They were at Fistral beach, and Ross and Demelza were sitting on the sand and watching Jim and Anne surf out in the waves. These were different to the ones at Gwithian, long and curling. Jim had tolf Ross that it was called a break and that meant the waves travelled along the contours of the coastline. His eyes were fixed on Jim, who was about a hundred and fifty yards out. He was sitting straddling his board and facing towards the sun, which was now low in the sky. Ross sighed happily and Demelza looked at him. She was grinning.
'You like him so fucking much.' she said, her voice filled with smug certainty. Ross would have normally denied everything, but in this case it was true so he just smiled and went with it.
'I guess I do.' he replied, not even looking at her. Jim had caught a wave and Ross watched him turn his board and paddle, stopping to pop up effortlessly, his hands out to balance as he rode along the bottom of the tube, his speed picking up until he angled the board up sharply, moving from trough to crest in a series of movements until the wave died out and Jim dropped back down again.
'So, you're really going to do it?' Demelza asked and Ross kept watching the figure out on the waves, feeling the butterflies in his stomach swirl and take flight all over again as the sun hit Jim's hair and made it shine.
'Yes, I am.' he replied, his voice dreamy. 'With him.' He pulled his knees to his chest and hugged them. 'He said he'll teach me anything I want.'
'Wow. Okay.' Demelza said. 'That's like the best offer you could ever get.' Her smile was wicked. 'And judging by the noises you were making last night, he knows what he's doing. Just how far did you two get?' Ross didn't answer and she frowned. 'Handjobs?' Ross couldn't help it. His smile broadened and Demelza's mouth fell open. 'No.'
'Yes.' he replied.
'What? Like you did him or he did you?' she hissed as a family walked past behind them.
'Both.' Ross said. 'It was fucking amazing.' He looked at her. 'Can I ask you something?'
'Sure.' Demelza laughed.
'Have you ever had someone put their mouth like, down there.' Ross said and her eyes widened and then she burst out laughing.
'Jesus Christ.' She giggled. 'He fucking rimmed you as well? Holy shit.'
'Is that what it's called?' Ross looked thoughtful. Demelza hit him in the arm.
'Yes, you knob-end. That's what it's called.' She shook her head at him. 'Sounds like you two have things pretty much covered.'
'I told him he can fuck me.' Ross blurted out and then went scarlet. Now, Demelza's mouth actually did fall open and didn't close again. Ross looked at her expectantly and eventually she regained enough of her composure to speak.
'Right.' she said. 'Firstly, that is probably the last thing I expected to hear come out of your mouth. And secondly, do you have any idea of the mechanics?'
'No.' Ross admitted. 'But how hard can it be?'
'Mate.' Demelza said. 'Okay I need to tell you some stuff.' She stood up and dusted the sand off her shorts. 'Let's walk down the beach.' Ross got up and did the same, then followed her.
They were coming back to the van when Jim came out the water, Anne behind him. It was cooling rapidly, and they walked up the beach together and when they got to the car park Jim saw Ross and Demelza were at the van, sitting on the concrete barrier and sharing a packet of crisps. When they got to them, the two looked up and Jim got the distinct feeling that he had been the subject of the conversation if the grins he was getting were any indication. They made no move to get up as he and Anne walked past and Jim heard them giggling behind them as he and Anne got to the van.
