It was one of those days in the Alps. The kind of day when it was better to sit inside and watch rather than venture out into fog and blizzard.
Tom was on holiday with his parents. He was 18 and was on a 'gap year' before starting university. Tom was rather inexperienced. He had fooled around with teenage crushes a few times, and had lost his virginity in an embarrassing series of fumbles that he now tried to forget, but had always been rather shy.
That being said, Tom was a sportsman. He was muscular and his chiselled cheekbones had caught many an eye. He had a dark mop of curly hair and unexpected green eyes.
Tom was also determined: he didn't see the point in allowing a bit of bad weather to ruin his holiday. He was one of the few who ventured out that morning. It was a mistake. An hour later Tom was cold, covered in snow and ready to call it quits. He skied back to the hotel and took refuge in his room.
It didn't take Tom long to get bored. He picked up the in-room hotel guide and browsed the options. Nothing much appealed but the words "sauna/spa" caught his eye: at least that would be warm.
Tom was taken aback as he arrived in the spa area. There was a sign in big bold letters on the door in three languages. The English version said: "Naked zone! Please understand that in the interests of cleanliness the spa is a clothing free area".
Tom paused. Like many Englishmen he was neither used to public nudity nor comfortable with it. He seriously considered returning to his room and settling down with a film on Netflix. But he was cold and he had also not seen any other guests heading that way. Tom decided to press on. He kept a pair of swimming trunks on and assumed no one would be around to complain.
Sure enough the spa was empty. Tom looked around and discovered that he was they only person taking refuge there. He headed for the sauna keeping his towel in place. A moment or two later Tom was enjoying the heat and starting to thaw out. He lay back on one of the benches, closed his eyes and felt truly relaxed.
Tom's reverie was disturbed by the door to the sauna opening. He sat up with a start and turned toward the door. Tom had to work very hard to control his facial expression. Framed by the doorway was one of the most beautiful women he had seen in his life, and she was completely naked. She was in her late twenties, had platinum blond hair, tied up in a loose bun, and legs that went on for ever. Her breasts were pert and seemed to defy gravity. Her bottom was tight and perfectly round. Tom had to work hard not to stare at the beautifully trimmed narrow bush which tantalised him and repeatedly drew his attention.
This beautiful arrival also appeared to be angry. She took one look at Tom and began to upbraid him in German. Tom did not understand one word, but the tone was all too clear: he had done something wrong. He had only one response:
"I'm sorry. I don't speak German."
The woman raised one eyebrow and slightly shook her head. She replied in perfect English:
"You are English...that explains a lot. Why are you wearing your swimming trunks? This is a clothes free area...even for boys like you."
Tom felt the blood rushing to his cheeks. He tried to think of a witty come back and failed. He stood up, avoiding making eye contact at all costs, and then backed toward the door.
"Don't be foolish. You don't have to leave. Just comply with the dress code."
Tom wanted to explain to this woman that he could not possibly do that, that he didn't want to strip off, and that in any event he was now too hot. But the words would not come. In the face of this stunning, naked, older woman Tom was speechless. He turned tail, left the sauna, and fled. He heard the laughter as he left. This astonishing German beauty was mocking him.