This story follows on directly from the previous chapters, which in turn follow on from 'All Thing Come...To He Who Waits'. Some characters from the first volume reappear, and Luke's character and abilities are assumed to be already known. It could (just about) be a stand alone story, but if you get interested in the characters I suggest you read volume 1. It's in 'Novels and Novellas', or find it in the authors' index. Thanks for the feedback. Constructive comments always welcome.
Satyricon.
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BRUSSELS LATE NOVEMBER
The Heads of State had left town, our classes had returned to a civilized timetable, and Christmas was on the way. I was slumped in an armchair reading an e-mail from Inge.
Dearest Luke,
I know I haven't written for ages, but life has been so hectic that I haven't known which way to turn. I spoke to Uli about her visit and all the things you did, (and I mean all – she was gloating a little bit), and I was pleased for her and madly jealous as well! She says that everything's fine, and that she's having a steamy affair with one of her supervisors: I think she's decided that teachers are the best bet, (ha ha). Actually she said that he keeps boasting to his friends about having a relationship with a rich student, so she's getting a bit impatient with him.
The real reason I'm writing is to say that Trudi and I want to visit you at Christmas. We've been talking about it, and at first we were going to surprise you, but Uli said that you had a string of women queuing up at the door so I told Trudi that I'd write and say that we want to come (ha ha) but if you've made plans we'll find another time.
What else? Oh, yes: I visited Trudi last night and she sends her love, and so does cook, and Frau Fischer was there too and said that she'd been meaning to get in touch but wasn't quite ready yet. I wonder what she meant by that? Poor Olga is still stuck in the village looking after her mum, but she gets away for a weekend once in a while.
Thinking about you has made me all wet. I'm going to sign off now and have a long bath, and I'll lie back and think of you and imagine you running your hands and tongue over me and your fat cock splitting me open, and I'll probably give in and use my fingers and the showerhead and pretend it's you.
I really hope you haven't made any plans for Christmas.
With love,
Hot and getting hotter,
Inge XXX
P.S. If we do come to visit I'll bring all my chains!!!
I smiled and closed the laptop. I'd been thinking of going somewhere warm for Christmas, and I couldn't think of a single reason why they shouldn't join me. I was being paid a fortune compared to them, so maybe I'd surprise them with air tickets.
I stretched and yawned. Classes were over for the week and I decided to treat myself to a leisurely meal. Magda was away doing something in Paris, Elena was busy, and Laura had gone to see her family. Tonight is for me, I thought.
***********
I signaled for another beer and then jumped as someone tapped me on the shoulder.
'Luke, what are you doing here?' I looked round.
'Jesus, Anita, you scared me to death. I'm feeling annoyed because there's no table for me yet. What are you up to? Have you come to ask for extra lessons?' She made a face.
'I wish. Gregor finally plucked up the courage to ask Jenica out, but for some reason she wanted me to play chaperone. So I'm a spare wheel. Why don't you join us?' No sooner said than done. In less than a minute I was with the group, feeling much happier.
Gregor and Jenica were all over each other like fungus, obviously completely besotted with each other. I mentally crossed her off my list. When a woman is with absolutely the right man there's no point in coming between them. I turned to Anita.
'Are you going to carry on chaperoning?' She shook her head wryly.
'Good thing you're here. Jenica's regretting asking me already, I can tell.' I nodded.
'Let's eat and then leave them to it. There's a club down the road with live blues.' She looked pleased, but there was a hint of nervousness there too.
'Good. I've been wanting to ask you something anyway, so that'll be perfect.'
We ate and smiled and chatted, and Gregor and Jenica escaped as soon as they decently could. Anita and I sat a little longer and then braved the chill wind of Brussels in November. We dived into the club and found a booth. To my surprise she squeezed in next to me and not opposite. I leaned back as the music eddied round us and she pinched my arm.
'Don't fall asleep. You're going to tell me about Magda. She's got confidence and she sparkles and it's only since we started English classes.' I looked at her carefully. She was a tall bundle of toned muscle and smooth curves who worked out every day. She wore her hair short, so short it was just a cap of chestnut curls, and I'd heard rumors that she had a tattoo in a difficult to see place. I'd decided the first time I met her that she was the toughest pixie in the world. She was also smart as a whip and more ambitious than Bill Gates, and Elena said that she'd be Prime Minister one day. I shrugged.
'Anita, I don't talk to Magda about you and I'm not going to talk to you about her. Why don't you ask her? You see more of her than I do.' To my surprise she grinned.
'That's exactly what she said you'd say. I didn't believe her: I said that guys always like to boast about their women, but she said you were different.'
'She said what?' Women can be so upfront with each other: it always astonishes me.
'She said that you helped her deal with that guy who was bothering her, and that you were very kind and had never made fun of her and that you ..... Well, anyway, I know that you've been to bed together and that she loved it, and that you've got a sort of long-range girlfriend who doesn't mind, and who she's actually met, for goodness sake, so I thought I should get to know you better too.'
'I'm overwhelmed. Where do you get the time to gossip? You're meant to be busy little smurfs.' She smiled.
'We share a room, Luke. What do you expect?' No reply to that one. Girl talk is girl talk. I relaxed and sent out reassurance vibes. If she cared about her friend that was good, and if she was curious about me that was good too. We talked for a long time and she kept surprising me. At about eleven she started fidgeting and looked at her watch.
'Jesus, this place will be closing soon.' Eleven is not late in Brussels. She took a deep breath and for the first time I saw her blush. 'Do you want to go on somewhere for a nightcap?'
'My treat. I know a place.' Temptation is a terrible thing.
***********
'I've never been this side of the classroom door,' she said as she looked around. 'You've made it quite comfortable.'
'The management are renting two rooms for a whole year. I told them I didn't want to feel as if I was camping and they upgraded it a bit.' We sat quietly for a moment and she took a sip of her drink.