Free The Greek Tycoon's Achilles Heel by Lucy Gordon Page A

Miss Radnor is a celebrity,’ he said. ‘Tell me about her.’
    They plunged in, making Petra groan with embarrassment. They were Angela and George, they belonged to The Cave Society and had only just arrived in Athens.
    ‘Our President told us that he’d written to you,’ Angela bubbled. ‘You will accept our invitation to come to the island, won’t you? It would mean so much to us to have a real figure of authority.’
    ‘Please,’ Petra said hastily, ‘I am not a figure of authority.’
    ‘Oh, but you—’
    It went on and on. Petra began to feel trapped. Vaguely she was aware that Lysandros’s phone had rung. He answered and his face was instantly full of alarm.
    ‘Of course,’ he said sharply. ‘We’ll come at once.’ He hung up. ‘I’m afraid there’s a crisis. That was my secretary to say I must return immediately, also Miss Radnor, whose presence is essential.’
    With a gesture he summoned the waiter, paying not only for his meal and hers but whatever their guests had consumed.
    ‘Good evening,’ he said, rising to his feet and drawing her with him. ‘It’s been a pleasure meeting you.’
    They made their escape, running until they were three streets away. Then, under the cover of darkness, he pulled her into his arms.
    ‘Now!’ he said.

CHAPTER FIVE
    P LEASURE and relief went through her. She had wanted this so much, and now everything in her yearned towards him. Her mouth was ready for him but so was every inch of her body. As he grasped her, so she grasped him, caressing him with hands and lips.
    ‘How did you arrange for the phone to ring?’ she gasped.
    ‘It didn’t. I simply pressed a button that set the bell off, then I pretended to answer. I had to get you away from there, get you to myself.’
    He kissed her again, and his kiss was everything she’d wanted since their meeting. Nothing else in her life had been like it. Nothing else ever would be. It was the kiss she’d secretly longed for since he’d cheated her with a half-kiss all those years ago.
    ‘What have you done to me?’ he growled. ‘Why can’t I stop you doing it?’
    ‘You could if you really wanted to,’ she whispered against his mouth. ‘Why don’t you…why don’t you…?’
    ‘Stop tormenting me—’
    At that she laughed. Why should she make it easy for him?
    ‘Siren—witch—’
    But his lips caressed her even as they hurled names at her.He was in the grip of a power stronger than himself, and that was just how she wanted him.
    From far in the distance an unwelcome sound broke into her joy. It came closer and she realised that a crowd of youngsters had appeared at the end of the street, singing, dancing, chanting up into the sky. Then she recalled that this was European Music Night, when Athens was filled with public celebration.
    The crowd passed them, offering good wishes to a couple so profitably engaged. Lysandros grasped her hand and began to run again, but there was no escape. Another crowd appeared from another side street, and another. Seeking an exit, they found themselves in an open square where a rock band was playing on a makeshift stage.
    ‘Where can you get privacy in this place?’ Lysandros roared.
    ‘You can’t,’ Petra cried. She was laughing now, every nerve in her body thrumming with joy. ‘There’s no privacy; there’s only music and laughter—and whatever else you want—’
    ‘It’s not funny,’ he growled.
    ‘But it is, it is—can’t you see—? Oh, darling, please try to understand—please try—’
    He relented and touched her face. ‘Whatever you say.’
    He wasn’t quite sure what he meant by that, but he knew they’d come to a place where she was at home, sure-footed, able to lead without faltering. A wise man would accept that and, since he prided himself on his wisdom, he did the sensible thing and let her lead him into the dance.
    All about them the other couples swung around, while the band hollered. He knew nothing except that he was looking