As the Midsummers came and went, our group shrank or grew, but I think we never ended up being more than sixteen. That's still a huge number for such a unique event, but some of us talked about it to intimate friends, and, of course, most of them wanted to come. Our Midsummers are very different experiences for single people than they are for couples. Of course they expect to have sex with new people, as they're quite free to do so. For the married or stable couples, things never changed; they just expect to live a more intensely physical, sensual weekend. The number of single people has to be perfectly balanced, so the planning is coordinated in advanced. Early on Rinette discovered she absolutely loved that planning, trying to predict who would match with whom...
The year everything changed, perhaps not by coincidence, we were only ten people, just about the founding group. Even during the first day, Friday, I knew something different was going on. Everything seemed heightened from the very beginning. The following two days would turn out a lot differently than we anticipated.
The first night followed the usual tradition, rather noisy sex. Three years ago one of the women simply lost control of her moans and cries of pleasure. Eleanor, usually controlled and perhaps the shiest of the bunch, simply couldn't contain her pleasure anymore and just let it all out. "Oh my love! That is so damn fucking good!"
At first, since most of us were in the throes of our own pleasure and restraint, we didn't really notice how strange it was for someone to be moaning that loudly in a lodge full of friends. At some point though, most of the others stopped, listened, recognized Eleanor's voice, and laughed. Even on that first night, the natural reaction was to resume whatever we had been doing, and join in the chorus. Every night since, during our Midsummer retreats, the lodge sounds exactly like an orgy is taking place inside, but actually everybody is alone with their respective spouse.
We woke up Saturday morning, grinning about the very unique experience of having had sex while hearing our friends having sex as well. For the first time this Saturday was actually Midsummer's day. In addition, tomorrow would be a night of the full moon. If we'd had an expert on Celtic culture, we might have expected something different. But as it was, we were taken completely by surprise.
The day started slowly as we stayed up very late last night. Eleanor was up before everybody else, as usual, and was ready with breakfast as we gradually came down from our rooms. Also as usual, I was the first to join her downstairs. The fact that I was an early riser and Nella was not was about the only place we were not in sync when it came to bed. Nella would only join us later, transforming her breakfast into lunch. Eleanor arrived late last night with Timothy, and both of them quickly noticed that the mood was even more sensual and naughty than usual. When she learned the girls had a little competition earlier around the fire, her eyes got rounder but she didn't miss a beat. A second later she had removed her shirt, giving us a very nice view of her breasts and a very hot red bra. Timothy, shaking his head and laughing with us, said: "Oh dear, this is going to be a long Midsummer week-end..."
I still couldn't quite believe shy Eleanor had done this. We had seen her with bikinis and bras in years past, but usually on Saturday nights, and always with alcohol dampening her shyness. That she had stripped so quickly, unprepared, was remarkable. Her nightgown was equally remarkable. As long as she wasn't standing in the morning's light, her gown was very decent. It had a high neckline, was more voluminous than her body needed, the hemline brushed the floor, and the sleeves even came down halfway to her elbows.
It was very beautiful, with lace trims and details all over. You could see hints of her breasts outlined by the fabric, but despite the fact that Eleanor's breasts were at least a C cup, you couldn't see much at all. Her long, slightly wavy blond hair shone like pale gold, even when she was out of the morning light. As she was walking around in the kitchen, having no idea I was watching her from the living room, she moved in and out of the morning's sun's light, coming from the large window next to her.
When she did, she was transformed. Her hair seemed to light up, syrupy strands of gold taking glorious life. But her nightgown was also transformed: it became quite transparent. Every time she stood in the light I could see her silhouette, from shoulders to toes. She wasn't wearing anything under that gown, and I could see a fuzzy image of her breasts as well as the golden patch of hair between her legs. The sight was completely mesmerizing.
Eleanor's body was best described by one word: "soft". Not soft as in lazy or formless. No. Soft as in a warm blanket on a cold autumn day or as a kiss from an old lover. She was slightly rounded from head to toe yet never fat. Just right. There was no doubt in my mind her skin would be flawlessly smooth and warm, her breasts and buttocks full and round yet soft and supple. Her long blonde tresses and uniquely pale green eyes only added to that effect and, despite the years that have gone by since I first met her, Eleanor just didn't seem to age.
After long delicious minutes of this magical moment, and before my erection became too obvious, I walked up the three stairs that led to the kitchen. Eleanor heard me then and, without even turning around, said in a low voice: "Hello, Will. Slept well?"
Ignoring the question, I walked up to her, took her hand and gently kissed the back of it. "You are wonderfully beautiful this morning, Eleanor."
As simple as that, with a smile. Alone she was not as shy as usual and, instead of reacting nervously, she simply smiled back at me and thanked me with a kiss on my cheek. I added: "I don't want to break this little moment, Eleanor, but if you don't want everybody else to see just how beautiful you really are, you best think of changing your nightgown." After looking down at it, and the large beam of light coming from the Midsummer sun, she blushed and tried to hide herself. Still in a hushed voice, I added: "Please don't hide yourself, Eleanor. I meant it. You truly are gorgeous."
She looked at me for a long, silent moment then smiled again. "Thank you, Will." After a deep breath and a sigh, she looked around to make sure we were still alone then added, "Timothy and I are well enough, but we've kind'a hit a rougher patch these last few weeks. You have no idea how good this compliment feels."
She then gave me a long hug even though her thin gown and my boxers were our only clothing. The fresh and slightly marjoram smell of her, as well as her body heat, the softness of her breasts, belly and thighs were absolutely wonderful. When she pulled back, she gave me a quick kiss on the lips. With a grin, now, she added: "Let's make a deal. You keep this little bit of info to yourself and I stay in this nightgown until someone else gets up. You get to sit right here while I finish this breakfast and if ever you're in the mood to give me more compliments, please do!"
Amazingly nobody got up for the next hour as she stood in the sunlight as much as she could. So for about one hour we talked in hushed voices while I interrupted our discussion by sharing with her every compliment that came to my mind. It ended up being one of the most intimate conversations we'd ever had and later on we realized this special morning hour had become the foundation of a deeper friendship. During that hour she didn't raise her hemline or willfully bend down or spill water on her gown. Instead, she just moved around normally as if nothing special was going on. I had a powerful erection for most of that hour, but the mood wasn't sexual at all. Just one man explicitly enjoying a beautiful woman's body in the morning light.
Eventually Rinette came downstairs, soon followed by Lincoln and Connor. From then on Eleanor was careful to walk around the sunlight and minutes later she went upstairs to change. On the way to the stairs she winked at me and silently mouthed another "Thank you." I replied the same. When she came back down wearing a long but light summer skirt and a bikini top, she was in a very bright mood and managed to wake all of us up with her energy.
Kate and Marcus arrived just as Nella was waking up and ended up eating brunch with her while all the others headed out for the lake. When we came back all three of them were lounging lazily on the patio, sipping drinks that looked like pina coladas. Marcus had made a huge batch and there was one, at least, for everybody.
Lincoln took over as we were finishing, "Time for the geolocation game to begin. Kate, Eleanor, do you have your pictures?"
Of course they had. Placed in sealed envelopes, those pictures would end up in the remaining four geocaches. Lincoln asked us for at least a thirty minutes head start so he could reach the caches before us. He was very good at this game, very fit, and already knew where his caches were going to be. Even if he had only asked us for two minutes, we wouldn't have stood a chance of catching up to him. In any case, Marcus was mixing up another batch of pina coladas, so nobody was in any hurry to leave yet.
Still out on the patio, Rinette found herself a hat and wrote our names on pieces of paper to randomly assign the teams. The rules were simple: a man and a woman for each team, and couples couldn't be together. I ended up with Rinette herself and had mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, she was in great shape and I would have to work hard to follow her pace, yet on the other I would get to look at those fine legs and ass of hers for a couple of hours. Since I didn't have a choice anyway, I didn't finish my second drink and began stretching my legs.
Two hours later, even with the boost of Rinette's amazing ass in front of me, I was just about done. I was convinced we were so far in front of the other teams we could pitch a tent, camp for two days and still win. About an hour later Rinette saw that I was beginning to tire and said: "Why are you slowing down Will? Isn't my ass enough of a motivation?"
"What?" I said, feigning surprise. It was one thing for her to suspect, or know, I was staring at her ass but quite another to say it out loud!
"Oh, give it up, Will, I know it and really don't mind... Why don't we take yet another break to let you catch your breath?" The winning smile took some of the edge off that "yet another" comment... Leaning against a tree, after handing me back the water bottle, Rinette stunned me by saying: "A panther in the dark... Sound familiar?" It did. Quite a bit actually. I had written that to her in one of my anonymous letters last year.
"Er... a panther?" I tried to look innocent.
