Page 66 of About Love and Revenge

“You, one more time."

"Where have you been?"

"Home," I answer, and I know she understands that I'm talking about Greece.

We're lying on the bed, and she lifts her head to look at me.

After the library, we showered together. She's driving me crazy with the way she allows things to happen between us. Even though she has never been in a relationship, she accepts everything, without fear of intimacy—at least the sexual kind of intimacy.

In fact, I was the one who was confused when, after our shower, still naked, she asked where she should sleep.

Any other woman, after spending the night with a sexual partner, would assume they'd be sleeping together. The simple fact that I brought her here should imply that, but Elina seems ready for whatever I throw at her.

I think if I pointed out the guest room, she'd go there without even hesitating, but it's the feeling that she's going to slip through my fingers at any moment that makes me want to hold her closer and closer.

She gives herself without restraint, denying me nothing, but thenthe next minute, when it's all over, she acts like what happened isn't important, while I'm still overwhelmed by how she makes me feel.

"What did you go to Greece for? Was it about my father? Are they back?"

I think about how to answer. We agreed that we wouldn't talk about the bastard, but I can't leave her totally in the dark either. “No, they aren't."

"But you went there for him?"

“In a way, yes. I went to find out where my cousin was."

"Orien? He left a long time ago. Why would he come back now? Neither he nor Theo wanted anything to do with the island ever again."

I stare at her, trying to see if she's being sincere.

She is.

I can tell she's totally ignorant of what happened that day in the boathouse.

“Things aren't always what they seem."

She nods in agreement. "You won't tell me anything else, will you?"

"No."

She threatens to get up, but I close my arms around her.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to think."

“Can't you do it here?

"No. It's very difficult to think clearly with you so close."Her honesty disarms me.

“If it's any consolation, I feel the same."

She sighs and lies back against my chest. “I won't ask anymore,because we agreed it would be like this, but don't expect anything from me either."

"What does that mean?"

"That you won't have the right to ask me for my secrets if you don't tell me anything about you outside the bedroom."

Before I can stop, I find myself revealing, "I think my cousin is dead."

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