They had reached the coffee stage when Isobel made her request. 'I'd love a swim.' She laid a hand on his, smiling at him cajolingly. 'You're here now, so you can hardly refuse me a second time.'
Luke raised the hand to his lips. 'Of course you can swim. Milos is not here today so this is a good time.'
Isobel eyed him narrowly. 'Is Milos the reason why you wouldn't let me use the pool before?'
'Yes,' he said bluntly. 'I had seen what you wear to swim, remember.'
'My bikini is perfectly respectable,' she retorted.
He snorted. 'When I first saw you on my beach I thought you were naked.'
'Only because the bikini's pink-at least it was. 'She made a face. 'Not that I'll ever wear it again.'
After breakfast they went upstairs together, Luke's arm in support after an argument about carrying her.
'Give me ten minutes,' she said at her bedroom door, then hurried to change into a sleek gentian-blue swimsuit; her only alternative to the bikini. Isobel eyed the various bruises which had now matured into multicoloured glory, then shrugged philosophically. Luke had seen them all before. She put a filmy tunic on top, collected a bath towel and opened the door to Luke. 'That was a lot less than ten minutes.'
'Why waste time apart?' said Luke and bent to pick her up, but Isobel shook her head.
'If you just hold my hand I'll manage the stairs 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?'
'No.' She flushed a little. 'I felt the same urge to celebrate, Luke.' She eyed him uneasily. 'Do you regret what happened between us?'
He raised the hand and pressed a kiss into her palm. 'How could I regret something so sublime, kardia mou?'
'But you were gone this morning.'
'For a very good reason. I woke up wanting to make love to you again, but exerted much self-control and let you sleep. Also, I thought you might not like Eleni to find me in your bed.'
'Very true,' she said with feeling, and shot a troubled look at him. 'Luke, will she think less of me for sleeping with you?'
'No,' he said emphatically. 'I told her-also Spiro-that I shall keep you with me night and day until you leave, to keep you safe. They agreed with great fervour. Spiro cannot forget the horror they felt the night you were stolen.' Luke smiled. 'They believe that fate sent such a lovely young lady to me.'
'Oh, dear,' said Isobel, mopping her eyes with a napkin. 'That's made me cry again. You won't believe this, but normally I hardly ever cry.'
'There is no sin in showing emotion, Isobel.' His eyes kindled. 'As you did in my arms last night. So dry your eyes, agapi mou. We must go down to Dr Riga now and ask him to strap your ankle.'
Isobel pulled a face. 'Is my hair a mess? I didn't do much to it after I washed it.'
'Those wild curls are very sexy. Leave them like that.' He handed her the stick. 'Be careful. I have worked hard-and braved much danger-to keep you safe.'
'I did some of the heavy lifting myself by getting out of that hut on the island,' she reminded him, laughing, then sobered suddenly. 'All the time I was praying for a miracle, and it happened. You came, Luke.'
'I did some praying myself on that boat trip,' he said grimly, and snatched her back into his arms to give her a hard, fleeting kiss. 'When I saw your hair as we came in to land I knew my prayers were answered.'
The trip to the clinic was made without incident and, after greetings with Dr Riga and the thorough check-up he insisted on, Isobel's ankle was strapped up and she was able to walk normally as she left, feeling secure in yellow espadrilles.
'I shall miss carrying you everywhere,' he said as he lifted her into the Cherokee.
So would she, Isobel admitted secretly. 'And I appreciated it,' she assured him, 'but it's good to feel independent again.'
'How you value your independence! But do not imagine you can go climbing down to any beaches,' he warned.
She pulled a face. 'No hardship there. I've rather lost my enthusiasm for beaches just now.'
'Good. Keep to peaceful strolls in the garden. When we get back I must ring Andres, and you can drink the tea Eleni is certain to have waiting for you. Ah,' he said, stopping the car. 'Alyssa is waving us down.'
Alyssa ran to lean in at the open window. 'Kalispera.' She grinned at Luke. 'Just can't keep out of trouble, can you!'
'I do not seek it,' he assured her.
'You never try to avoid it either.' Alyssa smiled in apology at Isobel. 'Sorry I couldn't come up last night. Did you know what was going on?'
'Yes, I did.' Isobel exchanged a look with Luke. 'It was a huge relief to hear it was all over.'
'Come down to the taverna for a meal tonight and celebrate. My parents would love to see you both. Give Eleni the night off, Luke,' she coaxed.