`Was he upset?'

`He was angry. Not shouting and raving, but just cold anger in his eyes. It was terrifying. I wished I hadn't gone then, because he seemed to notice me for the first time. He asked if I'd been sent to report back on how devastated he was, and when I said no he said had I come to offer myself as a consolation prize.' Kate's cheeks burned with the memory. `It was awful. I tried to back off but he caught me with one hand and pulled me back.'

She glanced involuntarily down at her wrist, as if it still bore the imprint of his fingers. His hands had been very strong, his grip like steel as he had forced her chin up.

`Is that when he kissed you?' Serena asked, agog. They were both oblivious to the hubbub going on around them.

Kate nodded.

Serena glanced over at Luke and then leant closer to Kate. `What was it like?' she whispered. `Do you remember?'

Do you remember? Kate's eyes deepened to amber. She would never forget. Her feeling of terrified exhilaration as he had jerked her back into his arms was still vivid. The roughness of his hands against her skin, the unexpected warmth of his lips, the bitter anger in his eyes: Kate remembered them all. She remembered the dappled shade of the woods on that still, hot afternoon and the damp smell of earth beneath her feet.

She had never been kissed before. She hadn't known how strong a man's body could be, or how lips could be firm and fierce and persuasive all at the same time. She hadn't known about the trembling, treacherous excitement as he slid his hands slowly, lingeringly, down her bare arms, had never guessed at the ache of need that could swamp fear and dislike at the mere touch of his mouth.

Oh, yes, she remembered all right. Out of the corner of her eye Kate could see Luke. He looked bored and irritable, but his mouth was just as she remembered.