All The Fire Page 12

  ‘Let me do that!’ exclaimed Dimitri, at once. He looked straight at Joanne. ‘Collect your swimsuit and wait for me here. I shan’t be long.’

  Joanne knew it was no good protesting, and besides, she had no wish to have more words with Andrea right now, so she nodded and preceded them into the house.

  In her room, she hastily stripped off her clothes and put on the only swimsuit she possessed. It was a one-piece suit, made of white towelling, that accentuated the slight tan she had already acquired. She thrust a towel and her underwear into a beach bag and then slipped on a sleeveless blouse and a pair of orange shorts, hiding her swimsuit beneath.

  When she returned to the patio she found Dimitri already there, waiting for her. He was alone, and his eyes narrowed as they took in the charming picture she made. None of her clothes were expensive or sophisticated, but she was tall enough and slim enough to always appear suitably dressed. The short shorts drew attention to the length of her legs, while her hair drawn back severely from her face revealed the classical bone structure of her features.

  ‘Ready?’ he asked, and she nodded.

  ‘Good. Come along. The boat’s down here. I pulled it up the beach.’

  ‘So that was how you arrived so silently,’ exclaimed Joanne, unable to prevent the words.

  ‘Correct.’ Dimitri was brief, striding ahead of her along the beach. Joanne followed rather more slowly, pondering the abruptness of his manner. Until this moment she had anticipated the day as being a repetition of yesterday, but now she was not so sure. There was an air of detachment about him which had not been evident while they were on the patio with her father but which now engulfed her in its chill. Consequently, she was almost diffident when she reached the boat which was pulled high above the waterline. She glanced at Dimitri curiously, doubtful of his intentions, and then shrugged resignedly. Certainly he was not a man about whom one should attempt to speculate.

  Dimitri thrust the motor-boat down the beach until its keel was afloat and then indicated that Joanne should get aboard. She did so awkwardly, glad that she was wearing the shorts instead of a skirt. She climbed forward on to the engine housing in the bow and stretched out on her stomach. Dimitri swung himself aboard with ease and started the motor. The craft came to life, surging forward through the pale green waters that fringed the beach. Joanne leaned over the side, trailing her hand in the coolness, marvelling at the clarity. It was good to feel the sense of freedom the boat engendered, and she shaded her eyes and looked back at her companion.

  He was steering the boat out into the ocean, clearing the sometimes tortuous rock formations that formed the headland. The wind ruffled his thick hair and he raked a hand through it carelessly, looking completely relaxed. Joanne looked away again, gazing out to sea, wondering why he had invited her to join him today. Apart from her annoyance at his intervention in her life she was curious that he should risk Andrea’s displeasure just to entertain her. There had to be more to it than that and a ripple of apprehension ran up her spine.

  But she would not allow thoughts of Dimitri to ruin her day. Whether she liked it or not they had several hours to spend in each other’s company and it would be ridiculous to maintain a kind of armed combat when all she really wanted to do was relax and enjoy herself.

  Presently, Dimitri turned the boat so that they were cruising along the coastline of the island and Joanne could see the many tiny bays and coves that broke up the shoreline. Some of the coves were obviously inaccessible by land and she longed to suggest that they might land at one of them and swim. There were other craft visible in the distance and the sails of a yacht caught her eye. Glancing back at Dimitri, she came to a decision and sat up.

  ‘Mr. Kastro. I’d like to say something.’

  Dimitri’s eyes were guarded behind his dark glasses. ‘Oh, yes?’ he queried coolly.

  ‘Yes.’ Joanne ran a tongue over her dry lips. ‘Look - I know I didn’t accept your invitation with any degree of enthusiasm, but as I am here, and as we have to spend the rest of the day in each other’s company, I think perhaps we ought to - well, try and be civilized about it.’

  ‘Suspend hostilities, you mean,’ remarked Dimitri mockingly.

  Joanne coloured. ‘I suppose so.’

  Dimitri’s eyes narrowed. ‘And I suppose you think that’s big of you.’

  Joanne frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Exactly what I say. You think that this pseudo-apology makes up for everything, is that it? Puts the record straight, stiff upper lip, that sort of thing!’

  Joanne stiffened. ‘I was not apologizing,’ she flared hotly. ‘I have nothing to apologize for.’

  ‘Like hell you haven’t!’ he muttered violently, and before she realized what he was doing he had switched off the engines and climbed on to the engine housing beside her, pinning her back against the hot wood of the deck with cruel hands. He knelt astride her supine body and laughed at her abortive attempts to free herself.

  ‘You - you beast!’ she gasped, twisting her head from side to side. ‘I might have realized I couldn’t expect civilized behaviour from - from a savage!’

  ‘Have a care, Miss Nicolas,’ he advised mockingly. ‘Savages know no laws and I once warned you of your own vulnerability!’

  ‘Let me go!’ she demanded, struggling helplessly. ‘You can’t do this to me!’

  He half smiled. ‘You think not?’ He pinned both hands behind her head, securing them with one of his while with the other he stroked the silky curve of her cheek and jawline. Joanne went rigid as he wound a handful of her hair round his fingers and pulled it gently.

  ‘Please,’ she said unsteadily. ‘Let me go!’

  Dimitri studied her flushed face for a long moment, and then he released her abruptly, moving to one side and seating himself with his legs hanging over the side, his back to her.

  His sudden withdrawal had left Joanne in a state of severe nervous tension. Quite ridiculously, she wanted to cry, and she realized it was partially because of that withdrawal. Twice he had seemed to lead her to the brink of a precipice, and twice he had left her feeling strangely unfulfilled. It was a shattering realization, and she hated him for it. With bitter determination she leaned forward and thrust at him hard with her sandalled feet. Her unexpected action caught him unawares as she had hoped it would and he slid off the housing and down into the water. Hastily Joanne scrambled into the steering position searching for the ignition. She didn’t quite know what she intended to do, but she would think of something if only she could get away; as far away from Dimitri Kastro as possible.

  But unfortunately her search didn’t even get underweigh.

  Dimitri was a powerful man and he merely surfaced and climbed strongly back on board, coming towards her dripping wet and furiously angry.

  He muttered something savagely in his own language, and she put out her hands to ward him off. ‘Keep away!’ she cried piteously, ‘it was only retaliation! After all, you started this!’

  ‘I started nothing,’ he contradicted her harshly, climbing down from the housing lithely to where she trembled in the stern, her hands tightly gripping the tiller.

  Joanne panicked. She didn’t know just how violent his temper might be or what reprisals he might take upon her. She only knew she couldn’t stand there, quivering like a leaf, waiting for the inevitable. She glanced about her wildly, seeking some means of escape, and saw the boat had drifted some distance into a cove and only a few hundred feet away a sandy beach beckoned invitingly. Without waiting to shed her blouse or shorts, she kicked off her sandals and dived impulsively over the side. The water struck her as chill momentarily, but it only took a few seconds for her body to adapt itself to the sudden change of temperature and she struck out strongly towards the beach. Almost at once she heard him shouting her name, but she ignored him, intent on reaching the comparative safety of the cove. Somehow she felt less confined on solid ground.

  She was panting with the effort of swimming so energetical
ly when the current first caught at her legs, dragging at her persistently, causing her to take an unexpected mouthful of water that made her splutter for a moment. She came up fighting for breath, trying to estimate just how far from the shore she really was. Although she had been swimming hard the pull of the current was away from the beach towards a rocky promontory that revealed its jagged formation as the water swirled about its base in whirling eddies.

  Joanne felt her first twinge of fear. Although she was a strong swimmer, she was hampered by the blouse and shorts, and she had exerted far too much energy in those first minutes for her to have anything in reserve with which to fight the current. In addition she knew she was beginning to panic inside her and she tried desperately to calm herself into thinking logically. The shore could not be too far away and if she could somehow strike out away from the current she might stand a chance.

  But her legs and arms were tiring, and with every stroke she felt water surging into her nostrils so that she was forced to open her mouth to breathe. She could no longer control her breathing and an awful sense of helplessness engulfed her. The current was stronger now; it had drawn her into its grip and every stroke she made merely helped her to maintain her position but did not improve it.

  She was so absorbed with her own anxieties that she did not hear the throb of the motor-boat’s engine, but when strong arms reached down and hauled her unceremoniously over the side of the boat, dumping her on the floor in a heap, she did not offer any resistance. She merely lay there, prone, heartily relieved not to have to exert any more effort. Her hair was all about her, wet and straggly, darkened by the dampness to a pale yellow. She looked like a drowned creature he had brought up from the depths.

  After a few moments she felt her strength returning very faintly and dragged herself into a sitting position. She looked down at her blouse, clinging damply to her skin, and decided it would look less revealing if she removed it altogether. As she began to unbutton it, she looked up at Dimitri, standing at the helm, steering the craft into the cove where previously she had tried to make her escape. He was ignoring her, concentrating on negotiating the shallows, and presently she felt the grounding of the keel beneath her. Dimitri jumped over the side, and hauled the boat, with her still drooping in it, up the beach. He had shed his shirt, and his tanned chest was bare, but he still wore the shorts that clung to him wetly.

  Joanne slid her arms out of the blouse and squeezing it out she draped it over the bow and then got to her feet, discovering that her legs were definitely shaky. Dimitri was standing on the beach, staring out to sea, and she crawled over the side of the boat and dropped weakly on to the beach. Then she knelt on her knees, looking up at him, and said.

  ‘Thank you for - for rescuing me,’ in a small, tight voice.

  Dimitri looked down at her contemptuously. ‘Don’t mention it,’ he returned bleakly. ‘I didn’t do it for your sake.’

  Joanne bent her head, her hair falling in lank strands about her shoulders. She was suddenly very tired of arguing with him. She didn’t want to fight him any longer. She might just as well accept that he was a law unto himself and no amount of wishing would make it otherwise. Sighing, she looked up at him again. ‘I suppose I should say I’m sorry.’

  Dimitri regarded her indifferently. ‘It’s immaterial what you do, he replied coldly. ‘I think the best thing would be for us to go back to your father’s villa right away.’

  Joanne stared at him. ‘Why?’ Her eyes were wide and hurt.

  He gave an eloquent movement of his shoulders. ‘It’s obvious! he exclaimed. ‘You don’t want my company except on sufferance, and quite honestly, I don’t want yours!’

  Joanne shrank within herself. ‘Then why did you invite me to join you today?’ she cried, unable to prevent herself.

  Dimitri shrugged. ‘I had my reasons,’ he returned. His eyes narrowed. ‘Not least of which was a desire to destroy any illusions you might have concerning your stepmother and myself!’

  ‘Andrea?’ Joanne coloured. ‘What could you say?’

  Dimitri came across to her and wrenched her to her feet, an angry hand about her wrist. ‘I don’t like the way you said that,’ he muttered. ‘Let me disabuse you of any thoughts you might have concerning my conducting an affair with your stepmother!’

  Joanne tried to free her wrist. ‘You mean Andrea was only fooling when she warned me not to say anything to my father?’

  Dimitri’s eyes darkened. ‘She did that!’

  ‘I’m afraid so!’ Joanne was bitter. ‘Your protestations of innocence have come just a little too late!’

  Dimitri stared at her with incensed eyes. ‘You mean you believe I would betray your father’s trust in that fashion?’ He bit out the words harshly.

  Joanne stared back. She didn’t know what to believe. Her resentment on her father’s behalf was rapidly giving way to other sensations aroused by the grip he was keeping on her wrist and by the heat of his body only inches from hers.

  ‘Are you denying it?’ she asked huskily.

  ‘I don’t have to justify myself to you!’ he muttered roughly.

  ‘No, that’s right, you don’t,’ agreed Joanne, succeeding at last in dragging her wrist away from his hand. Rubbing the reddened skin she went on: ‘It’s nothing to do with me, is it?’ She brushed back her hair with trembling fingers. ‘You go ahead and sleep with who you like, as far as I’m concerned!’

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  As soon as the words were uttered Joanne wished she could retract them. There was an awful, withdrawn hauteur about Dimitri now which was far more chilling than any amount of violent words. Without speaking, he turned and strode back to the boat and began to propel it steadily into the water again. Joanne felt terrible. As usual she had let her tongue run away with her. How could she possibly attempt to make judgments when she didn’t know all the facts? Whatever had possessed her to behave so badly? She compressed her lips unhappily and stood watching him, feeling helpless. What could she say in her own defence? And what was more to the point, how could she confront her father after all this? What possible excuse could she offer for this sudden end to their outing? It was obvious she couldn’t tell him the truth.

  She sighed, and moved towards him slowly, wishing she was more experienced in these matters. ‘Dimitri!’ she murmured appealingly. ‘Dimitri, wait! I - I want to apologize!’

  He ignored her completely and she swept back her hair, combing her fingers through it in an effort to restore it to some kind of order. Then she said: ‘Please, Dimitri, listen to me—’

  But by now he had launched the boat and was about to vault into it. Joanne did not stop to think, but acted impulsively, leaping forward and grasping his arm. Unfortunately, her bare foot landed on a sharp pebble just beneath the shallows, and she crumpled up with pain, landing in the water at his feet.

  Immediately Dimitri let go the boat and bending lifted her easily into his arms. ‘In God’s name, what’s wrong now?’ he demanded. ‘Have you been stung or bitten or what?’

  Joanne was fast recovering from the effects of the pain, and she shook her head. ‘None of those things,’ she confessed awkwardly. ‘I -I just landed on a sharp stone, that’s all.’

  Dimitri stared at her impatiently. ‘Is that all?’ he exclaimed, thrusting her unceremoniously on to her feet. ‘Come on. Get in the boat!’

  Joanne remained where she was looking up at him with pleading eyes. ‘Dimitri, I want to say I’m sorry I was so horrible!’ she began, and as he turned to go, she insisted: ‘Don’t be antagonistic! Isn’t that what you’re always telling me?’

  Dimitri glanced back at her. ‘I thought my company was distasteful to you.’

  Joanne coloured. ‘You know that’s not true,’ she murmured self-consciously.

  ‘Do I?’ Dimitri’s black eyebrows ascended. ‘I’ve never had any reason to think otherwise.’

  Joanne looked down at her toes which were obscured by the ripples of the tide. ‘I don’t suppose you l
ike me very much, do you?’

  Dimitri looked down at her bent head for a long moment, and then he put out a lazy hand and allowed his fingers to stroke the creamy skin of her forearm. ‘Do you want me to like you?’ he asked softly.

  Joanne lifted her head. ‘Of course,’ she replied jerkily, nervously sweeping back her hair again.

  Dimitri’s expression changed. ‘You’re crazy, do you know that?’ he muttered tautly. ‘I think that youth, Jimmy, was right. You’re an innocent! You need someone to do your thinking for you!’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  Dimitri shook his head impatiently. ‘You really want to know? All right, I’ll tell you.’ He raked a hand through his hair. ‘Do you want to know another reason why I invited you out today? This should amuse you. I intended to make love to you. Oh, yes—’ as she would have protested, her cheeks burning ‘—yes, that was my intention! And why? you might ask. What is there about you that attracted me so strongly even after you attempted to show me in no uncertain terms what you thought of me?’ His eyes surveyed her startled expression cruelly. ‘I can tell you that, too. You are my friend’s daughter; my friend is dying; he wants you near him! I intended to show you just how feeble was that relationship you have with that boy in England. I intended to make you change your mind about staying here any way I could! Just so long as Matt was happy, I didn’t care about you!’

  Joanne put her hands over her ears. ‘I don’t want to hear any more!’ she cried wildly. ‘Stop it! Stop it!’