The monthly phone calls with my mother had assured me she was okay, and had been all the wind beneath my wings I’d needed to stay away.

He bit out a tight curse and threw an arm over his forehead. ‘Your father has a lot to answer for, but he’s saved himself a trouncing by leaving your mother alone,’ he growled. After a moment, his gaze pierced mine again. ‘My investigators eventually traced your flight from Greece to Switzerland and assured me that my wife had simply chosen to run away of her own accord. At least now I know how you managed to avoid detection after you left Geneva, but perhaps you’d be so kind as to finish telling me where you went?’

The pulse of anguish still underlined his anger, but knowing it wasn’t directed at me made it easier to finish my retelling.

‘I took a train to Strasbourg and then wandered through Europe for a time before heading to South-East Asia. After that I made my way through Africa.’

All the while keeping in touch with Dr Trudeau and praying for my baby’s continued health.

‘When did you know you were pregnant with Andreos?’ he rasped.

My stomach hollowed out in remembrance, and it took every ounce of self-control not to show how that fateful day still affected me. How the possibility that I would never meet my child had left me broken and sobbing for one day straight, until the fervent prayers had begun.

‘I found out early. In Switzerland.’

He waited, his gaze imploring me for more. But I had nothing more to give. Nothing that wouldn’t see the precious time I had left with Andreos compromised.

And it would be. It was clear Axios was deeply possessive and protective of his son. Over the past few days I’d learned just how meticulous and all-powerful he could be. I couldn’t afford for the time I had with my baby to be compromised.

Or, on the flipside, he simply wouldn’t care.

Pain snaked through me, dulling my heartbeat. No, he was better off not knowing.

‘Why Kenya?’ he asked, tugging me back to the present.

‘Because I was seven months pregnant when I got there. Because I loved it there and knew I wouldn’t be able to travel. I chose to stay and have Andreos there.’

Again, he lapsed into contemplative silence, those piercing grey eyes pinning me to the bed. Then, ‘Thank you for telling me,’ he said simply. Gruffly.

Tears prickled. To hide them, I lowered my head until our lips were a whisper apart. He didn’t protest. His eyes simply went molten and his hard body stirred beneath mine as I closed the gap and helped myself to the magic of his kiss.

He allowed my exploration for a minute. Allowed the tentative probe and the slide of my tongue against his in a deeper kiss while the hand around my waist moved in a slow caress up and down my back, until he boldly cupped my bottom and brought me into brazen contact with his impressive arousal.