Both Rachel and Kate were in Desmond's office.
"There's a media conference in Amsterdam next month. I want the two of you to go and represent Trends. It's likely to be pretty boring. These things usually are, but I still feel that we should make our presence felt."
"Most definitely," Rachel agreed.
"The conference lasts two days, so I'll book two single rooms for three nights."
"No need to do that," said Kate. "We're happy to share a double."
Desmond raised his eyebrows. "Oh?"
Kate laughed. "You needn't look like that. There's no significance in our willingness to share. Except to save Trends money."
"The true voice of an auditor speaking," murmured Desmond. "I'm glad you're so concerned about the financial health of your employer. Relax whilst you're in Amsterdam. No need to take the conference too seriously. Have some fun."
Both women looked at each other and giggled. "Oh, we will."
Five weeks later they flew out of Heathrow, landing at Schipol after a smooth flight. A pre-booked (and inclusive) taxi dodged through the Amsterdam traffic, weaving through narrow streets until it arrived at the hotel a short distance from Centraal Station in the centre of the city. They were staying at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza.
"A lively and tastefully decorated hotel." Kate quoted from the holiday brochure.
"The bed's comfortable, anyway." Rachel bounced up and down, then flung herself onto her back, both legs splayed over the edge. She was wearing trousers and a top that came just below her breasts, leaving a bare midriff.
"The bathroom's a treat." Kate had been poking around examining the room. "I think I'll have a shower." She began to strip off.
"We've only just arrived." Rachel propped herself up on an elbow.
"I feel all hot and sticky after travelling."
"It didn't take us long."
"Doesn't matter. I'm ready for a shower."
Kate pulled off her panties, then her bra, which she'd left till last. Lightly running into the bathroom, she closed the door. After a few moments the toilet flushed, shortly followed by the sound of water in the shower.
Rachel reached for the TV remote control and turned on the impressively large set. It was CNN News. She flicked along the channels until she came to a film; not one that she recognised, but it was in English with subtitles in Dutch. Propping herself up on the pillows she sat back to watch.
Kate held up her face as the warm water sprayed out from the shower head, cascading onto her shoulders and coursing between and around her breasts. The nipples were hardening, gently caressed by the tumbling water. She slowly rubbed her hands down her sides and onto her stomach, feeling too much flabbiness for her liking. She wanted a firm, flat stomach, not one where she could pinch out rolls of fat. Well, one roll; and maybe it wasn't so very thick.
Kate slid her hands upwards beneath her breasts and held them out for closer inspection. She liked to look. Many women were embarrassed by their tits; they even refused to use that term for them. But not Kate. She frequently admired herself in the mirror and didn't consider it narcissim. She liked to look. It was perfectly understandable to her why men should set such great store by them, getting a hard-on merely by gazing at a well rounded pair.
She began to finger her nipples, teasing them out even harder than they were. Her sex was tingling. She was ready for a man, but there wasn't one on hand. Leaning into the corner of the shower, she took her weight onto her left leg, bending the knee slightly, then lifted her right leg, placing her foot on her left knee. The resulting triangle of her legs left her vulva exposed. Easing apart the lips, Kate pushed two fingers into her vagina.
Using the fingers of her other hand she vigorously rubbed her clitoris at the same time as pumping in and out. The warm water was still brushing down the skin of her breasts keeping the nipples in a state of arousal. As she thrust in and out, Kate tried to imagine a man's cock inside her instead of her own fingers. It would be so much longer and thicker, satisfying her more. Even though she did a pretty good job of masturbating, it was always a second best experience. That was the main reason she had no interest in other women; she desperately needed that final male penetration.
With a low moan she reached her climax. She knew her juices would be dribbling down her thighs, although she couldn't feel them as the water washed them away. Sinking down onto her haunches, she luxuriated in the warm and wet cocoon.
*****
Guide books in hand, Rachel and Kate ventured out of the hotel into Damrak, a bustling street with shops, hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops jostling for attention on one side and a canal on the other. The buildings were narrow and high with a bewildering array of signs, beginning at street level and climbing up the facades. Half way down Damrak the canal gave way to an anonymous red-bricked structure.
"That must be the Beurs." Rachel was studying a small guide book.
"Come again."
"Former Stock Exchange."
"Interesting." A sniff accompanying the word revealed Kate's true feeling to be the opposite.
They walked along through the crowds, jumping several times at angry bicycle bells behind them, and entered Dam Square, the site where the Amstel River was dammed in the 13th century. This led to a small fishing village being turned into a major city and port.
"That's where the name comes from," announced Rachel, nose buried in book. "Amstel and dam. Get it?"
"I'm not stupid." Kate grabbed her friend's arm and pulled her back. "Watch out!"
A brightly painted yellow single-deck tram trundled past, rumbling and clanking along the rails sunk into the road. The lines snaked their way around and across the square, disappearing down a multitude of streets. The whole scene was a hubbub of activity; crowds of pedestrians milling around, trams coming and going in every direction, street entertainers, cars, lorries, and bicycles; bicycles everywhere, bells furiously ringing as they carved an imperious path through the chaos.
"How does he do that?" asked Kate.
They were staring at a costumed figure, clown-like in appearance, with a white face and gloved hands holding a flower, standing on a box in the middle of the square. Not even the blink of an eye disturbed the absolute stillness.
"Perhaps it's a woman."
"Can't tell."
There were others gathered around the still figure. Some people put coins in a velvet bag by the side of the box. After what seemed an eternity, the living statue brought the flower up to its nose as if to smell the aroma, then held the new position as if once more turned to stone.
Kate shook her head in amazement. "Brilliant." She threw down some coins.
"How much did you give?"
"No idea. Whatever, he, she or it deserves something. There's no way I could stay still that long."
They left Dam Square and walked around a maze of narrow streets, even the main thoroughfare only being wide enough for a single tram line. It became a double track at the stops.
"I suppose they've got to time it so they meet there and can pass each other." Rachel was looking at two trams ahead of them.
Crossing over a busy intersection, they walked along another narrow street and saw a sex shop and cinema showing hard-core films.
"Have you ever seen a porno movie?" Rachel asked.
"Yes - once. This guy I knew had a collection; quite into it, he was. Anyway, one night he put one on for us to watch. I think he usually reserved them for himself or his buddies. I got the distinct impression he was doing me a favour letting me see it and I ought to be suitably grateful."
"What did you think?"
"Pretty boring. Anyway, we didn't last long. Got busy doing our own thing."
"So the video turned you on."
"I suppose." Kate shrugged. "We'd probably have fucked without it."
