Josh went over to the bed and looked down at her. He thought he had never seen anything half so beautiful. She was quivering with anxiety. On the nights they’d spent together so far, she had been decorously attired in nightdresses. He’d never seen her fully naked before. She was so lovely and he didn’t want to hurt her. ‘You’re sure? Really?’ he said.

She nodded.

Slowly Josh undressed. When he was naked too, he got on to the bed beside her, kissed her shoulder. Claire moaned and turned to him, curling in against him. He kissed her mouth then trailed hot kisses down over her collarbone to her breasts, taking each hard nipple into his mouth, not hurrying. He knew he couldn’t rush this, he daren’t. Then on and on, down over her belly to the golden triangle of her bush, parting the opening with his fingers and then letting his tongue probe there until he could sense her relaxing, could feel her fingers twining into his hair and hear her gasping breaths growing quicker.

‘Oh God, oh Josh,’ she groaned, opening herself up to him. ‘Don’t stop, please don’t stop . . .’

He didn’t stop until he felt her shudder, felt the strong pulses of her orgasm go quivering through her entire body, heard her unstoppable cries. Then he moved between her legs and eased his erect cock into her, so gently, feeling her warm wetness and steadying himself, thinking that he had to make this last, this was heaven. He felt an instant’s resistance when she stiffened and might have pushed him away, but he stayed there inside her, filling her but not hurting her, and she relaxed again.

‘I love you,’ he murmured against her mouth. ‘I’ve always loved you and I always will.’

Her eyes opened and stared into his. A tear slipped from her eye. ‘We’ve lost so much time,’ she whispered.

‘We’re here now,’ he said, and moved in her, feeling that this was blissful, this was all that he wanted in life now; making love, proper love, to this woman. ‘My beautiful brave girl,’ he said, brushing her tears away.

Claire held him tight as his movements grew faster, and when Josh came in her, letting out a triumphant shout, it felt right, like this was what always should have happened and now, finally, their lives were coming good. They were together again.

100

100

‘Dad ought to be giving it up by now. Don’t you think?’ said Aysha.

Mrs Aysha Minghella was sitting on the edge of her father’s desk in his study, one long leg swinging back and forth, her expression troubled.