His Forbidden Bride by Sara Craven Read Free Book Online Page A

you,' he added drily. 'You have a very eloquent
    face, thespinis .'
    'Yet you seem determined to stay, all the same.' She observed him
    spreading his towel on the sand with misgiving.
    'I come every day at this time,' he said. 'Whereas you, thespinis , are here only at my invitation.' He al owed that to sink in. 'And the beach is surely big
    enough for us to share for a short while.'
    'I'm not sure your employer would agree,' she said tautly. 'Does he know this
    is how you spend your time?'
    'He would certainly consider it one of my duties to offer hospitality to his
    guest.'
    'I am not,' she said. 'His guest. Officially. And you have a very strange idea
    of hospitality.'
    'Why?' His brows lifted. 'I have brought you food, drink and shelter.' He
    stood, hands on hips, and looked her up and down slowly, and with
    unconcealed appreciation, his eyes lingering on the smooth rise of her
    breasts above the flimsy cups of her bikini. 'But if there is any requirement I
    have not supplied, you have only to tel me,' he added silkily.
    'Thank you,' Zoe said through gritted teeth. 'You've already done more than
    enough.'
    He laughed. 'Then shal we declare a trace, thespinis ? It is too beautiful a day to fight. And if you won't eat with me, at least drink some water.'
    Zoe gave him a mutinous look, then knelt, and carefully decanted some of
    the water he'd brought into her own container. 'Thank you.' Stonily, she
    placed the bottle on the outermost corner of the towel, where he had now
    stretched himself, very much at his ease.
    ' Efharisto ,' he corrected, lazily. 'If you are going to stay on the island for any length of time, you need to learn a little Greek.'
    'I have a phrase book,' she said. 'So I don't need personal tutoring—thanks.'
    His brows drew together. 'You also have attitude,' he told her drily. 'Maybe
    you could learn, instead, a little philoxenia— the Greek warmth towards
    strangers. Because others may not understand.'
    'Perhaps,' Zoe said, lifting her chin cool y, 'this is not a situation where
    warmth is advisable.'
    He propped himself up on one elbow and looked at her measuringly. 'What
    makes you so nervous?' he asked. 'You think that I intend, maybe, to force
    myself upon you?' He shook his head. 'No, thespinis . In the first place, it is far too hot. In the second, rape has no appeal for me.'
    He lay back, looking up at the cloudless sky, lacing his fingers behind his
    head, his voice meditative.
    'I prefer a cool room, with the shutters drawn, a comfortable bed, a bottle of
    good wine, and a girl who wishes to be with me as much as I want her.'
    He turned his head, sending her a faint smile. 'And nothing less will do. So,
    you see, you are quite safe.'
    Her face warmed. She said huskily, 'You paint—a vivid picture.'
    'And, I hope, a reassuring one.'
    'Yes,' she said. 'Oh, yes.' And tried to subdue the betraying quiver deep
    inside her.
    'Enough to tel me your name?'
    She hesitated. 'It's—Zoe.'
    'A Greek name,' he approved softly. 'And I am Andreas.' He paused. 'So
    now that we are properly acquainted, wil you share some lunch with me?'
    There seemed no good reason to refuse. And perhaps it would be sensible
    to be a little conciliatory to someone who might be in a position to help her.
    So she gave a constrained smile, and murmured, 'That would be—nice.'
    The cool-box contained cold chicken, a bag of salad leaves, black olives,
    tomatoes, feta cheese and some fresh bread. There was also, she noted, a
    plastic box containing dark grapes and peaches, as wel as two chil ed
    bottles of beer, two glasses wrapped in napkins, paper plates, and some
    cutlery.
    This had never been planned as a solitary meal, she thought. And her
    agreement, it seemed, had been taken for granted. But then he probably
    didn't get many refusals, she thought, with an inward grimace. And at least
    he'd brought beer, and not the bottle of good wine he'd mentioned earlier.
    So attempted seduction did not appear to be on the menu.
    It was