The hired room was quiet. The sea crashed against the sand as the wind whipped across the coast line. Andrew Lang lit a candle in the window with his shaky hands and turned to Sarah O'Brien.

Without words he held his hand out to her and she walked across the room to take it, warming his cold fingers with the nimble thin hands.

The cottage was dark and had not been expensive to rent.

Their small and simple pile of luggage lay unceremoniously dumped by the door. Unwanted and un-needed.

Sarah felt his rough fingers stroke the tight cuffs of her white shirt and his fingers slip underneath the cheap cotton and shivers shot though her body.

The feeling was alien and she was unsure of how to react to them.

Gently, hesitantly, she place her other pale hand on his strong arm and gripped the stiff material of his jacket between her fingers. His breath was warm as it drifted against her forehead. They were standing so close.

The room was bare.

Only an armchair, table and bed occupied the seaside cottage. There were foreboding signs of damp beginning to show around the walls and the old, drab wallpaper was peeling un-attractively but it felt safe; a sanctuary for two demons.

Slowly she found her way in to his arms and curled her arms around his neck, capturing his lips with hers.

The kiss was deep and needy, on both sides. It was so full of years of wanting and holding back. So ready to finally be passionate. Sarah could feel his large hands pressing firmly into the small of her back, his body pushed up against hers. She brought her hands down to embrace his neck, supporting his head and trailing her fingers tantalisingly across his soft skin.

He caught her hand with his and swiftly brought them to his lips and, staring her directly in the eye, kissed her cold fingers tenderly.

Sarah lent up and brush her lips against his cheek as he moved his hands to her shirt, slowly undoing the tiny, fabric covered buttons that covered her shirt. She nuzzled into him, enjoying the human contact and the stumbled backwards towards the bed, tripping over each other's tangled feet.

As he hands lowered Sarah began to un-tuck her shirt and mirror his movements so their hands met at her chest level and her shirt lay undone. Slowly, nervously he slipped the garment off her shoulders and layed it on the armchair, pulling off his jacket as he did do. Sarah stood timidly watching him from the end of the bed, this was so unlike her, this was a situation she had no control over. She was so naive and it scared her. They barely knew each other. But…he walked back over to her and instantly they were back in each others arms.

Sarah made quick work of his shirt buttons and he tugged the stiff garment off as she began to unfasten her skirts. Looking down at the floor she was surprised to find his hands on hers, moving them out of the way so he could unclasp the buttons and clips that held her heavy skirts and petticoats in place.

She looked up into his face as he worked and gently brushed her shaking hands against his bare chest, feeling the warmth of his skin and the faint beat of his heart. He looked up and caught her eye. Grinning slowly he kissed her, letting her skirts fall to the ground in a puddle at her feet. Sarah stood in her corset and shift and kissed him back, seeking anyway to be closer to him.

He pulled away abruptly and began to pull off his boots and Sarah followed suit, reaching up to take her rough woollen stockings off as well. His hand stopped hers at the bare skin of her thigh and she stepped back, taken aback by the contact.

"Let me do that"

Sarah could only nod and gulp. A fierce longing gripped her heart and she let him push her back on to the bed and felt his fingers begin to pull the fabric away from her legs, feeling the cold air rush at her and she shivered at his touch. When he had finished he kneeled up and hugged her waist as she sat on the bed in front of him. She tentatively stroked his head and he reached up and began to unhook her corset, freeing her from its constricting confinements.

She raised him up and threw the corset across the room so it landed with a soft thud on the chair. Sarah stood before him in only her chemise and he smiled affectionately at her and drew her into his arms, kissing the top of her head. His arms traced the contours of her back, every curve and in return she layed her head against his chest breathing in his clean, manly scent.

Unexpectedly he scooped her into his arms and lifted her feet off the ground; Sarah clutched at his shoulders and bit back a shriek of shock and surprise, good surprise.

Without a word he turned to the bed and threw her on it, letting his braces drop from his shoulders and climbed on after her. Sarah scrambled into the pillows and pushed the covers back, loving the feel of the soft linen against her bare legs. He caught her in his arms and she struggled to keep a soft whimper of lust from escaping her lips.

"My hair…let me unpin my hair" Her voice can out hoarse and her breath shallow.

Sarah could not admit to herself that she was frightened.

She wanted this so badly. The closeness, him but…

Gently his hands brushed her neck and turned her around so she was leaning against her chest, she lent into his touch and slowly he began to pull her hair out of its tight bun and dropped teasing kisses across the pale skin of her neck. At last, after what seemed like an age, her hair was free and fell down her back in a dark cascade of curls. She turned around in his arms and found herself on top of him, inches from his face. It was her turn to be teasing. Slowly she bent down and met his lips; barely touching and then immediately she pulled away and watched his reaction. He smirked up at her and threw his arms around her, roughly rolling her over so their legs were tangled and he could imprison her lips with his, passionately pushing against her. Sarah responded, wrapping her arms around his back and pulling her self up to meet his kiss.

He trailed his hand up her side and hovered at her waist, stroking the curve between her hip and tiny waist. She groan against his kiss and he pulled away uncertainly.

"Are you sure you want to do this?…it will ruin you"

"Don't be daft, I'm already ruined"

"I mean…"

"I know…and I don't care"

Sarah looked into his face, breathless with overwhelming emotion.

"I love yer, yer know"

His face broke into a wonderful smile.

"I love you too"

She pulled him back down on top of her and it seemed to settle the matter. His hand tenderly brushed against her hips, waist and then stroke the curve of her breast. Sarah trembled at his touch. Shyly he moved his lips away from hers and brought his head down to her chest level, kissing her though the thin fabric of her under shift. Sarah moaned and bit her lip, winding her hand through his hair as he kissed her in such a personal place.

After a moment he stopped and lent up, kissing her throat with care as she whimpered softly.

"Ready?" His voice was low and there was no denying the heat between them.

Slowly she moved her legs apart and she felt his pull his trousers off.

The candle blew out over at the window sill and the room was bathed in darkness.

His hands seeked her out and he called her name softly, his hand landed on her thigh, making her jump and she sat up to meet him, pulling off her chemise as she did so. In the darkness she felt much less exposed and their skin met gently, his arms strong around her back, supporting her as her legs parted.

The bed creaked for a few moments as they settled themselves into one another and then Sarah gasped in pain as they truly became one.

"Sorry" His voice sounded afraid but he kept his control and she felt him kiss her forehead.

"It's fine, keep goin'…" Sarah trailed off as they moved together.

It was not beautiful or perfect but it was them, together at last.

When it was over she lay curled up in his arms, the covers gathered around them. The stars shone through the curtains and Sarah watched the shadows of his face as he slept. No nightmare tonight for him, his hand lay under the curve of her breast. It's weight was comforting and lovely.

She signed in contentment.

Sarah O'Brien had done the right thing in running away with Andrew Lang.