He feasted and gorged on me, laughing a dark laugh every time I came, which was three times in total, before moving back in for more. I could barely see straight to return the favour, but by the time we thought of showering I had swallowed a substantial mouthful of his juices, while mine glistened all over his chin.
‘I’m sorry, I can only offer black coffee,’ I told him when he appeared, dressed and washed but gorgeously ruggedly unshaven in my kitchen. ‘I can pop up to the Co-op on Albert Road if you must have milk –’
‘It’s OK. I should get going.’
‘Oh.’ I couldn’t quite mask my disappointment. ‘Lots to sort out today, I guess.’
‘You said it.’
‘Well, good luck with it.’
He was behind me at the kitchen counter, wrapping strong arms around me and clasping my hands in his. He kissed my cheek and then my earlobe.
‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘I’ll need it. I’d love to stay on but … Well, y’know.’
‘I know.’
I twisted my neck up to him and let him kiss my mouth, a long, sloppy smooch that melted me all over again.
Breaking away, he took the pen off the magnetic strip of my kitchen organiser pad and wrote down a phone number.
‘I’m not going to try and compete with Mr Necklace,’ he said. ‘But if you ever find yourself fancy free and footloose, give me a call.’
‘I will.’
‘Do you promise?’
‘I wouldn’t dare disobey.’
He growled a little, pulled me close and patted my bottom.
‘Good,’ he said. ‘See that you don’t.’
There was more kissing and maybe a few tears from me and then he left.
It was all over.
What next?
What came next was a trip to the Co-op, breakfast and many, many cups of strong coffee.
And after that, I switched on my computer.
In my inbox, the most charming email from, presumably, Kat.
‘Bitch, we know your name now and we know where you work. We are sending photographs to your headteacher, your board of governors and your local newspaper.’
I shook for a few minutes before firing back. ‘I know HL’s real name too. Tit for tat, anyone?’
I didn’t know his real name, of course, apart from the Marcus part.
The reply came ten minutes later.
‘You don’t know HL’s real name. I don’t believe you.’
‘Try me and see.’
Nothing more after that.