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His gaze feasted upon her
I could kiss her now, as she floats on the water, eyes closed, lips parted
Al up in him But wiser counsel prevailed They were out of their depth at this distance, and any kind of kiss would soon find the for air No, there would be tih for kisses Kisses and so much more
‘You look like a basking mermaid,’ he said instead, a smile in his voice
She did not open her eyes ‘I feel like one,’ she answered ‘This is absolute bliss’
He turned on his back and floated wide himself ‘It is,’ he confirmed
He went on floating beside her peacefully for a while, bobbing in the gentle swell, keeping his eyes shut against the bright sunshine He was conscious that they were drifting further out to sea He said ashimself over to check their distance from the shore She did likewise
‘But the Mediterranean is tideless, isn’t it?’ she asked
‘There’s a slight tide—and definitely currents—but nothing like what you’re used to in Britain,’ he answered, and they both started to make their ith a slow breaststroke back towards the beach
‘I’m not used to the seaside anywhere,’ she replied ‘I’ve never been till now’
Xandros’s expression changed ‘You’ve never been to the seaside?’ His voice was disbelieving
‘Not even Southend!’ she exclaimed, half-humorously, half-sadly ‘That’s the closest seaside for East Enders, but Mu, really—not that there was any money for holidays anyway,’ she finished
Now he could hear more sadness in her voice than humour Pity for her filled him, and resolve, too—to do whatever he could to compensate her for the deprivations of her impoverished life Even in the darkest days of his childhood, when ht, he had enjoyed an affluence way beyond Rosalie’s
Well, now she would enjoy not only mere affluence, but luxury—all that he could provide for her Every luxury—and every pleasure
He felt his brow furrowing as he swam It was new to him to entertain such an impulse All the women he’d been involved with had co—Ariadne included And for none of the desire to provide for them Make them happy