Chapter 19 #2
Tiffany wasn’t sure if it was because she really wanted to see it or because it would delay their inevitable return to the boat and reality, but she found herself nodding. This whole two days had been a fantasy; would it hurt to prolong it for a little longer? ‘I would love to.’
‘It’s about a fifteen-minute walk from here.’
‘Fine by me.’ More than fine as he tugged her hand and she followed.
Tiffany had been to Mykonos several times already on the big cruise ships, but she’d never wandered away from the main tourist street or the bars along the water’s edge.
Which had clearly been a huge mistake. The labyrinth of streets wended their way up the incline, getting quieter and quieter but no less beautiful as they left the old town behind.
The scenery was stunning, from the stark white of house walls boasting pops of red and blue and yellow in their shutters and door trims as well as the vibrant pinks and purples of climbing bougainvillea and pots of colourful geraniums, to glimpses of the sparkling Aegean down laneways and around corners.
Then there was the friendly way the locals greeted Theo, like he was one of them, and their casual curiosity about her as they slid her sideways glances and tossed what was clearly ribald comments at him in rapid-fire Greek, making him laugh as they passed.
But nothing prepared her for the majesty of his villa.
Its modest stone facade and yellow door gave way to the inner sanctum, her eyes adjusting from the bright sunshine outside to the darker entrance area.
Thick walls made the interior blessedly cool, and Tiffany’s eye was immediately drawn past the open plan layout to the far end of the house.
Theo had texted someone as they’d walked to open up for him and she could see gauzy white curtains billowing in the breeze from open French doors, revealing glimpses of endless blue sky and even bluer sea.
Toeing off her sandals at the door, Tiffany followed Theo towards the light, gorgeous mosaic tiles cool beneath her bare feet.
And it did not disappoint as she stepped out onto the terrace, walking past a mosaic-topped table, around the elegant curves of the infinity-edged swimming pool jutting out from the hill and on to the railing.
Sweeping her head from side to side, she took in the full one-eighty-degree view of the Aegean far below, and it was breathtaking.
The sparkle of the sea. The toy-like outlines of two huge modern cruise ships at anchor completely dwarfed by the ancient vista of island and water.
The random, higgledy-piggledy placement of the whitewashed houses on every side.
And the famous Mykonos windmills in the distance.
‘Ohhhh, Theo,’ she said on a breathy sigh as she leant on the railing and stared out over the jewel-like panorama.
‘You like it?’
She turned to find him standing beside her at the railing. ‘It’s… I don’t have words.’ She glanced back at the view, the light breeze ruffling through her hair and providing relief from the lingering hint of heat in the air. ‘I can see why you love it so much.’
‘Yeah.’ He nodded. ‘It’s beautiful.’
But when she glanced at him, he wasn’t looking at the view, he was looking at her, causing her pulse to flutter and her cheeks to warm before she quickly looked away again.
‘It’s inspiring,’ she said, changing the topic.
Because it was he who was beautiful. The loose white linen shirt he was wearing accentuated the perfect stretch of his bronzed skin, from the way it was rolled to expose the dark hair on his ropey forearms to the V at his neck, giving a glimpse of hard chest. Dark whiskers peppered his throat and jaw, a perfect counterpoint to the jut of his forehead and the crystalline blue of his eyes.
Theo Callisthenes looked like he belonged here.
On high. Dominating the terrace and the landscape around them like a god.
The God of Desire and Decadence and Debauchery, and her fingers trembled as they gripped the railing a little tighter.
What would it take to bring this thoroughly modern god to his knees?
‘I have an idea,’ he murmured, his voice low and silky.
Tiffany almost laughed out loud as she wondered if his idea was as pornographic as the ideas running through her head right now.
‘Why don’t I send for your laptop? It’s been several days since you wrote something, and you’re right.
’ His gaze shifted to the sea. ‘It is inspiring. You can write for as long as you like. Dip in and out of the pool if it helps. I have work I can be getting on with as well. Then when you’re done, we can have a late supper and go back to the boat after? ’
Okay. Not pornographic. But as freaking inspired as the view. Just the suggestion of it had her fingers itching and her characters calling. How could she resist writing with all of this in front of her? When would she ever get an opportunity as amazing as this again?
Tiffany nodded as she looked at his profile. ‘Yes. Thank you. That would be…’ He turned his head and their gazes locked, the blue of his eyes darker now, reflecting the unfathomable blue of the sea. ‘Amazing.’
He smiled. ‘Excellent. Have a seat.’ He gestured to the sun loungers scattered around the pool. ‘I’ll make a couple of calls.’