Lifting her head, Alex looked into her eyes, then kissed her so passionately that soon she was lying beneath him once more, yielding to him, crying out with the sensations that were taking her to an even higher place than the first time, as wave after wave of pleasure vibrated through her. Alex’s moans joined hers as he explored every part of her, taking her clothes off as he did so, until she was naked before him and the sun kissed every part of her.

They lay afterwards, spent but in a happy place they thought no one could ever touch. A place that blocked out the world and the war, and all they had to deal with as medics, and cocooned them till they felt safe.

Coming down to earth wasn’t easy, for their senses and awareness of each other were heightened beyond anything Daisy had ever thought possible.

It was hunger that prompted them to become practical, but even as they sat and ate the delicious delicacies – squid, breaded and fried, vine leaves stuffed with olives and fish, and small naan-breads laced with a seaweed spread – there was a sensuousness about the atmosphere surrounding them.

It was Alex who brought some normality back between them, as he joked that he felt as if he would grow fins and start to open and close his mouth if he was here in Singapore much longer, as they served so much fish. ‘You are what you eat, my father used to say, when he tried to make me eat Brussels sprouts. Have you ever met anyone who liked Brussels sprouts?’

‘Yes – me. I think they’re grand. Me ma cooks them all crunchy. But she won’t buy them till there’s been a frost, as she reckons as they’re not ready till then.’

‘I can’t wait to meet your ma. She sounds such a wonderful person. And your little sister and your brothers. All the people you talk about with such love. I miss my mother so much.’

‘I’m sorry, darling. By, it comes to sommat when God takes two lovely folk, like your ma and da were taken.’

‘Yes, it was a massive blow to see mother dying slowly, and then for Father to have a heart attack at her funeral. Being an only child, that left me with one elderly great-aunt. She’s very lively, though, and a joy to be around. She lives in my house and keeps everything running. You’ll love her when you come to live there.’

‘Aye, I knaw I will. She sounds like a posh version of me ma, the way you talk of her.’

‘Yes, I think that’s what she is, as I feel so close to your ma, when you talk about her. Well, my darling, we’d better sort ourselves out and get back. I’m on-duty this evening.’