The night is just beginning, the terraces are full and a snippet of a Dutch sentimental song is drifting from a pub. In the Red Light District there are a ladies behind the windows who look at Mark approvingly, but they refrain from really ogling him because he has me on his arm. There are drunken tourists, and a vagrant type is vomiting over the railing of a bridge. There is no doubt that Amsterdam is a unique city.

'Here it is,' Mark says, pulling me into a sex shop.

The shop is lit in an unappetising pink and there is some inconsequential music playing in a language I don't recognise. Mark heads straight for a wall full of toys of all shapes and sizes.

I giggle, but he gestures and says, 'What do you already know?'

'Well, I've had a vibrator since I was twenty and I've tried one of those vibrating eggs.'

'And have you ever had anything up your ass?'

Mark sounds and looks as if he is asking about my favourite colour.

'Er, well, a bit. Not really.'

'Nice to try, right?'

Mark pulls several boxes off the shelves and clearly knows his stuff. We choose a vibrator the size of a lipstick and a set of silicone plugs for beginners. Mark also grabs a whip and a tube of lube, strides up to the register and says a little too loud, 'My treat.'

The cashier looks in my direction with a grin on his face. He tries to put the items into a bag discreetly, but the whip sticks out and gives away the contents. Mark looks at it and laughs.

'The flat is just around the corner, we'd better drop this off there.'

In the Warmoesstraat Mark opens the door to the fancy hall of Residence de Eenhoorn. In the lift we plunge into each other, our kissing has to be interrupted to open the door to the flat, but then turns pretty wild.

'I want you, now! Turn around and put your hands on the wall.'

Mark rolls up my dress, then quickly unzips his trousers. He pulls my thong aside, and I feel his stiff shaft shove into me. A drawn-out moan escapes my throat when he fills me up. Mark holds me tight and fucks me assiduously. It is great to feel his dick, which I have so often fantasised about, for real again. It doesn't take long for Mark to come and with a deep sigh he lands on my back. Now that the pressure is off, we can relax. Mark turns on the lights, puts on some music and gets the champagne from the fridge. On the balcony, high above the buzz of the city, we toast to our affair. We enjoy the breathtaking view of Amsterdam at night and begin our next lovemaking. He unbuttons my dress and caresses the edges of the bra, that makes my boobs look like wiggly pillows.

'Mmm, I knew I'd pick something that would suit you perfectly. We'll have to forget the nightcap at De Kletskop, I am thirsty for something completely different.'

We leave the flutes outside for later and head for the bedroom with an undoubtedly comfortable bed. Until now I didn't realise how impressive this place is, the beam construction of the high ceiling must be centuries old. There is a beautiful four-poster bed, made with the softest, cleanest linen and a generous number of pillows. I turn to Mark in delight and we undress. We stand intimately entwined, me in lingerie, him in tight boxers, his erection clearly visible. He lifts my arm and lets me pirouette under it.

'You are a delightful woman.'

Mark is a good kisser, it makes my knees weak. His skin and itchy chest hair feel familiar, and I've never known a man to smell so deliciously spicy. His fingers disappear under the edge of my thong, with his other hand he unhooks my bra and swings it onto the bed. He cups my tits lovingly and sucks on both my nipples until they are rock hard. He drops to his knees and looks up mischievously, his teeth grabbing the edge of my thong. He manages to get it down to my ankles and I step out, after which Mark moves up, licking my leg and finishing with a kiss on my mound and a teasing tongue between my lips. He takes off his boxer shorts, his hard-on swishes out enthusiastically. We fall on the bed and share an intimate moment. Without a sound, except for some satisfied muttering, we caress every spot we can find. I'd love to do this for hours, but at some point, Mark decides it's been enough.

'I know something nice, come here.'

He grabs a couple of pillows and sits down with his back against the headboard and his legs spread. When I try to straddle him, he starts to laugh.

'No, baby, with your back to me. Look, like this.'

I turn around and he pulls me towards him. His breath caresses my neck, his chest hair tickles my back, and I feel his semi-hard phallus against my butt. He wraps his arms around me.

'Relax girl, I am going to pamper you. Sink down a bit, rest your head against me.'

I feel the relaxation return and lean against his torso. His hands find my breasts and gently massage them while he plants kisses on my neck and schoulder. I close my eyes and surrender to the sensation. One of his hands begins the descent to the place where all the goodies are hidden, writhing I give in to the explorations of his fingers. He grasps my nipple and is not gentle with it, which only increases my arousal. He clamps me firmly between his legs and fingers me to a languid acme.

'Time for a break, pussycat.'

Mark runs back to the living room to get the toy bag. Grinning he plops down next to me and spreads our purchases out on the bed, he's also brought two welcome bottles of water.

'Which one would you like to try today?'

I point to the anal vibrator. Mark thinks it is an excellent choice and slaps my bottom.

'Come on, lift your ass.'

He pulls my buttocks apart a little, sticks his tongue in my pussy and goes round and round. Then he moves up to my butthole and lets his tongue do the same. An unprecedented sensation for me. He stops and not much later he slides into me. He doesn't start thrusting but reaches for the vibrator. I look over my shoulder and hear a glob of lube squirt out of the tube and the vibro starting to buzz.

'Relax, I know what I am doing.'

He fucks me slowly, I move with him. Mark puts the vibro on my butthole, a shock wave goes through my lower body. The lubricant makes the thing shoot right in. I still feel some resistance, but Mark pushes through decisively.

'Well done, baby, nice, isn't it? Enjoy it.'

I press myself against him as a sign to continue. He and the vibro enter me in alternating rhythms, with his other hand, he slaps me on the bottom. We're both moaning like pornstars on our way to the grand finale.

Satiated, we go into the shower where we give each other a good sponge bath. After that, in our bathrobes, we finish the bottle of champagne on the balcony, we kiss some more and then it is really time for bed. Like any other couple, we brush our teeth together and go to the toilet. It feels strange to sleep next to Mark. I think of Steven as I assume my familiar 'backpack' position.

The next morning I smell coffee and eggs, Mark must be making breakfast. As I pick up my bathrobe from the floor and put it on, I look with some embarrassment at the mess we have made of the bed. Mark enters the bedroom with a large tray full of treats and apparently can read minds.

'Don't worry, the cleaning lady is coming this afternoon to tidy things up.'

We have breakfast together in bed; I am in a daze. When I try to get closer, Mark subtly fends me off. Without exchanging many words, we gather our things and get ready to leave. Just when I think there's not going to be another kiss, Mark takes me in his arms and kisses me. It lasts at least ten seconds, I will have to live on it for many days to come.