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Chapters (64)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Dedication
  4. Chapter One
  5. Chapter Two
  6. Chapter Three
  7. Chapter Four
  8. Chapter Five
  9. Chapter Six
  10. Chapter Seven
  11. Chapter Eight
  12. Chapter Nine
  13. Chapter Ten
  14. Chapter Eleven
  15. Chapter Twelve
  16. Chapter Thirteen
  17. Chapter Fourteen
  18. Chapter Fifteen
  19. Chapter Sixteen
  20. Chapter Seventeen
  21. Chapter Eighteen
  22. Chapter Nineteen
  23. Chapter Twenty
  24. Chapter Twenty-One
  25. Chapter Twenty-Two
  26. Chapter Twenty-Three
  27. Chapter Twenty-Four
  28. Chapter Twenty-Five
  29. Chapter Twenty-Six
  30. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  31. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  32. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  33. Chapter Thirty
  34. Chapter Thirty-One
  35. Chapter Thirty-Two
  36. Chapter Thirty-Three
  37. Chapter Thirty-Four
  38. Chapter Thirty-Five
  39. Chapter Thirty-Six
  40. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  41. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  42. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  43. Chapter Forty
  44. Chapter Forty-One
  45. Chapter Forty-Two
  46. Chapter Forty-Three
  47. Chapter Forty-Four
  48. Chapter Forty-Five
  49. Chapter Forty-Six
  50. Chapter Forty-Seven
  51. Chapter Forty-Eight
  52. Chapter Forty-Nine
  53. Chapter Fifty
  54. Chapter Fifty-One
  55. Chapter Fifty-Two
  56. Chapter Fifty-Three
  57. Chapter Fifty-Four
  58. Chapter Fifty-Five
  59. Chapter Fifty-Six
  60. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  61. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  62. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  63. Epilogue
  64. Acknowledgements

Akila holds her hand up. ‘Harri, I know what pegging is. But I think you’re absolutely right. We’ve been cautious so far, I think we’re ready to go bold. Women aren’t really being served by what’s already out there, it could be a real land grab for us. And every day there’s a new brand or product launch, the sex tech people are really throwing their money around.’

Sex, thinks Harri. Sexy sex. Hot bodies, cool sheets, the sounds people make, someone else’s sweat on your skin, earthquakes and tidal waves and losing yourself, finding yourself in someone’s arms…no. I can’t remember. I cannot let myself remember. She shudders, involuntarily, freeing herself from the grasp of a ghost. ‘That’s a great point about advertising. And we have to remember that the joy of being so new, and being online, is we can try it, run the numbers, and if it doesn’t work, we never have to do it again. We can respond, we can take risks. But the potential is untapped.’

‘Let’s have a sexy brainstorm—sorry, thought shower, at Conference,’ says Akila, rummaging for a spoon. (Harri’s generous offer of tea did not include the removal of the bag.) ‘I reckon Mackenzie is going to hate this, though.’

Harri’s brain fires sparks once more. ‘Exactly.’

Chapter Eighteen

The rule of three

Imogen

I hate being late on a Monday. It feels like a terrible omen for the rest of the week. As I slide into my chair, mumbling vague apologies, I notice Harri seems more agitated than usual. ‘Imogen, at last! Right, we’re all meeting in an hour, bringing our best ideas. Our sexiest ideas.’ I make a face at Louise, who looks a little alarmed. As soon as Harri leaves—to get coffee or go to the loo or go in search of sex in the rest of the building, I don’t know—she whispers ‘Help! I don’t have any sexy ideas. I’ve not had sex in six months!’

‘Pardon me?’ whispers Kim. ‘Not that it’s any of my business, but, um, why? How?’ Even before I’ve looked up, I notice there’s an unusual sense of ease in the office. A borderline carnival atmosphere. Lily and Katie aren’t here. I look over at sulky Tabitha, to see if she has any interest in making friends and joining the sex chat, but she’s putting her massive headphones on in a manner I’d describe as pointed.

‘Imogen, when did you last have sex?’ asks Kim, slightly more loudly. ‘If you don’t mind me asking?!’