by Lucy Gordon
Later, in the kitchen, she watched as he made breakfast.
‘They wouldn’t believe it if they could see you now,’ she teased.
He didn’t need to ask who ‘they’ were.
‘I’m trusting you not to tell them,’ he said. ‘If you breathe a word of this I’ll say you’re delusional.’
‘Don’t worry. This is one secret I’m going to keep to myself. You don’t keep any servants here?’
‘I have a cleaning lady who comes in sometimes, but I prefer to be alone. Most of the house is shut up, and I just use a couple of rooms.’
‘What made you come here now?’
‘I needed to think,’ he said, regarding her significantly. ‘Since we met…I don’t know…everything should have been simple…’
‘But it never has been,’ she mused. ‘I wonder if we can make things simple by wanting it.’
‘No,’ he said at once. ‘But if you have to fight-why not? As long as you know what you’re fighting for.’
‘Or who you’re fighting,’ she pointed out.
‘I don’t think there’s any doubt about who we’ll be fighting,’ he said.
‘Each other. Yes, it makes it interesting, doesn’t it? Exhausting but interesting.’
He laughed and she pounced on it. ‘I love it when you laugh. That’s when I can claim a victory.’
‘You’ve had other victories that maybe you don’t know about.’ He added with a touch of self-mockery, ‘Or maybe you do.’
‘I think I’ll leave you to guess about that.’
‘It would be a mistake for me to underestimate you, wouldn’t it?’
‘Definitely.’
Briefly she thought, if only he were always like this, charming and open to her. But she smothered the thought at once. A man who was always charming was like a musician who could only play one note. Eventually it became tedious. Lysandros was fascinating because she never knew who he was going to be from one moment to the next. And nor did he know with her, which kept them both on alert. Could anything be more delightful?
‘I’m sorry about last night,’ he said.
‘I’m not.’
‘I mean I’m sorry I didn’t wait until you were better.’
‘Listen, if you’d had the self-control to wait I’d have taken it as a personal insult. And then I would have made you sorry.’
He gave her a curious look. ‘I think you will one day, in any case,’ he said.
‘Perhaps we should both look forward to that.’
She rose, reaching out to take some plates to the sink, but he forestalled her. ‘Leave it to me.’
‘There’s no need to fuss me like an invalid.’ She laughed. ‘I really can do things for myself.’
His reply was a look of sadness. ‘All right,’ he said after a moment.
‘Lysandros, honestly-’
‘I just wish you’d let me give you something-do things for you-’
Heart-stricken, she touched his face, blaming herself for being insensitive.
‘I didn’t want to be a nuisance,’ she whispered. ‘You have so many really important things to do.’
He put his arms right around her and drew her close against him.
‘There’s nothing more important than you,’ he said simply.
Later she was to remember the way he’d held her and wonder at it. It hadn’t been the embrace of a lover, more the clasp of a refugee clinging onto safety for dear life. He couldn’t have told her more clearly that she’d brought something into his life that was more than passion-more life-enhancing while he had it, more soul-destroying if he lost it.
CHAPTER SEVEN
WHEN the washing-up was done Petra asked, ‘What are we going to do today?’
‘You’re going to rest.’
‘I think a little gentle exercise will be better for me. I could continue exploring the cellar-’
‘No!’ This time there was no doubt that he meant it. ‘We can have a short outing, an hour on the beach, and lunch, then back here for you to rest.’
‘Anything you say.’
Lysandros regarded her cynically.
There was a small car in the garage and he drove them the short distance to the shore, where they found a tiny beach, cut off from the main one and deserted.
‘It’s private,’ Lysandros explained. ‘It belongs to a friend of mine. Don’t stretch out in this burning sun, not with your fair skin. Do you want to get ill?’
He led her to the rocks, where there was some shade and a small cave that she used for changing. Now she was glad she’d had the forethought to bring a bathing costume when she came to Corfu, meaning to enjoy some swimming while she investigated his house. No chance had occured, but now she changed gladly, longing to feel the sun on her skin, and emerged to find that he’d laid out a large towel for her to lie on. There was even a pillow, making it blissful to lie down, although she hadn’t been awake long.
He’d brought some sun lotion to rub in, but was doubtful.
‘You shouldn’t have this as well as liniment,’ he explained. ‘We’ll leave it for a while, but you stay in the shade. No, don’t try to move the towel. Leave it where I put it.’
‘Yes, sir. Three bags full, sir.’
He frowned. ‘This is something I sometimes hear English people say, but I don’t understand it.’
She explained that the words occurred in a nursery rhyme, but he only looked worried.
‘You say it to make fun of someone?’ he ventured.
‘Only of myself,’ she said tenderly. ‘The mockery is aimed at me, and the way I’m tamely letting you give me orders.’
This genuinely puzzled him. ‘But why shouldn’t I-?’
‘Hush.’ She laid a finger over his lips. He immediately kissed it.
‘It’s for your own good,’ he protested. ‘To care for you.’
‘I know. The joke is that part of me is as much of a sergeant major as you are. I give orders too. But I let you say, “Do this, do that” without kicking your shins as I would with any other man. It’s like discovering that inside me is someone else that I’ve never met before.’
He nodded. ‘Yes, that’s how it is.’
To complete her protection he’d hired a large parasol. Now he put it up and made sure that she was well covered.
‘What about you?’ she said. ‘You might catch the sun, unless I rub some of that lotion into you.’
Unlike her, he was dark and at less danger from sunburn, but the thought of caressing him under the guise of sun care was irresistible.
‘You think I need it?’ he asked.
‘Definitely.’
He gave her a brief look and lay back beside her so that she could begin work on his chest. He said nothing for a while, just lay still while her fingers worked across his skin, curving to shape the muscles, enjoying herself.
‘How did we get here?’ he murmured.
‘I don’t know. We seem to have missed each other so many times. You’d come just so far towards me, then clam up. Everything would be fine between us, then you’d act as though I was an enemy you had to fight off. That night in Athens-’
‘I know. I’m sorry about that. I hated myself at the time, but I couldn’t stop. You were right to reject me.’
He wasn’t fighting her any more and suddenly there was a vulnerable look on his face that she couldn’t bear to see. He was powerful and belligerent, but this was her territory where her skills were greater than his, and it was dangerously easy to hurt him.
‘We’ve never understood each other well,’ she said gently. ‘Perhaps now we have a chance to do that.’
His brow darkened. ‘Are you sure you want to try? It might be better not to. I’m bad news. I hurt people. I don’t mean to, but often I’m so cut off that I don’t realise I’m doing it.’
‘You wouldn’t be trying to scare me, would you?’
‘Warn you. I doubt I could scare you.’
‘I’m glad you realise that.’
‘So listen to me. Be wise and go now. I’m bad for you.’
‘That’s all right; I’ll just retaliate in kind. When it comes to being bad, you are dealing with an expert.’ He started to reply but she silenced him. ‘No, I talk, you listen. I’ve heard what you have to say and I’m not impressed by it. I’m a match for you any day. If we fight, we fight, and you’ll come off worst.’
‘Oh, will I?’ Now his interest was aroused.
‘You’d better believe it,’ she chuckled. ‘Won’t that be a new experience for you?’
‘A man should be prepared for new experiences. That’s how he gets strong and able to achieve victory every time.’
‘Every time, hmm?’
‘Every time,’ he assured her.
‘We’ll put that to the test. Right now-’ she drew back and got to her feet ‘-I’m going for a swim.’
She was off down the beach before he could get to his feet. By the time he caught her she’d reached the water and hurled herself in. He followed, keeping up with her as she swam out to sea, then getting ahead and stretching out his hands to her. She clasped them, looking up, laughing, rejoicing in the sunlight.
‘Steady,’ he said, supporting her as she leaned over backwards.
They swam for a while, but she was stiff and as soon as he saw her wince slightly he said, ‘Now we’re going ashore to have something to eat.’
As they walked up the beach she took the chance to study him. Last night she’d lain with this man, welcomed him inside her, felt a pleasure that only he had ever been able to give, but in the poor light she hadn’t seen him properly. Now she looked her fill at his tall muscular body that might have belonged to an athlete instead of a businessman.
Certain moments from their lovemaking came back to her, making her tremble. How easily he’d driven her to new heights, how fierce was the craving he could make her feel, how inspired were the movements of his hands, knowing just where and how to touch her. If she could have had her way she would have pulled him down onto the sand right then. Instead, she promised herself that the wait would not be long.
They found a small restaurant by the sea, and sat where they could watch the waves.
‘What happened with the boat?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know really. The weather was fine at first. We went to several caves, didn’t find anything. I should never have gone-’
‘And you wouldn’t have done but for me. If you’d died-’
‘That’s enough of that.’ She stopped him firmly. ‘I didn’t die. End of story.’
‘No,’ he said softly. ‘It’s not the end of the story. We both know that.’
She nodded but said no more.
‘After we quarrelled I was sure that we had nothing further to say to each other, but then I heard of your danger and-’ he made an agitated gesture ‘-nothing’s been the same since. When I saw you safe the world became bright again, but then there was Nikator. When I heard you’d gone away with him-’
‘You should have known better than to believe it.’
‘But how could I? You wouldn’t believe me when I warned you about him and when I saw you together I thought you’d chosen him over me. I don’t really know you at all, except that something here-’ he touched his heart ‘-has always known you.’
‘Yes, but that isn’t going to make it easy,’ she reflected. ‘The path led in so many directions that it was confusing, and in the end we stumbled against each other by accident.’
‘This meeting was hardly an accident,’ he observed lightly. ‘You broke into my house.’
‘True. I committed a criminal act,’ she said, smiling. ‘I didn’t actually want to. I had planned to ask you to let me explore, but then we quarrelled and-’ She gave an eloquent shrug.
He nodded. ‘Yes, when you’ve told a man to go and jump in the lake it would be hard to ask him a favour in the next breath.’
‘I’m glad you understand my difficulty. And I couldn’t just go tamely away without investigating, could I? Breaking and entering was my only option.’
‘But how did you get in? My locks are the most up-to-date.’
Her smile told him that these were minor difficulties, made to be overcome.
‘Estelle made a film about organised crime a few years back,’ she recalled. ‘One of the advisers was a locksmith. I learned a lot from him. He said there was no such thing as a lock that couldn’t be picked, even a digital one.’
He regarded her cautiously, not sure whether to believe her. At last he ran a finger gently down her cheek, murmuring, ‘So you wouldn’t call yourself an honest woman?’
‘Honest? Lysandros, haven’t you understood yet? I’m a historian. We don’t do honest, not if it gets in the way. If we want to investigate something, we just go ahead. We break in, we forge papers, we tell lies, we cheat, we do whatever is needed to find out what we need to know. Of course we sometimes get permission as a matter of convenience, but it’s not important.’
He grinned. ‘I see. And if the owner objects-?’
She regarded him from dancing eyes and leaned forward so that her breath brushed his face.
‘Then the owner can take his silly objections and stuff them where the sun doesn’t shine,’ she murmured.
‘I’m shocked.’
‘No, you’re not. I’ll bet it’s what you do yourself every day of the week.’
‘And I would bet that you could teach me a few new tricks.’
‘Any time you like,’ she murmured against his lips.
‘I was talking about business.’
‘I wasn’t. Let’s go home.’
On the way he stopped off to buy food in quantity, and Petra realised that he was stocking up for several days. She smiled. That suited her exactly.
The sun was setting as they entered the house and locked the world out. In the shadowy hall he took her into his arms for a long kiss. The feel of his mouth on hers was comforting and thrilling together. He was partly hers and she was going to make him completely hers, as she was already his.
He kissed her neck, moving his lips gently, then resting with his face against her, as though seeking refuge. She stroked his hair until he looked up, meeting her eyes, and together they climbed the stairs to the bedroom.
Last night they had claimed each other with frantic urgency. Tonight they could afford to take their time, confident in each other and their new knowledge of their hearts and what they shared.
At first he moved slowly, cautiously, and she loved him for his care for her. As every garment slipped away he touched her bare flesh as though doubtful that he could take the next step. She undressed him in the same way, eager to discover the body she’d admired on the beach that day.
It didn’t disappoint her. He was hard and fit, reminding her of what she’d enjoyed once, making her tremble with the thought of what was to come.
He laid her on the bed and sat for a moment, watching her with possessive eyes.
‘Let me look at you,’ he whispered.
She was happy for him to do so, knowing that she would please him. A man who’d discovered unexpected treasure might have worn the look she saw on his face. She raised her arms over her head, revelling in flaunting her nakedness for him, knowing that it was worth flaunting.
At last he laid a gentle hand on one breast, relishing the movement as it rose and fell with her mounting desire, then leaning down to circle the nipple with his lips and begin a soft assault. She took a long shuddering breath and immediately arched against him.
‘Yes,’ she murmured, ‘yes-’
‘Hush, we don’t have to rush.’
How could he say that? she wondered. Already his arousal was fierce and strong, making her reach out with eager exploring fingers. But he was in command of himself, with the power to take his time while he teased and incited her.
‘You’re a devil,’ she whispered.
He didn’t reply in words, but he raised his head long enough for his eyes to flash a humorous mes
sage, saying, clearer than words, that a devil was what he knew she wanted, and he was going to fulfil her desire.
He increased his devilment, turning up the tension as he got to work on the other breast, moving even more slowly now, making sure she was ready, but she was ahead of him, more than ready, eager and impatient.
‘Now,’ she breathed. ‘Now!’
He was over her before the words were out, finding the place that was clamouring for him, claiming it with a swift movement that sent her into a frenzy of pleasure.
This was unlike anything that had happened to her before. No man had ever filled her so completely, while still leaving her with a feeling of freedom. She thrust back against him, needing more of him, demanding everything, receiving it again and again.
When it was over she held him tightly, as though needing him for safety in this new world that had opened. But then she realised that there was no safety, for either of them. That was the glory of it.
He raised his head and there was a kind of bafflement in his eyes.
‘You-’ he said softly, ‘you-’
‘I know,’ she whispered. ‘It’s the same with me.’
It was as though her words had touched a spring within him, releasing something that brought him peace. He laid his head down on her again, and in a moment he was asleep.
Petra didn’t sleep at once. Instead, she lay savouring her joy and triumph, kissing him tenderly, silently promising him everything. Only gradually did she slip away into the happy darkness.
They spent most of the next day in bed, not making love, but cuddling, talking, then cuddling some more in a way that would have been impossible only a short time ago. His body, so perfectly formed and skilled for giving her sexual pleasure, was mysteriously also formed for things cosy, domestic and comforting. It was a mystery, and one she would enjoy solving later.
‘I don’t know what I’d have done if I’d lost you,’ he murmured as they lay curled against each other. ‘It felt like being in prison, except that somehow you had the key, and you could help me break out.’
‘You kept coming to the edge of escape,’ she remembered, ‘but then you’d back off again and slam the door.’
‘I lost my nerve,’ he said with self-contempt. ‘I wasn’t sure if I could manage, so I’d retreat and lock the doors again. But I couldn’t stay in there, knowing you were outside, calling to me that the world was a wonderful place. You saved me the first time; I knew you could save me again.’
