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looked at her all her short life, and she had been wary. Knowing her mother’s life would never be for her, she had fought to be respectable.
    But tonight she didn’t care about any of that. Tonight she wanted this man with a vengeance. He made her feel fantastic, and she could happily look at him for hours, admiring him. He was, quite simply, beautiful.
    Standing up, she said softly, ‘OK then.’
    And, lifting her dress over her head, she stood before him in her cheap underwear from Romford Market and her plastic leather-look high heels. He had never wanted a woman more. She was stunning, a real one-off, and he felt as if all his birthdays and Christmases had come at once. Picking her up, he carried her happily to the big bed that was waiting for them so patiently.
    Five minutes later he realised she was a virgin, and his whole world collapsed.
    ‘Why didn’t you fucking tell me you were a virgin?’
    Jenny was so caught up in the moment she wasn’t sure how to react. ‘I assumed you knew.’ Then the rot set in her head and she said angrily, ‘Oh, I get it. You assumed I was like my mum, and your mum, if what you said is true. Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I’ve never been with anybody.’ She felt so humiliated; she had given herself to him and he had shouted at her!
    Cain was in a quandary. Jenny had moved the goal posts and, as he looked down at her lovely face, he made a decision. Taking a deep breath, he said quietly, ‘It’s an honour, darling.’
    As he kissed her, he wondered just what he was getting himself into. But, fuck it, he was a man and what man could resist this? And her a virgin to boot. It would take a much stronger person than him to walk away.

Chapter Seventeen
    Cain was in a very good mood and, as he swung his four-year-old son into the air, he was well aware of just why he was feeling like this. He kept getting flashbacks to the night before. That Jenny, what a raver she had turned out to be! He couldn’t believe his luck.
    Oh, he loved Caroline, and he adored his lad, but there wasn’t that excitement there with his wife. Caroline was a lot of things, but she wasn’t pliable or dependent on him. That had been her attraction in the first place; she was very good-looking and she was hard as a rock, which is what you needed if you lived this lifestyle. If the house was raided she would take little Michael out of the way, and keep her trap shut, no matter what was said to her. She knew the score and she accepted it.
    His Jenny, though, was a different person altogether. She was vulnerable and she was gentle and he knew she trusted in him completely. It was heady stuff to a man like him.
    He wondered briefly if he was falling in love with her. Over the last few weeks he had seen Jenny as often as he could, meeting her all over the Smoke. He had also given her money to buy new clothes although she had refused it. She could be a really indignant little mare when the fancy took her. He had even organised a job for her at one of his mate’s offices so she could earn a few quid.
    Johnny knew about her, but no one else. Johnny Mac could see the attraction, but he had also cautioned Cain; he knew the trouble women on the side could cause.
    Especially with a wife like his Caroline. She was a wonderful mother, a brilliant housekeeper, and a blinding cook. Caroline was a beauty as well, but then that was a given − he wouldn’t want her otherwise. She was good in that she accepted he had indiscretions − she was a realist − but a permanent fixture she would never tolerate. She was too powerful a personality for that, had too much pride and who could blame her? She had a mouth on her, and she could use it; half the fun of their marriage was the making up after a good set-to. Caroline gave as good as she got, and she didn’t take any shit from him or anyone else.
    Well, he wanted them both. What man wouldn’t? They were like chalk and cheese, but each one held an attraction for him. But