Carl and I were visiting our old friends from college days Alex and Michelle for a weekend of catching up and general relaxation. It’d been a few months since we last met, and it was their turn to host this time.

Alex had got courtside tickets for him and Carl to see the Rangers game in the evening, so they had gone out. Michelle said she had some boring work shopping to do, so why didn’t I just stay at their house and enjoy the pool?

Around five o’clock I heard the door go as Michelle returned. As instructed, I’d been for a swim and was now in my bikini and a white towelling robe, padding around the kitchen.

“Hi Jen,” Michelle called from the door, “I’m back, all finished now. Is it too early for a glass of wine?”

“I don’t understand the question,” I quipped. “How could it be too early for wine?” I chose a bottle of chardonnay from their wine rack, unscrewed the top, and poured a couple of generous glasses. “So what have you bought?” I asked, nosy as always.

“Just some dull new clothes for work,” and she pointed at the brand names on the bags. Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Loren, all the usual suspects for a power dresser.

“And what’s in that one then?” I asked, pointing at a plain white bag with no name or other logo on it. Michelle looked a little embarrassed and hesitated.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” she said, and I knew perfectly well she was hiding something, which of course guaranteed I wouldn’t let it go.

“Hey, Chelle, it’s me, remember? We’ve shared underwear, we’ve held each other’s hair over the toilet while we’ve puked, we’ve spilled all our man secrets… What is it?”

She seemed emboldened by this and took a deep breath. “OK, if you really want to know, it’s a new vibrator. It’s a rabbit, I’ve always wanted to try one.”

“Oh my god. Can I see?”

We sat on the sofa side by side, and both giggled like schoolgirls as Michelle opened the box. She broke the seals and hefted it in her hand. My eyes felt like they came out on stalks – I didn’t even own a vibrator myself, it was the first time I’d seen one up close. It looked so like, well, a stiff penis. That’s the point, I suppose!

“Wow, it’s good and chunky, isn’t it?” she said. “I might need some lube to fit this in me. And look at the ears to tickle your love button… Ooooh, that’s going to be fun.” She pressed the start button and it began buzzing and bucking in her palm, evidently fully charged.

We finished our first glass of wine and I poured another one each. Warmed by the glow of the alcohol, I let my towelling robe fall open. I picked up the vibrator again and turned it on and off a few times, then when it was off I pressed it on the outside of my bikini, the tip of it between my legs. Michelle gave me a look as if to say: “I dare you.”

“Do you think we should try it?” I asked, coyly. “I mean, just in case it’s faulty and you need to return it?