"Get in the hot tub."
Clara took a step back. "No. I didn't bring my swimsuit."
Her friend Lacey rolled her eyes. "It doesn't matter. Just go in your bra and panties. They show as much as a bikini anyway."
She flushed at the thought of exposing herself that way. The party had begun to wind down, but there were still enough people to make her nervous. Enough
boys,
and Clara had never worn a bikini before.
"Come on," Lacey hissed, leaning closer. "Rick is in there, and I want to make a good impression. It's going to look stupid if we're too afraid to get in."
Clara wanted to tell her friend to go in by herself. But then, Rick was in the hot tub with his friend, Jeremy, and combined they looked rather intimidating. Maybe Lacey was afraid to go in by herself. They would be safer together, she thought. It was just being a good friend.
"Okay," she conceded. "I'll go in with you. But I'll leave my top on."
"No way. You'll ruin it."
Lacey had loaned her the shiny top, insisting it made her look older. She'd always looked younger than her age, even now that was eighteen, and this was a college party. She needed to fit in, Lacey said, so she'd agreed. Now she regretted the decision to wear it.
"Fine," she agreed. "Only for a few minutes."
"You're great," Lacey breathed, kissing her on the cheek.
Her friend quickly stepped out of her minidress, and to Clara's surprise, took off her bra as well. Clara blushed at the sight of her friend's plump breasts, a naturally tan color with thick brown nipples.
Clara swallowed, more nervous now.
Why did I agree to this?
She started with her skirt—also borrowed—and slid it down her legs. She stepped out of the heels as well, keeping her eyes trained on the fence beyond. At least no one would see what happened in here. The backyard was small but lush, with neighbors unlikely to see or hear anything.
Finally she took the top off, flinching at the brush of cool night air against her belly. At least she had her bra and panties on. Like Lacey had said, they covered as much as a bikini would. And she hadn't even agreed to swap out them out for the sheer material bra and panties Lacey had offered. No, these were practical white cotton bra and panties with a scalloped lace trim. A little embarrassing, but not all that revealing.
Lacey had already hopped into the tub while Clara was undressing. Clara followed more slowly, keeping her eyes trained on her friend instead of the boys in the tub.
Men,
her mind corrected. These were college boys who were used to more experienced women than her. Probably they weren't even interested. Too skinny. That's what the boys at high school had said.
Except she felt Jeremy's gaze on her, hot as the steam that rolled off the water's roiling surface.
Clara slid deeper into the water. It covered her, almost up to her chin, more effectively than the now-wet bra and panties could do.
Lacey giggled at something Rick said. Clara couldn't hear them, on the other side of the hot tub. But she could see. Beneath the bubbles, she saw Rick's hand move over Lacey's body, and Lacey didn't seem to mind.
Without her having seen it, Jeremy had slid beside her.
"Hey, Clara. That's your name, right?"
Nervously, she took her first look at him. He was a handsome boy, with a slightly square jaw that had a shadow of hair. His eyes were dark in the moonlight, glinting. His lashes dripped with water, his entire face coated with a light sheen.
She hadn't known he knew her name.
"Yeah, that's right," she answered cautiously.
"I've seen you around with Lacey. I didn't think you were the type to party."
She blushed at the faint insult. Clearly a guy like him would prefer girls who partied. She shrugged. "Sometimes."
"Yeah? Okay." His expression looked approving.
A splash drew her attention. Rick and Lacey stumbled out of the hot tub, almost running inside the house and slamming the sliding door shut. Clara stared after them a second, shocked that her friend had abandoned her, even for a guy she liked.
She was startled out of her hurt by the glide of a hand up her arm.
"What are you doing?"
Jeremy grinned. "Getting to know you better."
Fear sped up her pulse. "I think I should go inside."
"You just got there."
She started to stand, only to realize he was holding her by the wrist. She tugged again, and then slipped on the hot tub seat, falling deeper into the water. Her head dunked under, and she panicked, clawing her way out. Jeremy yanked her up by the wrist he still held. He was chuckling.
"That'll teach you to go roughhousing around in a hot tub."
"I wasn't rough... I wasn't."
The protest died in her throat as Jeremy maneuvered her in the water so she hovered over his lap. His chest was broad beside her face, and she turned away. With a hand on the other side of her him, he pushed her down so she sat on his legs—and felt the hard ridge of his arousal beneath her thigh.
"Oh God, I really need to go."
"What, you need to piss?"
"No, not like that—"
"You can go in here. No one's around to see."
"No, I don't need to—"
"Here, let's just take this off so you don't get it dirty."
Shockingly, he began tugging at the band of her panties, trying to take them off. She squirmed, fighting him. She would've thought the wet fabric would resist him, but instead it seemed to roll and bunch, making it easy for him to slip it through her legs.
His fingers stroked her thigh, sliding inward. "There. Now you can go."
"No, please. Oh please, no."
He found her hair and slid a finger into her folds. "A little nervous, are you? I can help."
His finger made maddening, terrifying strokes up and down, back and forth. It didn't make her want to pee, but she did have strange feelings. The combination of heat and fear was making her body react, even if her mind didn't want this. Jeremy was cute, but he was scary. He wasn't listening to her, not as he pushed one finger inside her, and not as he pushed in another. She whimpered, in fear, in excitement, terrified someone would see her like this.
And then it happened. The door slid open. Relief slid through her. At least her friend would protect her now. Only it wasn't her friend. It was two guys she'd seen around the party. She didn't know their names, but they jumped into the hot tub, splashing some of the beer into the water from the cups they held.
She'd remained frozen on Jeremy's lap. If she moved, they'd know what was happening beneath the water. As it was, they could only guess.