who initiated things.

“She talked to me,” I replied. “We talked for a long time.”

Bits of our conversation came flooding back to me, still fresh in my mind as though it were only yesterday.

“It was the first time someone like that actually looked at me. Not like I was beneath her, but like an equal.”

I’d never spoken so candidly with him before.

“She told me I was handsome,” I went on. “Then she kissed me.”

Again I waited for my opinionated friend to inject a verdict but there was only silence. Never before had he listened so passively. I had his undivided attention.

A little smile. “Well?” he urged. “Don’t stop at the best part!”

“She…she touched me,” I continued, a bit flushed as I found myself becoming aroused. I wondered if he was as well.

“Go on,” he urged.

I swallowed hard and struggled to formulate a sentence. Unfortunately I was not so articulate at expressing myself as my friend.

“She… instructed me in the art of lovemaking.” It was the best summary of the amazing Katherine I could offer.

“Instructed you? How long did this go on?” he inquired, no doubt assuming it had been a one-off thing.

“We were sleeping together the whole summer,” I answered as delicately as I could. “Until her contract with my father’s company ended. We’ve been lovers off and on since then.”

“You mean to say you’re still seeing this woman?”

“Whenever I go back home to visit, yes.”

I could tell he was having great difficulty coming to terms with what I was telling him and, undoubtedly, struggling to imagine me in a sexual situation with an older member of the upper crust.

What I wouldn’t have given to have her with me at that moment.

My erection, while easy enough to conceal beneath the coarse sheet covering my body, was becoming very uncomfortable and demanding attention I could not give it.

“Can we talk about something else?” I pleaded.

Erich must have sensed my discomfort and perhaps found himself in the same quandary, for he nodded in agreement.

A long silence followed while he processed the news I’d given him.

Finally he spoke.

"I wonder how we would transport the instruments up to the mountains."

Ah, the mobile orchestra. Another one of his current 'projects'. It was an inane idea he'd been chewing over for the past week, but I was grateful for the change of subject.

"Why is it so interesting for you?" I inquired cautiously.

"Because you're around," he answered, meaning it was convenient for him to have someone he could ask when it came to matters he knew nothing about.

Somewhat flattered, I ventured a step further.

"Who were you thinking of to conduct?"

He saw through me immediately.

"Certainly not you!" he scoffed.

Then, a touch more serious, he added, "Well, perhaps after you've completed your studies I'll consider offering you a post."

"I'll pass, thank you," I retorted, insulted by his previous remark. "Besides, I'd prefer to conduct a real orchestra."

That was all it took to infuriate him. He couldn't stand my doubting his ideas. "You'd be honoured to work for me and grateful I gave you the chance!" he snarled.

"I think you need to come up with some way to finance this dream of yours before you go about hiring people," I argued.