I simmered down I went looking for you at Medlar House, but no luck, So I tried the Green Man.’ His eyes blazed into hers. ‘And there you were, without a care in the world, playing darts, for God’s sake.’
‘So you stormed off without a word again.’ Sarah buried her head against his damp shirtfront. ‘It cut me to pieces.’
‘It didn’t do me much good, either.’ He rubbed his cheek over her tangled curls. ‘I know the perfect way to put the pieces back together. But there’s a snag. We’re in the wrong place. My healing process needs a bed.’ Alex put a finger under her chin to raise her face to his. ‘If I made love to you on your balcony, Juliet, I’d wreck it, the way I feel right now.’
Sarah felt a hot thrill run through her at the mere thought. ‘I have a much safer alternative. My windowseat has a secret life. It’s really the lid of a storage box.’ She ran to raise it and drew out the thick winter duvet stored under it.
Alex’s smile lit up the room as he snatched the quilt from her to throw it down on the rug. He held out his arms. ‘Then come lie with me, wench, so I can kiss you better.’
‘You’d better take that wet shirt off first!’
He smiled his crooked smile. ‘I’d rather dispense with yours.’
‘You’ll have to, if you’re going to kiss me better,’ she said, her eyes steady on his. ‘Because I hurt all over.’
‘In that case,’ said Alex, eyes glittering, ‘you’d better have some cushions, too.’ He took some from the windowseat and tossed them down on the quilt, then pulled the blinds closed and drew her down full-length beside him. ‘Where shall I start?’ he asked, looking down into her eyes.
‘The shirt,’ she reminded him gruffly.
‘Ah, yes.’ Alex sat up, undid his shirt and tossed it over his head, then began to undo Sarah’s, his lips following his fingers.
‘Plain white cotton today,’ she said breathlessly, as he flung her shirt to join his. ‘I put the fancy stuff away.’
‘Why?’
‘Not suitable for the kind of work I’ve been doing.’ Sarah bit her lip. ‘Besides, I couldn’t bear the sight of it any more.’
He frowned. ‘You haven’t thrown it out?’
‘It was too expensive for that.’ Her eyes met his. ‘But the dress with the sequins is about to go.’
‘No way,’ he said sternly. ‘I have a particular fondness for that dress.’ He pulled her close. ‘I want you so much, Sarah.’
‘Then for heaven’s sake do something about it,’ she said impatiently, and Alex gave a choked laugh and kissed her as he went on undressing her. ‘And now,’ he said, when she lay naked in his arms, ‘for the rest of you.’
By the time Alex had finished kissing every inch of her better, they were both in such a high state of arousal that their lovemaking was too frantic to last long, and all too soon they lay clutching each other in the healing aftermath of the storm.
‘So,’ Alex said, when he could breathe again, ‘are you better?’
‘Not yet.’ Sarah fought for breath. ‘I shall need more of your medication, Doctor. Much more.’
Alex’s eyes gleamed down into hers, the light in them changing to something that turned her heart over. ‘I’ve missed you like hell, Sarah. Can you imagine how I felt when I found Dan Mason’s car here when I gave in and came to see you? I wanted to break his jaw.’
‘You’ll have to stand in line. I’m going to break it first. But let’s forget Dan.’ She touched a caressing hand to his face. ‘I’ve missed you, too.’
‘Even though I’m a Merrick?’
‘I told you—I’m over that.’
‘Even though you thought I’d tried to queer your pitch at Westhope Farm?’
‘I’ve apologised twice. Once by letter, and once face to face. But,’ she added, her eyes kindling, ‘I refuse to grovel any more.’
‘It wasn’t a very warm letter,’ he said, smoothing the tumbled curls from her face.
‘It took me ages. I was hoping,’ she said tartly, ‘for a reply.’
‘Fond hope! I didn’t take kindly to the accusations you flung at me, Sarah.’ He scowled down at her. ‘It was the final straw when I found you playing darts with your pals at the pub. Though, to be honest, I didn’t go there just to look for you. I wanted Dan Mason’s London address.’
Sarah propped herself up on an elbow in sudden suspicion. ‘Why?’
‘To pay him a visit.’ Alex piled the cushions up and drew