Regaining My Life

Regaining My Life

 

 

Chapter 2 — The Hike

 

Summary: Quinn and Chris come to terms with the events of Friday evening. Another colleague invites Quinn on a hike.

A note to the reader, this is my second submission on Literotica. Thank you to SissyKaty, Lelo210, and s0reth0at for their reviewing and editing work. This was originally a one-off story, but I have extended the story for several chapters. All characters and situations are complete fiction, a product of my fertile imagination. Any similarity to actual people and situations is purely a coincidence. I hope my story reflects the human condition, our daily struggle to live meaningful, happy lives. My characters are flawed, just like you and me. All constructive criticism is welcome.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Ending a sex drought does interesting things to one’s mind. Everything takes on a sexual connotation and having sex again becomes one of the mind’s primary drives. It had been at least three years since I had made love to my wife. Her ensuing battle with cancer and passing put a damper on my libido. On Friday evening, my dear friend Christina and I unexpectedly broke an eight-year platonic relationship with an evening of passion. It was an incredibly life changing experience even though it was most likely a one-off event. Chris had discovered that her husband was cheating on her. Although Chris and I cared for one another, I somehow doubted that our affair would continue.

Even though I was primarily friends with Chris, part of me felt like I had betrayed my friendship with Jack. Yes, he was cheating on Chris. Yes, Chris was probably leaving him. Nevertheless, Chris and Jack had both come to my aid when I needed help. They both saw me through so many tough times. So, even though making love to Chris was a dream event, deep down I felt a bit like a shithead.

Chris had left my house around nine o’clock on Friday evening and said she was going to Zoë’s. Zoë is a fellow professor and the two of them are thick as thieves. I didn’t hear a thing on Saturday or Sunday.

Monday dawned hot and muggy. I decided that this would be a great day to harvest my onion crop. I started around nine and had all the onions out of the ground by eleven. I still had to put them up in the barn to dry, but I needed some water and a break. Sweat was streaming down my face and the brim of my straw hat was dark with moisture. My shirt was drenched and the garden dirt had just made me a muddy mess. Trying to brush anything off just made it worse.

“Hey there, lover boy.” It was Chris. She was walking down the hill from the barn. “I hope you don’t mind, but I pulled my car into your barn and closed the door.”

“No. I don’t mind. What? So Jack won’t see your car?”

She nodded. Chris was wearing some snug fitting jeans which nicely highlighted her figure, a Chicago Cubs t-shirt, and an Anchor Brewing Company ball cap. Her hair was in a ponytail extending through the cut out at the back of the cap. She came over to me with what looked like the intention of giving me a hug.

“You may not want to get close to this mess.”

“Oh, you are yucky.” She came over and studied my face. “There’s a clean spot” and she kissed my cheek bone. “I think that’s the only one. What are you doing?”

I pointed at the garden, “Harvesting onions.”

“Wow, that’s a lot. Do you use that many?”

“No. I’ll keep about a dozen and give the rest away. I was just heading up to the house for a break.”

She fell in beside me, and held my hand. We walked quietly for the first 25 yards.

I broke the silence, “How are you my friend?”

“I’ve been better. I just came from the lawyer’s office. She’s filing the divorce papers this afternoon. I’ll pick up Jackie from pre-school and keep him for the rest of the week. We’re going go with alternating weekends for now. When he gets to kindergarten I think I’m going to ask the teacher to call him by his proper name — John. The nickname has to go.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I thought silence would be best. We reached the back door and I held it open for her. Inside I have what I call my mudroom. The washer and dryer are there, plus a sink to clean up.

“Give me a moment to wash up.”

Chris sat down on an antique park bench that was against the wall. I knew she was watching me. I stripped off my shirt and threw it on the laundry pile. I took a towel from the rack and set it next to the sink. I ran the water, first sticking my head under the faucet, then washing my face, arms, and hands.

Chris said, “You really are a sexy man. I love how the sweat has matted your chest hair.”

I turned my head and smiled at her. I toweled dry, grabbed a clean work shirt from the laundry basket, and put it on. “There. Damp, but presentable.”

Chris came over and gave me a hug, placing the side of her head against my chest. I kissed the top of her head.

“I was going to have something to eat, let’s go into the kitchen.” She took my hand and led the way. Once in the kitchen she sat at the table.

I asked, “What can I get you?”

“Just some water. I’ll eat whatever you’re eating.”

I got out two pint glasses and filled them with well water from my tap, placing one in front of her and one where I would sit. She placed a napkin and a fork at each setting.

I said, “So, you saw a lawyer. You’re filing. But how are you doing?”

“Quinn, I’m miserable.”

“Why don’t you start with when you left here on Friday.” I put four pieces of bread in the toaster and sliced up a large tomato. I pulled out a baggie of cooked bacon from the fridge and a head of lettuce. I sliced off a section of lettuce. I put the bacon, lettuce, and tomato on a plate. I came over and sat down. Our eyes met and it felt like our souls became one. We have always done this since I first met her, but it never has gotten old.

“Well, I went over to Zoë’s. Quinn, you have no idea what loving you did for me. You most certainly saved a life, either mine or Jack’s. I was emotionally at the end of my rope. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I actually drove to the trail by the old quarry. I was going to climb to the top and jump. Then I thought of my son and backed down. Then I thought about the party, I was going to get plastered. I thought of you and how you could go with me, maybe be my designated driver. You have to believe me that I had no intention of doing anything other than going to a party with you when I came over here.”

“I believe you. It was just as much me as you. Lust got the better of both of us. Chris, I’m a little concerned about your mental health. If you ever think about hurting yourself again, you’ve got to let me know.”

“I promise. I’m doing better. I try to be around someone like you or Zoë.”

The toast popped. I got up and put the four slices on a plate. I brought them over to the table and we assembled our BLTs. The tomatoes were from my garden and I watched Chris’ face for her reaction.

“That’s a nice sandwich. Are the tomatoes yours?”

I nodded. “Pretty good?”

“Oh, they’re fabulous.”

“So you went to Zoë’s.”

Chris continued looking into my eyes, “Yes. No way was I going home. Zoë probably thought I was pretty weird. I remember coming in, giving her a long hug, and asking her to use her guest room. I was just overcome with emotion. I couldn’t sleep. Kept thinking about you. Thinking about Jack being a shithead. Thinking about making love to you.” She put her hand on top of mine. “I couldn’t stop thinking about making love to you.”

I raised her hand to my mouth and kissed it. “Christina, you have not been out of my mind for more than a moment or two since Friday. I can’t stop thinking about you either.”

She squeezed my hand. “I probably didn’t get to sleep until dawn. I slept until noon. Zoë is such a good friend; she made me breakfast and didn’t say a thing. I told her about Jack, and she wasn’t at all surprised. She reminded me that he has always had a wandering eye. Jack hit on her hard at the welcome party back during my first week on campus. We’d only been married a year! She told me about that the next Monday, one of the reasons she became my friend. That reminded me that he grabbed one of my bridesmaid’s ass at our wedding reception. Zoë also reminded me how he’s always been flirting with every girl he sees.”

I said, “And here I thought you two had a storybook marriage. That you were living happily ever after.”

“Right? I guess I just ignored all the signs. I kind of thought the same way. I’ve been so blind. Probably willfully blind. I didn’t want to know. How did Zoë put it? ‘This isn’t a romance novel. This is real life. Sometimes things don’t work out the way they’re supposed to.’ I feel like such an idiot. I should have seen it coming. I thought we had a good life together. Yes, our love life has slowed. Maybe I could have prevented it. After the baby came, I know I was ugly and I wasn’t desirable.”

I raised my hand, “Point of personal privilege. You have never been ugly. You have never been undesirable. You are hands down a very beautiful woman. Chris, if Jack decided he was going to cheat on you, I doubt there is anything you could have done.”

Chris said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I told Zoë what happened between us.” I raised my eyebrows. “I didn’t tell her all the details, but I did tell her that you were an amazing lover and that I had never experienced anything like that in my life.”

I must have blushed a little. I certainly felt very awkward. Seeing her plate was empty I said, “Can I get you another sandwich?”

“No, thank you.” I picked up her plate, placed it on mine, and took them to the sink. I came back and sat down. Chris put her hand on mine and our eyes locked in again. “I’m sorry Quinn. Zoë is my best friend, and I had to share, or I was going to burst. Please don’t be mad. You are my other best friend.”

I sighed. “Chris, I could never be mad at you.”

“Zoë also told me you wouldn’t be mad because you loved me. Probably a lot more than I realized.”

“Zoë’s right, again.”

“This might sound crazy, but I have been thinking about us. About us being together.” Suddenly her eyes were welling with tears. I held her hand again. She used her napkin to wipe her eyes. “Quinn, other than Zoë you are my best friend. Zoë told me how much you loved me because I told her how much I loved you. You are good and kind and decent. You are like a saint.”

“Whoa, Chris, I am no saint. Ever since I first met you and you looked into my eyes, you had me. I was a married man and I lusted after you. I would imagine what your nude body looked like. I downloaded every picture you posted of yourself on Facebook. I thought about what it would be like to make love to you, how my life would be if you were my partner.”

She nodded. “I thought about that last part all day yesterday. Here’s the thing Quinn. I don’t know how we could make it work. You have twenty years on me. You’re already a grandfather, with what three grandkids?”

I nodded. “You would be 73 when Jackie, I mean John, turns 18. You’ve done fatherhood once. Could you start all over?” She had a point. “When this divorce is final, I would have no problem asking you to be my partner, to be my husband if we decide together that it is right for both of us. For right now, I don’t think we should think about it. That’s a long way off.”

I just nodded again.

Tears were tracing down her cheeks. She stopped trying to control them. Chris said, “Here’s the hard part.” She swallowed hard. “I don’t think we should be lovers for a while.”

I grimaced. How did I know this was coming? I didn’t have an answer so I just continued looking into her eyes.

Chris finally continued, “Yesterday, it dawned on me when I remembered what you said on Friday when we were lying in each other’s arms. You haven’t seen anyone since Roz passed away. I would be your rebound love. You would be mine. If you will eventually have me, I will gladly share the rest of your life with you. But, I think you should start dating. When I’m ready, I should date other people too.”

“Come on Chris, who I am going to go on a date with? I’m an old man.”

“You are not. I can think of half a dozen right on campus — Zoë, Asha, Astrid, Colleen, Julianne.”

“Technically, that’s five, and Asha is a lesbian.”

“OK, Trish. You know what I mean. I would bet every one of them, well except Asha, would love to go out with you. There’s a lot of single women on campus and I’m not counting the co-eds.”

“Co-eds are strictly off limits for me.”

“Good point, but it doesn’t even have to be one-on-one. You could come with the Wood Nymphs on a hike. You know about the Wood Nymphs?”

“That’s your hiking club.”

“It could be something as simple as going on a hike with Zoë. She would love to show you the local forests.” She placed her hand on mine, “Please? For me?”

“Be careful. Look what happened the last time you asked me like that.”

“I’m not asking you to have sex with Zoë.” Her eyes twinkled. “Although I think that would be a fabulous idea.”

“You want me to have sex with Zoë?”

“Maybe friends with benefits. Quinn, she is so insecure. Yes, she comes across as confident, but I don’t think she’s been with more than a handful of men in her whole life. I know at least one of those turned out horribly. I don’t think it was rape, but I think she was traumatized.”

“Isn’t Zoë seeing Anders? Those two seem to be really tight. They’re like classic hipsters traveling the world. Didn’t they go to Denmark together?” Anders was a staffer at the college and Zoë was always posting pictures of the two of them together.

“Quinn, Anders is gay. Didn’t you know that? In fact he’s getting married to his longtime partner over Labor Day weekend and they’re moving to California.”

“Oh.”

“Zoë’s pretty bummed about Anders moving.” She squeezed my hand again and smiled. “Whenever possible, I would love to spend time with you. Like today. I don’t have to pick up Jackie — John — until 3:30. I’d love to help you with your onions and anything else you are doing.”

“I’d love that. Let me show you where Roz’ work clothes are. You can wear those and not get your nice clothes dirty.”

_ _ _ _ _

Chris changed into a pair of torn jeans and a white blouse that had paint splatters on the shoulders. The jeans were too big at the waist and she had a belt cinched tight to hold them up. She also wore Roz’ straw hat.

She said, “I have some grubbies I’ll bring over and leave here. Roz’ stuff is a bit big on me.”

We gathered up the onions and took them to the barn where I showed her how to braid the stalks together to dry. Within minutes we were both sweating profusely and I noticed that Chris had gone braless for the occasion, her lovely areolas showing through the now transparent blouse. I decided not to comment and just enjoy the scenery.

We finished with the onions, then went back to the garden and prepped the beds for planting in the spring. I had brought out water bottles for us. She drank some, then poured some onto her shirt.

I said, “Good idea,” and poured some on me.

Chris gave me an impish smile. We both knew what we were doing to one another, but the idea of not being her lover was difficult. I had a truckload of cow manure and we spread some of it out on the now empty onion beds. After an hour and a half of work, we walked over to the porch and I got us some more water. We held hands and sat in companionable silence. At 2:30, her phone’s alarm went off; Chris said she need to get ready to get John. I walked into the kitchen with her assuming she’d go up and change.

She said, “I’m filthy.” Standing in the middle of the kitchen, she unbuttoned her blouse and handed it to me. Her beautiful breasts taunted me. She kicked off her shoes, dropped her pants, and handed those to me as well. She stood before me naked, facing me with her hands on her hips. Her body glistening with sweat, “I figured I would save you a trip with the dirty clothes.”

I said, “What the hell are you doing to me?”

“I said we shouldn’t be lovers. I didn’t say I couldn’t tease you and keep your interest up. Plus I have a little exhibitionist streak in me. You have no idea how hot this is making me having your eyes on me.”

“Trust me. I do. Here I thought you were this very modest woman.”

Chris gave me a very impish smile. “Normally I am.” She stepped forward, kissed my lips, and patted my sweaty shirt. “Gonna take a shower. Please stay down here.” She ran off. I went and sat on the porch, my cock throbbing.

_ _ _ _ _

The next day I was cutting the grass on my riding lawn mower. My two acres takes about three hours to cut. I used to load up some songs to my iPod — yes, I still use an iPod — and rock out for the duration. Today, I just put in earplugs and thought. Of course, the only thing on my mind was Christina. The memories led to some stiffening, and I frequently felt moisture leaking on my leg.

It was about three in the afternoon. I had just turned and started another pass across the adjoining acre, moving toward the house, when an unfamiliar car pulled into my gravel drive. As I approached, I saw Zoë Maisano’s blonde head emerge from the yellow Subaru.

Zoë was a short, petite professor. I wasn’t sure how old she was, but my guess would be somewhere around 40. She was single, never married, loved traveling, and was open to all types of exercise. Zoë’s blonde hair was almost platinum which, given her very fair complexion, I would guess was her natural color. She had a slender waist, which accentuated her slim hips. Her breasts were probably about a B-cup. At the college, Zoë was always professionally dressed. Although we were friends, I had not really hung out with her except at the occasional party when Rosalind was still alive.

I rode up to Zoë. She was wearing large sunglasses and a white sleeveless tank top. I thought I detected her nipples through the material. She capped her ensemble with short khaki shorts and some hiking boots.

Although she was short, proportionally Zoë’s legs were toned, long, and lean. I pulled up alongside her and cut the engine. She stepped on the cutting deck, leaned over, and gave me a semi-hug — arms around me, head next to head, but no body contact.

“Hey,” she said.

“How are you doing Zoë?”

“Oh, good. Good. I just finished a nice hike up on the trail.”

“You hike by yourself?”

“Sometimes.”

“Is that safe? A lot of creeps around.”

“Oh, I can defend myself quite well. I was supposed to go with Chris. She told you she was filing, right?” I nodded. “It bums me out. We were supposed to go hiking today, but she had to go see her lawyer. She suggested that I ask you to come with me instead. I was almost out the door, and I didn’t think it would be fair to invite you with no notice.”

“Thanks for that.”

“Maybe you want to come with me tomorrow.”

“I don’t think I could keep up with you. I’m not a young man anymore. I’m in decent shape, but not like you.”

She laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll take it easy on you. How about if I take you out for a training hike. We’ll go slow and make frequent stops. No need to be embarrassed. Just you and me.”

“And I won’t be embarrassed in front of you?”

“Quinn, how long have we known each other?” Zoë and I had started together at the college 10 years ago. “I don’t think there is anything that you should ever be embarrassed about with me. You are one of my best friends. That way you can get in better shape and come with us more frequently.”

Zoë was a friend, but I wouldn’t have put her into the ‘best’ category. I started to fumble for an excuse when Zoë reached out and put her hand on my arm, “Quinn, you need to let us take care of you. I’ll stop by your house tomorrow at nine and pick you up. Wear some layers and some good walking shoes. Mornings are cool. By afternoon it will be warm, maybe even hot. Bring your sunscreen.”

I smiled and said, “Aye aye, ma’am.”

“That’s a good sailor.” She started to leave. “I’ll even bring a nice lunch. Anything you are allergic to?”

“Mayonnaise.”

Zoë said, “No mayo.”

She jumped back into the car and started pulling out. “See you tomorrow,” she called and waved.

I waved back. It sounded like Chris was following through on her promise to get me out seeing people again.

_ _ _ _ _

The next morning, I woke earlier than usual and made myself a hearty breakfast of eggs, sausage, toast, and coffee. About quarter to nine, there was a knock at the kitchen door. I looked around the corner and saw Zoë. I waved her in.

“I’m just cleaning up from breakfast. Can I get you anything?”

Zoë came in and said, “Got any coffee?”

Before I could respond, she had moved to the pot, grabbed a mug from the cupboard, and was pouring.

“Milk is in the fridge and there’s sugar on the table.”

Walking from the fridge to the table she came up behind me and gave me a hug. I could feel her breasts on my back. I put my hand up to hold her arms in place, savoring the contact; my cock stirred slightly.

Zoë said, “We’re going to have a blast. We’re going up in the state forest. It’s an easy hike, and the late summer wildflowers will be out in the high meadows. I have a nice lunch packed. No mayo.”

I gave her a smile, “You’re being very kind to an old man.”

“Quinn, you are not old. You look like you’re in great shape.”

“Looks can be deceiving.” I finished the frying pan and placed it in the drying rack. “Can I get you anything to eat?”

“No, all set. Good coffee, though. That must be a Navy habit, cleaning up like that.”

“That’s me. Shipshape and squared away.”

“I don’t know too many guys who do that.”

“You just don’t know the right guys. I have some ‘to go’ cups if you would like to take your coffee with you.”

“Yes, please.”

I broke out the cups, poured her coffee in, and then handed it back. I poured a cup for myself, then quickly rinsed out our mugs and placed them on the drying rack. “You may want to top that off.”

“Good idea,” Zoë said as she moved to the pot. “Ready?”

I turned off the coffee machine. “As ready as I will ever be. Let’s get going before I change my mind.”

_ _ _ _ _

Zoë drove us to the state forest, about a 45-minute drive. She talked the entire time about several things, but never mentioned Chris. I just listened and nodded a lot. As we pulled into the parking lot, she asked, “What’s the temperature?”

She pushed a button on the wheel and reported, “Sixty-six. A little chilly to start. I don’t think we need jackets, should we bring them in the knapsacks?”

I said, “I don’t think so. It’s only going to get warmer. The weather lady on channel seven said mid-eighties.”

“Right. It is August after all.”

As we stood before the trunk of her car, Zoë ran through a mental checklist, “We’ve got lunch. Some snacks. Water. First aid kit. Plenty of sunscreen for the pale blonde and redhead. Picnic quilt. Looks like we’re good to go.” She stripped off her running sweats to reveal some short, loose-fitting cut-offs that showed most of her shapely legs. She took off her jacket and shivered a little. Underneath she was wearing a yellow college t-shirt underneath. I could see a white string bikini tied at the back of her neck. Her erect nipples could be detected through the fabric. She donned a Cystic Fibrosis Walkathon baseball cap.

I was wearing knee length shorts and a long sleeved sports shirt. I put my foot up on her bumper and put sunscreen on my calves.

Zoë said, “Good idea.” I held out the tube of SPF 50 to her. We finished the application.

“Aren’t you going to be hot in long sleeves?” V She asked

“This shirt is actually really light and designed to keep you cool. Feel.”

She felt he fabric, “Like those really flimsy bikinis”

“Oh, I didn’t know that. Plus, I have to keep the dermatologist at bay.”

“Oh, that’s right. You’ve had how many melanomas?”

“Three.”

I put on my broad brimmed hat and tossed my windbreaker into the trunk. “Want me to carry the knapsack?”

“We have two. You take this one. It has our picnic quilt and extra water,” Zoë said, handing me a second knapsack. It was fairly light.

“Picnic quilt? You sound like a professional hiker and picnicker.”

“Only the best for us.”

“Very well. Then lead on my dear colleague because I haven’t a clue where I’m going.”

“Wait, first a selfie for Facebook. You can be an honorary Wood Nymph.” She held out her phone and snapped a picture of the two of us. “OK, let’s go.”

Zoë struck out at a leisurely pace, and I didn’t have trouble keeping up on the flat terrain. I also didn’t mind the view of her legs. I kept up for about 30 minutes, but as the trail began to slope upward, I started sucking wind and fell behind a couple of dozen yards at least. The trail leveled off and came out in a broad meadow. The temperature had climbed significantly. Sweat was pouring down my face and my shirt was stuck to my chest. Zoë had stopped at a park bench under some shade trees at the edge of the meadow, and had set down her knapsack. As I approached, she held out an energy bar.

“Time for a break and refueling. Serious hiking takes serious refueling.”

“Sounds good, Captain.”

Since we were in the shade I peeled off my shirt and laid it out on the bench to dry.

Zoë said, “Oh. That’s nice. I love a hairy chest.”

A light breeze felt really good, cooling my skin. I sat down on the bench, stretching my arms out on top of the bench. “Serious hiking? I thought you were going to take it easy on me.”

“I am, but we need to get you up to speed.”

Zoë sat down next to me as I caught my breath, our legs touching. Her bare arm against the side of my sweaty torso. Her shoulder tucking in below my armpit. What a nice feeling.

She dug in the knapsack, “Here’s some ibuprofen. Drink some water. You have to stay hydrated. Drink a lot of water.”

“Just like survival school.” I dutifully downed the pills, drank some water, and took a bite of energy bar.

“When did you have to go to survival school?” She asked.

“When I went through flight school. Learned what bugs to eat, how to stay warm and dry. That sort of stuff.”

The meadow had bloomed in an assortment of wildflowers and some distant hills made an impressive picture. “This is lovely,” I said.

“That’s one reason why we like hiking,” said Zoë smiling. “Plus, I like having good company.” She patted my thigh.

I smiled at her, “You are wonderful company.”

We sat in companionable silence for a minute or two, enjoying the cool breeze. I felt her looking at me and turned my head.

“Quinn?”

“Yes, my dear.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Ask away.”

“Do you think you will ever get married again?”

“Actually, I haven’t given it much thought. Why? Do you want to apply for the position?” Zoë blushed a deep red. I immediately felt bad for her, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

She touched my thigh again. “That’s OK. It was a silly question.”

“No, it wasn’t. It came from a place of caring, and I was a smart ass. Let me rephrase that.” I thought for a moment. “Zoë, I don’t know. For me, being married is all in. It is a sacred commitment that you only take with the absolute right person.”

“So how did you know when you found that person?”

“Sometimes that’s just as hard. The first time for me was not the right person. The second time was. For some people they know right away. For others, they kind of settle. I think that’s what I did the first time — settle.”

“Thanks for that.” She leaned over and gave me a peck on the cheek, “It’s just something that I have been thinking about for a long time. Haven’t found the right person and I never want to settle.”

“Never a good idea. You must have had someone you were serious with over the years.”

“Never the right one. So I guess what I meant to ask was: are you going to look for someone, or are you happy just being a widower? I don’t think that came out right either.”

“Zoë, you’re fine.” This time I did the touching, patting her shoulder. Her skin was silky smooth. “I don’t know. I can tell you that it is very lonely in that big house. My dog kept me company while I had her, but I had to put her down back in the spring. We, humans, are social creatures. We need to be around people. Last night I was dreading the idea of a hike, but I am so happy I came with you.”

She put her opposite arm around the front of me and gave me a partial hug, her breast pressed into my side. Having my arm behind her made it easy to reciprocate, and I pulled her close. More bodily contact. My cock was stirring. Psychologists will tell you that touching is an important part of flirting. Our flirting just moved up a notch.

“Shall we get going?” Zoë said as she stood and pulled her t-shirt over her head. The string bikini that had I seen the top of was very small. It was damp with sweat, and the material clung to her breasts; her areolas visible through the material.

My jaw had dropped at the sight of that beautiful body. “Quinn, you surprise me. You look like you’ve never seen a woman in a bikini before,” Zoë said as she handed me the sunscreen.

“I must admit it has been a while. You are beautiful.”

She looked surprised, “You think I’m beautiful?”

“Zoë, you are drop dead gorgeous.”

She placed her hand on my cheek. “That’s sweet.” She held her hand there looking into my eyes, smiling. “Could I trouble you to put some sunscreen on my back?”

She turned around. I squeezed some sunscreen into my hand and began rubbing it on her back.

“Ooh! That’s cold. You’ve got me nipped out,” she said turning around so I could see her nipples standing at attention inside her bikini.

After admiring her for a few seconds, I looked into her eyes and said, “Yes I have. It must be this flimsy material.”

She turned around again, and I rubbed the sunscreen onto her shoulders and back.

“Make sure you get under my waistline. Otherwise I’ll burn.”

I slipped my fingers ever so slightly under the edge of her shorts applying the sunscreen. When I got to the horizontal string of her bikini, I worked on either side of it.

“You need to get under the strings. I could use some help with my sides as well.” Zoë reached back and released the knot on the lower string on her top. The halter still draped over her breasts. I slowly rubbed in the sunscreen on her back and then started on the sides of her torso. When my hand was at the side of her breast, she turned suddenly, and my hand was on her breast. Zoë looked back smiling.

“Make sure you get the other one too,” she whispered, then pulled the top string and the halter dropped completely away. She turned to face me. “Here, you need some on your face. Maybe on your neck too,” as she put both arms around my neck and started rubbing sunscreen.

I was tempted to look down at her breasts, but maintained eye contact. My hands roamed freely over her torso, her erect nipples getting their share of attention. I looked down and admired her. Even though she was 40-ish, Zoë had the pert breasts of a 20-year-old. She was a B cup or slightly larger by my tactile estimation. Her fair complexion led to fair breasts. Her nipples and the surrounding areolas were pink; the nipples were slightly turned upward.

Just then, we heard voices coming up the trail. Zoë reached down and grabbed her top and turned around.

“Here tie the bottom.” I did as ordered while she tied the top.

A quartet of hikers came out of the woods, three women and a guy.

Zoë sat back down. “Let’s see which direction they go.”

I put my shirt back on. I put my foot on the bench and reapplied sunscreen to my legs. As the four approached, I sat back down beside Zoe and put my arm on the bench behind her. I looked out over the meadows as Zoë watched them. They saw us and walked over; the young man must have got an eyeful when he saw Zoë’s nipped bikini. He stopped and stared. His companions laughed, said hi, and pulled him along in the direction we were going.

I said, “That was an interesting reaction.”

“He saw me as a possibility. The girls saw me as competition.” Zoë looked over at me. “Do you think I’m a possibility?”

“Asks the woman who just had me apply sunscreen to her bare breasts.”

She smiled, “I hope they don’t take our picnic spot. We’ll have to give them a head start. If they take the one I want, I know another one.”

“It didn’t look like they carried a lunch. Here stand up and let me finish your back.” I finished putting on the sunscreen, but she left the bikini on. The quartet was nearly across the meadow now.

Zoë said, “That’s enough time. Come on. There are some beautiful places you need to see.”

_ _ _ _ _

We moved across the meadow, then into the trees. The shade was a relief as the temperature dropped a few degrees. Again, the pitch of the trail increased, but I kept up with Zoë a bit better this time. Perhaps she was going easy on me.

My interaction with Zoë had my mind racing. She was obviously coming on to me, dropping her top like that. What beautiful breasts! What if Zoë took this flirtation further, would that be cool? I kind of felt a commitment to Chris, but she really wants me to date other women, she encouraged me to have sex with Zoë. She talked about Zoë being a friend with benefits. My mind was going in countless directions.

As we crested one hill, Zoe indicated a rock outcrop where we could sit. “Drink some more water.” I sat down next to her. “How are you feeling?”

“This was a timely break. This water’s great.” She stood in front of me, inspecting my condition. “Am I alright?”

“Just checking. You are a little flushed, but you’re doing fine. Just drink the water. I don’t want you to have some kind of heat sickness.” She sat down next to me and again managed to have our legs touching.

“Quinn?”

“Yes, ma’am.” She hesitated. I thought that she was going to ask me another personal question. “It’s OK Zoë. Ask me anything you want. You’re my friend, remember?”

She took a breath and looked at me, “Do you really think I’m pretty? You weren’t just saying that to be nice?”

“Zoë, I wasn’t being nice. I was being truthful. I think you are beautiful.”

She stood up in front of me, her nipples prominent in her bikini. “I am 39 years old. Do you know that no one has ever told me that?”

“No one? I’m sorry. I can’t believe that. Someone should have been telling you that you were beautiful every day of your life.”

“Well my mom and dad did, but they’re my mom and dad. Of course they tell me. You can’t believe them. People tell me I cute, but cute is not pretty.”

“No one else?”

“Well, I was seeing this guy Jared for about a year. It seemed the only time he told me I was pretty was when he wanted to get in my pants. He never seemed to be very sincere.”

“Did you let him get in your pants?”

Zoë blushed a little, “Sometimes.”

“Zoë, hopefully, you won’t think I am being inappropriate, but allow me to point out exactly what makes you beautiful. Your blonde hair; your charming green eyes; your beautiful face; these incredible shapely, long legs.” I pointed to her legs. “You have a lovely figure. If you don’t mind me saying, your breasts took my breath away. They were so lovely.” She was blushing bright red. “Plus, you are beautiful on the inside. You have a heart of gold.”

Her lower lip trembled slightly. She reached out and took both of my hands in hers. Her eyes welled up. She started to say something, but no sound came forth. She brought my hands up to her lips and kissed them.

“You are going to make me cry.” Zoe took a deep breath, and a change came over her. She seemed to glow with some inner happiness, maybe a bit of confidence. “You know, I probably don’t need these shorts in this heat either.” She undid the button and fly. The shorts dropped and revealed a white thong, bow knots at her hips. A small mons pubis stood out.

“Zoë, I’m not trying to get into your pants, or your thong.”

She laughed. “I know. I just feel really comfortable around you Quinn. I feel like you will admire me and not attack me. It is exciting being admired.”

“If you don’t think I am a dirty old man, I would like to point out why this thong is so hot.”

“Oh, please do.” She stepped closer and placed her hands behind my neck.

“It’s not because it is so small, although that is very hot too. It’s this fabric. It’s thin like my shirt. May I touch you?”

She nodded.

“When a man undresses you with his eyes, he is looking for any small detail to fill in the rest of his imagination. I can just detect that you have your pubic hair trimmed into a little runway here on top of your mons.” I very slightly touched where her pubes were. “See how you can see my chest hairs with this fabric?” She nodded. “I can see your pubes the same way. Your mons is perfect. It brings just enough attention to your pussy. And then there is the hint of labia.” I touched her there and she quivered ever so slightly. “I can just make out where your labia part. Just a tiny little valley. It’s the same effect up here at your nipples.” I traced my finger around the edge of her areola. “Yes, your nipples are erect, but I can see the tiny little ducts on the edge of your areola. Your bikini is truly erection inducing stuff.”

A tear rolled down her cheek and I wiped it away with my thumb. Zoë spoke very softly, “Your description is wetness inducing.” She just looked into my eyes. I was getting the same feeling I got when I looked into Chris’ eyes. “I feel treasured.” She threw herself on me, her arms around my neck, and squeezed me tight. I returned the pressure, holding her. After a few moments, she leaned back and cupped my cheek. “OK.” She broke the gaze and took a tube of sunscreen out of her knapsack. Zoë looked into my eyes again, “Would you mind terribly? Of course, I need sunscreen on my exposed areas.”

“Would I mind applying sunscreen to a beautiful, nearly naked woman? I’d be an idiot to say ‘yes, I’d mind’.”

Zoë smiled, handed me the SPF 50, and then placed her hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes.

“Chris told me once that you have gorgeous blue eyes. I never noticed before. She’s right.”

“Do you and Chris share everything?” I started spreading sunscreen.

“No. Not everything. We do share a lot though. We talk about common interests — school, hiking, and our friends. She talks about you a lot.”

“Chris talks about me?”

“Chris has talked about you for years. I think Chris absolutely loves you. Sunscreen.” I must have stopped. I squirted some more on my hand.

She said, “I hope this doesn’t make you angry, but she told me about Friday evening.”

“Yes. She came over and told me.”

“She didn’t share details. She just told me that you made love and that you were an amazing lover.” I started applying sunscreen on her stomach and then on her sides. “You know she’s staying with me, and she has Jackie there. Oh, wait. We’re supposed to call him John now.”

“Yes, she told me.”

She interlaced her fingers behind my neck. “Chris didn’t say anything to me until Sunday morning. I think she was feeling guilty, and she told me about Jack’s betrayal. Then she told me that she went to ask you to go to Tina’s party. By the way, that was a fun time. Then she told me that she had made love to you. I told her I thought she was justified in making love to you.” I had stopped applying sunscreen and was just looking into her eyes and listening. “She wants the Wood Nymphs to take care of you.”

“Take care of me?”

“Well, not necessarily sexually like she did, although I think that could be arranged. She wants us all to help you regain your life back. You’ll want to get under the strings.”

“Oh, sorry.” I started the application again and slipped my hand under the horizontal string of her thong, spreading the sunscreen. I moved to the center and slipped under the small white triangle. I could feel her pubes.

“Damn strings.” Zoë took both hands and pulled the string on her thong. The small piece of cloth fell to the ground. As I has described, her very blonde pubes were trimmed into little runway on her mons. Her vulva was clean-shaven. I had stopped rubbing and just stared.

“Is it all you imagined?”

“More.” I moved my hand over her taut stomach and then down onto her pubes. “Do I detect just the slightest bit of exhibitionism here,” I said while rubbing sunscreen onto her labia being careful not to get any in her vagina.

She moaned, “Maybe. Here let me turn around.”

What an ass, a lovely inverted heart-shaped ass. I continued spreading the lotion.

She said, “Make sure you get all my exposed skin.” Zoë bent over and put her hands on her knees.

I massaged Zoë’s butt cheeks and started down along her crack. As my fingers brushed her anus she groaned and bent further, touching her toes. I rubbed her asshole again. “Hate to see you get sunburned there.”

I had a wonderful view of her back toe as she looked up at me from between her legs. “Do you like what you see?”

“My dear Zoë, you are a classic beauty.” I rubbed both butt cheeks with sunscreen, then I moved lower, encircling her right thigh with both hands, spreading the lotion. I moved up so that my inner hand made contact with her pussy, moisture soaking my hand. I licked some off. I did the same thing with her left thigh. “OK, turn around.”

She turned around and her trimmed pussy was in front of me.

I asked, “How much of an exhibitionist are you?”

“Oh, I’m strictly an amateur. Sometimes on a hike, I’ll go topless, but only a couple times have I let people see me. Once I was with Chris, and we dared each other to walk past these guys topless.”

I continued rubbing on sunscreen, “Chris said she was a closet exhibitionist. You and Chris. I would have loved to have been there.” My evil mind had a thought, “Bet you won’t do it today.”

“Bet I would. Matter of fact I’ll hike all the way up to our picnic spot with nothing on but my hiking boots.”

“OK, that’s a bet,” I said, putting my hand up.

Zoë shook it and asked, “What do I win?”

“Well, it needs to be something good. Any ideas?”

“How about the loser has to do anything the winner wants for a full day.”

“OK, but I’m not fixing your roof.”

She chuckled. “Oh no, nothing like that. Maybe things like laundry and cleaning house, though.”

“So, I get to walk behind a naked Zoë all the way up to the picnic spot?”

“Unless I chicken out. I’m still wearing my boots.”

“Of course, but I’ll still have a nice view for part of the way. And the winner gets to direct the loser’s activities for a whole day?”

“That’s a bet.”

“OK then. Looks like you need to lose your top.”

Zoë reached up and undid the string on her halter exposing her pretty breasts. She folded the two small pieces of fabric and put them into her knapsack. She put her knapsack on her back, which left her lovely ass still exposed.

“I can wear my hat, right?”

“Absolutely. It accessorizes your ensemble perfectly Dr. Maisano.” She struck a modeling pose and held it for a moment. “I wish I had a camera.”

“No photos! Do you want to walk with me or follow behind me?”

“I’ll follow. The view from there is beautiful.”

“Then follow me Dr. McMullen.”

We moved out of the clearing and back onto a forest trail. Zoë kept the pace leisurely. Occasionally she would speed up just so she could turn around and wait for me. I think she really enjoyed me admiring her body.

_ _ _ _ _

Now my mind was working out all that Zoë told me. She knew that Chris and I had been lovers. Chris wants the Wood Nymphs to take care of me, although not necessarily sexually? That could be arranged? I wonder if they had spoken about Zoë getting involved with me sexually, friends with benefits. What was I talking about? I had just had my hands on every part of her beautiful body, every part. This was going fast.

We continued walking about another fifteen minutes. We hadn’t seen anyone. Zoë had just turned around again and was waiting for me, her hands on her hips providing the full frontal view.

I felt the call of nature. “I need to return the rented coffee.”

“What?”

“I need to empty my bladder.”

Zoë’s eyes sparkled, “Can I help?”

“That’s probably fair given you are the naked one. Let’s step off the trail a little.” I walked about thirty paces into the woods so that a tree was between the trail and me. I set the knapsack down and turned to face Zoë. “Want to do the honors?”

She stood in front of me, unbuckled my belt and undid my fly. “Now what?”

“We now extract Mr. Penis from his hiding place. It is probably easier if you pull my skivvies down.”

Zoë gingerly pulled down my boxers, and my flaccid cock made its first appearance. “Ooh, nice.” She took my shaft into her hand. With her other hand she first touched my pubes, then felt my balls. Then she lightly petted the head of my cock.

“You may want to stand to the side and point me in that direction,” I said pointing to the bushes.

Zoë did as directed and soon I had a decent yellow stream flowing. She started moving it from side to side. “This is fun.”

“Just be careful not to get piss on yourself.”

The stream of piss stopped, “Now what?”

“You need to shake it a little to make sure there’s no drops of pee on the end.”

She vigorously shook my cock, “Like this?”

Her shaking motion was more of a tug, it felt good, my cock stiffening slightly. “Maybe a little more. Do you see any pee dripping out?”

Zoë came around to the front of me and looked closely. “No.”

“Perfect. Now we put him away.”

“Do we have to?”

“Well, I’m not the one being the exhibitionist. Maybe later.”

Zoë said, “Here help me pee.”

“How?”

“Hold my hands and I’ll squat.”

She moved away from where we had deposited my urine. I took her hands, she spread her legs apart and squatted. Soon she had emptied her bladder. I’m pretty sure she didn’t need me to hold her hands. It looked like she had done that a couple of hundred times.

We heard some voices on the trail. Zoë said, “Let’s step out and give them a surprise.”

I flung my knapsack onto my back and followed Zoë. A couple of women in their fifties were walking by.

“Hi there,” Zoë said with a wave, making sure they saw us together.

One woman said to the other, “We should try that. Its looks like it gets results.”

_ _ _ _ _

Back on the trail, Zoë kept an easy pace. We had gone another ten minutes when the quartet we encountered earlier came into view.

Zoë didn’t flinch as they approached. “Hi there. Nice day.”

All four couldn’t take their eyes from Zoë. One woman started giggling. The guy just stared open-mouthed. When he came abeam Zoë, he slowed his walking and turned to watch her pass. One of his companions, also looking at Zoë, walked right into him, both sprawling on the ground. The woman on the ground started cursing him.

I heard him say, “I can’t help it. She was completely naked.”

Zoë and I walked a little further on. She stopped and turned to me. I said, “That was an interesting reaction.”

“It’s kind of cool to see how people react.”

“That gent is going to be beating his meat for a week after seeing you.”

“How about you?”

“A month at least.”

“Can I watch?”

“Only if you win.”

“Oh, I’m winning.”

We continued walking. If I were a younger man, I would have been sporting a serious erection by now. But at my age, you need your blood for other things such as moving oxygen to vital organs rather than engorging an erection. It isn’t that I didn’t enjoy the view. Zoë’s ass was perfect. When she stood facing me, there was a nice thigh gap. The vision of naked Zoë would appear in my dreams for a long time.

“We’re almost there,” she said. She had just completed another hurry up and wait maneuver so she could let me see what I was missing during the walk.

“Can I tell you something?”

“Sure.”

“You won’t think I’m a slut or something.”

“I will never think you are a slut.”

“Walking around naked has got me so aroused. I am so wet.”

“Really?”

Zoë put her fingers into her pussy and put them in front of me. They were glistening with her juices. I grabbed her fingers and put them in my mouth, savoring the taste, licking them clean. “Oh my God, you taste wonderfully sweet. I’d like some of that for lunch.”

Zoë smiled impishly, “We could arrange that.”

Up ahead on the trail we heard some male voices. Zoë looked over her shoulder. I asked, “Want to cover up?”

“Not on your life. I’m already making plans for you.” She looked up the trail. “We just walk on by like we were walking in the park.”

“Walking naked in the park,” I corrected. We started again.

About a minute later, two scrawny looking 20-somethings came into view. The way they staggered, they were obviously either drunk, or most likely, stoned.

The lead male cried out, “Holy shit. You are my fucking dream girl.”

He lurched at Zoë with both hands extended toward her breasts.

“God damn it,” I swore, setting my knapsack down, getting ready for a fight.

I heard a squeal. In the instant I had looked away, Zoë had the punk on his face with his left arm jammed up between his shoulder blades. Her knee on the small of his back. She had slammed his face into the dirt. Blood was flowing freely from his nose.

His buddy started running back up the trail and fell as he turned to look back. I ran past Zoë and her captive and had the second kid by his collar in seconds, cinching it tight against his neck. “You’re going the wrong way.” I dragged him to his feet. A choking sound came from his throat. I grabbed him with my other hand by his belt, giving him a bit of a wedgie as I force-marched him down the trail.

Zoë said, “Didn’t your mother tell you to keep your hands to yourself.” She got off the first kid, pushing his face into the dirt again.

I said, “Boys, you just got beat up by a girl and an old man. Better get the hell out of here so you can tell your friends.” I pushed the second kid down the hill.

They both started running like hell.

Zoë came over to me and put her hand on my arm, “Are you OK?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing.” I took a deep breath. “Except for the adrenaline rush and a racing heart, I’m fine.” I sat down with my back against a tree.

She peeled off the knapsack and sat bare-assed on the ground next to me, “All that self-defense training my father gave me just took over.”

“Well, you handled the situation perfectly. Before I could blink, you had that kid on his face.”

She started laughing, “I was pretty good.”

“Yes, you were. Remind me to never piss you off.”

Zoë slapped my shoulder, “What’s that about that being beat up by a girl? Do I look like a girl?”

“Absolutely not. Just bruising a fragile male ego. That wasn’t a comment on you.”

“OK. Fair enough.”

I asked, “So do you worry about anything crawling up your butt when you sit like that on the ground?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never sat like this before.” She got out her water bottle, took a drink, and then passed it to me. “I’m glad you made them go down the trail rather than back up. Our picnic spot is just around the corner.”

“Alright. Just let my heart settle down.” I took some “deep cleansing breaths” as the Lamaze instructors used to teach. “OK. Let’s go.”

Zoë was on her feet and reached out her hand to steady me as I got to mine. I wasn’t exactly a model of grace. We picked up the knapsacks.

I said, “Wait, you’ve got something on you.” I brushed some dirt off her ass. She wiggled it a little. “Did I mention that your bottom is picture perfect beautiful?”

She was beaming. Given our earlier conversation, this was probably the most anyone had ever admired her.

I said, “Lead on my dear.”

We walked about another hundred yards or so and took a side path to the right. It opened into a nice meadow with wildflowers and tall grass. It gently sloped down, and at the far side, I could see a tree lined pond.

“Oh, this is beautiful Zoë.”

“I was up here last week. The water is warm. We can take a dip if you’d like.”

“Some skinny dipping then and now?”

Zoë smiled, “The water’s great.”

_ _ _ _ _

We set up a picnic spot under a large maple next to the pond. I spread the quilt out and Zoë knelt, unpacking the lunch. I sat down and took off my shoes and socks, rubbing my feet.

I said, “We can be like that French painting with the clothed men and a naked woman at a picnic.”

“We could. But maybe you want to take a dip with me?”

“I will have to get naked, and I warn you. I am not a pretty sight.”

“You are my friend and I will take you just as you are. I already saw your handsome hairy chest. I got to see your penis.” She leaned over on her hands and knees and gave me a soft kiss on the lips.

I reached and cupped her breast. She smiled. I stood up and pulled off my sweat soaked shirt, and then laid it out on the grass to dry.

“No laughing now.” I unbuckled my belt, unbuttoned my jeans, and dropped the zipper. I looked over at Zoë and she was intent on my crotch. She looked up and smiled. ‘Here goes,’ I thought, grabbed shorts and skivvies, and dropped them both to my ankles.

I stepped out of the shorts spreading my arms, “Ta da!”

Zoë’s mouth was open a bit; her eyes locked in on my flaccid cock.

I said, “I told you I’m scary.”

“No. You’re beautiful,” she whispered. “Can I touch you?”

She crawled closer and knelt before me. She held my balls in one hand and petted the head with the other. I was stiffening, even before she kissed the tip.

“You’re beautiful,” she repeated.

“I doubt that.”

She took the head of my cock in her mouth and gently sucked. Her tongue traced its way around the silky circumcision scar, then focused on the frenulum, my most sensitive spot. My erection was building. Another suck on the head. She held up her hand and I helped her to her feet. She stepped forward and placed her hands on my chest. My arms went around her waist, my now rigid cock pressed against her stomach. She asked, “Can I kiss you?”

“You don’t have to ask permission.”

She raised her face toward me. I bent down and touched her soft lips to mine. Her hands came up to my face as our lips parted. I gently probed into her mouth for her tongue, pulling her body against mine. She was petting my face. Eyes closed. Her tongue responding to mine. I got the impression that this was not something she had done often in her life, but was savoring the moment.

She eased the kiss and opened her eyes, “That’s very nice.” Then she kissed me again. This time she led with her tongue.

I broke the kiss this time, “Perhaps we should go for that swim.”

Zoë looked down, took my rigid cock in her hand and looked up with a smile. “Let’s get wet.”

She led me though some soft grass to the water’s edge. I dipped my toe in and the temperature was perfect. Holding her hand, I started wading in and the bottom dropped off quickly. I waded to my waist, then made a little dive and quickly surfaced. I was standing in shoulder deep water. Zoë dove and came up with her hair streaming behind her. With one stroke, she placed her hands on my shoulders, her face next to mine. She couldn’t touch the bottom, so she wrapped her legs around my waist. I grabbed her ass with both hands. She began kissing more passionately than before, grinding her pussy into my stomach. The water put out most of the flame in my cock, but not in my heart.

Finally, we broke the kiss. Zoë kept her hands locked behind my head and leaned back. “You do have beautiful eyes Quinn.”

Zoë’s were an enchanting shade of green. “I think yours are pretty cool too. Here let me rub some of the sunscreen off you. I don’t want a mouthful when I’m putting my mouth all over you.”

“Ooh, sounds fun.”

I started rubbing her torso. She let go of my neck, put her head back, and floated. Her breasts breaking the surface like tiny islands. I placed her ankles on my shoulders and rubbed up and down her legs, and then I focused on her pussy. Rubbing away any lotion.

I said, “Time for a quality check.”

I pulled her legs past my cheeks, and I moved my face toward her vulva. I held her ass up as I took my tongue and ran it between her labia; her silky, wet thighs on either side of my face. My tongue probed into her vagina then flicked her clit a couple of times. I heard a moan. The problem was I couldn’t taste or smell her with the water. I raised my face out of the water. “Let me get the sunscreen off your back.”

Zoë lifted her legs off my shoulders and dropped down into the water. I felt her grab my cock and then she surfaced in front of me. She placed her hands on my hips to keep from sinking. I vigorously rubbed her back, and then twirled my finger. She turned around. I cupped her breasts, gently rubbing her erect nipples between my fingers.

She had one hand on my hip with the other on my tumescent cock. “How about some lunch?”

“Are you part of the feast?”

“Yes, and you’re dessert.”

She swam ahead and rose out of the water. I followed her and joined her at the picnic quilt.

_ _ _ _ _

After a very nice lunch of sandwiches, assorted sliced veggies, and some mixed nuts, we relaxed facing each other in our naked state on the quilt. Her nipples were relaxed, and I had a nice view of Zoë’s mons as she sat cross-legged in the sun dappled shade. I was stretched out on my side facing her, my penis in full view. I broached the subject of Zoë’s win, “So how are you going to cash in on your bet? What are you going to have me doing?”

“So I need to come clean here. That wasn’t the first time I did that. It probably wasn’t a fair bet.”

“Details, please. Details.”

“So first some background. You know we call ourselves the ‘Wood Nymphs’.” I nodded. “Let’s see. Who was there? Chris and me. Wendy, Vicky, and Asha. Julianne joined in July.” These are all our faculty colleagues.

Zoë continued, “Chris had started calling us the Wood Nymphs during the winter, so we looked up nymphs and found paintings of naked women enticing men. Wendy started saying that we were the naked sex goddesses of the forest. Well, this gorgeous spring day the five of us were on a hike on an isolated trail up in the National Forest. Wendy brought up the idea again that we were the naked sex goddesses and that we should be naked. Vicky said ‘no,’ but Chris, Asha, and me said we would go topless for a short bit, as long as we didn’t see anyone. Wendy wanted complete nudity and stripped down to nothing. It really isn’t a big deal for her since she is pretty flat-chested. For Asha, that’s a big deal. She’s got huge boobs. The rest of us stripped to the waist and we started hiking. We went about a mile or so and didn’t see anyone.

“Then Wendy dared us to get completely naked with her. Just between us, I think Wendy might be bi. She really got off with the nudity. Chris said ‘no,’ but Asha and I took off our shorts. We walked about two miles like that. It was very exciting; I got wet like today. Wendy commented on how wet I was and showed us that she was too. We eventually did see a couple of women hiking the other way, but no one else.”

“Is that when you and Chris walked by someone topless?”

“No. That was a week or so later. We were hiking not too far from here. I brought up the idea of going topless again. Chris was hesitant, but when I took off my top, she joined me. We walked topless quite a while that afternoon. We heard some voices on the trail ahead. Chris wanted to cover up, but I dared her to walk topless with me. She went for it. There were three older guys. They were very polite. One guy said, ‘Nice afternoon, ladies.’ They weren’t staring and ogling us like those kids today. ”

I said, “I think that part of the Quinn reintroduction to society should be several hikes with the Wood Nymphs in their sex goddess attire.”