Her expensive dress was thrown on the floor, followed by her underwear, as he ripped off his own trousers and shirt and they half-staggered half-fell together onto the rug. Weddings always turned her on.
It was over in moments, but Sofia knew there was plenty more to come. She leant over to lick the place on his neck that drove him crazy. But instead of responding like he usually did, he pushed her gently away and sat up.
‘I mean it, Sofia, we’re going to talk.’
Picking up his trousers from the floor, he slowly climbed into them and passed her a dressing gown from a hook on the door. Seeing him topless, muscles moving everywhere, was hardly calming her down, but she could see she wasn’t going to sidetrack him a second time.
‘Let’s talk up on the roof terrace. I’ll bring the wine and glasses.’
The tiled floor was cool under her feet. The lights twinkling below them all the way to the port usually gave her a lift, but it was a feeling of dread that was uppermost in her mind as she made her way to the little table and chairs in the corner. Keep it casual had always been her motto, and don’t let anyone mess with your head, or worse, your heart; it always ends in tears. She’d managed to keep the L word at bay for so many years. Why break the habit of a lifetime?
Adonis poured out two glasses of white wine and passed one to her. The dry grapefruit flavour was soothing on her throat, but she kept on full alert.
‘Will you let me say what I need to say, and promise not to change the subject, or deliberately try to turn me on beyond endurance?’
There was a smile at the end of the sentence, but Adonis was deadly serious. She knew enough about him to know that.
Sofia nodded.
‘You can’t leave the island tomorrow.’
For one second, Sofia was tempted to ask if there was a sudden ferry strike or a storm forecast, but she kept quiet. Levity wasn’t required at this point.
Adonis leant over, took her hand and kissed it.
‘I am scared to tell you how much I love you, Sofiamou. My Sofia. I miss you so much when you go away, and I count every moment until you come back.’
Tears filled her eyes, but she turned away so he wouldn’t see her crying.
‘I want you to stay here with me, where you belong.’
His hand was still on top of hers.
‘I know how much your father let you down, but I would never do that. You can trust me; I hope you know that.’
His light touch on her cheek brought them face to face again.
‘Don’t cry, my darling. You are everything I want and need. I just hope I can make you believe me. Forgot your father and what he did to your mother. This is our story.’
The double mention of her father had her reaching for the wine glass.
‘I was hoping, now that your work has changed, you would consider staying?’
The love in his voice stopped her from lifting her head again to meet his eyes.
‘The whole thing is impossible.’
‘Sofiamou…’ His hand on her chin was soft. ‘Look at me a moment, please. What is so impossible?’
His eyes glittered in the dark.
‘Your mother hates me.’
Adonis slammed down his glass.
‘I don’t care what my mother thinks. I am a man, not a boy. She will get used to it in time.’
‘But she’s right that I can’t give you children, or her any more grandchildren.’
