BEST FRIENDS AND LOVERS

The Prologue

In the early hours of an April morning in 1950, a woman is giving birth in the delivery room at Melvesham Maternity Hospital. Melvesham is a small market town in the Cotswolds, an unremarkable place really, one of many just like it sprinkled across the English countryside. Mary Adamson is the mother in question, wife of a former RAF Squadron Leader, whom she met during the final year of World War II. They married in 1948 and this is the arrival of their first child. Her husband, Charles, has been pacing nervously for hours in the nearby waiting room. No fathers were present at a birth back then. Mary gives a final push and at last the wait is over.

‘It’s a boy, Mrs. Adamson,’ said the doctor, holding up the new-born infant and smacking him firmly on the bottom. Toby Charles Adamson, as he was to later be christened, gave a loud wail.

‘He’s got a good pair of lungs,’ observed the anaesthetist wryly.

‘Well, wouldn’t you cry if you’d been woken up that rudely at three o’clock in the morning?’ asked the staff nurse as she began to tidy up.

‘Och aye, he’s a real Wednesday’s child aw’ right,’ chuckled Sister McNab.

‘Is he … all right?’ asked his mother hesitantly, giving breath to the question that must lurk in every new mother’s mind.

‘Aye, he’s a real bonny wee lad,’ said the nursing sister, ‘A lovely head of dark brown hair, the bluest eyes y’ever did see. Ten fingers, ten toes and he’s already quite the young man, for he has such an erection too. Take a look yersel’ he’s aw’ yours.’

So saying, she thrust the wailing infant, business end first, towards his mother.

‘Goodness, yes, so he has,’ nodded Mary Adamson, looking down at her first-born whom she cradled tenderly in her arms, ‘Is that normal?’

‘Oh yes, an erection in a newborn is not particularly unusual,’ laughed the doctor, ‘But you never know, he could turn out to be quite a handful, so good luck.’

Toby Charles was obviously not much impressed by his mother, because he continued to howl loudly.

Once home Toby’s erections continued to cause a stir. Every time his mother took his nappy off to change him he seemed to be hard. She soon realised that it generally meant that he needed a pee and would hastily cover it with a towel to avoid getting an eyeful. As he grew a little older and began to explore himself and the outside world, she noticed that when naked he always seemed to take the opportunity to grab his penis and squeeze and pull at it, often making himself go hard. As she smiled quietly to herself at the sight she wondered if the doctor could be right and that he might indeed turn out to be a handful.

Chapter One - an 18th Birthday to remember

Exactly eighteen years later Toby woke early and lay for a while contemplating with pleasure what was in store for his birthday. He was always grateful for the fact that the Easter holidays often coincided with his special day and when that happened there was no school. He was already sure that the high point of the day was going to be his lunchtime visit to the fabulous ranch-style bungalow near the hamlet of Northolt, where his best friend Andrew Stevenson had lived with his parents and twin sister Natasha for the past two years. Andrew’s steady girlfriend of some two summers, farmer’s daughter Emma Knight, who was a whizz in the kitchen, was putting on a special birthday lunch. Toby already knew that they would have a wonderful time together, as they always did, with much banter and good humoured laughter. He was just somewhat sad that Andrew’s twin Natasha, with whom he had been secretly in love since the three of them met in school when they were five years old, would not be there. This year she was spending most of the holiday with her recent boyfriend Rupert and his family.

Bouncing out of bed Toby caught sight of himself in the full length mirror which was part of the fitted wardrobe in his bedroom and paused for a moment. He was now six feet tall but still rather skinny. He chuckled at the sight, simply because although he needed to pee he had a rampant ‘morning wood’ as was usual first thing. He was reminded of the very funny conversation that he had had with his friend Andrew, some eight years previously, when Andrew confided that his mother had actually pleaded with him to sit on the toilet first thing in the morning. Leaning forwards as far as he could enabled him to point his stiff penis into the bowl and thus he no longer ended up peeing all over the floor.

Toby had an easier, more effective and much more enjoyable solution. Taking his bottle of baby oil from his bedside cabinet he carefully anointed his erection, lay back on his bed and started to caress himself expertly. Just a few minutes later he gave a quiet gasp of delight as he climaxed and covered his lower chest and belly with his seed. In Toby’s book this had long been the very best way to get rid of a stiffy, as well as being a lovely start to the day.

Once finished in the bathroom he thundered downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. His mother greeted him with a warm hug and a kiss and wished him a very Happy Birthday. The postman had already called so there was quite a selection of cards waiting beside his plate. He was particularly delighted to find that a couple of them contained cheques as well as the usual birthday greetings.

‘What time do you want me to run you over to Northolt?’ asked his mother.

‘Well, I guess I can drive myself if you don’t want the car.’

‘You know how boozy meals always end up being at Northolt,’ laughed Mary, ‘I don’t want you picked up by the police on the way home.’

‘You’ve got a good point there,’ admitted her offspring, ‘I’ll ring Andrew in a bit and see what time they want me.’

In the event, not long after their conversation, Toby was to receive a call from Andrew rather than the other way around.

‘Oh, Hi,’ cried Toby enthusiastically, ‘How are tricks?’

‘Fine thanks. Hey, Happy Birthday while I think about it. Listen, how do you fancy being picked up this morning rather than having to make your own way over?’

‘Sounds fine, but who’s my chauffeur?’ asked Toby suspiciously.

‘Aunty Lol.’

‘Hey, that’s fantastic,’ exclaimed Toby in delight, ‘Aunty Lol. I haven’t seen her for years.’

“Aunty Lol” was Andrew’s nick-name for his father’s youngest sister, Laura, who was an air stewardess. For the past four years she had been working for PanAmerican Airlines and because she was based in the United States, the family had seen almost nothing of her.

‘She’s only here for about five minutes of course,’ said Andrew, ‘You know Lol, she’s never anywhere for long.’

‘Has she changed since you last saw her?’

‘No, she’s crazier than ever. This time she has turned up in a flipping Aston Martin Volante that she got hold of from somewhere or other. Honestly, she shouldn’t even be allowed out on the road on a tricycle, if you ask me.’

‘An Aston Martin?’ Toby was most impressed.

‘Yeah, she wants to come over and pick you up in it. She’s been dying to scare the shit out of somebody ever since she got here, but neither of us will go out with her. Shall I tell her you’ll come over on your bike?’

Toby laughed.

‘You’re as bad as my mother. Where’s your sense of adventure? No, you tell her I’ll be delighted to ride with her.’

‘I bet you will!’ chuckled Andrew. ‘She looks sexier than ever too, by the way.’

‘Ooh,’ murmured Toby, the significance of Andrew’s remark not escaping him. He had thought Laura was a dish when he was only fourteen years old and he realised that she would, indeed, probably appeal to him even more since he had grown somewhat older.

‘I’ll send her over at about midday,’ said Andrew, ‘That should give you plenty of time to make your will, arrange extra life insurance and put on your brown underpants.’

’Andrew, you are dreadful,’ laughed his friend, ‘OK, tell her I’ll be ready.’

‘Oh and while I think about it, bring your tennis stuff. If we don’t get too drunk at lunchtime we might have a game or two during the afternoon.’

After he got off the phone, Toby went upstairs to inspect his tennis gear. Much to his annoyance, he found that he had forgotten to give his shorts to his mother for washing after the last time that he had worn them. Unfortunately they were badly marked by grass stains. Casting his mind back he remembered that he had fallen flat on his back when reaching for a high shot while playing on a grass court, made slippery by a shower of rain. He cursed inwardly and started to search for something cleaner to wear. The only suitable item that he could find was a pair of gym shorts which he had not used since he was in the fifth form at school. Slipping off his jeans he tried them on, snorting with amusement as he did so. He had obviously grown somewhat since they were bought, for he almost needed a shoehorn to get into them. He surveyed his reflection in the mirror.

‘Oh well,’ he said to himself philosophically, ‘At least they’ll give everybody a laugh.’

Having located a clean white tee-shirt, his tennis shoes, socks and racquet, he then turned to what he was going to wear for the day. Choosing a pale blue shirt and his best pair of jeans he got ready and had no sooner finished when he heard a car scream to a halt in the lane outside and the strident blare of an airhorn shattered the still calm of the morning. Grabbing his sports bag and tennis racquet, Toby rushed downstairs and through the front door. Outside the gate was a very smart Aston Martin Volante, the top down and the engine rumbling throatily. At the wheel was the familiar figure of Laura Stevenson.

‘Hi Auntie Lol,’ sang out Toby as he made his way down the drive, ‘Sorry to keep you waiting.’

As the young man came to a halt beside the car, “Auntie Lol” lowered her sunglasses onto the end of her nose and looked at him appraisingly.

‘My word,’ she said, ‘Haven’t you grown since I last saw you?’

The way that she was inspecting him sent a slight shiver down Toby’s spine and he hurried round to the other side of the car, avoiding her gaze and trying not to look embarrassed.

‘What a fabulous car,’ he commented, throwing his racquet and bag carelessly onto the back seat and lowering himself in beside her, ‘Where did you get it from?’

Laura laughed lightly.

‘Let’s just say that it belongs to a friend,’ she replied vaguely as she revved up the engine and let out the clutch.

The car roared off up the lane, sending gravel flying in all directions as it took off.

Conversation was impossible over the noise of the engine and the wind and in any case Laura was obviously concentrating on her driving. Toby had never experienced speed like it and it left him breathless with excitement. He was reminded strongly of the time when he had been taken out on the back of his cousin’s motor cycle, but a glance at the speedometer told him that this time he was moving considerably faster. He was intrigued to find that he felt quite safe with Laura at the wheel, despite her nephew’s comments. It was as if she was an extension of the car itself, sitting there in the driver’s seat looking assured behind her sunglasses. Her mass of long curly auburn hair was tied back loosely and was flying behind her in the wind. The journey was over in a flash far too quick for Toby’s liking. Laura executed a neat turn into the driveway of the Stevenson’s house and grabbing the handbrake and swinging the wheel, caused the car to cover the last few yards sideways.

‘Wow,’ gasped Toby, ‘Where did you learn to drive like that?’

Laura looked at him again, the same strange smile playing round her lips.

‘The owner of the car taught me,’ she replied, ‘He taught me a lot of things as a matter of fact.’

‘Maybe you’ll give me some lessons sometime,’ said Toby lightly.

‘Hmm,’ responded Laura thoughtfully, ‘Perhaps I will.’

Somehow Toby got the distinct feeling that she wasn’t talking about driving lessons at all. He felt himself beginning to blush and turned hastily to open his door. Jumping out quickly, he went round to open Laura’s too.

‘Not only a young man, but a young gentleman into the bargain,’ murmured Laura, ‘I see what Jackie means.’

‘Sorry?’ said Toby.

Laura took off the hair-tie and shook her head causing her long hair to cascade round her, the sun catching the gold highlights in its red colour, like leaves in autumn.

‘We must hurry,’ she said, just as if she had not heard his question at all, ‘Emma will have lunch ready at any moment I expect.’

They walked into the house together and were greeted enthusiastically by his good-looking blue-eyed blonde-haired best friend, Andrew, who was just opening a bottle of wine.

‘Hello there, great timing,’ he said, ‘Emma is just about to dish up.’

They went through into the kitchen and sure enough, Emma was just putting servings of pasta out onto four hot plates and that was shortly followed by some extremely appetising smelling Bolognese sauce. She paused momentarily and pursed her lips to offer the birthday boy a kiss and at that point they quickly took their places around the kitchen table.

‘Happy Birthday, Toby,’ toasted Andrew and they tucked in.

The Bolognese was followed by a wonderful-looking pineapple pavlova and finally a cheeseboard which they all picked at happily.

Conversation flowed easily and Laura seemed to fit in with the little group perfectly.

‘Well,’ she exclaimed, ‘This is absolutely wonderful. When I arrived last night I was rather disappointed when I found that Tom and Jackie were away. I wondered quite what I would do to pass the time with a bunch of kids. You’re not kids any more though are you? I’m sure that you were the last time I was here. What on earth happened?’

‘We grew up I suppose,’ laughed Andrew, ‘This is what comes of only visiting once every four years. I’m glad you didn’t bother ringing first. If you had realised that Mum and Dad weren’t going to be here then I don’t expect that you’d have bothered coming.’

‘No, you’re probably right. I always knew that being spontaneous was a good idea.’

They all laughed.

‘I’ll just get us some coffee and then maybe in a while we might get around to that game of tennis that Andrew has been talking about,’ said Emma and went off to set up the Cona machine.

‘She’s such a delight,’ whispered Laura to her nephew, looking over approvingly at the gorgeous five foot six inch tall brown-eyed girl with shoulder length brunette hair, ‘Remind me where you found her?’

‘She and Natasha have been the very best of friends ever since they started at Benningford Hall,’ explained Andrew quietly, ‘She and Toby both came over and stayed for a few days the summer that we moved here and I fell in love with her in about two minutes.’

‘I can see why,’ said Laura approvingly, ‘She’s a keeper.’

‘They’re totally besotted with each other,’ chuckled Toby, ’It would be absolutely charming if it wasn’t quite so nauseating.’

Andrew swatted at him good-naturedly with his napkin.

‘He’s just jealous that I got to her first,’ he explained.

‘My ears are burning,’ complained Emma from the far side of the kitchen which made the rest of them laugh.

After coffee Laura insisted that she would do the clearing up and Toby was more than happy to volunteer to help her. Andrew and Emma went off to get into their tennis whites and by the time that the other two finished in the kitchen they had already gone out to the tennis court. Toby went along to Andrew’s bedroom, quickly changed his shirt and shoes, pulled on his shorts and trotted out to join them. He passed through the lounge windows, across the courtyard and through the newly formed door that led to the tennis court, which had only been finished a few weeks previously. He was most impressed by the neat way in which it fitted in beside the swimming pool. It was, of course, all part and parcel of the original design and consequently looked as if it had been there ever since the house had been built, rather than like a recent addition.

The sight that greeted Toby as he closed the door behind him caused his pulse rate to speed up considerably. Emma was holding onto the net with her skirt up round her waist and her panties round her ankles and Andrew was standing behind her. Together they were giving a quite different meaning to the expression ‘knocking up’. They looked up when they heard the door and when they saw that it was only Toby they carried on with what they were doing, quite unabashed.

‘Honestly, you two,’ laughed Toby as he approached them, ‘You’re like a couple of rabbits.’

‘Never had a chance to try it on the court before,’ panted Andrew, ‘The folks aren’t away very often you see.’

‘Laura’s changing her clothes,’ said Toby, moving round the net and crouching down in front of Emma they exchanged a long open-mouthed kiss. ‘You’d better pack it in before she comes out.’

‘Talking about coming,’ gasped Andrew, ‘That’s it. Oh Emma, yessss.’ He gave a few final spasmodic thrusts as he climaxed and then, withdrawing from his girlfriend, he slipped his penis back inside his tennis shorts and zipped himself up. In one fluid movement Emma’s panties ascended to their rightful place and her skirt fell neatly round her thighs.

‘Do we look as if we’ve been up to anything?’ she asked.

‘Not really,’ chuckled Toby, ‘You’re both a bit red in the face but then I suppose you would be if you’d been having a bit of exercise.’

‘You know it’s been marvellous since Emma’s been on the pill,’ enthused Andrew, ‘We can do it whenever we want, wherever we want.’

‘So I gather,’ said Toby drily, ‘Does this mean that every time I come over I’m going to catch you in the middle of it? I swear you only did it just then to turn me on.’

‘And did we turn you on, Toby, my sweet?’ asked Emma innocently.

‘You damned well know you did,’ laughed Toby, pointing downwards.

‘Ooh, so we did,’ giggled Emma, ‘Goodness those shorts are awfully tight.’

‘I hope Laura doesn’t notice,’ said Toby worriedly, ‘Come on, let’s bash a ball about a bit to take my mind off it.’

Laughing gaily the three of them spread out across the court and began to knock up in the more customary fashion. A little while later Laura came onto the court looking extremely glamorous.

‘Coo, Lolly, you do more for Tasha’s tennis outfit than she does,’ observed Andrew in open admiration.

‘I think it’s a bit small to tell the truth,’ she laughed.

‘It might be, but it’s small in all the right places,’ chipped in Toby.

‘We make quite a pair, don’t we?’ grinned Laura, going over to him and putting an arm round his waist,

‘Wherever did you get those shorts from?’

‘I thought they’d make you all laugh,’ replied Toby, ‘My tennis shorts were covered in grass stains. I used to wear these for gym ages ago.’

‘I don’t think they’re funny,’ murmured Laura, lowering her arm and caressing his bottom lightly, ‘I think they’re rather sexy actually.’

Andrew and Emma looked at each other and burst out laughing. Toby glowered at them furiously.

‘Why thank you Auntie Lol,’ he said, smiling warmly, ‘I think you look rather sexy too.’

‘This is turning into a mutual admiration society,’ chuckled Andrew, spinning his racquet in his hand, ‘Come on, let’s play some tennis. Rough or smooth?’

‘Smooth,’ decided Laura at once.

‘It’s rough actually. What shall we do Em?’

‘You serve first. It’ll be nice to start the massacre early,’ replied his girlfriend, smiling sweetly.

‘And to think that I thought she was such a nice girl,’ said Laura to Toby.

He shook his head.

’No, she only looks like a nice girl. Inside she’s thoroughly fiendish.’

He grinned at Emma who poked her tongue out at him before taking up position on the court. The rest of them followed suit and Toby prepared to receive Andrew’s first service.

Whilst Andrew was actually a somewhat erratic tennis player, his service game generally phased Toby completely. The first ball whipped over the net so fast that he didn’t even see it coming.

‘Fifteen love,’ called Andrew, the satisfaction in his voice quite evident.

His serve to Laura was equally powerful, but she managed to return it. Andrew was so surprised that his response was to drive it straight into the net.

‘Fifteen all. Oh well done, Wonder Woman,’ cried Toby in delight.

Fortunately Andrew’s composure was somewhat ruffled and he faulted his first serve to Toby. The second ball came over the net more gently, a rally followed and Toby and Laura won the point.

‘Excellent work, Batman,’ commented Laura breathlessly as they took up their positions once more.

‘Batman?’ queried Toby.

‘Mmm, you should see the way you hold that racquet.’

Toby was stung.

‘Well I did manage to save the point,’ he mumbled and everybody laughed.

The game progressed and by some miracle they all managed to hold their services until Emma broke and Toby and Laura edged ahead, four games to three. Laura served and they got to deuce, which seemed to stick forever until Toby managed to answer a stunning smash by Andrew. They won the game, bringing the score to five games to three. Andrew then held his service and Toby was suddenly in the hot seat, serving for the set.

Toby, of course, had never claimed to be a sportsman and his tennis style was, to say the least, unorthodox. If he was able to get his first serve into court, then all was well. If not, he tended to play safe and always pushed a ‘dollyshot’ about twenty feet in the air, plonking it down right in front of his opponent who was encouraged to slaughter it.

Fortunately such shots reduced both Andrew and Emma to helpless laughter and by the time that they pulled themselves together sufficiently to answer it, they almost invariably fluffed their returns by endeavouring to murder the ball. In so doing they tended to drive it into, rather than over, the net. So it was in this case and Toby miraculously held his service yet again and he and Laura took the set, six games to four.

‘Oh, Racquet Man, jolly well done,’ cried Laura enthusiastically.

‘I’m improving?’ asked her partner hopefully.

‘Well no, not really, but how could I be so churlish as to criticize your style when we won the set?’

After a much needed break for cold drinks, the foursome were back on court. This time Andrew and Emma managed to acquit themselves rather better and took the second set by six games to two.

‘Batman, you had better do better than that,’ cried Laura, bearing down on Toby with her racquet held high, ‘Otherwise death and destruction will surely follow.’

Her partner hung his head in shame, for the two service games that he had dropped had been a major contributing factor to their defeat. Determined to regain favour, he tried hard with his opening service of the final set and held it with four fluky straight aces which drew cries of disbelief from Andrew and Emma.

‘Racquet Man, what can I say?’ Laura was delighted and running up to him she showered him with kisses, ‘Good work. Keep it up.’

They played on grimly to five games all. The pressure was on Andrew and quite unexpectedly he went to pieces and double-faulted left, right and centre. Toby and Laura took the game easily to lead by six to five. It was up to Toby to serve for the match and he was aware that his heart was thumping uncomfortably in his chest.

‘Give it all you’ve got oh great white hope,’ murmured Laura, ‘If we win, who knows what pleasures may be heaped upon you …’

This remark destroyed Toby’s concentration completely, but fortunately Andrew and Emma were so demoralised by their defeat in the previous game that the match fell easily to their opposition: six four; two six; seven five. On the final ball Laura let out a shriek of delight, hurled Natasha’s racquet into the air and rushed over to Toby whom she proceeded to hug and kiss thoroughly. Andrew nudged Emma in the ribs and winked at her broadly. The two of them stood watching with great amusement.

‘You know it was worth losing to see that,’ chuckled Andrew.

‘I haven’t seen Toby look so happy for a long time,’ giggled his girlfriend.

‘I hope you know what you’re doing, Lolly,’ Andrew called over the net, ‘If you go on doing that for too long you might unleash years of unrequited love, passion and lust in the poor boy.’

Laura released Toby from her embrace and looked up at him seriously.

‘Don’t be silly Andrew,’ she retorted, ‘I’m almost old enough to be his Mummy. That’s how you think of me, isn’t it Toby? Just like your Mummy.’

‘Umm … well, not exactly,’ the young man replied, grinning somewhat guiltily.

Laura pouted at him sexily.

‘No, I didn’t think you did really,’ she said softly, for she had felt his manhood stir as she had held him close to her.

‘Do you think Auntie Lol’s going to seduce our Tobe?’ Andrew whispered to Emma.

‘I don’t know, but I do hope so. It’s time he lost his virginity.’

‘She’s the best person for him to lose it to,’ chuckled Andrew, ‘After all, he’s always wanted to screw a Stevenson.’

‘What are you two whispering about over there?’ demanded Laura.

‘We were just saying that we fancied a swim,’ replied Emma, casually peeling off her tennis top to reveal that she was naked beneath it. She ran her fingers between her breasts, ‘The perspiration is absolutely running off me.’

‘Me too,’ agreed Toby, unbuttoning his shirt, ‘I can’t wait to get in the water.’