Being with Serena was a revelation. It was the second time she'd joined her on a trip to a sex shop and she'd wondered at all the implements of pleasure, stacked up in preparation for any kink to discover. The first time was a bit of fun, a late night detour on the way back from dinner at a nice Italian place with an extensive wine menu. Bernie couldn't believe Serena found it fun to drop in and look at the wares, either on her own or with Sian. They were both such bad influences. Bernie was just glancing while Serena twirled around and inspected the gadgets. She did like her gadgets. Bernie hadn't realised it extended to outside of theatre too.

She got waylaid early on by the pocket rockets. Short narrow shiny tubes, perfect to slip in and buzz away at discreet moments. There were retro floral prints, ones shaped like lipsticks and of course, leopard print. She picked it up and tapped it, wondering how a hard piece of plastic would feel inside her.

'I can't believe they still make this model' Serena marvelled.

'Do you have one?'

'Of course. Got one from the early days when they started making such tiny ones. Used it with Edward.'

Bernie stared at her, goldfish expression on full.

Serena chuckled.

'It's tiny enough not to dent their ego and once a man's felt a bit of vibration to his todger, he won't say no to it.'

'How did you use it?'

'You just slid it up and down a bit, hold it a bit lower down here and there. Drives most men crazy once they get the benefits. If you hold it in the right place, both of you can feel it. It's mainly for you though. I swear no woman can get off without it while he's pounding away.'

Bernie supposed that was true. She had never known what a shared orgasm was with her ex-husband at the helm. Not for lack of trying. But it just didn't work. They gave up in the end and she'd had to give herself a rubbing down first before they started. He was courteous enough to wait until she had finished to then advance.

'Marcus wouldn't have wanted one of those in the bedroom.'

'He doesn't know what he's missing. Edward for all his faults at least got something out of it.'

'Marcus is quite old fashioned' admitted Bernie.

'Sometimes you wished he wasn't such a gentleman?'

Bernie blushed slightly.

'I'm not sure. Occasionally I got a bit impatient and took over and he didn't mind that.'

Marcus would have mistaken that impatience for enthusiasm, though Serena. Bernie had told her of how their routine went. How depressing not to share in that journey of ecstasy together.

'Maybe he wanted you take to take over more.'

'He never told me if he did. We just couldn't get it right.'

Serena tapped the purple one.

'You just weren't compatible. You needed one of these. You know what men are like. Not enough foreplay. Edward did pretty well up until a point. Then I needed the plastic because once he got going, not much would stop him. He was a bit blokey.'

Bernie sighed. Every woman knew what that meant. A bit of grunting and a steady pounding in and out and not much else for ten minutes. It got boring as hell after a few. It got no woman off unless she did the work herself. There was only so much effort a woman could expend on that and just give up, hoping he'd finish soon.

Bernie thought about that tiny tube of plastic, garishly leopard printed.

'You've still got it?'

'Never let me down since.'

Bernie's gaze lingered a little too long and Serena suspected that she'd like to give it a try.

'Maybe you'd like me to show you what it can do first.'