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‘I receive no special treatment in Stellamaris—I should be offended if anyone tried to make a fuss of me.’
‘Even me?’
‘For you, I might make an exception.’
She melted into him as he dragged her close to kiss her deeply again. He smelled so good, warm, clean man, woody aftershave, and there was a fresh aroma rising from all the juicy greenery they had pounded. ‘You should fasten your jeans before we leave,’ she reminded him, smiling against his mouth.
‘And have buttons attached to my shirt by tailor’s thread in future.’
Lisa laughed as she smoothed down the creases in her own crushed dress. ‘I’d only rip a hole in the fabric.’
Grabbing hold of her hand, he drew her towards the door.
She hung back. ‘Tino, please…there’s something I really want to ask you about.’
‘Anything—but ask me later at the taverna after we’ve eaten. You’ve given me quite an appetite.’
But she couldn’t ask him at the taverna—she couldn’t break the mood. How could she bring up the subject of his nightmare when they were surrounded by dozens of people—most of whom he seemed to know? The brightly lit taverna was full, and the steady thrum of the bouzouki band contributed to a sensuous ambience. With all the children safely in bed with older guardians watching them, everyone was intent on wringing out the last bit of enjoyment from the night.
The tables were all draped with blue and white tablecloths that reached down almost to the floor. The tables had been set at a decent distance apart, allowing for privacy amidst the party atmosphere, and Lisa was soon as relaxed as everyone else, but she couldn’t help wishing life could be less complicated.
‘Why are you sighing?’
She looked up to find Tino’s gaze locked onto her face. ‘Because I’m so happy.’
‘I’m not sure that was a happy sigh.’
‘Your senses must be highly developed if you can analyse a sigh over all this noise.’
‘You have no idea just how highly developed they are.’
He frightened her with his perception; he excited her too…and as he continued to stare at her she found that, instead of curbing her hunger, the recent sex with him had only made her want him more.
‘And now I do know what you’re thinking,’ he assured her, starting to stroke her leg beneath the tablecloth.
‘Tino, no! You can’t,’ Lisa gasped, realising what he meant to do as his hand travelled steadily up her thigh. ‘Not in here.’
‘There’s nothing I can’t do,’ he told her confidently. ‘Just slide to the edge of your chair, and you’ll find out.’
With his powerful calf wrapped around her own, he easily nudged her thighs apart. Lisa could hardly believe what he was intent on doing to her. ‘Tino, you really can’t.’ But his hand was already home, and his fingers had started working rhythmically, and persuasively.
When a sharp cry escaped her throat, he passed a napkin across the table to her with his free hand. ‘I promised you an erotic adventure—bury your face in that if you don’t want to draw attention to yourself.’
Peeping over the bunched-up linen square, Lisa found the apparent unconcern on Tino’s face only aroused her all the more. He was staring out across the dance floor as if he were the most innocent man in the room, while she knew he was savouring every moment. But not half as much as she was, she realized, sliding to the very edge of her chair. ‘You’ll pay for this,’ she promised him huskily.
‘I certainly hope so. Now, concentrate. You’re on another fixed time slot—the coffee will come round soon.’
After coffee Lisa da
nced with him, to slow, sensuous music that wrapped them both in a seductive cocoon. With her eyes closed she relished the feel of his strong, protective body pressing against hers.
‘I think it’s time to go,’ Tino murmured at last, drawing her by the hand from the dance floor.
He was right, Lisa realized. They should go before their dancing caused comment. But as they were about to walk out of the taverna one of the other men caught hold of Tino’s sleeve. Smiling broadly, the man rasped a few words to him in Greek.
Turning to her, Tino apologised. ‘The men are about to dance the Kalamatianos. They have asked me to join them. It would be an insult to my friends if I refuse.’
Once again she was to be denied the chance to speak to him, Lisa realised with frustration, but, like their insatiable passion for each other, it would have to wait. She returned to her seat as Tino joined the other men on the dance floor.
