‘No, I’ll get this.’

‘You got dinner.’

‘Sarah, please. I asked you out. Let me get this.’ I acquiesced, and he settled the bill at the bar while I waited outside. Then, hand in hand, we walked in silence until we got to the pier.

I stopped, pulling Josh towards me so we faced each other. ‘Josh, thank you. It really was the best date I’ve had in, well, I don’t know how long.’

‘I am going to walk you all the way home, you know?’

I smiled. ‘I know, but I wanted to tell you that – in case the others are up when we get back, and I don’t get the chance.’

‘Well, in that case, I know how you feel about PDA and we wouldn’t want the rest of the gang to watch us kiss goodnight, so I better do it here.’

He placed one finger under my chin and tilted my head. His hand moved to my neck as he pulled me towards him and pressed his lips to mine. His mouth was firm, insistent, as though making his mark on me. My hands pressed into his chest, almost a physical resistance of how much I wanted him.

And I really did want him. But not on the boat.

We broke apart, both of us breathless.

‘Sarah, are you sure …’

I placed my forehead on his chest. Yes. No. I didn’t know. Maybe we could …

No. It would be better if the first time was not surrounded by our friends – our family. The anticipation may make the next twelve hours unbearable, but then again, maybe it would also make the sex all the sweeter.

I looked up at him. ‘I’m sure, Josh. We can wait.’

He groaned and then sighed. ‘Okay. But you’re killing me here.’ We started walking again.

‘Drama queen.’

When we got to the boat, Marie, Gary and Hannah were on deck. Duncan and Gerry had apparently done as they’d said and gone to bed early. We said our hellos, and then our goodnights, and I tried to ignore the odd expression on Hannah’s face.

Below deck, we stopped right outside of our two cabin doors.

‘Goodnight, Sarah.’

‘Goodnight, Josh.’

We didn’t touch, we didn’t kiss. Somehow without speaking it aloud, we both seemed to know that either would crush our resolve. We went into our respective cabins and closed the doors. I realised I had been holding my breath, and let it out in a long, slow and quiet sigh.

The next day was going to be incredible.

Chapter Fifteen

The next day was incredible. We set sail from Tinos early, and the weather was postcard beautiful. Clear, brilliant blue skies watched over us as we sailed towards Mykonos under full sail.