Chapter 36

Term ended at the University, but Emma did not finish for another two days. Toby booked his Christmas holiday so that they could all leave Bristol together. Andrew and Natasha spent the day after they broke up packing the things that they wanted to take back to Northolt. They had done all their Christmas shopping in the city and there was an enormous pile of stuff in the hall when Toby got home from work.

‘Good God,’ he exclaimed, surveying it dubiously, ‘How in the hell are we supposed to get all that, the four of us and Emma’s and my luggage into the car?’

‘I’ve been wondering that myself,’ agreed Andrew.

‘It’ll take two trips.’

‘I think you’re right. How do you fancy lending me the car tomorrow? That way Tasha and I will be able to go to Northolt and get rid of all our stuff in one fell swoop.’

‘Yes, that’s fine. I won’t be using it anyway.’

Much to his disgust Toby had been placed at the local branch of the National Marbaloyd and as it was in easy walking distance he was making nothing on his travelling allowance. They went through to the kitchen and broached the idea to the girls, who agreed that it made good sense.

When Toby got home the following evening he found Emma alone in the flat.

‘Hello, you,’ he said, ‘Aren’t they back yet?’

‘They aren’t coming back, she replied, ‘They left a note. Look.’

She handed him a piece of paper. Having packed up absolutely everything that they needed, Andrew and Natasha realised that it would be foolish to return to Bristol for the night. Andrew explained this in his message, said that he was sure that Toby and Emma could amuse each other and finished by saying that he would be down the following evening to pick them up.

‘What does he mean: “I’m sure you can amuse each other”?’ asked Toby, handing the paper back to Emma.

‘What day is it?’ she asked.

‘Wednesday,’ replied Toby.

‘Well there you are then,’ giggled Emma.

‘Oh I say,’ laughed Toby, ‘He’s awful. Fancy leaving us alone on a Wednesday bath night.’

‘Do you mind?’ asked Emma, pretending to look offended.

‘Not if you don’t,’ he chuckled, ‘Here, what’s for supper?’

‘Nothing much. The kitchen’s pretty well bare. I was thinking of opening a can of something.’

‘That sounds fairly awful for our first date. I’ll treat you to dinner at a restaurant. Which do you fancy, an Indian or a Chinese? I don’t think I could run to anything much more exotic I’m afraid.’

‘Let’s go for an Indian,’ replied Emma, ‘I always feel so bloated after a Chinese and I never enjoy making love on a full stomach.’

‘Emma,’ scolded Toby, ‘Don’t go putting ideas into my head.’

‘Hypocrite,’ she snorted, ‘As if they aren’t there already.’

‘Oh all right, don’t go encouraging me then,’ he amended.

They had an excellent meal at the local curry house and lingered on for a long while afterwards.

‘Toby, how are things between you and Natasha?’ asked Emma suddenly.

‘Things between Natasha and I are very good indeed as a matter of fact,’ he replied, ‘If it wasn’t for Bruce I’d actually think that at long last I was in with a chance.’

‘What about Amber?’

‘Oh gosh, Emma, I really don’t know. We’re still writing to each other, but to be honest I think we both know it’s hopeless. America is too far and it’s too long for either of us to wait. Before she went I almost suggested that we got engaged. Then suddenly she said that she didn’t want me to be a monk for her while we were apart and I said she shouldn’t be a nun either. I think that without a firm commitment and by giving each other that sort of freedom right at the start, we both admitted that we knew that a future together for us was unlikely. If she had come over this summer then things might have been different, but as it is... ‘ he shrugged his shoulders.

‘It’s a shame,’ sighed Emma, ‘I adored her.’

‘So did I and I still do.’

‘But you adore Natasha more. You always have.’

‘That’s very true. At the back of it all I’ve loved Natasha since we were kids. I think I always will, whatever happens.’

‘So how do things stand at the moment?’

Shyly Toby confided to Emma in low tones across the table.

‘It sounds as if she’s weakening to me,’ said Emma.

‘I think that she’s just thoroughly confused. I feel rather a heel because while I really and truly wanted to let her off the hook all I seem to have succeeded in doing is getting her further onto it.’

‘She’s a grown up girl now,’ declared Emma, ‘She’s going to have to do some serious deciding. I know w hat choice I’d make.’

‘You always did like Bruce, didn’t you?’ sniffed Toby.

‘Fool,’ laughed Emma, covering his hand affectionately with her own, ‘Come on, pay the bill and take me home. It’s time for my bath.’

When they got back to the flat Emma went in and turned the heater on in the bathroom before making coffee for them both.

‘You’re serious about this bath thing, aren’t you?’ said Toby.

‘Of course. You know we always do it on a Wednesday night.’

‘Are you sure about this?’

‘Why, what’s the matter?’

‘I don’t understand why, but I actually feel guilty because Andrew isn’t here.’

‘Perhaps you’re scared that you’ll get carried away and rape me and I won’t have Andrew to call in to bash you up,’ laughed Emma frivolously.

‘Something like that,’ grinned Toby.

Eventually Emma led him into the bathroom, she ran the water and they undressed.

‘Slight change in routine tonight,’ she announced, ‘We’re going to have a bath together.’

‘That’ll be different,’ chuckled Toby, ‘I believe that the last girl I had a bath with was probably Katy and at the time she had none of your ... er ... charms.’

‘You get the plug and the taps I’m afraid,’ giggled Emma, getting into the water and sitting down.

Toby followed her. He decided against mentioning the episode with Karen.

‘This bath’s bigger than I’d thought,’ he observed.

‘Yes, it’s not too bad.’

‘Pass us the soap, there’s a love.’

‘OK ... oops, I’ve dropped it.’

‘Where’s it gone? You and your darned bubble bath liquid, I can’t see a thing.’

Emma started groping about in the water.

‘It must be here somewhere,’ she laughed. Her hand made contact with something and Toby’s eyes widened.

‘That isn’t it.’ he murmured.

‘No, I know,’ giggled Emma, ‘That seems to be getting bigger and soap never gets bigger, only smaller.’

‘Emma Knight, you’re priceless,’ he laughed.

Eventually the missing bar was found and Toby reached round and soaped up Emma’s back. She then did the same for him.

‘This is fun,’ he declared, ‘Can we do it on Wednesday bath-nights next term please?’

‘You’ll be nice and clean if you do it with Natasha too,’ grinned Emma.

‘That’s true. I think I’ll go out and buy some extra soap specially for the purpose. Hey, how do I get it off my back though? There’s no room to lie down at this end.’

‘You’d better put a sponge on your shopping list,’ giggled Emma.

‘Did you ever do anything like this with Bruce?’ asked Toby curiously.

Emma shook her head emphatically.

‘Never. He’s terribly straight you know. I’ve noticed recently that he even tries not to look at my body if he’s talking to me when I haven’t got any clothes on.’

‘What a waste,’ breathed Toby, allowing his eyes to linger over her delightful form.

‘If he ever found out about what Andrew and I got up to with you and Amber, I think he’d have a heart attack. And if he had the vaguest inkling about what Tasha used to get up to with her brother I’m sure he’d have a fit.’

‘Not to mention what she has been known to get up to with you from time to time,’ observed Toby drily.

‘No, not to mention that ... ever,’ said Emma firmly, reaching down and tweaking his penis. ‘Not if you value this, anyway.’

Toby drew in his breath in mock horror.

‘Did you know that he disapproves of the fact that Tasha masturbates?’ asked Emma.

‘Does he? How very peculiar. How can he disapprove when he does it himself?’

‘He doesn’t.’

‘He most certainly does. Dammit, he taught Andrew how to do it.’

‘Well, he doesn’t do it any more. He considers it childish, immature and unnecessary.’

‘Good Lord,’ Toby was shocked, ‘Well I won’t bother arguing about it being childish or immature, because I suppose that all depends on your point of view, but for Tasha it is necessary, isn’t it. Does he not have any idea how highly-sexed she is?’

‘Ah, no, he won’t accept that as a valid argument. He says that it all boils down to a lack of self-control.’

‘He sounds almost as bad as Rupert,’ groaned Toby.

‘Oh no, he’s a lot better than Rupert. When they’re together they make love all the time, but he doesn’t like it at all if Tasha uses her hand to make herself come. He has to do it for her, but at least he will which is more than Rupert ever would from what I’ve gathered.’

‘So does this mean that Tasha doesn’t masturbate any more?’

‘Heavens no. She’d go crazy if she didn’t. She’s just like Andrew in that respect. It’s one of the penalties you have to pay for having a passionate nature.’

‘Who minds paying it?’ laughed Toby.

‘Not me, that’s for sure.’

‘Would you say that you have a passionate nature too?’

‘I’m afraid so. Andrew and I often say how thankful we are that we found each other. The quality of our sex-life is quite perfect.’

‘You never get bored with each other?’ asked Toby with interest, ‘After all you’ve been making love with each other for a long time now.’