30 comments/ 88362 views/ 44 favorites The Naked Gardener By: WatchingCloud "Earl!" Van sighed as his two year old yellow lab took off into the woods behind his house. His constant companion was usually obedient, but with all the wonderful sights and smells surrounding their new home in the country, Earl had become a challenge the last couple weeks. He wanted to believe the dog would eventually find his own way back home, but that nagging doubt led him to tromp off into the woods after him. In the thick brush, he soon lost sight of the dog, but by pausing every minute or so he could usually hear the tell tale sound of Earl crashing heedless through the woods. He called every so often, each time less confident that the dog would hear and come back. Van also had to take care to keep his bearings so he wouldn't end up lost in the acreage of his own back yard. A brief woof from up ahead got him back on track and Van soon found himself arriving at a clearing -- apparently one of his neighbor's backyards. The house beyond was a modest, elegant structure, enhanced by a gorgeous in-ground pool and surrounded by a well manicured yard. Much of the yard not taken up by the pool was dominated by a large vegetable garden, clearly well loved and already producing a variety of healthy looking produce. It was next to the garden where he finally spotted his wayward dog, who was soaking up the affection of a nearly nude woman. Van was startled by the sight, skidding to a halt before coming out of the woods. The woman, perhaps in her thirties like himself, appeared to be on the tall side with freckled bronze skin. She was wearing only sandals, work gloves, and a wide-brimmed straw hat that, along with sunglasses, conspired to hide her face. Van admired her rugged beauty and the way the sun glistened off her full, sweat dappled breasts. At the same time, though, he was struck with the awkwardness of the situation. He needed to get his dog back, but he couldn't do so without intruding upon this woman's privacy. Given that she was gardening naked in a very rural neighborhood where privacy was the norm, he wouldn't be surprised if she was very pissed. He considered sneaking back away some distance and then calling out for his dog again, giving her an opportunity to "hear him coming" well before he made a public appearance. Before he could put this plan into action, however, the woman looked up his direction and spotted him from where he was just inside the tree line. She waved at him, thereby bringing the awkward circumstance to a head. "Earl!" he said as he stepped out of the woods. "Bad dog!" "Seems like a good dog to me," the woman said, standing fully upright after having been scratching the dog behind the ears. "Oh, he is, when he's not running off into other people's yards. I'm really, really sorry about that. Totally didn't mean to intrude on you." "It's nothing," she said with a smile. She took off her sunglasses, revealing warm, brown eyes, and then peeled her gloves off to offer him a handshake. "Liz." "Van," he said, taking her hand. More than anything, he was astounded by how utterly unselfconscious she was standing in front of him unclothed. "Nice to meet you, Van," she said. "And you, too, Earl." "We, uh, just moved in a couple weeks ago," he said, pointing vaguely toward the woods behind him. "Somewhere back there a bit." Liz chuckled. "Guess that makes us neighbors, then. I'm sure you'll like the area. Since moving here a few years ago, I can't imagine ever living anywhere else." "Yeah, I'm really liking it so far," he said. "The woods, the wildlife, the peace and quiet. And, apparently, lovely neighbors." "You're too kind," she said, shaking her head. "Sorry about my appearance, I wasn't expecting visitors." "No, no, I'm sorry. I'm the one intruding. It's your yard, whatever makes you happy." Liz gave him a wry smile. "I meant that I was sorry about being sweaty and dirty. Didn't say I was apologizing for being naked." Van flushed in embarrassment and was about to stammer yet another apology when Liz burst out laughing. He loved the sound of her laugh, even if it was at his expense. "Just messing with you," she said. "Trust me, I have a very good reason for dressing like this. Or not dressing, as it were. Just giving you fair warning for the next time you're out this way." Van wondered what sort of "very good reason" she might have. Nudist? Lost a bet? Laundry day? He was tempted to ask, but chickened out at the last moment and decided to try to move the conversation to something a bit safer. "Your garden looks incredible," he said, grateful to take his gaze away from her tantalizing body and toward the garden. "Thanks," she said. "It's my pride and joy these days." "Was thinking about starting one, now that I have some space, but I'm sure it's too late in the season to start this year. Well, that and I'm pretty clueless when it comes to that sort of thing." "I'd be happy to get you started. But, yeah, probably next year. You're more than welcome to help yourself to anything in my garden, though. God knows it produces ten times more food than I could possibly eat. Can't give it away fast enough once it really gets going." "Sounds good. Might have to take you up on that sometime." "I was planning on making spaghetti sauce from scratch tonight, mostly using just stuff straight out of the garden." "Wow, that sounds good." "You should come over for dinner. I'll have way more than enough food and it'd be nice to chat when I'm not so self-conscious over being sweaty and grimy." Self-conscious? Van wanted to say yes, since he was finding the woman to be friendly, engaging, and unassuming. The naked thing, however, was making him just a little bit reluctant, as if it hinted at a quirky side to her that he wouldn't find as appealing. "I'll even put some clothes on," she said teasingly, as if suspecting his hesitation. "Yeah, sure," he finally said. "That sounds great. Should I bring anything?" "Just yourself. Unless you're married, or have a girlfriend or something." "Nope, just me. And Earl." "Six o'clock good?" "Six. Looking forward to it. And nice to meet you." "Likewise." Van took Earl by the collar and started walking him back to the woods. He looked back once to wave goodbye and take one last look at Liz. There was something about her nakedness mixed with the sweat and dirt of hard work that was incredibly attractive to him. In some sense, it seemed to fit with the rugged individuality he'd sought in moving this far from the city. It might not have been quite how he'd envisioned it, but he certainly wasn't about to complain. * * * * * Van regretted not asking Liz for her address earlier. Or a phone number. It was only later in the afternoon that he realized he probably wouldn't be able to figure out which house was hers from the street, leaving him with retracing his route through the woods on foot as his only option on the way to dinner. The early evening summer heat was leaving him sweaty and he'd already managed to scratch his legs a couple times on the thick brush. If this was going to be a regular thing, hiking to her house, he would have to consider cutting a proper trail. Finally, he reached her backyard. Many of the thoughts that had pervaded his mind all afternoon returned as the moment of truth was imminent. He had no idea if she was married. For that matter, she might have even have kids. Aside from a penchant for gardening in the buff, he really knew very little about her. He'd convinced himself to avoid getting his hopes too high that there could be a little potential for a relationship here. Van contemplated walking all the way around to her front door, but decided that she didn't seem like the sort who would hold him to such formality. Instead, he walked up to the back patio door and tapped on the glass. He didn't have to wait long as Liz appeared moments later to open the door for him. "Heya," she said, stepping aside to let him in. "Glad you could make it." "Thanks again for the invite," he said, stepping in and offering her a bottle of wine he'd brought along so as not to be entirely empty handed. "Figured I should bring at least a little something." "Great, thanks," she said, taking the bottle and carrying it to the kitchen which was adjacent to the living room into which the porch door had opened. As promised and to his relief, Liz was dressed, though hardly dressed up. She wore black, spandex shorts and a snug athletic tank top. It looked like she was ready to go to the gym. Without her hat on, he finally got his first good look at her hair -- chestnut brown, short, and wavy almost to the point of being messy, though it worked on her. "Did you walk?" "Yeah," he said, looking around at the tasteful, country casual decor of the room. "Wasn't sure I'd be able to recognize the place from the front." "Oh, yeah, should've given you my address. Oops." "No worries. It's not too bad a hike." "Iced tea? Looks like you could use one. We can save the wine for dinner." "Sure." Van stood in the kitchen doorway and watched as she poured two glasses from a pitcher. Like the living room, the kitchen was tasteful and clean. Copper pots hung from hooks and baskets full of fresh vegetables sat on the red granite counter tops. Liv's environment only served to reinforce his impression of her as some sort of modern frontier woman. "Thanks," he said as he took the offered glass and drained half of it in one pull. "So, dinner's gonna be a while yet," she said. "Hope you don't mind. The sauce needs to simmer down some more before I can start the noodles." "No, that's fine. Smells great, by the way." "Thanks. So, you want the nickle tour of the house while we wait?" "Yeah. What little I've already seen is gorgeous." "It's more or less my dream house. Put a lot of myself in here, but still working on it. You've already seen the kitchen, which is of course the most important room in any home." "I'm going to guess that you love cooking." "Good guess," she said, smiling. Liz led him quickly through the rest of the house, which struck him almost more as a show home than a place where real people lived. Every room was tasteful appointed, neat and clean. It was pretty modest in size, with two bedrooms, an office, a couple bathrooms, and a den outside the rooms he'd seen on entry. Everything along the way pointed to her living alone. The tour concluded a few minutes later out in front of her house, looking at her flowering landscaping. It left him admiring her for the passion she clearly had for the house. And, at the same time, he felt guilty for having stalled out in the unpacking process of his own new home. "It's gorgeous," he finally said. "You said it was your dream house? Did you build it?" "Bought it, but did a lot of remodeling before I moved in. Was my first big retirement project, I guess you could say." "Retirement project?" Liz looked a little sheepish. "Yeah, sorta. I did pretty good for myself as an investor on Wall Street for about ten years, until I just couldn't take it any longer. Decided to cash out and get back to living a real life." "Wow, can't say I'm not a little jealous," he said. He had trouble stretching his imagination enough to envision her in a business suit, sitting in posh conference rooms in the heart of the financial world. "Well, I'm hoping that it was worth the loss of ten years of my life," she said, not without a little bitterness. "So far, so good." "So, investing didn't sit that well with you?" "The work was fine. I like numbers and the business side of things. Unfortunately, a lot of the other people in that industry are pretty shallow and uninteresting. Still can't believe I married one of them." "You're married?" Her tone had suggested it was probably no longer the case, but he thought he'd ask. "Went from first date to marriage to divorce in just under two years," she said with a rueful smile. "Thought I was doing the smart thing, following the life path of a professional. Marry, buy a nice house in an upscale neighborhood, kids, and so on. Turned out I wasn't being very true to myself. Kinda the same way he wasn't being very faithful to me." "I'm sorry." "Don't be. I think I needed to go through that to get to where I am today." "Texas?" "Happy." "Then I take back feeling sorry for you. That's great." "So, what about you? What brings you out into the sticks?" "Some of the same, I suppose. Felt like I was burning out trying to keep up with all my friends and associates and contacts. So, moved out here to have a good excuse to get some more time to myself. Unfortunately, I'm not retired." "Not many our age are. What do you do?" "I'm a writer. Mostly work freelance, writing articles for web-based news or interest sites. Some travel, some local interest, some news. I'm kinda all over the map, really." "Sounds interesting. You enjoy it?" "Yeah, actually, I do. The income could stand to be a little more consistent or better, but I'm doing well enough. And, luckily, I can do most of my work from here." "Nice." A clopping sound coming up the driveway interrupted their conversation. Van was a little surprised when he saw that it was an old man, replete with cowboy hat, jeans, and faded shirt, riding on horseback and waving at them. It was a sight he'd never have seen living in the city and he filed it in the back of his mind for a possible future story. Liv waved back. "Hey Clancy!" "Miss Liv," the older gentleman said before dismounting with practiced ease. "Van, this is Clancy. He and his wife live about a mile up the road. Clancy, this is Van. He's my new neighbor." Clancy shook Van's hand with a firm grip. Van already liked the man, simply from his easy smile and friendly demeanor. "Pleasure to meet you," Clancy said. "Likewise." "Was just over to deliver the young lady's eggs," Clancy said, retrieving a plastic bag from his saddle bag and handing it gingerly over to Liz. "Clancy's got chickens and keeps me well stocked with fresh eggs and even the occasional bird," Liz said. "And in return, I get to pawn off some of my spare produce. Speaking of which, I'll be right back with it." Liz went inside, leaving the two men alone in the front yard. "She's something else, isn't she?" Clancy said with a sly wink. "Just met this afternoon, but yeah, seems like a heck of a woman." "Just met, eh? Well, I'm sure you'll find she's full of surprises." "Already came across a couple of those." Van chuckled and Clancy nodded knowingly. Liz returned moments later, carrying two bags bulging with produce which Clancy struggled to pack away in his saddle bags. "I keep telling you that the wife and I can't possibly eat this much food," he said. "Share it, then," Liz said. "Well, you two have a pleasant evening," Clancy said, mounting back up. "Nice to meet you, Van." Liz and Van bade him a good evening and watched as he rode his horse at a nice, easy gait back down her driveway toward the distant road. Van inwardly chuckled at the simple barter system between neighbors and wondered how common such things were around here. It made him look forward to meeting more of the neighbors, in spite of the challenge that could be given the distances between houses. "Let's go see how dinner's coming along," Liz said and led the way back inside. * * * * * Dinner, Van proclaimed repeatedly, was one of the finest meals he'd had in months if not years. Aside from the freshly made sauce, Liz had also tossed a fresh salad (everything coming from her garden), baked a loaf of bread, and even had some locally grown peaches sliced up to serve over ice cream. He was stuffed and content. Their conversation had been fun and engaging. Liz was smart, a little opinionated, and had a great sense of humor. She also had a wide range of interests, which meshed nicely with the breadth of his writing topics. As they finished up the last of the bottle of wine, Van finally summoned the courage to ask the question that had been bugging him all afternoon. "Okay, I may be stepping into dangerous territory here, but I have to ask a question," Van said. Liz smiled and leaned back in her chair. "Ask away." "Earlier, you said there was a good reason that you were, well, naked." "And you want to know the reason?" Judging by her expression, Van suspected that this wasn't a dangerous topic after all. Relaxing, he nodded. "Fair enough. I have a neurological disorder that causes the nerves in my skin to tend to be a bit overly sensitive. It's kinda like having a permanent, painful sunburn." "Ouch. I'm sorry." Liz shrugged. "Not your fault. I've had it so long, that I'm pretty used to it. Not to say that it doesn't still annoy the hell out of me sometimes." "So, I take it you're more comfortable without clothes?" "Exactly. The pain is worse with light pressure or when things move across my skin, and clothes do both of those constantly. Steady or firm pressure isn't as bad, which is why I tend to wear spandex when I'm forced to be dressed." "Wow. Now I feel bad. You're in pain, wearing clothes, just to ease my own discomfort." "Don't feel bad. I have to wear clothes enough anyway. It's not like I was able to go to school or work naked. At least here, when I have to get dressed, I'm able to go with something that's less irritating." "Still, I can't help feeling a little guilty." "I could tell you were feeling a little awkward when we first met this afternoon. Frankly, if you hadn't, then I'd probably have been worried enough not to invite you to dinner. No, I wanted this to be comfortable for you so we could, you know, focus on actually getting acquainted. I'm not so idealistic as to think that would be easy if I was lounging around naked." "True. Not that I would have complained or anything." "Well, duh. I've got a great body, after all." He couldn't help but laugh at how casually she could discuss the topic head on, and make light of the obvious challenges associated with it. She was making it easy to fall for her, though he had yet to determine if she was even remotely interested in that sort of a relationship. "Yes, you do. Who wouldn't want to see you naked?" "I could name a few," she said, her humor turning just a little sour. "Some people a little less than appreciative?" "Well, let's just say that some of my family and even a few friends haven't been quite as open-minded over the years. It's been a fine line to balance, and I've generally tried to keep from offending anyone." "I can only imagine. Well, look, now that I know your story, I want you to know that I'm totally cool with you wearing as little around me as you want. Can't say I won't ogle a bit, but I'll do my best to make it a non-issue." "Thanks. I really appreciate that. A lot of people say that, but don't always mean it. I have a good hunch about you, though." "I'm glad. Now, unfortunately, I should probably get around to calling it a night. I'm meeting an editor tomorrow morning over breakfast, and it's a bit of a commute these days." "No problem. Glad you could make it. It's always nice to cook for someone." "Happy to share it with you. I do have a small favor to ask." "What's that?" "It seems that we talked so long that it's gotten a bit dark, and I'm not sure I could find my way home through the woods. Think I could bum a ride?" "Absolutely. And then I'll know where you live." "Yup. And, since I work from home and always welcome a good distraction, feel free to drop by any time." "I might just do that." * * * * * Van rapped his fingers on the desk as he stared at his blank computer screen. He knew he needed to get some writing done, but he was having a bit of writer's block. Or, if he wanted to be perfectly honest with himself, he was having trouble thinking of anything other than Liz. His mind kept wandering between images of her smiling at him across the dinner table and her standing naked, sweaty and dirty out in her garden. The Naked Gardener He was startled when the doorbell rang for the first time since he'd moved in. His first hope was that it was Liz, already dropping in unannounced, but reason told him it was more likely just a delivery. He trotted through the house and opened the front door. "Howdy, neighbor," Liz said, smiling at him through the screen door. She was spandex shorts similar to last night and a matching sports bra. In each hand she carried a bulging plastic bag. "Well, hi. Come on in." "I meant to send you home with some produce last night, but it completely slipped my mind," she said, handing him the bags. "So, figured I'd swing on by and deliver them." "Thanks," he said, taking them and leading the way to the kitchen. En route, he cursed himself for not picking up the place a bit. "Honestly, I'd kinda hoped that you could just keep cooking them for me, since I'm not very skilled in that department." "You might be able to sweet talk me into that," she said, surveying his kitchen. "In fact, I've got a whole bunch of leftover spaghetti, if you want to come over for dinner again." "Don't want to wear out my welcome already," he said, though he liked the idea. "Nonsense. I'm not trying to be a hermit. I enjoy the company." "Alright then." "Nice place," she said. "Never met the previous owner." "Yeah, I like it. Needs some work, though. And it's still a mess from unpacking. I got about halfway done and ran out of steam." "Let me know if you want a hand." "You're too kind." "I know," she said with an easy smile. "Drink? I can show you around, if you're not in a hurry." Liz accepted both offers, and he spent the better part of the next hour showing her around the house and his yard. He indicated where he'd thought about installing his future garden and she quickly dove into giving him more pointers than he could possibly hope to remember come next spring when he would be ready to give it a try. He listened appreciatively and attentively. "Well, I shouldn't keep you from your work any longer," she said. "Get me going on gardening and I can talk all day." "It's fine. I'll definitely have to hit you up for help come next year." "See you at six again?" "Absolutely." Her smile reflected the way he felt -- buoyant and excited. He wondered if perhaps she needed his company as much as he needed hers. It had been nearly a year since he'd been in anything resembling a meaningful relationship. With Liz, each meeting held more anticipation than the last. Dinner couldn't come soon enough. * * * * * Either Liz was testing him or simply taking him at his word, because when he arrived for dinner that evening she was only wearing her favored spandex shorts and nothing else. Neither commented on that fact, and by the time they were through eating Van found that her bare breasts were no longer the distraction they had once been. Not that he didn't look -- they were gorgeous, after all -- but it blurred more into his attraction to her as a whole. Liz, for her part, seemed to relax further as the evening wore on as well. He suspected that she was just as nervous when he'd arrived. That he was comfortable lent to her comfort. "Another fine dinner," Van said. "Compliments to the chef." "Yeah, I sure can reheat a mean leftover," she said. "Details." "So, I don't know about you, but I usually like to relax in the pool after dinner," she said as she cleared the dishes from the table. "Never been fortunate enough to own a pool, but that sounds nice. Especially around here in summer." "It's one of the few things that actually doesn't bother my skin too much. Well, not after the initial shock, anyway." "Huh. Well, that's good. Can see why you'd want a place with a pool, then." "You up for a dip?" Van hesitated for a moment as he wrestled with the circumstances. She had to know that he didn't have swimwear along, just as it was safe to assume that Liz probably never wore anything swimming anyway. Did that mean she was asking him to go skinny dipping with her? Accepting her nudity due to her condition was one thing. He wasn't sure he could be quite so casual with his own. "Tempting," he said, stalling for time. Mostly, he was just worried about embarrassing himself. "Come on," she said, taking his hand in their first truly intimate gesture. "The water's great." "Alright." Liz didn't let go of his hand until they were out on the concrete apron surrounding the pool. The ground was still warm under his bare feet, though the sun had already dipped below the trees surrounding her property. He had to admit, a swim in her pool sounded very inviting after a hot day. Without hesitation, Liz peeled off her shorts and tossed them onto a lawn chair. Her pubic hair, which he had only briefly noticed during their first meeting, was trimmed short but unshaven. The way she stood confidently before him was almost like a decree that he too would have to undress or have his manhood questioned. Van tried to assure himself that if there was one person who would unquestioningly accept him naked, it was Liz. He pulled his shirt over his head and set it beside her shorts. Then, before he could change his mind, he unzipped his shorts and pulled both them and his underwear down in one quick motion and tossed them on the pile. Liz favored him a big and perhaps appreciative smile that made him relax a bit. She gave him a quick look up and down, which he could hardly find fault with given the number of times he'd done the same with her. He was incredibly relieved that he had managed to not get aroused -- perhaps his greatest fear about getting naked. Between her natural physical beauty and his growing affection for her, keeping himself in check could have been a challenge. "I hope I didn't push you into this," she said, with a sheepish look of concern. "No," he said, actually grateful that he was taking this leap with her. "Nudged, perhaps, but I'm glad you did." "See? It's no big deal at all." "Gotta admit that it's kinda comfortable. Not used to getting a little breeze down there." He was glad he could joke about himself. "Wait til you feel the water. Or have you gone skinny dipping before?" "Nope, never." "Well, let's go then." She took his hand and pulled him off the side of the pool and into the water. He'd expected a temperature shock, but it was actually rather mild and very comfortable. She was right, too, in that the sensation of being "free" under water was liberating. "Oh, this is nice," he said, shaking the water from his hair. "Told ya." "You realize that between your cooking, your pool, and your company, you might not be able to keep me away." "I'll let you know if you ever wear out your welcome." "Hope I don't." They swam around for a while, making small talk and simply enjoying the other's company. Van's usual evening routine of eating alone, watching television, and corresponding with acquaintances by computer paled in comparison. He could think of few things he'd rather be doing that just hanging out with Liz and he hoped this would be the first of many such evenings. "So, this really helps with your pain?" "Somewhat, yes," she said, half floating on her back beside him. "I think the combination of cooler temperature and relatively constant pressure keeps it down to a very low level." "Is your pain an all over thing?" "Yes and no. Some parts are much more sensitive than others. My hands and feet hardly feel it at all. My face is a little worse. I think my arms and legs are probably the worst, with my chest and back somewhere in between." He wondered for a moment whether she felt the pain in her genitals, but he was far too uncomfortable to ask. There were no doubt a lot of nerve endings down there, and the thought that she might suffer even worse at an intimate touch was discouraging. If this relationship was to develop like he hoped it might, that could become an issue. "I'm glad you take it in stride so well," he said. "I can see how it would be easy to get frustrated and bitter about having to endure something like that." "There were times when I didn't handle it well," she said. "I've come to accept it for what it is, though. And, fortunately, I'm in a position now where I can be more accommodating." "I'm happy for you." "Thanks. Now, unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to wind up this lovely evening pretty soon. I have a flight to catch first thing in the morning and I'm not even packed yet." "Flying? Where are you off to?" He followed Liz out of the pool, enjoying the unique view of her naked form as water dripped from it in the blue light emanating from the pool. "Montana," she said, taking a seat on a picnic table bench halfway between the pool and the house. "Oh, sorry, forgot that there are towels by the door if you want one. I prefer to air dry when I can, since those towels feel like sandpaper on my skin after swimming." "Thanks. Guess I can air dry with ya." He sat beside her, but a polite couple feet away. "Yeah. I'm off to take a painting class for a few days. And, if I'm lucky, maybe take in some scenery and some cooler weather." "Wow, sounds like fun." "Hope so. I'll have to wear clothes for a few days, so it better be." "Will I get to see some of your work when you return?" "If it doesn't suck, maybe." "Fair enough." "Say, if you want, you're welcome to use my pool while I'm gone. Or help yourself to anything in the garden. I can only imagine how overgrown it'll get by the time I get back." "I think you've got me well stocked already," he said. "But, I might take you up on the pool. Wouldn't be the same without you, though." "You could call me, tell me how wonderful the water feels." Van held an imaginary phone up to his ear. "'Hey Liz. Yeah, the water's wet. Wish you were here.'" Liz giggled. "Okay, well, maybe that wouldn't be too exciting. You could call me, though. If you wanted." Casual acquaintances didn't call each other from vacation. Neighbors didn't either. Van's heart beat a little quicker. "You'll have to give me your number, then." The warm evening air had them dry quicker than Van had expected. He dressed for the short drive home while Liz merely gathered up her shorts and tossed them on the living room couch when they returned inside. She scribbled her number on a sticky note and gave it to him before leading him to the front door. They stood close to one another on the front porch in awkward silence for a few moments. He wondered if it was appropriate to give her a hug or something. And, even if it was, whether the pain such a gesture might inflict would be too great. "Hope you have a wonderful trip," he said. "Yeah," she said, her voice soft and face unreadable in the dark. "It's been really nice getting to know you." "You too." The silence returned for several long moments. Almost as one, they leaned in toward each other and kissed. He wanted to hold her, place a hand on her back, but was too afraid. The kiss, though, was simple and wonderful, and apparently caused little or no pain. It lasted only a moment before they broke it off. He wanted more, but for now the tension between them had been snapped. Less is more, he'd once been told, and perhaps that was good advice, especially with her leaving early the next day. "Good night," he said. "Good night," she echoed. * * * * * The following week was one of blissful impatience for Van. He was so excited about his budding relationship with Liz that he found boundless energy with which to finish his unpacking, clean the house, and get some serious writing done. His reward at the end of each day was a phone conversation with Liz. He'd been reluctant to call her on the first night of her trip, mostly for fear of coming across as overly enthusiastic. She sounded so happy to hear from him, however, that he cast aside any doubt about her reciprocal feelings. They talked for nearly two hours until the battery on Van's phone was about to die. It felt like many of the long phone calls he'd shared with early loves back in high school, which made him feel both silly and wonderful. That first night, their conversation had focused on how her class was going and other innocuous topics. By the second and third nights, the subject of their kiss and missing each other became more prevalent, and open discussion of this becoming an ongoing relationship was unmistakable. And as Liz's trip started to wind down at the end of the week, their conversations had moved on to open flirting and sexual innuendo. Each day he strove to get as much done as he could, fueled by the anticipation of listening to her voice each night. He savored kicking back on the couch, bantering playfully, and visualizing her lying naked on a hotel bed over a thousand miles away. Between the innuendo and his imagination, he could hardly wait for her return. From the way she sounded, it was clear that she was equally eager to see him again as well. Finally, the day of her return arrived. She was due to get back early in the evening, and Van had convinced her to come over to his place for dinner. The last couple hours of waiting were the worst, so he busied himself with preparing the food -- a stir fry incorporating many of the vegetables from her garden. When the doorbell rang, his heart skipped a beat and he forcibly restrained himself from running to answer it. Liz almost looked like a stranger, standing on his porch in a floral print sundress. After getting past all the clothing, however, the smile and eyes were all Liz and he didn't hesitate to step forward and kiss her deeply. She kissed back with equal enthusiasm. "Good to see you, too," she said as they finally broke it off. "Sorry, been waiting far too long to do that again," he said, stepping aside to let her in the house. "I know. Me too." They kissed again, and if Van had harbored a single, lingering doubt about her feelings for him it would have vanished completely. "Good flight back?" "Flight was okay," she said. "Though I've been more comfortable. Speaking of which, mind if I dress down a bit?" "Feel free," he said, heading toward the kitchen to give her a modicum of privacy. "I'm just gonna get dinner started." Van fired up the stove and pulled out the chicken and vegetables from the fridge. He needed the distraction to keep his mind from Liz undressing a few feet away in the living room. Too many days of fantasizing were weakening his resolve. "So, what's on the menu?" Van glanced up at Liz and almost lost that resolve in an instant. She stood in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame with her arms crossed below her bare breasts. The only thing she wore was a pair of translucent pink panties. The vision was heavenly and he could feel a stirring in his shorts. "Chicken and veggie stir fry," he said, turning his focus back to dinner. "Hope that's okay. It's mostly stuff from your garden." "Sounds great, especially after a week of mostly restaurant crap." Van managed to finish dinner without ruining anything in distraction. Liz professed a love for the meal and he was pleasantly surprised that it turned out as well as it did. Small talk was the order throughout dinner, though it carried a subtle undertone of impatience. They needed dinner, but both were looking forward to what might come afterward. "So, you gonna show me all the cleaning you claim to have gotten done while I was gone this week?" Liz asked as they cleared the last of the dishes from the table. "Sure," he said and led her back into the living room. "Yeah, not much change here, though I did finally get a few of my old pictures hung." Liz followed him to his office, where he had rearranged the furniture and cleared out all the unpacked boxes. "Very nice," she said. "Feels more conducive for writing." "Hope so. After seeing the window with the view of the backyard and woods, I knew this room would have to be the office. Hopefully, I won't be too distracted by things outside." "Like what? Neighbors?" "Well, yeah, I can think of one neighbor who would be incredibly distracting." "Really?" Her playful tone told him that she was well aware of the effect that her body had on him. He led her next to the master bedroom, which had also been considerably picked up. He had even gone so far as to drive into town and pick up some extra furnishings and decoration in an effort to make it feel less spartan. It was a far cry from Liz's style acumen, but definitely an improvement. "I like what you've done," she said, taking his hand and pulling him into the middle of the room. "Yeah?" "Yeah. I'm impressed with how busy you've been." "I was inspired." Liz stepped in closer and they kissed. For several minutes, their lips and tongues exchanged a sensitive affection. When she wrapped her arms around him, Van tentatively placed his own hands on her back. He quickly withdrew them when she involuntarily shuddered. "I'm sorry," he said, feeling terrible. "No, it's okay," she said. "You can touch me. You just can't do it gently, because that hurts worse. Be firm." Van tried to get his mind around how he would be able to do that, since his every instinct when with a woman was to gently touch and stroke her body. Still, she was telling him what she wanted, and he was determined to try to do as she asked. He placed his hands just under her arms with his fingers wrapped around her shoulder blades. His grip was firm, but not hard. Liz nodded and smiled, and then leaned in to resume their kissing. For the next several minutes, Van carefully moved his hands from one spot to the next, careful not to drag them across her skin in the process. He held her neck and arm, the small of her back and her butt. With each move, he could sense just a brief flash of tension through Liz before she settled into the steady pressure. "Still good?" he asked when they broke off for a moment's breather. "Yeah, better," she said. "Don't worry about hurting me. I'm pretty tough and used to pain. It's just the prolonged, gentle stuff that can really get to me." "You realize this isn't easy." "I know. And I want you to know I appreciate how considerate you are." They kissed again, and this time Van place one hand around her side and his other over one of her breasts. He didn't know if that would be more or less painful than anything else, but the way her body tensed and then immediately relaxed into a purring moan suggested it was okay. He gently squeezed, careful to keep his hand in place and not slide it across the skin, and Liz gave every indication that she was fine with that. In the middle of his palm, he could feel her nipple harden, and he savored the chance to finally touch the beautiful breasts he'd spent so much time admiring. Liz broke off their kiss, took his shirt by the hem, and lifted it over his head. Tossing it aside on the floor, she gave him a sly grin and started unbuttoning his shorts. "Hardly fair with you wearing so much clothing," she said. "Wouldn't want to be unfair," he said. "Just didn't want to frighten you away." "You won't. I like your body." "Well, that works out well, then, since I'm rather enamored with yours." Liz pulled his shorts and underwear down and he stepped clear so she could add them to his discarded shirt. His cock, fully erect, bounced in her direction and she took it in one hand and gently stroked it. Van's heart fluttered at the contact. "There's something I've been wanting to do most all week," Liz said. "What's that?" Liz knelt on the floor in front of him and kissed the tip of his cock. It involuntarily twitched at the contact, bopping her in the nose and eliciting a laugh. She took his unruly member in one hand and wrapped her lips around the head. With her tongue, she teased the tip and swirled around the circumference. The Naked Gardener Van had secretly hoped that this night might lead to a greater physical intimacy between them, but his expectations had not gone much beyond kissing and perhaps some careful petting. Clearly, she was every bit as horny as he was and wasn't afraid to show it. The view of looking down at her mouth as it went up and down on his cock, with her breasts swaying gently just beneath, was almost as arousing as the physical sensation itself. Liz clearly had some experience with fellatio, since she had him rocketing toward an orgasm within a couple minutes of skilled tongue and hand technique. As he felt himself reaching a climax, he gave her fair warning and she pulled him out of her mouth and stroked him the rest of the way by hand. Several surges of white cum shot out, coating her chin, neck, and chest. She grinned up at him proudly while the final glob slid down the freckled valley between her breasts. "God, that was fantastic," he said when he finally caught his breath. "You're most welcome," she said. Liz then took the tip of his slowly softening cock back in her mouth and licked the residual cum off him. "You, uh, want a tissue or something?" he asked when she finally let go of him and stood. "Yes, please," she said, cheerfully. He was relieved that she didn't seem to be too squeamish about a little mess. He snagged a couple tissues from his night stand and handed them to her, figuring it would be safer to let her wipe herself than for him to do so and cause her a lot of unnecessary pain. After she wiped off and discarded the tissues in the waste bin, she returned to his arms and they gently kissed. "So, you wanted to do that all week?" "Yeah," she said. "You didn't mind?" "Not one bit. Kinda along the lines of a few of the things I'd wanted to do with you." "Oh really? Do tell." "Well, if you like, we could try reversing roles." "I like." After a little more kissing, Van arranged for Liz to lay back on his bed with her legs hanging off. It took her a moment to get over the discomfort, but she soon gave him a smile that said she was good. He knelt on the floor beside the bed, took her legs over his shoulder in a firm grip, and lowered his lips into her thick brown curls. Still uncertain about how much pain she might experience down here, he was a little hesitant as to how to proceed. He started by simply kissing his way around and over her pussy and clit. That seemed to go okay until his cheek accidentally brushed up against the inside of her thigh and she let out an audible gasp. "Crap, sorry," he said, feeling the mood at risk of slipping away. The last thing he wanted to do was cause her pain. "No, it's okay," she said, though clearly still in a bit of pain. "Just, careful of the thighs. They're particularly sensitive." Van held her legs higher and wider, giving him more clearance. Nervously, he resumed his kissing and licking around the folds of her pussy lips. Her body seemed to relax a bit after a little attention, allowing him to calm down just a bit as well and start building some sort of rhythm. Slowly, he began to alternate between licking along her pussy and flicking his tongue across her swollen clit. The smell of her arousal blended with the faint saltiness of her taste in a delectable ensemble. After several minutes of alternating, Liz began to moan softly and thrust her hips each time his tongue made contact with her clit. He focused on that, alternating between quick flutters and long, slow strokes of the tongue until he finally brought her to a climax. She was not a screamer, but she certainly wasn't shy about moaning and gasping. Once she had come down from her climax, Van stood and wiped her juices from his mouth. She was looking up at him, glowing in a sheen of perspiration and grinning widely behind gorgeous bedroom eyes. He would die a happy man if he was blessed with that sight regularly. "Thanks, I needed that," she said. "You're most welcome." Liz moved further back onto the bed and Van joined her, laying side by side and holding hands. For several minutes, they just stared up at the slowly rotating ceiling fan and savored the company. Van idly wondered what he had done to get so lucky. Eventually, they began to chat about inconsequential things, as if to speak about their budding romance would somehow jinx it. For Van, this felt just like the last week's worth of their nightly conversations, only a thousand times better with Liz laying beside him. They laughed and whispered and gave each other longing looks. Liz rolled onto her side to face Van, cringing a bit for the effort. While maintaining eye contact, she reached out and gently touched his flaccid cock. Within moments, it swelled to life. She smiled back at his obvious pleasure. Van turned partially toward her so they could kiss. She stroked him more insistently as their tongues danced. He could feel her rising passion in the depth of her breathing. He ran his hand up the arm with which she was holding him, and immediately regretted it when she sucked in her breath to stifle a whimper. It was a simple, innocent gesture, and he'd completely forgotten that it was the sort of thing that caused her the greatest pain. "Shit, sorry," he said, immediately removing his hand. Liz closed her eyes for a few moments, taking a couple deep breaths, and then reopened them. "It's okay," she said, though he could tell she was saying that for his sake. "It happens." "Sorry," he said again, still feeling terrible. His arousal threatened to fade until she forced a smile and resumed stroking him. For several minutes, they simply held their positions -- kissing with Liz gently playing with him. He wanted desperately to touch her, wrap her in his arms and explore every inch of her body with his fingers and lips. All he could bring himself to do was lay still and kiss her back. "You want to give this a try?" she said, her voice husky with desire. Van was paralyzed between fear of hurting her and the strong urge to make love to this fantastic woman. "Yeah," he whispered. "What's gonna work best for you?" Liz pushed him into his back, kissing and stroking him the entire way. When she threw a leg across him, Van decided that she wanted to be on top, which suited him just fine. Straddling him, she leaned forward and kissed him with a renewed fervor, her breasts dangling tantalizingly above his chest. Tentatively, Van placed a hand over one breast and got a slight flinch out of Liz for his efforts. He bravely left it there, though, hoping that as before the pain would vanish under constant pressure. When she reached back for his cock, he took it as a sign that she was still okay. As Liz slid back to guide him to her, however, she grimaced at some frictional pain. Despite the fact that it wasn't something Van had done, he started to really feel terrible. She was enduring entirely too much pain for his sake. That thought interrupted his enjoyment of the encounter, and he could feel himself losing his erection even as she was trying to slide him inside her wet pussy. She must have noticed, since she tried to stroke him back from his semi-soft condition, but that awkward effort seemed to cause additional irritation to her skin as well. "I'm sorry," Van whispered, removing his hand from her breast. Liz looked down at him with resignation in her eyes before leaning down to kiss him gently. "It's okay," she said. She carefully dismounted and laid on her side next to him. She traced her fingers across his chest in exactly the sort of intimate gesture he couldn't share back. Her face was sympathetic, though it did little for Van's mood. "It's really tough, keeping the mood when I know you're in pain." Liz nodded. "I know. And it sucks." "Because I don't think I've ever wanted someone so badly before." "And you can't touch me the way you want." "Exactly." "It's always the worst with the best guys." Van gave her a puzzled look. "What do you mean?" "What I mean is, you're a good guy, and I probably should have waited a bit until I was ready to explain this better. But, well, I guess I wanted you pretty badly, too." Van raised an inquisitive eyebrow at her, but said nothing. "You see, I've found over the years that sex works better for me when there's pain involved. Not the sort of pain that comes from my nervous condition, though. When there's an intentionally applied pain that I can focus on, something with...intimate connotations...then I seem to be better at blocking out or even using the other pain as a sort of turn on." "Okay, I think I kinda see that." "And that's why good guys sometimes have a problem with me, because they're not the sort to engage in inflicting pain on a woman for gratification." "Er, yeah, no," Van said. He wish he'd known that in advance. She was right, though, that he wasn't sure he could do that sort of thing to her. He wasn't even sure what sort of intentional pain she was talking about. "The line between pain and pleasure is closer than most people realize," she continued. "And much of that is in the head." "Yeah, it might take a little work to get my head wrapped around that one," he said. "But, I can try." For a fleeting instant, Van saw in Liz's face doubt and regret, but it vanished a moment later as she smiled at him and nodded. "Can I ask what sort of things you like?" Van asked. Liz blushed and cringed. "Unfortunately, this is when I tend to get cripplingly shy," she said. "Go figure -- I'm comfortable parading around nude in front of pretty much anyone, but get all uptight talking about what gets me turned on. Especially when I'm in bed and naked with the guy asking." Her self deprecation brought a much needed laugh from both of them. "I understand," Van said. "I'm not much of one for open talk, either. Always just kinda tried to fumble my way through things to see what worked." "That's not always a bad thing," Liz said. "But, I'm always open for helpful hints." "I know, and I'll try," she said. "Look, I'm pretty well beat after the trip and should probably get home so I can unpack and sleep." "Okay," he said, trying to contain his disappointment. They had jumped in pretty quickly after very little time together. And after the way the evening had kinda fizzled, maybe inviting her to stay the night would be more awkward than it was worth. "But, it was great seeing you tonight. Thanks for dinner and, well, the rest." When they kissed again at the door, Van tried to shake the feeling that Liz wasn't as interested in him as he'd first thought. He knew it was probably unfounded self-doubt, but he couldn't help it after the complete crash and burn at their first attempt at love-making. It wouldn't be until he saw her again that he would be able to get a read on her true feelings toward him -- would she distance herself, or would things be back to where they had been about an hour earlier when she was undressing him in the bedroom? * * * * * The following morning, Van resisted the urge to run over to Liz's house to pay her a visit. She would undoubtedly still be in the process of catching up after the trip -- unpacking, going through mail, and such. Had they enjoyed mind-blowing sex, she may have either stayed the night or at least he'd be justified in visiting early for a follow up. Following their fizzle, however, he didn't know how to play things. He wondered if he shouldn't just wait for her to contact him. To distract himself, Van decided to head into the closest town for some groceries. The town itself was little more than a small congregation of businesses and a post office in the middle of a widely dispersed rural community. And the grocery, unlike what he was used to back in the city, was essentially an over-sized convenience store. At least it carried most of his modest cooking needs. "Van, isn't it?" Van turned from the shelf of bread products and it took him a moment to recognize Liz's neighbor without the cowboy hat or horse. "Clancy," Van said, shaking the man's hand. "Nice to see you again." "You too. Getting settled in?" "Yeah, finally got most of the boxes unpacked and the house presentably cleaned up." "Good to hear. I'm sure you'll love this part of the country. Beautiful scenery, beautiful women." Clancy said this last with a knowing grin. "Couldn't agree more on both counts." "Speaking of, mind if I nose a bit about you and Liz?" "What do you mean?" Van wondered if Liz had told Clancy anything about their budding relationship, which seemed unlikely since she had been gone for most of the intervening week. "Well, maybe I was just reading a bit much into things, but I'd bet half my property that she fancies you something fierce." "Oh, really? How could you tell that?" Clancy leaned in close and lowered his voice. "She doesn't invite many people over to her place. And that poor girl doesn't get dressed for hardly anyone. Not when it's warm out, anyway." "Yeah, she told me about her condition." "Between you and me, I think it hurts her a lot more than she lets on. I've seen her a couple times when she probably didn't think I was paying attention and I think she hides it well." "I'll definitely have to keep that in mind," Van said, seeing a few things in a fresh light. "Shame such a lovely young lady has to have to suffer so much." "Yeah," Van said. "Well, just between you and me, I happen to like her a lot, and we haven't gone a day since that night without at least talking." Clancy smiled. "Glad to hear that. Take good care of her." Van lingered in the aisle as the old man wandered off with his hand basket. He began to realize just how much it may have cost Liz in terms of physical pain for the sake of his comfort. She wouldn't do that if she didn't feel every bit as attracted to him as he felt for her. Last night, she had found the courage to tell him what she needed, and he resolved to try to figure out how to get over his own discomfort for her sake. * * * * * Van could feel himself trembling with nerves as he worked his way through the woods toward Liz's house. He could have driven, which would have spared him from much of the heat, humidity, and bugs of the summer afternoon, but somehow it seemed more fitting to walk. And, he had hoped, it would give him more time to settle the nerves that were more on edge than when he had first come over to her place for dinner. When he reached her yard, he spotted LIz in the garden, almost hidden behind a row of vines. As best he could tell, she was wearing the same gloves and straw hat as the first time he'd seen her -- and very likely nothing else. Seeing her like that, the naked gardener in her element, somehow heartened him to see this through. "Heya, neighbor," he called out when he stepped onto her lawn. Liz looked up and gave him an enthusiastic smile and wave. "Howdy yourself." "What's up?" "Oh, just trying to beat my garden back into submission. Should've known better than to leave it for a week at the peak of the growing season." "Hope you're not working too hard." "Well, you have good timing, since I really should take a break. Hang on, I'll be right out." Van followed her to the edge of the fence and offered her a hand as she climbed over the chicken wire perimeter. Just as before, her freckled, tan skin was beaded with sweat. His eyes were irresistibly drawn to a couple drops as they ran down between her breasts. "I know, I'm sweaty," she said with good humor, causing Van to flush. "Yeah, me too," he said. "Starting to wonder if the decision to walk instead of drive was a smart one." "Drink?" "Sure." Liz led him to the picnic table near the pool where a single glass and a sweaty pitcher of iced tea sat. She poured up a glass and downed it in one long drink before refilling it and handing it to him. He drank most of it and handed it back. "Thanks," he said. "So, what's up with you?" she asked, not so subtly glancing at the small package he carried. He held it up for her. "A gift," he said. "For me?" Liz looked a little puzzled and skeptical. "Yup. But, I have to warn you about it. This might be the single most inappropriate gift ever given to someone just a week after having met. So, I stand a good chance of you kicking me off your property for good." "That bad, huh?" Van shrugged. "Possibly." "If you didn't want to be with me, you could just say so. You didn't have to give me a break up gift." Her tone said that she was having fun with him. "I'd much rather be with you," he said. "Good," she said, taking the gift and tearing through the tape on the brown packing paper. Van watched her expression carefully as she removed the paper and realize just what he had given her. She was clearly surprised, but he wasn't as certain as to whether it was a good surprise or bad. "Well, this is inappropriate," she said, causing his heart to thud nervously. "But, maybe the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me." Van's nerves vanished at the appearance of her smile when she looked up at him. "You're not upset, then?" "What kind of girl would I be if I got upset about nipple clamps?" Liz reached around his neck and pulled him into a deep kiss. "Well, I could think of a few girls who probably wouldn't appreciate those," Van said when they finally separated. "Guess that's what makes me special." "Very special." "This is really great," she said, opening the packaging. "I really appreciate what it means that you got them for me." "You're welcome." "And, since I've never tried these before, I may need a little help getting them on. Any volunteers?" "I suppose I can help." They fiddled around with the adjustable screws for a couple minutes before finally getting the clamps sorted out. Her nipples, likely from arousal, were already very perky, and it was easy enough to situate each inside its respective clamp. He released them slowly, just in case they were set too tight. She gasped slightly as each was put in place, but that was soon replaced with a smile of delight. "They okay?" he asked as he stepped back to admire them. Between the silver clamps, a thin chain dangled under her breasts and just above her navel. It was a lovely sight. "Perfect," she said, bouncing gently to get the chain swinging. Liz embraced him once again, kissing him fiercely. He cupped one of her breasts, firm and deliberate, and was treated to an appreciative moan. He even dared to run a fingertip over the exposed tip of her nipple where it squeezed out of the clamp, and she smiled at that. "I like it when you touch me," she whispered. Van liked it very much, too. And, at least for the moment, he was able to act out on some of his impulses. Mostly, though, he was relieved that Liz was happy. "Take a dip in the pool with me?" Liz asked. "I need to cool down and rinse off." "Sure," Van said. He shed his clothes, hoping that none of his pasty white bits got burned in the harsh sunlight. Liz, having already discarded her sandals and hat, took his hand and they jumped into the deep end of the pool together. The shock of cool water was a welcome relief following the hike through the woods, cleansing and refreshing. He also found he was less worried about incidentally touching Liz while she was in the water after she described its buffering effect on her pain response. "I'm glad you came over," Liz said, lacing her fingers together behind his neck. "I was worried that I might have sent the wrong message leaving the way I did." "Don't worry about it. It was a little frustrating, but nothing worth doing right isn't worth a little effort and challenge." "That's the spirit. Just try not to worry about me so much. I'll let you know if or when the pain becomes too great." The Naked Gardener "I'll worry anyway. But I promise to try to not worry as much." "Good." Liz hopped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist while Van cupped her ass to help support her. She pressed her body into him and kissed him aggressively. For the first time, he felt as if he was able to hold her without being so delicate. He wondered if her tolerance was more a product of the water or the mild pain induced by the nipple clamps. The metal of the clamps pressed into his chest, a reminder of his gift, and he couldn't help but remark on how he could never have foreseen the peculiar twists his life had taken over the last week. Liz kissed her way around his neck and nibbled on his earlobe. He couldn't help but smile, sensing that she was in a very playful and enthusiastic mood. He slid one of his hands further underneath her until it brushed across her pussy. Liz moaned, sucked harder on his neck, and was soon trying to push her crotch back into his hand. He rubbed a couple fingers along her slit, possibly resulting in her leaving a mark on his neck. While he continued to tease her with his fingers, Liz broke off her kissing and leaned back just enough to allow cool water to slosh between their chests. She gave him a lusty smile and then cupped one of her breasts and offered it up to his mouth. Van leaned in and flicked his tongue across the exposed tip of the nipple, causing the attached chain to sway before disappearing beneath the surface of the water. Much as he would have liked to suck her entire nipple, it was still erotic to play around the clamp. Liz let him stimulate her for a while before pulling him back to her lips for a long kiss. "I want you," she whispered. All Van could do was kiss her back and moan his own approval of the idea. "But I want you to tighten these one more notch first, if you'd be so kind." Van grinned as she leaned further back to give him space to work without releasing the hold she had on him with her legs. He released each clamp in turn, tweaking the tension and giving her bare nipple a kiss before returning it to its proper place. Liz just watched in amusement. When he finished her adjustments, she finally released her legs and kicked around until she was swimming on her back toward the ladder. With a finger, she beckoned him to follow. He climbed the ladder right behind her, never taking his eyes from her lovely, glistening backside as she walked across the pavement toward the picnic table. When he reached her, they kissed, but she brushed aside his attempt to embrace her. Instead, she turned her back to him and leaned over the table, bracing herself with both hands. She looked over her shoulder and nodded ever so slightly. "Don't try to be gentle," she said. It was still a difficult thing for Van to wrap his head around, but this time he had every intention of trying to do what she needed of him. He was fully aroused, so he stepped up behind her, positioned his cock against her pussy, and slid it inside. Fully penetrated, he held her by her hips and remained still for a moment, savoring the feel of being completely engulfed in her tight warmth. Liz pressed back into him, leaning even further over the table until he heard the chain dangling between her breasts scrape across the wood. He then felt her hand cup his balls as she reached back between her legs with one hand while balancing her weight on the other. She rolled him between her fingers and then stroked the base of his cock through his scrotum. Slowly, Van began to slide in and out, savoring each stroke as a unique moment of perfection with the woman he was falling for hard. She moved her hips in time with him, eager to draw him as far inside as possible. Occasionally he felt her fingers brush against him, but he could tell that she focused more on massaging her clit while he filled her. He liked it when a woman wasn't afraid to touch herself. As they gradually increased their pace, Van decided to try one other thing that he had considered when contemplating Liz's needs. He nearly talked himself out of it, since things seemed to be going okay, but he had a hunch that she would appreciate it. Leaving one hand on her hip, he wound up with his other and spanked her on the butt. When Liz took a sharp breath and froze for a moment, he thought he'd wildly miscalculated. She soon relaxed, though, and pressed back into him, moaning gently as she did so. She looked back over her shoulder and gave him a quick smile. "If you're gonna spank me, do it like you mean it," she said. "Yes, dear," Van said and gave her a second, harder slap. The angle was a little awkward, since much of her ass was blocked by his own hips, but he was able to land a fairly good blow on the upper cheek near the hip. "Mmmm, harder," she said, biting her bottom lip and putting her head back around while redoubling her efforts and fingering herself off. Van gave her several more spankings, each slightly harder than the previous, until his own hand started to sting from the impact. Her ass, where he struck her, was glowing red under her tan. With each hit, however, she seemed to become more aroused and more insistent at trying to get him to fuck her harder and faster. When Liz started moaning faster and breathing heavily, he stopped spanking to again hold her firmly by both hips. He focused solely on pounding her as fast and hard and deep as he could. Liz shuddered with an orgasm as her fingers fluttered furiously across her clit. When she then reached back for his balls again, he felt his own orgasm rise and erupt deep inside her. For some time, he simply held her like that, his cock slowly softening inside her while both caught their breaths. When he finally slid out of her with a soft plop, she stood upright and stretched out. Van just admired her beauty, her lovely curves accented with moisture from the pool and perspiration. She smiled at him and all was right in the world. "You naughty boy," Liz said as she removed the nipple clamps and set them carefully on the table. "So, that was okay?" "That was wonderful." She took him in her arms and kissed him, deep, soft, and passionately. "I was a little out of my usual comfort zone," he said, gently wrapping his arms around her. "Maybe with a little practice, you'll feel more comfortable then." "I'd like that." "Now, could I ask one last favor of you?" "Anything." "Touch me," she said, looking him in the eyes with a very sincere expression. "I am." He was a little confused by what she wanted. "No. Touch me the way you want to when making love to me. Touch me, stroke me, whatever you want." "Uh, won't that hurt, though?" "A little, probably," she said with an innocent shrug. "Right now, I'm pumped so full of endorphins that I think I can take it for a little while. And, I want to feel it." Van, hesitantly, began to rub Liz's back. He traced his fingertips up and down her spine and around her shoulder blades. She winced ever so slightly, but after that just closed her eyes and smiled. All the tension left her body as she stood in his arms. He continued to trace his fingers around her neck and shoulders, then up and down her arms. Liz's smile grew wider when he traced his fingers between her breasts and down her belly before coming back up her side to cup her breast. He massaged it gently and tweaked the still-compressed nipple playfully. "Tease," she said. "Still okay?" Liz cracked her eyes, the brown orbs taking his full measure. She radiated life, love, and natural energy. She simply nodded once and gave him a quick kiss. "Better than ever."