We stayed at the beach for the rest of the afternoon, swapping stories and sunblock. Okay, so I applied most of the sunblock, and the twins told most of the stories. I took everything they said with a grain of salt, but even if some of it was true, the two of them were unstoppable forces. I just kept listening.

By the time we ran from the water for the third or fourth time we'd all had enough of the heat, and Steph decreed that it was time to go back home and get ready for the evening at work. I still had no idea what that was going to involve, but all the girls seemed relaxed enough about it, so I didn't worry too much.

I'd noticed Heather taking the photographs out of the bag a few times and taking another look at them, and wondered what exactly she was looking at. Whenever I asked, it was the landscapes. I made a mental note to find a way to take some more photos with her and see what she might be able to do.

The plan was that I would go back to Sally's, eat, shower, change, and wait for the girls to show up. Heather would drive us down to the restaurant in her bug, and we could take it from there. When I asked why on earth the girls needed so much time to get ready I was just met with blank stares, so I let it go.

Sally and Mike were both home when I got there, for a change, and they both wanted to know how things had been going. I carefully separated the landscape images from the others and took them to show Sally. She was busy cooking and asked me to leave them on the table for her. When I told her about enlarging and framing one for her though, she wiped her hands, gave me a big kiss on the cheek and sat down to take a look at them. Mike came through and looked over his shoulder.

"You're really quite good you know, Paul."

"Thanks, Mike."

Sally looked up. "He doesn't say these things lightly, Paul. That was a huge compliment."

"Oh, well thanks even more."

"That's okay. You know, I should get back into it myself some day."

"You take photos? You never told me that."

"You never asked. I ran out of time for it, and Sally keeps coming up with more creative ways to spend money now."

"I do not. You could pick that camera up any time you like."

"You have a camera?"

"Yeah, an old Olympus. And some lenses and stuff."

"Does it still work?"

"Of course it does."

"Oh. Say... oh, no, never mind."

"What?"

"Well, no, sorry, I opened my mouth before I engaged my brain."

"No, tell me, please."

"Well, I was thinking, if it's working, and you're not using it..."

"You want to borrow it?"

"It was just an idle thought."

"Yes, or no?"

"Well, Heather seems interested. I was thinking I could take her out and see what she could do with it."

"Wait right there."

"No, listen, it's your camera. I'm not sure I'd do the same for you."

"Nah. It's old, and it needs a workout. I haven't touched it since..." He looked down at Sally, sitting at the table. She blushed. "Yeah. I better take that film out. You might be shocked."

"I doubt it. But go ahead."

"Yes, " Sally piped up. "You go right ahead and remove that. I don't need those sorts of things out and about."

"What sort?" Mike was smiling at her. "Where is the camera, anyway?"

"Well, the bedroom, of course." She took a swat at his arm.

"Oh. Oh, yeah. Be right back.

Sally looked at me. "Remember our deal."

"No blabbing. Got it."

"Your mother would be horrified."

"I'm not."

"I see that. Good. My appalling influence is rubbing off."

Mike walked back in with a bag, and a tripod. "Want this, too?"

"Yeah, that would be great. You're sure about this?"

"Yeah. Just be nice to her."

"Heather?"

"Well, yeah, but the Olympus."

"Oh. Understood."

Sally picked an image from the stack. "This one, I think."

Mike picked it up. "Yeah, I like that one, too."

"Alright, cool. Give me a few days. I'll see what Heather can do with it for me."

Sally stood and returned to preparing the meal. "It's very kind of you, Paul. I'll have to figure out where to put it."

Mike spoke up, still looking at the image."In the hallway, perhaps?"

Sally nodded. Then she looked at me, and grinned. "Above the urn?"

"Good idea," said Mike. He hadn't even looked up.

"Yeah," I agreed. "Just there. Ideal." I was smiling back at Sally.

"Done."

Mike and I spent the next twenty minutes going through his gear. I checked everything over to make sure I could get it to work, and he told me stories about his wild youth. I'm not sure he told the whole truth any more than the girls did.

We ate, and my offers to assist with the dishes were rejected again, so I went and showered, got things sorted out, and put on my working clothes. I returned to the kitchen just in time for Sally to have finished with the dishes. She turned to look at me, and shook her head.

"Wonderful, Paul, but you can't wear that shirt like that."

"Oh? What's wrong with it?"

"It's wrinkled, dummy."

"Oh, that doesn't matter, does it?"

"My God, do you have no idea? You're going to spend the evening with three gorgeous women, all of whom have spent the last couple of hours getting ready, and you're going to show up with a wrinkled shirt?"

"Ah... yeah."

"Give it here."

"What?"

"Get it off. I'll get the iron out. Men!" I said nothing. I untucked and unbuttoned the shirt and handed it over. That's when the doorbell rang. "Get that, would you?"

I walked over and opened the door. The three girls were there, and they piled in the door, a little stunned at my state of dress.

Mike was behind them, having come back in from his car. He couldn't resist. "My God, where are you three going? Paul, shouldn't you wear a shirt?"

It was bedlam for a while. The girls were explaining to Mike what was happening, despite him already knowing full well. They were also making fun of me and wanting to know exactly what sort of a restaurant I thought I was going to work in. Sally came back through with the shirt and handed it to me before joining in.

I was a little stunned actually. All three girls really did look spectacular. Short black skirts and white blouses suited all three of them. They insisted I looked wonderful as well, with or without the shirt.

Mike was the first to extract himself from the whirlwind, but only for long enough to make sure it was alright for him to grab my camera from its bag. He assembled the group of us in a corner of the lounge and started snapping some images of us as a group. It was readily apparent from the way he held the camera that he knew what he was doing. I determined to spend some more time later finding out what else he hadn't told me.

Heather took a look at her watch and insisted it was time for us to get going.

I held up my hand. "Hold on a second. Kitchen first."

"You haven't eaten?"

"Oh, yeah. We have. I escaped the dishes again. No, it's something else. Come and look."

We trundled through and I showed them the contents of Mike's bag. Heather was impressed. "Oh, cool, so you can try some other things that your camera doesn't do?"

"Not exactly, Heather."

"No? What's it for, then?"

"You."

"Huh?"

"Mike said you can borrow his gear if you want. You want?"

"Oh, oh yeah, that would be great. I have no idea what I'm doing, though. You sure, Mike?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"Oh, that's so cool." She grabbed Mike around the neck and kissed him."Thanks."

"It was well worth it already."

Sally started moving us towards the door. "Leave that stuff there and pick it up tomorrow or something. Get out of here before Mike decides to go with you."

"He'd have to dress properly."

"Or not wear a shirt."

"Get!"

I was forced to sit in the back seat between the twins again. "What's going on? More stories?"

"Uh uh," Steph shook her head.

"We just need to show you something," Vicki added.

"We're really sorry."

"Yeah, but..." Vicki lifted the hem of her skirt until I could see her knickers.

"... we just couldn't..." I looked over at Steph who was behaving the same way.

"... couldn't wear the red ones."

They were both wearing black, as usual. There was something decidedly arousing about them just showing me like that. "That's not a problem. You look lovely. Both of you. Umm... why not?"

Steph grinned. "Skirts are just a little short for that. We might have embarrassed Sally's friends. We don't want to do that."

"Never mind. Another day?"

"Deal."

They dropped their skirts, though that made only a little difference. Vicki put her hand on my shoulder. "So, Paul, did you?"

"Did I what?"

"Don't ask him. Just look."

I was stunned once again, but I didn't stop them. They undid my trousers and took a look at my underwear.

"Ah, you did. They look nice."

"I thought you'd like that, Vicki."

"Mmhmm..."

"What is that, under the blue?" Vicki asked, pretending at innocence again.

"And why", Vicki added, pointing, "is it hard?"

Heather spoke from the front. "Zip him up, girls. God, what do you think this is, a massage parlour?"

"Spoilsport."

I did my trousers up and rearranged myself as best I could. "We nearly there?"

"Just around the corner here."

Steph put her hand on my shoulder, the same way Vicki had earlier, and spoke quietly to me. I held no illusions though. I knew the other two would hear. "How would it be, stud, if I made you a promise?"

"What sort of promise? You're usually extracting them rather than giving them."

"You're cynical."

"Only since I met you."

"That's grossly unfair. Okay, here it is. Somehow, somewhere, I'll get your rocks off."

"Oh? Thanks." I kissed her quickly, and wondered what she was getting at. I was trying to have less of a tent in my trousers, and Steph was making it worse.

"Yeah. Before midnight."

"Tonight?"

"What? Yes, of course tonight."

"We'll be working."

"That's where the challenge is."

"You're shocking."

"You love it."

"True."

Heather spoke from the front again. "You're both appalling."

"You love it, too."

"Yeah, yeah. We're here. Skirts down, trousers up."

"Yes, Boss."

Heather stopped and parked the car and we all clambered out. If they hadn't already shown me, I'd definitely have known about the knickers by now. They were seriously on display. We stood, straightened ourselves up, and walked to the restaurant. I have to admit, we looked impressive.

The owner knew right away who we were and what we were there for. She was a little frantic as well. Things had gone wrong in the kitchen and she was trying to put out various small fires at once. Steph showed her leadership ability once again, dragging us off to speak with the other waiting staff and getting a couple of people to show us how things worked.

It didn't take long to sort out. It turned out that for this New Year's Eve the restaurant traditionally served a buffet meal, so we wouldn't need to take orders other than for drinks. Most of the effort would be in clearing plates and cutlery from the tables as courses were finished.

I relaxed a little more. I could handle moving dishes. Over the next hour or so people started to arrive in groups and had tables assigned to them. It became clear that the whole thing was reasonably informal, as I should have guessed it would be here at the beach, and we just started doing what needed to be done.

The place filled up and the work got busy over the next hour or so. We hustled. Cheeky remarks were exchanged as we passed each other, and everyone was in great spirits. The customers were relaxed so the staff were as well. I was having a great time.

About eleven thirty Vicki came over to see me. "Hey, Paul, could you help someone in the supply room? They need something off a high shelf, and can't reach."

"Sure. If you give me a kiss."

"Not now." She kissed her hand, and plastered it on my face. "That do? Get moving."

"Place is full of bullies. Let me drop these plates off. Where's this storage room?"

"Hallway. First on the right."

"How do you know?"

"I pay attention."

"You attract attention."

"Like that's bad?"

"Go wiggle your ass at another potential heart attack, while I do this."

"God, I've been flirting all night. I couldn't work here long term. I'd get in so much trouble."

"Yeah, I bet you would."

"Yeah. Oh, you got your hands full?"

"Ah, yep. Why?"

"No reason. Here, I'll put this in your pocket.". She reached over and thrust something in.

As she straightened again I looked down. The thin waistband of some black knickers was hanging out of the pocket. "Umm... these yours?"

Vicki didn't answer. Instead she looked around, turned so hopefully no one important could see her, and dropped a fork on the floor. "Oops." She bent down to pick the cutlery up, and left me in no doubt that she was still wearing her knickers. Then she wiggled. You could see exactly how the heart attacks would happen. Oh, God.

She looked back at me. "Storage room."

"Is it safe?"

"Hardly."

As usual, I was well behind in whatever scheme was going on. And it got worse. I made it to the kitchen with the dishes and dropped them off, tucked the knickers back in my pocket properly before anyone saw them and turned to leave the kitchen again. Heather was beside me, and grinned broadly.

"You know I don't like to encourage them, right?"

"Oh, God. Yes?"

"Yeah, well they convinced me. Did you see Vicki?"

"Uh huh. She gave me a gift."

"Ah. Did you see what it was?"

"Yup. Someone's knickers."

"Ah." Heather looked all around before pulling waistband of her skirt forward a little. She raised her eyebrows, and I looked. She was wearing hers too. And they were black. "Not mine, then."

"That narrows the field somewhat."

"It does."

"Right. See you later."

"Hold on."

Her face was inches from mine. "Don't you want my gift too?"

"Yes, please."

Heather lifted her face to mine and kissed me lightly on the lips. "You know, they've never been quite this bad. It must be your fault." While she was talking she slid her hand into my pocket. Not the one with the knickers in it. On the other side. When she removed her hand she kissed me again. "Best of luck."

"Thanks, I think. Store room, right?"

"Right. Hallway, and first on..."

"The right. Got it."

I walked back out from the kitchen in something of a daze, found the hallway, and the store room. I knocked on the door and when no one answered I walked in.

It was an old room covered in dark wood. Ceiling-height shelving filled most of the room, with cans and bottles of various items filling up a fair proportion of the shelves. There was a workbench as well, of the same dark wood, and that immediately took my attention, because Steph was sitting on it.

She was still fully dressed, aside from the missing knickers. I could tell, because she sat with her knees parted and her skirt up around her hips. It struck me for a moment, again, that the dense thatch of black hair looked a little like the knickers would have, but I was familiar with the difference by now.

I stared until she spoke.

"What? I promised, remember?"

"Yes, but..."

"You should see the expression on your face."

"You should see the view from here."

"You like?"

"Very much."

"Good. Did you get your gifts?"

"Yeah. I know what the first one was. You seem to be missing them."

"Not missing them very much, sweetie." She wriggled forward and took me in her arms. "I've been wanting to take them off since we were in the car."

"I never ever know how to behave with you. You know that?"

"Yep."

"Yeah. So... what... what's the plan?"

"Gentleman's choice, but I'd suggest we stay just like this."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, but only if you drop your pants first" Her hands were on my belt before I noticed, and I had no arguments that I wanted to express. "Oh, but first, where's your other prezzie?"

I'd completely forgotten that, but when I checked there was a condom in my pocket. I took the little foil pack out and looked at it. Steph grabbed it from me, placed it carefully between her teeth, and finished undoing my pants. Unbelted, undone and unzipped, they slid to my ankles. The briefs were next, and then we were standing there, the tip of my cock inches from her hot, wet pussy. She pulled my face to hers, and whispered to me. "Back a little bit down there. Let me put this on."

Once the she had rolled the condom down over my shaft she relaxed a little, moved herself further forward, and kissed me soundly before telling me how much she wanted me tonight.

I moved around until I was positioned correctly, and gently pressed forward. My cock was as hard as stone, but the angle was just right, and I slid up and inside her without any real effort. She sighed and pressed herself close to me, thrusting my cock deeper, and we stayed there for a moment before I started to move.

Bending at the hips I was able to remove myself most of the way from Steph's depths, and then press forcefully back again. She was tight but slippery, and it felt wonderful. I really liked the position too. I could see and touch her breasts, slide my hands down her back and slide my fingers through her hair.

We moved. Time seemed to stand still, and we just moved together. We whispered to each other, and steadily grew more and more tense, in the nicest way. We just kept moving.

It turned out that Steph's hard nipples were very sensitive, and even through her bra and blouse I was able to make her shiver by sliding my thumbs across the surface of the little points.

I also liked the way that, standing here, I could smell her. I loved that arousal odour. I could have swum in it all night if she hadn't spoken again.

"You ready, sexy?"

"Uh huh. You, Steph?"

"God, yes. I have a confession, though."

"Oh, what's that?"

"It's not my first one tonight."

I jumped. "It's not?"

"No. I was waiting for you... and you took so long."

"So you just sat here..."

"Yeah, and touched myself."

"God."

"Is that alright?"

"It's very alright."

"Oh, good. Because... I have a request."

"Oh?" We were still pumping, and I was very, very close.

"Uh huh. Oof. Umm... This angle is great, but it's not going to... quite... get me there."

"Oh, you want to move?"

"Uh uh. Could I just... help myself here a bit?"

"You want me to?"

"No. Not this time. Could I?"

"Oh, please do, Steph."

Her hands fell from me then, and she reached down in front of herself. I could feel her fingertips brushing against my cock, and then she leaned back just a little and rubbed her clit as I pushed in past her fingers.

That was when we heard the chanting start outside.

"Ten!"

"Oh, God, you better hurry up, Paul."

"Nine!"

"You hurry up. I'm doing..."

"Eight!"

"Just fine."

"Seven! Six! Five!"

"Now, Steph?"

"Four!"

" Yes, yes..."

"Three!"

"You can... you can come now, Paul. Please."

"Two!"

The permission was all I needed, and as she found her release and shuddered, I let myself go, and felt the come rising and rushing blissfully from my cock, deep inside Steph.

"One!"

It was wonderful, and I kept kissing her as she came around me, gasping and shaking, biting my lip carelessly.

"Happy New Year!"