‘Of course I did. They were going to kill you.’
‘You knew?’
He stopped short, then gasped as she launched herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck and bursting into tears on his chest.
‘Hey, hey,’ he soothed, slowly bringing his arms around her. Even to his racked, sore body, she felt good. He wanted to keep her there, hold her, breathe her in. ‘It shou
ld be me falling to pieces. I’m the one who nearly ended up on the fire.’
‘I thought you were dead. I thought they’d done it.’
‘Evie refused.’
‘Oh God, I think I love her. I’m going to have to love her now, aren’t I? What a pain.’ She laughed amidst the tears. ‘And I suppose you love her more than ever now. Even though she was stringing you along.’
Adam squeezed Julia tight, lightheaded with the closeness of her.
‘She won’t ever want me,’ he said.
‘But I do,’ said Julia, looking up at him. ‘That’s the pathetic thing. I’ve let myself fall so much in love with you I feel I might die of it. I’m such a fool. I could kick myself.’
‘I can’t imagine why you’d fall for me,’ said Adam, looking at her, drinking her in.
‘No, neither can I, but the fact is, I have. And now I don’t know what’s to be done.’
‘Perhaps you’d let me love you back.’
She stiffened, held herself perfectly still for a moment.
‘You don’t love me, Adam.’
‘Don’t I?’
‘You’ve no idea how you feel.’
‘Oh really? And yet I do have an idea what I want.’
She rested her forehead against his chest, looking down. Adam had seen the traces of a smile twitch at the corner of her lips before she ducked.
She looked back up, clearly suppressing an urge to grin.
‘And what is it that you want, Reverend Flint?’
‘I want to kiss you,’ he whispered.
‘Well, a kiss can’t hurt …’
There might have been more to that statement, but she wasn’t given the chance to add anything because Adam’s lips pressed against hers, silencing her.
He needed comfort, solace, communion with another soul and hers had touched him, reaching out with infinite tenderness and affection. She was, he realised as their kiss deepened, everything he needed in his life, his mirror image, his soul mate. He gave himself to her, poured his hopes and dreams into their passionate embrace, trusted her to keep them safe.
‘Adam,’ she panted, breaking off. ‘Are you sure about this? Don’t break my heart.’
‘I want you,’ he said.
‘You can have me.’
She lifted her skirts and Adam saw that she was naked underneath. No restraining force of guilt or shame held him back this time. He unbuckled his belt, needing to get to her, having no other thought on his mind than being one flesh with her. He let his trousers and underpants fall to his ankles and lifted her thighs, pushing her back against the tree trunk.