Page 102 of Pomegranates and Olive

Re-surfacing, I begin coughing as a wave, and then another hits me square in the face. I forget everything I have ever learned about swimming and my legs flail helplessly in an attempt to stay afloat. Another wave smashes into me and I’m struggling to keep my head above water now.

This time I really am drowning.

As I try to turn against the current, I feel something grab at the back of my t-shirt and drag me slowly back toward the beach. Once I’m on the sand, I roll over and lay flat gasping for breath while a very wet Betty stands beside me barking loudly at the boat in the distance. “Betty! Why did you stop me? I was trying to get to the boat!”

Betty waves his tail in the air excitedly. He’s having a great time playing lifeguard and licks my face as he bounces around on the water’s edge.

Damn dog is an asshole as well!

"You really are an awful swimmer." At the sound of his voice, I turn to see Deniz grinning that sexy, arrogant grin that makes me crazy, as he squats down beside me. "Are you trying to drown yourself, Russo?"

“The thought has crossed my mind.” I mumble, mostly to myself.

"What exactly are you trying to do,askim?"

"I was… I… was…"

"Trying to swim to Greece?”

I point at Tora in the distance. "How are you there… and here?"

“You’re here.” He sits down beside me on the wet sand. “Where else would I be?”

"You said you were leaving. I had to stop you."

He looks at me incredulously as a small chuckle escapes his lips. "You thought I was leaving on Tora?"

Tears roll down my wet cheeks as I speak. I can barely hold back my sobs. "I came to beg you…” I suck back a breath, “…not to go."

“Oh? Why would you want to do that?”

“Because I love you, you…idioti!”

He lowers his lips to mine and kisses me before lifting me up and gathering me, soaking wet, into his arms. Honestly, it’s all very ‘From Here to Eternity’.

Whoops rang out from the end of the jetty and I turn to see my family and friends, the builder, and even the random Turkish construction crew, cheering us on as I slide my hands up his chest before wrapping my arms around his neck. Breathing in his delicious scent, I nuzzle my face into his neck.

"Askim, I'm not leaving on Tora."

I wipe my nose on his shoulder and gaze up at him. "You're not?"

"That's disgusting." He pulls a handkerchief out of his pocket and hands it to me and I roll my eyes in return. "I couldn't live on that leaky, old boat! It's way too small."

“But…”

He points at the luxurious motor yacht that Rosie had drooled over. "I'm leaving onZeytin."

I blow my nose loudly in his handkerchief. "Zeytin?"

"I bought it."

"That’s yours?"

"Of course. And it's big enough to live on for me… and my first mate Aslan… and whoever else who may wish to tag along."

"I hate that cat."

He squeezes my hand as he kisses me again. "I'm quite certain he feels the same way about you."

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