I was so shy, blushing and blinking like the virgin I was.

And so our first lovemaking began, united for the first time on an inconspicuous Tuesday morning in the deep shade of a little stone house in Syros. Both thrilled and afraid, and aching with longing, we made love all through the day. I could not get enough of him, nor him me. The experience was new to me of course, and I wasn’t sure what I was doing; but Manno appeared more experienced. Crazy for more sensations, feasting on each other, deliriously happy, singing silently with Aphrodite’s pleasures, until we were both desperate to go further than we had dared venture before.

Inevitably, at the point of no return, he growled into my ear and thrust passionately and desperately onward. I experienced a painful, stinging, but Manno’s reaction was to cry my name so loudly I feared all of Syros heard.

‘You are mine, agapi! Mine, my love!’

His words were overwhelming, primitive, yet loving; like balm to my discomfort. By late afternoon, we made love for the third and last time, I know I called out, but with no notion of what words. My body exploded with extraordinary violence after what started with a gentle feeling of perfect love. Waves of pleasure had built up to a fire and ice fit of uncontrollable passion. Closer, harder, stronger waves enveloped me until, God knows, I really do believe I lost consciousness in my euphoria. Then I was in his arms, tears of joy on my face, him rocking me, panting as he stroked my hair and muttered thanks to God and endearments to me in Greek and English.

‘I have fallen in love with you,’ I whispered.

‘Stay, agapi mou! Stay, my love! Don’t go back to the ship, stay and marry me and live here, on my island!’

I looked around, taking in my surroundings properly, for the first time after our bold and heated intrusion. The cottage was much the same as Yiayá’s on the island of Kea.

He mistook my interest in the cottage for disapproval. ‘No, not here exactly,’ he said. ‘I will build you a house. A fine house with many rooms, on the side of the hill. I hear from my cousin in England you like to have many rooms. I have land, much land, all over the island my family have plenty land, agapi. You tell me what you want, yes, I build it. I am a very fine builder. Stay, and we will marry, agapi!’

I blushed deeply. I had given myself to him, and he had begged me to marry him. There was justice in the situation. ‘I can’t. There is a war, I must help the sick and the wounded. It’s my destiny, I swore an oath that I would do it for my brother and sister.’