"You never can be too careful", said Peter smiling slowly and conspiratorially, and reached for his wallet to pay the bill.

They threaded their way through the crowded tables populated with designer people wearing designer clothes and with designs on each other. Many were teenagers, rich little things in bright colours purchased in Kings Road and Sloane Square rubbing elbows with their shy beau's. Make-up freshly applied and determined to look nonchalant.

There were career ladies too. Neat, ordered people meeting for a quick meal and to network with a lady friend and to put off the lonely journey to an empty home. A bit of office work would be squeezed in before sleep paved the way for their new working day.

Then there were the powerful men seeking to impress with their large bodies pressed into bulky suits. Their young female assistants trying to decide whether they should really be on their way home. Some flattered that the boss was taking an interest in them. Others worrying where it might lead.

The bare brick walls that led Sarah and Peter to the basement were coloured a dark green with banisters black and worn with use. Following Peter down the stairs, Sarah thought about how basic and sordid the facilities were. Yet the cafe hummed with life. For the clientele, the decor didn't seem to matter. People make places, she thought.

The phone was round the corner at the foot of the stairs. As she made her call, Peter's fingers lightly caressed the back of her neck. When she didn't pull away, his lips followed sending icicles down her spine.

She placed the handset back on the rest, eyes briefly focussing on the square green bricks of the wall. Someone had scrawled the message. "Die now pay later! Free no obligation trial – guaranteed five point plan".

"It's now", thought Sarah. "Go on, take a deep breath and do it".

But something inside her said "I don't want to - I can't!".

"Remember why you're here", she told herself. "No prevarication. Just do as planned. Think of … Think of anything? It's just a kiss. Why else would you be with him? So just do it".

Yet she couldn't put David's gentle smile out of her mind or the feeling that he was watching her.:

"I'm so sorry - forgive me David", she said under her breath.

Then, gritting her teeth, she closed her eyes tightly and turned around. Her arms reached around Peter's neck and she tilted her head back, knowing it was an invitation to be kissed. His lips descended to hers without any hesitation. His right arm encircled her waist and pulled her tightly to him. In an instant, the small passageway with its subdued lighting closed in around her. The clink of cutlery and the chatters of voices in the café disappeared into the distance. Everything became dominated by the overwhelming sensation of shared tongues, lips and sharply in-drawn breath. Then, as she knew it would, the skin crawling touch of Peter's exploring hands.

Long minutes later … echoing footsteps approached and she pulled away. Then they faded.

He reached for her again. His left hand was entwined in hers and he moved it showing he wanted more intimacy. Sarah pulled her hand away, firmly, and instead placed it against his chest inside his shirt .

"I'm afraid you've rather got me going," said Peter apologetically.

"It's all right, I understand", she murmured into his chest, relieved he had accepted her limits. Satisfied that she'd cast the die. She searched for the right line to make the next step. So far so good. She looked up at him, absorbed the tiny detail of his face.

"But not here. Let's do it right. Find me a nice deserted inn when we've more time. Wine me and dine me, then, when I'm all mellow, we'll go to bed together and have a night we'll never forget. I know it'll be worth waiting for."