LITMIR.BIZ

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a button and spoke in the local language to the car in front. A few moments later he slowed the car, took a sharp intersection and headed up into the mountains again through jungle that got more and more dense as they climbed.

      ‘We are going to a lake that occupies an extinct volcanic crater,’ he told her. ‘The islanders believe it is the home of a particularly beautiful but extremely dangerous fairy, who has been known to amuse herself by seducing young men and then sending them away. They become afflicted with love for her, and drown as they try to swim back to her arms.’

      Lexie repressed an odd little shiver to ask lightly, ‘And does this happen often?’

      He sent her an amused glance. ‘Not within living memory, but that may be because most young men are careful not to go there until they are married. She isn’t interested in married men, apparently.’

      ‘You’re not afraid?’ she asked with a teasing smile, then wished she hadn’t.

      His response was sardonic. ‘Not a bit,’ he said coolly. ‘I have yet to meet a woman I’d drown for.’

      Her heart clamped tight. He was warning her off—why?

      Last night when he’d stopped their lovemaking she’d been impressed because she’d thought it meant he didn’t want just sex from her. Had she misread his consideration?

      Perhaps his blunt statement of a moment ago was intended to convey that he didn’t plan a serious relationship.

      Was there a sophisticated way to tell him flatly that she wasn’t foolish enough—even in her dreams—to have hoped for that…?

      No, she thought, mentally cringeing. But he knew that she wanted him. Last night her wild response to his kisses had shocked her into planning a retreat, but that had been cowardly. Rafiq was the first man she’d ever wanted—sexy as hell, considerate, intelligent, compelling and trustworthy.

      Who better to be her first lover?

      And Lexie made a decision—a reckless, possibly even dangerous decision—one she knew might well cause her heartbreak.

      But she also knew that, no matter the grief, she’d never regret making it. Just once in her life she’d throw away caution and follow her desires.

      It would be worth it, she thought, controlling the breath that came too rapidly. She turned her head, pretending to be contemplating the scenery, and knew that next time they kissed she’d— Well, she thought nervously, she’d let him realise that she didn’t need to be cosseted. She was a free and independent woman, and she wanted him.

      The crater lake was almost round, surrounded by thick jungle, and on one side a semi-circle of cliffs. In spite of the sunlight a faint mist hovered over it, and the only sound was bird song, faint and eerily distant.

      ‘I can see why the legend grew up,’ Lexie said, glancing around. ‘It’s a very potent place. Is the water still hot?’

      ‘No, but that mist is nearly always there.’ He looked down at her, ignoring the security car that had preceded them, and the bodyguard standing with his back turned as he swept the jungle with binoculars. ‘I imagine crater lakes are not unusual in New Zealand.’

      ‘There’s a dormant volcanic field not far from where I live, and one of the extinct volcanoes has a crater lake, with eels as thick as your arm in it.’ She gave a lopsided smile. ‘It’s an evocative place too, but that might be because by the time people have climbed its very steep sides they’re exhausted!’

      He laughed and took her elbow, steering her back to the car. ‘We must go now. I have a meeting I can’t miss tonight.’

      They had nearly reached the castle when he said casually, ‘I won’t be in for dinner tonight, but tomorrow night I know of a charming little restaurant where we can eat, if you’d like to go. The chef is a genius.’

      Hiding her disappointment, she told him, ‘That would be lovely, thank you.’

      Safely up in her room, she sighed, hugged herself, and went into the opulent bathroom to run a shower. She should, she thought, make it a cold one; for a few seconds she’d wondered whether there was any chance that Rafiq was courting her—to use an old-fashioned term.

      Fortunately common sense soon banished that hope. But he couldn’t fake the hunger he felt. That was genuine.

      Excitement burned in the pit of her stomach, completely different from the way she’d felt when she’d realised Felipe was interested in her. She’d been flattered, and she’d enjoyed his company, had found him attractive, but it now seemed very pallid and ordinary compared to the way Rafiq affected her.

      As she dried herself down she wondered what Felipe was doing. Since the accident she’d thought very little about him—when she was with Rafiq she didn’t have room in her mind for anyone else.

      And she was still angry with Felipe for thinking he could railroad her into sleeping with him.

      Still, perhaps she should try to contact him, to tell him finally that it was over. But then he’d made no attempt to get in touch with her, and since he’d only planned to stay a couple of days, he might even have left Moraze. She’d probably never see him again, a thought that brought an unexpected sense of relief and freedom.

      And as she ate her solitary dinner she recalled the warning Rafiq had delivered while they were at the perilous pool.

      ‘I have yet to meet a woman I’d drown for…’

      Odd how much that hurt.

      Get used to it, she thought staunchly, because she wasn’t going to play the coward’s role again and change her mind.

      Lexie spent the next morning in luxurious laziness with a couple of books Rafiq had sent up to her room via the maid, with a brief note apologising for his absence. One was a novel written by a famous author from Moraze, the other a beautifully produced guide to the island with fabulous photographs and a very entertaining history. She then tired herself by swimming lengths in the pool, and napped in the heat of the day, determined to be alert that night and prove that she was fully recovered from the very minor results of the accident.

      For dinner she wore a sleek resort dress in a subdued gold that brought out the lights in her hair. She didn’t look too bad at all, she decided, adjusting the neckline. The skirt fell to her ankles, and the sash belt clung to her narrow waist.

      Tiny hot shivers tightened every nerve in her body. Later she and Rafiq would be alone together. Perhaps they’d kiss, and she’d know once more that aching, bittersweet delight in his arms.

      And this time, instead of following his lead, she’d let him know—subtly, she hoped—that she was ready for the next step.

      Whatever that might be…

      Rafiq drove them to the restaurant in an unmarked car. By mutual consent they kept the conversation light, speaking mostly of the island and its beauty. A few miles inland they came to a large building throbbing with lights, and almost jumping with music. Lexie was glad when they passed it by.

      He said, ‘Since the sugar industry was rationalised years ago, some of the old mills have been transformed into places like this where the locals can get together to sing and dance and play music. They’re now being discovered by tourists, but I thought that you might prefer somewhere smaller and more intimate. You agree?’

      It was a good sign that he’d read her so accurately, though right this minute she’d probably have agreed if he’d told her the moon was falling into the sea. Sedately she said, ‘It sounds perfect.’

      The rest of the short journey was made in silence, although a vibrant awareness hummed between them as Rafiq turned the car down a narrow road that led back towards the coast again. Palms swayed languidly above, and the salty tang of the sea mingled with the flower perfumes that saturated these coastal lowlands. Lexie kept her eyes on the white line of the reef around a headland that jutted like a giant castle, gaunt against the star-dazzled sky.

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