3 months later...

Hayley laughed as Xanthus grabbed her hand and tried to shield her from the pouring rain.  His helicopter has just landed on his sprawling Santorini estate.  She held an overnight bag in one hand, even though Xanthus had insisted that one of his many staff would bring her belongings to his suite.  He didn't bring a suitcase.  He had a wardrobe full of designer outfits right here in his Santorini home.  Haley smiled up into his eyes as he brushed the raindrops from her face.

'You look gorgeous,' he teased.

'Because the rain has drenched my silk blouse and you can see some cleavage,' she grinned.

'And a delightful view it is agápi mou.  I can't wait to ___.'

'Ah my son, you have arrived,' his mother interrupted their intimate conversation.

'Mama,' Xanthus smiled, his arm curved possessively around Hayley's waist.

Maria Laskaris' eye bulged as her eyes fell on the huge platinum ring on Haley's finger.

'Yes mama, I've asked Haley to marry me,' Xanthus smiled endearingly.

'Did you ___ ask me, that is?'  Haley nudged him in the rib.

'You're going to be my wife, end of story,' he playfully nudged her back.

'Did you have to choose this foreign woman?' His mother asked in Greek.

'Shouldn't your son's happiness, and not my nationality, be the topic of concern Maria,' Haley responded in perfect Greek.

Maria's eyes protruded even wider in surprise that her dubious future daughter-in-law was reasonably apt in her native language.  Yes, Haley had been taking lessons for the last three months.  Even Xanthus had been impressed when she instructed that he only speak to her in Greek when they were alone, and he'd taught her a few choice words that were not on the online module she had been diligently studying for two hours each night.  Hayley had already passed the intermediate course.  She was currently well into the advanced module of her study.  She was loving the course and her swift grasp of it motivated her to perfect the language.

She could now name every item of furniture in Xanthus' home in Greek.  Often at night she and Xanthus played the 5 Questions game in Greek.  Hayley would get furious with herself at how often Xanthus won.  Because all she had to do was give the wrong answer to any question asked.  How difficult was that? Yet Xanthus delighted in winning and relished his just rewards every time he beat her; especially since she didn't use the excuse that responding in Greek had her at a disadvantage.

Haley observed a tiny consolation of approval in Maria's shrewd eyes that at least the woman marrying her son, was making the effort to learn their language. 
Haley was unperturbed by Maria's reluctant affirmation.  She had dealt with her debilitating demons during the one long month of their torturous separation.  She could take on anybody now that she knew in her heart that Xanthus loved her. 
He confirmed it every day in the way he smiled, or gazed into the soul of her eyes; and at night in the throes of passion in the way he touched and made love to her, and especially during their intimate conversations, when they were away from each other for more than a day.  Yes she could take on an army of Marias, and she would do it single-handedly.

Two Years later .....

'Agápi mou, where is this meeting of yours?'  Xanthus spoke in Greek, patiently walking behind his wife, carrying his fourteen month old baby daughter Callia.  She was the splitting image of her mother, strikingly beautiful, bubbly smile, curly brunette hair, stumpy yet cute shapely legs, but she had her daddy's slate grey eyes.  And she was the apple of her daddy's eyes.

'I think it's this one,' Haley responding in Greek, looked up at the double story mansion with white –washed walls, held by a series of stately concrete columns. The mansion looked like it had been magically placed in a spectacular botanical garden.  'Yep, it's the one,' she finally nodded.

'It looks empty,' Xanthus lifted baby Callia over his shoulder and tried the door.

'That's because it is,' Haley smiled mysteriously.

Xanthus tried the door, it opened easily.  He looked at his wife, walked in, and found himself in a designer kitchen, that looked so spectacular as if it was in a catalogue.  The walls, tiles and kitchen cupboards were all in a breath-taking artic white splash.  He walked through all of the downstairs wings, admiring the spacious lounge, dining room, study, family room and guest bath room, each one in its own classical theme.  It looked palatial, meeting his high standards, he definitely approved.

'Papa ___ball,' Callia uttered in Greek, whilst she dangled her feet and pointed to his pocket.

Carefully he lowered Callia to the floor, removed the soft sponged ball from his pocket and rolled it and watched Callia wobble as she chased after the ball.  Haley's eyes lit up as she watched her baby chuckle enthusiastically as she ran after her ball.

'Agápi mou, what is the meaning of this?' 

He swallowed cautiously.  His wife had seductively engineered this trip to Santorini and since the day, he'd confessed his love to her, he never knew how to say "no" to anything she asked.  Not that his loving wife ever made any demands on him.  It was not in her nature to do that, but she had her subtle way of bewitching him with that gentle look in her eyes, and the way she would embrace him and fiddle with the lapels of his shirt when she wanted his attention and say with that dreamy look in her wistful eyes: "the weather would be so beautiful in Santorini now, do you have plans for the weekend...?"

Like a hypnotised man, he would call his pilot, alter his diary and they would be heading to Santorini for the weekend.  He would do anything to please his adorable, stunning wife, especially since she had immediately yielded to his request when he asked her to give him a baby as soon as possible. She had blessed him with a strikingly gorgeous miracle that he loved unconditionally.

Haley lifted the ball, playfully stroked Callia's cheek before she threw the ball in front of her, so she could keep her eye on her daughter.  She then lifted her hands to Xanthus.  Her fingers gently raked upwards over his chest and again twiddled with his shirt.

'Thélo aftó to spíti  agápi mou' ... I want this house my darling.

Xanthus' eyes widened.  He gripped her at the elbows and unintentionally began speaking English.

'You want to live here in Santorini?'

'Yes,' she whispered.

'You want to leave New York, leave your career and move to Greece?'

She laughed.  'Giatí miloún angliká?' ... Why are we speaking English?

His palm cupped her cheek.  'Because you've shocked me.'

She wrapped her arms around his neck.  'I won't necessarily leave my career.  I would like to open a practice here, if you say yes.'

'Papa,' Callia lifted her tiny hands to Xanthus.

He smiled affectionately at his daughter and immediately hoisted her into his arms.  'I'm speechless agápi mou.'

'Why?' she laughed.

Callia reached down, rolled her sponged ball on her mummy's face, then decided to wrap her ball in the long curls of her mummy's hair. Haley smiled and took her daughter into her arms as she listened to Xanthus speak.

'It was a dream I secretly harboured to manage my global empire from my home town, but I did not have the heart to uproot you from yours,' he smiled.

She had somehow sensed that.  Especially with the increased amount of conference calls he has been fielding from home at night. She also knew her husband to be a selfless man.  

'Oh Xanthus,' she tugged one arm around his neck, her eyes moist.  'I have fallen in love with this place and it would please me endlessly, if you say we can move here.'

Callia was curious to walk about, and began sliding down, so she could do her own investigating.  She opened one of the cupboards she could reach and peeked inside, and promptly climbed in.  Haley and Xanthus turned their attention to their daughter, saw she was safe and continued their conversation.

'Now I understand all the mysterious trips here in recent months,' he grinned.

'Guilty,' she laughed, tightening her arms around him.

'But I already have a home here agápi mou, large enough to accommodate more than ten people.'

She began fiddling with his lapels again.  Her eyes lifted to his earnestly.  'I don't want you coming home each night, playing referee between Maria and I,' she murmured.  'So to keep the peace___' she smiled and waved her arm at the fancy mansion they were standing in.

He threw his head back and laughed.  'I do believe mama has sheathed her claws, realizing, that you were not interested in responding to her taunting.'

'You noticed?'

He nodded.  'And I knew you would handle her in your very subtle but effective manner,' he winked.

'I must confess since Callia was born, she's more___ cordial,' Haley conceded.

Xanthus winced at her hesitant choice of words. 

Haley laughed and kissed him on the mouth. 'But as long as I have you, I can handle Maria.'

'Mama,' Callia, returned wanting to be embraced as well.

Haley smiled, took her daughter into her arms and kissed her repeatedly until she gurgled with laughter.

'That's the sound a man loves to hear,' Xanthus laughed 'and off course the sounds his wife makes when he makes love to her.'

'Xanthus!'

'Come,' he smiled, curving one arm around her, leading her out, as she carried Callia in her arms.  'You will give me your agents' details, so I can conclude the purchase of this home.'

'Thank you,' she smiled elatedly.

'It's beautiful.   I approve,' he sanctioned.

'You can decide when we move here,' she offered, as they placed Callia into her baby seat and secured her in.

'Why do you always leave the decisions with me,' he opened her door, assisted her in and went around to the drivers' side.

'I spoke to my manger, telling him, I may resign,' she looked sideways to Xanthus as he focused on steering into the traffic, 'that is if I can twist your arm to relocate to this paradise island.'

'And?'  Xanthus asked, turning his eyes to her for a second before returning it to the traffic in front of him.

'Turns out, I can work off site, operate from a mobile platform and hook-up with him via a conference call, once a week.'

'You're happy with that?'  He asked, joy finally surging on the inside of him.

'Elated.  Now I just need to find suitable space for my practice.'

'I can get my secretary to assist you.'

'I found our home,' she reminded him with a grin.

He laughed.  'I guess you're turning down my offer of assistance.'

'I do appreciate the help, but I'll have fun scouting for a place.'

'If you find one not too far away, I  will be able to whisk you away for lunch time dates,' he offered, with a hint of promise.

'Are you busy now?'  Her hand reached over and traced his hard muscular thigh.

His eyes left the road for a second, met her dark eyes.  His hand reached down, closed over hers. 

'Never too busy to love you agápi mou.'

'Maria will have to baby-sit for the next hour,' Haley spoke passionately, as her fingers delved close enough to his zip, where she felt the evidence of his arousal.

He inhaled heavily, restraining her hand.  'A chore mama takes pleasure in,' he got out with difficulty.

Haley was thankful they returned home much quicker than she anticipated.  She was hungry for some quick action with her sexy husband.  Conveniently as they were entering the home, Maria was eagerly awaiting the return of her granddaughter. 

'Mama,' Xanthus smiled politely.  'Callia would love some lunch and for her grandma to read her a story.'

Maria beamed with pleasure.  'Come with grandma,' she opened her arms expectantly and fussed over her granddaughter, whilst Xanthus whisked his ravenous wife upstairs.

'Come here and kiss me,' Haley instructed, as she peeled off her skirt and blouse.

His eyes locked on hers.  He marveled at her hourglass figure.  She was sexy with curves in all the right places and looking delightfully voluptuous after the birth of their baby.   He took his time measuring his steps to heed her instruction, until he got to her, gripped her roughly pinning her shoulders against the wall.  Her eyes widened, igniting with instant arousal ... and obvious delight?

'I will never stop wanting you,' she whispered.

'Then it's a good thing you're my wife for eternity,' he growled.

'Your only wife,' she warned.

'Off course.  I have eyes only for you and I am all yours ... only yours,' he vowed.

                        -the end-