Chapter 5

Danny had been sat in the jeep for several minutes trying to make sense of what he'd witnessed, and how he was feeling. He was so shaken he couldn't even turn the key in the ignition. The pain he was experiencing was worse than anything he had ever felt before. Worse even than when he had witnessed Sarah's lifeless, charred body after the fire.

Suddenly, his thoughts were disturbed by the sound of a door slamming. Danny looked up and saw her – Alice. He could see she was severely distressed as he watched her clumsy decent of the path. In spite of his own turmoil, he didn't hesitate, not even for one millisecond. He reached her just as she collapsed onto the ground.

Alice felt a pair of strong muscular arms envelope her lovingly. She immediately recognised him from the fragrance of his aftershave. She buried her head deep into his chest and held him on to him as tightly as she could. She never, ever wanted to let go of him again.

"Danny?"

Alice's voice was barely audible.

"Danny, I'm sorry…..so sorry," she sobbed.

He held her close and lightly stroked her hair as he planted tiny kisses all over the top of her head.

"I nearly…..I nearly......" she stammered, her body shaking with the intensity of her emotions, "But I didn't…..I couldn't. I don't want anyone else. I want you!"

Her words echoed in his ears.

"Didn't….Couldn't…..Want you!"

Relief flooded every single cell of his body. She hadn't slept with Simon. That was all Danny needed to hear. He hadn't lost her, she was still his.

It was after 12.00 a.m. when they got back home to Leopard's Den. All the lights were out, so their arrival went unnoticed. Danny led Alice tenderly into their bedroom. He turned to face her and kissed her gently on the lips. She responded in kind. They looked at each other and knew instinctively what would happen next…………………..

They lay naked on top of the bed sleeping, their limbs still intertwined. Their love-making had been urgent and passionate, yet familiar and tender. They had both shown the other just how much they really loved them.