By the time I made it home, it was nearly two in the morning. I had company most of the way back: three drunken lads and two of their girlfriends happened to be staggering in my direction, and I walked with them, chatting to one of the girls, Chrissie, who turned out to be a cousin of Sam’s.

The last little walk along Queen’s Road wasn’t too bad, really. The wind had dropped a little and although it was frosty, I’d had enough vodka to keep the worst of the chill off. And my wool coat was warm and toasty. I might make a nice cup of tea when I get in, I was thinking, and then a nice long lie-in in the morning…

A figure was sitting on my doorstep, and stood up when I approached.

Lee.

‘Where have you been?’ he asked.

I fished my keys out from the bottom of my handbag. ‘Out, in town,’ I said. ‘Didn’t feel like staying in. Have you been here long?’

‘Ten minutes.’ He gave me a kiss on the cheek. ‘Are we going in? Fucking freezing my nuts off out here.’

‘Why didn’t you use your key?’

‘You told me not to, remember?’

‘What?’

‘You said I wasn’t to come in and mess up your stuff.’

‘I didn’t mean it like that. Of course you can come in.’

Inside the doorway, he pulled me round and pinned me against the wall, pulling my coat open, his mouth invading mine. His kiss was forceful, and dry, and tasted of him – not alcohol. Not drunk, then. Just hard.

‘I couldn’t stop thinking about you today,’ he whispered into my neck, his hands sliding over my dress, over the satin. ‘This dress makes me want you so much.’

I undid his trousers, tugging the belt free, pushing them over his backside. Right here in the hallway, I thought to myself. Good a place as any.

‘Just tell me,’ he said, groaning, into my hair, ‘tell me you’ve not fucked anyone else in that dress.’

‘No,’ I said, ‘only you. It’s yours. I’m yours.’