She was lying on a metal table in a college lecture room, surrounded by a dozen male students, future physical therapists. She was barefoot, wearing tight black shorts and a thin white sports bra. Nothing else.
She felt a bit nervouse but reminded herself that the instructor, Dr. Warren, was in charge and that she could trust him.
Still, her heart raced as the men had filed in, notebooks in hand.
"Gentlemen," Dr. Warren said, "today we're walking through a mobility assessment. Pay close attention to the patient's reactions."
He placed one hand between her shoulder blades and guided her into a seated position on the table with her back to the class.
"She has agreed to help us demonstrate the sensitivity of certain nerve pathways."
She flinched as his fingers began working her scapulae, then slid to her neck. He pressed. Squeezed. Tilted her head.
"Notice the muscle response here."
His hands were firm. Too firm. Her breath caught.
He said, "Let's check her spinal curve," as he guided her into a bent-over position, arms dangling forward, back arched.
That's when she felt the hem of her sports bra being slowly lifted. Inch by inch. Exposing her back. Then her ribs. Then... "This area is often neglected," he said, cupping the undersides of her breasts. "But watch."
He rolled his thumbs over her nipples, through the fabric at first. Then under it, pulling the bra up completely. Her tits bounced free, and she heard the sound of someone sucking in a breath.
"Now," the doctor said calmly, "we monitor for involuntary reaction."
Her nipples throbbed under his touch. He rolled them between his fingers, then twisted them slightly, just enough to send a flash of heat straight between her thighs. A moan escaped her lips.
Someone in the middle of the room adjusted his pants.
"Very responsive," Dr. Warren murmured. "You see how the body speaks, if we just listen?"
He turned to the class, "You're welcome to come get a closer look."
The men stood, and moved to surround the table. One of them reached out and ran his finger across her nipple, watching it pucker and tighten further. Another touched the other one, barely a graze, but it made her whimper. She was breathing hard now.
"Now, I'd like you to palpate her trapezius insertion, here," Dr Warren took a student's hand and guided it to the slope of her shoulder. She felt the pressure, clinical and cool, and then another hand landed softly at the base of her neck. Then another at the edge of her ribs. All the while two other students were still "examining" her nipples.
"You, check her pectoralis response to lateral pressure. And you, assist her arm into external rotation."
So many hands on her.
"Good. Finish assessing the area you're currently working on, and before returning to your seats, be sure to note the patient's reaction."
The students made a few last caresses, then slowly stepped away, returning to their chairs, eyes hungry.
"Now," the doctor said, lowering her onto her back on the table, "let's move on to a lower body assessment. This will be a bit more involved. Legs slightly apart, please."
Her heart thudded. Her body was reacting in ways she would never have expected... was this normal? The air felt cold on her thighs and her nipples were so hard they ached.
The room had settled into a tense hush as the students returned to their seats, but none of their eyes left her.
She was flat on her back now, breasts bare, nipples tight. Her legs were extended in front of her on the table, her tight black shorts still clinging to her hips.
"Now we'll begin the lower body assessment," Dr. Warren said, rolling up his sleeves.
"Starting with straight leg raise?" one student offered.
He nodded, but didn't look away from her face. "Correct. Passive range first."
He stepped to her side and lifted one of her legs slowly, holding behind her calf and thigh as he guided it upward. "Watch the pelvic tilt here," he said to the room. "You'll notice compensations when flexibility is limited." He adjusted his grip, letting his fingers drift higher. Past her knee.
Mid-thigh.
Inner thigh.
Then, the pads of his fingers settled into the crease where leg met hip.
"Hamstring resistance is moderate," he said aloud, looking directly at her. "Pelvis slightly elevated. External rotation occurring."
His hand slid farther, thumb brushing just under the hem of her shorts, then easing back out like nothing had happened.
"Let's palpate the iliac crest," he said next.