look back to the house. I slid the elastic fully over my bottom, and worked the shorts down my thighs, until the garment lost its tension and fell to my ankles. I stepped out of the shorts and stood fully naked outdoors for the first time. It felt wonderful. It felt exciting, refreshing, gloriously natural and yet undeniably sensual at the same time. All of my body was given to the air and the sun with nothing and nowhere to hide. I slipped into the pool and the water embraced me even more intimately than the air had. I floated and stroked through the water, just as Iâd watched Tia do upon our arrival. The water felt completely new on my bare bottom, and deliciously rude between my legs as I scissored and stroked back and forth.
I emerged dripping wet from the pool to find that the air had grown warmer. The only towels were still in the house, and I was reluctant to put dry clothes on my wet body. Iâd be dry in a moment anyway, and the wait would allow me to enjoy my nudity just a little longer. I took a padded mattress from one of the sun loungers, pulled it into an enclave beneath the balustrade, out of view from the house, and stretched out happily as the sun crept over the trees.
âOh, for heavenâs sake, Mand!â
I awoke violently to the sound of Veronicaâs voice, my heart suddenly racing. After a night in which Iâd found it difficult to sleep, Iâd drifted off almost immediately in the warmth and peace of the poolside. The sunlight seared into my sleepy eyes and I lifted my hand to shield them. Veronica strode toward me, also naked, out of the white-hot light. Her wide hips rolled and her heavy breasts bounced and swayed from side to side. She stopped at the small pile of my nightclothes, and her breasts came to rest not long thereafter. I sat bolt upright, drawing my knees to my chest.
âI told you yesterday, Mand. The sun is very fierce out here. If youâre going to lie out, you absolutely must protect yourself!â
âIâ¦.I didnât meanâ¦..I fell asleep.â
âOh, you must be more careful, Mand. Go to my bedroom vanity table, please, and get my sun cream. The Melonin , please. Itâs all natural.
I stood slowly. Veronicaâs gaze remained fixed upon me. Her face was concerned and kind. But Iâd never in my life felt more appraised and exposed. I moved toward her.
âOk, Iâll just pop into myâ¦.â
âIâll put these in the laundry, shall I,â she said, bending to collect my shorts and t-shirt. âIâm doing some washing later on.â
I stopped, a few steps away from her, my arm partly extended, hoping she would extend her hand to me. But Veronicaâs hand remained clamped around my clothes, her arms down at her sides. Even completely naked she was totally invulnerable. She inclined her chin and widened her eyes, as if waiting for me to say something more. When I did not, she tilted her head toward the house.
âGo on now,â she said softly.
My nude liberation dissolved into doubt. I felt the colour rise in my cheeks and my legs grew weak as I turned slowly and began the long walk up to the house. I could feel her eyes upon me. I wondered if she found my bright white bottom unsightly. I wished it to be as pert and cute and brown as her daughterâs. I tried to walk with my head held high. With the same easy grace Veronica and Tia moved, whether they were naked or not. I kept up this shakily regal pretense until I reached the veranda, where I broke into a run and darted into the house.
The ceramic titles of the house were cool under my bare feet after the heat of the outdoors. I crept up the stairs and down the corridor, right by the room I shared with Tia. I swept past, but Tia was in the shower. It felt completely inappropriate to be running around the house naked. But now that I knew I wouldnât run into Tia, I felt a bit more relaxed.
The sun streamed into Veronicaâs big