The Power of the Legendary Greek - By Catherine George Page 0,51
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?’