“I like hoofing you about.”

“No fucking about. I want inside you now. You fuck about, I swear to God...’ He’s deadly serious.”

“I like you however you come.”

“I already know everything I need to know about you. I know how I feel and nothing you could tell me will make me feel any different. I wish you felt the same.”

“I can’t answer that, Ava, because I’ve never wanted anything enough to pursue it so relentlessly. Not like I wanted you.”

“No, you're not." He sounds very confident. "Ava, you've found out the worst about me and not run a mile. Well, you did, but you came back." He kisses my forehead. "Do you honestly think I'm bothered about my age?”

“I love it. Reminds me of you." "It reminds me of a man I don't like." I never want to hear it again. "I'm sorry." He nips at my neck, drawing his tongue up the length to my jawbone. "My arse is dead.”