The Winding Path Pt. 01

Margot was suddenly glad she'd never mentioned her mysterious contract nor her benefactor, whoever they were though she suspected it was Vogel, who had shipped her to this place hundreds of miles from her city. Now that she thought about it, most of the other younger women in town didn't go around in the nude all the time, just Margot, although Dee-dee and Jamie certainly seemed clothing optional. She wondered if that too was a just a social custom they had developed to indicate their availability. Even some of the men, she recalled, would lounge about in just their underwear, or less, at home or in their patios. It was just that kind of place, not a full on nudist colony but somewhere for persons of a certain bent to congregate and live a particular lifestyle. Consequently, they weren't ones to ask too many questions about how anyone else lived theirs.

Thinking further, the comment by a German visitor she had bumped into one day made sense. He and his wife were renting a cabin not far from town and were at the tiny roadside bar and grill for dinner. Margot had been sitting alone with a drink at the bar when he had leaned on the counter, spiked hot beverage in one hand, "I'm glad we found this place. It reminds me of Europe, no hang-ups you know?" They had a nice conversation, with the wife joining in, and unlike the locals, they didn't even take advantage of her, although she eventually ended up at their place for some amusement on a different date.

"So, I've been meaning to ask about the denomination is this monastery..." Margot shook her head from the memory and continued on the thread of the topic.

"Oh, it's not like one of those places. It's not really religious, unless you count being perverted a religion. You see, back in the old days when this area used to be a hippie commune, the monastery was one of those New Age Tantric temples where old geezers just went to meditate in the buff and fuck each other's wives or whatnot outside of the view of the decent folks. Old man Vogel is some rich weasel who took his fortune from the dot com era and made a little Playboy mansion out in the woods with his own ranchero full of fuck bunnies. I was invited up, but I'm not interested in leathery old ball sacks."

Ronnie piped in, "Actually, I hear there are a few younger studs up there, not just Vogel. He doesn't have the energy any more for all that so he just likes to sit in his room and pull his pud once in a while. Word has it, he has his cams hidden around the whole property so he can see all, including one of those kinky slave dungeons."

Margot's imagination was suddenly filled with images of lurid bondage films including dry ice smoke curling along iron cages with helpless, nubile women lashed together with ropes and chains being ravaged by men in masks under harsh flood lights. Her curiosity piqued, she eventually decided to make her way there after a few more days of loitering about. She could also tell from the girlfriend's expression, as well as the mother, that her welcome had worn out. There seemed to be formal rules to any of this, she'd just been living life except for the basic tenets set forth by the contract. She could just get some clothes and find a ride back down to the city if she wanted. She hadn't even gotten a formal request to visit this monastery. This is course meant she just had to go, at least to find out what all of this might be leading up to, if anything at all.

Later, when she finally arrived at the monastery after a strenuous hike, backpack with some minor supplies over her naked back, it was both everything she had imagined and yet, something else entirely.

Chapter 5 - Flesh and Mind

When she went to pack up the supplies for the hike, after learning that there was no transport service up to the monastery's location, Margot was pulled aside by one of the stock boys at the market.

"One for the road?" Jimmy begged.

"Sure, why not?"

They ended up in the break room which had a ratty old sofa. It squeaked as she rode him cowgirl. While they were going at it, Jerry walked by, "Nice, mind if I pop in?"

She waved, leaning forward so he could DP her in the ass. Once they had both nutted out, Jimmy hurried back to this shift while Jeramiah refracted with Margot on the couch.

"I broke up with Marta," he announced suddenly as she nuzzled his chest. When she didn't respond, he kept going, "Going to be mighty cold in my room in the winter..."

"You could order an electric blanket. I managed to get Pops to get me one in the cabin, and it was a life saver at night. Well, I better get going if I want to get up there before sundown, or I might be a popsicle for them to haul out on a stretcher," she kissed him with genuine affection. He wistfully let her go.

Although it was still the tail end of a long summer, the days up at that elevation were still rather cool, and nights would be dangerous without cover.

As a compromise, she figured it was okay to wear boots, thermal socks, mittens, scarf, and a knitted beanie with a puffy top that made her look utterly ridiculous. To complement the set she had a backpack filled with water bottles, snacks, a spare blanket, emergency lamp, portable camping stove, and some reading material. She figured her electronic sabbatical would continue though she wondered what her bank balance was like these days; per the contract, the corporation would have taken care of cancelling her apartment lease and utilities and her few possessions would be put in storage. She also wondered how even an eccentric millionaire could afford such things but the conversation with Dee-Dee had suggested that not all of the women who came up to this mountain were offered such compensation. Well, I guess I am special, she thought, smugly.

It turned out to be a strenuous hike up the trail that switched back and forth up to the elevation where the so-called monastery was situated. There was an access road for vehicles but it was currently closed to traffic. Margot considered herself to be in shape, but the steep inclines soon had her breathing heavily. At least the exertion was keeping her warm despite the wind stealing the heat from her exposed flesh. If she ended up in this place during the deep winter, or even nightfall, there would be no way she could make the journey back without assistance. Fortunately, it was a beautiful, clear, day as the sun shined through the trees. Chipmunks chittered from their perches, as well as birds and other small animals. It became rockier and the slope was open enough so she could look out at the loping hills as they fell away into the distance. She breathed deeply, it was good to be alive.

Margot took a break, thinking she was about half-way, spreading a blanket down on a flat rock in order to prepare luncheon. Satisfied from the meal, she leaned back in order to relax. Almost of its own accord, her hand reached down to her clit, stimulating it. The daily sexual activity of the past few weeks had not inoculated her drive, instead her body seemed to have hit some kind of steady state of ready tension that needed a release like a spring on a clock with an accelerated tempo. Before all this, she could usually release that tension on the weekends when she was single, and when in a relationship it depended on her partner's schedule although she usually ended up being the more demanding side.

Under the sky, she let herself go, using her fingers to massage herself to a quick petite morte.

The lingering afterglow did not fade into a melancholy as sometimes would happen in post-coital, or masturbatory in this case, repose. She was pleased that the gears of her mental clock seemed to whir along without that backlash affecting her these days. It was strange, but pleasing.

Was this a utopia? She wondered. With all her needs met, and no worry about tomorrow, she had been living a rather bohemian life without much thought to the future. Could she continue this, year after year, until she grew too old or tired of an existence with no goal except for the pleasures of the moment? Already she had been a bit bored, and she had spent much time curled up in the cabin reading when not fornicating. Margot had put up a schedule calendar she had found, marking it up facetiously with fake appointments marked "Sex with Pops, More Sex, and Sex again" as the revolving train of partners in her time there had turned into a routine.

She had heard that without the stress of existence, mice in a famous experiment had fallen into despair and boredom, eventually dying, socially isolated and alone. Was this life she was currently leading a type of social experiment by the anonymous benefactor who had hired her?

So she was quite curious about this new place. It would be a change in scenery at least. Either way, once her year was up, she could pursue other interests and hobbies, she presumed. Most wanderers in life eventually took root somewhere. She packed up and continued on her way. When she crested the last steep rise before entering the grounds of the monastery, Margot was able to see it spread out before her. It was quite extensive with multiple outbuildings surrounding an Asian fusion structure that had elements of classical Japanese architecture mixed in with modernist design that was probably cutting edge decades ago when it was first built. Looking around, there weren't any people that she could see out in the open so she headed for the closest structure. It had an enclosed car park, gatehouse, and what appeared to be a long defunct space for a gift shop. She rapped on the door to the management office but it was dark. At some point, the complex must have been some kind of lodge as most of the buildings were cabin-like dwellings plus a structure that appeared to be a dining hall and recreation center.

Before she could investigate the most interesting building in the center, she was finally spotted by someone on the grounds. A young woman, as pink and nude as Margot and perhaps a couple years younger in appearance, stepped from the rec hall, after pushing open one of the wide glass doors. She had long raven hair and Asian features although her full breasts, capped with a wide brown aureoles, were probably above average, or at least Margot presumed, hoping that judgement wasn't too much of a stereotype. She noted the carefully curated tuft of black pubic hair down below. Margot herself preferred to go completely bare.

She began, "Good to know I fit the dress code. I'm-"

"Of course, come along with me. You can help me finish up in the commons. Over here, drop off your belongings; you can put them away later. Off with all the rest," she pointed to Margot's shoes, scarf, and mittens. Her beanie had to go too which she would miss because it helped to keep her ears warm. Inside the wide, parquet floored, common room of the rec center, the Asian showed her the cleaning gear which consisted of a mop, cloth rags, scrub brushes, buckets, and spray bottles. There were latex gloves so their hands wouldn't be roughened up by the surfactants.

When Margot tried to ask more questions, the girl gave her a sharp look that immediately made her close her mouth. She wasn't dumb: it was quite obvious that cleaning would be part of her initiation. She'd been hazed for the sorority at college so this wasn't a big deal for Margot. The work was simple but strenuous as there was quite lot of surface to wipe down, plus much of the flooring had to be done by hand. Her knees were sore so she quickly adopted the combination of waddling squats and a stance with arched back that had their butts up in the air, which the other woman used with alacrity. Well, she mused, if someone was watching they were getting an eyeful of two lithe women as they built up a sheen of sweat.

At last they had a break. The Asian led her to the cafeteria where there was water to be had from the tap. Margot gulped the ice cold water with relief, wiping her brow and saying, "My arms hurt, I haven't had this kind of work out in ages. Don't your tits bother you like that?"

The other woman's poker face gave nothing for Margot to work with. She simply replied, "Time to do the rest."

"The rest!" Margot exclaimed. She had thought wiping down the huge common room was going to be the whole deal. They did the rest of spaces of that building as well as the restrooms, although the kitchen proper apparently was off limits (much to Margot's relief) as by that time the kitchen staff came on duty. They were a group of five women except that most of them were a bit older, albeit not over thirty from what Margot could tell. All were nude at first, only donning aprons and footwear in order to prepare dinner. Margot wondered where they would eat, as the spaces had no furnishings which had made cleaning easier.

Allowed another break as the sun fell behind the hills, it became apparent that they all ate sitting on the floor. Margot helped put out placemats across the cafeteria's main space as well as bring out trays of food to be arranged in rows as others began trickling in from the other buildings. All in all, about thirty women, of all varieties and types but around Margot's age, now gathered for the evening meal. Margot couldn't help but feel that the entire affair had a cultish edge to it. As long as it didn't involve some kind of blood ritual later, she guessed she'd go along with it for now. She followed along as all the women sat in front of their meals, a variety of simple and healthy dishes, and bowed their heads in silent prayer. Margot just thought of nothing in particular, hunger defeating her curiosity.

Once the actual eating began, it just seemed like a normal group of people, despite the unusual dress code and the fact that they were all-Margot subconsciously included herself-fine specimens of femininity. There was a low murmur of conversation.

There were definite cliques in the group with a few sitting in pairs but few clutches were larger than four or five. Few seemed very curious about the newcomer, whether out of actual disinterest or some unspoken policy Margot had no clue.

The Asian girl, sitting beside her, finally directed her attention to Margot, "I am assigned as your partner. You may leave at any time, but you must follow my commands while you are here. If you do well, you may be elevated to a higher duty. You may ask questions, but I may not answer all of them. Some things I do not know."

The cuisine was a hybrid of different Asian styles so most of the items required the use of chopsticks. Margot wasn't used to them so she had trouble avoiding spillage. She asked between bites of some kind of pickled vegetables, "I heard this was some kind of temple. Is that what all this is about?"

"It was many years ago, but no longer. We aren't part of some established or even pagan religion, it's just a set of rules passed down to keep things organized. Most of us are just people who wanted to get away from the city in exchange for certain...services. You can guess what most of those are."

"Rules started by Vogler?"

The woman nodded, brushing back her silken locks from her face as she leaned forward to bring up a bowl of soup.

"So, he's paying for all this," Margot spread her hand out.

"Him, as well as other patrons who share his particular interests."

"I guess we're being trained to be fancy concubines or something like that. How come he doesn't take virgins? Isn't that something guys like that would prize?"

"Some of the women are, when they arrive, most aren't."

"Do I get an introduction...?" Margot let the end of the question expand with a raised eyebrow.

"Our names don't matter here, but to make it simpler just call me Wren."

"Pleased to meet you. Margot," she held out a hand. Tentatively, Wren grasped her by the fingers in an awkward shake. The kitchen staff brought out steaming cups of some sort of chai, gathering up the finished trays as they went along. Margot was glad that washing dishes wasn't part of her duties either. The drink went down easily, warming her center. Although the air in the cafeteria was warm, being naked did not aid in comfort so the hot tea was welcome. The sensation seemed to spread to her fingertips.

Now that the sun was set, Wren led her to the big common space where it became clear they were setup for the night. She helped roll out mats onto the floor which must have been heated as apparently they were expected to sleep without any coverings at all!

Before retiring to the mats, the women took turns in the gym style shower room, washing up, and preparing for the night. Margot couldn't help but compare herself with the others, who ranged from all sizes, ethnicities, and physiques in the prime of their health. Towels were used but not kept, although some had their heads wrapped to dry their hair.

Once ready, the women broke up into pairs, triplets, or even one group of four until they were distributed out on the wide space. Wren was paired with Margot on a double wide mat. The lights dimmed but never went totally off. Margot, tired from the long day of hiking and working, was ready to fall into sleep, until Wren pushed up against her. She had expected this in the back of her mind.

Margot said, not stopping the other woman's advances, "I've never done it with a woman. I mean, I've shared a man with others quite a few times, but I'm not gay." Yet, Wren's kisses didn't hesitate, and Margot felt good enough not to stop her. Her legs parted automatically, allowing the Asian's delicate tongue to find the deeps of her folds. Around her, Margot could hear some of the others clasping together in their own ways and the large space soon filled with their collective sighs, some louder than others. Her own voice joined them as the warmth spread throughout her body as Wren's expert mouth devoured her womanhood. Giddy, Margot laughed as Wren's fingers made a tracery over her flesh, tickling as they explored her.

Sated, she pushed Wren down in order to return the favor. Her inexperience was obvious as she awkwardly approached the dark space between her partner's legs. Wren guided her, as she tasted another woman's sea for the first time. Well, this wasn't quite true, she realized, as she'd shared a man's cock after it had dove into a woman or two during the past few weeks of debauchery. She'd never done this deliberate act of lesbianism, although she had shared kisses, mostly to show off to voyeurs and not for the pleasure itself. So, this was what it was like as Wren's scent filled her senses. There was an electric tingle as the tip of her tongue found the nugget hidden above the entrance to the cave. She tried to use her fingers, tentatively sliding two into that space.

Wren guided her efforts which gradually improved enough so the girl clenched for a moment in climax. It was much less dramatic than Margot's own. As if in apology, she kissed up the Asian woman's belly until her head was nestled in her ample chest, mouth finding her delicate nipples. Wren's hands gripped her own buttocks, kneading them expertly arousing her once more to her own surprise.

Next, Margot found herself head down with her rump exposed so Wren could spread her ass cheeks to work hands and mouth. This reminded her of the time with the men in the minivan in her first escapade, however, Wren was more patient yet assured bringing Margot to another resounding climax. When Margot went again to reciprocate, Wren shook her head and they snuggled together in the open air, sweat cooling, as the sound of the others continued with silken sighs and the slap of hands on flesh.

Wren's mouth met hers, and they spent a languid time kissing until slumber finally overcame any remaining passion.

To be continued...