Chapter 18

Maya hit the stop button on the remote. “Well?” she said. “First reaction?”

“Amazing,” Gaëlle said. “What a fabulous experience you must have had. Thank you for letting me watch it.”

“That’s only from the static cameras. Eric still has to do the editing to add in his close-ups. I’m not sure I’m ready to see all my bits being pummelled in close-up. You know, Gaëlle, I still have difficulty in believing that the woman performing in this crazy orgy is me,” she said.

“I quite understand. I felt the same when I watched the film of my birthday at the sex club. It’s you but it’s also not you, another woman altogether, a total stranger,” Gaëlle said. “Can I ask an indiscreet question? What are you planning next?”

“That’s what I really wanted to talk to you about. Over the past few months I’m very conscious that I’ve been thinking about sex more or less non-stop. I do want to have more experiences, but I don’t want it to become routine. Does that make sense?”

“Oh yes. I know how it feels. Jérôme and I used to declare what we called white weeks, when we agreed that we would only touch each other in a non-sexual way. We allowed ourselves massages but no orgasms, no penetration, just a lot - a whole lot - of kissing and cuddling.” Gaëlle smiled at the memory.

“Wasn’t it hard not to go all the way?”

“Sometimes, yes. But we knew that shortly we’d be letting ourselves go again. Some of my most erotic experiences came after white weeks. You’d be amazed at what your imagination comes up with when you’re itching to have sex but you’re determined not to be the one who can’t last out the week.”

“How did Jérôme cope?”

“Concentrating very hard on work and cold showers, mostly. I’ve even seen him with an ice-pack on his willy!”

“Ouch! I’m not sure Eric would be keen on that. Did it work?”

“Of course not. He was just trying to get me to take pity on him,” Gaëlle said with a grin.

“And did you?”

“No chance. There was a week’s housework at stake.”

“I think I’m going to declare a white week unilaterally, so Eric doesn’t get the idea that we have to have sex all the time. Adam and Oelipalo were very vigorous and I was sore down there for over a week. Front and back! But it was worth it a hundred times over.”

“So try a white week and afterwards, I promise you’ll be aching to start again or to explore something new, just you wait!”

Maya stretched sumptuously. Gaëlle had been correct, as usual when the subject was sex. The white week had recharged the sexual batteries for Eric and herself. A few days later, she had been in the bath when Eric came in and sat on the floor beside the tub, with a letter in his hand.

“It’s from Adam,” he said. “He thanks me profusely for arranging the event, but principally you, for being so enthusiastic and appreciative of their efforts. He goes on:

“I don’t think you know Anastasia, from the language department, Eric. She’s part Russian, very serious and attractive in a rather intense way. All the others you’ve met.”

“The boys I know. Mmm. Françoise, brown girl, curvy. Isn’t she engaged to Martin? Marie, a pretty girl a little on the plump side. Séverine ... what can I say? The stunning ice-cold beauty!”

“Stop dribbling, Eric! Just read the letter!” Maya interjected.

Eric paused: “So looking at the combinations, one of those papers with your name on had to be from a woman,” he said. “Is there anyone who never calls you Maya?”

Maya sank deeper into the suds. “None of them do in front of students. The only one who calls me that in my study is Séverine,” she said. “Can it be her?”

Eric said. “Listen. Adam says: “Antoine was being a bit miffed, because he has always lusted after Séverine and he’d hoped she’d pick him, but it was pretty obvious that he’d been chosen by Anastasia or Marie. Marie was looking hopefully in his direction. It went quiet and then Séverine said: “Well, you did ask.”

That information, plus the tensions that had built up during the white week had fuelled a number of exciting fantasies while Eric and Maya enjoyed one-on-one sex. She lay back. Susan was right, too. It was indeed much nicer to have the warmth of the sun over her whole body. She was tempted to have a little play with her clitoris. Maybe later.

“Whoa! What’s this I see? A gorgeous lady, all undressed!” Eric’s voice broke into her reverie. He sat down beside her, then leaned over and kissed her on the lips. Maya explained how she had come to be naked.

“It’s all in the interpretation,” Eric said. “The girls see you stripped off and to them it’s just mummy with no clothes on. When I look at you, it’s my own, personal sexual temptress I’m seeing. It’s hard to keep my hands off you.”

“You don’t have to,” she reassured him. “Just don’t get too intimate when the girls and their friends are around, because I doubt if I would be able to resist your overtures. Otherwise, I’m all yours, so please feel free!”