Chapter 1

The seeds to this story were planted last Christmas when my brother got just what he wanted under the Christmas tree. When he got it, neither of us understood what that innocent gift would lead to.

I’m sixteen. My brother, Tyler, is a year younger. The two of us have always been pretty close, probably closer than most brothers and sisters. We even slept in the same bedroom until I was ten. We didn’t have much choice. We were a middle-class family I suppose, but just barely. We lived in a nice enough two-bedroom home on a quiet street. I’m not going to try to convince you we never fought or argued. But we got along more than we didn’t. We even played together by choice!

My dad went into business for himself when I was four or five. When my brother started school my mom went to work with him. They got off to a slow start but after a few years their business caught on and all of a sudden we weren’t middle-class anymore.

We were suddenly well off, though our life didn’t change much, especially at first. My life and my brother’s didn’t anyway. Our parents got nicer cars and they started planning for a new home.

My parents found some acreage on the river outside of town on which they wanted very much to build their dream home. They were unable to talk the owner into selling them just that portion of the property they wanted to build on. He wanted to sell the entire four hundred acres in one piece rather than parcel it out.

My parents only wanted a ten-acre section of it so they tried to convince a couple of developers to purchase the land and sell them the parcel they wanted. They were not successful so my mom, being too stubborn to give up on the location they fell in love with for their dream home, decided that since they had some money now she was going to buy the entire property and develop it herself.

It turned out to be a lot more work than she thought it would. But we all learned a valuable lesson from her efforts. We learned that getting rich is mostly a matter of luck and good timing.

They bought the property and divided it up into ten acre lots. My mother had roads and utilities put in and soon she was selling property she bought for five thousand dollars an acre for, in some cases almost a million dollars an acre. Waterfront property in an exclusive area can be a big draw. My mother caught the real estate market at the top of a big upswing. There was a feeding frenzy when those lots went on the market and suddenly my parents were multimillionaires.

It wasn’t much more than six months later that we were moving into our new home on the river. It’s so large it almost qualifies as a mansion. Our new garage is twice the size of our old house. It started out as a five-car garage but my dad has begun to collect a few motorcycles and they knew that in a few years my brother and I would have cars so by the time it got built it was a seven-car garage. They also added an oversized garage at the end for the motorhome they’ve always wanted and can now afford but still haven’t purchased.

My brother and I both complained when we were given our own large bedrooms. I just turned ten and probably should have been anxious to have my own room. But I’ve always enjoyed lying in my bed at night and talking with my brother until we went to sleep.

I suppose I would have asked for my own room in a few months anyway. It was about that long before I started tip-toing into the very early stages of puberty. Small mounds began forming on my chest and my nipples were suddenly becoming prominent and sensitive. I began to discover that the more my body began to change the more self-conscious I became.

At first I tried to hide the changes, especially from my brother. He didn’t understand why I started to pull back from our close relationship and I started feeling guilty. We started fighting about little or nothing a lot and we didn’t even know why.

One afternoon I said some really nasty things to him and I felt so bad. My conscience bothered me so much I went to his room to apologize and after we talked for a few minutes he wanted to know what he did to make me hate him all of a sudden.

I guess I was pretty perceptive for a kid my age. I started to realize what was bothering me and it wasn’t him. I’d begun to wear a training bra and sometimes it felt like every person I saw on the street was staring at my developing chest. I was excited about growing breasts and slowly transforming into a woman. Yet at the same time I was embarrassed because they were so small and because everyone seemed to be staring at me.

I was just taking my own fears and frustrations out on Tyler. But I finally started to realize it. You have to give me credit for that at least. I was only ten and a half after all.

Tyler was nine and I don’t think he really understood. It didn’t matter, though. He was so glad to hear that I didn’t hate him and there was a reason for the way I was acting, even if he didn’t understand it.

We seemed to get along better after that. We even started sharing more, talking in the evening like we used to before we got our own rooms. It turned out there’s a benefit to opening up to a sibling of the opposite sex. As we both started slogging our way through puberty we started comparing notes. As a result, I had the opportunity to learn more about the often incomprehensible and/or inexcusable behavior of boys and he learned about girls from me.

I don’t mean we did anything sexual. We just kind of compared notes. I tried to explain to him what it was like to be a girl, especially a girl my age who’s body is going through so many changes and he tried to explain boys to me. I had several close girlfriends who almost never spoke with their brothers anymore. I thought they were being dumb. They were missing out on a great opportunity and didn’t even realize it. They, on the other hand, thought it was creepy that I got along so well with my brother and we tried to help each other.

My friends may not have thought much of my relationship with my brother, but we both found it helpful to be able to go to someone of the opposite sex whom we knew we could trust when we had a question about what we considered to be their irrational behavior.

When he turned fourteen my brother began to develop an interest in photography and he was actually pretty good at it, more than pretty good actually. He saved his money and bought an inexpensive camera and some editing software. My parents were so impressed with the pictures he began producing that they not only framed some of them and displayed them around the house but they bought him a very expensive digital camera and a large assortment of lenses for Christmas. He also got a new computer with a massive amount of memory, some very expensive photo editing software, and a weird-looking photo printer which is capable of printing huge photographs.

You should have seen his face when he opened that present! He couldn’t even speak. I was so happy for him I almost cried. I made out better. I had just recently gotten my driver’s license. My Christmas present was professional driving lessons and a sleek, sexy new Corvette.

You might think Tyler would have been jealous. He was still too young to get his license but he loves cars and he has the hots for a Porsche. He wasn’t. I couldn’t have talked him into trading that camera for my new car.

It had definitely been a bootylicious Christmas! It turns out having millionaire parents doesn’t suck at all. Especially when they want to make up for what you didn’t even realize had been years of poverty or near poverty.

Tyler and I didn’t see a lot of each other for a few months after that. He was always out taking pictures or in his room editing them on his computer and printing them. I, on the other hand, was out putting miles on my new car or out in the driveway washing and waxing it.

We did see each other on the way back and forth to school because I drove him. We got together at meals too. Now that we were older there were usually two or three days during the week when I had to make supper for me and my brother because my parents were working late. They used to make a point of having at least one of them get home before dinnertime. But now that we’re older they felt they could devote more time to their company. They’re expanding and it’s requiring a lot of extra time and attention to keep things running smoothly.

Tyler and I were alone in the house early one evening. Our parents were both still at work. Tyler and I were sitting down to supper and I could see that something was bothering him. It was unusual that he didn’t just come out and say what’s on his mind. We’ve never been anything but open and honest with each other and we’re still best friends. He knows that if I can answer any question about girls for him I will. When something is bothering him that’s usually what it’s about.

I was allowed to start dating when I turned sixteen. I was off to a slow start, though. I’ve only been on two dates to school dances and I went to a movie with a boy once. The dances were fun. But the movie date turned into a wrestling match. I never went out with that guy again.

Tyler has to wait a few more months before he can date. But he still has girlfriends. He sometimes meets them at the theater with me as an accomplice. I’ll drive him to the theater where he meets with his girl and they go sit by themselves in the back of the theater while I usually go sit with a few of my friends. But as far as I know he has never even kissed a girl yet. Kinda weird because he’s very handsome and very popular. There can’t be many boys his age who haven’t kissed a girl yet.

After eating in silence for several minutes I asked him what’s bothering him. He glanced up at me, blushed, and then looked down again quickly. Even the question seemed to embarrass him. I started getting worried. I was afraid he had done something bad, gotten in trouble. Whatever it is it must be something pretty bad if he can’t even tell me, his best friend, about it.

He acted like he was thinking about the question for several minutes before he finally said, “Mya...”

There was a long pause and then he shook his head and said, “Never mind.”

Now you know when someone responds that way you just have to get it out of them! I waited a minute to give him time to tell me what was on his mind. When he remained silent I asked, “Is it a problem with Cathy?”

Tyler shook his head. He still didn’t answer the question.

After another long silence I said, “Tyler, you’re scaring me! We’ve always been able to tell each other everything. What’s wrong?”

He can’t even look at me. He’s too embarrassed to tell me whatever it is that’s bothering him. Now I’m really getting worried.

I asked, “Tyler, are you in trouble?”

He shook his head and said, “I had a dumb idea, Mya. I shouldn’t even have thought about it. You’ll just get mad and I don’t want you mad at me.”

Now I definitely have to know!

I said, “Tyler, if it’s just a question, ask it.” Then I chuckled and said, “Hell, it’s never bothered you before when you pissed me off.”

He grinned and said, “I’m afraid you’d take this the wrong way. I told you, it was a bad idea. Let’s just drop it.”

No one I know is going to let that drop! I have to know now!

I got up, took my dish into the kitchen and got a glass of juice. Then I sat down next to Tyler and said, “What if I promise to hear you out and not get mad?”

He tried looking me in the eyes but looked away quickly and said, “I don’t think that’s a promise you can keep. And I think you’d think I’m some kind of pervert or something. I don’t want you to think that. I love you and what you think of me is important to me.”

Finally, in exasperation I said, “Tyler, you know I’m not going to let this go. I’m going to hound you to death until you tell me. Especially now that you’ve admitted you’re a pervert. Of course you’re a pervert! You’re a boy!”

He grinned again. But even my small attempt at humor wasn’t enough to loosen him up. He said, “I should have known better than to open my damned mouth! I’ve been thinking about how to ask you something for weeks. I couldn’t come up with a good way. That’s because there isn’t a good way because I have no business asking you. I know you’re going to get mad. Just please believe that ... well, just give me the benefit of the doubt on the perv thing. You know how serious I am about my photography, right?”

I nodded. There isn’t any question about that.

As hard as it is to believe, his face got even redder. He looked down and said, “Mya, I think you’re the most beautiful girl I know. I think you’re probably the most beautiful girl in town. I mean that, too. I’m not just trying to butter you up. Do you believe me?”

Okay. I’m not ten years old anymore. Those little bumps on my chest turned into a pretty impressive set of boobs. The rest of me came out pretty well, too. I’m a natural blonde with a slender figure and my cup size is on the high end of B. I figure by the end of next year I’ll be wearing a C cup. And I’m not self-conscious about them anymore. I’m pretty damned proud of the way I look and I no longer dress to hide my body.

I know Tyler holds me in high regard. I guess it’s possible he might actually think I’m the most beautiful girl in town. It isn’t true. But I know he loves me and that can cloud a guy’s vision a bit.

I replied, “I believe you aren’t trying to butter me up. I suppose it’s possible you’re laboring under the mistaken belief that I’m the prettiest girl in town. I’m not but I’m flattered you think so. I’m a little confused by this strange conversation because I know you aren’t trying to ask me to marry you. What’s on your mind, Tyler?”

He took a deep breath and released it slowly. He closed his eyes and in a voice so low it was almost a whisper he said, “Please don’t hit me.”

I raised my eyebrow and waited. The curiosity is killing me.

At least another long minute of silence passed before he said, in that same subdued voice, “I wanted to ask you to pose for me. Figure studies.”

I don’t know what the problem is. I’ve let him take pictures of me before.

He looked at my face and he saw that I was confused.

In a voice that was nearly trembling with fear and embarrassment he said, “Figure studies, Mya. I need a pretty girl to pose for me, without her clothes on. I need a girl to pose in her underwear and in the nude. You’re the most beautiful girl I know.”

I gaped at him, shocked that he thought I’d even consider it!

He looked at me, saw the shock registering on my face and looked away quickly. He whispered, “I’m sorry. Don’t be mad, Mya. I know I shouldn’t have asked you. I’m such a jerk!”

He struggled to his feet, hurriedly put his dishes in the kitchen and rushed out of the room. He looks like he’s going to cry!

I realized he’s afraid of what I might think of him now for even suggesting what he just did. He’s afraid I’m mad at him and that I think he’s a pervert. Like maybe I think he’s just trying to see me without my clothes on. I know him better than that. I really do believe it’s just about the photos. He’s really deep into photography and he’s an honest to god artist. Many of his photographs are breathtaking.

So how do I feel? I took my juice into the kitchen and sipped it while I thought about Tyler and his request and how I reacted. He maybe should have warmed me up to the strange subject, even if I didn’t really give him the chance and pretty much forced him to tell me what’s bothering him. I’m not really certain what I’m thinking. I’m still shocked he’d suggest what he just did. I know what I’m supposed to be thinking. I’m supposed to be pissed and I doubt if anyone would blame me if I slapped him for even suggesting what he just did.

But how do I really feel? First, and probably most importantly, I realize I’m not mad. I know he’s deadly serious about his photography and he’s very, very good at it. The pictures of me he has taken since he got that camera made me look as beautiful as a model or a starlet. He has a real talent.

He may be just as horny as any other teenage boy. But I know that despite that he’s sincere about wanting to do those..., what did he call them? Oh yes, figure studies.

How do I feel about that? It would be incredibly embarrassing to undress in front of my brother and pose for pictures, that kind of picture. But I know something about myself no one else knows. I’m a closet exhibitionist.

I don’t go around town flashing my stuff at guys. I’m excited by the idea of doing just that, though. I have on occasion allowed my knees to fall a little farther apart than was ladylike when I thought I could do it without being obvious. I’ve also been known to bend over innocently and permit a boy a much too generous view down my blouse, apparently without being aware of it.

It’s harmless fun. The guys get a cheap thrill out of it and I do, too. I know it isn’t just me. I’ve seen lots of girls doing the same thing. But I’ve always suspected I enjoy it just a little bit more than any of my friends.

I have a stylish wardrobe. It’s modern and attractive and my skirts are all suitably short. I also own several bikinis which bare so much flesh that if my parents saw them I’d probably be grounded for a year even though my parents are pretty broad minded and easy going. When Tyler and I go out on the river in the boat on a nice quiet afternoon after school I usually wear one of those. I also wear them when we use our pool after school. I enjoy turning guys on. I might as well admit it. I even get a kick out of being the cause of the uncomfortable lump which always seems to make Tyler’s trunks fit so poorly.

But Jesus! Could I actually pose like that for my own brother?! Not even my mother has seen me naked since I started wearing a bra!

I finished up in the kitchen and started the dishwasher. Then I got a glass of water and went upstairs. Tyler’s door is closed. That’s unusual. We normally leave our doors open until it’s time to get undressed for bed.

I stopped in front of his door. I know I can’t leave things the way they are now. I love the little shit and it bothers me he’s so torn up over this. There’s no question in my mind his intention was never salacious. I stood there wondering what I’m going to say to him. I don’t want him to feel bad. I want him to know I don’t think he’s a pervert. Or at least no more than any other guy I’ve ever met. I don’t know what I’m going to say but I’ll wing it and see how it goes. I knocked on his door and waited for him to tell me to come in.

There was silence for a long time and then I heard him right on the other side of the door. He quietly said, “I’m sorry, Mya. Please don’t be mad.”

I smiled. I feel so sorry for him. He’s a nice kid and I know he was being sincere when he said those nice things about me. I know, too, that it really is about the photography for him. He meant everything he said at supper. It must have taken a lot of courage to actually ask me to pose for him like that. Well, he didn’t ask me to pose. When he told me what he wanted to ask the shock on my face put an end to that chain of thought.

“Tyler, let me in. We need to talk.”

There was silence again for a minute before he opened his door and stepped back. He looked at me and I guess he can tell I’m not mad. I saw the relief wash over him. When I stepped into his room he put his arms around me. He’s a year younger than I am but he’s almost a foot taller. He hugged me and said, “I’m sorry, Mya. I knew better. I was just ... stupid I guess. I know you...”

“Shut up,” I said and smiled.

He looked down at my face and didn’t know what to say.

I took his hand and led him over to his bed. I pushed him down and then I stepped back, sat in his desk chair and turned it around to face him.

I stared at his face for a minute and then I said, “I’m honored, Tyler. I’m honored you think I’m beautiful and I’m honored you trusted me enough to ask me to do that, even if I did have to torture you until you finally talked. I know it must have taken a lot of courage. I’m not sure I can do that for you, though.”