Page 6 of A Grecian Getaway

They made their way to the bar and grabbed drinks. After a few minutes, Giannis pulled Noelle to the side. “Would you like to go for a walk?”

Maybe a walk would be a good thing? I could get to know him better. I could practice trying to be more comfortable with guys. It’s not like this has to goanywhere. No pressure! If I act like a weirdo, who cares? I’ll never see this guy again.“Sure, that sounds nice.” She faced Claire and Caroline. “Giannis and I are going outside for a breather. We won’t be gone long.”

Claire held up her phone and shook it. “Text us if you need us.”

Then Caroline whispered to Noelle, “Bye! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

They walked on the crowded stone streets, and Noelle took in all the sights. The whitewashed stone was gorgeous.

“So, how do you like Greece so far?” Giannis walked close to Noelle.

“It’s incredible. I love it here. This is our graduation trip, as we all recently graduated from college. When I get back, I’ll be looking for a job. What do you do?” Noelle smiled, trying her best to make normal conversation.

“I help my parents with the hotel. I plan to take over when they retire.”

They kept talking, but as they got further away from the club, she got the feeling he wasn’t really interested in what she was saying.His weird staring is giving me the creeps.A yawn escaped from her mouth.

Giannis took her hand and kissed it. “Are you tired?”

A nervous laugh fell from her lips. “I guess the glass of wine I drank and the long day of travel is catching up with me. Maybe we should head back to the girls?”

Giannis smiled. “We will go back soon. But how about a nice walk on the beach?”

“Um, I don’t know. I am pretty tired.” She stopped walking.

“It isn’t far. The sea breeze may give you… uh, the energy.”

The sand was soft on her feet as she had taken off her sandals and carried them in her hand. Practically deserted, the beach contained only a sparse couple here and there. The only light was from the moon shining on the sea. What a beautiful sight. As another yawn made its way out, Noelle scanned the area in a daze. Just as she was about to ask if they were close to the hotel, Giannis clasped her hand.

“You are so beautiful,” he rasped, and then he kissed her. At first, his lips felt good on her mouth. He was gentle, but as he pulled her to the sand, his kissesbecame stronger. His rough stubble stung a little as he kissed and smothered her with his face. She pulled away, but Giannis didn’t seem to get the picture.

Giannis smiled. “Relax and enjoy yourself.”

Anger started bubbling up inside. Her hands balled into fists and she pushed against his chest. Her stomach was in knots. “Giannis, I want to go back to the hotel, NOW.”

Uncomfortable from the sand in her clothes and his sharp prickling whiskers rubbing her face raw, she wasn’t enjoying herself at all. He tried to kiss her again, and she shoved him away again.

“Stop, Giannis! I want to go back and meet my friends.” She continued to shove his chest and turned her face away from him, but Giannis was strong and wasn’t giving up easily. She kneed him hard in the groin. He grunted from the impact. “I said stop! Seriously! Next time will be a lot harder,” she yelled as she scooted away from him.

He looked at her with the same stupid grin she’d noticed earlier and said, “Come on, let's have a little fun. Relax. We won’t do anything you won’t like.”

He leaned towards her but didn’t get very far. His body was thrown back.

Despite the darkness, Noelle could see another figure towering above Giannis, who was now sprawled flat on the ground a few feet away. Some inaudible words in Greek filled the otherwise quiet night, and Giannis stood and faced Noelle.

“I am sorry,” he said gruffly, and he stomped away.

“Well, I don’t accept your apology, you big jerk!” She called out to him. She wanted to chase after him and give him a big punch in the mouth, which was not like her at all. But she was so angry, she wanted to scream.What am I going to do now?She was alone on an island, except for some stranger nearby, and didn’t know how to get back to her hotel or the club. What an idiot she had been. The one time she tried to be carefree, look where it got her. She could text her friends, but she wouldn’t even be able to tell them where she was. A few angry and fearful tears escaped down her cheeks, even though she tried so hard to hold them back.

“Are you okay?” the man asked, while reaching his hand out to her.

The tall man pulled her up from the sand. She couldn’t see him well in the dark, especially with her watery eyes. He smelled good though…a familiar scent she couldn’t place. Come to think of it, his voice sounded familiar too.

Her voice shook with fear at what might have happened as she uttered the words “Thank you for your help” to the fragrant stranger.

She didn’t know what to do. He didn’t speak at first. Noelle thanked him once more to break the awkward silence surrounding them. He muttered something under his breath in Greek and then interrupted her.

“Follow me. I will escort you back to the road and find you a taxi,” he said in a calm but stern voice.

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