Azure (Drowning In You) (13 page)

“The village is called
Spili
,” Kai said. “It means cave.”

He stopped at the beginning of a trail that snaked up the hill. Insects buzzed on the aromatic bushes and over the wild flowers. When they got out of the truck, he took her hand and pulled her upslope. She liked the way his strong fingers felt, wrapped around hers, the way he grabbed her around the waist when she stumbled. The faint smiles he gave her when she caught his eye.

She liked it too damn much.

The path evened out. Beyond a small pine grove, they found the dark mouth of a huge cave. The whole place seemed to hum with power. Kai stepped inside, moving with an ease born of familiarity, and she followed. It was pitch black, but Kai let go of her hand and fumbled with something making a small flame jump, then another.

Candles, thin and frail, a small forest of them stuck in a box filled with sand. Kai threw the matchbox back on a niche carved in the rock and turned around.

The roof was black with soot. Crumbling frescoes covered the walls, icons done in the Byzantine style with austere, long faces and sad eyes. A broken piece of a statue stood in a corner, an archaic figurine with arms crossed over the chest. Next to it lay a slab of a pillar, and a cracked ceramic pot held flowers. Fresh, as if picked that afternoon.

“People come here to worship?” she asked, her voice hushed.

“Sometimes.” He trailed his hand on the wall, moving toward the back of the cave where stalactites formed weird pillars and shapes. Another fresco covered part of the wall and she approached.

She stood silent, her arm touching his. “What’s this?” A mermaid, holding a golden trident, her wild, dark locks of hair undulating around her. In her other hand she held the crescent moon, and a golden halo encircled her head. “Who is she?”

He traced half-faded letters with his forefinger. “The Virgin of the sea, the mermaid. The locals call her
Gorgona
. There are many ancient temples to her in these parts.
Derketo
, they used to call her in past times.”

“And they still worship her?”

He shrugged, his body tensing next to hers. “She still controls the sea.”

“I don’t believe in this stuff,” she said, her voice faint and lost in the vastness of the cave.

He stood motionless for a long moment, looking at the picture, his face gone to shadow. Then he turned and walked out, leaving her with the brooding, fish-tailed goddess.

This was ridiculous. Was she supposed to pray here for forgiveness? To this alien creature, staring at her with baleful eyes as if daring her to speak? The flames on the candles flickered, making the mermaid’s face move.

Olivia thought she saw water ripple around her, red with blood. Her eyes burned as she stared at the mold-eaten fresco, at the bold strokes of blue and green that made the creature’s tail.

“I want to make up for my mistake,” she whispered, feeling foolish but still doing it. “I want a sign that I can move on. Please.”

Nothing stirred in the cool air that smelled of moisture. She waited, not knowing for what. The sign perhaps. “Tell me what to do.”

The mermaid’s eyes seemed to roll, to look straight into Olivia’s head, examining her thoughts and memories.

She shivered.

But nothing happened.

Of course not
. She’d had too much sun, too much
Raki
.
Old beliefs and superstitions. Nothing real.

Shaking her head, Olivia backed away and hurried out of the cave.

Kai was leaning against a tree, chewing on a twig. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, rubbing her arms. She felt chilled. “Yeah. I don’t know why you brought me here. I don’t believe in mermaids or any such stuff.”

He started down the path. “I didn’t either, but what if they believe in you?”

It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood.

Shakespeare

Wash blood with blood and pain with pain. It is the only cure.

Myra
Crow

The ride back to the hotel was quiet. Olivia was tired, her chest a mass of conflicting emotions.

Kai dropped her off at the reception, his face unreadable, and Panos waved him closer.

“Come, come. You’re late! We prepare Greek night tonight, we need help with carrying things.”

“It’s my day off,” he protested.

“Day is over. Now is night.”

Kai frowned. He turned to her. “I have to go.”

“I had a great time,” she said. “Thank you.”

 
“Me too. Will you come to the beach bar later tonight?”

“Sure.”

Kai gave a faint smile, then jogged to the back of the hotel and vanished through a door.

Every part of her body leaned toward him, longed to follow him.

What’s wrong with you, girl?

Panos leaned over the desk. “Kai nice? He not do any bad things?”

Startled, she stepped back. “No. He was nice.”

Panos nodded, smiling. “He of good family. My family.” He thumped his chest. Did he think he was Tarzan or something? “Blood of my blood.”

“Special blood?” She wagged her brows.

“Special, strong blood. Many generations, go back to ancient times. Blood is old, this is a place of old—

“—magic, yes, I know.” Any minute now she’d start rolling her eyes. “I’d better go shower. See you later.”

Loud music blared across the beach when she came down much later. The party was in full swing. Markus and Kirsten were dancing at the bar. She waved at them and they waved back. She sat on a stool.

The blond barman was there. “What can I get you?” He squinted at her. “You want a Kai, right?”

She laughed. “You remember. Is he around?”

“I saw him earlier, he was helping carry the drinks. He’s our strong man.” The man flexed his biceps and winked. “I’m Matt, by the way.”

“And you’re from
England
.”

“You remember, too. Yes, I’ve been ensnared by a Cretan woman. This family...” He shook his head.

“They’re something,” Olivia had to agree and hopped off her stool. “I’ll go walk around. If you see him, tell him I’m looking for him?”

“Of course.”

The beach was empty and the noise wasn’t quite as deafening there. A stone pier jutted out into the sea.

Kai stood there, bathed in moonlight. It shouldn’t surprise her he’d run away from the crowd. As she came closer, she noticed he still wore the same clothes as before, stained with salt and sweat. His hair had dried into odd spikes.

“Hey,” she said. “Done with work?”

“Done.” He looked tired. His hands hung limp at his sides. She slipped her fingers between his cold ones, entangling them.

He tugged her closer, turning toward her. “You’re so warm. Always warm.” He inhaled deeply, rubbing his face on her hair, her throat, his stubble burning her skin. His mouth hovered over hers, their breaths mingling. “Fuck, I really want to kiss you. I can’t stop thinking about it.”

She grabbed fistfuls of his t-shirt and molded herself against his hard body. “And here I am.”

“Here you are,” he breathed and swallowed hard. “But it’s a bad idea, isn’t it? You just had a fight with your boyfriend and I—”

“I’m not with him anymore. We broke up.” She wrapped her arms around Kai, feeling the corded muscles of his back, and stood on tiptoe to reach him. “Besides, it’s just a kiss.”

“Just a kiss,” he whispered, his arms coming around her, his hands pressing in the small of her back. “
Liv
...”

Then his lips were on hers, soft and demanding, sweet and a little salty. His tongue licked her mouth and she opened it for him, moaning at his taste. It made her body tighten, her heart hammer.

She wanted him. She couldn’t ever remember wanting someone so badly. Slipping her hands under his tee, she stroked the smooth expanse of his broad back, mapping the shifting muscles there. His hardness pressed into her stomach.

“Dammit,
Liv
, stop me,” he murmured against her lips. “I want to make love to you, right now.”

But she could only hold on, words clogging her throat, because she wanted it, too.
Why not?
She wasn’t a little girl and could sleep with a guy she fancied on her vacation, couldn’t she?

Just then a voice called her name, sounding oddly distant. “
Liv
!”

Oh crap
. Kirsten. Yeah, she had a babysitter, it seemed.

Reluctantly Olivia drew back. “I’m here!”

Kai was breathing hard as he turned away. He folded his arms over his chest. “Fuck,” he muttered, and Olivia couldn’t agree more.

Kirsten hurried onto the pier, Markus at her back. “
Liv
, we were so worried, we looked for you everywhere.” Then she stopped in her tracks. “
Ach
Du
Scheisse
. I didn’t know you were not alone.”

“Sorry, guys.” Olivia swallowed a sigh. She was glad they were worried for her, but, man, the timing...

“You must be the hot and mysterious
non
-rebound guy,” Kirsten said with her usual subtlety.

Olivia’s face heated. “This is Kai.”

He shook his head, his dark hair falling in his eyes. “Hot and mysterious non-rebound guy?”

Olivia shrugged, her ears burning. “Pretty much covers it, huh?”

He put out his hand and Kirsten, then Markus shook it. “I’ll take it.” There was amusement in his voice and she dared look up.

Yep, he was smiling, his eyes laughing. Well, it was a flattering description, wasn’t it?
And quite accurate, too.

“Did you guys have a good time today?” Markus was sizing Kai up, taking him in from head to toes. “Where did you take our friend?”

“Um.” Olivia got between them. Markus didn’t know Kai wasn’t fond of interrogation. “Why don’t we go grab a drink at the bar?” She glanced at Kai who had shuffled back, hands fisting at his sides.

“I think I’ll turn in,” he said. “It’s been a long day. A good day.” He gave her a barely-there smile. “But long nevertheless. I have to start work early tomorrow.”

“But the cafe doesn’t open until nine.” She didn’t want him to leave.

“I have to go to town and bring provisions before that, and before work I swim, so...” He nodded at Kirsten and Markus. “Nice meeting you.”

They watched him go up the beach, toward the road. Kirsten put a hand on Olivia’s shoulder.

“
Tut
mir
leid
,” she said.
I’m
sorry
. “
Ich wusste es nicht
.”

“Of course you didn’t know.” She patted her friend’s hand, trying to inject some cheer into her voice. “Come on, let’s get a drink.”

They trudged up the beach to the brightly lit bar. Kai had melted into the night, and she tried to imagine him in his pickup, and then in his bed.

Which made her think of other things, and she hurried her steps. Not the time for this. “So what did you think of him?”

“Sexy,” Kirsten said. “And very mysterious.” She winked.

Olivia poked her in the side, and Kirsten poked back, tickling her. Markus joined in. They entered the bar breathless with laughter, and as she sipped her beer, Olivia realized she hadn’t yet heard Kai laugh, not once.

Panos had been right, and she sucked at her job.

Maybe it was time for her to try her tickle attack. It was cheating, sure, but Panos hadn’t specified how she was supposed to get Kai to laugh. Tickling worked on most people, and, hey, everyone had a chink in their armor.

***

Kirsten and Markus were going to the nearby town of
Chania
to visit the museums. Normally Olivia would have jumped at the chance to explore the past of the place, but she begged off. So she watched her friends amble off in the morning light to take the bus to town, and she sat on her balcony, staring at the sea, mobile phone in her hand.