Shauna suppressed a wince of pain. She was meant to be enjoying this, but she didn’t. She never had. She’d been ‘doing it’ with Jeb and with Ciaran – less often with Rowan, and a couple of times with their dad, Bill – since she was twelve years old.

She’d worked out early that a romp between the sheets made men blind and biddable. Even at a young age – an illegal age, but who gave a shit about that – she had insisted on a condom. It was also understood that when she put out, favours would be required in return. All she had to say was ‘I need some cash, how about it?’ and she’d be showered in fivers. And when she told the Cleavers, ‘I need to get even with so-and-so, will you see to that for me?’ whoever had crossed her would end up being sorted out down some dark alley.

So the Cleavers were useful. Very useful. They weren’t in the same league as Josh Flynn, of course. Shauna was obsessed with Josh Flynn, dreamed about him day and night. She fantasized that whichever grunting, gasping man was pumping away on top of her – whether it be Jeb, or half-blind Ciaran, or sly grinning Rowan or even their old man Bill, who was easy to tap up for a few fivers – was Josh. That way, she got through it and out the other side. Fun first. Usually their fun, not hers. Then business. And today she had something very specific in mind.

‘I want to talk to you,’ she said.

‘What about?’ He was kneading her tit like he was squeezing dough or something. It hurt. Shauna pulled away, stroked his belly, kissed his chest, which was thickly matted with black hair. All the while, she was thinking, Josh, Josh, you can’t do it, you can’t throw yourself away on her. I won’t let you.

‘That bitch Claire Milo . . .’

‘You never did like her.’ Jeb grinned. ‘Ciaran says it’s pure green-eyed jealousy. That you fancy Josh Flynn for yourself.’

Ciaran’s not as stupid as he looks, she thought.

‘Truth is, she set her fucking dog on me. You believe that? Look.’ Shauna held up one long shapely leg so that he could see the bite mark Blue had left her with.

‘Jeez. That’s nasty.’ Jeb ran his hand up her leg to her thigh. Quickly losing interest in her injury, he went up further and began probing the damp hollow between her legs, his eyes intent on that.

‘You ever thought of shaving your bush?’ he asked, fluffing up the black hair there with his fingers. ‘I could do it for you. Be a right turn-on.’

Shauna felt a stab of arousal at his words. Sometimes, Jeb could really light her fire, and she sort of hated herself for it when he did. Yes, he was an animal, but he was a sexy one.