Crispin drew in his breath sharply and she turned to see him looking at her with desire in his dark eyes. 'You're-perfect,' he said on a harsh, rasping note.
Quickly she lay down on her front on the lounger. 'I thought we were going windsurfing?'
'Better rest for a while after our meal first.' Taking off his sweat shirt and shorts, he stretched out next to her. 'Aren't you rather overdressed?' he remarked.
Two strips of bikini was hardly overdressed, but Tressy knew what he meant; every other woman on their stretch of beach, without exception, was topless.
She didn't answer or look round and he leaned towards her and said softly, 'Take it off.' 'No!'
'Are you afraid?'
Tressy turned her head to look at him, her eyes vulnerable and pleading. 'Yes,' she admitted at last, her voice little more than a whisper.
His face didn't change and his eyes stayed on hers, but he reached out and undid the clasp of her top, then gently pushed the material off her back, his fingers hotter than the sun, and drew it from under her. 'Turn over,' he commanded firmly.
For a moment her hands gripped the sides of the lounger, but then she slowly turned on to her side, facing him. His eyes devoured her, taking in each detail of her softly rising chest, the swell of her young, firm breasts, wakened now by tension. He put out a hand and she thought that he was going to touch her there, but he let it rest on her waist, gripping hard. 'You're lovely,' he said thickly. 'Exquisitely lovely.' Then, abruptly, he let her go and turned on to his front, turning his head away from her.
Tressy lay on her back, her pulses racing. She was attractive to men, she knew that, her auburn hair and slender figure making a stunning impact, and she had often seen desire in a man's eyes, but it had never affected her like this before. When a man wanted her he was in her power and she used him, and when he realized what she was doing and wanted her body in return, she dropped him; it was as simple as that. She didn't believe that there could ever be platonic friendship between men and women because no man she had ever been out with had not made a pass, sooner rather than later. Not that she knew many men with whom she could have been just friendly; her mother had sent her to an all-girls school, and the few members of the opposite sex that she had met while taking her hairdressing and beautician's course had nearly all been more interested in themselves or other men rather than girls. And the men she had met since then had only been interested in one thing, just as her mother had said they would. So she had used those she could and avoided the few that she had sensed wouldn't allow themselves to be used, and remained invulnerable to them all-until now. Now her pulses raced and her heart beat faster, and her body overheated, but not from the sun, even though she tried to convince herself that was the reason. That, and the wine they had drunk at lunchtime.
Her emotions gradually returned to normal as Tressy warned herself not to be stupid. Such feelings could be dangerous, could weaken her resistance. Cris was no different from other men, they all took advantage of the least weakness. And there was no point in making something out of this that wasn't there. So he turned her on. So what? Nothing would ever come of it. Cris was the type who only married rich girls like Nora or upper class girls who'd been to Benenden or Roedean and whose family knew his. Her type of girl might attract him into making her his mistress for a while, but then he'd leave her and go away, just as her father had walked out on her mother. And she wouldn't be used, she wouldn't! She wouldn't ever hear her mother say, 'I told you so.'
The wine and heat had a soporific effect, her eyelids fluttered and Tressy fell asleep, not waking until a shadow blotted out the sun. Languorously she opened her eyes and saw that Cris was sitting on his lounger facing her, his eyes leisurely examining her near-naked body. Tressy watched him, waiting until he reached her face and ready to make a nasty remark about voyeurism, but somehow, when their eyes met, the words died in her throat. Perhaps because there was no lechery in the way he looked at her, rather a strange tenderness; only strange because she wasn't used to seeing that emotion when men looked at he 'so openly.
'Hallo, sleepyhead.' He reached out and took her hand.
'Have I been asleep long?' she asked.
'Almost an hour. I was beginning to be afraid you'd burn,' he remarked, his eyes going again to her breasts.
'I think I have a deep enough tan now not to burn.' 'I could always apply some oil if it would help,' he offered with a look that this time was decidedly sexual.
Tressy sat up on the lounger and brought her knees up to her chin, so that most of her body was hidden from him. 'Are we going to try windsurfing now?' she asked, her voice a little unsteady.
He gave a low laugh and got to his feet, pulling her up with him. 'Of course, right now.'
There wasn't much space in between the loungers, and Tressy rocked unsteadily, automatically reaching out to grab something to stop herself overbalancing and the only thing to grab was Cris. For a moment their bodies touched and a searing flame of heat seemed to ignite her already hot skin. Quickly she moved so that she wasn't touching him, but he had hold of her arms and she saw that he was looking down at her. Her eyes followed his and a flush of crimson stained her cheeks as she saw that her nipples had hardened and were standing proud of her breasts.
'So you're not so immune to me after all,' Cris murmured, unable to take his eyes away.
'Oh, for heaven's sake!' She wrenched herself free and sprang away from him. 'Are we going, or not?'
The windsurfing school was close by and they walked along the beach to it, wading through the shallows because it was easier on the feet than the pebbly beach. Cris hired a couple of windsurfers but dispensed with the services of a teacher, saying that he would show her how to use it himself. It was great fun once you got the hang of it, but until she did Tressy spent most of her time falling into the water, but Cris was always there to hoist her back up again and she realized why he hadn't wanted a teacher to do that job for him. After an hour or so she managed to keep her balance better and thoroughly enjoyed skimming over the wave tops behind Cris, turning the big sail to catch the breeze. But it was hard work for her arm and leg muscles and, although she protested, Tressy was quite glad when Cris insisted that she'd had enough for the first day.
While he took the surfers back, Tressy swam out to a raft anchored in the middle of the bay. It was about as far as she could comfortably manage, but her arms were tired and she had to catch hold of one of the loops of rope on the side of the raft and rest when she reached it, before pulling herself out of the sea. There was a ripple of water and Cris's head surfaced beside her.
'Are you okay?'
She nodded. 'Just resting for a minute.'
'Good girl!' He leant forward and kissed her lightly, his lips cold and wet against hers.
Tressy shook her head so that drops of water splashed on to him. 'I feel like a mermaid,' she laughed.
Cris put his free arm round her waist and drew her to him so that their legs entwined. 'I'm glad you're not,' he told her, his eyes smiling wickedly down into hers. 'A tail could be most frustrating!'
It was getting late into the afternoon and most people were drifting back to their cars or hotels, so they had the raft to themselves. Cris hoisted her up and they sat in silent companionship for a while, watching the activity on the shore, the sun warm on their backs. When Cris put his arm round her, Tressy stiffened for a moment and then slowly relaxed, telling herself that it was merely casual, but it wasn't, because presently he began to gently stroke her back, his fingers causing delicious sensations that sent shivers down her spine. She knew she ought to tell him to stop or to get up and swim back to the beach, that to let him touch her was crazy, but she did neither of those things, just closed her eyes and let him go on.
His hands explored and caressed at the same time, from her neck right down her spine to her bikini and back again, taking interesting digressions to her waist and armpits and along the slender line of her shoulders. Cris was sitting a little behi
nd her so that she couldn't see him without turning her head, and she kept her face averted, almost afraid to look at him. Lifting her rope of wet hair aside, he began to stroke her neck, his fingers scorching her skin, making her body feel hot in places nowhere near her neck. Then she gave an· involuntary gasp as she felt his lips, feather light, on her shoulder, moving towards the nape of her neck. She tried to move away then, but he put his hands on her trembling arms and said softly in her ear, 'Be still, my darling.' And went on kissing her, his lips and tongue tracing the long column of her neck and finding her earlobe, playing with it delicately until Tressy couldn't stand it any longer and she swung round to face him, her heart beating crazily, her eyes pleading with him to stop-to go on; she didn't even know herself.
His hands were still on her shoulders and they tightened as Cris looked into her face, his own eyes lit by a flame deep in their dark depths. 'Tressy.' He said her name in a thick, uneven voice and leaned forward to kiss her, but Tressy jerked her head away, then turned and dived into the water, making for the beach as fast as she could. There was a splash behind her and within a minute Cris was alongside, restricting his speed to match her own.
As Tressy waded ashore she was greeted by Nora's angry voice. 'So there you are! We've been looking for you everywhere.' Then, seeing that Tressy was topless, 'Must you flaunt yourself?'
But Michel looked his fill in open admiration and gallantly kissed her hand. 'Charmante!'
Nora turned to Cris, trying to hide her anger. 'Whatever happened to you two? Once we got split up, we expected you to go back to the boat, so we went "there to wait for you.'
Her voice was trembling and she was staring at Cris. Tressy followed her gaze and saw what Nora saw: a tall, good-looking man with a beautiful body, his wet trunks hiding nothing but the visual fact of his masculinity. Going up to Cris, Nora slipped her arm through his. 'Such a shame we got split up-we could have had a super day. I hope you weren't too bored-or embarrassed.' She began to walk along with him and her voice drifted back. 'Just because people do something in France that we don't do at home, it doesn't mean that one should lower one's standards and do the same thing. Don't you agree?
Why, some of the things they do here are hardly decent!'
Tressy almost laughed aloud; the only reason Nora was so dead against topless women was because her breasts had peeled where they'd got burnt and looked unsightly. If not, and she'd thought it would attract Cris, she'd have shed her top like a shot.
At the private beach, Tressy and then Cris showered off the sea salt and used the hired towels to dry themselves off, while the others stood by, waiting, Tressy put on her bikini top and a skirt, but undid her hair and let it spread loose on her shoulders to dry. Then they went to a nearby cafe for a drink and ice-cream. Nora refused at first, but Michel teased her and Cris encouraged her so that she gave in and was soon enjoying a bowl filled with four different flavours of ice-cream with fresh piped cream and nuts on the top.
'What would you like to do this evening?' Cris asked them. Negligently he reached an arm along the back of Tressy's chair and began to play with a lock of her hair, twining it round his fingers. 'There's a casino here, and I thought it might be fun to have a meal somewhere and then go on to the casino and sail back to Monte by night. The lights along the coast are quite spectacular from the sea.'
He "was looking towards Tressy as he finished speaking, but she stayed silent and let Nora say eagerly, 'That sounds a super idea! I'd love to.' Her face fell. 'But I didn't bring a dress to wear.'
'Well, that's easily remedied. The shops are still open.'
They found a clothes shop nearby and Cris bought them each a dress; Nora choosing a midnight-blue tight-skirted number with a strapless top which she obviously thought made her look very sophisticated.
She paraded before the men in it, her excitement high, while Tressy looked through the racks and chose a simple white dress with a halter neck and a skirt that gathered on the hips, falling into soft swathes down to her mid-calves. She tried it on in the fitting-room and then took it off again, letting Nora have the limelight, feeling rather guilty at having deserted her all day. There was no price tag on the dress- Tressy looked but the shop smelt expensive and for a moment she hesitated, then shrugged; what the hell, Cris wouldn't have offered to buy them if he couldn't afford it.
Cris raised his eyebrows when she came out of the fitting-room in her ordinary clothes. 'Don't you like it?'
'Yes, thanks, it's fine.'
'But you don't intend to give us a preview?' He looked amused when she shook her head. 'You'll need shoes to match, won't you?'
The assistant brought them several pairs to try, and Tressy settled for plain white high-heeled sandals while Nora picked a mixture of gold and silver. Then Michel tactfully took them to wait outside while Cris settled the bill. When he rejoined them he quite deliberately came over to Tressy and put his arm round her waist as they walked back to the boat.
After a few minutes she couldn't resist asking, 'How much did they cost, these clothes?'
'There are some questions,' he replied with laughter in his voice, 'that nice girls don't ask.' 'But I'd like to know.'
'Why?'
'Because I'm not sure I want to accept presents from you.'
'Nora doesn't seem to mind,' he pointed out mildly.
'It's different for Nora.'
'Is it? I don't see why.'
Tressy began to think that he was being deliberately obtuse. 'Nora can afford to buy anything she wants; I can't. You know that.'
His fingers tightened on her waist. 'Are you saying that buying you a dress is charity?' he demanded, his voice changing.
'Well, isn't it?'
'No, it damn well isn't! Why can't you accept it in the spirit that it was meant? I was merely providing you both with something suitable to wear so that we could go to the Casino tonight. And I had no other motives, whatever that warped brain of yours is thinking.'
Indignantly, Tressy stopped and faced him. 'All right, if that's what you want me to believe. But it would have been a darn sight cheaper to have taken us home to change and gone to the Casino in Monte,' she added tartly.
Angry now, Cris said forcefully, 'How I spend my money is my affair. And if I want to buy you presents I shall go ahead and do it.'
Her cheeks flushed. 'But I don't have to accept them!'
Cris opened his mouth to make a biting retort and Tressy was quite ready to throw the box containing her dress back at him, but both of them realised that Nora and Michel were coming up close behind them, aware that they were rowing and their eyes full of curiosity. So Cris put a hand firmly under her elbow and made her walk with him again.
When they got back to the Chimera they all went to different cabins to change, but as Tressy went to go into hers, Cris stopped her in the doorway. 'I also got these for you,' he said harshly, taking a small bag from his pocket and thrusting it into her hand. 'But perhaps you'll be more inclined to accept them if I said that I bought them so that I could put them on you myself!' And then he strode past her and went into his own cabin.
Mystified, Tressy went inside and shut the door, then opened the bag and took out a handful of delicate white lace and silk that turned out to be the most exquisite pair of panties she had ever seen, so fine that even her delighted breath blew them like a butterfly flapping its wings. How could she ever wear them? They were much too beautiful, even more delicate than the ones Nora had shown her before their holiday. Bright spots of colour came to her cheeks as she remembered Cris's gibe about wanting to put them on her himself. Well, at least he hadn't said take them off! And he wouldn't have said anything at all if she hadn't made him angry. For a moment she wondered what it would be like to have Cris undress her, his hands caressing her as they had on the raft, but then she heard Nora moving around in the next door cabin and wondered if her cousin, too, had the same erotic thoughts.
She wore the panties; no woman in her right mind could have resisted them,
and the white dress was perfect against her deep golden tan. Usually she dressed quickly, but this evening she took her time, using the hair dryer she found in the cabin to blow-dry her hair into an almost Grecian style that went well with the dress, and she had enough make-up in her bag to do a fairly professional job on her face. Any minute Tressy expected Nora to summon her to do her hair and face as well, and she was surprised when she heard the next cabin's door close behind Nora as she went up on deck. Tressy went up about ten minutes later and found them all having pre-dinner drinks, Nora in her new dress and the men in white tuxedos.
Cris was half-leaning on the rail, laughing at something Michel was saying, but the laugh died and an arrested expression came into his eyes as he saw her standing· in the doorway. Slowly he straightened up, put down his drink and came towards her, his eyes never leaving her face. Taking her hand in both of his, he raised it to his lips and kissed it lingeringly. Tressy gazed at him, her heart giving that crazy jerk again as she saw the warmth in his eyes. And suddenly the world seemed to have narrowed down to the small circle in which they stood and she was aware of nothing but Cris's nearness and the touch of his hand. The future, too, seemed somehow to be a part of the circle, all her hopes and ambitions, everything that she could want or expect from life seemed to be possible now, and she gave a long sigh of wonder. Slowly she lifted her free hand and placed it over his.
The Wings of Love Page 12