‘No, it is not dirty, for God’s sake. She’s a very proper, very well brought up young Victorian lady.’
‘Ah, those are the worst, if you ask me.’
‘Just as well I’m not asking you then, isn’t it?’
The book lay forgotten as they entered into an energetic play fight, chasing each other around the house and bending each other into amorous contortions before giving up and going back to bed.
Chapter Four
‘I’M STILL NOT sure about this.’ Jason gazed bleakly through the window as field after flat field rolled past, each cow marking a step closer to London.
‘It’s just a meeting. Besides, we’ll have fun. Are there any London attractions you want to see? London things you want to do? Go for it. You can do them all.’
‘Soho?’ he said hopefully. ‘That’s where it all goes on, isn’t it?’
‘You’re probably thinking of its old reputation rather than today’s reality,’ said Jenna. ‘Sorry to disappoint, but there’s only a very small section of it devoted to sex shops and peep shows these days. Most of it’s upscale bars, restaurants and shops. And the odd corporate giant creeping in to ruin the vibe.’
Jason kicked at the footwell, clearly uncomfortable.
‘The Emirates Stadium?’ he said hopefully.
‘Oh God, must we? What about the Olympic Park? That’s bigger and more interesting.’
‘Yeah, I used to support Arsenal though. A bit. I mean, mostly I was a Forest boy but I just liked the name. Arsenal. You get me?’ He winked.
Jenna felt a little prickly at his determination to drag the conversation down to base levels. She knew their relationship thus far had been largely predicated on their outrageous sexual compatibility but surely it must be possible to have some intercourse of a different nature with him? Why must everything be sex, sex, sex? It was beginning to bore her.
‘Maybe, if we have time,’ she said vaguely. ‘What about the London Eye?’
‘Oh yeah, that looks boss. Do you get one of them little pods all to yourself?’
‘I’m afraid not.’
He tutted. ‘Bang goes another good idea.’
She concentrated on exiting the slip road and getting on the motorway then turned to him.
‘Jason, is there anything non-sexual you’d like to do in London?’
‘Why would I want to do anything non-sexual?’ he asked, as if she’d asked him to consider joining the Nazi party. ‘Especially when I’m with you. Can’t we just stay in the hotel when we’re not meeting your posh mates? Room service, en-suite bathroom, all that?’
Jenna wasn’t sure whether to feel flattered or frustrated.
‘I don’t know,’ she said, trying to keep her tone light. ‘I bring you to one of the capitals of world culture and all you want to do is shag.’
‘You bring me? What are you, my mother?’
‘Of course not.’ Jenna considered abandoning the conversation. ‘I’m joking. Stop being so sensitive.’
‘I am sensitive,’ he countered. ‘I’m a sensitive artiste, see. That’s why you love me.’
‘Well, that’s a fair point.’ A sign for some motorway services appeared like a mirage in the desert. ‘Oh look, let’s get a coffee or something. I hate long drives.’
It was an indicator of how annoyed Jenna was that she even considered this. A woman of her international fame was bound to draw a lot of unwelcome attention in one of these places, especially with her tabloid-bait boyfriend in tow. But perhaps they could scoot in, find a secluded corner and keep the rubberneckers at bay.
She parked the car, pulled her sunglasses right up the bridge of her nose, and stepped on to the forecourt with a defiant air that seemed to invite all-comers to ‘bring it on’.
She strutted while Jason slouched. His posture was shocking, she realised. She needed to do something about it – that rolling gait made him look as if he were skulking around a street corner waiting for a drug deal.