For a while, he dozed in the afterglow while Sarah lay there her mind racing. Then not yet content his strong hands irresistibly guided her lips to where they could encourage him back to action.

Much later, he lay back with a contented smile reliving those moments. Then there came a tap on the door.

The landlord was full of apologies. The message had been received earlier but hadn't been passed on even though it was clearly marked 'urgent'. Having made his profuse apology, he left.

Nonplussed, Peter read the message. The news didn't please him and his face darkened with anger. The message stated that it was from the Operations Officer at his Computer Centre. A new system that was coming on line had crashed. The only other person they could contact with the restart codes was himself.

Normally, out of working hours in the rare event of this sort of thing happening, he would enter them through his computer terminal at home - but home was now nearly 150 miles away.

"How am I supposed to give the authorisations from here", he snarled angrily to himself struggling to think clearly.

Sarah who had wrapped herself in a sheet toga style wrinkled her nose in a display of thought then came up with a possible solution.

"I've got my little word processor with me if that would do", she said helpfully.

"I doubt if it would have the necessary connections", complained Peter exasperatedly.

"You never know - let's have a look!" Dropping the sheet she stepped naked over to her suitcase.

Distracted momentarily, Peter's eyes followed her across the room enjoying watching her and her flowing blonde hair and alabaster body still glowing red with the warmth of love making, regally feminine.

She snapped open the suitcase to reveal a miniature compact portable computer that she used for word processing and exclaimed in delight:

"It looks like you're in luck. I told you so!" Pointing to its side she indicated its ability to connect to the telephone socket through its built in modem.

"You can log on to your remote dialup at the Mainframe and sort the problem out in no time at all", she said reassuringly "and then we can go back to bed." She smiled at him in mock challenge - "if you've got the energy."

"And you women say men have a one track mind", said Peter chuckling as he gave her a big sloppy kiss to show he was pleased with her. Somehow she avoided his lips.

Efficiently, Sarah requested an outside line from the landlord, connected the computer to the telephone point and booted it into operation as a terminal. Peter then called out the number to dial and after a few seconds the logo of Peter's company filled the screen.

"Sorry, you'll have to leave the room while I enter the codes," said Peter.

"No problem, I'll be in the en-suite if you need me."

She turned on the taps and listened to the hissing sound of the water striking the green patterned tiles. Next door, she could hear the rapid tap of computer keys as Peter entered passwords and module names to gain access to the distant Mainframe system.

One thought repeated in her mind. She had been unfaithful to her husband. She had allowed another man to enter her, to make love to her. Whatever her motives could change nothing. She had committed adultery. Would her relationship with David ever be the same? It seemed impossible.

In the shower, the water was warm and comforting. She stood and let the water deluge, cleanse and then allowed her jumbled emotions to release themselves with more tears.