, moving to her pace, each gliding motion reaching a part of her that craved this heat, this ultimate closeness. She pulled him nearer still, her breath in his ear, the hammering of his heart against her chest. Every movement was swamping her internal sensory board with delicious, sweet agony as she yearned for a divine release.

And then it was there. Building slowly, like someone had just ignited a sparkler, increasing in intensity, getting hotter, fizzing rapidly, ascending dramatically until she was no longer in control. Her body told her to let go while her head and her heart shouted to hold on, prolong this special moment, cling to him and every sentiment they were sharing.

‘Imogen,’ he said, his voice rich with desire.

‘Pano, I can’t stop…’

‘Do not stop,’ he ordered. ‘Let go.’

‘Not yet,’ she breathed.

‘With me,’ he whispered. ‘With me…
theé mou!’

Suddenly she was lost, being swept away like a boat unhitched from harbour, caught up in a storm that was as exhilarating as it was dangerous, surging up onto a crest of a wave then plunging down into the depths of the ocean, wild, fast surf fizzing over every inch of skin. She cried out, dragging Panos in close, the vibrations of his body echoing hers.

He lifted his face to look at her, his hair dewy with perspiration, his eyes darker than ever, and she put her lips to his, wanting him to know how she was feeling. Breaking the kiss, he pushed her hair back from her face before cupping her cheek with his palm and locking their gaze.

‘I think, Imogen,’ he began. ‘I think that
you
might be my home.’

‘
I
mogen Charlton
! The walk of shame!’

Janie’s exclamation was almost loud enough for walkers to hear on Mount Pantokrator but, even though it was slightly embarrassing, Imogen couldn’t keep the smile off her face. She avoided her sister-in-law for a moment, regarding the sea view. Above, a few white fluffy clouds speckled the perfect blue sky and the water calmly lulled backwards and forwards, not a breath of wind to create a wave. Her skin attested that the temperature was already rocketing and the sun was busy warming the loungers on the beach ready for the first worshippers of the day.

The humming of the cicadas had woken her up an hour ago and when she’d opened her eyes sunlight had streamed through the large glassless window of the treehouse. She’d stretched out her body ensuring tension in every part of her torso and then had quickly realised she was alone. For a second she had wondered if Panos had had a change of heart. Last night had been so intense, the dancing, the heart-to-heart… the making love, perhaps when reality had dawned with the new day he had thought better of everything he’d said. But then his head had appeared through the round hole in the floorboards and he’d climbed through carrying travel cups of coffee brought down from Elpida’s home. They’d drunk the coffee first and then he’d ripped away the blanket she’d been covering herself with and made love to her again.

She stepped up onto the terrace. ‘Don’t let the children hear you say that,’ she said to Janie. ‘They will want a full and detailed explanation.’

‘Which is exactly what
I
want,’ Janie replied, pulling out a chair from under the terrace table she was sitting at.

‘I’m pretty sure Harry will be up to his eyes in last-minute things we need to get sorted before opening night,’ Imogen said, about to walk by.

‘Oh no you don’t,’ Janie stated. ‘Sit!’

Imogen stopped and, sensing no escape, she pulled up the offered chair and sank down into it, suddenly realising every limb she owned ached. She grimaced as her bottom refused to get comfortable on the seat. She set her handbag down on the floor, removing her phone and setting it on the table.

‘You’re stiff!’ Janie exclaimed. ‘What on Earth did you do last night?’

‘Slept on the floor of a treehouse,’ she answered.

‘Ooo, rustic! But something tells me you’re pushing the word “slept” to the very limits of believability.’

Imogen laughed. ‘Is that so?’

‘Imogen, the way you two were with each other last night. Well! It was like watching an episode of
The Affair
without any of the weird time-lapse bits… or the deeply annoying problem children… or the drugs… I think.’

‘Well, I could say the same about you… and Harry.’ Imogen raised an eyebrow and watched for Janie’s response.

A long, low sigh came from her sister-in-law’s body and she smiled. ‘You’ve got me there.’

‘So, I’ll share with you if you tell me what exactly is going on with you and my brother,’ Imogen offered, swiping a finger down the screen of her phone to refresh her inbox now she had 3G.

Janie leaned across the table, excitement in her eyes. ‘Deal. You first… Just how good does he look with no clothes on?’ She propped her head up with her hand.

‘You do realise you’re talking about someone I have feelings for and not a piece of meat?’

‘Ooo, “someone you have feelings for”.’

‘Stop it.’

‘I have to admit, I was getting concerned you were still pining over Daniel.’

Imogen shook her head. ‘I was never pining over Daniel.’

‘I didn’t really gel with him. He thought far too much of his Playstation in my opinion.’

‘Janie!’

‘I bet Panos doesn’t have a Playstation.’ She grinned. ‘I bet Panos knows much better ways of exercising his fingers.’

‘And presses all the right buttons,’ Imogen added with a raise of her eyebrows.

Janie shrieked with laughter and rocked back on her chair. ‘Stop it!’

‘You started it.’ She took a breath. ‘So… you and Harry?’

‘But you haven’t told me anything!’ Janie moaned.

A twinge in her lower back brought back a delicious memory of holding onto a naked Panos as he turned her into a trembling wreck. She wasn’t about to give up details.

‘We like each other,’ Imogen stated. ‘We like each other a lot. That’s all I’m saying.’

Janie clapped her hands together in excitement. ‘You’ll have beautiful children. One blonde like you, one dark like him. Have you seen those eyelashes and those eyes? What am I saying?’ She paused as if for dramatic effect. ‘You spent the whole night contorted into different positions looking into them!’

‘And did you spend the night looking into my brother’s eyes?’ Imogen asked. ‘Because you know you danced to the dance of lovers.’

‘Yes, I know,’ Janie said, a sigh on her breath. ‘Elpida told me and her friend with the crazy hair.’

‘Well?’

‘We might have… shared a moment when the children finally came down from the sugar high and got to sleep.’

‘Oh, Janie!’ Imogen exclaimed happily. She tempered down her enthusiasm as she picked up on the other woman’s lack of buoyancy. Could Harry’s hopes be coming true?

‘It scared me a little bit,’ Janie admitted.

‘Scared you?’

‘Yes.’ Janie picked up her bottle of water from the table and took a swig from it. ‘I mean, we separated because things weren’t working out and… nothing’s changed.’

‘Oh, Janie, everything’s changed,’ Imogen stated.

‘Has it, though?’

‘Yes,’ Imogen insisted. ‘Look how Harry is here. I mean, I know we both thought what another fine mess he’s got himself into with this restaurant but… well… it’s becoming the making of him.’

Janie looked up, her eyes watery. ‘I still love him, Imogen. I never stopped loving him, but is that enough? I don’t want to say we should maybe try again if I’m not two hundred percent sure. I couldn’t do that to him or the children.’

Imogen nodded. ‘I know you don’t and that’s absolutely right.’

Janie sniffed again. ‘And if we tried again… he’s here in Greece. There’s so much to think about.’

‘But you could think about it. It isn’t impossible.’

Janie nodded. ‘I don’t know whether it was the music or the wine but, last night… I think last night, if he’d asked me to marry him again I would have.’

‘Oh, Janie.’ Imogen squeezed her hands and watched the tears slip from her sister-in-law’s eyes. The dance of lovers had a lot to answer for.

The phone on the table began to quake and Imogen sat forward, looking to the screen.

‘Is that lover boy? Wanting another rustic rhumba?’ Janie asked, grinning.

Imogen held her breath and looked at the screen.
Louanne Bartlett
–
Wyatt Hotel Group
. Here it was. Confirmation that when she returned to the UK it would be to Old Joe coughing over hash browns and griddled mushrooms and helping Grace pick out soft furnishings. Which was fine. Absolutely fine.

Speed-reading over the first couple of lines, her jaw dropped.

‘What is it?’ Janie asked. ‘He hasn’t dumped you, has he?’

Imogen looked up, wide-eyed and exhilarated, her heart racing. ‘It’s…’ She stopped. She couldn’t tell Janie. Janie would tell Harry and Harry was just about to open a restaurant. He didn’t need anything else to think about. She quickly changed her expression. ‘I won… the lottery.’

‘What?!’ Janie exclaimed.

‘Yes,’ Imogen carried on. ‘Four numbers. Almost sixty pounds.’

‘Oh,’ Janie said, deflating. ‘The way you looked I was thinking it was at least enough to buy a boat.’

Imogen smiled and dipped her head back to her phone and the email. She had an interview for the intern programme. And she was down to the final five.

‘
I
have made omelettes
,’ Elpida said, swinging around in the kitchen, a plate in each hand. She deposited one in front of Panos and another in front of Rhea. ‘After the amount of grapes we consume last night we all need a good breakfast.’

Panos wasn’t feeling hungover but he was feeling different, liberated. Last night with Imogen had been something he thought he would never experience. He had given himself totally, utterly, body and soul and the seismic shift was vast.

‘Oh, I couldn’t,’ Rhea stated. ‘I ate so much last night.’

‘Pfft! You will waste away,’ Elpida said.

‘My taxi will be here soon,’ the woman responded.

Panos looked at her. ‘You have ordered a taxi?’

Rhea nodded. ‘It was enough that you arranged the plane. I called them and we are leaving at midday.’

‘Pano can drive you,’ Elpida stated, bringing her food to the table and pulling up a chair.

‘No, it is OK,’ Rhea insisted. ‘You… did not expect me to turn up here and you have been so nice…’

‘I can take you,’ Panos said. ‘It is no trouble.’ It was the very least he could do.

She shook her head. ‘No, honestly, Pano, you do not have to.’ She smiled. ‘I think there is somewhere else you should be spending your time now.’

He shifted in his chair, saying nothing.

‘Ah,’ Elpida said through a mouthful of egg. ‘The dance of lovers.’

Panos pushed his plate away, reluctant for his personal life to be discussed over breakfast. ‘I will make some coffee,’ he said, rising from his chair.

‘Pfft! Sit down,’ Elpida ordered. ‘We need to make plans.’

His grandmother’s tone worried him but he sat back in his chair and prepared to listen.

‘What is your intention with Imogen? Because you know you cannot dance with someone to the song of lovers unless you are committed to them.’

Rhea let out a laugh. ‘Is that really true? In Crete we have the same old tradition but no one really takes it that seriously now.’

‘In Corfu we do,’ the older woman responded. ‘So,’ Elpida continued, looking again to Panos. ‘What are you going to do?’

‘I am going to take Rhea to the airport.’

‘That was not what I asked,’ his grandmother said. ‘Imogen lives in the UK. You live… You live where, Pano? Crete? Rhodes?’ She lowered her voice. ‘Here in Corfu?’

‘I cannot give you the answer you want yet,’ he said, standing to leave.

‘I just want to know that you are going to do the right thing this time,’ Elpida said, looking to Rhea.

The young woman shook her hands, bangles shaking. ‘You leave me out of this.’

He sighed. ‘It is not my intention to ever hurt Imogen.’

‘Not good enough,’ Elpida snapped in reply.

‘
Yiayia
, this is new for me…’

‘And she is a good person.’

‘I know this.’

‘And he is going to do his best. Aren’t you, Pano?’ Rhea chipped in, a smile on her face. ‘Because it is time for a new start. For all of us.’

‘You sound like
you
have plans,’ Elpida said, forking omelette into her mouth and turning her attention to Rhea.

‘I do,’ Rhea answered. ‘I called my sister last night. I am going to stay with her for a while. She lives in Chania and has a holiday property business. I thought I might help her a little, see a bit more of my home island, concentrate on me.’

‘I think that sounds like a wonderful idea,’ Elpida said. ‘But if you ever want a job in a kitchen, I’m sure Harry and Imogen would be very grateful to have you. I know
I
would.’

‘Thank you, Elpida. Will you say goodbye to them for me?’ Rhea asked. ‘And to Janie and the children.’

‘Of course,’ Elpida said.

‘I am glad I got to see where you were raised,’ Rhea said, her eyes going to Panos.

‘Me too,’ he answered with sincerity.

T
he taxi arrived on time
. All that was left to say was goodbye and Panos felt so much sadder than he could ever have envisaged. Taking her hands in his, he looked at her, admiring the beauty he had always seen and the true person inside he had never really been open to knowing.

‘You have to stop looking at people like that, Panos,’ Rhea stated. ‘You have no idea what those eyes do to a woman.’ She smiled. ‘Thank you for letting me stay.’

He shook his head. ‘No, thank
you
for staying. For helping Elpida at the restaurant and… for helping me too.’

‘Don’t mess this up, Pano,’ she said, her eyes welling up. ‘If you feel what I think you feel for Imogen, don’t waste a second.’

She threw herself into his arms, hands pulling him close as her usually nauseating scent somehow surrounded him with comfort. He wasn’t sure he deserved her understanding after being so absent from the relationship they’d had but parting on good terms would mean they could both move forward.

Rhea stepped back, quick to press her hair into place before bending to pick up her large handbag. ‘
Antio
,’ she said softly.

Panos opened the car door for her and she pushed in her handbag before slipping her body down onto the seat. ‘
Antio
, Rhea,’ he replied.

He closed the door and stepped back as the taxi driver started the engine. From inside, Rhea waved a hand and he waved back, standing still and watching as the vehicle moved down the track and onward, out of the village. He sighed as the taxi disappeared, leaving him with the view down over the green of the mountain. He reached up, leaning back and stretching his hands in the air, releasing the tension in his spine. Today was going to be a new start. He had a different plan and it started with getting an answer today about who owned the piece of land next to Halloumi.