Blackmailed For Vengeance (17 page)

“I promised I would take you to
my island in Greece” he said gently, as she had gasped in
surprise

“Well this weekend seems as
good as any” he had said, seeing the way her eyes had shone up at
him

“I would love to see your
island” she had said softly, before adding with a chuckle

“Does that mean I get to go on
your plane again….because that was so cool”

He had laughed back at her
smiling happily “well OK then” before he moved in to kiss her

A few hours later they were
once again flying in the luxury of his plane, the two of them
laughing and chatting happily. When they had landed a car had taken
them to the harbour where a boat had met them before taking them to
Yanis’s island half an hours boat ride from the mainland. As they
neared it Lee had gasped in wonder. The green of the mountains
against the yellow sandy beaches sat majestically within the azure
of the sea, and she had looked at him with shining eyes

“It really is beautiful” she
said softly, as he had looked down on her with such an inscrutable
look in his eyes, the sea breeze blowing his black hair across his
handsome face.

“This island was my mothers” he
said softly “It was the only thing my father did not drink away” he
said sadly

“My father used to run the
biggest shipping company in Greece, but after my mothers death he
lost it all”

Lee had looked at him with
surprise. It was as if a door had been opened and suddenly Yanis
was bursting to tell her about himself, starting with the story of
his child hood, something he had never told any other woman, but
for some reason needing to tell her. He had also never brought a
woman to this island, not fully understanding his need to have her
there with him.

“Jim’s father was wonderful. He
made sure that I finished my education, and helped me to start my
business. I started small, first transporting people between the
islands, then freight and by the time I was 22 I had the largest
shipping company in Greece”

Lee could see his eyes shining
with pride

“I had always sworn that I
would get that back” he had said with determination “and then my
father died”. Suddenly his voice became sad, as the memory returned
to him as she slipped her hand into his and squeezed it gently.
Lifting his head he had smiled down at her soft expression

“I kept going, and before I
knew it mine was the largest company in Europe, then the world” He
had sighed wistfully

Lee had looked at him
gently

“And yet you don’t look happy
Yanis” she said softly, as he had frowned at her

“Who of us really are” he had
asked her with a small edge to his tone

“My mother and father were, and
despite everything so where your mother and father” she had replied
her eyes looking so deeply into his

For a moment he had looked as
though he wanted to say something, before he had once more sighed
and looked back at the pier they were approaching

“Well that kind of happiness
seems to destroy everything around it” he had said softly “and I
for one never want to have to deal with it”

Lee had felt her heart break at
these words, not really sure what she had expected. The realisation
finally dawning on her that she could never be anything more to him
than a mistress and that he would move from one woman to another
never letting any one woman have his heart. She had felt like
crying at this realisation, but as they had now berthed he had
helped her climb out onto the wooden pier, the island exuding a
serenity which stilled the tears in her eyes.

With a soft sigh she had walked
beside him as he had led her towards the small car which was to
take them to the house at the very heart of the island.

As they drove up the windy
road, Lee was amazed at the breathtaking greenery of the place. It
was a wild place, and she imagined him growing up running through
the vegetation growing as wild as the island itself. She could feel
the connection between the two, both as untamed as the other.

“It’s beautiful” she had
breathed, as he had smiled beside her

“Yes, I love this place more
than anywhere else in the world” he had said softly “yet I find
that I seem to come here less and less”

Lee had heard the sadness in
his voice as he told her this, wondering what it was about this
place which affected him so. At this point they had turned a bend
and she had opened her mouth with wonder at the villa which they
drove up to.

It was the perfect
Mediterranean villa. Large with white washed walls and terracotta
tiles it had large windows which looked out over the hillside on
one side and the sea from the other as it perched near the edge of
the cliff.

Lee had sat completely stunned,
as he had watched her reaction, not understanding the need in him
for her to love it as much as him. As they had moved into the cool
interior she had admired the tiles and Greek architecture, updated
with beautiful furnishings. He had led her up the grand stairs
which swept up before splitting to branch off at different areas
within the upstairs hallway.

As he had led her into one of
the rooms, she had moaned with pleasure on seeing the large balcony
on which she could look out to sea, closing her eyes to take in the
sounds of the gulls noisily fighting overhead, while the sea
swished against the rocks gently, the sound musical to her ears.
She could feel the wind on her face and the smell of the salt,
enjoying the cocktail of sensations which filled her.

With shining eyes she had
looked over at him, as he stood so still watching her

“It is the most beautiful place
I have ever seen” she had finally said, her whole body mirroring
her words. With a smile he had moved over to wrap his arms around
her, her head tucked neatly under his chin, as he had breathed in
the island, his body relaxing as it always did when he came
there.

“Apparently this was where I
was conceived” he had smiled softly, as she had laughed back.

“Well I can see why” she smiled
gently

“This must have been a
wonderful place to grow up”

She had felt his head nodding,
as the memories of his mother being there came flooding back.
Memories he had pushed to the back of his mind for so many years.
Suddenly, he was pointing out different landmarks, each with a
story, as she had

Lee had never felt so happy,
for the first time knowing that she was seeing the real Yanis, the
man that had life not knocked the ability to love from him, he
might one day have become. This thought causing a small feeling of
sadness to wash over her.

Finally they had moved back
down the stairs, where they were met by the housekeeper and maid,
who lived there all year, often alone, as nobody ever came to the
island anymore. Lee had once more felt a sensation of sadness that
this island was now so unloved.

Leading her outside he had
shown her the pool area in which they had sat and enjoyed some
cocktails which he had made from the well stoked freezer in the
bar. Lee had laughed at his ability to flip the cocktail shaker,
discovering that he had made extra money as a young man by doing
the same in some of the mainland bars for the many tourists who had
flocked there in the summer.

He had grinned at her with a
small wink

“Don’t tell anybody” he had
said “Technically I was only 16 at the time…really shouldn’t have
been doing it” he had added with a small chuckle

As the light had slowly
disappeared, with the sound of the insects filling the air they had
sat at one of the large balconies to enjoy a traditional Greek
meal, which Lee had eaten hungrily, suddenly ravenous as a result
of the fresh

sea air. The food and local
wine had been delicious and the candle light had added to the
romantic ambiance of the place.

Looking at Yanis, dressed so
casually in long shorts and a tea shirt, which softened his whole
appearance, Lee had felt the love in her chest straining so hard to
escape and envelop him. He had smiled over at her

“I told you I would bring you
here” he said softly as she had frowned softly

“Is that a precursor for your
throwing me out” she asked gently, noticing a strange look pass
through his eyes as he had dropped them to his food with a small
frown

“I wish you hadn’t been the one
who broke Jim’s heart” he had finally said looking back up at
her

With a sad look at him she
shook her head sadly.

“Jim is making good progress
Yanis, I really believe that in a few days he will be awake, and
then you will know that I’m not lying”

He had looked back at her, some
of the old coldness returning

“Or he will just confirm what
we all know”

With a sigh she had put down
her fork

“Why do you wish I hadn’t been
the one who broke his heart” she finally asked sadly seeing him
frown

“Because who knows Lee, perhaps
if we had gone for coffee we could have become friends”

Lee had looked at him her eyes
full of sorrow

“Ah, that’s right you find it
really easy to separate sex and friendship don’t you Yanis… as I
recall the two are very different animals to you”

Yanis had watched her eyes grow
so sad

“The thing is Yanis that I
truly would never have gone out with you. After David the last
thing I ever wanted to do was become involved with some rich,
arrogant man who believes that the world should jump to their
command, and believe me Jim had kept me well informed about the way
you lived your life…..the sad thing is I really think he was
jealous of you” she had said with a mirthless laugh “imagine
that”

Yanis had looked deeply into
her eyes, his brows drawn together thoughtfully

“Well perhaps fate stepped in
then” he had said softly

Lee had suddenly felt
incredibly tired

“I think I’ll go to bed” she
had said quietly beginning to rise. However, he had moved his hand
to place it on her wrist, his fingers gently stroking the soft
underside, as she tried to hide the effect his touch was having on
her.

“Don’t go Lee” he had said
softly as she had looked at him her eyes haunted

“Let’s go for a walk” he said
rising and taking her hand in his before moving towards the
beach.

Lee had allowed him to lead her
as they both moved together silently. As they moved round a bend
the beach opened up with the sea below them. With a gasp she could
see the moon so large and low in the sky shining so brightly as she
looked at it with eyes wide full of wonder

“It..it’s amazing” she breathed
in awe as he had turned her around to face him. His hands holding
hers as he had looked deeply into her eyes before cupping her face
with his hands and moving his mouth so slowly to take hers as she
had groaned, moving in against him. His kiss had been so soft to
start becoming more demanding and passionate as they had sank into
the sand together as they lost themselves in the need to hold each
other, bringing each other to such wondrous heights before leaving
each other shuddering in each others arms.

As the two of them has lain
looking into each others eyes, they had not spoken just looked
deeply at each other, neither willing nor able to talk.

Finally he had raised himself
from her, pulling her up into his arms before the two had walked
back to the villa, his arm around her shoulder, her arm around his
waist. When they had arrived back at their room they had showered
together, not making love but kissing and holding each other so
sensually before laying on the bed and falling asleep wrapped in
each others arms.

The next morning Lee had awoke
still being held in his arms. She had watched his face, her heart
breaking seeing the relaxed look. She longed to reach across and
kiss those lips, but instead she had moved out of his hold moving
to the shower before silently dressing and creeping out of the
room. She had to get away from him, before she told him how she
felt, before the words of love held so tightly within her could no
longer be contained.

As he had woken up, he had
looked around quickly for her frowning at not having her beside
him. He had pulled on his clothes leaving the room in search of
her. He had not found her anywhere in the house and as panic had
began to clutch at him he had moved outside, moving towards the
edge of the cliff and along the headway before spotting her.

Yanis had gasped in surprise at
where she sat, sitting with her legs pulled up under her chin while
sitting with her back against the large tree which clung to the
edge of the cliff side as she stared out towards the sea, the
breeze blowing her hair around her body.

As he had joined her, she had
jumped slightly, smiling at him.

“I didn’t want to wake you” she
said gently “but I needed some air” Yanis had swallowed hard
sitting down beside her

“This was my mother’s favourite
place to come and think” he said so softly looking at her
thoughtfully

“I didn’t know” she said “I
didn’t mean to upset you” she had added with a sigh

He had shaken his head, “No, I
had forgotten until I saw you there” he said

“She always said that it helped
to clear her mind, helped her make choices”

Lee nodded

“She sounds like a wonderful
person” she had said gently, as he had nodded

“She really was” he said the
memory of her suddenly filling him as he felt something deep within
him tearing away. Taking her hand in his he had helped her once
more to her feet

“Breakfast?” he asked, as she
had laughed, smiling “I’m famished, are you cooking” she said as he
led her back to the villa.

“Hell no” he had laughed “I
don’t think either of us could handle that” Lee had smiled “shame…
I would really like to see that” she had giggled flashing him one
of her warm smiles, which lit up her face.