She smiled back then kissed his cheek. He returned it. She kissed his other cheek then ran a fingertip over his lips. He looked deeper into her, searching her eyes. Her lips sought his and kissed them lightly. He held her closer and tried to put her face against his shoulder but Kerensa kissed him again.

‘What are you doing, Kerensa?’ he whispered.

‘You like me kissing you, don’t you?’

‘Of course I do.’

‘Then don’t talk,’ she smiled.

Clem kissed her gently, relishing the feel of her soft mouth under his but when it ended, Kerensa clung to him.

‘I want you, Clem,’ she said huskily, kissing him fervently. ‘I want you…’

‘Do you know what you’re doing, Kerensa?’ and now his voice was husky as he held her face away from his.

‘I love you, I always have and at this moment I need you. Please, Clem, don’t hold back from me.’

He could no more resist her plea than he could stop breathing. He allowed himself to be overwhelmed by the sensations of her body pressing into his. It had been so long since he had kissed her like this, so long since he had held her and felt that at last she could be his.

Disengaging herself, Kerensa stood up from the settle and untied the ribbons at the neck of her cloak. Clem watched trance-like as the black voluminous cloth fluttered to the floor in slow folding movements.

Clem lowered his arms to allow her to push off his coat, then she took his hands and led him across the room to the other door. He opened the door, and together they crossed the threshold of Mr Barbary’s bedroom. The room was cold but rather than allow the heat from the fire to filter through, Kerensa closed the door against the rest of the world.

Moving to either side of the small narrow bed they discarded their clothes and lay side by side under Mr Barbary’s sheet and blankets. Kerensa was shivering but did not notice the cold. Taking Clem’s hand she moved into his arms. He gasped at the sensation of her skin against his and was lost the next moment as she lay over his chest and kissed him with hungry passion.

He loosened all restraining pins from her hair, then slowly and gently he turned until he lay over her. He clasped both her hands on the pillow above her head. He was aware of every sensitive part of her body, it screamed at him to give her release and fulfilment.