but I wonder if he might have allowed Maurice a bit more sexual freedom at this particular point
It would make sense that he might have made Maurice appear bit more relaxed about it (and not worry too much about the aforementioned "odours from the abyss").

If the book weren't so insistent on having Maurice obsessing about the "special friend", I'd have no hesitation in suggesting that he's not like Laurie, and would be capable of having sex just for the sake of it--but the insistence is there, so I'm not so sure.