This truly was the holiday of a lifetime, she thought happily, kissing her companion back, enjoying the delightful sensations coursing through her body. When Christos slid his hands over her hips and pressed her tight against him, and she felt how hard he was, she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

Keelin knew it was considered sinful to have sex before marriage. She’d been brought up with the notion that sex was dirty. It had permeated her school days, her college days and would, if she let it, colour every relationship she had with a fella until she got married . . . if she ever got married. Here on this beautiful island where nothing felt sinful, and the slow, melodious flow of life made her feel vibrant and free, the straightjacket of dogma, so invasive at home, seemed a world away.

He was very gentle with her, lightly caressing her, and then his touch becoming firmer, insistent, and she was longing for him, her body delighting in the sensations he was arousing in her. When he came into her she gasped with pleasure and, briefly, pain, but pleasure took over and Keelin cast away her inhibitions and gave herself up to the moment, and felt utterly liberated as her young, healthy body made her forget, momentarily, all that she’d been taught in her Catholic upbringing.

*

‘You did it with Christos,’ Eva grinned, pointing an accusatory finger at her.

‘How do you know?’ Keelin said, laughing and blushing at the same time.

‘You’re glowing! You lucky wagon. He’s gorgeous.’

‘I know,’ Keelin agreed, flinging herself down on the bed. ‘If someone told me I’d come to Greece and lose my virginity to a man I only met a week ago, who hardly speaks a word of English and who I’ll never meet again after the holiday is over, I’d have told them they were raving.’ Keelin stretched sensuously. ‘Girls, I tingle all over!’

‘Oh, stop boasting,’ Norah scowled. She was still an unwilling virgin. ‘I’d be riven with guilt. I know I would. I was in the Children of Mary when I was younger. I know I’d feel impure. I can’t help it. I’m indoctrinated with it.’

‘We all were, Norah. Get a few of these in you tomorrow night and feck the indoctrination. But make sure you use a condom.’ Eva handed her a glass full of ouzo.

‘So we’re not going to Mass tomorrow, I take it?’ Norah took a swig of ouzo and raised an eyebrow at her friends.

‘Nope!’

‘I can’t. I’m in a state of mortal sin,’ Keelin giggled, a tad tipsy.

‘My mother was right. You’re a bad influence on me, the pair of you,’ tittered Norah, draining the shot glass and holding it out for a refill as the first rays of dawn whispered through the curtains of their hotel room.

*