Read Online Island-in-Waiting by Anthea Fraser - Free Book Online

lips moved to my throat and the open neckline of my dress, hot and frighteningly insistent. In escalating panic I pushed against his chest with both hands and at last he raised his head and looked at me. He was breathing quickly and there was an ugly expression in his eyes.
    â€œWhat’s the matter? It’s no use playing the ice maiden with me, my girl. You wanted that as much as I did.”
    â€œNo!” I shook my head desperately. “No, Ray, please –”
    â€œThen why did you come to me? You like to blow hot and cold, is that it? Egg someone on and then give him the deep freeze?”
    â€œNo,” I said again.
    His mouth twisted. “Don’t fight me, Chloe. It won’t do any good.”
    The kitchen clock ticked unconcernedly into the suddenly threatening silence and I said on a high note of relief, “Your free period’s nearly over. You’d better go.”
    He glanced impatiently at his watch. “When can I see you, then? We’ll keep Saturday for the sightseeing, but –”
    I said quickly, “Ray, I really think perhaps –”
    â€œHell, I’ll have to go. We’ll fix something at college tomorrow.”
    â€œI shan’t be there.”
    â€œYou will, my sweet, believe me.”
    â€œBut it’s not one of Martha’s days.”
    He lifted a hand to caress my cheek, his smile fading as I ducked away. “Goodbye, then, Chloe. For now.”
    When he had gone I sank tremblingly on to the chair and put my hands to my face. On the table the untouched teapot still steamed. What in the name of heaven had happened to me? He was right, I had after all gone to him voluntarily-
    No! I raised my head. Not voluntarily. Numbly I thought back to my first meeting with Ray and how, after initially ruling out any physical attraction towards him, I had almost been overwhelmed by it. Could the sensation have been deliberately imposed on me, overriding my own will? It was a terrifying thought but I of all people had reason not to underestimate the power of suggestion. This afternoon it had swamped me again, but if he had relaxed his mental hold in the moment of physical contact, all my natural reserve would have come flooding back.
    I drew a deep breath. If these hypotheses had any grain of truth in them, Hugo had been right to warn me about Ray, though he could have had no inkling how dangerous our liaison could be. ‘Don’t fight me,’ Ray had said. ‘It won’t do any good. ’
    Hugo and Martha were full of praise for the chicken that evening, “especially,” Hugo commented, “since we were on starvation rations at lunch time. The girl who does the staff lunch has gone down with ’flu and so has her husband. Everything was chaotic – we had to make do with cheese and biscuits, if you please!”
    â€œNo wonder you’re hungry,” I remarked, refilling the plate he held out. “I didn’t realize you have outside caterers.”
    â€œOnly for our lunch. The boys go back to their houses but for some reason lunches aren’t provided in Staff House during the week. In any case the non-resident members don’t want to trail home at midday, so I suppose it was considered easier to feed us all together.”
    â€œWho has the contract?”
    â€œThe young married couple who run the restaurant down the road. It’s only open in the evenings, so I imagine they’re glad of the extra money providing our lunches five days a week.”
    â€œIt sounds just the kind of business I should be looking for!”
    â€œI thought you didn’t want to be burdened by overheads?”
    I smiled. “I was only trying not to run before I could walk. Anyway, I hope for your sakes order will be restored tomorrow.”
    â€œI very much doubt it. Everyone was rushing round trying to persuade the cooks in the different houses to provide a bit extra for us but they all have different