Injured hoof. His breeches tightened across his buttocks and enhanced

the long moulded taper of his legs. Anna looked at him. He

straightened up and his shoulders were wide beneath the damp white linen

of his shirt. He smiled at her as he came up the steps of the stoep.

The rain had made his beard curl and he looked like a mischievous

pirate. You must take better care of yourself now He put his hand on

her upper arm to lead her aside. You can't stand around in the cold any

more. They went in through the glass doors. Anna looked up at him, the

top of her head on a level with his shoulder. You're a dAArnn fine

woman, Anna, and I'm sure you're going to make a fine baby. It was a

mistake, for as he said it his eyes softened and his face turned down

towards her. He let his arm drop around her shoulders.

Sean! She said his name as though it were an exclamation of pain. She

moved quickly, fiercely within the circle of his arm, her body flattened

Itself against his and her hands went up to catch in the thick hair at

the back of his head. She pulled his head down and her mouth opened

warm and wet across his lips, her back arched and thrust her thighs

against his legs. She moaned softly as she kissed him. For startled

seconds Sean stood imprisoned in her embrace, then he tore his face

away. Are you mad? He tried to push her from him, but she fought her

way back through his fending hands. she locked her arms around him and

pressed her face against his chest. I love you. Please, please. I

love you. just let me hold you. I just want to hold you. Her voice

was muffled by the damp cloth of his shirt. She was shivering. Get

away from me. Roughly Sean broke her hold and almost threw her

backwards onto the couch beside the fireplace. You're Garry's wife now,

and you'll soon be the mother of his child. Keep your hot little body

for him. Sean stood back from her with his anger starting to mount.

But I love you, Sean. Oh, my God, if I could only make you understand

how I've suffered, living here with you and not being able to touch you

even, Sean strode across to where she sat. Listen to me. His voice was

harsh, I don't want you. I never loved you, but now I could no more

touch you than I could go with my own mother. She could see the

revulsion in his face. You're Garry's wife; if ever again you look at

another man I'll kill you. He lifted his hands holding them with the

fingers crooked ready. I'll kill you with my bare hands. His face was

close to hers. She could not bear the expression in his eyes: she

lashed out at him. He pulled back in time to save his eyes, but her

nails gouged bloody lines across his cheek and down the side of his

nose. He caught her wrists and held her while a thin trickle of blood

dribbled down into his beard. She twisted in his hands, jerking her

body from side to side, and she screamed at him. You swine, you dirty,

dirty swine. Garry's wife, you say. Garry's baby, you say. She threw

her head back and laughed wildly through her screaming. Now I'll tell

you the truth. What I have within me you gave me. It's yours!

Not Garry's! Sean let go her wrists and backed away from her.