Chapter 4

Jane climbed on the bed and positioned herself in the middle. “I’m not very experienced but I’ll try my best to please you,” she promised.

“I may have had more partners than you,” said Clive, “but I’m not very experienced either. We’ll have to learn together. We need to tell each other when what we do makes us feel good or bad.”

Realising Jane was rigid with anxiety, Clive knew he’d have to take things very slowly. He noted Jane’s surprised look when he chose to lie by her side rather than immediately climbing on top of her. He started by unhurriedly stroking her arms and legs in a non-sexual way, savouring the fine, downy hairs on her smooth skin. As she gradually relaxed, he switched to a gentle massage, finding that her warm body felt softer than he had expected. When Jane reciprocated, Clive gave her a soft kiss and progressed to sexual touching. From there, things escalated rapidly and Clive quickly found Jane to be an inventive and enthusiastic participant.

A couple of hours later, the pair were a hot, sticky, tired mess. Riding Clive vigorously, Jane managed to coax him towards a third release. Finally he got there. “Okay, I’m finished,” admitted Clive as he desperately sucked in air. “I’ve nothing more to give.” From Jane’s reactions, he was pretty sure he’d already lost at orgasm-tennis, but three times in such a short period was a record for him.

“Thank God,” panted Jane. “It’s fun being on top but I didn’t realise how much hard work it would be.” She collapsed her sweaty body on top of him, nestling her head in the crook of his shoulder.

Clive liked her smell, fresh and salty like the sea. He carefully brushed some errant hairs away from where they were plastered to her face, then kissed her forehead.

“We’d make a good team together, wouldn’t we!” purred Jane.

Clive felt the oracle take control. “Accepted,” he replied in a flat monotone. “You will make a good team together.”

“Fuck! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it...” babbled Jane, horror at what she’d done etched into her face. Instinctively she desperately tried to scramble away from Clive.

Realising a part of himself was being bent in a direction it wasn’t meant to go, Clive pulled Jane back down on top of him. “It’s okay,” he soothed, gently stroking her. “The oracle has spoken. It looks like we’ll be working together.”

“I have to believe you now. The look on your face, the way you spoke, you clearly weren’t in control,” said Jane when she had calmed down. “Is the oracle ever wrong?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“I’m really sorry about the question. I just didn’t think,” apologised Jane.

“You kept your promise the first two times. Two out of three isn’t bad,” joked Clive.

The humour lightened the mood and Jane faux-punched Clive’s arm.

“Ouch!” he protested exaggeratedly. Then in a more serious vein, “You realise we’ve got a lot to work out if we’re going to be partners.”

“Way to ruin the mood,” said Jane.

“Well I must smell like a pig sty, and I feel sticky all over. Nice as it is to lie here cuddling you, the longer we stay the worse I’ll smell.”

Jane groaned, then reluctantly peeled herself from Clive’s grasp. This time, no improper bending was involved. “I’m going to get a shower, dress yet again in yesterday’s clothes, then perhaps we can resume our talks.

“Works for me. You can use the main bathroom, my room’s got an en suite.”

The pair took their their separate showers. Clive finished first and put the kettle on while he retrieved his latest STI test certificate. When Jane joined him in the kitchen, Clive had a coffee ready and waiting for her, and a green tea for himself. He handed Jane his STI test certificate.

“Thanks,” she said, perusing it then, apparently satisfied, she handed it back.

“The rain’s stopped for the moment but the wind’s still very gusty,” Clive observed.

“I wonder whether it would be safe to pop back to my hotel for some clean clothes,” mused Jane.

“I’ll take a look outside when I’ve finished this. If the road’s still littered with debris, it will be risky. How long are you booked into the hotel for?”

“It’s on a night-by-night basis. I rang them yesterday evening and they agreed to hold my room.”

“Are you going home today or are you planning to stay longer?”

“I guess it depends how long our discussions last.”

“You’re welcome to stay here until we’re finished. I can change the sheets while you’re out.”

“Really? I thought last night was just the offer of a concerned citizen.”

“It was. But since then the oracle has spoken.”

Jane thought for a moment. “If you don’t have any other plans, why don’t you come to the hotel with me. I’ll get my things and treat you to lunch at the hotel. The food’s pretty awful, overcooked and bland, but I figure I owe you a meal. Or we could go back to that pub with the barmaid drooling over you.” Jane’s look showed that she wasn’t overly fond of that idea.

“I suppose it would be safer with two in the car,” agreed Clive. “Between us we could clear most debris out of the way short of a tree trunk.”

Clive finished his tea then donned his wet weather gear again and looked around outside. Jane came to join him, her hair tied back in its schoolmarm style to stop the wind blowing it all over the place.”