It was a few days before Len saw Albert again. He'd gone to the club as usual on a couple of evenings and when Albert didn't show he started to get a sinking feeling that a line had been crossed that had damaged their friendship.
He had watched the films he'd been lent and they'd had the same affect on him as at Alberts, but it was always the memory of what the two of them had done and Alberts' subsequent actions that had taken him into his climax. He found it excited him in a way he had never thought possible, and to an extent that matched the resurgence of his intimacy with Rose and Tom several years before. He wanted more but was beginning to think that sadly it was unlikely.
So he was in a pensive frame of mind one early afternoon when he answered his phone
'Whatcha Cock!' It was Albert and his cheery greeting immediately lifted Lens' mood.
'Hello Bert, where've you been? I was getting worried about you. You've not been in the club or anything and I wondered if everything was alright.'
'Oh yeah,' said Bert, 'just went up my sisters for a few days. Thought I'd told you.'
'No,' said Len, 'but it's good to hear you. I was beginning to think that you were having regrets.' He went on anxiously 'Are you at all?'
'About our last meeting? Good Heavens no,' came the reply, 'it was very enjoyable as I recall.'
Lens sigh of relief must have been audible at the other end.
'You watched those films yet?'
'Yes.'
'Good? Enjoy 'em?'
'Yes, very much.'
'I've got more if you'd like 'em. Did you say you'd got some I could watch?'
'Yes,' said Len, 'anytime you want.'
'Well,' said Albert, 'I've just got back and wouldn't mind getting my hands on a couple of new ones.' There was a pause then 'Look, say no if you don't want to but what about coming over with a couple and you could get a couple more from me?' He went on quickly. 'Or if you like I could bring 'em over to yours......but only if you want to. I wouldn't want to, you know, push it or anything.''
He sounded a little anxious but Len could already feel his excitement rising. He could tell from Alberts' voice that he was probably keen to get together again so taking a deep breath he replied, 'Come over here if you like, I've got some beers in the fridge.'
As soon as he said it he realised that what was likely to happen might well be a step further than last time and his voice started to tremble a little.
'Perhaps you'd like to look at a couple before you take them.' he continued
Alberts voice was softer as he replied. 'That'd be nice, I'd like that. Just let me have a shower and that and I'll be over.'
As he replaced the receiver his hands were shaking a little and his heart was pounding. What had happened before was very exciting but it had happened naturally and hadn't been planned like this meeting. All of a sudden he started feeling nervous and wondered if he had made the right decision. The more he thought the more he worried so he decided to take a leaf out of Alberts book and have a shower. It would take his mind off it a bit and besides, he didn't want to risk giving offence through body odour or worse.
The shower gave him something to do and, although he washed himself thoroughly all over, he didn't dare caress himself intimately as he sometimes did or it could all have been over before Albert even got there. Afterwards he deliberated as to whether he should get properly dressed or just stay in his dressing gown but decided the latter was a bit obvious. He laid his out on the bed with a spare one he had just in case they might come in handy however, and closed the door.
He went into his small living room and started getting his films out. He didn't have as many as Albert by a long chalk, but he selected three or four that he'd regularly enjoyed and set them to one side. He kept looking for things to do to lessen his nervousness and was checking on the beers when the front door intercom buzzed.
He let Albert in and told him where the apartment was then opened his own front door slightly. A few minutes later he was standing in the living room and all Lens' nervousness evaporated. He handed Len a carrier bag which revealed four cans of beer and three dvds when he looked, and expressed surprised at the size of the apartment.
'Thought these places were a lot smaller than this,' he said, 'mind if I have a look round?'
'I'll give you a tour, said Len, 'but it won't take long!'