bed, his body arched above her in the act of love.
She even found herself wondering what kind of a lover he would be.
Demanding or patient? Fierce or gentle? Or, maybe, all of them, she
thought, and was horrified to recognise her own mounting excitement.
This was what he'd sensed, of course, from that first moment of their
meeting. This was why he could take his time with her, not touching or
kissing, because it would simply intensify the yearning. Make her want him
more with every passing moment.
Until, inevitably, she could bear no more, and turned to him, offering herself.
Zoe shivered. It can't matter, she told herself desperately. He can't matter. I mustn't al ow this to happen.
Yet already it seemed to be beyond her control, and she knew it.
Knew, too, that wherever Andreas had spent the night, he would be waiting
for her outside the hotel in the morning, as he'd promised.
In just a few hours from now, she thought, staring blindly at the starlit sea.
And I'l go with him this time—this one last time. Then, never again.
Because it's too dangerous, and I can't afford to take that kind of risk.
And found, suddenly, the lonely, bitter taste of tears in her throat.
CHAPTER SIX
It took for ever next morning to decide what to wear. Zoe found herself trying
and discarding almost every piece of clothing she'd brought with her.
Eventually, she picked what she would have worn had she been spending
the day on her own—as, of course, she stil might be, she swiftly reminded
herself—putting on her blue bikini topped by a pair of white cut-off trousers,
and a pretty overshirt in shades of blue and gold.
Her hair she wore deliberately pul ed back from her face, and confined at the
nape of her neck with a rubber band.
A glance at her watch told her it was nine-thirty, and she still had time for
breakfast. Maybe food would calm the nervous churnings in her stomach,
although she doubted it. But at least it would give her an occupation. Stop
her prowling up and down her room, endlessly packing and repacking her
canvas bag.
Sherry was quick and efficient with the rol s and coffee, but Zoe couldn't
help noticing that she seemed to lack her usual ebul ience.
'Hangover?' she teased as she poured herself some orange juice.
'I didn't have time to get one,' Sherry said, putting down smal pots of cherry
jam and honey.
'It was a terrific night,' Zoe agreed. 'But how do you stand the pace?'
'Each Sunday, I ask myself the same thing,' Sherry said wryly. She forced a
shadow of her normal grin. 'Ignore me. I'm suffering from a touch of the
ex-pats this morning.'
'Then you don't recommend life on Thania?'
'On the contrary, it's wonderful—with the right person.' Sherry said with bite.
'Ouch.' Zoe gave her a surprised look. 'What's Stavros done to upset you?'
'A slight difference of opinion, that's al .' Sherry paused. 'So what have you
got planned for today?'
'I'm doing the island tour,' Zoe said. She hesitated. 'Actual y, with
Andreas—the man I was dancing with last night.'
'I noticed.' There was an odd note in Sherry's voice. 'How did you two
happen to meet?'
'I told you—he's the gardener at the Vil a Danaë.' Zoe spread honey on a rol
and took a bite. 'But judging by the way everyone jumps when he's around, I
think he runs a protection racket on the side.'
Sherry's laugh rang hol ow. 'Did he tel you his other name?'
'Stephanos,' Zoe said, stirring her coffee. 'Andreas Stephanos. But you must
know him, surely?'
'I've seen him around, but he doesn't often come to our dance nights. I think
his boss keeps him too busy.' Sherry hesitated. 'And you're seeing him
today?'
'Yes.' Zoe nodded. She gave Sherry a frowning look. 'Don't you approve?'
'It's real y none of my business.' There was constraint in Sherry's voice.
'Just—look after yourself, that's al .'
Zoe smiled at her. 'I intend to,' she said. 'You real y don't have to worry.'
'It's just that I'm not sure if you know what you're
She even found herself wondering what kind of a lover he would be.
Demanding or patient? Fierce or gentle? Or, maybe, all of them, she
thought, and was horrified to recognise her own mounting excitement.
This was what he'd sensed, of course, from that first moment of their
meeting. This was why he could take his time with her, not touching or
kissing, because it would simply intensify the yearning. Make her want him
more with every passing moment.
Until, inevitably, she could bear no more, and turned to him, offering herself.
Zoe shivered. It can't matter, she told herself desperately. He can't matter. I mustn't al ow this to happen.
Yet already it seemed to be beyond her control, and she knew it.
Knew, too, that wherever Andreas had spent the night, he would be waiting
for her outside the hotel in the morning, as he'd promised.
In just a few hours from now, she thought, staring blindly at the starlit sea.
And I'l go with him this time—this one last time. Then, never again.
Because it's too dangerous, and I can't afford to take that kind of risk.
And found, suddenly, the lonely, bitter taste of tears in her throat.
CHAPTER SIX
It took for ever next morning to decide what to wear. Zoe found herself trying
and discarding almost every piece of clothing she'd brought with her.
Eventually, she picked what she would have worn had she been spending
the day on her own—as, of course, she stil might be, she swiftly reminded
herself—putting on her blue bikini topped by a pair of white cut-off trousers,
and a pretty overshirt in shades of blue and gold.
Her hair she wore deliberately pul ed back from her face, and confined at the
nape of her neck with a rubber band.
A glance at her watch told her it was nine-thirty, and she still had time for
breakfast. Maybe food would calm the nervous churnings in her stomach,
although she doubted it. But at least it would give her an occupation. Stop
her prowling up and down her room, endlessly packing and repacking her
canvas bag.
Sherry was quick and efficient with the rol s and coffee, but Zoe couldn't
help noticing that she seemed to lack her usual ebul ience.
'Hangover?' she teased as she poured herself some orange juice.
'I didn't have time to get one,' Sherry said, putting down smal pots of cherry
jam and honey.
'It was a terrific night,' Zoe agreed. 'But how do you stand the pace?'
'Each Sunday, I ask myself the same thing,' Sherry said wryly. She forced a
shadow of her normal grin. 'Ignore me. I'm suffering from a touch of the
ex-pats this morning.'
'Then you don't recommend life on Thania?'
'On the contrary, it's wonderful—with the right person.' Sherry said with bite.
'Ouch.' Zoe gave her a surprised look. 'What's Stavros done to upset you?'
'A slight difference of opinion, that's al .' Sherry paused. 'So what have you
got planned for today?'
'I'm doing the island tour,' Zoe said. She hesitated. 'Actual y, with
Andreas—the man I was dancing with last night.'
'I noticed.' There was an odd note in Sherry's voice. 'How did you two
happen to meet?'
'I told you—he's the gardener at the Vil a Danaë.' Zoe spread honey on a rol
and took a bite. 'But judging by the way everyone jumps when he's around, I
think he runs a protection racket on the side.'
Sherry's laugh rang hol ow. 'Did he tel you his other name?'
'Stephanos,' Zoe said, stirring her coffee. 'Andreas Stephanos. But you must
know him, surely?'
'I've seen him around, but he doesn't often come to our dance nights. I think
his boss keeps him too busy.' Sherry hesitated. 'And you're seeing him
today?'
'Yes.' Zoe nodded. She gave Sherry a frowning look. 'Don't you approve?'
'It's real y none of my business.' There was constraint in Sherry's voice.
'Just—look after yourself, that's al .'
Zoe smiled at her. 'I intend to,' she said. 'You real y don't have to worry.'
'It's just that I'm not sure if you know what you're
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