I woke up to another romantic poem, still feeling skittish from the night before.

After we exchanged a few words to bring in the morning, I got to the point.

“Sooo about last night…. Are you able to be more descriptive about the ‘celebration’?”

Sammy got to it right away.

“My night: After a thrilling moment with you and the ocean, I went home with a carful of beautiful produce grown by friends at the market. Three women who are dear hearted people and a friend group welcomed me home. I made a fire outside and then we created a meal together from the bounty. We sat by the fire outside … shared poetry, sang, told stories, and there were moments when I got to feel deeply seen. I also had the opportunity to relieve a sore neck and carry an older woman to her car. She was over the moon about it … couldn’t remember the last time she was carried, and I felt wonder in the delight of the simplest acts of service.”

I doubled over (the opposite way), speechless. Once again, until I gained my composure, a swirly heart emoji saved me.

I explained my misunderstanding. I couldn’t wait to talk to Sammy about everything face to face. Clearly, there was plenty that I didn’t understand; my nervous system was on high alert.

Like the photos. Sammy had been sending them to me so I could get a better sense of her life. She had asked beforehand if I was okay with nudity in photos, and I was an adult so I consented to receiving them. But – I didn’t know she’d be naked in all of them…gardening, mixing a drink, chopping wood, working out, gathering eggs, cooking, swimming in the lake…. I knew what her body looked like from every angle, and we hadn’t even kissed yet. It was a bit…much.

“We spend a lot of time naked,” she told me. “I even tend bees naked :)” I had no proof that this wasn’t an exaggeration. (Yet.)

Perhaps these photos were part of the legwork for an upcoming fundraiser? A sexy calendar, the proceeds from which would benefit a nudist rights organization?

More likely, these photos were curated especially for me to highlight Sammy’s sex appeal. Which she had plenty of. I didn’t need the photos to see that. I assumed from the gesture that it must be customary to send this type of subtle marketing to “love interests” in the poly- community.

But. Maybe I was wrong. I was beginning to question my judgement.

I explained to Sammy that I was generally clothed for photos.

I commented on her beautiful shapes.

“<<shy me thanks you>>” she responded.

“Shy? Really? Lol, too late to have me thinking that.”

She explained that she was shy in sending me the photos but did so because she tries to feel the fear in things and do them anyway. And besides, she said, nudity would be the least of her shyness with me.

“What do you feel most shy about?” I asked her.

“Maybe my desire.”

“Do you feel shy with everyone you desire?”

“Yes. And that has only distinctly happened with two people in my life.”

Previous –> 18…orgy. Next –> 20…deeper.