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His eyes glinted in the silvery light. ‘In good time, my little friend, there’s no hurry.’

A pair of lovers walked by, arms entwined, feet kicking the soft sand, laughing, kissing, oblivious of the two still figures.

‘An admirable example,’ said Vane softly. He tilted her chin and kissed her, his lips moving gently, expertly, with none of the violence with which he had assailed her last night.

Debra felt her whole being set on fire, but resolutely stood mute. She had no intention of giving herself away again. If and when she allowed herself to become involved it would be with a man who loved her, not someone to whom the whole thing was an experiment, a game he was playing.

As he sensed her resistance the pressure of his mouth increased, her lips were forced apart as he furiously attacked her defences. There was no escaping, no matter how she struggled, and after a few minutes she found she did not want to.

Of their own volition her hands again crept behind his head, her fingers mingling in his short wiry hair. Emotions ran riot inside her and she knew she wanted this kiss to go on for ever.

When Vane’s mouth left hers to trace its way across her face, kissing her cheeks, her eyes, her ears, she revelled in every second, her eyes closed, her head sunk back on her shoulders.

When he stopped she felt bereft and hardly without thinking lifted her face for a further kiss.

He smiled softly and obliged, and for a few long minutes Debra was lost in a new and wonderful world. His was the touch of an expert. He knew exactly what he was doing, and she had no notion to resist.

Finally he pushed her away. ‘I think that’s enough—for now. For a girl who didn’t want to be made love to you certainly made a quick about turn.’

She said tightly, defensively, ‘I expect you have no trouble in making anyone give in to you— sooner or later.’

‘You little bitch!’ he snarled. ‘You make it sound as though I kissed you for the sheer fun of it!’

‘Well, didn’t you?’ she cried. ‘There’s no other reason that I know of. You’ve got your own way with Liz and now you’re trying me out.’

‘If I weren’t a gentleman,’ he gritted, eyes blazing, ‘I’d hit you!’

‘A bit too near the truth, am I?’ Debra goaded.

‘Shut up, damn you!’ he muttered, gripping her shoulders and shaking her violently.

‘Let me go!’ she shouted. ‘Never put your hands on me again, Vane Oliver—you’ve had all you’re ever likely to get from me!’

The fact that his kisses had thrilled her made her all the more angry. She had weakened, allowed herself to be swayed by this man, and because there could be no future in it, it had to stop, right now.

She was quivering passionately and when he abruptly let her go she fell on to the sand.

Without even sparing her another glance he strode back to his car. She heard the engine start and then his voice roar into the darkness. ‘If you’re not in this car within ten seconds I’m going without you.’

Her first thoughts were to remain where she was, but they were a long way from home. Reluctantly she climbed in beside him, sitting stiff in her seat, clinging to the edge as he drove furiously back to the villa.

Vane
left for the office without Debra the next morning. In fact he had gone when she went in to breakfast.

She had spent a restless night worrying about their argument, knowing she had spoilt their evening, but deciding that he deserved it with his despicable behaviour.

Worrying too about Liz. She wanted to stay at home and look after her, but Lin Dai assured her there was nothing she could do, and wouldn’t Mr Oliver be annoyed if she did not go?

Debra could not dispute this, but it was with reluctance that she left the sleeping girl to catch the railway car.

The top of the Peak was shrouded in mist, as it so often was, and the cool morning air made her head feel clearer, so that by the time she reached her destination things did not look so black as they had on first waking.

It was not until she walked into the office that she remembered Vane was supposed to accompany her today on her round of visits.

Her spirits sank. If he was still in the same black mood it would be a far from pleasant experience.

It was gratifying therefore when Mr Fu informed her that Vane had left his car at her disposal, he himself having gone to mainland Kowloon on the Mass Transit Railway.

This underground railway system was a new innovation, and having heard of it Debra was keen to try it for herself. Perversely she wished she could have gone with him, consoling herself with the fact that there would be another time.

His big car took some getting used to, and by the end of the day Debra was 'exhausted. All the factories she visited appeared to be doing the work quite satisfactorily, and she looked forward to reporting to Vane that all was well.

But when she got home he still had not returned. Liz was up, though, still looking pale and shaky, but assuring Debra that she felt much better.

‘Why didn’t you tell me you were ill?’ she scolded gently.

The girl shrugged and said nothing, and Debra decided not to press the matter. Liz obviously had her own reasons for remaining silent.

The two of them spent a quiet evening reading and listening to records, Liz constantly asking when Vane would be back, and Debra unable to answer.

She was relieved in one way that he was out. It had been a long time since she and Liz had spent any time together, though they were not as matey as they had been.

There was only one person to blame for that, thought Debra, and her heart hardened.

The next day was Saturday, but from force of habit Debra rose early and was eating her breakfast when Vane came into the room.

He had washed and shaved, but wore nothing more than a short crimson silk dressing gown, his feet pushed into leather-thonged mules. He greeted her warmly enough, even though they had parted in anger two nights ago.

‘Good morning, Debra. You’re an early bird, considering you don’t have to go to work.’

‘I was awake,’ she said crisply, ‘what point was there in staying in bed?’

‘Some people do,’ he replied, joining her at the table. ‘I’m glad Liz is better. I just looked in, she’s almost her normal self.’

His nearness disturbed her, made her speak more sharply than she intended. ‘I wish you wouldn’t go to her room.’

He frowned, helped himself to coffee. ‘She’s not complained, and she has been ill—I’m not completely heartless.’

Debra raised her fine brows. ‘I don’t suppose she would.’ Accidentally his bare leg touched hers beneath the table, and it was as though a charge of electricity ran through her. She shot back in her seat, staring at him with wide shocked eyes.

‘Now what?’ he rasped angrily. ‘I’ve not seduced her, if that’s what’s on your mind. I find her excellent company, very entertaining—more than can be said for her friend.’

‘I’m sorry if you consider me a boor,’ she said distantly, ‘but you know the reason why.’

‘I sure do,’ he replied wearily, ‘and I’m sick and fed up hearing the same old story. When are you going to get over your prejudice?’

She glared hostilely, wishing he wore something more civilised. Glimpsing his bare chest did nothing to stabilise her emotions. Her quickened pulses told their own story—she was relieved he had no way of knowing what was going on inside her. The cold front she projected was sufficient, she hoped, to convince him that they would never see eye to eye.

‘When are you going to stop playing around with Liz?’ she demanded. ‘How do you think she’s going to feel when you finally reject her?’

‘As though it’s the end of the world,’ he jeered. ‘Isn’t that what you’re thinking? I shan’t walk out of her life completely, Debra, credit me with more chivalry than that.’

She sniffed sceptically. ‘So long as I stay in this job, I suppose. What happens if I leave?’

Vane’s eyes narrowed. ‘Are you thinking of it?'
and his voice came sharp and jerky.

‘I could be,’ she said slowly. In actual fact the thought had never entered her mind, but it interested her to see his reaction.

‘Why?’ he snapped, then, 'I’ll raise your salary.’

She smiled politely, coolly. 'I’m perfectly happy with what I’m getting, Mr Oliver. It’s just you I’m not happy about.’ She held her breath, expecting an explosion. He would never let her get away with such rudeness.

His jaw tightened and a pulse jerked. ‘You deserve a damned good hiding!’ he grated, silver eyes like chips of ice. if you weren’t important to the smooth running of my business I’d throw you out. My God, didn't your mother teach you any manners?’

‘I seem to forget them when you’re around,’ she spat. ‘You rub me up the wrong way.’

‘What the hell do you think you do to me?’ he fired back. ‘A man can take so much, Debra, and I’m getting dangerously near the edge.’

The fierce look in his eyes thrilled her, she found a contrary delight in their verbal warfare. She tilted her chin slightly. ‘You know what you can do about that, Mr Oliver.’

‘Leave Liz alone,’ he said doggedly, roughly. ‘Hell’s bells, you’re like a record with the needle stuck. Can’t you get it through your thick skull that she’s quite safe? I have no ulterior motives. She won’t suffer as a consequence of my friendship.’

He kept telling her that, but it was difficult to accept. If only he would leave Liz alone altogether—but to ask that was like waving a red rag at a bull.

Their eyes met and held, a magnetic attraction despite their antagonism. Debra was the first to look away. She pushed back her chair. ‘I’ll go and see Liz, if it’s all right with you, if you haven’t any prior claim on her attention.’

Her sarcasm was not lost on him. He shot up from the table and caught her arm roughly. ‘I know you told me never to touch you again, Debra, but you’ve asked for it!’

She thought he was going to strike her, was totally unprepared when his mouth fastened on hers in yet another brutally punishing kiss, another bruising, vindictive assault which left her breathless.

When he threw her from him with a thick, ‘Get out of my sight!’ she fled the room gladly. Damn the man! What right had he to do this? She would not stay in his house a moment longer and put up with his total disregard for her feelings.

Without stopping to give the matter any further thought she burst into Liz’s room. ‘Get packed,’ she ordered, ‘we’re leaving!’

Liz looked at her with wide startled eyes, pushing herself up in bed. ‘What are you talking about— leaving? What’s happened?’

‘Because I refuse to live with that man any longer, he has no regard for my feelings. He thinks he can do just what the hell he likes!’

‘I’m sure you’re exaggerating,’ said Liz. ‘He’s always the perfect gentleman when he’s with me. I can’t see why he should treat you any differently.’

‘You don’t know the half,’ snapped Debra. ‘Get out of bed and start packing. I refuse to remain here a minute longer to be insulted!’

Liz’s lower lip quivered. ‘Must we go, Debra? I don’t think I feel up to it. Besides, I’m so happy here. If we go back to England I shall be all upset again, I know I will.’ Her big blue tear-filled eyes pleaded with her friend. ‘Don’t let a silly misunderstanding make you give up your job.’

‘It wasn’t silly,’ choked Debra. ‘We were discussing you, if you must know. I’ve tried telling him to keep his hands off, but it’s no use, so it’s best we leave before things get out of hand.’ She pushed to the back of her mind all thoughts of Liz’s illness. She simply had to get away.

‘I won’t go!’ Liz wailed, throwing back the sheets and scrambling out of bed. ‘You leave if you want to, but I’m not, I’m staying here with Vane.’

‘Not by yourself you’re not!’ yelled Debra. ‘The man’s not to be trusted. He’s using you, can’t you see that? You’re attractive, you’re a novelty. It doesn’t mean a thing to him.’

‘You keep saying that,’ cried the younger girl, tears running down her cheeks. 'But it’s not true, none of it. Vane loves me and I love him, and I expect it will be only a matter of time before he asks me to marry him.’

Debra heaved a sigh, containing her temper with difficulty, reminding herself that Liz had been ill, and quite possibly did not know what she was saying.

‘Liz, listen to me. Vane will never marry you. You’re far too young, for one thing, and for another I’m quite sure he doesn’t love you. It’s all in your mind. You’re making a 'big mistake. Please come back with me before it’s too late.’

Liz shook her head positively. ‘No, I refuse, and you can't make me.’

And Debra knew that with Liz in this mood there would be no moving her. One thing was for certain, she couldn’t go and leave Liz here to the mercy of
that
man. All she could do was remain and keep her eye on her young friend and hope and pray she would get over her silly infatuation before too long.

She was convinced it was infatuation. Liz was not old enough to know her own mind. Vane was the first man she had been out with. It had been wrong of her parents to protect her as they had, but it was too late to do anything about that now.

‘Very well,’ she. said reluctantly, ‘we’ll stay, but only on condition that you don’t see so much of Vane.’

Liz nodded sullenly, but it was not a promise. Debra had not really expected she would give one.

‘Do you feel up to going shopping, just the two of us?’ she continued. ‘The fresh air will do you good, it seems ages since we spent any time together.’

She waited until the other girl was ready, and was considerably annoyed when she found Vane still in the breakfast room.

He had dressed and the loose knitted cotton top clung to his muscular chest and shoulders, short sleeves revealing powerful arms. Perhaps as well he had chosen to punish her the way he had, thought Debra. She would not fancy her chances if he used physical strength.

He gave her a cool look but greeted Liz with a smile that Debra could only describe as intimate. ‘Ah, the invalid arises, and looking completely recovered, if I may say so.’

Liz kissed his cheek warmly. ‘Still a little weak, but otherwise better, thank you.’ She sat down and helped herself to coffee. ‘Debra and I are going shopping.’