Chapter 22

Andrew and Emma arrived at the “La Retraite” at the same time on Sunday evening and this time Andrew was bearing four bottles of wine.

‘Good heavens,’ laughed Toby as he ushered him through into the lounge, ‘We shall get plastered if we drink all those.’

‘No, we’re going to have a tasting,’ explained Andrew, putting the bottles down on the bar and beginning to strip off the foil tops, ‘Dad just had a new consignment in from that outfit in Germany that I was telling you about. These are all different wines and I thought it would be rather fun to compare them to see which we think is the best.’

‘How interesting,’ said Amber, picking up a bottle and studying the label, “Qualitätswein mit Prädikat”,’ she read.

‘That’s the better of the two from the Rhine.’ said Andrew knowledgeably. ‘The other is only a “Qualitätswein”.’

‘What are the other two?’ asked Toby.

‘Same sort of quality, but they’re from the Mosel. You can tell the difference from the bottles. Rhine wine comes in brown ones and Mosel wine comes in green ones.’

‘Clever Andrew,’ declared Amber, ‘You know all about it.’

‘Not really. Dad has explained this and that. He has got two better qualities at home, one is called an “Auslese” and the other’s a “Spätlese”. They’re rather expensive though. I got my hand smacked when I tried to filch a couple of those.’

Toby snorted with amusement, in his mind’s eye clearly seeing Tom’s reaction to his son’s pilfering.

‘Right then kiddies,’ said Andrew, ‘If you’d like to sit at the bar we can begin.’

Pulling one stool round into the kitchen area, he sat down and poured out four small amounts of the “Qualitätswein” from the Rhine. The others perched on the remaining seats and took a glass each.

‘Sip, don’t swig,’ cautioned the wine expert. They all did as they were told.

‘Mmm, it’s really fruity,’ declared Emma.

‘Like you,’ chuckled Toby, ‘It’s very tasty.’

‘What do you think, Amber?’ asked Andrew.

‘A nice clean taste,’ she replied after taking another small mouthful.

They all sipped decorously, rolling the wine round their tongues and making appreciative noises. Soon the glasses were all empty.

‘Amber has put out some bits,’ mentioned Toby, gesturing at the nuts and crisps on the coffee table in the corner.

‘Just what we need to clean the palates,’ said Andrew and went over to fetch them.

Emma took a large handful of peanuts and gobbled greedily.

‘Did you know that those are supposed to make you feel sexy?’ enquired Toby.

‘Good,’ laughed Emma and took another handful. Andrew poured half glasses of the “Qualitätswein” from the Mosel and the panel gave it their considered attention.

‘It isn’t as clean as the first one,’ decided Amber.

‘Oh I don’t know,’ argued Andrew, ‘I think it’s lighter.’

‘It’s all jolly good stuff,’ chuckled Toby and was first to finish his glass.

After more titbits they went on to the “Qualitätswein mit Prädikat” from the Mosel. Both couples immediately declared that the better quality was quite noticeable. They then tried the Rhine equivalent and interestingly both Amber and Toby decided that they preferred it.

‘OK then,’ said Andrew, ‘You two can finish that bottle and Emma and I will stick with the Mosel. Let’s move off these stools though, I’m getting a numb bum.’

They moved over to the couches taking their glasses with them and talk turned to other things.

‘Emma,’ said Amber suddenly, ‘Do you have such a thing as a sex manual?’

‘Yes,’ replied the girl promptly, ‘He’s sitting right there. Why?’

‘Oh you silly thing,’ giggled Amber, ‘I meant a book. I feel rather lacking in knowledge you see.’

‘Well, I haven’t got one myself, but Natasha must still have a copy of the Kama Sutra somewhere. That’s an ancient Indian book about courtship, marriage, and love-making, but people mostly look at it for all the different sexual positions that it talks about. We learned all the positions we use from that ages ago now. To be honest I think that I’ve really learned pretty much everything I know about sex from Natasha and then through practical experience with both Natasha and Andrew. I really do believe it’s the nicest way.’

‘Well yes, I can imagine,’ nodded Amber, ‘It’s just that there seem to be all sorts of odd things that I should like to know and I don’t want to trouble Toby with them. I feel so naïve.’

‘That’s silly, little one,’ said Toby, slipping his arm round her waist and giving her a tender kiss on the forehead, ‘You can ask me anything at all and if I know the answer I’ll certainly tell you. Of course if I don’t then we can always ask Emma.’

‘What particular gap in your knowledge comes readily to mind?’ asked Andrew with interest.

Amber shifted in her seat and looked uncomfortable.

‘Well, when we were swimming the other day I noticed that Bruce’s penis is different from everybody else’s. Why’s that?’

‘That’s an easy one,’ laughed Emma and explained.

‘Ah, I see,’ said Amber, ‘I always wondered what that meant when I read in the Bible that Jesus had it done.’

‘Next,’ chuckled Andrew, obviously enjoying the conversation.

‘What’s the nicest position for making love?’ asked Amber.

Andrew laughed. ‘I think that depends on the sort of mood you’re in,’ he said.

‘They all have advantages and disadvantages,’ opined Emma, ‘My favourite is with Andrew on his back and me lying or sitting on top of him. That’s the only one that actually makes me come from doing it. Otherwise I always need a helping hand.’

Amber was evidently fascinated by this answer.

‘I thought you were supposed to come regardless,’ she said.

‘That’s a myth put about by egocentric men if you ask me,’ declared Emma at once, ‘The might of the peen and all that sort of rot. No, it’s only a relative minority of girls that can come from actual screwing. Natasha can’t. She’s tried all ways.’

‘As long as you know that it doesn’t matter whether you can or you can’t,’ said Andrew, ‘I think that’s the most important thing of all.’

‘You see I told you I was hopelessly naïve,’ hissed Amber to her boyfriend.

‘It’s an important part of your charm,’ he responded, ‘Innocence is lost so quickly these days.’

‘I should quite like to be innocent again,’ nodded Emma.

‘What for?’ asked Andrew.

‘Because it was so much fun losing it,’ she replied and broke into fits of giggles, ‘Oh dear,’ she said at last, ‘I think I’ve had too much of this delicious wine.’

Taking off her shoes she got down onto the floor and lay out on the rug in front of the fire.

‘So did it live up to expectations?’ she asked Amber.

‘What?’

‘The rug.’

‘Oh ... yes, it’s a lovely rug.’

‘What time did you get home last night Toby?’ enquired Andrew casually.

‘Late,’ Toby winked at him.

Amber rose to her feet. ‘I’m going to the loo,’ she announced and made her way across to the door, swaying very slightly. She steadied herself against it. ‘I think I drank too much too,’ she said, ‘Will you make some coffee Toby darling? I’ll have mine black without sugar.’

‘Isn’t she an absolute sweetie,’ said Emma as the door closed behind her.

‘She’s really lovely,’ agreed Andrew, moving onto the rug beside her, ‘Almost as lovely as you,’ he began to kiss her hungrily.

Toby laughed and went over to the kitchen area to make coffee as instructed.

‘Hey Toby, will Amber mind if we have a shag on the rug?’ asked Andrew suddenly.

Toby raised his eyebrows.

‘You mean now?’

‘Mmmm,’ said Andrew, beginning to undo Emma’s dress.

‘Well,’ said Toby, ‘She did say ‘any time’ when Emma asked her last night.’

‘It’ll be good for her education,’ said Andrew, ‘How about if we look at it that way.’

‘Fine by me,’ chuckled Toby, ‘You know I like looking while you do it anyway.’

By the time that Amber came back into the room, Andrew and Emma were stark naked by the fire. She gave a little gasp when she saw them.

‘You did say it was all right for us to try the rug, didn’t you Amber,’ said Emma casually.

‘Oh ... er ... yes, I suppose I did,’ giggled Amber, ‘Though somehow I imagined that you were going to do it when we weren’t around.’

‘They’re the biggest pair of show-offs that I’ve ever met,’ chuckled Toby, ‘I sometimes wonder when they’re going to hire the London Palladium so that they can do it on the stage in front of an invited audience.’

‘Hey,’ laughed Andrew, ‘Do you think we could make it a Royal Cummand Performance? Would the Queen come?’

‘She might from watching you two in action,’ joked Toby, ‘Because it is rather exciting.’

Amber had become transfixed by the sight of Andrew’s erect penis which he was making absolutely no effort to hide. She shook her head.

‘Goodness me,’ she whispered, ‘Is this really happening?’