I wonder if it’s even her room, but she moves around it like it is, walking over to plug her phone into the charger on one of the bedside tables, before throwing herself on to the bed with a theatrical sigh. I sit on the edge, unlacing my DMs and toeing them off before lying down next to her. I’m careful to keep a polite distance, which she doesn’t observe, elbowing me as she sits up and reaches for the pink chenille blanket draped across the foot of the bed. She pulls it over us and immediately curls into me, slinging her arm across my stomach with a more content sigh this time, her breath hot and slow against my neck.

‘I’m so glad I finally have you in my room,’ she says, hooking her leg over me.

I nod, suddenly aware of the nearness of her.

The heat.

I’m not sure what I should do next – if I should kiss her or wait for her to kiss me.

So I panic and say, ‘I thought you’d have a dog.’

Nice, Ash.

That’ll get her in the mood.

‘Yeah?’ She searches for my hand under the blanket then threads her fingers through mine.

‘A big one,’ I tell her, tucking my other hand behind my head on the pillow and looking up at the high white ceiling. ‘A Lab or a golden retriever, or something.’

‘I love golden retrievers.’ She sits up, her chin on my chest. ‘The family next door have one,’ she tells me with a grin, her dimples back. ‘He’s the best. His name’s Iggy. Iggy Pup.’

‘Cute.’

‘He is cute,’ she says, her smile a little naughtier now. ‘But not as cute as you.’

I laugh, my cheeks suddenly too warm. ‘Nice line, Miss Morgan.’

‘Did it work?’ She waggles her eyebrows at me.

‘Well, I’m already in your bed, aren’t I?’

‘You are indeed, Miss Persaud.’

She kisses me – just gently, just for a moment – then pulls back to look at me. I nod and she does it again, my heart hammering so hard she must be able to feel it as she lets go of my hand under the blanket and straddles me. Her hair falls forward as she does and I reach up to sweep it back with my hands, her tongue warm and slow in my mouth.