Page 54 of Beyond Enemy Vows

A man approaches me and waves a pack of dried figs in my face as he tells me in Greek they're from his small village.

"Ochi, efharistó," I say with a smile. He doesn't stop, so I repeat it in English, "No, thank you." He still comes at me so I duck around him and walk away without looking back.

I walk around aimlessly for a few more minutes, thinking that the chaos of people around me is exactly how my mind feels.

Suddenly, a warm hand grabs mine and tugs. I'm pulled between two stalls, into a narrow space between canvas walls. I gasp as my heart races and familiar dark eyes meet mine.

"Miss me?" Niko asks, his voice low and mischievous.

"Are you insane?" I say, looking around frantically, but no one's paying attention to us.

"A little," he says with a smile, as his hands cup my face. "But that's never stopped me before."

And then his mouth is on mine, hot and demanding. I should push him away. We're in public. My brother could show up. Katerina could be nearby. This is madness.

Instead, I kiss him back, desperate and hungry. My hands clutch his shirt, and he backs me against the canvas wall, wrapping his arms around my waist.

When he pulls back, the kiss feels rushed. Frantic. Too brief.

I brush the hair out of my face.

"What are you doing here?" I say, half in panic, half in pure, traitorous relief.

"I told you I was coming. I had to see you."

"Yes, but like... I thought we'd plan something. I mean," I stop and look around, "I'm here with your cousin who could be just around the corner. If she sees us like this, she'll tell Ares."

"Let her," he says, not even pretending to care. "Let him try and keep me from you."

"Niko," I hiss, but then his mouth is on mine and I melt into it.God, I hate how right this feels.

"I've missed you," he says against my lips. "You've no idea how much."

"I've missed you too."

"I see you're wearing my necklace."

"Of course," I grab it and start playing with it.

I stop and shake my head. "Shit, Niko. I need to go. This is too?—"

"I need to see you alone. Tonight."

My body responds to his touch, heat pooling low in my belly. "I don't... Okay, okay. I'll find a way."

He kisses me again, and it takes everything I have to pull away.

I smile at him as I fix my clothes, hair, and wipe any smudges of lipstick from my lips.

"I'll text you," I say and turn. He grabs me, wrapping his arms around me.

"Niko," I say playfully, "let go. I have to leave, crazy."

He lets me go and we walk out from between the stalls.

"Calli! There you are."

Shit.