He unhooked her straps from her shoulders, pausing at every patch of newly bared skin to pass the softness of the towel over it, pushing the dress down over her hips, making her shiver as it dropped around her ankles.

‘You’re still wet,’ she pointed out breathlessly as he flicked her bra undone.

He lowered his mouth to her breasts while he continued to run the towel over her back. ‘Ladies first,’ he whispered, engrossed in playing with her nipple with his tongue.

Though she dropped her head back at the sensation of his boiling mouth on her cold, wet skin, she demurred. ‘Equality Act 2010.’ And began to pull his cold, damp T-shirt over his head.

Taking the towel, she rose on tiptoes to dry his hair, bringing her breasts against his chest, making him say, ‘Hmm-mm,’ deep in his throat and hold her there, while, mirroring his actions of a moment before, she dried the planes of his face, his neck and his shoulders. She slowed her movements across his chest, enjoying both his firm body and his sharp intake of breath.

After drying his arms she nestled ever closer to pass the towel behind him and smooth the moisture from his back. ‘That’s amazing,’ he groaned, swaying slightly so her breasts moved against him.

As she let her fingers drift onto the button of his waistband he began to stroke her bottom through her underwear.

She began to struggle for cohesion, finding herself unequal to unfastening his shorts while she was being caressed so languidly, her breath catching in her throat as her fingers fumbled.

‘Let me.’ With a rapid change of pace Aaron got himself out of his shorts and boxers, dried himself with a few lightning strokes, whipped off her panties, dried her legs and muttered, ‘Anything else can stay wet!’ making her snort with laughter as he put both arms around her and walked her backwards out of the room and across the landing.

Thunder growled outside and from downstairs Nelson gave a grumbling bark in reply. ‘Good boy, Nelson, quiet down,’ Aaron breathed, nibbling the side of Clancy’s neck.

Feeling the backs of her legs collide with the bed, Clancy glanced behind her. ‘My hair’s still wet …’

‘It’s sexy.’ He ran his fingers through the damp tresses. ‘I like the wild look. You’re gorgeous.’

With a squeak of pleasure she allowed herself to be lowered to the cool sheets of his bed, exploring his chest with her lips and tongue while her hands slid down to knead his finely haired buttocks, liking the way it made him groan as his erection pulsed against her. She slid her hand between their bodies to stroke him, making him jump.

His gaze moved between her face and her hand moving on him, teasing him with her fingertips. Then he pulled her further up his body so he could once again bring his mouth to her breasts.

Outside, the thunder crashed as if the storm was angry at sweeping in from the sea and finding this spit of land in its way, as Aaron stroked and explored her, making her melt with every touch of his hands, his body, his mouth.