Read The Islands for Free Online Page B

courtyard and beach almost deserted.
    â€˜Is your room okay?’ asked Bradley as he pulled out her chair.
    â€˜Yes. It has a wonderful view of Diamond Head from the little balcony, or lanai rather. Why don’t you come up? I’ll only take a minute to change.’
    Bradley grinned. ‘Now that’s something I like to hear. None of this fussing and primping and messing with hairdos that takes hours.’
    The room was neat, spartan almost, with dark wood, crisp white sheets, a mosquito net looped above the bed and a stiff arrangement of waxy red anthuriums with spiky green leaves was arranged on the coffee table. A bowl of plumeria sat on the bedside table. Catherine suddenly felt a little uncomfortable at the intimacy of the small space. Bradley didn’t seem to notice and strolled onto the small lanai and looked at Diamond Head, a glimpse of Waikiki Beach and the lights from the hotels illuminating the sand.
    â€˜Won’t be a minute.’ Catherine scooped up her dress and sandals and shut the bathroom door. She slipped out of her clothes and took off her bra. The new dress was daring and backless. She brushed her hair and swept it up in a ponytail that she twisted into a knot, wisps curling around her face. She touched up her make-up, sprayed her new pikake perfume in a mist around her head, added some dangly earrings and slipped her feet into silver sandals.
    Bradley was leaning on the lanai railing and straightened up as he heard Catherine behind him. He turned and stopped. ‘Catherine, you look lovely, utterly gorgeous. I love the dress.’
    She was pleased and twirled before him. ‘Just trying to fit in with the locals.’
    â€˜You need a flower in your hair.’ He took her hand and led her into the room and took one of the plumeria blooms from the bowl. He tucked it in her hair. ‘There. Perfect.’ He leaned forward and kissed her gently.
    But his lips lingered and Catherine found she was winding her arms about him, clinging to him as their kisses became more passionate. They fell back on the bed, wrapped in each other’s arms, desire and longing overwhelming them. Catherine kicked off her shoes and pulled at Bradley’s shirt as he tugged at the straps of her dress. But as they clung together, naked in the soft light, Bradley pulled back, searching her face.
    â€˜I’m not so sure we should be doing this.’
    â€˜Why not? It’s all right,’ she murmured.
    He was still hesitant, shy even, and let Catherine lead. She felt powerful and it heightened her desire to feel she was in charge. Such a caring man, not wanting to push himself on her, but she ached to have him make love. She pulled him on top of her and Bradley surrendered.
    They lay together, warm wet bodies side by side as they came back to reality.
    Bradley nuzzled her neck. ‘That was wonderful. I can’t tell you how wonderful.’
    â€˜Mmm, yes, it was.’ She smiled and ran her finger down his firm lean chest.
    â€˜I’m sorry if I’ve ruined your make-up, crushed your clothes.’
    â€˜Who cares! It was fun.’ She laughed. She felt full of energy. ‘Hey, I’m starving, can we still make that show?’
    Bradley sat up and looked at his watch. ‘Yes, the late one. It’s only over the road. You still want to go?’
    â€˜If you do. Though I’m very happy to stay here,’ she said giving him a cheeky look.
    He laughed, swung his legs over the side of the bed and began to dress. ‘I have the tickets. You shouldn’t miss Don Ho.’
    As they left the hotel Catherine felt different. She had the feeling the staff, the taxi drivers waiting out the front of the hotel, passers-by in the street, were giving them knowing glances. Bradley held her hand as they ran across the road.
    Inside the lounge Catherine felt she was entering another world, but one with which she was becoming familiar. In the time she’d been in