November came along, and with it came the winter. The last of autumn had gone, and there was a definite chill in the air. Rain became more and more common, and the fresh air of the English coast was a surprisingly welcome entity in my life.
My life settled back into a certain amount of normality. My 'shared' experience with Sarah put our relationship in a whole new context. We became much closer as friends, but we decided to stop the exhibitionism our time together had developed into. Sarah felt that if we kept on the way we were going, and one of us met someone and began a relationship, then us living in the same house would be awkward. I could see where she was coming from, and given my sexual encounters with her mother, I figured it was for the best.
Lauren, Sarah's mother and my landlady, didn't quite have the same theory. I don't think she was planning on entering the dating scene anytime soon, and we spent more and more time together. When we were alone, she would encourage me to be nude, but sexual contact stopped. Most often I would shy away from being completely naked, and hang out in just a pair of shorts, but a few times, when I felt particularly comfortable with her, or the alcohol had been flowing, I would go all the way. Lauren seemed happy enough with this. I would compliment her on her appearance, and encourage her to take her clothes off too. She was reluctant, but would sometimes wear skirts that showed a lot of leg, or tops that revealed a fair bit of cleavage, but I didn't push her beyond what she was comfortable with.
It was a Wednesday morning, and I had no lectures to get to. I was In no rush to get out of bed. I decided to let the girls get on with their morning routines. I had too often got in the way of the three women in the house and their ablutions, and it's not something I would recommend to my worst enemy. I stayed in bed, listening to the sound of running water in the pipes, waiting for the girls to be done. Alison had to go to College, and she was the first up and the first out of the house. Sarah, like me had no lectures, but she was working with some friends on organising something for charity, so she was out of the house soon after.
When I judged it was safe, I hit the shower. There wasn't much hot water left by now, so it didn't last long. I patted myself down with a warm towel, wrapped it around myself, and left the bathroom. I turned right towards my room, and the towel was ripped from my waist. I spun around, clutching at my crotch. Lauren darted past me holding my towel.
'Listen.' she snapped as I darted towards her trying to grab the towel back. I stopped, placing both hands over my genitals again.
'OK,' I said, calmly, 'I'm listening.'
She was standing in my bedroom doorway. She held the towel in front of her, almost like a shield.
'I need to ask a huge favour.'
'OK, what is it?'
'I can't say.'
I stepped forward.
'But,' Lauren said sharply. I stopped. 'I really need you to do this for me. It would mean the world to me and I just need you to agree to it. Please.'
The look on her face showed me that whatever it was, it meant a lot to her.
'You've got a hell of a way of asking people for favours,' I said, 'If it means that much to you then sure.'
'You promise?'
I nodded.
'You swear?'
I nodded.
'Say it.'
'OK, I promise, I swear that I will do you this favour.'
'Thank you, so much.' She ran forward and hugged me. I was still clutching my junk, so I couldn't hug her back. 'I promise I will make it up to you.'
'OK, what do you want me to do?'
She stepped back.
'I need you to put this on.' She pulled something out of her back pocket. I gave her a stern look, and she stepped back, 'You promised!'
It was a pink G-string.
'I know but-' Lauren interrupted me.
'I promise I will make this up to you. Don't make that be keeping hold of some compromising photographs I may have. I can make it something better. Anyway, You can put your normal clothes over the top.'
She held the offending item out at arms' length towards me. I took it as I walked past, and into my room.
'Thank you.' Lauren smiled, and slapped my arse playfully as I went by. I closed the door.
Ten minutes later, fully dressed, I found Lauren drinking coffee in the kitchen. She smiled at me.
'Are you gonna tell me exactly what is going on?'
'Not yet. Have some breakfast, and be ready to go out in half an hour.'
Go out. That didn't sound good.
I raised my eyebrow, and Lauren beamed back at me.
Half an hour later, Lauren and I were in her car. We pulled out of our quiet street and headed along the coast road for a little while. We drove in silence. I stared out of the window. The sky was grey, and the sea was choppy, despite a lack of wind. We turned inland, into another residential area, and eventually pulled up in a car park next to an apartment complex.
'OK,' Lauren turned the engine off. 'Here's the deal.'
'I'm listening.' I said flatly.
'It's Natalie's Birthday this week-'
'No.' I interrupted. Lauren put her hand on my arm, and looked into my eyes.
'Natalie's my best friend. She really helped me through my divorce. I would do anything for her. And when I asked her what she wanted for her birthday, she said she wanted you. After the last time, she thinks we have a kind of, master slave thing going on. I couldn't say no.'
'But I can.'
'You promised. You swore.' She punched me lightly on the arm. 'I really need you to do this. Anyway,' She beamed at me, 'You'll have fun. Trust me.' She kept smiling. I gave in.
'OK, but you owe me.'
'Thank you.' She leant over and kissed me on the cheek.
I opened the door and got out. Lauren did the same. She clicked the central locking on, and walked around to my side of the car. She was carrying a large shopping bag.
'OK, for the basis of today's fun, I am the master, you are the slave. Everything I say, goes. If you don't, my favourite photographs go public. OK?'
'Yes.'
'OK, put your clothes in here.' She held the bag open.
'What? Here?'
'Yes, here. Look if you do this prolonging stuff again, it's going to get worse. Comply, and it will go a lot more smoothly.'
I gave her a look, but began to peel off my sweater. I dumped it in the bag.
'Fold them neatly.' Lauren said sternly. I did as I was told. I pulled off my shirt, folded it and put it in the bag. My shoes followed, as well as my socks. The concrete beneath my feet, was cold, but thankfully dry.
'Hold it.' Lauren said. She put the bag down and pulled out her mobile phone. She flipped it open and pressed a few buttons.
'Hi,' she said, 'We're here.'
She looked up at the block of flats directly ahead of us. On the third floor, a curtain twitched, and I could see Natalie looking out at us. She waved. Lauren waved back.
'Uh-huh,' Lauren said into the mouthpiece, 'OK.'
'Turn around,' she said to me, 'Are you wearing boxers?'
'Yes,' I said turning, 'What you provided doesn't offer really do the job.'
'Perfect,' She smiled, 'Take your jeans off. Slowly.'
I did as I was told. I looked around, and was pleased to see the area was deserted. Everybody was at work, or school, or just keeping out of the cold. I folded my jeans and placed them carefully in the bag.
'OK,' Lauren said, still on the phone. She was clearly relaying orders. 'Lean on the car bonnet.'
Again, I did as I was told. I was now bent over the front of Lauren's car, my backside pointing at Natalie's building, directly in front of the birthday girl herself.
'OK,' Lauren said, and hung up. Turning to me she said, stay there, palms on the car until I say otherwise, OK?'
I nodded. My mouth had gone dry.
'Good.'
She walked around me and stood to my left. She took hold of the waistband of my pants and lowered them slowly. I felt the elastic brush against my cheeks, followed by my thighs and calves. I lifted my feet one at a time and Lauren removed my last article of sensible clothing. She folded them and walked to where she had left the bag. She carefully placed them inside and picked it up.
'OK,' I'll be back in a minute. Stay where you are.' She took the bag, and walked towards the block behind me. I looked over my shoulder and watched Lauren disappear inside. I turned and stared directly into the bonnet. I didn't want to see if there was anyone around anymore, I just focussed on the metal a couple of feet from my face. I assumed Natalie was still watching, so I dared not move from the position. I was becoming more and more aware of the chill in the air. After what seemed like an age, Lauren came back.
'You can stand up straight now. Don't turn around.'