But when his fingers reached the clasp of my bra, he paused. ‘Rachel? Are you sure?’

‘This isn’t sex,’ I said. ‘It’s the only way to express our feelings.’

‘It is sex.’

‘You know what I mean,’ I said. ‘Well, I know. Yes, I’m sure.’

Still he wavered, so I repeated, ‘Luke. I’m sure.’

Almost under his breath, he asked, ‘Why am I even arguing?’ And with three or four deft hooks and sweeps of his thumbs, removed the rest of my clothes.

He arranged me on the bed and the second his lips touched the inside of my thigh, my body remembered everything. The response was as intense as it had ever been. In moments, with short, breathy gasps, I was pulsing into the heat of his mouth.

Staying until the last of the ripples quietened, he laughed softly. ‘Well.’ He seemed ridiculously happy. ‘That was easy.’

‘Like riding a bike.’ I was floaty and dazed. ‘Come here. Before…’

His angry-looking erection appeared about to explode.

‘Wait!’ He clicked his tongue as he remembered. ‘My jacket…’ Was downstairs on the hall floor, where we’d flung it.

‘It’s okay.’ I was already opening a drawer. ‘In here.’

He removed a foil square, tearing it open with his teeth, unrolling and smoothing it along his length. Transfixed, I watched his hands move in ways that were familiar and wildly erotic. And, oh God, the heft of his body, the grace of it as he shifted and slid into me. I clenched around him, almost choking from so much sensation.

‘I know,’ he whispered, his eyes so dark they looked black.

Welded together, locked the length of each other, his gaze fixed on mine—and still it wasn’t close enough. Slowly, tenderly, every movement was meaningful, every breath felt sacred.

Our movements gathered speed until, without much warning, his breathing became harsher, more urgent. ‘Rachel—’ His voice was hoarse. ‘I can’t—’ Then he was shuddering against me, goosebumps popping on his skin.

For the longest time, we lay stunned and wordless. I could have stayed, my face to his chest, inhaling him, forever.

Eventually, he spoke. ‘I’m sorry it was so quick.’

Light-heartedly, I said, ‘You must really fancy me.’

‘Nothing new there. But it’s not like I haven’t been—’ Abruptly he stopped.

‘Haven’t been what?’

‘Oh, you know.’ He rolled over and grinned into my face. ‘Since—what day was it? Wednesday? The place by the stream. You, behind me, on the bike.’ He squeezed his eyes shut. ‘Christ.’

‘Seriously?’

‘Seriously.’

‘…Tell me.’