She just flopped into him, and he let her, held her there in silence for a while. He felt huge, muscled and male wrapped around her. His cock throbbed. This was what he was supposed to be doing. It all felt right.

The barmaid ambled over. She smiled at the two of them, put a hand on her heart.

‘So cute! What can I get you, then?’

‘I think I’ll go cottage pie actually. Did you decide, babe? What are you having?’

He liked the way the girl smiled at his accent.

Clio muttered, ‘Chips,’ into his shoulder, didn’t look up.

‘She’s not feeling too well,’ he mouthed, to cover for her. ‘Maybe a burger and chips? Cheeseburger? Make sure it’s cooked all the way through, though – please tell the chef that my lovely wife here is pregnant, so to take whatever precautions he normally would with the food. And nothing with eggs, like mayonnaise or anything.’

Clio’s body tensed beneath him.

‘Oh congratulations! That is going to be one good-looking baby, if you don’t mind me saying.’

‘No, we don’t mind that at all, my darling! So, cottage pie and cheeseburger.’

Clio wrenched herself out from under his arm, wheeled round to face him, still ignoring the waitress.

‘I said I just want chips.’

‘You’ll change your mind, though. When you see mine. Tell you what – I’ll eat the burger if you can’t face it, all right?’ He winked at the barmaid. ‘Lucky she brought her back-up stomach, eh?’

The girl retreated.

‘Come on, babe. I know you’re not quite right today. But let’s not spoil it, eh? That was a wee bit – well, the girl was just being nice.’

She sat for a few seconds, turning her hands over, picking at a fingernail.

‘I know. Sorry. I’m sorry.’

‘It’s OK, honey. You must be exhausted. And hungry. Come here.’

This time the hug only went on a few seconds, before she broke away.

‘Why did you tell her?’

He could feel the smile pulling at his cheeks.

‘Well. It’s nice to be able to tell someone. She doesn’t know us. I want to tell people! I want people to know.’

She looked down.

‘Got to pee. Back in a sec.’

Almost as an afterthought she turned back, picked up his hand and kissed it.