This story is a continuation of 'Just deserts?' and 'Mountain tension' and has strong links with Albert and Jarvis

“Who’s doing what naked?” a female voice asked from behind John and Jennifer.

The pair turned to look in the direction the question came from, and saw probably the most beautiful young woman either of them had ever seen. She was tall, about 175cm, and slim, though a long way from skinny. She had long, blond hair that hung around her shoulders in the gentlest of waves, and the sweetest, most innocent of faces. She was the Venus de Milo with arms. And she was totally naked. John moved to a position behind Jennifer, mainly for fear that his excitement would show, excitement at seeing this woman he could only describe as blisteringly beautiful, stunningly sensual and disarmingly desirable.

Jennifer who, though she would never admit it, was also attracted to this woman in a deep, visceral and frighteningly physical way, steeled herself and said, “Y-your clothes are over th-there.”

“I know,” the new arrival purred, then walked across and calmly, deliberately and tantalisingly slowly, she donned her garments.

“My God, Jen,” John whispered, “she’s even sexier dressed than naked.”

Jennifer was too busy trying to compose herself to say more than “Down, boy” in reply. John could see from her fidgeting that his wife was as blissfully uncomfortable with the situation as he was.

“I’m J-john, by the way, and th-this is my w-wife, J-jen,” John stuttered.

“Enchanté,” came the reply. “My name is Kris. I’m sorry if I startled you.”

“Not at all, Kris,” Jen said, having already composed herself a little more than had her husband. “We saw your car, apparently abandoned, and were afraid you were in trouble. We’re glad to see you’re okay.”

“As you can see, I couldn’t be better, Jen,” she said, at which John nodded his head like one of those toy donkeys people put in the back of their cars, and drooled a little. “I’m touched that you cared enough to come looking. A lot of people wouldn’t have bothered.”

Jennifer elbowed John in the ribs and said, “We should go and leave you in peace, Kris. I’m sure you have things to do.”

“Not at all,” Kris replied, “I’m free for the rest of the day. Where are you headed?”

“We were going to the beach at Fujairah,” John replied.

“There’s still time,” Kris said, “I could do with a bit of relaxation, too and if you’ll let me, I’d like to buy you dinner as a thank you for caring.”

“Oh,” John said, “that would be…” and tried to think of a word or phrase that wouldn’t get him into deep water with Jennifer.

For her part, his wife sensed his difficulty and added, “very kind. Thank you.”

Together, the three descended the mountain. Kris had a lot more local knowledge than John or Jennifer, and was happy to pass on any number of tidbits that could help them enjoy their stay.

They agreed that there was no point taking both vehicles, so Kris locked her car and they all set off in the rental Land Rover. At Kris’s request, they stopped near an old ruined fort. There was something she needed to do there, she said. They were to wait in the car, she said. Whatever it was she wanted to do, they weren’t supposed to see it.

As Kris climbed to the fort, John and Jennifer speculated on what it was she needed to do. Having failed to come up with anything, they turned to more pressing matters.

“She hasn’t said what she does for a living,” Jennifer pointed out, “but based on the effect she had on both of us, I can’t help wondering if she’s some kind of sex worker.”

“Either that, or she’s in the business of selling things like pheromone sprays, and she’s using us as guinea pigs,” John suggested.

“And it’s working, judging by your reactions,” Jennifer teased.

“Not just mine,” John protested.

They were watching her intently as she climbed to the fort. Once she’d reached the top, she shimmered, turned, and started straight back down again.

“What happened there?” Jennifer asked.

“Damned if I know,” John replied, “but I’m beginning to get an uneasy feeling about our new friend. Do me a favour, will you?”

“Name it, sweet prince.”

“Whatever happens this afternoon or this evening, if I end up suggesting that she join us for the night, for God’s sake stop me. I think she’s exerting an influence on me.”

“Only if you promise to do the same for me, lover,” Jen replied.

By this time, Kris was nearing the car, and Jennifer noticed that she was not wearing the same clothes she was when she went up.

“Changed your clothes, Kris?” she asked.

“Yes I did. That’s why I went up there. I needed something more comfortable, and I’d left these there before.”

“So where are the clothes you wore up,” John asked.

“Left ’em up there,” Kris replied. John and Jennifer cast a suspicious glance toward each other.

“Listen, Kris,” John said, ready to confront her with what they had seen, but immediately forgot that and became intensely aroused, as did his wife.

“What is it, John?” Kris purred.

“How do you feel about a bit of skinny-dipping this afternoon?” he asked.

“This is a Muslim country, John. We’d never get away with it.”

“I’m sure someone with your local knowledge can find somewhere we can shed our inhibitions in peace and relative safety,” Jennifer said, wriggling in her seat.

Kris smiled to herself, for she knew she was playing this pair like a Stradivarius. She hadn’t had this much fun since… Okay, she did this sort of thing all the time. Earth people are so gullible, so easy to manipulate, she thought to herself. The trouble is, they’re too easy; it’s no challenge.

They continued to the beach, where John parked the Land Rover and stripped to his trunks. Jennifer hid herself behind a towel and changed into her bikini. Out of their view, Kris shimmered. When Jennifer looked, she saw Kris looking almost edible in a shocking pink bikini that left little to the imagination, but that didn’t stop John exercising his to good effect.

“Nice bikini,” Jennifer said.

“Do you think so?” Kris asked, “I wasn’t sure if it would be better in yellow,” whereupon she shimmered and the bikini turned into a day-glow lemon yellow, “or white,” followed by another shimmer and change of shade.

“How did you do that?” Jennifer asked.

“I’m not from here,” she said, “I can do things.”

“So where on Earth do you come from?” John wanted to know.

“Not on Earth, and if I tell you, I’ll probably have to kill you,” Kris replied with a giggle.

“Okay, keep your little secret. Let’s go for a swim,” Jennifer suggested.

“You two go ahead,” Kris replied, “there are some things I need to do first.”

John and Jennifer ran to the shoreline and threw themselves into the warm, clear waters of the Indian Ocean, where they swam off the emotional turmoil that had been their lot for much of the day. When they returned to their vehicle about thirty minutes later, there was no sign of Kris, just a note on the driver’s seat that read,

“Sorry, guys, I had to leave. I enjoyed your company, and playing with your emotional states was the most fun I have had in ages. You are good people. Enjoy the rest of your Arabian holiday.”
It was signed Kr’veth’neq’is (Kris)

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This week's challenge at esthernewtonblog.wordpress.com asked for a story with a summer theme, based on holidays, adventure, freedom, memories or fun. This may have used one or more of those concepts.