Isobel put her phone on the bedside table, limp with relief now it was all over and Luke was safe. But she was very thoughtful as she settled into the pillows. If Luke intended to spend every moment possible with her before she left, did he mean in as well as out of bed? And, if so, what would Eleni and Spiro think of the arrangement? Isobel bit her lip. She had become so fond of the couple the thought of losing their respect was painful. She hugged a pillow to her chest fiercely. If she’d known beforehand that she’d be in danger of falling madly in love during her holiday she would have steered clear of these magical Greek islands. The holiday had been intended as a recovery programme, both from working overtime for weeks and from the hateful episode with Gavin. But now she would need all the hard work she could get once she was home to help her recover from her Greek odyssey. And from Luke. She sighed. If she wasn’t her sparkling self for a while, at least Jo would assume that her hair-raising adventures were the reason. Whereas the real problem would be that she was pining for the man who’d rescued her from them.
The next day seemed endless. Luke rang twice in snatched moments between meetings, but he was too busy for more than a word or two. And when Alyssa rang later she apologised because the taverna was short-staffed and she had to work all day rather than drive up to the Villa Medusa as she’d intended. To occupy herself, Isobel finished the drawing of Luke for Eleni and Spiro, ate the lunch put in front of her and in between took walks in the garden with her stick at regular intervals to exercise her ankle and pass the time until Luke got back. After that, her time with him would be so brief she was determined to make the most of every minute—once he tore himself away from his empire to fly back to Chyros.
When Eleni apologised because dinner would be served an hour later that evening Isobel assured her it was fine with her and went carefully up the stairs, supporting herself on the carved banister rail as she went. In preparation for Luke’s return tomorrow she would use the hour for the kind of top-to-toe beauty treatment she rarely had time, or inclination, for at home.
Isobel was sitting on the veranda as the sun set, waving her newly painted toes around to dry the polish, when her heart leapt at the sound she hadn’t been expecting until the next day. Tense with excitement, she leaned out over the balcony rail as Luke’s helicopter circled round to land, then forced herself to wait for him to come to her. She went barefoot into the bedroom, listening to the sound of greetings downstairs as Luke brought Spiro up to date, her pulse racing in time with his footsteps as Luke ran upstairs, and at last he was there in the doorway, arms outstretched. She flew into them and he buried his face in the fragrant mass of her newly washed hair, holding her close against his thudding heart.
Luke raised his head at last, smiling down into her eyes. ‘Kalispera, Isobel.’
‘Hi,’ she said, smiling radiantly. ‘You forgot to tell me you were coming home today.’
‘I did not forget. I wanted to surprise you.’
She wagged a finger. ‘But you let Spiro know, because Eleni asked to put dinner later tonight. She never said a word.’
‘On my orders,’ Luke said, and put her away from him to look down into her eyes. ‘I wanted to see your face when I arrived, and now I have seen it and know you are glad to see me I want to kiss you very badly. But if I do I might not stop, and I need time to make myself worthy of my beautiful dinner companion.’
‘Thank you, kind sir. I’ll wait for you on the terrace.’
‘Wait up here and I shall carry you down,’ he said promptly, but she shook her head.
‘With care, I can manage without my crutch now if I go barefoot and carry these to put on downstairs.’ Isobel grinned at him as she picked up her sandals. ‘Don’t be long. I’m hungry.’
Isobel had felt no enthusiasm for dining alone, but with Luke for such unexpected company she did full justice to the celebration meal Eleni and Spiro took such pleasure in serving them, both of them blazingly happy now that the man they loved like a son had faced down his enemies and returned to them safely.
At intervals Luke left the table to answer the phone to well wishers who had seen the news, among them Alyssa Nicolaides, who apologised for disturbing him but had been instructed to convey her parents’ relief, along with hers, that he had survived yet another dangerous encounter unscathed.
‘The gods must be watching over you, Lukas mou. Give my love to Isobel,’ Alyssa added sweetly as she said goodbye.
‘That was Alyssa,’ said Luke as he resumed his place at the table. ‘She sent you her love. I shall leave all other calls to the machine. If there is anything urgent from Andres he will use my private line.’ He yawned hugely. ‘Forgive me, Isobel, I had very little sleep last night.’
‘I’m not surprised.’ She abandoned the pomegranate she’d been toying with. ‘Do you want to go to bed?’
Luke jumped up to pull out her chair. ‘Zeus, yes, I do. I will tell Spiro he can lock up.’
‘Thank Eleni for a wonderful dinner, Luke, but don’t be long,’ said Isobel, then flushed hectically at the look her gave her.
As Luke strode off towards the kitchen Isobel slipped off the sandals and began her usual careful ascent of the stairs but, before she was even halfway up, he caught up with her and carried her the rest of the way and along the landing to her room. Once inside, he kicked the door shut and laid her on the bed, then cast himself down beside her and took her in his arms, his face buried against her neck.
‘Last night,’ he said, his breath hot against her skin, ‘I thought of this when I was watching that alley, waiting to seize the man who had kidnapped you.’
‘I thought of it every minute of the day,’ she admitted huskily. ‘Then you rang me to say you were safe, and I could breathe again.’
Luke raised his head to look in her eyes. ‘You cared that much?’
‘Yes.’ She wriggled closer. ‘Now tell me about it again. Was it a shock to learn the Karras sisters were behind the vendetta?’
‘No. After their behaviour towards me at Melina’s funeral it was no surprise at all.’ Luke kissed her with sudden heat. ‘Now forget them, agapi mou, and concentrate on me.’
Isobel woke alone the next morning and had showered and dressed before Luke came to find her.
‘Kalimera,’ he said, taking her in his arms.
‘Good morning.’ She smiled up at him. ‘How are you today?’
‘Now there is no longer danger to you, I feel as though a great weight has rolled from my shoulders, Isobel. I also feel hungry,’ he added, and kissed her. ‘For breakfast also, you understand. And while we eat you shall tell me what you would like to do today.’
They had reached the coffee stage when Isobel made her request. ‘I’d love a swim.’ She laid a hand on his, smiling at him cajolingly. ‘You’re here now, so you can hardly refuse me a second time.’
Luke raised the hand to his lips. ‘Of course you can swim. Milos is not here today so this is a good time.’
Isobel eyed him narrowly. ‘Is Milos the reason why you wouldn’t let me use the pool before?’
‘Yes,’ he said bluntly. ‘I had seen what you wear to swim, remember.’
‘My bikini is perfectly respectable,’ she retorted.
He snorted. ‘When I first saw you on my beach I thought you were naked.’
‘Only because the bikini’s pink—at least it was. ’She made a face. ‘Not that I’ll ever wear it again.’
After breakfast they went upstairs together, Luke’s arm in support after an argument about carrying her.
‘Give me ten minutes,’ she said at her bedroom door, then hurried to change into a sleek gentian-blue swimsuit; her only alternative to the bikini. Isobel eyed the various bruises which had now matured into multicoloured glory, then shrugged philosophically. Luke had seen them all before. She put a filmy tunic on top, collected a bath towel and opened the door to Luke. ‘That was a lot less than ten minutes.’
‘Why waste time apart?’ said Luke and bent to pick her up, but Is
obel shook her head.
‘If you just hold my hand I’ll manage the stairs perfectly well.’
‘No matter. I need to hold you in my arms. Indulge me, ne?’
Luke set her down on one of the reclining chairs at the pool’s edge, then took off the T-shirt and jeans he was wearing over his swimming gear. ‘Shall I help you take off this pretty thing?’ he asked, eyeing the tunic.
‘That I can do myself!’ She slipped the garment over her head and stood up unaided.
His eyes narrowed to a hot gleam as they moved over her. ‘That is even more alluring than the bikini!’
‘I thought you’d be pleased that I’m more covered up,’ she said primly, and he laughed and scooped her up to run along the pool, ignoring her frantic protests as he jumped in the water with her.
Spluttering and laughing as she surfaced, Isobel pushed him away, then took off down the pool in the stylish crawl which had won races in school. But Luke followed her with the grace and power she’d so much admired from her balcony and passed her easily, thrusting his wet curls back as he waited at the end for her. She gave him a challenging grin as she did a racing turn and swam off again, and with a shout he gave chase to swim beside her for a few lengths. When Isobel called it quits he hoisted himself out of the pool and lifted her out to wrap her in a towel.
‘You are like a mermaid in the water, Isobel. Do you want to go in, or will you wait for me while I finish my swim?’
‘I’ll sit here in the sun for a minute or two,’ she panted. ‘I’m out of condition. I haven’t done this for a while. Besides, I want to watch you.’
Luke gave her a quick kiss and dived into the pool. Isobel watched, transfixed, for once wishing she had a camera to preserve the moment as he powered through the water for several lengths of the pool. At last he swung himself up beside her, breathing hard.
‘I think you should go in now, Isobel.’ He startled her by casually stripping off to towel himself down before pulling on his jeans. He handed the filmy tunic over and bent to pick her up.
‘You can’t feel like carrying me after all that exercise,’ she said severely, but Luke merely chuckled and carried on through the hall, not even out of breath, she saw, impressed, as Eleni came hurrying to offer coffee. He nodded and gave instructions in her own language as he carried on up the stairs.
‘I said to give you time to dress,’ said Luke as he set Isobel down in the bedroom. He frowned suddenly, his eyes dark as they lingered on her bruises as she discarded the towel. ‘I was too dazzled by your swimsuit to see those by the pool—and too desperate to make love to you last night,’ he said, and dropped to his knees to set his lips to the marks. ‘The man did that?’ he demanded harshly.
‘No. Wriggling out through the hut window did most of the damage.’ Isobel brushed a hand over his wet curls. ‘I must have a shower.’
He stood up to pull her close. ‘I wish we were alone in the house,’ he whispered.
She felt guilty for secretly agreeing. ‘But we’re not, and I’d love some coffee.’
Isobel rushed through her shower, then towelled her hair, scrunched her fingers through it and left it to do its own thing while she got dressed again. Glowing after her swim, she collected her walking stick, determined to make it downstairs under her own steam. She was halfway there when Luke came out of his study to catch her in the act.
‘You see?’ she said defiantly and, with her hand on the intricate lacework of the carved banister, limped carefully down the last few stairs.
‘You are a very determined woman,’ he said, laughing, and, before she could prevent him, picked her up again. ‘But I am a very determined man. You must take care until your ankle is bandaged again,’ he informed her as he took her back to the reclining chairs. He sat down beside her and took her hand. ‘So how do you really feel, hriso mou?’
Isobel gave him a straight look. ‘Do you mean after my swim, or after making love with you last night?’
He frowned. ‘I meant the last part. Because in my desire to celebrate life I think I was too demanding, ne? Did I hurt you?’
‘No.’ She flushed a little. ‘I felt the same urge to celebrate, Luke.’ She eyed him uneasily. ‘Do you regret what happened between us?’
He raised the hand and pressed a kiss into her palm. ‘How could I regret something so sublime, kardia mou?’
‘But you were gone this morning.’
‘For a very good reason. I woke up wanting to make love to you again, but exerted much self-control and let you sleep. Also, I thought you might not like Eleni to find me in your bed.’
‘Very true,’ she said with feeling, and shot a troubled look at him. ‘Luke, will she think less of me for sleeping with you?’
‘No,’ he said emphatically. ‘I told her—also Spiro—that I shall keep you with me night and day until you leave, to keep you safe. They agreed with great fervour. Spiro cannot forget the horror they felt the night you were stolen.’ Luke smiled. ‘They believe that fate sent such a lovely young lady to me.’
‘Oh, dear,’ said Isobel, mopping her eyes with a napkin. ‘That’s made me cry again. You won’t believe this, but normally I hardly ever cry.’
‘There is no sin in showing emotion, Isobel.’ His eyes kindled. ‘As you did in my arms last night. So dry your eyes, agapi mou. We must go down to Dr Riga now and ask him to strap your ankle.’
Isobel pulled a face. ‘Is my hair a mess? I didn’t do much to it after I washed it.’
‘Those wild curls are very sexy. Leave them like that.’ He handed her the stick. ‘Be careful. I have worked hard—and braved much danger—to keep you safe.’
‘I did some of the heavy lifting myself by getting out of that hut on the island,’ she reminded him, laughing, then sobered suddenly. ‘All the time I was praying for a miracle, and it happened. You came, Luke.’
‘I did some praying myself on that boat trip,’ he said grimly, and snatched her back into his arms to give her a hard, fleeting kiss. ‘When I saw your hair as we came in to land I knew my prayers were answered.’
The trip to the clinic was made without incident and, after greetings with Dr Riga and the thorough check-up he insisted on, Isobel’s ankle was strapped up and she was able to walk normally as she left, feeling secure in yellow espadrilles.
‘I shall miss carrying you everywhere,’ he said as he lifted her into the Cherokee.
So would she, Isobel admitted secretly. ‘And I appreciated it,’ she assured him, ‘but it’s good to feel independent again.’
‘How you value your independence! But do not imagine you can go climbing down to any beaches,’ he warned.
She pulled a face. ‘No hardship there. I’ve rather lost my enthusiasm for beaches just now.’
‘Good. Keep to peaceful strolls in the garden. When we get back I must ring Andres, and you can drink the tea Eleni is certain to have waiting for you. Ah,’ he said, stopping the car. ‘Alyssa is waving us down.’
Alyssa ran to lean in at the open window. ‘Kalispera.’ She grinned at Luke. ‘Just can’t keep out of trouble, can you!’
‘I do not seek it,’ he assured her.
‘You never try to avoid it either.’ Alyssa smiled in apology at Isobel. ‘Sorry I couldn’t come up last night. Did you know what was going on?’
‘Yes, I did.’ Isobel exchanged a look with Luke. ‘It was a huge relief to hear it was all over.’
‘Come down to the taverna for a meal tonight and celebrate. My parents would love to see you both. Give Eleni the night off, Luke,’ she coaxed.
He glanced at Isobel. ‘Would you like that?’
With Alyssa waiting, there was only one answer Isobel felt she could make. ‘I would, yes.’
‘Are you sure about this?’ said Luke as they drove off. ‘I was hoping to have you all to myself this evening.’
‘We needn’t stay long,’ she consoled him, and smiled up at him as she stroked a finger along his muscular thigh. ‘We can go to bed early when we get home.
’
As soon as the car stopped, both Eleni and Spiro hurried to hear the doctor’s verdict.
‘I hope you weren’t cooking anything special tonight, Eleni,’ said Isobel anxiously. ‘Alyssa is keen for us to dine at the taverna.’
Eleni shook her head, smiling, and led Isobel indoors to sit on a chair at the veranda table. ‘I not even shop yet. Spiro take me now.’
Isobel poured herself a cup of tea as Eleni hurried off, but she’d managed only a sip before Luke bent over her. ‘How fast can you drink that?’
‘Why?’
He smiled persuasively as the car started up outside. ‘We shall be alone in the house for hours, and you look tired. You need a rest. So do I.’
‘In that case, pour my tea on a flower bed or wherever. I’m hot, anyway.’
‘So am I, hriso mou,’ he said huskily, and picked her up.
‘I can walk now,’ she protested, but he shook his head and hurried up the stairs with her.
‘Too slow. Why waste time?’
There was so little of it before she left, Isobel was in full agreement as Luke carried her into her cool, airy bedroom and immediately began undressing her.
‘You’re in a big hurry,’ she protested breathlessly as he flung their garments in all directions.
‘Only over this part,’ he said, and knelt naked on the bed to lean over her, his eyes gleaming down into hers. ‘I promise to love you as slowly as possible.’
The words spoken in that husky, irresistible voice, coupled with the knowledge that they were alone in the big house in the hot languor of the afternoon, created an aphrodisiac effect new to Isobel. As with so many other things since her arrival on Chyros.
‘It’s so quiet, we could be alone in the world,’ she whispered, quivering at the touch of skilled, inciting hands.
‘Just the two of us, hriso mou, like Adam and Eve. But with no serpents in our paradise any more.’ He caressed her breasts, kissing her softly and nibbling gently on her lower lip, then as her lips parted his kisses became fierce and his hands more urgent and she threaded her fingers through his hair, holding him closer, responding with heat and fire which brought him to full, triumphant arousal. At last, when they were both trembling with the desperation to mate, he reared up over her, his face stern with the desire he was trying to hold in check.
The Power of the Legendary Greek Page 13
