The anticipation was killing me. I could get this guy, I just knew it. He was absolutely gorgeous, and probably way out of my league, but I liked a challenge. And I’d never been known to lose a bet before. I could hear my mate, Chris, sniggering behind me, convinced he’d won our little competition, but I wasn’t about to give in.

We’d been glancing across the club at each other for over an hour and I was sure he was interested. He was very tall, 6”3 at least. He had the olive skin I liked so much, and almost expertly styled hair. He had quite broad shoulders, and I could see the outline of his chest and stomach through his tight T-shirt. From what I could see of his face, he was very nearly perfect. I swallowed the last of my drink and summoned up my courage, preparing myself to go over to him.

I wasn’t a novice at meeting strangers in bars, which was the main reason I had got myself into the situation. Being young and foolish, I had bragged about my abilities with men to my friends, and now I had twenty quid at stake. If I didn’t sleep with him by midnight, I’d lose my money and my credibility.

I walked towards him in what I hoped was a casual manner, trying my best to look sexy and seductive. He looked in my direction again, and hit me with a glance so powerful it took me aback. His eyes were beautiful, a sort of greenish-hazel, surrounded by feathery lashes. He’d caught me off guard, and it took me a moment to collect my thoughts and focus on the task in hand. As I got closer, I realised that he was caged in a circle of men, all trying to snag him. I cursed myself in my head. It was going to be harder than I thought.

I brushed off a skinhead in leather chaps, keeping my eyes on the target. I was concentrating on looking the best I could, which was becoming increasingly difficult. I was being jostled this way and that by the heaving crowd, and I almost fell more than once. Eventually I found myself by his shoulder, and I knew that it was the moment of truth. If I couldn’t get him now I might as well say adios to my money. He looked down at me with those amazing eyes.

“You’ve been watching me,” He said, in a voice that wasn’t as deep as I had imagined it to be.

“Me and the rest of the world,” I replied.

He smiled, showing his even white teeth. I couldn’t see anything about him that was in the slightest way flawed.

We bobbed up and down in time to the music, me trying to think of what to say next.

“I’m Alex,” I said, not managing to muster anything witty or clever.

“Theo,” He said, extending a hand. I wasn’t used to such formalities in the circumstances, but shook his hand nonetheless. I didn’t seem to be getting anywhere, and decided to just go for it and bite the bullet.

“Listen, it’s a bit crowded in here. I don’t ‘spose you want to go back to my place, do you?” I asked.

I held my breath, waiting for his reply. I prepared myself for the worst, for the walk of shame back to my friends.

“Alright.”

I didn’t think I’d heard him right.

“Sorry? What did you