I had been working at a small insurance company for several years -- well, since my husband died. He was way too young -- it was sad, sudden and unexpected, and after a month of grieving I knew that I had to get a steady job to generate some revenue. Until then I'd been selling real estate, and that was a hit-and-miss proposition. You were always subject to the whims of the market and the economy, and it simply wasn't a steady income in my area.
As luck would have it, a friend of mine heard about an opening at an independent agency owned by a husband and wife who were very successful. There were eight of us in the office including them, so over time, they all became like family to me.
Once a quarter Monica and David had an office party for everyone. It was a chance just to unwind and relax. They had a huge home, and in the winter we'd bundle up and sit around their outdoor fire pit, cooking marshmallows, making s'mores, and sipping some hot, spicy rum concoction that David whipped up. When the weather was warm, we'd have a swimming party at their pool, which had both a water slide and a diving board. David would fire up the grill and Monica would keep the drinks flowing.
I liked being around the two of them -- in many ways, they reminded me of my own marriage way back when. David was always attentive to his wife, and very affectionate toward her. I'd tried dating a little in the last year or so, but I never could find the right guy. Maybe I was being too picky, holding out for a relationship like Monica and David had.
When it came time for our summer party, Monica sent out an email to everyone in the office, and we gathered at their house for an afternoon of fun by the pool. It was the standard fare: swimming, splashing, eating, and drinking. As the afternoon waned, people began to say their goodbyes and leave, and I suddenly discovered that I was the last one there. I had an oversized shirt that I used as a cover-up, so I put it on over my one-piece bathing suit and pulled my black, shoulder-length hair out from the collar. I shook my head -- after being in and out of the pool so much, I knew that I looked a fright. With everyone gone it was nothing to worry about, though, so I began gathering plates and glasses to help out.
David was in the kitchen when I walked in, and he scolded me playfully for helping out. "You're our guest -- you're not supposed to be cleaning up!"
"It's no trouble at all, and it's the least that I can do. You two throw such fun parties, and never let anyone lift a finger to help out." I stacked the dishes beside the sink and then headed back out to get another load.
Before I got out of the kitchen, I heard Monica say, "Now that everyone's gone, I thought I'd get a little sun!"
I turned and saw that the modest one-piece that she always wore had been replaced with a skimpy, sky-blue string bikini. The top had triangles that seemed to struggle to cover her breasts, and the bottom was just a couple of small pieces of cloth held on with strings tied at the sides.
David let out a whistle, and I just stood there staring for a moment. Finally I said, "Wow, Monica, you're beautiful." As soon as I said it, I realized how dumb it sounded. I quickly added, "I mean, that suit... I've always seen you in a one-piece. If I had a body like yours, I'd
only
wear suits like that!"
She laughed. "Well, I try to have a little modesty and decorum in front of the entire office, but I did want to get a little sun today. Hey -- why don't you borrow one of my bikinis and let's lay out and work on our tans? We'll leave David here to clean up."
I glanced over at the clock on the microwave, and even though it was only late afternoon, I didn't want to overstay my welcome. "Oh, I should probably head home, but I appreciate the..."
"Nonsense!" Monica said with a smile. She stepped over, took my hand, and pulled me through a doorway and into the hall.
I'd never been anywhere but their den and kitchen, and entryway of course, but the house was considerably larger than I expected. We followed the hallway around a turn to the right, and then we were in their bedroom. It was huge, with a sitting area, bar, and fireplace. The bed was big, probably a California king, with heavy wooden bedposts at the four corners.
"Come on, get out of that suit while I find you one to sun in." She began rifling through the drawer of a chest that matched the bed.
I stood there for a minute, not sure what to do. No one had seen me naked since my husband, and even though it was a friend, I was a little self-conscious. Monica held up a black top, glanced back at me, and shook her head. "No, let's get you something lighter."
It took me a moment, but I slowly peeled off my cover and tossed it to the edge of the bed. I then slipped one strap of the bathing suit over my shoulder and reached for the other one. I must have hesitated longer than I thought, because Monica had already selected a white bikini and brought it over to me. "Let's get you in this thing, and get back out to the pool!" she said.
The scene seemed frozen in time. I was standing there with one strap off my shoulder, grasping the other one, and she was standing in front of me holding the bathing suit. I have no idea how long we were there like that, but she finally said, "Oh, I'm sorry! Do you want me to leave? I'm acting so insensitive!"
"No, no, you're all right," I said. "I'm just being a little overly shy. Forgive me." I pulled the strap down, and then slid the suit down my body until it was at my feet. I stepped out of it and gave Monica a faint smile. I don't know if I've ever felt that naked in my entire life.
"This should fit fine," she said very matter-of-factly. "Your breasts are a little bigger than mine, and you've got a little more in the hips like I wish I had, but I think it will work." She handed me the bottoms.
When I got them on, they felt as if they weren't fitting properly -- like they were a couple of sizes too small. I looked across the room to the mirror on the dressing table and saw that it wasn't the size, it was the design. They were made to show a lot of skin. The back was barely wide enough to cover my crack. I decided not to worry about it, since Monica had already seen everything. She held out the top and I put my arms through it, and she stepped around to fasten it. If the bottoms felt tight, the top felt even tighter. For some reason, my nipples had become rock-hard, and were clearly visible against the thin fabric of the top.
Monica stepped back, smiled, and said, "Wow, lady, you look hot! Now let's go lie out and soak up some rays."
I followed her back down the hall and into the kitchen. When we walked in, David said, "Oh my -- don't you two look great! Are you sure that you don't need a pool boy to attend to you?"
Monica just laughed. "No, we need a butler in here to keep cleaning up from the party." She waved her hand playfully as if to dismiss him. "If we desire anything, we'll summon you."
I felt just as naked as I had in the bedroom, and I couldn't bring myself to look at David. I managed a smile and just kept following Monica outside. She pulled two lounge chairs side-by-side, and we each lie down. I closed my eyes; the sun on my skin felt great -- and there was a lot of it showing.
After a few minutes had gone by, I heard footsteps and looked back to see David approaching. He pulled a chair over beside Monica, and said, "Didn't you two forget something?" He held up a tube of sunscreen. "You probably put some on earlier, but there are now a few parts of you showing that haven't been protected."
"Oh, wow, thanks!" Monica said. "I slathered up with it good before the party, but that was pre-bikini. Rub it on me, and then I'll help our guest with hers."
