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and just as beautiful,
     in a lost puppy, bedraggled kind of way. But he wouldn’t put off the inevitable.
    He needed to make that call.
    …
    Helene stretched and blinked open her eyes. An instant later she recognized the room,
     remembered the cave— the prince — and her sense of wellbeing vanished. She’d caused that man so much trouble, and
     then she’d made herself right at home by falling asleep on his couch.
    And where was Alexio, her ride out of here?
    Jerking up, she pushed a throw-over aside and glanced beyond the balcony doors. A
     black satin sky laced with stars glittered back at her. A corner lamp filtered soft
     yellow light over the space inside. She pushed back hair that had fallen over one
     eye. How long had she slept?
    A noise came from behind. On her feet in an instant, Helene spun around. A masculine
     form—Darius Vasily—sauntered toward her. When he saw that she was up, he slowly grinned.
    “I wondered when you might wake. You must be hungry?”
    Her stomach answered with an unfortunate rumbling growl. She winced. “Guess I am.”
    “I’ve already eaten.”
    He wore a white casual button-down and clean trousers. As he drew nearer, she inhaled
     delicious, freshly-soaped male, which only made her own sweat-and-dirt smell all too
     apparent. She needed a bath.
    “Why did you let me sleep so long?” she asked.
    “You weren’t causing any harm—for once.”
    He grinned again, slow and slanted. This close—in this light—her breath was taken
     away. When they’d first met, she’d noticed how attractive and commanding he was. After
     they’d escaped the cave, with his billboard-standard chest on display, he’d looked
     even hotter. This minute he appeared larger than life—sizzling with sex appeal and
     so comfortable in his own skin. Her hands bunched as fingers itched to graze over
     the raspy angle of his jaw. She imagined the feel and taste of his mouth and her tongue
     flicked out to moisten her lips.
    Then he disappeared down a hallway—the one where he’d taken the figurine hours ago—and
     the beating of a pulse at the apex of her thighs dropped away. A couple of minutes
     later, he returned carrying a plate laden with food that was apparently all for her.
    “Simple fare.” He set the plate on the table then pulled out a heavy chair.
    She wanted to know whether a boat had been organized but the aroma stole her attention—grilled
     eggplant, zucchini, and potato filled with tomato and peppers. Her mouth began to
     water.
    “Did you make this yourself?” she asked, taking the seat.
    “I put together some ingredients and slid them in the oven. That was a couple of hours
     ago.” He brought over a carafe and two glasses. “But this dish is even tastier cold.”
    After taking a seat, he poured wine. Helene swallowed two mouthfuls. Trying to hide
     her flinch, she apologized.
    “I’m told traditional Greek wine is an acquired taste.”
    The bouquet was pine but the taste reminded her a little of her turpentine.
    She polished off some eggplant and potato while Darius sipped his wine and surveyed
     the silver-ribboned sea beyond the balcony doors. When she’d eaten her fill, she dabbed
     the corners of her mouth with a linen napkin.
    He eyed her plate. “Had enough?”
    “I was thinking you must have had enough of me.” She flicked a glance down the hallway.
     “Is your goddess safely tucked away?”
    He gave her a knowing look. “She’s safe.”
    “Then next week you’ll be able to take her home. Before you know it, she’ll have worked
     her magic and you’ll be married with your very own happy little family.”
    “A family. Yes.” He studied his wine. “I have every faith.”
    She arched a brow. “Maybe you already have a lady waiting in the wings?”
    He shook his head then sat straighter. “Although there was a girl once, but she expected
     too much.”
    “A new palace?”
    “A kiss. I was eight and wise enough not to succumb,” he smiled across at