Victoria swallowed. There was a choice to be made: she could pull her fingers away and pretend that none of this was happening, then get in touch with Anne and tell her she was heading back to England. Or, she could court adventure, live an exciting experience and be none the worse for wear.
Part of her wanted to run; another part knew she was mesmerised and that her whole being wanted Rodolfo as she’d never wanted a man before. His fingers still covered hers. By not removing them she was tacitly sending him a signal. And all at once Victoria realised that she needed to know what it felt like to be held in a man’s arms—a man whom she found devastatingly attractive and who knew the rules of a game she was far from proficient in. When his arm slipped about her shoulders she didn’t flinch or move away but allowed him to pull her close.
‘Ah, Victoria, you are so young and so lovely, cara,’ he murmured above the purr of the yacht’s engine. He wanted her, wanted to ravish her, take her to his bed and love her. But instinct told him not to rush it. After all, she’d just lived through an extraordinarily painful set of circumstances that had not yet been fully resolved. He must take care not to make things worse. He smiled down at her. ‘We’ll drop anchor by the Malva Caves. Have you ever snorkelled?’
‘Actually, no, but I’d like to try.’
‘Then you shall. We shall discover the caves together. You will enjoy that.’
‘I would love it,’ she agreed.
‘Then come on, and let’s look at the gear. Gino,’ he called to one of the smiling bronzed crew, ‘we need some snorkelling gear for Miss Woodward. Can you see to it?’
‘Of course, Your Royal Highness. Immediately.’ The man disappeared and returned minutes later with a mask and flippers. ‘I think these should fit the signorina perfectly,’ he said.
And he was right. Soon Victoria was wearing only the tiny white bikini that she’d slipped on under her clothes. She pulled on the flippers as the yacht slowed and dropped anchor near the entrance of a large cave, excited at the thought of snorkelling. Rodolfo helped her to the side of the boat and, laughing at their comic appearance, they dropped into the water.
Victoria had no fear of the sea, as she was a good swimmer, so she followed Rodolfo towards the cave without hesitation. Through her mask she could see deep down onto the sea bed. Multicoloured fish glided below her, sea plants and shells shimmered as the sunlight illuminated the water. Then they arrived at the entrance of the cave and the sun gave way to dark shadows. Shortly afterwards Rodolfo stopped by a ledge and they rested, their arms reposing upon it.
‘It’s an amazing place,’ Victoria exclaimed, pulling up her mask and peering around at the beautiful glistening blues and greens shimmering on the walls.
‘It’s the phosphorescent stone that gives it this effect,’ he answered. ‘Are you feeling okay? Shall we continue?’
‘Great, thanks. Let’s explore further.’
They lowered their masks once more and headed into the winding passages of the cave, which Rodolfo obviously knew well.
It was as they were heading back to the entrance of the main cave that Victoria felt a sudden suction dragging her down. She swam harder, fighting against the spiralling current, her legs and arms beating frantically. But instead of abating the suction grew stronger, as though an underwater cyclone was drawing her down into the dark depths below. Rodolfo was up ahead. Soon he would be out of reach.
Victoria panicked. Naturally he thought she was following close behind—had no idea she was desperately struggling to keep her head above water. In a fraught movement Victoria struggled with her mask and air pipe and finally managed to remove them.
‘Rodolfo!’ she yelled between gulps of water, as loud as her breathless voice would carry. But he simply went on swimming. ‘Please, Rodolfo, help!’ she cried again, her strength giving out.
Just as she thought she could not go on, that the water would win this battle and suck her under, she saw him turn.
Horrified, Rodolfo swam back as fast as he could. Something was happening under the water! He’d heard of this once before, many years ago. But the phenomena had never been known to occur again, and he hadn’t thought of the caves as in any way dangerous. Diving under the gloomy water, he scooped Victoria in his arms and pulled her to the surface. She spluttered, could barely breathe, and clung to him for dear life.
‘Victoria, cara mia!’ he cried, securing her in a life-saving position and swimming with her back out into the open as fast as he could. The crew, who were watching attentively from the yacht, immediately realised that something was amiss. Within seconds Victoria was being lifted into a dinghy, where she lay in Rodolfo’s arms still fighting for breath.
‘What happened, cara? What did you feel?’ he asked anxiously, as little by little her breathing normalised and she was able to speak.
‘It was as if something was sucking me down below the surface. It was a pretty strong current that was impossible to resist…I thought I—’
‘Shush—just relax and don’t talk, cara. You’ll be all right. I feel terrible that I unwittingly subjected you to such an experience. I shall have the caves roped off against swimming. It is too dangerous. Dio, anything could have happened!’
‘Such a thing has not occurred for over fifty years, Your Royal Highness,’ one of the older crew members said as they reached the yacht.
‘I know. But I should have remembered,’ Rodolfo said, in self-reproach as he carried Victoria up the steps and on board. There he laid her carefully onto the cushions in the stateroom. At once one of the sailors brought water and cognac and Rodolfo made her drink.
‘Have some of this. It will make you feel much better,’ he said, tilting the glass towards her lips.
‘I’m fine, really,’ she whispered, trying to sit up on her elbows. ‘Just a little shocked, that’s all.’
‘I know. But now you’ll be okay.’ He brushed the hair from her face and looked into her eyes. ‘I would never have forgiven myself if something had happened to you.’
Their eyes held and Victoria felt her heart racing once more. Was he about to kiss her again? she wondered, a thrill jolting her. Even in her weakened state she longed for his touch. The answer came as his lips met hers. Not hard and hot, like the day before, but tenderly, languorously, as though seeking to know her every secret. His arms came about her and he held her close. It felt wonderful, warm and secure, and for a moment Victoria floated, forgot her troubles and luxuriated in the feel of his mouth, which moved more urgently now, plundering as she responded. Her arms slipped up around his neck and she held him, her body racked with delicious new sensations and a longing for all that she had yet to learn.
‘Victoria, I want you,’ he whispered, gazing into her eyes. ‘I want you as I have only wanted once before in my life,’ he murmured, his voice was low and husky, filled with patent desire.
The truth was she wanted him too. As she’d never wanted any man before. She had never known such want existed until now. But what would be the consequences of such an act? What would it lead to? And did she care?
As though realising that what he had just said was inappropriate in the present circumstances, Rodolfo rose and stepped away. ‘We are nearing the shore,’ he said, clearing his throat. ‘I
