‘If it’s possible, but the danger with illusions is that they seem so much like reality-at least, that’s true of the best of them, the most desirable.’

She nodded. ‘Then we enter a conspiracy against ourselves,’ she murmured, ‘believing what we wish to believe, persuading ourselves that illusion is reality and reality illusion. And how do we ever know?’

‘That’s easy,’ he said wryly. ‘We know when it’s too late.’

‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘That’s true.’

Salvatore was about to reply but something he saw in her eyes held him silent. She was looking into the distance and he had the feeling that she no longer saw him, or even knew that he was there.

‘What is it?’ he said urgently. ‘Helena, speak to me.’

But she was silent, lost in a world he couldn’t enter.

CHAPTER FOUR

HELENA was in another place, one in which the air sang with a hundred new impressions. The most disconcerting was the way she and Salvatore were talking, as though there was an instinctive connection between their thoughts. It was surely impossible, yet he knew what she was thinking, in a way that had only ever been true with Antonio.

It wouldn’t last. They were still enemies, but for a shocking moment she could see ahead to another world where enemies clung together in uneasy alliance.

Then the mist cleared and the world settled back into its right place.

‘It’s time I was leaving,’ she said slowly. ‘Will you summon your gondolier?’

‘If you wish, but I should prefer to walk you back to the hotel.’

‘All right. Thank you.’

He fetched her wrap and laid it gently about her shoulders. She drew breath, bracing herself for the feel of his fingers on her skin, but it didn’t come. Accidentally or by design he’d contrived to drape the silk without touching her.

She shivered.

They left the building by a side door which led directly into a tiny alley that she knew was called a calle, so narrow that she could have touched both sides at once. The buildings rose up high, so that it was almost like being in a tunnel. She leaned back, gazing up into the narrow strip of sky, so fascinated that she began to walk on without seeing where she was going, and Salvatore had to grasp her quickly.

‘You nearly walked into a door,’ he said.

‘Where are we?’ she murmured. ‘I’m lost.’

‘It isn’t far back to the hotel. You came around the long curve in the canal, but we’ll cut across that. Didn’t Antonio tell you how deceptive distances can be in Venice?’

He still had one arm around her shoulder, guiding her, so that she could look up as she walked, and still feel safe.

‘He didn’t tell me everything,’ she said.

‘I’m glad of that. I’m so glad.’ After a moment he asked, ‘What did he tell you about me?’

She laughed, a soft sound deep in her throat, that briefly made his hand tighten.

‘He said I should beware,’ she said.

‘And will you?’

‘I always trusted Antonio’s advice, and it was always good.’

‘Probably wise. Did he tell you that you’re strong enough to challenge me, or did you discover that for yourself?’

‘I knew in the first moment.’

He turned her towards him, looking down into her face, illuminated by the moonlight. His own face was in shadow, but she could see his eyes and read their meaning.

‘Because you knew your weapons were the best,’ he murmured. ‘And just now, I’m ready to admit that. I’m not even trying to resist them because they overcome me, so that I don’t even want to resist.’

She felt his hands on the side of her face, saw his head block out the moon so that there was only darkness as his lips touched hers. And she was glad of the darkness because suddenly everything changed, the world was a different place and nothing was as it had been.

His mouth was gentle, moving with leisurely ease as though he had all the time in the world. Helena held her breath, transfixed by something that was happening deep inside her in an unknown region. She’d guessed this was coming, had thought herself ready, but nothing could have prepared her for the way she was coming alive.

It was as though no life had ever existed before. The world had begun that moment and it was a glorious place, full of light and fire. With all her being she wanted to explore further, to see how intense the heat might become, how blinding the light.

He’d spoken of being overcome by her, yet it was she who was being overcome, not by force but by temptation so strong that it destroyed her will. She put up her hands to his shoulders, perhaps meaning to push him away but actually holding on to him.

Years of abstinence had taught her to think of herself as a cold woman, whose fire had flamed briefly and then died forever. So many men had reached this point and she’d kissed them, hoping to fan the flame back to life, but it had never happened. Dead. Cold and dead.

Until now, with this one man who should have been the very last to attract her. They were combatants, hostile, determined to think the worst of each other because it was safer that way. But in his arms there was no safety, nor did she want any. Enmity, she discovered, could be thrilling.

So she drew him closer and moved her lips against his, seeking more of the pleasure that had come like a bolt from the blue. Feeling her response, he responded in turn, letting his hands explore her, but so lightly that at first she wasn’t sure it was happening. But then there was no doubt. His caresses had the skill of the devil, touching, inciting, then moving on, leaving a trail of excitement behind them.

Now she wanted him, wanted everything with him. She must take him to her bed, lie with him naked, offer herself to him and claim him inside her at the same moment. And when he entered her she would keep him there, for pleasure such as this could not be rushed.

Instinct told her that he could show her new worlds, carry her to the stars and satisfy something desperate inside her that had been denied too long. All her frustrated womanhood rose up, crying out for release, ready to do anything, offer him anything if he would only take her to that peak.

Offer him anything!

The words seemed to shriek, like demons howling with laughter at her naïvety. How easily he’d brought her to this moment, and she, who’d prided herself on being armed and ready, had succumbed without a protest. How he must be enjoying it!

It was over. The desire, so tormenting one minute, was extinguished the next, turning her body to ice. Part of her wanted to cry out as the beauty vanished, but another part knew that she was safer this way.

Safety. That was what mattered. Nothing else.

Vaguely she heard footsteps, felt his arms loosen about her, heard his sigh of resignation.

‘People are coming,’ he growled. ‘We don’t want to be stared at.’

He drew her away and in a few moments they had reached St. Mark’s Square. Not much further to the hotel, and as she walked she was planning what to say when they got there.

How sure of himself he must be. How easily she’d fallen for it. How he must be laughing in triumph, and how she was going to enjoy wiping the smile off his face!

They were entering the hotel. She would let him escort her to the elevator, shake hands and coolly bid him goodbye. Just a few more feet. There was the elevator, the doors were opening-

‘I’ll leave you here,’ he said. ‘Goodnight, signora, and thank you for a lovely evening.’

‘Wh-what did you say?’

‘I said goodnight. I think we both know the time isn’t right.’

‘What do you mean by that?’ Helena demanded.

Salvatore spoke softly.

‘I mean that when I’m ready to make love to you, I won’t go to your room with the world watching.’

‘When you-How dare you? You arrogant swine! Are you fooling yourself that I’m waiting on your pleasure?’ she exclaimed.

‘I’m not fooling myself, but perhaps you are. The decision has already been taken for both of us. It’s only a question of when. That was clear to both of us from the first moment.’

‘I know no such-’

‘Don’t pretend,’ he cut her off harshly. ‘You know as well as I do what lies ahead. You decided to seduce me in the exact same moment you became my enemy, as a demonstration of power. That’s fine because I decided the same thing, and when the time comes the power will be equal. I may even allow you to see how badly I want you, but I’ll do it at a time and a place of my own choosing. Is that clear?’

‘You must be out of your mind,’ Helena said furiously.

‘No, but I have seen into yours, and I find it fascinating. Let us not rush. We can fight and fight, and please each other at the same time. I look forward to it.’

‘Well, I certainly don’t.’

She stormed into the elevator and tried to close the door against him, but he moved quickly to get in beside her, closing the doors and pressing a button that held them closed.

‘You’re lying, Helena,’ he said. ‘Or perhaps you’re just deceiving yourself. Whichever it is, we’ll both enjoy finding out.’

‘We will not. Kindly get out, now!’

She thought he would refuse. He didn’t move, but stood regarding her intently, his hand still on the button that controlled the door, effectively imprisoning her.

‘We’ll meet again soon,’ he murmured.

Giving her no time to reply, he released the door, got out and closed it again. In a rage she pressed the button for the third floor. Once in her room she slammed the door.

At that moment she could have committed murder. Salvatore had deliberately inflamed her desire because he’d been trying to subdue her as she was trying to subdue him. And when he’d made her half-crazy he’d shown her deliberately and unmistakeably that he, not she, was master of the situation.