"I can't believe it, Carol!" Bonnie sat with her mouth open, staring at me.
"It's true," I said. "The thrill of doing it is like being high. I feel so alive. It's the most exciting thing I've ever done."
"Aren't you embarrassed?"
"You bet I am. But that's just part of it. Somehow, it adds to my excitement. It's been like that for me since I was a little kid."
"God, Carol! How did you get up the nerve to tell John about what you wanted?"
"I knew if I didn't, I'd regret it the rest of my life. And you know what? The need to tell him and ask him to direct me in exposing myself was so strong that I don't think it could have turned out any other way. It's something I just had to do."
"And he didn't think you were crazy?"
"That's another thing. He's been so wonderful, so supportive, and so imaginative. I've been turned on since day one just waiting for him to give me my 'assignments.' He's the best!"
"It's so amazing," Bonnie said. "I'm getting turned on just listening to you. I know I could never do that."
"I bet you could. You'd be surprised. Don't you get aroused when you know that someone is catching a glimpse of your panties or one of your nipples? How about when your doctor pulls your gown down to examine you?"
"Sure I do. But that's a lot different from exposing myself in front of others like you've been doing, and being told when and where to do it by someone else. It's like you're not really in control."
"I'm not. But that makes it really exciting too." Bonnie paused to think about what she'd just heard. "Stand up and take off your clothes," I said.
"What?!"
"Go ahead. Stand up and get naked."
"I can't, Carol. I'd be embarrassed."
"I know you would. That's why I want you to take off your clothes and stand in front of me. I want you to feel what it's like. C'mon, try it." Bonnie stopped protesting but she made no move to comply with my request. I watched her face as I scanned her body. I said nothing. She stared at me with that little girl lost look she sometimes gets when she doesn't know what to do. It's odd, but I had a strange feeling of control over her.
"Take off your clothes, Bonnie," I said, more forcefully.
"God, Carol! I can't."
"Yes, you can and I think that deep down you want to do it. So, stand up. I'm waiting." A look of surrender crossed her face.
"Tell me I'm not doing this," she said as she stood up. She pulled her tee shirt off and dropped it on the sofa. Then, she took off her running shorts. I could see she was embarrassed standing there in front of me in her gray sports bra and white bikini briefs. She was sweating, too.
"Now the bra and panties," I said. Bonnie looked at me. All resistance was gone. She took off her bra and then, quickly, her panties. I sat silently looking at her, focusing on her crotch. My eyes traveled slowly up her torso. Her nipples were wet and hard. I stood up and smiled at her. "Let's get some more iced tea."
I started toward the kitchen. "Follow me," I said, and smiled at her again. We walked down the hall and into the kitchen. "How do you feel?" I asked.
"Really embarrassed," she said. "I feel so naked, so vulnerable." Bonnie smiled back, a bit nervously. I didn't hide my obvious enjoyment of her body and her predicament. After a few more minutes, she seemed more comfortable, although her hard nipples betrayed her sexual excitement. As we talked in the kitchen, the front doorbell rang. Bonnie jumped at the sound.
"It's okay," I said. "Probably the mailman. Just wait here and I'll be back." I left her leaning against the counter. Jack, our neighbor, was at the door. Some of our mail had been misdelivered to his house and he was there to give it to me. Jack's a great guy, about 45 and rugged looking. I had an idea.
I told Jack about Bonnie in the kitchen but I changed the facts a little bit. I told him she was doing an experiment to see how people react to a nude person in their presence. I told him to just act naturally and pretend he had come over to check out replacing the cabinets. He eagerly agreed.
We walked into the kitchen. Jack said, "Whoa!" Shocked by Jack's sudden appearance, Bonnie tried to cover herself.
"Relax, Bonnie. I've told Jack all about you. There's no need to pretend that you're embarrassed. He's just here to check out the cabinets. Let him take a good look at you."
Bonnie straightened up and dropped her arms to her sides, not sure what I meant. Jack openly admired her body and then examined the cabinets briefly. I offered him some iced tea and we spent the next ten minutes talking about redoing the kitchen. Occasionally, we asked Bonnie what she thought. She tried to be very nonchalant but I knew that she was getting more and more excited. At last, Jack said he had to go. Bonnie and I saw him to the door. He turned, looked straight at her and said, "Bonnie, that's some experiment you're conducting. I enjoyed it immensely. Hope you get great results." Then, he left.
"Holy shit, Carol! What a rush! Did that really happen? Was I just naked for fifteen minutes in front of a guy I don't know?"
"You sure were. Your nipples gave you away. They were so hard. They still are." Without thinking, Bonnie touched them. Blushing, she looked at me, still squeezing them.
"Thank you, Carol. Thank you so much!"
"Get dressed, Bonnie. That's enough for today. I don't want you to swoon." I laughed. She seemed disappointed but she quickly put on her clothes and left soon thereafter. Settling into a chair, I reflected on Bonnie's first exposure. Watching her was almost as good as being on display myself. Almost, but not quite.
An hour later, I retrieved the mail. Bills, a magazine, junk mail, and a letter to me from the university's medical school. I opened the envelope.