Chapter 20

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He knew he had no right to touch her, crave her like air, but he did both. And when he put his mouth on hers, he recognized the taste of her, like she'd been made just for him. –Jill Shalvis.

Athena's POV.

Deep laughter lulled me awake as the sound flittered through the air. Opening restful eyes, I caught the breathtaking view of the ocean as a wave of nostalgia washed over me. The doors to the balcony were opened as loud voices of cheer and merriment drifted with the wind. Rolling of the plush bed, I made my way to the balcony looking down to the source of the sound. A small crowd gathered together chatting animatedly under a huge parasol blocking out the evening sun as it obscured them from my view. As I looked on, a tight knot pierced my chest as I craved a sense of belonging that I never had before. The group suddenly erupted into a fit of contagious laughter I couldn't have helped but smile down at them desperately wanting to be a part of such carefreeness that I never had before . Just then a familiar pair of icy blue eyes met mine from across the well-kept lawn as he shielded his vision from the shinning rays of the beaming sunlight. I felt the electric pull between us though he was yards away. Emerging back into the safety of my room, I gave into the urge and dialed the number I knew by heart.

On the third ring he answered...

"Athena."                                                                         

"Xandro." I said into the receiver as a fresh well of tears threatened to burst free from the comfort the familiarity of that voice bought me.

"Is everything alright?" He questioned with evident concern etched in his voice that sent me over the edge and the tears freely spilt.

Just as I was about to respond Nico entered the room frowning upon seeing me.

"I'm fine." I lied, "I just missed you."

As I said the words, I saw the physical change in Nico as his stance turned to steel.

"Are you sure?" He questioned as only Xandro could have. Of course he would know that I was fibbing.

"Yes." I replied, "How are Constantine and Alesandro?"

And just like that the peaceful atmosphere returned as Nico visibly deflated.

"...and Papa?" I asked, "I haven't spoken to him since I left." I murmured into the phone as Nico approached sitting beside me on the bed.

"Papa will always be like he was." Xandro said softly into the phone on an exhale.

"I know." I replied back on a despondent sigh.

"But that will never mean that he does not care for you Athena." He said after an abated pause.

"I know." I responded once again as my eyes blurred with unshed tears.

As if thinking the better of it, Nico wrapped his arms around my waist offering his silent support until I ended my conversation.

"Your brother called?" He questioned softly as he tucked a loose strand of stubborn hair behind my ear.

"No." I answered as he tried his best to have the strand tucked in. His hand paused as he waited on me to elaborate...

"I called him."

"The view does make you homesick doesn't it?" He said glancing off at the deep blue waters.

"I would never have imagined you would ever be homesick." I found myself saying to him.

"And why would that be?" He questioned raising an eyebrow at me as his eyes shone with laughter as I flushed.

"Because you're you." I offered up shrugging.

"I am me." He replied, his raspberry mouth twitching into a smile at me before he sobered, "But home is where the heart is...is that not the famous saying?"

"And your heart is in Greece?" I questioned intrigued.

"My heart is where it needs to be." He replied gazing at me intently before getting up and tugging me forward effectively bringing our conversation to an abrupt ending as we re-entered the balcony...his words ringing in my ear.

"Look over there." He murmured pointing at an area in the ocean, "That's the island of Capri. It has been known to be one of the most beautiful places in the world."

As he patiently explained every landmark that could have currently been seen from our view, I looked up into his beautiful masculine face drinking him in as though for the last...

Pausing from his ongoing history lesson about the old world busy city in which he spoke about with fevered passionate, he suddenly looked down as those icy blues met mine. With the glint of the sun reflecting of those mesmerizing irises, they resembled a warm summer puddle persuading me to dip my toes into. It was wrong. But it was tempting. Much like the man himself.

"Am I boring you yet?" He asked as he held a boyish grin to his full mouth immediately drawing my attention to them.

"Not in the slightest." I murmured back as though stuck in a trance.

Lost in his beautiful eyes, I hardly felt the feather light caress of his thumb against my cheek. Gently those eyes fluttered shut for a brief moment and when they reopened that visible war he fought with himself was laid out in the open. A gasp got stuck in my throat as the warm, balmy air around us sizzled in awareness. As though we couldn't have fought it any longer, his head descended. Eager for his touch, for the connection that one simple act brought, anticipation roared throughout my body as I found myself inching impossibly closer.

Just as those expert raspberry lips hovered above mine, a loud knock resonated of the door. Muttering a loud profanity, Nico laid his head against mine, holding me to him as he breathed harshly as though he had ran a marathon. The knocking continued and almost regretfully he pulled away to answer the door. Turning back to face the blue waters and towering mountains, I took a much needed breath of my own appalled at myself for such wanton behavior. I felt seven kinds of silly for ever believing that I could have blocked him out. The man was a force to reckoned with.

"Grazie." I heard him saying to whoever was on the other side of the door before it became shut once again.

Turning around, I met his eyes from across the room as he stood immobile gazing at me intensely. Suddenly conscious, I diverted my attention to the suitcases that I wasn't aware had arrived. Clearing his throat, he followed my gaze...

"We should get dress." He said to me, "Evelyn is having a small cocktail party to welcome everyone."

Nodding, I made my way into the en-suite completely enraptured by the historical yet modern design. Stones and marble made up the wall completed with a dim chandelier offering a romantic glow to the stark white twin basins and bath. It was simply beautiful holding an old world charm.

Unexpectedly Nico appeared, giving me a slight jump as my body warmed to his familiar masculine scent.

"Our clothes have already been removed." He stated as he pointed me towards the closet where dresses and shirts were dutifully hung up, pressed and ready to be worn.

Taking his cue to exit, I stepped into marble shower stall, delightfully relaxed under the warm sprays. Completely ignoring the time, I was unaware that my bath period had extended as Nico appeared in the doorway looking every inch in distress as his frosty blue eyes turned a smoldering midnight shade clashing with mine as I stood naked before him wet and burning in awareness. Dressed only in a towel that barely concealed anything, water dripped down his golden skin as he clenched and unclenched his jaw many times before his words finally came out...

"Your skin will get pruned if you stay in there any longer angel mou." And with that he exited leaving me standing there in a wave of confusion from the different emotions circulating throughout my body.

Rinsing of quickly, I entered the closet, determined to not waste any more time as once again I ran into Nico's powerful chest.

His heady cologne drifted through me as the scent drove me to intoxication. He smelt expensive and masculine. It was a combination for the most seductive nights tangled between sheets...or anywhere he so pleases. Water dripped down between my breasts reminding me that I was wet...everywhere and only in a towel, while he on the other hand was fully dressed.

Tugging out of his light hold onto my arm, I took the mouth-watering sight in. Dressed in blue as deep as the waters that surrounded us, his suit fitted and molded him to perfection. On the inside, he wore a stark white button up, that was opened down to the middle, and showing off his toned chest perfectly complimenting his jet black hair that was slick back giving him an air of aristocratic sophistication.

"There are at least twelve bathrooms in this house." He said answering my unasked question, "I'll be out awaiting you." Placing a soft lingering kiss to my cheek, he exited as I remained frozen to the spot in the wake of his cologne scented body.

As if on a time constriction, I rummaged through the expensive designer clothing until I came across a delicate lace red mini dress supported by dainty straps and a low back. The sweet heart neckline was classy and elegant. Pairing it with a pair of naked nude pumps, I coated my lips with a baby pink lip stick, applying minimal makeup and opting to leave my long black hair out. Gathering my nerves, I stepped out, awaiting Nico's response as he stood with his back facing me staring out at the now darken sky.

As though in-tuned to my presence, he turned around as his eyes slowly assessed me from my head to my toes offering lingering gazes that mimicked kisses against my sensitized body. Swallowing convulsively, his throat worked overtime as he made his way over with the grace of a panther.

"You are exquisite." He murmured as his thumb gently traced the column between my neck and shoulders causing me to shiver despite the warm weather.

"Shall we go?" I asked softly as his deep gaze intensified.

Wrapping his arms territorially around my waist, we made our way into the open living room where loud chattering and laughter was heard bouncing of the walls.

As we stepped into the room, the noise suddenly quieted as silence made its entrance for a brief moment. Just as the doubts were about to form, a beautiful heavily pregnant woman appeared, dressed in a long pink dress that accentuated her growing baby bump.

"You are very beautiful." She said in a strong English accent upon greeting as she leaned in offering a comforting hug, "My husband refuses to tell me details of you other than your name." She muttered rolling her eyes at the handsome Italian standing next to her, "But that is just minor, I am Evelyn and I can see that we are going to be great friends Athena."

"I only offered what I knew gattina mia." The darkly handsome Italian said to his wife with clear love and adoration shining in their dark depths, "After all Nic has been very secretive about you and now we can see why."

I felt my cheeks heat at his statement as he continued on, "I am Lucas, benvenuto a casa mia." He greeted kissing both sides of my cheeks as Nico firm grip held on to me.

"You know that you can let her go mate." Another handsome man said appearing bearing a striking resemblance to Evelyn, "It is a pleasure to finally meet you Athena. You are much too beautiful for our good friend over here." He stated kissing both my cheeks again, "I am Ethan..." Just as he was about to continue an adorable baby came running in and latching onto his legs followed by...Katy.

Recognition dawned in her warm grey eyes as she smiled affectionately at us, "Hello Athena." she greeted as we briefly hugged.

"You know each other?" Nico asked as everyone looked between us in clear bewilderment.

"We met once recently." Katy responded smiling warmly at me as though sensing my nerves.

"I believe it's my turn now isn't it?" A voice said said as he came forward. A mischievous glint sparkled in his green eyes as the rest looked at each other knowingly. Beside me Nico expelled a sigh though his eyes lit up in humor at the approaching handsome gentleman.

"Let me introduce myself love, I am Duke Dillon and you are Aphrodite herself. It is no wonder Hercules over here has kept you hidden for so long." He said as the group burst into laughter from his earlier introduction.

"Don't pay attention to these fools, my best mates call me double D and now so can you." He said ending on a wink.

"No we don't." Evelyn said, clutching at her rounded stomach as she laughed, "Double D is your preference to women."

Pulling me impossibly closer into his hold, Nico glared at his three friends as they grinned back knowingly in full amusement bantering him.

"I apologize for the immaturity of my friends Athena." Lucas said to me on a warm smile, "And Dillon is no duke should you wish to assault him."

"Immature?" Dillon said feigning offense, "And that one hurt Luke, you know the face is the main attraction."

"Not us." Continued Ethan as he smirked at Nico while Theo tugged at him outstretching his little arms to be picked up.

"Everyone else is outside." Evelyn said she led the way out.

Meeting the rest of the group was as much fun as I had intended it to be. Evelyn's friends were everything I had wished for in my life. Along with Elizabeth who I had met before, there were Jade, Charlotte, Brandon and his boyfriend Will. They were warm and witty and good natured. For the rest of the night they shared antidotes and reminisced along with Nico who shared his own humorous input. As I looked on at him animatedly chatting, his icy blue eyes glanced up meeting my gaze as he tightened his hold around me. And for the rest of the night, he had refused to let go.


A/N: HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020! And what a chapter to begin this amazing year on! I wish you all nothing but prosperity, good health and love for this new decade. May we find our our Nico's and if you already have him...well then give him an extra tight hug ;)

I feel so grateful for the ongoing support. I am very optimistic and hopeful as this new year begins. Vote, comment and be sure to check out 'THE BILLIONAIRE'S ULTIMATUM' 'THE BILLIONAIRE'S MATCH' and 'THE BILLIONAIRE'S CHRISTMAS REVENGE' available on my page.

New Year wishes...

oxoxox...Allison :)

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