He disappeared with the lobsters and she pulled on her swimsuit, but by the time she emerged from her tent he was back again, supporting her when she found it too painful to put her foot to the ground.
Again, physical contact counteracted the soreness of her wound. She felt as though she could have walked a hundred miles with him at her side, and she could not help but fantasise about what it would have been like if there was only her and Cameron here! No lies to form a barrier between them, just overwhelming joy that they were together.
She discovered the lobsters in a tiny pool next to the one where they were to swim. ‘It makes a superb holding tank,’ he told her.
‘I’m glad you didn’t put them in here.’ She grinned as she slid into the water. Although they did have the company of a few small orange-bellied fish, which had been washed in through cracks in the rocks.
With high tide the lagoon was much deeper than the day before, and the water had been chilled by the cooler night air. It was certainly not so tempting to stay in for very long; just enough to revitalise and refresh—and be too aware of her companion for her own good!
Her foot did not hurt while she was swimming. It was not until she got out of the crystal-clear water and put her foot to the ground without thinking that her limitations made themselves felt.
Cameron’s arm was immediately beneath hers; in fact he hardly left her side. Although she hadn’t needed him while swimming, he seemed to have made it his duty to look after her.
He helped her to level ground, and quite how it happened Julie did not know, but one second they were laughing, and the next their smiles had faded and he had pulled her against him with a groan, his mouth capturing hers in a kiss that was filled with animal hunger.
Violent shock waves ran through each and every one of Julie’s veins, her nerve-endings tingling with excitement. There was no time to stop and think that it was wrong and highly dangerous, that she oughtn’t to be letting him do this. This was here and now, an instant thing that neither of them could stop.
His mouth ravaged hers, and to her horror she found herself responding, straining her pulsing body against him, unable to contain the depth of passion that shuddered through every inch of her. And although the kiss lasted for seconds only, her breathing grew as deep and erratic as if she had run around the island.
When he thrust her from him, when his eyes blazed fiercely into hers, she thought for a minute that he was going to accuse her of instigating the kiss. He seemed to be struggling to find the right words, and she was ready with her answer—until he swung abruptly away and marched back to their camp, leaving her to limp along as best she could.
In one respect Julie blamed herself. She ought to have stopped him; she ought never to have allowed the kiss, not even let their lips touch, however briefly. It had been fatal; it had been a taste of forbidden fruit, and now that she had savoured it she wanted more. She sank down to her knees and closed her eyes. How could she go on living here now? What was she to do? How could they act naturally with this mountain looming between them?
It wasn’t just the kiss, it was something more. They might as well have made love. It had been a savage declaration of their feelings which had risen from nowhere and taken them both over. A primeval act born of desperate hunger.
Cameron had never given any indication that he felt like this—unless, of course, she was reading more into it than there was? The thought shocked her to her senses. He was a healthy male animal, with a perfectly healthy male appetite. The urge had overtaken him and she was the only available female!
It needn’t have been her, it could have been anyone. They had been together for several hours yesterday, and again this morning—it was a natural enough thing to happen, given the circumstances. No man could remain celibate forever, especially someone like Cameron.
Her kaleidoscope of feelings faded, leaving a strange, bitter taste in her mouth. It could have been anyone! The thought haunted her, and yet it was the most likely explanation. Cameron had emphatically declared that he never intended getting married, that he preferred this sort of life to domesticity, but that didn’t stop him getting his pleasure when and where he could.
Julie shivered. She had come dangerously close to giving herself away; the fact that the kiss had been so short was her only saviour. Even then she hadn’t rejected him. It was an insane situation and she should never have let it happen.
But she couldn’t have been forewarned. It had taken place so suddenly, so unexpectedly. They had been laughing like children over a foolish tale he’d told her, and then—wham—a kiss to surpass all kisses.
How could such a brief touch of his lips have done this to her? The answer was simple. It was what she had hungered for almost from their first meeting—and what she could never experience again. No matter what, she had to maintain the sham of her marriage to Ian. It would crucify her even more, now that her appetite had been whetted, but she could not let her brother down.
‘Julie, are you all right?’ It was Ian walking towards her, a towel over his arm, obviously with the same intention of using the lagoon. He dropped to his knees beside her and took her face between his palms. He saw the distress in her eyes and a frown grooved his brow.
‘What’s wrong now? Cameron came storming back a few moments ago and didn’t even speak,’ he said harshly. ‘I had no idea that you were up; I thought you were still asleep. What on earth’s going on?’
Julie shook her head, trying to look rueful, trying desperately hard to hide her real hurt. ‘I guess your boss and me don’t see eye to eye.’
Ian gave a groan, his hands slid to his sides, and she could see him wishing his job goodbye.
‘But it’s nothing too serious,’ she assured him. ‘It won’t affect things here; I won’t let it.’
‘What were you arguing about this time?’ he asked worriedly. ‘Us again? Is he still asking questions? Maybe I’ve ignored things for too long. Maybe you’re right and he does—’
‘It wasn’t that this time,’ Julie cut in urgently. ‘It was—nothing really. Just a personality clash. I promise you, Ian, I’ll try not to rub him up the wrong way again.’
‘I’d appreciate that, Sis.’ He still looked excessively concerned. ‘I’m going for a dip now. I’d like it if when I came back you two were friends.’
Julie nodded, not really knowing what else to do.
‘How’s your foot?’
‘I’ll live,’ she acknowledged wryly.
‘Can you walk?’
‘Yes, thank you.’
He helped her to feet. ‘I never expected you to hate Cameron. I know you’ve been anti-men for years, and I know Roger didn’t help, but I did think that—’
‘I don’t hate him,’ she interrupted swiftly and firmly.
His smile was weak. ‘I wish I could believe you.’
‘It’s the truth. Ian. It really is.’
He looked into her eyes for a long, long time, and finally seemed satisfied. ‘I’ll see you later, Sis.’
Julie’s footsteps got slower and slower as she limped back to camp. She was in dire pain, but more troubling still were thoughts of the reception she would get. What sort of mood would Cameron be in?
To her amazement, he was grilling sausages for their breakfast. His white trunks had been replaced by blue shorts and shirt, a tea-towel was tied around his waist and the inevitable mocking-birds were pecking around for scraps of food. He looked at Julie as she came up to him, his face impassive, with no glimmer of any sort of emotion.
‘I can do the breakfast,’ she said.
His eyes derided her. ‘When your foot’s better. Why don’t you get dressed? Or is it your intention to put more temptation my way?’
He was blaming her! The sharpness of his words cut deep and her eyes flashed. ‘If you’re insinuating that I asked for that kiss then you’re far wide of the mark.’
‘Am I?’ Mocking brows lifted. ‘If you didn’t want the kiss why didn’t you stop me? Some
thing tells me that—’
Julie cut into his words furiously. ‘Of course I didn’t want you to kiss me. It’s the last thing I’d want. And let me tell you this, Mr Storm, I do not think much of men who go around kissing married women.’
With that parting shot she spun on her heel and headed for the privacy of her tent. In her anger she forgot her foot. She put it to the ground and creased in agony as pressure on the wound sent a pain searing up her leg, stumbling as she recovered her balance, hurrying away as fast as her foot and her dignity would let her.
In her tent, she flopped down on her camp-bed. Tears filled her eyes. His kiss had unlocked the floodgates. How was she going to cope now?
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE days that followed were some of the most uncomfortable Julie had ever spent. Cameron’s kiss had triggered within her such violent emotions that it was difficult to keep them suppressed. One look at him had her stomach churning until she began to feel quite ill, and the times she relived the kiss were too numerous to count.
The one blessing was that he and Ian were out most of the time. An awning had been rigged over a makeshift desk and she began to type out Cameron’s book. It made fascinating reading and some of his observations were extremely witty. It was a pity, she thought, that she rarely saw this side of him.
She swam in the lagoon whenever she got too hot, washed her clothes there—it made an ideal washing place because the tide changed the water twice a day-collected water from the still, which she then refrigerated, and sometimes simply sat watching the antics of the birds and the iguanas.
There was always something going on among the numerous fearless creatures which colonised the islands, and constantly she had to chase the sandy-coloured mocking-birds away from their food tent, their long legs carrying them along at astonishing speed.
It pleased her that Ian was content. He came back to their camp each evening tired but happy, and there was no repeat of his migraine. In this respect she had no regrets about coming out here.
Cameron, too, was in good humour. The kiss certainly wasn’t on his conscience, and Julie thought she had done a good job of hiding her own feelings until one evening after supper, when Ian had gone to his tent to write up his notes. Cameron looked at her speculatively and said, ‘You’re not looking well, Julie.’
So far he had avoided personal issues. Ever since that eventful morning he had spoken only about his work and given her whatever instructions he felt necessary each day. Now, sitting together in the dusky night air, Julie felt a stirring of unease.
‘I’m all right,’ she answered, smiling brightly and, she hoped, convincingly.
‘Is your foot still troubling you?’
‘No.’ she shook her head. ‘Well, not much anyway.’
‘Aren’t you happy here? Is the island too quiet? Are you missing the company of others? If that is the case——he gave her no chance to deny it ‘—if you’re hating it so much that you cannot hide your feelings, then I suggest you leave. I’ll radio for the boat and you can return to England as soon as practical.’ His blue eyes were intent on hers. ‘Ian also, of course.’
His unexpected words hit her like an icy blast and Julie knew she had to be quick to rescue the situation. Ian would never forgive her if she spoilt things for him now. ‘I never said I hated it.’
‘Not in so many words.’
‘But I don’t,’ she insisted. ‘I like it here. It’s different and interesting and—and I like it, I really do.’
Cameron’s eyes narrowed and he looked at her for a long, thoughtful moment.
‘There’s something about these islands that has captured my imagination,’ she added. ‘I don’t want to go home.’
‘I admit you gave that impression the day I took you exploring,’ he agreed. ‘So it leaves only one other explanation for your attitude.’
Julie’s heart hammered uncomfortably. He had obviously known all along what was the matter with her. ‘How do you expect me to behave,’ she asked brittly, ‘after what you said? I object most strongly to you laying the blame for the kiss in my court. I certainly didn’t invite it.’
‘No?’ he queried, eyes cruelly searching.
‘Most definitely not.’ Her chin came up.
‘Maybe you did it unconsciously? Maybe you’re so used to using your body for good effect that it’s second nature? You’re a highly dangerous lady, Julie Drummond. It’s no wonder men are attracted to you.’
‘I beg your pardon?’ Such damning words! ‘Highly dangerous’ indeed! What was he talking about? She had never been guilty of being provocative in her life; it wasn’t in her nature.
‘Jake, for instance?’ he rasped. ‘And goodness knows how many others before. Are you ever true to one person, Julie? You admitted yourself that there had been others at the same time as you were going out with Ian.’
‘I think you’re crazy,’ she said sharply. ‘I think you’re trying to cover up your own weakness.’
Blue eyes narrowed warningly. ‘Weakness, Julie?’
‘Yes, weakness,’ she snapped. ‘Only a man with no self-control would kiss a—a woman who isn’t free.’
His mouth curved into a sneer. ‘Or only a frustrated woman would kiss another man. Is sleeping in separate tents having a profound effect on you?’
‘Of course not.’ She sat a little bit straighter.
‘Is that so?’ he asked coolly, and with a certain amount of humour.
‘We’re—very discreet,’ she told him.
‘Really?’ His lips twitched at the corners and Julie knew that he didn’t believe a word she said.
She drew in a ragged sigh. If she had known how difficult it was all going to be she would certainly have had second thoughts about agreeing to Ian’s suggestion. Not only second, but third and fourth as well. It was an impossible situation, becoming more and more volatile with each day that passed.
It was completely dark by now; the only light was from Ian’s solar lamp. She observed his outline through the canvas and wondered what he would say if she told him that Cameron had asked questions about their love-life. Would he be equally as alarmed, or would he shrug that off the same as he had everything else?
Julie slept little that night and woke with heavy eyes and a feeling of desperation. A swim in the lagoon did nothing to help, and when Cameron met her coming back she was subjected to his critical gaze yet again.
‘Another stolen night of love?’ he taunted.
She flashed her eyes and said nothing, but she felt uncomfortable over breakfast, especially when he kept looking at her with that same amused expression on his face. Had he sat up all night and watched? Did he know that she hadn’t moved out of her tent?
When the two men had gone she sat down and tried to recover her composure, wishing her own feelings were as still and untroubled as the calm waters of the bay. When a boat appeared she watched with interest, especially when it dropped anchor and a dinghy began to make its way slowly towards the shore.
At first she thought it was Jake, and her heart beat uneasily. She knew that Cameron would instantly assume it was because of her he had come back. But then she realised it wasn’t Sea Lady at all, but another similar vessel, and as the dinghy got closer she could see that there was more than one person on board.
‘Ahoy there!’ shouted a cheerful young man, the first to jump ashore. ‘We were told this island was uninhabited. Who are you, Girl Friday?’
Julie grinned. He was blond and fresh-faced, wearing nothing but a pair of denim cut-offs, his handsome body oiled and deeply tanned. ‘My name’s Julie,’ she said. ‘I’m with two others, scientists, doing some research on the island.’
He looked impressed. ‘Do you mind if we come ashore?’
‘Not at all,’ she told him. There were three of them, two young men and a girl, all with blonde hair, all cheerful, and obviously thoroughly enjoying themselves.
But whereas Julie had expected them to stay for an hour or so and then depart, they a
ctually announced their intention of setting up camp on the island.
‘There’s only this beach, I’m afraid,’ Julie told them.
‘That’s all right, we’ll take the other end,’ said Rick, the one who had first spoken to her. He was sublimely unaware of the fact that he could be disturbing them. ‘I bet you could do with some company.’
Julie got no typing done that day. Rick and Lee, who were brothers, invited her to join them, and Alex, their cousin, opened a bottle of wine. Julie could not help but like them. They were a friendly group, who welcomed her warmly into their midst.
Time passed so quickly that Cameron and Ian were back before she had even begun to prepare their evening meal.
Cameron’s expression was thunderous when he saw their visitors, and Julie sitting chatting to them as if she had known them all her life. ‘What’s going on?’ he demanded as he strode into their camp.
Julie sprang to her feet. ‘This is Rick and—’
‘I don’t want to know who they are,’ he bellowed, ‘I want to know what they are doing here.’
‘We’re on holiday,’ said Rick politely.
‘In that case I’d be obliged if you’d go and holiday somewhere else.’ Cameron stood tall and broad, and glowered down at the three younger people in his most intimidating manner. ‘I trust you’re aware of the fact that you cannot go tramping willy-nilly around these islands?’
‘Indeed we are,’ answered Rick, still with respect, and Julie admired his constraint. He was about twenty-five, very good-looking and almost six feet tall.
‘Nor can you stay here,’ insisted Cameron
Rick frowned. ‘Why not?’
‘Because we’re here.’
‘But the island’s not private.’
‘No,’ admitted Cameron, ‘but I like my privacy. I want you off here straight away. I have work to do.’
‘I promise we’ll keep to our end of the beach,’ said Rick. ‘We’ll not get in your way.’
Stolen Feelings (Island Romances) Page 9