Forcing himself to focus on the story on stage undid him further. The tragedy and heartache pulled at him.

He had arrived back in his seat just in time for the interval and told John he had been feeling a little unwell. He certainly felt it. John asked if he'd wanted to leave but Peter insisted they stayed. He let John go to the bar on his own whilst the curtain was down; he just needed to settle himself he wanted to see Assumpta return to her seat. She never came back. Halfway through the second half, he noticed that Leo had left the box.

…..

She had been facing the bar when Leo put a hand on the small of her back, making her jump.

She had waited outside during the interval-she didn't want to see Peter again and she didn't want Leo or his new friend to make any kind of scene made in front of other people-knowing herself, she imagined there probably would be one. Returning when the bar was empty, she had half expected Leo to be waiting for her. When she found he wasn't, she had asked for more champagne and almost growled at the bartender as he dared to raise a " Haven't you had enough" eyebrow. She rehearsed what she would say to her husband. Just sober enough to know that it probably wasn't the place; drunk enough to let it tumble out regardless.

He leaned into her, speaking to the side of her face,

"Assumpta, I was worried about you." She took a deep breath. "He's just had a bit too much to drink. He didn't mean anything by it. Believe me, I'd have knocked him sideways if he did."

She put her glass down and stepped away, wobbling slightly. Her head swam. He put an arm out to her.

"Leo I can't do this."

"I know. You always hated this bullshit. I can do it on my own, it's fine. It's about time I took you on a proper date hey?"

He was staring at him now, frowning and trying to remember the words, what order they came in.

"It's not tonight is it Assumpta?"

She shook her head looking at her feet.

"Look at me then." When she did, she watched him give in to the truth that had been there since almost since the day they'd returned to Ballyk.

"You think this marriage is a mistake don't you?"

"I've tried Leo. It's just…"

"Then try harder for God's sake." She could see him cringe at his own desperation.

The words she had thought would come still wouldn't. They stood there for a minute, each looking around the room, trying to find something else to add to make it any better.

" I'm going to back to my seat. I need to finish what I came here for tonight. I'm going to say you felt unwell. After that, I'll be back at the hotel. I want you to be there too. You need to decide what you really want. " With that he walked away from her. Second one tonight, she thought to herself.

…..

He sat on the bed and took off the bow tie. As soon as the curtain had come down he whispered to John that he needed to get back. Something about feeling dizzy-again not really a lie as the alcohol and swirling thoughts of her made him feel sea-sick .

He allowed himself, as he often to did, to imagine he wasn't a priest and that she had come to him. Closed his eyes and imagined her smell as she stood over him. He squeezed his palms until it was painful; he was never going to get over it-her marrying someone else. He started to think about leaving Ballyk. The knock at the door startled him and he knew it was her. His heart raced with anticipation.

She just stood piercing him with her eyes, hair dripping from the soaking she'd gotten in the rain. He registered the pounding of it outside now. How had he not noticed before?

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm not sure." She looked embarrassed and unsteady.

He stepped aside gesturing for her to go in but he just stood in the doorway.

"Please Assumpta. You must be freezing."

He got a towel from the bathroom and threw it to her. She busied herself drying her hair and neck.

Then suddenly she breathed, "I can't be married. I've tried. I can't stop thinking about you. "

The towel fell from her hands. He walked over to her and held on to her, as she seemed to dissolve. No crying just a feeling of her exhaustion that matched his own as she lent on him. He lent down to pick up the towel and, without really thinking about he was doing, he started to dry her hair. He couldn't take his eyes off of her neck and realised that she was staring at him. He pulled away and looked back at her. He walked to the bed and sat down with his head in his hands.

"Peter? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said it."

"Just a minute."

He needed to think. Not act on impulse. He was vaguely aware of her drying her own hair again . Her moving to look at the rain out of the window. He looked at her and realised it wasn't impulse at all. He needed her. And he knew she needed him.

He walked over to her and took the towel out of her hands, gently wiping a drop of water from the back of her neck. He kissed where it had just been. She looked at him in the window's reflection.

"I love you Assumpta." He whispered into her hair.

She turned to him, unable to speak. She felt another drop of water fall from her hair to her collarbone and he lent in to kiss it then spoke with his lips against her skin,

"I can't walk away anymore."

He kissed the same spot again and she ran her fingers through the back of his hair. He kissed her again, this time her jawline then resting his forehead on hers.

They broke apart in unison as if the thought had hit them both simultaneously.

"It's over Peter. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't"

"You're still married. And I'm a priest"

She ventured a smile and leaned into him, resting her lips against his ear

"Do you feel like a priest now?"

"Assumpta" he meant it to be a warning but it came out as a sigh as he stepped away.

He looked at her and squeezed his palms again.

"I love you." she whispered. " I need you."

Maybe five seconds of silence still squeezing his palms, eyes closed now and deep breaths. Someone else's wife, his vocation, no going back.

She looked worried.

"I'm sorry I ever walked away"

As he said it and pulled her to him. She lifted her head up , brought her nose up to touch his cheek and waited for him to close the gap. He brought his lips down to brush hers and then it became a blur. Grazing and pulling of lips, gentle then hard then gentle again. Her hands on his chest and in his hair again. His hands on her shoulder and through her hair.

When they breathlessly moved apart a little, faces still together, he realised his shirt was untucked and unbuttoned.

She seemed to register his shock and nervously took a step back. He caught her hand and pulled her back to him.

"I can't stop" he spoke it into her mouth and kissed hard, holding her hair, then put his mouth to her ear, " Unless you tell me to stop."

"I can't." This time as she stepped back she pulled him with her. " I love you Peter… don't stop."

On the bed now. He felt himself harden almost as soon as he was on top of her. He ran a hand down her thigh, over the smooth silky fabric and back up again, lifting it in a bunch in his grip. He pushed down harder on her and knew she must now be able to feel it.

"I can feel you." She breathed into his neck, and he smiled.

"I certainly can." he replied with a grin. The joy when she laughed back.

"You look incredible in this dress." He slid his hand over her stomach up to her breast and she moaned his name. He kissed her breasts though the fabric and felt his groin ache as she gently ran her nails though his hair.

He looked down at her dress.

"How do I get in here?" he smiled at her, confidence growing but head starting to spin. She rolled over onto her front revealing on long zip. He undid it slowly, savouring every moment, kissing her back.

Then things seemed to speed up. Him pulling off his shirt, her wriggling out of the dress, him pulling his trousers off as he explored her with his mouth.

The transition from him realising they were both naked to him entering her just seemed to happen without any thought at all. A sudden flash of pleasure and they groaned simultaneously. They looked hard at each other then let go completely.

…..