‘You think I need it?’ he asked.

‘Definitely.’

He gave her a brief look and lay back beside her so that she could begin work on his chest. He said nothing for a while, just lay still while her fingers worked across his skin, curving to shape the muscles, enjoying herself.

‘How did we get here?’ he murmured.

‘I don’t know. We seem to have missed each other so many times. You’d come just so far towards me, then clam up. Everything would be fine between us, then you’d act as though I was an enemy you had to fight off. That night in Athens-’

‘I know. I’m sorry about that. I hated myself at the time, but I couldn’t stop. You were right to reject me.’

He wasn’t fighting her any more and suddenly there was a vulnerable look on his face that she couldn’t bear to see. He was powerful and belligerent, but this was her territory where her skills were greater than his, and it was dangerously easy to hurt him.

‘We’ve never understood each other well,’ she said gently. ‘Perhaps now we have a chance to do that.’

His brow darkened. ‘Are you sure you want to try? It might be better not to. I’m bad news. I hurt people. I don’t mean to, but often I’m so cut off that I don’t realise I’m doing it.’

‘You wouldn’t be trying to scare me, would you?’

‘Warn you. I doubt I could scare you.’

‘I’m glad you realise that.’

‘So listen to me. Be wise and go now. I’m bad for you.’

‘That’s all right; I’ll just retaliate in kind. When it comes to being bad, you are dealing with an expert.’ He started to reply but she silenced him. ‘No, I talk, you listen. I’ve heard what you have to say and I’m not impressed by it. I’m a match for you any day. If we fight, we fight, and you’ll come off worst.’

‘Oh, will I?’ Now his interest was aroused.

‘You’d better believe it,’ she chuckled. ‘Won’t that be a new experience for you?’

‘A man should be prepared for new experiences. That’s how he gets strong and able to achieve victory every time.’

‘Every time, hmm?’

‘Every time,’ he assured her.

‘We’ll put that to the test. Right now-’ she drew back and got to her feet ‘-I’m going for a swim.’

She was off down the beach before he could get to his feet. By the time he caught her she’d reached the water and hurled herself in. He followed, keeping up with her as she swam out to sea, then getting ahead and stretching out his hands to her. She clasped them, looking up, laughing, rejoicing in the sunlight.

‘Steady,’ he said, supporting her as she leaned over backwards.

They swam for a while, but she was stiff and as soon as he saw her wince slightly he said, ‘Now we’re going ashore to have something to eat.’

As they walked up the beach she took the chance to study him. Last night she’d lain with this man, welcomed him inside her, felt a pleasure that only he had ever been able to give, but in the poor light she hadn’t seen him properly. Now she looked her fill at his tall muscular body that might have belonged to an athlete instead of a businessman.

Certain moments from their lovemaking came back to her, making her tremble. How easily he’d driven her to new heights, how fierce was the craving he could make her feel, how inspired were the movements of his hands, knowing just where and how to touch her. If she could have had her way she would have pulled him down onto the sand right then. Instead, she promised herself that the wait would not be long.

They found a small restaurant by the sea, and sat where they could watch the waves.

‘What happened with the boat?’ he asked.

‘I don’t know really. The weather was fine at first. We went to several caves, didn’t find anything. I should never have gone-’

‘And you wouldn’t have done but for me. If you’d died-’

‘That’s enough of that.’ She stopped him firmly. ‘I didn’t die. End of story.’

‘No,’ he said softly. ‘It’s not the end of the story. We both know that.’

She nodded but said no more.

‘After we quarrelled I was sure that we had nothing further to say to each other, but then I heard of your danger and-’ he made an agitated gesture ‘-nothing’s been the same since. When I saw you safe the world became bright again, but then there was Nikator. When I heard you’d gone away with him-’

‘You should have known better than to believe it.’

‘But how could I? You wouldn’t believe me when I warned you about him and when I saw you together I thought you’d chosen him over me. I don’t really know you at all, except that something here-’ he touched his heart ‘-has always known you.’

‘Yes, but that isn’t going to make it easy,’ she reflected. ‘The path led in so many directions that it was confusing, and in the end we stumbled against each other by accident.’

‘This meeting was hardly an accident,’ he observed lightly. ‘You broke into my house.’

‘True. I committed a criminal act,’ she said, smiling. ‘I didn’t actually want to. I had planned to ask you to let me explore, but then we quarrelled and-’ She gave an eloquent shrug.

He nodded. ‘Yes, when you’ve told a man to go and jump in the lake it would be hard to ask him a favour in the next breath.’

‘I’m glad you understand my difficulty. And I couldn’t just go tamely away without investigating, could I? Breaking and entering was my only option.’

‘But how did you get in? My locks are the most up-to-date.’

Her smile told him that these were minor difficulties, made to be overcome.

‘Estelle made a film about organised crime a few years back,’ she recalled. ‘One of the advisers was a locksmith. I learned a lot from him. He said there was no such thing as a lock that couldn’t be picked, even a digital one.’

He regarded her cautiously, not sure whether to believe her. At last he ran a finger gently down her cheek, murmuring, ‘So you wouldn’t call yourself an honest woman?’

‘Honest? Lysandros, haven’t you understood yet? I’m a historian. We don’t do honest, not if it gets in the way. If we want to investigate something, we just go ahead. We break in, we forge papers, we tell lies, we cheat, we do whatever is needed to find out what we need to know. Of course we sometimes get permission as a matter of convenience, but it’s not important.’

He grinned. ‘I see. And if the owner objects-?’

She regarded him from dancing eyes and leaned forward so that her breath brushed his face.

‘Then the owner can take his silly objections and stuff them where the sun doesn’t shine,’ she murmured.

‘I’m shocked.’

‘No, you’re not. I’ll bet it’s what you do yourself every day of the week.’

‘And I would bet that you could teach me a few new tricks.’

‘Any time you like,’ she murmured against his lips.

‘I was talking about business.’

‘I wasn’t. Let’s go home.’

On the way he stopped off to buy food in quantity, and Petra realised that he was stocking up for several days. She smiled. That suited her exactly.

The sun was setting as they entered the house and locked the world out. In the shadowy hall he took her into his arms for a long kiss. The feel of his mouth on hers was comforting and thrilling together. He was partly hers and she was going to make him completely hers, as she was already his.

He kissed her neck, moving his lips gently, then resting with his face against her, as though seeking refuge. She stroked his hair until he looked up, meeting her eyes, and together they climbed the stairs to the bedroom.

Last night they had claimed each other with frantic urgency. Tonight they could afford to take their time, confident in each other and their new knowledge of their hearts and what they shared.

At first he moved slowly, cautiously, and she loved him for his care for her. As every garment slipped away he touched her bare flesh as though doubtful that he could take the next step. She undressed him in the same way, eager to discover the body she’d admired on the beach that day.

It didn’t disappoint her. He was hard and fit, reminding her of what she’d enjoyed once, making her tremble with the thought of what was to come.

He laid her on the bed and sat for a moment, watching her with possessive eyes.

‘Let me look at you,’ he whispered.

She was happy for him to do so, knowing that she would please him. A man who’d discovered unexpected treasure might have worn the look she saw on his face. She raised her arms over her head, revelling in flaunting her nakedness for him, knowing that it was worth flaunting.

At last he laid a gentle hand on one breast, relishing the movement as it rose and fell with her mounting desire, then leaning down to circle the nipple with his lips and begin a soft assault. She took a long shuddering breath and immediately arched against him.

‘Yes,’ she murmured, ‘yes-’

‘Hush, we don’t have to rush.’

How could he say that? she wondered. Already his arousal was fierce and strong, making her reach out with eager exploring fingers. But he was in command of himself, with the power to take his time while he teased and incited her.

‘You’re a devil,’ she whispered.

He didn’t reply in words, but he raised his head long enough for his eyes to flash a humorous message, saying, clearer than words, that a devil was what he knew she wanted, and he was going to fulfil her desire.

He increased his devilment, turning up the tension as he got to work on the other breast, moving even more slowly now, making sure she was ready, but she was ahead of him, more than ready, eager and impatient.

‘Now,’ she breathed. ‘Now!’

He was over her before the words were out, finding the place that was clamouring for him, claiming it with a swift movement that sent her into a frenzy of pleasure.

This was unlike anything that had happened to her before. No man had ever filled her so completely, while still leaving her with a feeling of freedom. She thrust back against him, needing more of him, demanding everything, receiving it again and again.