She nodded and followed him inside. There was an old, narrow pine bench seat bolted to the floor, and a mattress covered in a sheet taking up the rest of the back of the van.

‘That seat is a bit hard,’ Mark said. He dropped onto the mattress. ‘This is much more comfortable. Why don’t you come and sit by me?’

He made no attempt to hide the lust on his face; it showed in the way he smiled and how his gaze hovered over her figure before locking with her eyes.

Suddenly a pang of guilt tore through Vanessa.

‘I should go.’

Mark saw the indecision on her face. ‘I need you. Don’t go.’ His voice had a vulnerable note to it, and she turned back, staring at him. She could still hear the music, just, and closed her eyes for a moment. She opened them again when she heard soft music coming from inside the van. The song’s lyrics spoke of everlasting love and how you, too, could have it. Love everlasting. She swayed with the gentle beat, eyes closed, tucking her legs under as she joined Mark on the mattress.

She opened her eyes when she felt Mark’s lips on hers again, insistent this time. Her first real kiss. His tongue explored her mouth, and she gasped. She didn’t know that her body would respond this way. Mistaking her shock for pleasure, he pulled her closer, kissing her even deeper. One warm hand slid onto her slightly cool knee, traveling slowly up to her thigh where his fingertip drew lazy circles.

Vanessa pulled back when his finger hooked under her underwear. ‘I’ve never felt like this before, Ness.’ She loved hearing her nickname fall from his lips. It rolled off his tongue with such ease and possession. Any lingering doubts disappeared like snow on a warm winter’s morning. ‘There’ve been others, but they meant nothing to me.’

He kissed the nape of her neck and God help her if it didn’t feel like a little piece of heaven. She tilted her head to the side and let out a small giggle. Mark ran his hand down her long and loose hair, pulling on it affectionately. He turned her gently and laid her down on the mattress. She smiled up at him, and he stared back at her with desire in his eyes.

This was really going to happen.

He removed her underwear, then he spread her legs gently and moved in between them. She could feel how hard he was, and she felt light-headed with desire. She had done that to him. Her body. He settled his weight on her, and she let out a small sigh. She realized that her reservations about loyalty and friendship were almost gone. She was here, with him; it was meant to be.