You left her, briefly, to prepare the bedroom. You have known Karine for about seven years, and you’re pleased to see her again. She lives in an eight-bedroomed town house in York city centre, with her husband and their three dogs. They have children – four of them – at various private schools and universities around the world. You have never met any of them, although you have seen photos. Identical, beautiful golden-haired children of various sizes. You like Karine: she is not any trouble. She always knows exactly what she wants out of your encounters. Usually, it’s a quick, fast orgasm, followed by a long, slow massage, which usually brings about at least one other climax. Her husband knows about you, that Karine meets you sometimes – whether he approves or not, you haven’t a clue. You suspect Karine would not tolerate his disapproval. She was two minutes late, proclaiming that she couldn’t find the hotel – her Teutonic sense of punctuality clearly put out by having to travel out into the sticks.