There was a filter coffee maker in a staff lounge across the hall, but as James was about to step out, he heard a grunt and a sound like stuff falling off a table in the next office along. Since all the hostel buildings were dilapidated, he thought maybe a rat or fox had found a way inside. But the moan he heard next was entirely human and he leaned into the hallway to investigate.

The door of the next office was pushed shut, but the glass in the top half was only lightly frosted and James could see the outline of a couple kissing. Both about the same height, girl with long black hair.

‘Mmm,’ Bruce moaned, as he kissed the girl’s neck.

James was intrigued. She was too tall for Tovah, the caretaker’s wife was sixty and had grey hair and the female training assistant was practically a skinhead.

‘Aww, shit,’ the girl gasped.

James gasped too when he realised it was Ning.

‘What happened?’ Bruce asked anxiously.

‘Your watch strap caught in my hair,’ Ning said. ‘It’s fine.’

‘Sorry,’ Bruce said, as Ning started kissing him again.

James was torn. On one hand, Bruce was his mate, Bruce was a decent guy and he never seemed to have much luck with women. On the other, Bruce had been teaching martial arts on campus, which meant he was CHERUB staff, and since Ning was seventeen and an agent, this broke all kinds of rules.

James watched as Ning backed up and sat on a desk in the middle of the room. Bruce leaned over, kissing her, while running a hand through her hair. James wondered if Bruce would kick his ass if he burst in and told him to stop.

‘I don’t mind,’ Ning said soothingly, as she clenched Bruce’s bum. ‘I want you to. I’m seventeen. I’m not a kid.’

Bruce backed off, running a tense hand over his face.

‘I want to know what it’s like,’ Ning begged. ‘I want you to be the one.’

Bruce sounded frustrated. ‘It’s not that I don’t want to,’ he said. ‘But staff and agents is a big no. I shouldn’t even be kissing you.’

‘Temporary staff,’ Ning said. ‘You’re going back to Thailand straight after this mission. Which isn’t even a CHERUB mission.’

‘Temporary staff is still staff,’ Bruce noted sadly.

Ning seemed a bit upset, but then stood up and gave Bruce a kiss. ‘Trust me to fall for the only guy on campus who wants to keep his dick in his pants.’

‘It’s not that I don’t want to,’ Bruce said. ‘You’re smoking hot.’

Ning laughed as Bruce held her wrist and looked into her eyes.

‘You’ll leave CHERUB early next year,’ Bruce said. ‘I’ll sort you a job in Thailand and then we can be together without breaking any rules.’