Chapter 10

12.06 A.M... Elaine's teeth were brushed, skin moisturised, ready for sleep. Kneeling tall on her bed in the dark, she'd opened the sliding window widely. With her elbows resting on the windowsill, she smelled the fresh air. A warm breeze caressed her face, billowing the gauzy curtains.

Street lamps and house lights dotted the hills that rolled into the distance and Elaine stared. Her room was on the opposite side to the quadrangle and looked away from the city. Until then Elaine had wished she had a view of the bright colourful lights and the promise of excitement. But it wasn't the city she was thinking about.

She smiled and closed her eyes.

Into her mind came Gary. He smirked at her as though he were waiting for her to speak. His arms were crossed and he was tapping his foot. It was a parody, but she sensed he was serious under the humour. He wanted her to hurry up and get to know herself. He knew they were right for each other.

What is it he sees in me?

It warmed her to know she was desired. She sighed softly, opening her eyes and gazing into the distance.

Maybe he's right, she thought. But I'm not rushing this. I mustn't rush it. It's too dangerous. I want to trust him so badly. But minimising the risks is important. I read that again and again. I'm going to have to ask him for references before I get in too deep. And I'm going to have to check them too. If I ever do meet him, I want to look into his eyes with confidence.

Elaine smiled to herself, her gaze focussing on a single, twinkling light, set alone in the hills.

Elaine laughed at her audacity. Amusing herself, she ran with the thought.

He'd be perfect. He's from out of town and he's hot. It's obvious he wants me, and God knows I could do with a good hard fucking. And with my virginity taken care of, there'd be no pain! We could get a motel room...

Elaine bit her lip.

I couldn't do that.

Could I?

No.

I couldn't.

I couldn't bring myself to commit such dishonesty to MYSELF, let alone him. He'll always see me as I am. No matter what mask I wear. He'll know me. He already knows me.

We've only known each other a few days, and already he knows more about me than anyone else on the face of this earth. I couldn't look into those eyes and lie. God, those eyes... I want to take another picture of him. But I want him to be thinking of ME as I click the shutter. I want him to be thinking of fucking me... I want him to... I want... I want him...

"Oooohh!" Elaine gasped. The middle finger of her right hand had dragged too firmly across her clit and the poor little bud, unable to contain itself a moment longer, had jumped for joy, causing her pussy to contract tightly. For a moment, in Elaine's ears it sounded like she was standing in a wind tunnel. She'd been caught by surprise, her eyelids springing open and her hand bouncing off her flesh, frozen in mid-air.

How long have I been doing that?

Suddenly it was so quiet she heard her pussy drip on the bed beneath her as she kneeled by the window. Shaking her head, she slid it closed and climbed between the sheets on her bed. Lying on her back and listening to her breathing slow down, she calmed her beating heart.

As Elaine caught her breath, she remembered the faint flickering light that had originally mesmerised her.

He's out there somewhere...

Thursday morning.

My first official day of 'seeing what it's like to be an exhibitionist, thought Elaine ruefully, rolling out of bed and standing in front of her mirror, completely naked.

She'd always thought sleeping naked would be a thrill, but stripping off her nightie had actually been a relief compared with wearing the scratchy thing. She simply hadn't been able to get to sleep with it on. Breathing had proved to be enough to make the material move slightly over her sensitive nipples. It had been maddening.

Her body was buzzing with need. She fixed her gaze on her nipples and they started to throb softly, without even touching them.

Fuck... Stop!

She dared not see what they felt like, though she longed to pinch and pull them. Grabbing her towel, she gritted her teeth and headed for the shower. A cold shower.

Fifteen minutes later, Elaine groaned as she modelled the light blue tank top with the little black skirt she was going to be wearing later. Her nipples had tightened into hard little balls and she was pretty sure they'd stay like that all day.

Having them on display will keep them what way too, she thought, as she changed into her work clothes. At least she wouldn't be showing off at work. She just hoped no one would question her wearing a pink t-shirt under her white work blouse.

She was counting on it being busy, and she caught a break.

By the time she'd arrived back at the apartment, Elaine felt energised. Flushed with nervous excitement, her body was betraying her. Her pussy wasn't flooded. Just moist, warm and on her mind. After changing into her clothes for school, Elaine glanced in the mirror again.

This top is SO not supposed to be worn without a bra. Maybe I should stick with the t-shirt and wear this stupid tank top tomorrow.

"Ugh," she protested aloud.

I am NOT wearing this in a combo with the flimsy mini. People will think I'm a slut.

Resigned to wearing what she'd chosen, she wished her nipples weren't as prominent. They were really obvious and she was going to have to try to move slowly and not bounce as she walked. She had a wrecking ball of fear in her stomach side-by-side with a strange thrill. Like she needed to pee, but she didn't.

Elaine grabbed her backpack preparing to leave, and heard the front door open and close. Investigating, she headed to the kitchen finding Kendra with her head stuck in the refrigerator.

Great, thought Elaine. She'll get a real kick out of this.

"Hey."

"Fuck!" Kendra said, jumping backward and grabbing her heart. "You scared the shit out of me!"

"Sorry."

Kendra looked up and down Elaine's body, as she'd come to do these last few days. Her gaze settled on Elaine's chest and she chuckled. "You're going to create quite a stir, aren't you? I never realised they were so..."

"Obscene? I shouldn't even be going out in this," Elaine said, pouting and hoping for at least a little sympathy from her roommate. "It's not fair."

"Oh, stop complaining. They look good enough to... show off to the whole world," Kendra said, blinking and meeting Elaine's stare. "I ah, I mean-"

"You're no help."

"Just grin and bear it." Kendra said quietly, sounding much more sympathetic. "It'll be a good learning experience. Something outside the square."

"Thanks a lot, Kendra."

"Now, now. Be nice."

Elaine knew what was coming. Kendra was about to check she had no undies on.

Dammit! I forgot to ask her to empty her bag this morning! Shit! Shit! Shit!

Intending to get in before her roommate, Elaine gasped, "Show me what you've got under your skirt!" Their eyes met and Elaine sensed Kendra was on the back foot. "Now!"

"All right, all right. Jeez Elaine, if you need to see my cunt so bad, you can ask anytime, you know." Kendra winked, gripping the hem of her short skirt, slowly lifting it up her thighs.

"I don't need to see it."

Kendra froze, her hem just below her pussy. "So you want to see it then."

"Oh, forget it," Elaine said, turning in her scuffs and heading for the front door. "I have class," she muttered.

"Not so fast," Kendra said firmly. Elaine froze in the kitchen doorway. "I haven't checked you yet. You might have been putting up a smokescreen."

"I'm not that devious."

"I don't believe you. Lift your hem. I want to see that pretty pussy again."

Elaine's breath caught in her throat. Kendra wanted to see her pussy. She swallowed, trying to find clever words. There was nothing there. "Only if you do."

"Fine. On the count of three," Kendra said, holding the hem of her skirt like a gunfighter about to draw. "One... Two... Three!"

Both girls lifted their skirts simultaneously, and when Kendra started rotating her hips a little, Elaine dropped her hem, smoothing down her skirt and grabbing her bag. She couldn't think of anything to say and she couldn't even look in Kendra's eyes. She actually thought Kendra's pussy had been wet, but there was no way she was going to mention it.

I MUST remember to look in Kendra's bag in the morning, Elaine thought as she exited the apartment.

She hadn't walked halfway across the quadrangle before a stranger stopped her and talked to her. At the time Elaine wondered whether the girl had mistaken her for someone else. Then it dawned on her. She was being hit on.

Despite the awkward feeling engulfing her, it made her smile and she wasn't sure why. She crossed her arms defensively, excusing herself and hurrying to her first class, blushing like crazy. She even felt the girl's eyes on her ass as she walked away.

She hadn't even reached the venue before she surrendered.

Despite the huge blinking signs on her chest saying, 'Check out my tits!', Elaine found a place in her mind where she could handle it. Throwing back her shoulders and lifting her chin, she met the challenge head on, somewhat surprised at how easily the afternoon progressed.

It was a bit of a blur, but it wasn't nearly as bad as she'd imagined. Sure, her nipples had ached for most of the day, but that was hardly surprising. And she'd done her best to ignore her wet pussy. The notes she'd taken hardly made sense. One of the cute guys in her Morality class even asked her out. That had been two and a half hours earlier. Since then she'd put up with guys whistling, commenting and gluing their eyes to her chest wherever she went. One really gorgeous guy had slowly licked his lips while staring into her eyes across a lecture theatre. She'd blushed and grit her teeth, returning her attention to the lecturer.

So this is how a sex object feels...

By the time the bell sounded to end her final class, Elaine was almost used to it.

Bounding up the last flight of stairs to her apartment, she laughed softly in relief. She'd done it! Turning the key, she tried to push open the door but the chain was across it, blocking its progress. At least it allowed Elaine enough room to yell her annoyance at her roommates. "Open the fucking door!"

Kendra was there in moments and Chelsea joined her, looking over her shoulder and rolling her eyes. Kendra smirked and said, "You can't come in till you lift your skirt."

"For God's sake, Kendra," Elaine whined, scouting the landing.

"Just do it."

"This is ridiculous," Elaine said, her fragile mood failing. "Just let me in."

"Come on. Hurry up. The pizzas are getting cold."

"You're crazy," said Elaine, putting down her backpack and turning her head, seeing if anyone was watching from across the quadrangle. Eight apartments faced toward theirs, but she couldn't see anyone.

"Well?" Kendra asked.

Fuck! Elaine thought, glancing down the concrete corridor. Their apartment was at one end and the one at the other end was usually occupied by a couple of grad students. They usually kept to themselves and the lights weren't on. They probably weren't home. The chances of being seen were pretty low.

Before she had a chance to comply, Kendra spoke again. "Take off your top and your skirt and hand them to me, then I'll undo the door."

"WHAT! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!"

"We decided that if you hadn't flashed your puss in two minutes, you'd have to get naked. Sorry."

Kendra looked at Chelsea and said, "I guess she doesn't want to come in." Chelsea giggled as Kendra closed the door. Elaine's jaw dropped.

I can wait them out. This is ridiculous.

One minute passed.

Then two.

Elaine banged her fist on the door. Then she banged on it again. "Come on you guys! This isn't funny..." Surely they weren't going to make her do this. "Please... C'mon..."

The door cracked open. The chain was still across it. "Skirt and top," Kendra demanded, a smug smile on her face. Chelsea was eating pizza.

Elaine steamed, biting her tongue. Somewhere in the back of her mind she thought it was an appropriately humiliating way to end the day. her heart rate rose and her breathing caught in her chest. Closing her eyes for just a moment, she decided to do it. It was the path of least resistance. She couldn't stand on the doorstep all night.

"Promise me you'll let me in. Straight away."

"I promise," Kendra said, winking.

Glancing around again, Elaine sighed. The coast was clear. Taking a deep breath, she said, "I can't believe I'm going to do this."

"Nor can I!" squealed Chelsea with a mouthful of pizza.

In a flash Elaine dragged her tank top over her head and stepped out of her little black skirt. Instinctively her left hand covered her pussy as she held out her clothes in her other hand, a pleading look on her face. "Come on! Hurry up!"

Kendra grinned, snatching the two items of clothing from Elaine's hand and closing the door on her.

And nothing happened.

Elaine held her breath as the moment stretched to breaking point. Then she started to panic. Picking up her backpack to give herself some cover, she banged her fist on the door urgently. She couldn't scream. Everyone would come and see what the fuss was about.