WHITNEY Houston reportedly had a year-long affair with Jermaine Jackson.

Houston became close to Michael Jackson's brother when he was brought in to work with her early in her career in the mid 1980s. Though he has previously claimed in an autobiography they had strong feelings for each other, it's now believed they were "lovers".

Houston died at the age of 48 last month.

A source told the Sun on Sunday newspaper:

"Jermaine didn't tell even half the story in the book.

"He made it sound like they flirted and backed away. But they were lovers.

"In those early days with Whitney, he was smuggled into her hotel rooms, they worked extra late in the studio and she even had a codename for him. She referred to him as 'Jai'."

But the romance fizzled out when he refused to leave his then-wife Hazel Gordy.

The friend added: "Jermaine wouldn't leave his wife, and Whitney was angry. The video for Saving All My Love For You was about all of that."

Jermaine, who split from Hazel in 1988, is believed to have been particularly upset by Whitney's recent death, because it echoed that of his brother Michael. Although he did not attend her New Jersey funeral, he remains close to her family.

The source explained: "Jermaine remains on good terms with Whitney's family. He knows they know.

"But Whitney was no husband stealer. She just happened to fall for a married guy."- Bang