This story was written especially for 'Wamgirlx', and wouldn't have been possible without her input.
It was mid-September, but the sun was still hot enough to make Alison and Neill grateful for the shade of a tree for their picnic. Neill insisted on spreading the picnic blanket and setting out the things himself, so that Alison could meanwhile paddle in the glittering shallows of the estuary the other side of the grassy path. They both had a day off work, and the path, never busy even at weekends, was deserted.
Alison lifted the hem of her skirt to keep it dry, and called, 'The mud's lovely and squidgy in between my toes.' She took a few more steps. 'And the water's not cold at all.' The tide was bringing water over sun-warmed riverbed.
Glancing at Neill, she had the impression that he was looking at her legs. She smiled to herself, and lifted the dress higher. Then she called, 'It's all quite sensuous, actually.' She felt confident about her long runner's legs. Sometimes she wished she dared let him be the first man to see her breasts. If she'd been blessed with big boobs she might have had the confidence.
After a few minutes Neill called, 'Ali! It's ready.'
'This looks really good,' Alison said, trailing muddy footprints as she walked towards the picnic.
'Oh, well,' said Neill, gruff with modesty. 'I like to do things for you and me, you know.'
'You have proper picnic plates. And cloth napkins!'
'When you said you liked picnics, I decided it was worth investing in the right equipment,' he explained.
Alison sat down on the blanket, taking care to keep her muddy feet off it.
Neill had prepared three courses. After they'd eaten egg salad and then sausage rolls, he produced tiramisu in a plastic tub.
Alison said, 'Oh, wow, Neill. You know, I'd have been happy with cheese sandwiches and a banana each.'
Neill smiled shyly and said, 'You're better than that.' He pulled the lid off the tub and inspected the tiramisu. 'The recipe's maybe come out a bit sloppy.'
It was when he was tapping the serving spoon on the side of Alison's bowl that a creamy drop of tiramisu flew off and landed on her leg, midway between her ankle and her knee. Neill said, 'Sorry,' and automatically reached out and wiped it off with his forefinger. He cleaned his finger on his napkin.
'It felt nice, actually,' Alison laughed.
'In that case...' He grinned, and deliberately flicked half a spoonful onto her, just a little higher. Alison laughed again, but swallowed nervously as he wiped it off, more slowly this time. And this time he cleaned his finger with his tongue.
Neill glanced at her face and said at once, 'I'm sorry, Ali.'
'It's just that...' There was apology in her blue eyes. 'It's like the longer I've never done it the bigger a thing it's become.' She faltered before saying, to make amends, 'But -- but if you like you could do that again.'
He re-filled the spoon.
The creamy tiramisu landed on the front of her thigh. Neill ran his palm upwards from just above her knee, until his forefinger swept away the cream. But he let his hand rest in place for a moment. Alison took a long breath as she watched.
With provocative slowness he ran his tongue over his finger, keeping his eyes on hers. Then he hesitated before stumbling out, 'Maybe -- I mean -- perhaps -- I don't need to use my fingers to clean off the next lot.'
Alison reddened. 'You mean -- use your -- tongue?' She cleared her throat, said firmly, 'It's a waste of this lovely tiramisu,' and picked up her bowl and spoon. They ate in silence.
When they had finished, Neill said, 'There's masses more.'
'It was delicious, thanks, but no thank you,' Alison said politely.
'It's much too runny, anyway. I should have made something I'd done before.'
'Nothing to apologise for.'
They needed to put the embarrassment behind them. 'Tell you what,' Neill said, 'It's your turn to set a dare.'
'OK. Let's see.' She grinned the grin he liked so much. 'I'm entering you in a men's wet T-shirt competition. So get to it.'
Neill immediately sprang up, ran to a tussock at the water's edge -- the tide was now right up -- sat on the tussock, and began to tear off his shoes and socks.
'Hey!' laughed Alison. 'I only meant your top half.'
'No half-measures,' said Neill firmly, and toppled into the water.
When he emerged and stumbled towards her, hampered by his streaming, clinging trouser legs, Alison could not stop laughing. 'I thought you'd pour the water bottle on yourself.'