Meagan lodged her hands on her hips. ‘Did I say we were going anywhere though?’

‘No, but you didn’t say we weren’t,’ said Todd taking Meagan’s hand in his.

Her temples began to throb. Why didn’t he understand, regardless of how phase three of her plan was looming, he wasn’t going to muscle his way in with his soft hands and gorgeous face. Todd lightly pulled Meagan towards him, his eyes locked onto hers.

Meagan pulsated, as she peered back at him, the fight in her faltering. She loved looking up at tall men, craning to kiss them, leaning on them – but now was not the time for craning, leaning or kissing. She tried to pull away. He needed a nice girl to settle down with. Someone like Simi. Perhaps Meagan would re-gift him, solving all their problems. Granted he was a bit too young for Simi and she was a bit too actory for him but other than that they were a great fit. Why hadn’t she thought of it before?

‘Meag, I know you think it’s just physical…’ said Todd sliding his other hand around her waist.

As Meagan leaned back into his grasp she felt her lust shift up a gear. With her free hand she hitched up her mini skirt and entwined a leg around his calf.

‘No, Meag,’ he said easing her leg back down. ‘I want more than just that.’

Meagan stared at him, stupefied. This was the longest they’d talked without winding up in bed, on a sofa, her desk, his desk or his kitchen worktop and this is what he had to say?

‘You think sex with me is a just?’ she said pulling away. ‘Fam, you’re getting the best of me.’

‘Why don’t we find out? It’s your birthday next week. I’m going to take you on a date. Something simple like bowling?’

Meagan threw her head back with a sour laugh. ‘Bowling? Birthdays, dates. My friend, if you reeeaally knew me, you’d know Meagan don’t do birthdays – and bowling?’

‘Whatever, Meag. Let’s just see. If you hate it, if we both hate it, I’ll walk away. End of. I’m serious. Don’t throw out something you know we both want.’

Meagan stepped back. She looked into his brown eyes, noticing laughter lines she’d never seen before, a small spot of vitiligo under his chin and an old scar on his neck that told its own story. She sighed, gently kissing him on the cheek.

Meagan pulled the duvet up to her waist as the warm wave of her third orgasm washed over her. She had learned early on how to wring the maximum gratification from her sexual encounters. And while Jemima loved watching old French cinema and Simi loved to cook, Meagan’s hobby was teaching lovers to bring her pleasure. Training session over, she relaxed into the soft pillows and smiled to herself, the hint of that delicious cologne brushing past her nose. This was the perfect full stop to her exchange with Todd that afternoon, she concluded as a hairless arm flopped onto her hips. She looked down at it, momentarily surprised by its unfamiliarity.