When he could bear it no longer, he tugged at her hair until she released him. "Come here, woman."
She eased up over his body, took his face between her hands, and kissed him deeply. "Now," she said with satisfaction, "now you know what a man tastes like."
"I much prefer you." He flipped her onto her back and she sprawled in the sand, her sweet laughter washing over him.
Diana wondered vaguely many minutes later how the feelings could just keep getting stronger and wilder. Her heart was finally slowing from its mad gallop and she felt as sated and sleepy as an animal lying in the sun.
"Lyon?" She ran her fingers through his thick hair.
"Ummm?"
He sounded as sleepy as she felt. "I just wanted to tell you something."
"What?"
"Your very manly bottom is going to get sun-roasted if you don't move."
He raised himself on his elbows over her.
"I suppose there is now sand everywhereand in everything."
She pushed at his chest, laughing. They swam out to the reef and back again. She didn't want to return to the house. She didn't want to lose the magic and return to reality.
Reality at the moment was too frightening.
Lyon guessed the direction of her thinking. He patted her cheek. "It will be all right. Everything will be resolved soon."
He questioned her about Grainger on their ride back to the house.
"As I told you once, he has been here on Savarol for thirteen years. I was very young when he arrived. He has never been very talkative. My father told me once that he'd lost his wife and had come from Jamaica here to escape, only he found peace here and stayed. He has always been kind to me, a bit gruff, but kind. I remember one Christmas he made me a doll from sugarcane." Diana paused, smiling at the memory. "I ate her. I would dislike it intensely, Lyon, were he responsible for all that is happening here."
Lyon had seen Grainger in quite another light, through a veil of distrust for a man whose job it was to keep human beings in line. And the man had seduced Patricia. Not very honorable.
He sighed. Or had Patricia, that little coquette, seduced him? He said, his voice pensive, "I should dislike seeing Daniel hurt."
"I too."
They parted at the house, Lyon taking the horses to the stables so Diana could have the bathtub first.
"Don't you look like a dowd!"
"Hello, Patricia. How very nice to see you. Of course it's always a pleasure to see you. Your conversation is always so very gracious and enlightening."
The two girls faced each other on the landing, Diana giving Patricia an amused look.
"You think you are so much better than I am, don't you? Just look at you."
"I will, in a few minutes, after you have finished with your compliments."
"Deborah says your face will look like old leather if you continue in your hoyden's ways."
Diana obligingly touched her fingers to her cheek. "I do believe I can already feel my skin cracking. Are you through now, Patricia?"
"He won't stay with you, he won't. He is a gentleman, and a gentleman wants a lady, not some frowzy trollop."
"This he you're talking aboutmy husband, I suppose?"
"I would wager he didn't just visit Mendenhall when he was on Tortola."