Week 3: Early June

Sunday

Shannon had decided Sunday would be her study-free day so she did her workout in the morning. When Greg returned from his run and showered, she was in the gym. He read the paper as he ate his breakfast. When she finished and came into the kitchen, they both were a little withdrawn. She asked if she could have a massage after a quick shower and he said certainly. He had already massaged her three times, and should not have felt uncomfortable, but after last night... He went through the usual working of her arms, neck, shoulders, and back, then started with her feet, working up to her thighs. As he was finishing her thighs and was about to stop, she asked sleepily, "Do my butt, too, please." He had not touched this area and was about to object when he remembered what he had learned about her sensitivity to rejection. Not having seen Alex do this area, he improvised, and, judging by her slight squirming response, he must have done all right. When he again thought he was done, she suddenly turned over and lay on her back. "Do my front, too, please."

"Where?"

"The front of my legs, my hips, my sides, my shoulders, everywhere." He started with her temples and forehead, moved down to her neck, out over her shoulders, and on to her upper chest. She sensed he was about to move to her legs, grabbed both his hands, and placed them on her breasts. "I want to be oiled everywhere!" He worked it into her soft, heavy globes. He circled his oily palms over the nipples, making her gasp and squirm. The rolls on her belly and sides moved about and shook under his hands as he rubbed in the oil. "I'm sorry for the flab. It won't be there for long, now." He said nothing, but patted her cheek lightly in reassurance. Reaching her waist, he moved down to her feet and moved up the fronts of her legs. As he did her upper thighs and the fronts of her hips, she squirmed constantly, and he started to detect the odor of arousal.

He was about to ask her if she wanted him to bring her off, but decided to say nothing. Facing her feet, he oiled up his right hand, put his left hand under her right knee, and pulled her knee up and out, opening up her pussy. He placed his open, oily hand right on her mound and started rubbing in the oil. "Oh, yesss! Don't stop, please!" He spent a few minutes just massaging her whole groin area, applying more oil frequently. Soon, he felt her moving to try to get her sensitive spots under his hand. By now she had brought her other knee up and out, opening herself lewdly. He turned around to face her head and inserted a finger into her. After a few strokes he eased in another finger and began stroking more vigorously, hooking them slightly upward to stroke her sensitive spot. He placed his thumb right on her clit, eliciting a long hiss from her. As he continued stroking, the thumb rubbed her clit back and forth. She built up quickly, and when he felt her just begin to stiffen, he slowed the pace until he felt her tension ease back from the brink. He found the pace that held her just below the no return point and held it there for a good five minutes. She didn't say anything, but he could tell she was now desperate to come. Deciding to take her all the way, he let his ring finger trail down so it slid across her oily asshole on each stroke, and increased the pace. Within a minute she went over, grabbing his wrist with both hands, slamming her thighs tightly together and convulsing in almost a dolphin stroke on the table. His fingers barely stayed in her and his thumb left her clit, but he kept on stroking until she stopped shaking, shuddered a few times, heaved a huge sigh, and went limp. Silent tears began coursing down her cheeks.

"Hey, I'm sorry if..."

"No, no, it's ok! You've got to understand about tears, Greg. I am just happy and overwhelmed. I've never come that hard before. Adam never made me come at all. I had to do it myself. He looked down and was almost surprised to see that his hand was still clamped in her crotch, fingers still partially inserted. He made to pull away, but she still had her hands on his arm. "Please, just a little longer." He put his other hand on her breast and kneaded it gently. Finally, she said "Thank you," released his hand, and got up off the table. "Now I need another shower. I'm too limp to do laps to clean off."

"Shannon, I felt bad last night after you went to your room. You got me off but I didn't do anything for you. I wanted to apologize earlier, but I couldn't figure out how."

"Well, you just found the best possible way." She giggled. "But really, I didn't want anything more last night. You made me feel so alive, so important; I almost floated to my room. I have to change the sheets today because I didn't wash off your cum. It made the experience last into my dreams."

When Julia arrived that evening, Shannon greeted her as if it were her house. Greg was bemused, but decided this was a good thing. It was an exceptionally nice evening, and they decided to go for a swim, eat by the pool, and spend the whole evening in their swimsuits, except for Shannon, of course. The conversation was light and general, staying away from the plan and its progress. Julia, who was a very aware, well read person, drew Shannon into talking about the week's major news events. At this point, she knew the facts of what had been happening, but had not formed many opinions on the meaning and impact of the events. He loved watching Julia's interviewing expertise at work, remembering how she had drawn from him thoughts and feelings he didn't even realize were buried in his psyche. He recalled all too vividly the pain as they came out, then the freedom as together they worked them over. He could see her drawing opinions from Shannon that he doubted Shannon realized she held. It was mostly a two-person conversation for quite a while, but he was in no way bored. He had the sense of watching a really good mind starting its slow emergence from a quagmire of anger, self-loathing, emotional deprivation, and chemical bombardment. Shannon was quick to grasp Julia's questions and respond. Then she seemed surprised at the response she had made. It was as if she had been unaware her mind could operate at this level.

He was getting the idea that the hot tub was where everything important happened, because when they got in, Julia immediately began asking about progress. Shannon started to relate how she was doing in studies and on her workouts, but Julia wasn't interested in that. "Not to ignore how hard you are working, but I want to know what's happening with Shannon. What were the big events of the week? What was the hardest thing you did last week?"

"Oh, meeting Alex almost killed me. I was sure death by embarrassment was possible. Here's this absolute hunk of a man, and I have to meet him naked, with fat rolls hanging all over. There were several times when I actually couldn't breathe. Then, I had to do this machine where I open and close my legs. Can you imagine what that is like?"

"So, how did he treat you?"

"You know, I think that is the only reason I survived. He was a perfect gentleman and he talked to me like a person, not just a subject. He even stood behind me when I did that leg machine, not that there was anything he couldn't see some other time. He did a lot of little things that showed he respected me, fat and all. And the massage! Do you know that was my first, ever? I'll tell you, if you want a fabulous feeling, call Alex! Do it naked, though. It makes it even better. My only problem was fear he might smell me." Giggle.

"I asked you for your worst experience, but you're positively gushing about it. It doesn't sound like it was really bad at all. Tell me, would you rather have met Alex in a workout suit?"

"Of course! Hey, that's a trick question. If it wasn't for the plan, I would never have met him at all."

"I can't wait to hear your best from the week."

"I got this huge naked hug from Daddy and I made him hard!"

Greg thought Julia's jaw was going to catch water, it dropped so low. She stared open-mouthed for the longest time, then, "You mean he was naked, too?" At Shannon's energetic nod, "Details! Please!" Together, they replayed a fairly detailed account of Saturday evening's visit. Julia listened in fascination, and apparently some nervousness, since she was increasingly squirming in her place in the tub. They stopped at the point where her parents left.

"I get the feeling you are not comfortable with what went on. You look really nervous."

"Nervous? Hell, I'm horny. That is the most erotic tale I've heard in a long time."

"Well, it's not quite over, yet."

"Shannon, don't..."

"You said we had to talk it over with Julia. She needs to know what happened. Besides, it was really a tie for the best thing of the week."

From Julia, "I've got to hear this. Tell me."

"After my folks left, Greg didn't get dressed while we cleaned up. We were standing in the kitchen and I told him I liked it when he was naked, and I asked him for a hug. He was leaning against the counter and held out his arms to me. I came over and hugged him tight, but was careful not to touch his penis. Then he grabbed my butt and pushed his penis right into my belly. I started rubbing him with my fat and he got hard. I got him pointing up and kept rubbing and he came all over my front."

"HE WHAT?"

"He came. I felt him getting close and he tried to push me away, but I begged and he let me finish him. I think he was ready from all the stuff that had happened before."

"Did he, um, do you?"

"Not then. I just went right off to sleep with his cum all over me. Julia, it made me feel so wonderful! This morning, he got me off after my massage."

There being no corners on the hot tub, Greg could not find a hiding place. He was so embarrassed his pulse was thumping. He glanced at Julia, who was staring at him with her mouth still open."

"You guys didn't..."

He croaked out, "No. You've heard everything." As he continued to watch her, Julia's mouth closed, her expression changed, and he saw a definite twinkle in her eyes.

"I'm supposed to be a paid professional here, but you've got me acting more like a window peeper. Shannon, I don't want to offend you, but could you give Greg and me a few minutes alone, please."

"Oh, oh! Are you going to figure out a punishment for me. Spanking would be good!" Giggle. And she went off toward the house.

"What the hell were you thinking, Greg. This has escalated out of control all of a sudden."

"I know that, and believe me I did not seek out anything like this. You should have seen her after the hug from her Dad. When she fondled him, it was like the frightened, depressed, self-hating Shannon I got into this plan was suddenly replaced by the vibrant, out-going Shannon from my childhood. Only she was starved. Starved for contact. There was hardly a minute the rest of the night when she wasn't pressed up against one of her folks. And starved for sex. She was so thrilled at Jim's erection! She was like a kid at Christmas. And I don't think she is starved for intercourse. I sense that she has had plenty of that, and it is not all positive. She's starved for the fun, gentle, loving parts that I don't think she has ever had."

"Look, I'm not the shrink here, but I was there, and I had to decide. Do you know what she asked me? 'Greg, can you hug fat?' What were my possible responses, and what would they have done to her? I could sense she was set up for rejection, so I had to hug her, right. I was really trying to think of what would hurt her least. Then she came into my arms and gave me a fairly polite hug, at least as polite as bare boobs against bare chest can be. I could just sense that she really wanted it sexual. I really struggled with myself. I was both horny and terribly embarrassed. I knew I would probably get hard, but it never crossed my mind I might come. Apparently, she could tell, and she was almost desperate to make it happen."

"It wasn't your worst experience of the week, either, huh?" Giggle.

"Hey, no fair!"

"Do you know you are really cute when you are embarrassed?"

"Do you know how much a guy hates to be called cute?"

"Of course I know. I'm a shrink! Seriously, you might as well do this shrink bit yourself, here. You have nailed it exactly as far as what she needs. I really did notice a huge change in her demeanor tonight. About this morning, though. Why did you do her?"

"I guess I believe in the Golden Rule, especially when it comes to relations with women. Also, I thought it was part of her need. She needs to know she can please someone else, but she also needs to know someone is willing to please her. Julia, I will have intercourse with her, but only if you convince me it is the best thing for her progress."

"Otherwise, would you not want to because of her weight?"

"That's not it at all. I like beauty in a woman, but I also like the woman herself. I like Shannon again, even though I really didn't at the start. The fat wouldn't keep me from expressing my affection for her. My real concern is her future. I am not her future husband, at least as far as I know now. She doesn't think so, either. When she meets her future husband, and I meet her future husband, I don't want to have to lie about or explain away anything that happened while she was with me."

"Two other reasons: I put the no sex clause in the contract, and I think some part of that document should still stay in force." Chuckle. "Also, I love Shannon, and I have told her so. But I am not 'in love' with her in the romantic sense."

"Would you never sleep with a woman you were not 'in love' with?"

Wondering where that question came from, he replied "I didn't mean to imply that at all. It was just one of the reasons with Shannon. There are definitely women I have strong feelings for that I would love to sleep with. But that has to work both ways."

"But you would sleep with Shannon if I recommended it?"

"Only after I had given you the third degree so I really understood and believed it was the best thing."

"You didn't really believe nudity was the best thing when I suggested it, did you?"

"Point taken."

"I have to use the potty. I'll bring Shannon back with me when I come." When all three were back in the tub, Julia resumed her professional demeanor. "Do both of you agree that you are not going to be married in the future?" Having discussed it themselves, they agreed readily. "Do you want to continue the kind of sexual play that has started?"

"I really do!" Shannon replied. "I feel like I have found a whole new world I didn't know was out there. I don't want to be a slut or anything, but it is just so close and intimate and... and... and connected when I arouse someone."

"What about you, Greg?"

"I like the intimacy, too. My one concern is that I am supposed to be helping Shannon reach some goals. I don't want anything to hinder that."

"Fair enough. I think the intimate play is harmless, and even beneficial for Shannon. We just need to agree on some limits. My suggestion is this: anything goes, EXCEPT intercourse, oral sex, or sleeping in the same bed together. Does that sound like something you can live with?" Both agreed readily. All were quite warm from an extended time in the tub and they moved to the lounge chairs for a while. "Anything big coming up this week?"

"You could say that," replied Shannon. "The kids are each going to be here for about a day, and Janie is going to stay overnight."

"And how do you feel about that?" She looked puzzled as Greg started to laugh.

"It's just that you almost never do the cliched shrink lines, but you just did. Sorry to interrupt." Julia good-naturedly laughed with him.

Shannon spoke up. "I'm scared shitless! Again. I should almost be used to it by now, but this one will be particularly hard."

"What are you going to do while they are here?"

"I've thought a lot about that. The whole idea is to convince them that I am really trying to change into a real mother. I'm going to go through my regular busy day. They can swim and exercise along with me if they want to, and maybe even help me with my studies. Sure, I'll take some time for just them, especially the time I would usually talk to them on the phone. Do you think that is a good approach?"

"I think it is very wise. About Terry. Are you going to do anything different? Wear bottoms? Anything?"

"Unless you tell me different, no. This will be harder even than Dad or Alex, but after hearing Mom and Dad talk about family modesty and such, I am going to do it. Look, he's fourteen, and unless he's got something going on I don't know about, he has never even seen a live boob. He's on the wrestling team and the locker room talk must be awfully hard for him. When he goes back to school, he will for sure not have any questions about a woman's body. I think he will have more respect for the girls that way, and they will like him better for it. I want him to grow up like Dad, or Greg, or Alex. I'm afraid I've got some big time catching up to do in the sex education area."

"Wow! You have really though this through. How about his embarrassment? He'll probably be constantly hard. How will you get him through that?"

"Hmmm. Guess I'll just hit it right up front. Tell him I understand and that it's a good thing. Before too long, I am going see him naked, probably with a hardon. Also, I want the three of us to be together naked, too. Hell, I want my kids to come to one of our naked Saturday nights! Do you think that will hurt them?"

"Nooo. Just be aware that it is a long way from where they are now. One other important question: will they know you are naked before they see you?"

"I hadn't planned for them to. Do you think the shock will be too great?"

"I'm not sure. You might consider having Greg tell them in the car on the way up. I don't think it should be your mother who tells them. You could tell them on the phone, too, if you decide to let them know. I personally think having Greg tell them would be the best strategy."

"Thanks a bunch!"

"Hey, I have to show them my pussy. All you have to do is explain. Don't be such a wimp! I think I have had enough of Sunday. I'm going to bed." She gave Julia a quick kiss without hugging her. Julia took the initiative and drew her down for a firm but 'polite' hug. Greg stood and gave her a warm hug and a quick kiss on the lips, and she went off to the house. Her departure was followed by several minutes of nothing but outdoor night sounds.

"I never envisioned our plan progressing like this, Greg."

"But is it bad? Are we succeeding for Shannon? Look at what has happened in the relationship area in just two weeks! You say it's not going like we thought, but I really never knew what to think. Could it be that the real Shannon is a lot stronger than we knew, and that it is easier to bring her out than we thought it would be."

"Well, you're with her all the time. You're probably right. I kind of envy you the chance to see someone blossom like this. It doesn't happen like that in my business most of the time."

"I really believe your nudity idea is the key. It certainly has accelerated the healing of family relationships. Right now, Shannon is probably less affected by it than I am."

"Hmmm. Thank you for the compliment." Another long pause. "Greg, how about your relationships? Do these emotional Saturday nights make you wish you could experience the same kind of healing."

"Surprisingly, I really hadn't made that connection. I guess I am so focused on Shannon and so in awe of Caroline and Jim that my so-called family never entered the picture. I honestly do think of the Randolphs as more my family than anything."

"But, don't you think there will always be a hole in your life if you don't try for some sort of resolution."

"What's to resolve? I know absolutely nothing about my father. He wisely boogied before I was aware. He left me to survive with those three bitches who thought I existed to give them an outlet for their anger at the male species."

"How come you don't hate women. In fact you seem to love and respect them far more than most men."

"That's easy. Caroline. And Jim, too. And Shannon as a girl. I tell you, there was so much love and respect in that house you could feel it pouring out the doors. Without trashing my mother and sisters, they somehow convinced me that theirs was the real world, and my house was just a nightmare. My mother didn't mind my eating over there most of the time. She didn't want to fix what a boy needed, anyway. They were so into their bodies that spaghetti or a hamburger were considered obscene. Jim bought all of my sports equipment and they came to my games just like Ted's. I would have had no sports career without him. A car was out of the question, so Jim got a fourth one and insured it so I could use it when I needed to."

"Wasn't there anything positive about your home life."

"The positive was that my real home life was at the Randolph's. Probably the only good thing about going to my own house was the skin show. They didn't see why they should do anything to cover up just because they were stuck with a boy in the house."

"Were they really exhibitionistic?"

"I don't think they thought of it that way. They just didn't wear clothes a lot of the time. No clothes. They would parade around as if I wasn't there, then get pissed if they caught me looking. My sisters would sometimes gang up on me, jerk down my pants, and laugh at my erection. When I got bigger, I could fend them off. A few times I slapped their bare asses, hard. My mother had major fits at that, but it stopped the harassment. They didn't wear any more clothes, but I could watch in peace."

"I'll bet your house was popular with your friends."

"Never brought a single one there. My mother wouldn't allow it. That was their sanctuary."

"Did your mother parade around naked, too?"

"She was almost the worst. When she would get a little drunk, she might come naked into the family room when I was watching TV, flop into a chair with her legs spread and light up. I often gave up on the TV and just went to my room."

"Were they good looking?"

"I guess my sisters were considered foxes at school, and my mother was constantly bragging about her cheerleading days. My mental image is that of Cinderalla's ugly sisters. Beauty has to be as much from inside as just face and figure."

"That's such a wonderful thing to hear from a man. Did you feel that Jenna was beautiful inside and out?"

"Oooof! Going for the jugular again, eh, Doc? I know you are not a Jenna fan and you think I am well rid of her. From just the last two weeks with Shannon, I am starting to believe you are right. You've said that Jenna was a fool for leaving me. I probably served my term as a fool for falling in love with her and marrying her. I really think she somehow just changed, though. You knew her when things were still good between us. Did you sense a problem ahead?"

"Not specifically. But I did feel that her personality was not as firmly anchored as I would have wished for you. Turns out I was right."

"Yeah." Long, friendly pause.

"Where is you fam... er, where are you mother and sisters now? When was your last contact with them?"

"I have no idea where they are, and care less. It has been at least ten years since I even heard anything about them, and that was indirectly. If they ever found out what has happened to me, I'm afraid they would be all over me for my money. You would see a turnaround like nothing in recorded history. For the record. Caroline and Jim are my parents, and Shannon is my sister. That has been brought home to me strongly these last few weeks. I am at peace with that, and have no desire to resurrect anything else. Does that make me a psychiatric freak?"

"Not at all. You are fortunate to have such wonderful people there for you. I think I finally realize why you so strongly wanted to help Shannon. I am delighted things are looking so positive."

"Julia, something else I wanted to talk about. You are a wonderful friend in so many ways. Over all these years, we have never even made suggestive comments or told off-color jokes to each other. Tonight when all this sex talk was going on I felt like I had somehow dirtied our relationship. I was really chagrined to have you hear about what happened between Shannon and I. I'm sorry if it offended you, and I hope you don't think I'm some kind of pervert."

She broke into all out laughter. Greg didn't know what to think, but just waited it out. Finally, "Do you think I'm a nun? For the record, I am a normal, healthy woman who absolutely loves sex. And I could never think of you as a pervert. You are one of the most decent, considerate men I know. I am just thrilled to know that sometimes the good guys win. You have never, ever made a suggestive comment to me, and I just responded in kind. Your experiences last night were erotic and beautiful, and, frankly, I wish it could have been me. Hey, close your mouth! There might just be a few bugs flying around."

'Don't try to figure them out, ' he had to remind himself from Jim's wisdom. Just enjoy the ride! Was it him? Was it the house? What was having this amazing effect on all the women who came here? Well, not all the women. "Julia, what can you tell me about Yvonne? I figured out that she was a patient."

Total silence, then, "Um, did she tell you that?"

"No, she really hasn't talked to me much."

"Well, IF she was a patient, I couldn't even acknowledge that. Are you interested in her?"

"I certainly could be. She is bright and attractive, make that stunning, and seems to be a really caring person. I have been really impressed with how she has worked with Shannon. Right now, though, she is really aloof, almost cold, to me. It bothers me why she might feel that way. At first, I thought it was the nudity thing, but that seems to be resolved. There just seems to be something else there."

"Why don't you ask her out? Get to know her better. Find out for yourself."

"I haven't asked a woman out since the divorce. I guess I would like to ask her. So far, there hasn't been time to even think about it, though."

The conversation died, and a few minutes later, Julia said she had to leave.

Monday

Shannon was down over four pounds again Monday morning. His continued warning that it was too fast a loss to maintain did not dent her enthusiasm.

Since Monday was her workout-free day, she decided to do a heavy study session. While she sat at the computer in the study, he went to his room to call Caroline. He was nervous about the call, but knew it was important. He would have to reveal embarrassing things about himself to Caroline, but it was for Shannon, and he knew she would not think ill of him. After a brief greeting, he dove right in.

"Julia thinks that the hug Jim gave Shannon was incredibly perceptive and courageous. That and your stripping for her are the biggest events so far in helping to bring out the real Shannon. We described to Julia everything that happened Saturday in some detail. When Shannon was not there, Julia and I discussed what to do about it. We agreed that she is just starved for intimacy. It is very important to let her touch and hug all she wants. We should initiate some hugs, as well as accepting them. When we hug her, we must wait for her to break it up. Right now, breaking away might be taken by her as rejection. As much rapid progress as she seems to have made, she is still fragile."

"Shannon is a very sexual person. She has had too little real satisfaction in her sex life, and has almost completely repressed her desires of late. Getting Jim aroused was more important to her than we realized. It opened the possibility that sex could be joyful, friendly, open, and non-threatening. Hard as it may be, we have to let her have these little sexual discoveries and new experiences. To her, sexual play is the ultimate intimacy, and she craves it. It is a way of expressing love."

"Are you saying we should turn Saturday nights into orgies?"

"No, not at all. She wouldn't want that, either. It's too serious. She used the phrase play, but not foreplay."

"When did she say that?"

"Um, well, Caroline, I need to tell you about some things that have happened. This is going to be embarrassing for me, and I hope you won't be offended."

"Greg, I am naked as I talk to you. It won't offend me. Just relax. I respect you and love you too much to be upset at what you tell me."

"Okay. Well, after you left, I didn't dress. We were both in the kitchen and I was leaning against the counter. She asked me, 'Greg, can you hug fat?' What was I supposed to do about that question."

"She was really laying herself open, wasn't she? I hope you didn't reject her!"

"She looked like she was expecting rejection, and I just couldn't. I didn't want to, either. I was starting to understand her starvation for hugs, and I knew the sexual contact was important to her. Anyway, I gave her a real sexy hug. Like Jim did only more so because I knew beforehand what would probably happen. At least I thought I did. I pulled her tight to me and pushed my, er, my..."