"Shall I prepare our nest for the night?" she asked, eyeing a concave area near the pile of kindling that Niko had gathered for a bonfire.
Anna spread out sheets and a white cotton blanket against the coolness of the evening. After she sat down, she beckoned Nikolas to join her. He lit the fire with his cigarette lighter and the dry needles of the cedar branches soon crackled. When darkness came, the fireflies filled the night sky like tiny comets. There was silence except for the popping fire and the whisperings of the eternal sea. The red wine reflected the fire's warm glow and matched the lusciousness of Anna's lips as she tasted it. Nikolas kissed her the moment she took her empty glass from her lips, and he poured her another.
"Niko, this is wonderful," she murmured with delight. The crickets in the trees behind them started to chirp in chorus. "And where were you planning on taking me for dinner tonight?" She asked, pursing her lips together pretending to be British royalty. "Would it be the Hotel King George? Or perhaps the De La Great Britain on Constitution Square?"
"Which one would the lady prefer?" Nikolas said, playing along.
"Do you think they will take us without reservations?" Anna asked, chuckling at Nikolas.
"I'll ask right away," he said with a laugh, leaping up and pretending to come back momentarily. "My lady, the hotels are all full at this hour. There are far too many English and American reporters in Athens covering the war. Luckily, I know a little tavern near the sea. I think I can bribe the owner to seat us near the water."
"Give him anything. I'm starving," Anna said in a low, sexy voice. Lying on her back, she caressed her flat stomach, tracing small circles with her long thin fingers.
"Something to soothe the lady before dinner?" asked Nikolas.
"That would be nice," Anna smiled.
Nikolas opened a bottle of champagne and filled Anna's glass, then his own. She savored the aroma and giggled before drinking the bubbling amber.
"What are we having for dinner?" she questioned.
"I will consult with the chef and then come back to you immediately," Nikolas replied.
In a sultry whisper, Anna said:
"Please don't be long."
She laid her body on the blanket and gazed at the myriad of stars above. The full moon emerged, illuminating the beach and casting its light on the sea. The scene looked surreal, like a painting in an art museum.
In a short time, Nikolas was back. "Your table is ready, Miss."
He extended his hand to lift her up. Anna complied graciously and said: