The river lord

by Kay Thorpe

  She was silent for a long moment, searching his face with a dawning realisation. 'You really love me,' she said at last. `Is that what you're telling me?'

  `Didn't I say it yet?' He laughed softly, running his fingertips down the long line of her throat to follow the curve of her breast. 'I'm crazy about you, green eyes; red hair and all ! I started wanting you the minute I saw you getting off the boat from Balem, only I didn't bargain for mixing business with pleasure. Finding you aboard the Dorita that morning was like showing a red rag to a bull. The only reason I let Mark win me over to taking you with us was because I basically wanted the same thing. I'd met women intent on getting their own way before, but never one who bounced back the way you did. I had an uncontrollable urge to make you regret every minute of that trip !'

  `You very nearly succeeded,' Keely acknowledged. 'I've never hated anyone as much in my life !' Her voice softened. `Or been so confused. You don't know what it was like both trying to steer clear of you and wanting to be with you all the time. You were so brutal !'

  `So you kept telling me. If you'd shown a little less fight things might have gone easier, but whenever I showed the least sign of letting up on you, back came the aggression. There were times I was very nearly convinced you wanted me to take you forcibly. You asked for it practically every time you opened your mouth.'

  `It must have been the environment,' she murmured. 'You Tarzan, me Jane !' She caught laughingly at his hand. 'Pax !' The smile melted into something else as she looked deep into the grey eyes. 'Greg, I still can't quite believe it. I've longed for you every waking minute these last few weeks, and now you're here making love to me and I'm sure I'm dreaming.'

  `I could prove you're not,' he said on a wryly humorous note, 'but I made myself a promise while we were in that taxi. Considering which, I think it might be safer if we got up.' He was pressing himself to his feet as he spoke, sliding an arm under her knees and another under her shoulders to lift her again. 'Come on, wench, before I lose sight of my finer instincts and make a meal of you. We'll do our talking in the other room.'

  Keely nestled her head into his shoulder as he carried her through the door back to the living room. Considering the state of her own emotions he was being more than forbearing. 'I love you,' she whispered. 'Even more for this. You knew I couldn't have said no.'

  Now she tells me.' He bent his head and kissed her between the brows as he sat down in the chair he had not long ago vacated, pulling her into his arms and holding her close for a moment. 'I might be wrong, but something tells me you'd rather have it this way. Only it had better not be long. I'm not made of stuff that stern.'

  `I'm glad to say.' She laughed very softly. 'I'd hate to think you found it easy to wait.'

  `You mean you want me to suffer?'

  `Just a little for all you put me through out there. Retaliation is sweet.'

  `Sadistic little devil,' he growled. 'Just don't overplay your hand, that's all. I love you, but my priorities might get mixed.' There was a pause, long and emotive, before he spoke again. 'You never answered my question,' he said with his lips caressing the line of her jaw. 'Can you be happy married to somebody like me?'

  `I don't know,' she answered frankly. 'I only know I can't be happy without you. Perhaps we'll gradually effect a compromise. According to Mark, that's what human relationships are all about.'

  `When did you discuss the subject with him?'

  `Just before you turned up.' She hesitated, not sure of his reaction. 'He told me a little about your background.'

  `Did he?' A frown momentarily creased his forehead, then was gone. 'Well, I suppose you're entitled to know what kind of stock I spring from, though I'd have preferred to do the telling myself. That old devil knew what was

  bringing me back to England after all these years, of course. Leaving us to do our sorting out alone was his way of contributing. You gained his very highest regard during the time we all spent together.' His lips twisted. 'Come to think of it, you had all three of us hogtied. Seen anything of Jason since you got back?'

  `A couple of times,' she admitted. 'He's getting over it.' `He'd better. Anyway, you don't see him again unless I'm there with you. Right?'

  `Right.' It was time to change the subject. She put her hand up to trace the line of his mouth with a fingertip, loving him with a desperation she could scarcely contain. `You might say we start off even where family unity is concerned. My parents couldn't make the distance either. That doesn't have to mean we stand less chance ourselves.' She smiled. `I'm hardly likely to even look at other men when I've got you.'

  `You can look. Just don't let me catch you encouraging. If my father hadn't turned a blind eye to what started off as mild flirtations he might have stood more chance of keeping his wife.' His voice had a note of deliberation. 'I warn you, I'm going to be a jealous husband. Fidelity might be considered old-fashioned by today's standards, but I'm not looking for approbation from the so-called progressives. You're mine and you're going to stay mine. I'd kill any man who tried taking you away from me.'

  It was going to take a long time to eradicate the damage his mother had done, Keely realised. He might be half joking now, but the deep-down fears were still there. She'd be equal to the task because she had to be—let it take a lifetime to convince him

  `Greg, I love you,' she said. 'If I could fall in love with the worst side of you, imagine how I'm going to react to your best.'

  Humour glinted suddenly in his eyes. 'Who says I've got a better side? Maybe this is all there is to me.'

  Her brows had contracted, but her mouth was soft and full. 'Brute ! I must be mad to consider putting myself in your hands.'

  `Completely.' He kissed her with satisfying thoroughness, then put her firmly down to the floor at his knees. 'Stay there, will you. I'm not too sure of my ability to go the distance myself right now.' With his fingers in her hair he added, 'How do you fancy a honeymoon in Africa? I've a yen to visit the Great Rift Valley.'

  `Wonderful!' Her eyes were half closed, cheek resting against his knee. 'I wonder if Ben would be interested in a view through rose-tinted spectacles?'

  `I said a honeymoon, not a working trip. You can forget Ben's interests.'

  Keely didn't look at him. 'The money might be useful. I don't know how much you got for the Dorita, but coming over here must be making quite a hole in it. Africa could pay for itself.'

  `Not that way.' He put a hand under her chin and lifted her face towards him. He was smiling. 'I sold the Dorita for two reasons. One because she'd outlived her usefulness, two because it was a quick way of getting some ready cash. I'm a long way from being destitute, honey. I retained enough of an interest in the family business to provide for both of us where necessary. Carry on with your job by all means later. Ben said this morning he's offered you a roving report.' He paused. 'By the way, I told him you wouldn't be taking the Colombian job. Any objections?'

  `You know I haven't.' She studied him a moment. 'What did he say?'

  He grinned. 'Wished me luck and sent you his blessings. He seemed to think you'd been pining a bit since you got back.'

  `And you immediately took it that you were the cause.'

  `Let's say I hoped I was. The way you looked at me when

  I joined you and Mark I began to have grave doubts.' `Self-defence. I wasn't sure why you were there, even if

  Mark was. No doubts now?'

  `No. You're a convincing respondent.'

  Green eyes took on an impish sparkle. 'A full-blooded woman?'

  `Not quite,' he said softly. But soon.'

 

 

 
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