Storm Cycle

by Margaret Pargeter

  'Do you think you would be rescued as quickly now?' Reece jeered. 'When you became my fiancee you passed into my keeping. You became my property, if you like. No one would dare interfere.'

  'I—I'd scream the place down if you so much as laid a finger on me!' Her lovely green eyes glared defiance.

  'You wouldn't scream long, my darling.'

  He stood up abruptly and called for the bill. When he had received it, and paid it, they left.

  'We didn't have coffee,' Zoe complained, outside.

  'Did we want any?' he asked sardonically, almost thrusting her into the passenger seat of his car.

  Driving a little way out of the town, he stopped but didn't park. Turning sideways, he glanced at her muti­nous face steadily. 'Now that we've got the main issue settled, can we go somewhere and discuss our honey­moon? I thought of going to the house and taking a look at that at the same time. You might want some­thing changed, although we'll have to leave any major changes until after the wedding.'

  'No, thank you,' she replied stonily.

  'Zoe,' he exclaimed, 'you aren't by any chance sulk­ing?'

  'No.' She squirmed as he regarded her suspiciously, wondering how she could bear to contemplate a future lived under his eagle and overbearing eye. Had he loved her she might have been keener to have another look at his house, but, as things were, she had no desire to be alone there with him. In such an intimate setting she might all too easily betray her own feelings.

  'You're sure?' he asked.

  Was he talking about the house or her moods? She slanted him a curious glance before turning away in confusion. His eyes were on her, a certain expression in them caused her emotions to jumble crazily, until she was incapable of sorting them out. As if mag­netically controlled her gaze returned to him, caught in the smouldering glow of his, and for one shattering moment she was removed from the world of reality. His eyes, gleaming blue, seemed to catch her up in something much stronger than herself.

  'The house is lovely,' she said huskily. 'I don't think I'll ever want to alter it. I've seen your bedroom and I don't suppose it's much different from what mine will be.' As his mouth tightened, she rushed on, trying to please him, 'I've cooked meals in the kitchen, there's nothing wrong with that. I haven't been in the lounge,but I expect you own a comfy chair or two. What more could a girl want?'

  'Hmm,' his mouth relaxed a little as he considered her closely, 'I'm not sure I'll be as easily satisfied.'

  'One day,' Zoe warned him innocently, 'I might demand more.'

  'So might I,' he said, so smoothly her cheeks went pink. 'So that just leaves our honeymoon.'

  'H—honeymoon?' she stammered, feeling feverish.

  'Newly married people often have one,' Reece drawled, a familiar glint returning to his eyes.

  'Yes, well' Zoe licked dry lips, a process hefollowed too closely for comfort. Swallowing, she' tried again. 'It's rather different in our case, isn't it?'

  'Why should it be?' His mocking glance dared her to pursue the matter. 'I thought of taking you to Mexico. I still have to see that chap who wouldn't deal with" Ian about the boat contract.'

  Zoe frowned, feeling suddenly bleak. Was this Reece's way of letting her know he considered their marriage merely a business proposition? A tactful, silent declaration that he wouldn't make demands she wasn't prepared to meet. Or had he realised she would refuse to meet them and intended using this man in Mexico as a means of escaping a reluctant wife?

  'You mean to combine business with pleasure?' she noted coolly, yet was annoyed with herself for men­tioning the last word.

  'Is there to be any pleasure, Zoe?' Reece asked meaningfully. 'You've shown no signs of experiencing any since becoming engaged to me.'

  'The circumstances have hardly been conducive to it, have they?' she asked, with a sort of bitter defiance. 'How can I possibly forget how it all happened?'

  'I can't tell you how to do that, I'm afraid,' he replied, so smoothly she wasn't aware of his anger untiltoo late. 'But if you let a sore fester it will only get worse.'

  'Don't preach to me!' she exclaimed.

  'You asked my opinion, and if I wasn't on the high­way I might have expressed it better without words.'

  At the unmistakable threat in his voice, she flinched unhappily, while her heart raced. In a way he was right. What he didn't realise was that she loved him. How was she to forget that?

  She knew better than to ask as he suddenly revved the engine and drove on impatiently. Making a brief detour to avoid returning through the town, he pulled up, out of sight, a little way past her grandparents' house.

  'Well?' Turning to her, he placed his left hand on the back of her seat. 'How about the honeymoon? You've had time to think.'

  'Was that what I was supposed to be doing?' she . edged from the fingers lightly exploring her nape, 'I thought it was settled—a working one.'

  He smiled thinly but didn't contradict her. 'Well?'

  'I don't mind what we do,' she sighed, wishing he would just go ahead with whatever he chose and not talk about it any more. 'I wouldn't mind if we stayed at home, Reece.'

  'Neither would I,' he said shortly, 'had things been different, Zoe. As it is, I think you need time.'

  The implication was so clear she flushed and ex­claimed impulsively, 'Ours can't be a normal marriage. You don't love me.'

  'Couples can have normal marriages without love.'

  'I don't believe it!'

  'Nor can I believe you're so incredibly naive,' he reprimanded dryly. 'Or are you tempting me to prove it?'

  'No, I am not!' Zoe hated the slight tremor in her voice which took away some of the emphasis.

  She must have given the impression of greater re-solution than she thought. His eyes glinted as he leaned nearer. 'Such conviction,' he taunted, 'could do with a| little shaking.'

  Without giving her a chance to move, his mouth met hers, crushing off her protests just as she got started. Her heart began beating fast again and her thoughts became anything but clear. As his arms drew her closer and tightened, it was all too easy to succumb. With a single movement he pinned her head against him, achieving his objective by raking his fingers through her hair.

  When he took his mouth from hers, her gaze clung to him as a sob shuddered through her. She stared up at him, her eyes fixed on the smouldering darkness of his, wishing she could read his expression. There was warmth in his gaze, but what did that tell her? She didn't have to wait long for an answer. As he resumec his assault on her quivering lips, she suddenly flinched. He was taking, not giving. He wasn't filling her with an assurance that everything would be all right. He was flooding her with fear, giving her more than a hint of what he was capable of if she drove him to anger.

  A low moan escaped her as his mouth harshly parted hers, burning the soft inner flesh, probing until she couldn't find breath, until her senses swam and were consumed as a blaze of fire took over. Reece's hand slid to her breast, fanning the fire still further. Rendered almost mindless because of it, she clung to him, her arms finding their way round his neck, clutching him fraritically, as if determined to make him a part of her.

  When he pushed her away his breathing was hoarse, his heavy lids lowered, but, when he raised them, his eyes were still curiously expressionless. 'Doesn't that prove something of what's possible without love?' he murmured sardonically.

  For an answer, because she was incapable of giving a sensible one, Zoe wrenched out of the car and ran from him, back down the road towards her home. In a few seconds his headlights followed her, staying behind her until she was safely inside. Then she heard his goodnight toot as he roared off.

  Reece didn't ask her about their honeymoon, or to visit his house again. It was as though he was even more reluctant than she was, now, that they should be alone together there. Right up to the eve of their wedding she insisted that she didn't want to marry him, but he continued to ignore her protests.

  She actually had few opportunities of speaking to him
by himself during the two weeks leading up to the wedding. He was working late, and she was busy her­self with preparations which began mounting amaz­ingly. It wasn't until she was being fitted for her wedding dress, which a local dressmaker friend of Janet's was making, that she realised if she didn't do something soon it would be too late.

  It wasn't so difficult to find Reece in his office as to catch him there alone. Lately he had been working a lot with Ian, and down in the yard, stripped off with the men. She had become sensitively adverse to going there, finding him naked to the waist, sometimes rubbing greasy hands over his broad, dark-haired chest, as if deliberately drawing her attention to his tautly muscled frame. This, and the mocking gaze he would fix on her, almost guaranteed her immediate retreat, and he knew it. The stupid weakness which seized her legs on such occasions, the hot flush which dyed her cheeks, had contributed to her total defeat. Now if there was a message for him she sent it with Ian, or anyone she could get hold of.

  One day, however, she managed to get him to herself. Ian was out, so she was hopeful of having an un­interrupted word with Reece.

  'It's ridiculous!' she exclaimed, closing the office door firmly and taking up her favourite stand by the window, the view providing a legitimate excuse for looking elsewhere when Recce's all-seeing gaze got too much for her.

  'What is?' he asked mildly, scarcely looking up.

  'The way I have to almost plan it like a military campaign before I can speak to you privately!'

  Obliquely he glanced at her. 'This is your last day here, Zoe, before the wedding. We've both been busy. I've had a lot to sort out, as you know, so I can get away.'

  'It's never bothered you quite so much before,' she said sharply.

  'I've never had so much on my mind before.'

  She didn't pause to consider the odd note in his voice. 'I've a lot on mine, too.'

  'And you want to relieve yourself a little?' he observed coolly. 'Do you think I can't guess what's coming? Well, let me tell you, although I realise such advice will be wasted, to save your breath. I've heard, it all before and I'm not prepared to listen again while you inform me you don't wish to be married.'

  'Well, I don't!' she almost screamed, feeling about two years old under his dismissive eye. How on earth did her senses respond the way they did to such an unfeeling man?

  'It's no use, Zoe,' a hush fell on the room as he gazed at her adamantly. 'Why don't you come and sit down?' When she shook her head he went on sternly, 'You can't get out of marrying me without hurting a lot of people, so stop being a selfish little brat and think of others for a change.'

  'I am!' her voice rose again in sheer frustration, 'I'm thinking of you.'

  'But also of yourself?'

  She was, she couldn't deny it. She wondered howshe would be able to face the heartache which lay ahead when Reece grew tired of being tied to a wife he didn't love. But if he wouldn't listen to reason, why should she bother any more?

  'I'll just say this,' she cried bitterly, 'you'll be sorry you didn't listen. I'll lead you such a dance . . .!

  'You'll be the one who's sorry,' he replied, his mouth tightening warningly as he turned back to his work, 'if you do that.'

  The church was crowded for the wedding. Zoe was vaguely aware of what looked like a sea of faces as she walked up the aisle on her grandfather's arm. She wore white and was a beautiful bride. A tear slid down Taggart's cheek as he gently removed her hand from his arm to place it in the one her bridegroom held out to her. Reece gripped it and she met his dark, passion­ate eyes and saw nothing else. Whatever his true feel­ings, she realised afterwards, he gave every appearance of being devoted to her that day.

  Later they flew to London and then to Mexico City, arriving there in time for breakfast next morning. Zoe had slept on the plane, but she still felt tired and was secretly relieved when Reece said they would have an easy day and that he wasn't meeting Rafael Carrillo until later in the week.

  Their hotel was near the U.S. Embassy, a fine modern one, luxuriously furnished with air-condition­ing and swimming pools. It appeared to have every­thing, despite being in the middle of the city. Reece had booked one of its penthouse suites, and Zoe mar­velled at such extravagance. She ought to have been impressed, and she was, but she couldn't help thinking nostalgically of Sam Colter's island.

  'Like it?' Reece asked, as she wandered around ex­amining every little thing with the round-eyed wonder of a child presented with a set of new toys.

  'It's breathtaking!' She glanced at him uncertainly, aware that he was too experienced a traveller to find much novelty in the things she found so incredible. Already, on the way from the International Airport, she had smothered several gasps at the things she had seen. But, if her expression amused him, his eyes were very gentle as he watched her.

  He only studied her another second before turning away. 'So you're pleased we came here,' he observed, almost casually.

  'Ye— es.'

  'Why so hesitant?' He swung back to her so sharply her wits deserted her and she confessed helplessly, 'I—I couldn't help thinking of your boat and Sam Colter's island.'

  'You aren't ready for either,' he replied curtly, the tenderness gone from his eyes. 'You wouldn't have appreciated a week of my undivided attention.'

  Zoe flushed. 'I hadn't thought of that.'

  'What did you think of when you thought of our honeymoon?' There was an unmistakable hint of derision in his voice.

  'I hadn't thought about it much,' she muttered evasively, bending her head so he shouldn't see her face.' There was a peculiar fluttering in her breast and she didn't want to let him see her eyes. Eyes could reflect too much, she was learning, often more than one wished.

  'Wouldn't you like to know my thoughts on the subject?' Reece taunted, his eyes glittering while his mouth twisted in a humourless smile.

  'I'm not curious,' she said hastily, feeling suddenly threatened.

  'Isn't it about time you were?' He came nearer, his eyes boring into hers. There was a brief gleam of white teeth as they snapped together. His jaw tightened, his eyes hardened and she stared, transfixed. Caught in a flame as he took hold of her, she could feel the heat from it searing through her entire body. It was too late to prevent him seeing something of the intensity of her feelings, and she could only hope he put her quivering reactions down to fright. She was vaguely aware that she mightn't be capable of putting up much fight if Reece decided to make love to her, and she was dismayed that he should have such total control over her emotions.

  The magnetic intensity of the gaze he fixed on her had her so much in his power that she actually swayed when he let her go. 'I'll allow you to think that one over,' he said harshly. 'I'm trying to be patient, and we've only just arrived.'

  She wasn't sure what he meant by that, she was too busy wrestling with an undefinable disappointment. Her body sagged, sending messages to her brain about being unsatisfied. She tried to ignore it, but felt ex­hausted from the strain.

  Noting it, Reece obviously put it down to tiredness, and insisted she had a rest before lunch.

  'The high altitude takes a bit of getting used to. Visitors are advised to have a siesta after lunch for the first few days, but you can have one now, instead. Then, if you like, we can go straight out after we've eaten.'

  The suite had two bedrooms. Taking no notice of her ensuing protests, he guided her firmly into one of them. 'You have this,' he said smoothly, 'I'll take the other.'

  Until we get used to each other, Zoe supposed, sar­castically, again a vaguely mutinous disappointment tightening the full curves of her lips.

  As though to punish her for thoughts he could read plainly and which he knew she would deny if challeng­ed, Reece pushed her far from gently in the direction of the bed and left her. 'I'd have a shower, if I wereyou,' he said, 'and put on something light, if you have to wear anything at all. And, Zoe . . .' on her way to the bathroom, she stumbled and paused, glancing at him enquiringly, 'separate rooms,' he continued
, 'but no closed doors. I don't believe in them between a man and wife.'

  Why did he have to be so devilishly enigmatic? Zoe wondered, a few minutes later, as she slid softly be­tween beautiful cool sheets. Before she could decide on an answer, she was asleep.

  They ate a late lunch, then went out to explore the city. Having been here before, Reece knew his way round comparatively well. He explained how most of the streets running from east to west were calledave-nidas while those running from north to south werecalles. Some of the narrower streets, calledcallejones, still retained their old-time cobblestones.

  'The Paseo de la Reforma,' he took her there by taxi, 'is one of the most beautiful boulevards in the world.' As they drove a short distance along the eight-mile length of it and Zoe exclaimed at its exceptional width and the way it was shaded by a double line of trees, Reece pointed out the numerousglorietas, or circles, many of which contained monuments.