Defying Drakon

by Carole Mortimer

  Which was reason enough not to give him the opportunity to touch her again this evening, at least.

  ‘Six o’clock tomorrow,’ she confirmed abruptly as she pushed open the car door and quickly stepped out onto the pavement. ‘No need to get out, Drakon; the cavalry has arrived!’ she said dryly as she turned and saw Max’s familiar black Range Rover pulling into the kerb a short distance behind Drakon’s Mercedes.

  ‘Nevertheless, I have every intention of seeing you safely to your door.’ Drakon frowned his irritation at Max’s sudden arrival as he got out of the car, his hand moving up to lightly cup her elbow as he nodded a brief acknowledgement to Max. ‘My mother would be horrified if she were ever to hear of such a shocking lack of manners on my part after she took such care to instil gentlemanly behaviour in both Markos and I,’ he teased gently when Gemini looked up at him questioningly.

  She chuckled softly as they walked to the outer door leading up to her apartment. ‘Your mother sounds utterly charming.’

  A remark that instantly caused him to wonder what his mother would make of Gemini…

  He had no doubt that Karelia would approve of Gemini’s independence and determination. Of the way she had survived the loss of first her mother and then her father in but a few years. Of the way she remained calm in the face of her stepmother’s relentless vindictiveness. And no doubt his mother would be amused by the way Gemini had quietly shown herself to be more than a match for his own indomitable will and arrogance.

  Yes, he knew his mother would approve of and like Gemini as much as Markos did.

  Drakon’s mouth compressed, and his hand dropped away from Gemini’s elbow at the thought of his cousin’s open admiration for her. ‘I will call for you at six o’clock tomorrow.’ He turned sharply on his heel and left her.

  Gemini watched the stiffness of Drakon’s back as he returned to his car, got behind the wheel and drove off without so much as a backward glance in her direction.

  Surely that couldn’t be disappointment she was feeling—especially after her earlier decision not to allow him to touch her again—just because he hadn’t so much as attempted to kiss her goodnight?

  If it was then she was already far too deeply emotionally involved with him than she’d feared…

  ‘I don’t understand…’ Gemini turned to look dazedly at Drakon the following evening as they sat in the back of the chauffeur-driven limousine he had collected her in.

  The chauffeur had just driven into what looked to be a private airport, before stopping the car beside a small, sleek jet and getting out from behind the wheel to come round and open Gemini’s door for her.

  ‘I thought you said we were going to have an early supper before going to the opera?’

  ‘We are,’ Drakon said.

  He’d already taken her breath away once tonight, when she’d opened the door to him and seen how devastatingly handsome he looked in an obviously expensively tailored black evening suit, with a snowy white shirt and white bow tie. Now he’d stunned her once again.

  Gemini stepped slowly out onto the tarmac, too surprised to do anything other than allow him to clasp her elbow as he led her up the steps into the sleek plane. ‘Where are we going?’ she asked breathlessly as she took in the opulent comfort of what she now realised must be the Lyonedes jet Drakon had mentioned.

  Four soft white leather armchairs were placed about a table where Drakon now saw Gemini seated before sitting down opposite her. There were another six armchairs for more casual seating, a thick black carpet on the floor, and an extensive bar towards the back of the cabin where a male steward stood pouring two glasses of champagne. A huge screen—no doubt where Drakon viewed some of the films they’d discussed over dinner the previous evening—took up most of the wall next to the cockpit.

  ‘You may close the door now, Malcolm, and inform Drew that Miss Bartholomew and I are ready to leave.’ Drakon smiled up at the steward as the other man placed the glasses of champagne on the table in front of them.

  Gemini decided to take a sip of the bubbly wine before she attempted to speak; her throat was feeling unnaturally dry. ‘Leave for where?’ she queried, relieved when her voice came out sounding almost normal—she felt anything but.

  How could she feel in the least normal when, instead of sitting in one of the small and expensive restaurants in London that catered to the opera crowd, she was on a private jet, the engines now roaring as the plane began to taxi down the runway in preparation for flying them off to goodness knew where?

  ‘Verona,’ Drakon told her with satisfaction as he relaxed back in his own comfortable chair.

  Gemini gave a gasp, knowing there was only one place in Verona they could possibly attend the opera—and that was the open-air amphitheatre!

  ‘I didn’t think to ask—are you nervous about flying?’ Drakon sat forward in concern as he saw the way the colour had suddenly drained from her cheeks.

  He’d had no hesitation in complimenting her earlier on how elegantly beautiful she looked this evening. She wore a simple black knee-length sheath of a dress, with a black silk shawl thrown casually about the bareness of her arms and shoulders. Her jewellery was matching teardrop emerald and diamond earrings and a slender bracelet, and the removal of the black silk shawl revealed she had on a matching necklace—an emerald the size of an English penny suspended from the clasp of a one-carat diamond nestling between the firm swell of her breasts.

  None of which detracted from the fact that the colour had now bleached alarmingly from the creaminess of her cheeks…

  ‘Gemini?’ Drakon reached across the table to grasp both her trembling hands in his.

  Her throat moved convulsively as she swallowed before speaking. ‘I—ignore me. It’s just…I’ve only ever attended the opera in Verona once before, and it was with my parents, as a treat for my twenty-first birthday,’ she revealed huskily.

  Drakon winced. He had thought Gemini would enjoy attending the opera in the Italian city—there truly was nowhere else in the world quite as magnificent as the amphitheatre in Verona for the opera. Instead he had only succeeded in bringing back memories of a happier time, when both her parents had still been alive and they had been a family.

  ‘Would you rather I instructed Drew to turn the jet around and we returned to—?’

  ‘Heavens, no!’ Gemini exclaimed as she blinked back the tears that shimmered in her eyes. But they were tears of joy rather than unhappiness. ‘For one thing, I wouldn’t dream of denying Max his night off—’

  ‘Your continued concern for my Head of Security is touching!’

  ‘And for another, I can’t imagine anything more wonderful than the opportunity to attend the opera in Verona again,’ she continued emotionally. ‘Thank you so much for arranging this, Drakon. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to this evening.’ She turned to clasp and squeeze his hands reassuringly.

  ‘You’re welcome,’ he murmured gruffly.

  ‘What are we going to see?’

  ‘Aida—don’t tell me it’s the same opera you attended with your parents,’ Drakon said heavily when she drew her breath in sharply.

  ‘Yes, it is.’ Gemini gave a shaky smile, slightly stunned by the coincidence.

  Her parents had arranged their trip to Italy six years ago, as a surprise for her, and the three of them had flown out to Venice and spent three days there before taking the train to Verona. Even then Gemini hadn’t realised what her real twenty-first birthday treat was to be, as they had enjoyed a leisurely lunch and then strolled about Verona for the afternoon, viewing the remains of the Roman amphitheatre from the outside, enjoying the romanticism of the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ balcony, and then lingering at an outside café to enjoy a delicious Italian coffee before returning to their hotel to change for the evening.

  It had been only as they’d left their hotel after an early supper, joining the hundreds of other people dressed in evening clothes and strolling towards the now brightly lit amphitheatre, that Gemin
i had realised they were going to attend Aida at the world-famous open-air amphitheatre.

  It had been an enchanted evening—beyond spectacular—with Gemini sitting with her parents in starry-eyed wonder as the evening slowly darkened and amber lights reflected the ancient theatre in all its pageantry, a perfect and magical backdrop for the magnificent voices performing on the stage.

  And tonight she was once again going to attend that magical place—with Drakon Lyonedes, of all people…

  ‘This is perfect, Drakon,’ she assured him as she smiled across at him tremulously. ‘Absolutely perfect!’

  Drakon was unable to make any response because he found himself held captive by the genuine happiness of Gemini’s smile. Those sea-green eyes appeared as warm and glowing as the emeralds that adorned her earlobes, throat and wrist, her lips were full and sensual, her hair a beautiful white-gold halo about the delicacy of her face and the slenderness of her shoulders.

  At that moment hers was a beauty that glowed brightly from within, and her pleasure and happiness were such that Drakon almost felt as if he could reach out and touch it. As he longed to reach out and touch her.

  ‘Are you ready for me to begin serving dinner now, Mr Lyonedes?’

  It was an effort for Drakon to drag his gaze away from Gemini in order to look up at the steward who stood beside the table, looking down at him enquiringly, his expression deliberately impersonal.

  Instantly Drakon was made aware of the fact that not only had he been totally captivated by Gemini seconds ago, but they were still holding hands across the table! Which was totally out of character for a man who never showed public affection—even for his family.

  ‘Are you ready to eat now, Gemini?’ He smiled tightly as he extracted his hands from within her grasp and saw the confused blush that coloured her cheeks, the way she suddenly avoided his gaze.

  She appeared self-conscious, and continued to avoid his gaze by smiling up at the steward. ‘I would just like to visit the bathroom first, if that’s okay?’

  ‘Certainly, Miss Bartholomew.’ Malcolm visibly responded to the friendly warmth of her smile. ‘If you would just like to follow me I’ll show you where it is.’

  Drakon found he was unable to stop himself from watching the soft sway of her hips as she followed Malcolm down the cabin to the bathroom, admiring the simple elegance of her appearance. The black sheath dress was a perfect foil for that elegant diamond and emerald jewellery and the pale gold colour of her hair.

  Once again he was assailed with the knowledge that Gemini Bartholomew was both a beautiful and unusual woman. Unusual in that if she was aware of that beauty—and how could she not be?—then it was not something she attempted to use to her advantage in the way most beautiful women did, as they wheedled and charmed whatever they could out of the men in their lives.

  At least, that was how the women Drakon had so far met in his own life usually behaved. And there had been many. Far too many, he acknowledged ruefully. Which probably accounted for his cynicism where all women were concerned. A cynicism he would do well to remember, he warned himself, especially when in the company of this particular woman.

  ‘That’s better.’ Gemini resumed her seat opposite Drakon, her hair newly brushed, the peach gloss on her lips refreshed. ‘It must be all the excitement,’ she added with a smile.

  Drakon raised an eyebrow. ‘I was not aware you found my company so stimulating.’

  Gemini felt a prick of disappointment that her brief absence seemed to have brought about a return of his mocking humour. Although this timely reminder of exactly who and what he was like was a good thing, when minutes ago she had felt herself enchanted by both Drakon and the evening ahead.

  ‘It was probably the champagne,’ she excused lightly.

  Those dark eyes narrowed. ‘No doubt.’

  ‘This is delicious!’ Gemini enthused once Malcolm had served their first course of asparagus tips and prawns enhanced with a delicate minted sauce.

  ‘The food is from the same restaurant that provided the meal you did not eat last week,’ Drakon revealed.

  ‘You must be one of their best customers.’

  ‘Perhaps.’

  Gemini absolutely refused to have her spirits dampened by that terse response. ‘I was far too busy to find the time to eat today, so I intend to enjoy every mouthful.’

  That dark gaze raked over her mercilessly, lingering on the emerald nestled against her breasts. She obviously had a taste for expensive jewellery—so perhaps she wasn’t so different from every other beautiful woman he knew…

  ‘No matter how busy you are, today or any other day, I very much doubt running a florist’s shop allows you to purchase such expensive jewellery.’

  Gemini stiffened at the insult she heard underlying Drakon’s tone, slowly placing her knife and fork down onto the side of her plate. ‘Exactly what are you implying?’

  Broad muscled shoulders moved in a shrug beneath his black evening jacket. ‘It was merely an observation.’

  Gemini moistened her lips and took her time before answering him. ‘I take it you’re referring to the necklace and earrings I’m wearing this evening?’

  ‘And the matching bracelet,’ he drawled.

  ‘Oh, we mustn’t forget the matching bracelet.’ Her eyes flashed the same colour as the emeralds that sparkled so brightly at her ears, neck and wrist.

  Drakon raised mocking hands. ‘There’s no reason for you to become so defensive.’

  ‘Isn’t there?’ Gemini asked. ‘What’s wrong, Drakon?’ She leant back in her chair to study him speculatively. ‘Is it that you’re regretting your decision to take me to the opera in Verona, even though you know how much I’m looking forward to it? Perhaps you would rather we didn’t go? That we asked the pilot to turn the plane around, after all, and returned to England?’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ He looked deeply irritated, his eyes very dark, his mouth a thin, angry line. ‘I was merely commenting on—’

  ‘I know exactly what you were doing, Drakon—and it wasn’t “merely” anything.’ She gave him a direct look. ‘The earrings, necklace and bracelet were my mother’s. My father gave the earrings to my mother on their wedding day, the bracelet on their tenth wedding anniversary, and the necklace on their twenty-fifth.’ Gemini frowned as she heard her own voice break emotionally. ‘My father decided to give them all to me after she died. There would have been her emerald engagement ring too, but—’ She broke off abruptly, irritated with Drakon for having succeeded in baiting her into revealing this much, and even more annoyed with herself for feeling defensive enough to speak of things that would be better left unsaid.

  ‘But what?’ Drakon prompted astutely.

  Gemini avoided that piercing dark gaze as she picked up her knife and fork again. ‘Could we just eat our dinner before it goes cold?’

  ‘The first course is meant to be served cold.’

  She shot him a fiery glance. ‘I’m trying to change the subject here.’

  ‘I am aware of that. But what?’ he repeated insistently.

  She had never before met a man who could take her through such a gamut of emotions in so short a space of time: puzzlement, excitement, pleasure, irritation, and now sheer frustration at his obvious determination that she would give him an answer to his question

  She pressed her lips together stubbornly. ‘Will there be anyone famous singing in the opera this evening?’

  ‘You will answer my question, Gemini.’

  Gemini gave a huff of incredulous laughter. ‘I really can’t believe that there are any women left who would still fall for that “me man, you woman” routine!’

  ‘Oh, but there are.’ His jaw set. ‘Some men too.’

  ‘Then more fool them,’ she came back pertly. ‘I assure you it isn’t going to work on me!’

  Drakon was certain that Gemini was using this conversation to hold something back from him. As certain as he was that minutes ago he had tried deliberately to ins
ult her in an effort to put some distance between them. In retrospect, the insult had backfired on him when she had revealed that all the diamond and emerald jewellery she was wearing this evening had once belonged to her mother, and as such obviously had a sentimental value rather than a monetary one.

  Yes, he had made a mistake by attempting to insult her, and it was a mistake he regretted—but that did not detract from the fact that he had every intention of knowing exactly what it was she wasn’t telling him.

  ‘Perhaps if I were to apologise for my earlier insensitivity?’ he said awkwardly, not used to finding himself in a position where he needed to apologise to anybody.

  ‘Perhaps.’

  He nodded in satisfaction. ‘Now you will tell me why you do not have your mother’s engagement ring.’

  Gemini looked across at him incredulously. ‘That was your apology?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘That’s really the best you can do?’

  His jaw tensed at her obvious teasing. ‘For the moment I believe so, yes.’

  She laughed softly. ‘Gosh, it’s so hard to resist when you’ve apologised so…prettily.’

  ‘Gemini!’ Drakon ground his teeth together at her obvious prevarication.

  She gave a weary sigh. ‘If you really must know…’

  ‘I believe I must, yes.’ A nerve pulsed in his tightly clenched jaw.

  Gemini’s face was once again pale. ‘I accepted the earrings, necklace and bracelet after Mummy died because my father so obviously wanted me to have things that meant so much to both of them. But I could see how painful it was for him to even think of giving me Mummy’s engagement and wedding rings.’

  Drakon nodded. ‘I can understand that.’

  He knew that his own mother kept his father’s wedding ring safely locked away in her jewellery box. Occasionally she took it out just to sit and hold it in her hands and think of the man she had loved and still did love—so deeply she had never even contemplated remarrying.

  Drakon’s gaze sharpened as he thought of Miles Bartholomew’s remarriage, and the vindictive woman who had become his second wife. ‘Where are those rings now?’