When Christakos Meets His Match (Blood Brothers 2)

As Alexio’s car swept them along the coast of the island, and the sky became darker over the expanse of the sea, the lights of the houses and dwellings and the approaching town of Fira made everything look like a fairytale. Alexio was driving relatively slowly on the narrow roads and the cool evening air was delicious on Sidonie’s sun-heated skin.

She shivered when she thought about how gorgeous Alexio had looked on the terrace against the setting sun, dressed in a dark suit with

a dark shirt. The more time she spent with him, the more gorgeous he seemed to get. She felt weak inside when she thought of how protective he was, too, making sure she wore a high-factor cream in the sun.

‘But I want to get some colour!’ Sidonie had protested earlier.

Alexio had held her down easily on the lounger and proceeded to slather her with cream, saying sternly, ‘You are not damaging your skin.’

Then she’d got so distracted by where his hands were going that she hadn’t had the strength to fight him...

‘Are you cold?’

Sidonie blushed in the darkening light and shook her head. ‘No, I’m fine. I like the freshness.’

Alexio looked back to the road. ‘I should have made you bring a jacket. It still gets cool at night this time of year.’

Sidonie smiled. ‘You can’t help yourself, can you?’

‘Can’t help what?’

‘Being protective. I bet you were like that with your mother.’

Alexio made a noise then. It sounded like something between a snort and a cough and Sidonie looked at him. After a minute he glanced at her and she could see that his jaw was tense. The air was definitely cooler now.

‘Believe me...’ his tone was icy ‘...my mother did not need a protector. Anything but.’

Sidonie frowned, ‘Why do you say that? What was she like?’

Alexio’s jaw got even tighter. Sidonie could see it reflected in the lights of the dashboard.

‘She was self-contained. Aloof. And she didn’t need anyone.’

Sidonie held in a gasp at his stark words. ‘Everyone needs someone—even if they don’t want to admit it. You make her sound lonely.’

Eventually Alexio responded, just as the town of Fira came into view. ‘Maybe she was... But I don’t really want to discuss my mother when we have far more exciting things to talk about—like where I’m going to take you clubbing.’

Sidonie felt the door slam in her face with his terse delivery. His personal life was obviously a no-go area. She thought of the darkness in her own past, and how she’d hate for Alexio to know about it, and figured maybe it was for the best that he wasn’t inviting this kind of intimacy.

She turned and faced the front and saw the stunning cavalcade of lights in the town as it seemed to drop precipitously to the gaping black of the sea. Momentarily distracted, Sidonie breathed, ‘This is beautiful.’

Alexio was parking the car outside an upmarket-looking hotel and a young man was rushing out. ‘We have to walk from here; the streets are pedestrianised,’ Alexio explained as he got out.

He threw the keys to the young man, who was all but drooling at the sight of the stunning car, then came around to Sidonie’s door and opened it for her, giving her his hand to help her out. Sidonie felt shaky and insecure at the thought of being seen in public with Alexio.

He kept her hand in his and said a few words in Greek to the man, whose face went pale. Then they walked away.

‘What did you say to him?’ Sidonie asked curiously.

Alexio smiled. ‘I told him that if I came back to find one mark on the car I’d break his legs.’

‘Oh...’ Sidonie held in a giggle when she thought of the man paling so dramatically. ‘Well, that makes things clear for him.’ Her fingers tightened around his hand and she looked up. ‘You wouldn’t, though, would you? Break his legs?’

Alexio stopped and looked down, horrified, ‘Of course not—what do you take me for? I just told him he’d be paying me out of his wages for the rest of his life.’

Sidonie tucked her other arm around Alexio’s and said with mock relief, ‘Okay—that’s so much better than broken legs.’

Alexio looked down. He could see the smile playing around Sidonie’s mouth, and that tantalising glimpse of long and slender leg. He could feel her breast against his arm and had to grit his jaw. It still felt tight after her questions about his mother... ‘You make her sound lonely.’