"I once heard that there is a huge government computer somewhere that listens in to telephone messages and is programmed to recognise speech patterns that could identify them as terrorists or people interested in carrying out an illegal act".

"There's an element of truth in that Sarah", said Sam. "Sensitive communications are encoded these days as a matter of course to keep them private and from prying eyes, including sometimes the eyes of the government. This is a particular expertise of mine, I must confess".

"The programs that do the encoding don't need to use artificial intelligence concepts because they are essentially iterative processes. But a program to decode them could use AI because it would be searching for patterns and meanings and that is what Artificial Intelligence programs are best at".

Sam had now joined Sarah on the couch, his arm casually along the back cushions.

Sarah quietly drew a deep breath trying to still jangling nerves. Leaning towards him slightly she placed her hand lightly above his knee for emphasis.

"Well, in the competition for lecturer of the year you've got my vote", she said.

His voice was gruff and confiding.

"And I think you would make a very good pupil - a very good pupil indeed".

His hand was now lightly resting on her shoulder. She gave his leg a tiny squeeze of encouragement.

"Not to mention a beautiful one", he continued. She didn't trust herself to speak. The hand on her shoulder was pressing her towards him. Her face lifted up towards his. Eyes now closed, she felt his lips meet hers caress then press harder.

She couldn't believe she was doing this. She had told herself there was another way.

And suddenly, she was under the arch again. The tall gangly boys breath mingled with her own. The boy moved his lips lightly on hers gently too and fro. She remembered how she had yearned for this earlier on the dance floor. Wondered how it would feel, wanted him to take her in his arms even then. She felt slender, young, full of energy and passion.

His kisses were growing stronger. His mouth opened inviting hers to join. As her mouth responded tongue met tongue in a dance of sensation. And when both needed to draw breath, his lips moved to her face, smothering eyes, cheeks and the soft lobes of her ears with yet more gentle pressure.

Then, exquisitely, sweeping from her neck to find the soft hollow in her chest. Lightly lingering there for delicious moments before returning to kiss her lips again and tease her tongue.

But suddenly she was back in a penthouse flat and it was a middle aged lecturer for whom she felt no attraction that was breathing heavily in her face and sucking at her lips. Panic and nausea rose in her throat but she fought to control the urge to push him away. His hands too had been busy. She felt the last of her blouse buttons disengage and self disgust overwhelmed her as her breasts automatically responded to his attentions.

"Easy now you big passionate fellow", she gasped urgently in his ear.

"You are so beautiful, you really turn me on", was his breathless reply.

"I find you attractive too", Sarah whispered encouragingly, gazing deeply into his watery blue eyes, "more than I realised until now ... but you are going a bit too fast for me".

"It's a lot to think about", she continued. "Would you mind very much being a real gentleman and letting us cool down for a few moments while I get things sorted out in my head"?

"But I want this to be for you just in the way we were talking about", said Ben. He cupped her face with his hands.

"Forget all your responsibilities and just think of yourself for a while and reach out for what you want".

"To be honest, I'm not sure I'm ready for a relationship outside my marriage yet", she said.

"It's a big step to take. If I take it, I would want it to be with someone like you but I think I just need a little time to get used to the idea".

She saw the look of frustration on his face, it must have been some time for him. Despite his protestations, the interruption of his drives in full swing could easily bring bitterness.

"Of course, I do understand how hard it is on you, though", she said. Her throat felt dry as she forced herself to lay her hand gently on the bulge in his trousers to make her meaning clear. He exhaled deeply and for a moment closed his eyes.

Sarah looked at him beside her on the couch. He just looked like any decent middle aged professional gentleman, quite kind really, not bad looking. A good catch for any girl that took a fancy to him. Perhaps Tim was wrong. Perhaps he deserved better than her fake attentions.

But if she left him now there was the chance she wouldn't be invited again. His arm drew her face tightly to his chest and the movement of his hips left no doubt of his preference.

She gave him another squeeze and got another gasp in response. Doing nothing didn't seem a realistic option. Gazing up at him, she gently traced his eyebrows with the tips of her fingers and murmured:

"On this occasion how about me paying your little monster a bit of personal attention - just as an aperitif. Then we can both look forward to the main course when we've known each other a little longer".

"You are not obliged". His words came thickly.

"Of course not", she replied, " I want to do it for you because in the short time we have known each other I've already grown to like you a lot. It's my way of saying thank you for you being you and for the lovely time I've had".

As she spoke she had gently liberated the subject of their discussion into view.

"Now my little one", she addressed it playfully but firmly, "what have we got available to put over you while you are dealt with".

As she spoke she caressed him. He shuddered and moaned: "I'm afraid I haven't got anything, this wasn't planned".

The thought flashed across her mind that perhaps this could be an excuse but just as quickly she rejected the idea.

"Stay there for a moment", she commanded, "and I'll see what I can find". She was fully back in control now.

"Minutes later she returned from the kitchen. Sam had arranged himself on the couch more comfortably. His shirt was open at the front revealing a smooth chest devoid of all but the lightest of downy hair. His eyes were open now, anxious but his face wore a look of nervous anticipation.

He gasped as Sarah placed the thin square of clear cling cooking film over his 'monster' and then moaned even more loudly as her lips followed and began to mould it into shape. His breath came in gasps and, to her relief, minutes later he gave a howl of pleasure that reached every corner of his penthouse suite.

When she returned with a towel from his en-suite bathroom to gently tidy up after her ministrations, he looked at her adoringly. The tranquil look on Sarah's face gave no sign of the disappointment she had felt when she had found his study door locked.