tenderness, and when it was finished they were both gasping.
‘I need my breakfast,’ Lang said in a faint voice. He was lying flat on his back, holding her hand. ‘Then I think I’ll come back to bed.’
‘Nonsense!’ she declared in a hearty voice that made him wince. ‘When the boat makes its first stop we’re going to get out and do some sensible sight-seeing.’
‘Not me. I’m staying here.’
‘All right. You stay and I’ll go. It’ll give me a chance to get to know that very tall young man who came aboard in the same group as us.’
‘You’re a cruel woman. Help me up.’
They became conventional tourists, joining the crowds to see the sights, but always chiefly aware of each other. They were the first back on board, declaring themselves exhausted and badly in need of a siesta. Then they vanished for the rest of the afternoon.
‘What shall I wear tonight?’ she mused as they were dressing for dinner.
She held up the figure-hugging
‘I thought you liked it.’
‘I do,’ he said. ‘When we’re alone. But if you think I want every other man in the place gawping at you…’
‘Fine, I’ll wear it.’
From this he could not budge her. The ensuing argument came close to being their first quarrel, but the knowledge that he was jealous was like heady wine, driving her a little crazy.
When she was dressed, he growled, ‘Don’t even look at anyone but me,’ clamping his arm around her waist to make his point.
‘I wasn’t going to,’ she assured him. ‘Unless, of course, I get up onstage.’
‘Why should you do that?’
‘They’re having a talent contest for the passengers. I thought I’d do a striptease.’
‘Try that and I’ll toss you over my shoulder and carry you off caveman-style.’
‘Mmm, is that a promise?’
‘Wait and see.’
The boat was equipped with a tiny nightclub, with a stage just big enough for modest entertainment. One by one people got up and sang out of tune, to the cheers of their friends.
‘Hey!’ A young man tapped Lang on the shoulder. ‘There’s a group of us going to sing a pop song. Want to join us?’
‘Thank you, but no,’ Lang said. ‘I can’t sing.’
‘Neither can we, but it won’t stop us. Aw, come on. Don’t you know how to have a good time?’
‘I am having a good time,’ Lang said, polite but unmoved.
The young man became belligerent. He had a good-natured, if slightly oafish face, but had drunk rather too much.
‘You don’t look it to me. It’s supposed to be a party. Come on.’
Lang made no reply but merely sat with an implacable smile on his face. At last the oaf gave up and moved away, but not before one parting shot to Olivia.
‘I feel sorry for you, luv, know what I mean? A wimp, that’s what he is.’
Olivia could have laughed out loud at such a total misreading of Lang. But she only looked the man in the eye, smiled knowingly and shook her head. He understood at once and backed off.
‘More to him than meets the eye, eh?’ he queried.
‘Much, much more,’ she said significantly.
‘Ah, well, in that case…’
He took himself off.
Lang eyed her. ‘Thank you, dragon lady, for coming to my defence.’
‘Don’t give me that. You don’t need me or anyone defending you.’
‘True, but it’s nice to know that you don’t consider me a wimp. Our vulgar friend can think what he likes.’
‘Well, you know exactly what he’s thinking.’
He grinned. ‘Yes, thanks to you he believes I’m a cross between Casanova and Romeo.’
‘He’s not the only one. Look.’
Their tormentor had joined his fellows on the stage and was whispering to them urgently, pointing in Lang’s direction.
‘Oh, no!’ Lang groaned. ‘What have you done?’
‘Given you a really impressive reputation.’ She chuckled. ‘You should be grateful to me.’
‘Grateful? Let’s get out of here.’
He hastily set down his glass, grabbed her hand and drew her away with more vigour than chivalry. By now the entire audience seemed to be in the know, and they were pursued by whistles of envy and appreciation.
Lang almost dragged her down the corridor and into their suite, where he pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely, both laughing and complaining together.
‘Olivia, you wretch! I’ll never be able to show my face again.’
‘Nonsense, you’ll be a hero.’ She chuckled, kissing him between words.
He drew her firmly down on the bed and lay on top of her, pinning her down, his eyes gleaming with enjoyment.
‘Perhaps we should discuss this,’ he said.
‘Mmm, I’d like that. But you know what?’
‘What?’ he asked with misgiving.
‘You’re acting in exactly the kind of he-man style that they’re imagining.’
‘Oh,
He rolled off her but she immediately followed until she’d rolled on top of him, thanking her lucky stars that the bed was wide enough for this kind of frolicking.
‘Now it’s my turn to be the he-man,’ she informed him.
‘I didn’t think it worked that way.’
‘It does when I do it.’
He gave her his wickedest look. ‘I’m at your mercy, dragon lady,’ he said with relish.
‘You’d better believe it.’
She began to work on his shirt buttons, opening them swiftly until she could run her hands over his chest. By the violent tremors that went through him she could tell that he loved it, but he made no move to do the same for her.
‘Are you going to just lie there?’ she demanded indignantly.
‘What else can I do? I am but a mere wimp, awaiting orders.’
‘Well,’ she said, breathing hard, ‘my orders are for you to go into action.’
‘Right!’
One swift, forceful movement was enough to demolish the front of her dress. Then she was on her back, having the rest of her clothes ripped away.
‘To hear is to obey,’ he murmured, tossing aside his own clothes and settling on top of her.
They fought it out, laughing, loving, challenging, bickering amiably, then doing it all again until they fell asleep in each other’s arms, happy and exhausted.
It was a good night.
Now and then the boat stopped and everyone went ashore for an excursion to a temple, or to view one of the famous Three Gorges dams. Lang and Olivia joined these expeditions but they were always glad to get back on board.
In the privacy of their suite they could enjoy not merely love-making but talk. To both of them it was a special joy that their pleasure in each other was not confined to passion. Huddled close, they could explore hearts and
