Sunlight streamed through the partially opened curtain, bathing the parts of Axios I could see in mouthwatering relief—mainly his very naked, very chiselled torso. The effort it took to drag my gaze away and avoid the incisive eyes was depressingly monumental.

‘I... What time is it?’

‘It’s a little after nine,’ he answered, reaching out to caress his son’s bare, plump foot. ‘You were out of it when the monitor signalled that Andreos was awake. Sophia was about to give him a bottle, but I thought I’d bring him to you instead.’

I nodded, my throat clogging at the picture of togetherness and domestic bliss his words painted. Before I could stop myself, might-have-beens crowded my heart and I stared down at Andreos, painfully aware of Ax’s presence in the pictures that filled my mind.

A little desperately, I reminded myself that this was all temporary. A short stretch of time to enjoy with my son before—

‘Calypso?’

I blinked, unable to stop myself from being compelled to meet his gaze.

His eyes narrowed and he waited a beat before asking, ‘What’s wrong?’

I shook my head. ‘It’s nothing. I’m just a little tired, that’s all.’

His shuttered gaze said he knew I was being evasive. But he let it go. ‘Not too tired to spend a few hours out of the city, I hope?’

Surprised, I stared at him. ‘Out of the city?’

He nodded. ‘I thought we could fly to Agistros for the afternoon. Agatha will organise a picnic for us and we’ll spend a little time by the water.’

‘Why?’ I blurted.

He tensed slightly. ‘On the rare occasion that I find myself with free time, I wish to spend it with our son. With you. I thought you might enjoy it. Am I wrong?’

I flushed. ‘I... No.’

I’d planned nothing except spending a lazy day with Andreos. But the thought that Axios had plans, that he wanted to include us, kicked a wild little thrill into my bloodstream. A dangerous thrill. One I needed to nip in the bud sooner rather than later.

‘I was planning on heading down to the beach here, but one beach is as good as any other, I suppose.’

A sly smile tilted one corner of his lip. ‘I beg to differ. The beaches on Agistros rival the best in the world.’

My cheeky need to tease grew irresistible. ‘According to you.’

His smile widened. ‘Since I own it, my opinion is the only one that counts.’

The statement was so unapologetically arrogant I laughed. The sound seemed to arrest him, his eyes turning that molten shade that sent heat pulsing through my blood as we stared at each other.

‘I believe this is the first time I’ve heard you laugh,’ he rasped, his gaze raking over my face to settle brazenly on my mouth, almost effortlessly calling up another blush that suffused my face. ‘I like it.’

Without warning his hand rose, his fingers trailing down one hot cheek and along my jaw before dropping down to recapture his son’s foot.