The Setup

“It’s me, Steven!” he announced.

Jennifer raised her fingers to her lips and issued a loud “Shhhh!”, then opened the door all the way. She grabbed Steven’s hand and pulled him into the room, shutting the door quickly behind them. Steven stood just inside the doorway. Jennifer had stepped back several paces.

The lamps in the room were turned off. A lone candle off to the side provided the only light. It took Steven’s eyes a few seconds to adjust to the subdued glimmering. Before him, Jennifer stood in an amazing transformation. It was shocking and pleasant. The flickering candlelight bathed her. Steven knew it was a ‘Jennifer’ that had never been seen by any person. Her plain-jane aura had been discarded. Jennifer wore a satin nightgown that extended halfway between her hip and knee. Over that she wore a matching peignoir of a gauzy material that was fastened only by a single button at the neck. It exposed the nightie to view, but hid its details. Steven spied the outline of matching panties beneath the outer layer. The ensemble was blue. In the half-light it took on an aqua hue on the side nearest the candlelight and a royal blue appearance on the darker side. It was a color that complimented her blond tresses. Jennifer had redone her hair, not in a fancy contrivance, but brushed it in a way that gave it fullness and wave and held away from her face. She was barefoot, suggesting the innocence that she was soon to relinquish. A hint of perfume betrayed her carnal intentions. In all, it was a seductive presence as she stood still in the middle of the room, hands at her sides as she allowed Steven to survey her.

It took all of Jennifer’s courage to remain still while Steven eyed her. She didn’t know why, but a voice inside her told her that she had to do so. Although her outfit covered most of her, she felt naked. In his eyes was an emerging betrayal of the lust that he felt but did not yet speak. Her wearing the negligee was a statement that made her naked of defenses. By showing herself to him in this way she had stepped over the fence of virginity with one foot. Straddling the barrier, her display invited him to come hither to help her cross over completely.

Jennifer waited for Steven’s move. He indulged himself long seconds, savoring the new creation before him. Seconds turned to hours on Jennifer’s clock. The sensation of being on display was foreign to her. Many emotions flooded through her so fast that she was unable to sort through them. She was a novice tightrope walker midway between posts. She had taken irretrievable steps away from safety. Her partner awaited her at the far terminal. She was frozen, unable to retreat but with no plan for moving forward. She hoped for a safety net below, but dared not look downward to search for it.

She resolved to wait for as long as necessary. She made no movement, nor intended to, until Steven acknowledged her.

In her ears was the distant thunder of oncoming hooves, an impending stampede of events set to rush over her. Her heart was pounding to match the rhythm and intensity of the savage herd. She fought a desperate battle to stave off the outward show of panting that would signal her fear. She was naked in deed, and would soon be nude in fact. She was trembling a little, and hoped that Steven did not notice. She had recreated her visage to earn Steven’s acceptance of whatever feminine charms she might possess. As she waited for his answer, she prayed for confirmation. She longed to know if Steven appreciated the presentation.

“Jennifer”, Steven said softly, “I don’t know what to say, except how beautiful you look.”

Here, in a single sentence was placed the acceptance that Jennifer had longed for.

Steven was justified in attesting to her loveliness. He had never pictured her as she was at that moment. The bagginess of her daily apparel had so cruelly hidden her supple form. It was clear that her figure was flawless. Steven’s eyes continued to roam over her. Although only medium in height, Jennifer’s body appeared long and lithe. Her breasts were covered by the negligee and peignoir, but he could see that they were mounted firmly in her chest and were just ample enough to match her frame. He longed to see the nipples and imagined them stiff with excited desire. He glanced down to her partially uncovered thighs and noted her delicate, but toned muscles. Steven considered Jennifer’s voluntary display for his inspection. He knew that many young maidens would be unable to stand such a test. He admired her pluck for doing it. Inspired by the work of art before him, Steven’s own breathing quickened.

He turned and locked the door behind him with a loud click that made Jennifer startle as the single sound signaled their isolation from the world. Steven reached out his hands.

“These are for you;” nodding at the flowers, “and this is for us later on”, raising the bottle of rose’.

***************

Jennifer grasped the flowers to her breast and thrust her face into them. Their scent and softness were a salve for her soul, a simple piece of truth and beauty.

“Thank you, Steven. That was very sweet of you.” She peered out at him from the cradle of the bouquet. Although the flowers covered her nose and mouth, Steven thought he detected a smile in the crinkles around her eyes.

Steven mused over whether Jennifer meant the gift of the flowers, or his compliment. The bottle of rose’ remained unattended in his outstretched arm, so Steven fit it into the mini-refrigerator in the corner of the dorm room so it could chill for later refreshment. He stripped off his jacket and set it aside.

Steven stood and faced Jennifer who was still holding the bouquet to her face watching him. He slowly approached her, gently pried the bouquet from her hands, and set it on the chest of drawers nearby. Her smile disappeared with the protective flowers. In its place appeared a doe-eyed girl whose fear was refreshed by the imminence of the long-awaited action.

Steven stepped a little closer. With a gentle palm he cupped the side of her face, a test of her acceptance. He leaned in, still with his hand gently upon her face, and kissed her tenderly on the lips. Jennifer was pliant enough, but offered no return initiative. He released the kiss and caressed her from the line of her brow to her chin. He wrapped his arm loosely about her shoulder and tried the kiss again. This time she parted her lips a little. He enjoyed the softness that he found, the gradual yielding to his advances. He swirled the other arm about her. He probed her parted lips with his tongue. She yielded more. Steven felt her absorbing the first time pleasure.

As Steven took her over, Jennifer realized that she was crossing another line. She felt his tongue enter her. She gave in to it. His man’s size and strength, his insistence and his tenderness were promises to her of awaiting pleasures if she could force herself over the final barrier.

He released her and moved back one step. Steven reached to her throat and undid the single button of the peignoir. He ceremoniously peeled it down her arms that had fallen to her sides, finally removing it from her altogether and setting it aside. He raised his hands back to her bare shoulders. She gasped slightly, expecting him to push down the straps of her nightie for a quick exposure. Instead, with a practiced gentleness, he retraced his earlier path. This time he stroked down her shoulders to her bare arms, ending in her palms.

It was a touching that made Jennifer thrill with sensuality. She longed for him to repeat the journey. She let out a quiet “mmm” to show her approval and encourage him. Steven understood the hint and stroked down her arms again. For Jennifer, it was not new like the first time; it gave a different pleasure because she sensed that her reaction had prompted him. Steven embraced Jennifer again and kissed her. This time Jennifer threw her arms around his shoulders and kissed back. She breathed into him through flared nostrils. She wanted him to know that she enjoyed his pleasuring her.

Steven felt aroused and in command. He broke the kiss and looked into her eyes searching for permission. She was looking back with anticipation. He placed his hand on the lacy strap on her shoulder and began to push it to the end of her shoulder.

*************

Jennifer became aware of Steven’s intent and let out a stifled whimper. She trembled, an involuntary reaction. She had so relished his attention to her senses a few seconds ago. She wanted to continue but the onrush of progress re-sparked her fear.

Steven removed his hand. “It’s alright, Jennifer. Don’t be afraid.”

“I’m so sorry Steven!” She replied, with tears flowing freely and the trembling unabated. “I know you must be upset with me. You’ve been so kind. Just give me a minute and we can get back to it. I’m just so nervous!”

“It’s alright.” Steven repeated. “You should know how beautiful you are right now.”

Steven spoke the truth. In the candlelight, clad only in the blue negligee, Jennifer emitted a special beauty. Her bare shoulders had a sculpted look, with classic lines in white marble. The bare arms flowing from them were delicately supple. The bodice of the gown covered her breasts, but their forms could be discerned beneath the shiny blue fabric. It made the viewer yearn all the more for their unveiling.

Steven was disappointed, not in Jennifer, but himself. A short time ago he felt himself in control, an oarsman on a great current of building desire. Somehow, they had broken free of the channel and now drifted unproductively. He reminded himself that he had committed himself to allowing Jennifer’s deflowering to be of her own desire. He was at a tilting point at which recovery or cessation would follow. He realized that he now wanted this nubile maiden. Despite his inward promise to accede to Jennifer’s desires, he would help her make the ‘right’ decision, if he could.

“Jennifer”, he said, “you’re just tense. I sensed it in the dining hall. I should have known that you would still be that way. Let’s just take our time.”