He looked down at her. 'Because I wanted you to be sure,' he said simply. 'I knew the moment I saw you. But you—you had no experience, no knowledge of the world. It was a much bigger gamble for you than me. Then—when Susie dropped clues that you were seeing other men, men more your own age—well, it was no more than I was braced for already. Do you see?'
She felt humbled. She should have made him more sure of her love than that. She took his face between her hands.
`Yes. I see. And I felt young and naïve and out of my depth so I retreated behind my pride.'
`Pride's a killer,' he agreed, kissing her.
So this was where she had to ditch her pride, Diana realised. Miles had made all the declarations so far. If they were to go forward, this was where she had to take some risks of her own.
She said painfully, not looking at him, 'Why did you leave me? After we'd spent the night together here, I mean. I—it felt as if you'd abandoned me again.'
He looked horrified.
`Oh, lord, my darling, I never thought of that. All I could think of was getting Susie and her troubles out of my hair. I took her to Athens. I told her she and Dimitri had to sort out their problems on neutral territory. Then when I came back and you were gone—I couldn't believe it. Not after that night.'
She hadn't believed it either, that apparent betrayal—not after that night. She drew a deep breath. This needed all her courage.
She cleared her throat. 'Er—Miles?'
`Mmm?' He was looking at her with a warmth that she would never have believed possible. Her whole body went into a slow burn, under that look. She could feel the blush rising.
She shut her eyes. 'I love you very much and please will you make love to me?' she gabbled.
He stood very still, then his arms went round her, tightening painfully. He gave a low laugh, and hoisted her into his arms in a sudden movement that made her squeak with alarm.
`At once,' he said solemnly.
Rather later, when the cicadas had joined the sun and there were faint, distant sounds of activity in the courtyard, Diana raised her head from his smooth brown chest and said, 'Miles, where are we going to live?'
He smiled, curling her hair round his fingers.
`The Moon? The Garden of Dreams?'
She kissed his nose. 'I'm serious. Do you want to go back to the old house in Oxford?'
`Not necessarily. Not if it has bad memories for you,' he said quietly.
`It doesn't,' she assured him. `Only...'
`Or I suppose an interior decorator wants something more stylish. A Finnish ranch with a sauna on the roof?' he suggested.
`You know perfectly well I'm not that sort of decorator. Though I'll need my own study this time,' she warned.
`Certainly,' said Miles, closing his eyes. 'Whichever room you want. I believe in female liberation. As long as you move your own things.'
Diana tickled his ribs. 'Not in my condition,' she said gleefully.
He sat bolt upright, tumbling her off his chest. She looked up at him innocently.
`Are you...?' He stopped and started again. 'Are you telling me ... ?'
`We'll need a nursery. The small room next to the top-floor bathroom, maybe. There's another manipulative Galatas on the way.'
He bent over her, kissing her as if he would never stop. Eventually she called a halt, breathless and laughing.
`You don't mind?' she asked, her last fear gone.
He was honestly amazed. 'Di, it's wonderful.' He paused suddenly. 'As long as you don't?'
She shook her head. 'I was scared when I first found out. I kept thinking that everything would be all right if only I had you to hold my hand. Now I've got you ' she kissed his shoulder '—everything will be all right. Just as long as you're with me.'
Miles tightened his embrace. 'Forever,' he told her seriously. 'Forever.'
Deceptive Passion Page 17