Chapter 3

Isabel unlocked the door of her dorm room and led James inside.

‘Well, here it is,’ she said. ‘I guess this isn’t a great room. You probably have a great room.’

‘No, this is a great room,’ said James. ‘It has everything you need very efficiently laid out, plus there’s plenty of space for a guest if you want one.’

‘I do want one,’ Isabel giggled, squeezing his hand. ‘I have to admit, though, I thought it’d be a little bigger.’

‘I don’t think they’re trying to cheat you,’ said James. ‘My room isn’t any bigger than this. Well, it is bigger ‘cause it’s a twin, but proportionally it’s the same size. Still, I guess I won’t find out how great it’s really gonna be to live in ‘til my roommate finally shows up.’

‘He’s probably arrived by now,’ said Isabel.

‘I hope he’ll like me,’ said James.

‘Of course he will,’ said Isabel. ‘You’re very likeable, Jem.’

‘Thanks,’ James laughed.

Isabel smiled, then she kicked off her shoes and sat down on the edge of the bed.

‘That was a really great meal, huh?’ she said.

‘Best cafeteria lunch I’ve ever tasted!’ James grinned. ‘Or maybe it was the company that made the experience so worthwhile.’

‘Yes,’ said Isabel, ‘I was thinking more along the lines of it being really great that we’ve just gone out together for the first time since leaving home. Why don’t you come over here and sit with me?’

‘Okay,’ said James, and he promptly did so.

‘I can’t believe they still give out plastic knives and forks, though,’ said Isabel. ‘Why those horrible things aren’t illegal by now I just don’t know! I’m really glad you managed to find that tray of compostable cutlery.’

‘So am I,’ said James. ‘I can’t imagine why they think it’s a good idea to hide it behind all the condiments.’

‘When you came back over to the table brandishing those wooden utensils with a huge grin on your face,’ said Isabel, ‘I felt the exact same rush of admiration and gratitude that I’ve felt for you so many times before.’

‘You did, huh?’ said James.

‘I certainly did,’ said Isabel, ‘and I can tell you all about the very first time I felt it. You remember that day in kindergarten when I lost my ZhuZhu Pet under the little supply closet on castors?’

‘Sure,’ said James. ‘You were really upset about it, weren’t you?’

‘Much too upset, I’m sure,’ Isabel smiled. ‘All I could do was sit there on the floor crying my eyes out, but you went off to fetch a yardstick and you used it to poke my ZhuZhu Pet back into the daylight!’

‘Oh yeah, so I did,’ James laughed. ‘I’d forgotten that part.’

‘I hadn’t, and I never will,’ Isabel said solemnly. ‘It was just the first of many things you’ve done to make my life better than it otherwise would’ve been.’

With that, she leaned in and kissed James deeply. He kissed her back with enthusiasm; their tongues quickly became entwined.

‘Jem,’ Isabel whispered when they finally came up for air, ‘I really want to ask you a question.’

‘Go right ahead.’

‘I ... I’m not sure what your answer’s likely to be.’

‘There’s only one way to find out, isn’t there?’ said James, giving her an encouraging smile.

‘Yeah, I guess there is,’ Isabel laughed. ‘Okay, here’s my question: would you like to fuck my ass?’

‘Wow, Iz,’ James grinned, ‘I never knew you had such a dirty mouth!’

Isabel smiled and said, ‘It just seemed like the clearest and most succinct way to phrase the suggestion. So, would you like to?’

‘I can honestly say,’ James said solemnly, ‘there’s nothing in the world I’d rather do right now.’

‘Really?’ Isabel giggled.

‘You bet!’ said James.

‘So, er ... how do you want me?’

‘On all fours. There are loads of great positions to do it in, but doggy’s the best one to start with.’

‘I bow to your expert knowledge,’ Isabel grinned. ‘Okay, here goes.’

After quickly manoeuvring herself onto her hands and knees, Isabel shook her hair out of her eyes and gave James an inviting look. He jumped to his feet and took off his shoes, jeans and underpants, then he knelt behind her on the bed.

James reached out and lifted up Isabel’s skirt, laying its pleats neatly across the small of her back, then he pulled her panties down to her knees.

‘Just so’s you know,’ James said to Isabel’s bare buttocks, ‘I’m not an expert.’

‘Maybe not,’ Isabel laughed, ‘but you’ve done this loads of times before, right?’

‘Not as many as you might think,’ said James.

‘Oh?’ said Isabel. ‘You and Harry were having sex for months and months, weren’t you?’

‘Yes, we were,’ said James. ‘But as Harry’s what you might call a definite top, and I’m what you might call accommodatingly versatile, I haven’t actually done this as many times as you might think.’

‘I see,’ said Isabel. ‘Jem, I’m really glad you felt comfortable to tell me that.’