'You forgot the sweet music,' she murmured.
'No, I didn't.' Daniel made his way to the hi-fi, touched a switch and immediately there was the faint background sound of violins. 'How's that?'
'Perfect,' she said, her lips quivering. 'You haven't missed a trick.'
He'd seated himself opposite her and looked up to find her eyes, full of fun, fixed on him. 'You're very disheartening,' he growled, 'when I'm doing my best.'
'Daniel, I think it's all wonderful, I really do. But I can't see what I'm eating.'
Grumbling, he got up again and put on the light. By the time he'd turned back to her she'd managed to rearrange her face in sober lines.
'What shall we talk about?' he demanded despondently. 'The stock market? The state of the country? You name it.'
'Did Phoebe show you my pictures of her?'
'Yes, I think they're wonderful. And I'm very grateful for whatever it was you said to her.'
Lee stared at him. 'What do you mean? Didn't she tell you what I said?'
'No, and I was tactful enough not to ask. But you must have discouraged her pretty thoroughly because she's been sunk in thought.'
Lee frowned. 'I don't think I could say I discouraged her. I warned you I'd give her the truth if she asked for it, and she did.'
She related as much of the conversation as she could remember. 'I did emphasise what a hard life it is, and how uncertain,' she said at the end. 'But I couldn't compete with her in an argument, especially when she started throwing legal maxims at me.'
'Tied you in knots, did she?' Daniel asked sympathetically. 'She does that with me. Don't worry, darling. She's got it out of her system now.'
They put the dishes in the kitchen and stood with their arms entwined while the coffee perked. Daniel carried the coffee-tray back into the dining room and placed it on a low table by the sofa. Then he pulled Lee down beside him and gave her a swift kiss before pouring her coffee. As he handed it to her he studied the slight frown on her face.
'What is it?' he asked, concerned.
'Nothing. I just think Phoebe's going to give you a surprise. She's as stubborn as you are.'
'Forget it,' he said with a smile. 'I've never had to become the heavy father to win battles with Phoebe. I rely on low cunning. It's far more effective.'
'How?' asked Lee, who'd always found that, however low her own cunning, Sonya's was lower.
'When she was little we had the classic struggle about her going to sleep.'
'And you won it?' Lee asked, wide-eyed.
'It was a push-over,' he declared cheerfully. 'I just used to bet her fifty pence she couldn't stay awake all night. The poor little soul used to lie there fighting to keep her eyes open, and she'd be asleep within ten minutes.'
Lee was awed. 'Now I know you're a genius.'
He grinned and poured her a brandy. 'I'm full of dirty tricks like that. I'll teach them to you when we have our children.'
'You're taking a lot for granted,' she said, speaking lightly to disguise the jolt his words gave her.
'Am I? You know I want to marry you, and now I'm in a mood to kidnap you and carry you off to church. I want to see my ring on your finger and my baby in your arms.'
'Don't I get a choice about that?'
He smiled in self-mockery. 'You can choose, darling-as long as you choose me. I've waited, and I'll go on waiting if I have to.' He drew her gently into his arms. 'But, for both our sakes, don't make me wait too long,' he murmured.
She wasn't sure how to answer this, but his kiss made words unnecessary. The pressure of his lips was tender and gentle, coaxing her to relax and welcome him. Yet behind it she could feel the strength of purpose. As soon as she began to kiss him back his arms tightened. His tongue coaxed her lips apart and she let him invade her. Delicious sensations were filling her, making her body come alive with desire. It was something she'd never wanted to feel again, and yet it was so beautiful that she couldn't regret it.
For years she'd lived celibate from choice, trying to believe it was enough. Now she knew that she'd made an old woman of herself too soon, and that it was a crime against her young, ardent flesh. It was a crime also against her heart, which wanted to swell with joy at her lover's embrace, as it did now.
Daniel held her for a long time, kissing and caressing her, gently rousing her desire without rushing her. She had what she needed, which was time to relax, to move at her own speed, while still knowing that he was in control, and she could trust him.
'Lee, my darling…' he murmured at last. 'I want you so much…'
'Yes,' she whispered. 'Yes…'
At once he rose, lifting her off the sofa and cradling her against his chest. Despite her weight he almost; ran up the stairs and kicked open the bedroom door.
He undressed her slowly, touching her with reverent hands. In his arms she felt precious, valuable. How different from Jimmy's selfish lust, which had taught her to shrink from sex. But then she banished Jimmy. He had no place in the miracle that was happening now. Daniel's worshipful ardour enclosed her, shutting out all thoughts but him.
When they lay naked together he kissed her body all over. His movements were gentle but his arms about her were strong, as though he wouldn't risk her escaping. Even then she could sense the determined, possessive male behind the smooth exterior. A predator, she thought hazily, but a delightful predator- a tender, loving predator, such as every woman dreamed of but so few were lucky enough to find.
And then the moment came when she was one with him, and everything was perfect. She'd been half afraid that it would feel strange and unwelcome, that her own fear might cause the ultimate union to destroy the love that had been quietly growing between them. But now all fear fled away. How could it feel strange to love Daniel when he understood her so well and cared for her with such sensitivity? His concern was all for her.
She could feel the effort it cost him to leash back his own passion until she was ready, but he didn't fail her. She had a glorious sense of ease, of relaxing even in the midst of mounting excitement, and when the final moment came she yielded to it readily, knowing that this was right as nothing in her life had been right before. The cry she gave was not only of passion, but also of wonder and gratitude.
He held her for a long time, kissing her tenderly until her flesh had stopped quivering and some of her shattered sensations were restored to normal.
'Are you all right, darling?' he whispered.
'Perfectly all right-and so happy,' she said in a choking voice.
'I warned you, didn't I?' he said with his gentle, heart-stopping smile. 'I'm ruthless when it comes to getting what I want.' He ran his hand down until his fingers were caressing the satin skin of her flat stomach. 'Who knows?' he mused wistfully. 'I might already have you in my net?'
'No,' she said gently. 'Don't build up your hopes, Daniel. I'm not pregnant.'
'You can't really be sure of that.'
'Yes, I can. Completely sure.'
He pulled back a little and looked down at her appraisingly. 'I didn't really take you by surprise at all, did I?' he asked at last.
'Not a bit.'
'You came prepared?'
'That's right. I had a few last-minute qualms tonight, but I made my decision days ago.'
'Which means I'm not the wily seducer I was priding myself on being?'
"Fraid not!'
His fingers were still tracing a gentle path in circles that narrowed down as they neared the tops of her legs. His eyes were alight with self-mocking humour.
'To think of all the trouble I went to tonight-soft lights, sweet music. And all the time I was trying to lure you into my trap you were actually two steps ahead of me, wondering why I was taking so long.'
Lee joined in his laughter and shifted her position slightly so that his fingers naturally found their way home. She stretched luxuriously and slipped her arms round his neck before saying, 'Let's say I made my own choice. I'm here because it's where I want to be.'