He just did not know. He became aware that Laurel’s expression had also clouded.
“I feel bad about Dan’s old school, Xan. They do their best under huge pressures. Now that Dan has the privilege of going to private school, I’d like—” she looked at him uncertainly “—to make a donation to his old state school in some way, provide some much-needed equipment, something like that.”
“I’ve no objection,” Xander said. “I think it’s a good idea—the same with your plans for your house.”
Her expression lightened. “I’m glad! Keeping it, but letting it at an affordable rent to a single-parent family. Using the rent to pay my fees for my master’s.” She smiled. “I’m so excited to be able to pick up my studies again! And I would like to keep going with online tutoring too, and maybe do something voluntary, like museum work or stately home guiding or some such!”
Xander cast her a look. “Leave some time for Dan and me,” he laughed.
She pressed his arm. “I’ll only work, and do my studies, when you work and when Dan’s at school,” she promised.
He cast her another look. A different one this time.
“Talking of while Dan’s at school,” he trailed, “I can think of an excellent use of our suddenly free time.”
Laurel cast him a look back. “Oh, yes?” she said limpidly. “And what might that be?”
He flicked another glance at her. A wicked one now. “You’ll find out soon, my adored bride-to-be, you’ll find out.”
She did, and being swept upstairs by her husband-to-be and made passionate love to in the middle of the morning was a heady experience.
“We’ve seven missing years to make up for,” Xander said, his voice husking as his mouth came down on hers. “And I intend to make them up very—” he kissed her “—very—” he kissed her again “—very thoroughly indeed.”
His gaze held hers, and Laurel felt her heart catch with the love melting in his eyes. In hers.
“Sounds good to me,” she smiled, as she slid her arms around him to kiss him back and to give herself to the bliss that awaited her.
Xander had not exaggerated that he was going to make up for those seven missing years. Hunger filled them both, and then hunger of a different kind. But lunch was a sketchy affair, and then Xander was sweeping her back upstairs.
“You’re insatiable!” she laughed as they collapsed down upon the waiting bed yet again.
His dark eyes glinted gold in their depths. “Always,” he promised her.
But satiety came in the end—for now, at least. As they lay there, limbs tangled and entwined, Laurel propped herself up on her elbow.
“We can’t be late picking Dan up from school,” she warned him. “We should shower and get dressed.”
Xander’s eyes glinted gold once more. “Good idea,” he said with enthusiasm.
“Separately,” said Laurel.
The glint in Xander’s eyes came again. “So, you remember our showers on the yacht, do you?” he remarked wickedly.
“We showered together to save water,” Laurel answered primly, and disappeared into the en suite to the mocking echo of Xander’s laughter. Saving water had not been the only benefit of those shared showers.
She emerged shortly, despatching Xander in her place, trying not to be distracted—too much—by the sight of him strolling past her in all his masculine glory and nothing else as she got herself dressed. After remaking the tumbled bed, she headed downstairs. As she did, the doorbell sounded, and she went to open it.
A man in late middle age stood there, with greying hair and something about him that made her stare. A taxi hovered at the kerb beyond the garden fence.
“Can I help you?” she asked politely.
The man’s eyes were on her. She could not read their expression. But there was something about him definitely.
“I am Paulos Xenakis,” the man said. “Is my son here?”
Xander froze at the sound of the voice. He stepped out of Laurel’s bedroom, fully dressed now, and stared down the stairs. What the hell?
“Babas?” he exclaimed.Dad?
