Charlie pulled a face. ‘Terry getting wed. Things changing. I dunno.’

Nula had long suspected that Charlie was going to be put out by his friend’s nuptials. Maybe even as put out as she secretly was. Maybe Charlie thought Terry would go soft on him. Charlie liked to be in charge of matters, and this was something that was beyond him.

‘It’ll be OK,’ said Nula, placing both Charlie’s hands on her breasts. She gave him a laughing glance. ‘Keep your mind on the business in hand, OK, mister?’

Charlie half-smiled at that and squeezed a very small double handful as Nula got back to the job. She could feel the pleasure building now, accelerating her movements.

‘You know what we got to get you, doll?’ he asked her, leaning back, enjoying himself. He was staring past her and he could see them reflected in the dressing table mirror, could appreciate the back view of her.

Another thing that had surprised Nula was Charlie’s rampant sensuality. He seemed to have no sexual borders. Nothing was off the table when it came to sex, not with Charlie. Swinging parties? He loved them. Nula was nervous about the whole thing. Strange men, pawing at her? But this was part of the deal, she understood that; part of being Charlie Stone’s girl, so she did it.

‘You ask someone if they “partake”,’ he’d told her. ‘If they say yes, there’s your answer. They like to swing too.’

To Nula, it opened up a whole new world – one she wasn’t entirely sure she liked. But really – what did it matter who she had sex with? The only man she had ever truly wanted was lost to her. So, what the hell.

‘You’ve got a fantastic arse,’ Charlie said. He slid his hands around and grabbed her buttocks. ‘A real woman’s arse, ain’t it?’

‘It’s the only one I’ve got,’ said Nula, amused. ‘So what have you got to get me? I could do with a car.’

‘Nah, something much better than that.’

‘What then? You going to offer me drugs, Charlie?’ He’d told her a long while ago about the business he was in these days. Not that she cared. She wasn’t interested in any business, straight or otherwise; that was Charlie’s domain.

‘Hey!’ Charlie gave her a stern look. ‘What’s the golden rule, doll? What do I always tell you?’

‘You never, ever, touch the product,’ said Nula. ‘Cool it, Charlie. I was joking, that’s all.’

Charlie was staring at her chest now; it was the one thing that Nula was still self-conscious about, her lack of bounty in that area. The rest of her she was pretty pleased with. Especially her arse.