“To go like that with no one to grieve you. Just awful.” He pushed his hands up to his face and again frantically rubbed his temples.

His eyes moved to the left, making me think he is telling lies.

He traces a finger from the top of my wrist to the crook of my elbow. “I think you enjoy defying me.”

“It’s my living Liam. You knew how I made money before this started. I’ve danced for you 1438 times.” I say pointing between him and I with my fuchsia pink nail.

“I like to be soft, sweet and romantic with you,” he says, pushing hair out of my face, “but I sense that’s not what you need.”

“What do I need?”

“You need,” he pauses, “A fast, hard, long fuck.”

My sex involuntarily clenches and I inwardly apologise to Harriet.

“You’re blushing,” he says.

“No, I’m a stripper. You can’t imagine what I’ve heard.”

“Not from someone you like.”

“Who says I like you?”

“The waves of electricity that vaulted through you when my tongue was between your legs spoke volumes.”

Silence hangs between us.

“You’ll have to be punished for what you did tonight,” he whispers in my ear. “You want to be punished, don’t you?”

I fight the urge to nod, willing my blood pressure to come back down to normal.

“I will tie you to the bed. I will make you very wet with my fingers. Then I will turn you over and retie you to the bed and fuck you doggy style until you explode again and again over my cock. And beg me to stop. And each time your climax builds, I’ll rub your little clit until it’s swollen and your juices are pouring out all over me. Stop, and then I’d let you relax and start again.”

“What makes you think I will explode before you?”

“Experience,” he says.

I can’t relax enough for that right now. I say tense. “Something else is bothering me, apart from the events of this evening.” I say changing the subject.

“What darlin?” he asks.

“It’s your uncle, Freddie. He offered one of the girls here €2000 to go out on the boat with him.”

“And what’s the problem?”

“What does he want to do with her?”

“Probably what I want to do with you.”

“Why not take her to a hotel? Why does he want her in the middle of the Irish Sea?”

“He’s got a nautical fantasy. I don’t know why you are interested?”

Liam’s glare makes me realise I’ve gone too far.

“Maybe he’s right,” he says, turning his whole body towards me. “Maybe you are garda?”

“If you really think that, then leave now.”