Shock. That was the feeling written on all four faces. It took a moment for William to react but when he did, he noticed that the Inspector was … looking at Julia.
"Sir! Turn around!" he ordered, walking to Julia to place himself in front of her. He took his jacket off and handed it to her. "Put that on." he said, anger clear in his eyes.
She knew she should tell him not to talk to her like that but she was too happy to have something to cover herself with.
"What are you two still doing here?" William almost barked at the Inspector and George.
"William, calm down." Julia said, taking his arm.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, tunring to her. "Julia, you should sit."
"Why?"
"Because you are taller than me and my jacket doesn't cover as much as it should." he said.
"Can you give me your shirt?"
"What? Why?"
"To cover myself! It can work as a skirt until I go get my clothes."
William groaned but took his vest and suspenders off to give his shirt to Julia. She moved behind a tree to tie William's shirt around her waist while he put his suspenders and vest back on. When Julia appeared back from behind the tree. He wanted to be mad at her, he really did, but he couldn't, she looked too good in his shirt and jacket.
"What … uh, what were you doing here Julia?" he asked, trying to look at her face.
"I told you I wanted to try it." she simply said.
"Yes but why did you choose now to try it? Right when we are investigating these people."
"I have three days off and the weather is really nice. William, I didn't know you would send George here. I was shocked when I saw him by the river and ..."
"What? You saw him … in the colony? While he was … naked?" William asked.
"Yes, but ..."
"Did he see you? I mean, before just now, did he see you naked?"
"Yes. We talked for a while and ..."
"So he saw you." William said, clinching his fist.
"It's not a big deal, William. And I think I was mostly hidden by the easel anyway."
"But he saw you just now. And the Inspector saw you too. Oh God."
"William, it's alright." Julia said, taking his hand.
"But Julia, they saw you naked!"
"I know that. But I don't care."
"Well, I do. I don't like the idea of them thinking of you like that."
"I'm sure they will be more embarassed than me." Julia laughed. "Could we go back to the colony now? I would really like to get my clothes back." she said.
"Yes, let's go." William said, taking her by the hand.
They walked silently for a few minutes, William still holding Julia's hand. When he was absolutely sure he was out of sight from George and the Inspector who were taking care of the murderer, he pulled her to him and pressed her against a tree.
"What are you ..."
She was cut off by her husband's lips assaulting hers. She felt her knees buckle under the intensity of his kiss.
"What was that for?" she asked, trying to get her breathing back under control.
"Sorry. I just couldn't help myself. Seeing you dressed like that, I ..."
"Oh don't apologize William. And feel free to do it again anytime you feel like it." she said, kissing him.
When he opened the front door of his house, he was faced with a white sheet. He felt to find how he could enter. When he finally did, he found another sheet barring the way to the dining room and the stairs.
"Julia?" he called, putting his jacket and hat on the coat rack.
"Yes?" she said, her head appearing in the opening of the sheet.
"What is going on here?"
"Tonight, this house will be available only with people not wearing any clothes."
"What?"
"Takes your clothes off William."
"Why?"
"Because otherwise I won't let you come in. And you will be bored rather quickly if you have to stay here all night." she laughed.
"Are you … are you naked right now?" William asked.
"Yes."
Julia laughed when she saw how quick William took his clothes off. Once he was completely naked, she opened the sheet and let him pass. He saw that she had hung dark bed sheets in front of every window.
"So, how was the end of your day?" Julia asked.
"Really, Julia? That's what you want to do? Talk about our days?" William teased.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. To make sure you completely enjoy the nudist experience, there will be no touching before nine o'clock." Julia explained, taking a step back.
"But it's only five Julia!" William exclaimed, looking at the clock.
"Enjoy the experience William!" she said, laughing as she walked into the living room.
"I would rather enjoy another type of experience." he called after her.
They spend their evening as they usually did, Julia reading some medical journal, William working on his invention, preparing dinner, eating.
"So, William, how do you feel?" Julia asked.
"Tortured." he answered, finishing his plate.
"Tortured?"
"How do you think I feel Julia? I have been here for three hours, seeing you walk around completely naked and not being to be able to do anything about it."
"Is that really all you can think about it?" Julia asked.
"When you are naked around me, yes, that's all I can think about. I'm weak, I'm sorry."
Julia didn't know what to say. She had not expected that answer. Her plan had been to make William blush and feel embarassed … it had failed. He was looking at her with so much passion in his eyes that she had to find something to do not to jump on him right at that moment and break her own rule.
"I'll … I'll go clean the dishes. Maybe we could play dominoes after." she said, taking both plates and walking in the kitchen.
William settled on the sofa and read the newspaper. He waited impatiently for her to come back from the kitchen. He was determined to make her break. But she didn't come back.
When the clock struck nine, William ran in the kitchen.