"I thought we might go to the beach today," Jenny said abruptly, as Matilda entered the kitchen the next morning. "Like old times, you know."

Matilda paused. "We haven't gone to the beach in years," she replied, curiously.

"That's why I said like old times, silly." Jenny said brightly. "I thought we could have a picnic, maybe. We can definitely build sandcastles!"

"Jenny, I'm not ten years old anymore," Matilda laughed, confusedly.

Jenny frowned, hurt flashing across her face.

"Fine," she snapped. "I just thought we could do with a reminder of how things used to be."

Matilda blinked. Then scowled as she realised Jenny's intent.

"How they're supposed to be, you mean?" she snarked. "You can't just take me to my favourite childhood places and pretend like I don't feel the way I do!"

"You once told me you didn't want your feelings to change anything between us," Jenny bit out. "Sorry for thinking that a fun family day out might be a nice idea."

Matilda recoiled. Family. Jenny knew exactly what she was doing with that word. Matilda turned away, staring at the ceiling in an attempt to blink back angry tears.

Behind her, Jenny sighed.

"I'm sorry," she said gently. "That was uncalled for. I just thought that some sense of normalcy might help our situation. Please, let's just have a nice day together? No implicit familial intentions."

Jenny watched Matilda's shoulder rise and fall in a steadying breath.

"Okay." Matilda's face bore an unconvincing smile when she turned back around. "Beach day."

Jenny raked a hand through her hair, eyes unwittingly tracing Matilda's legs as she left the room. That conversation could have gone better. She loosed a heavy breath, dropping her head into he hands. Every conversation of late had been similarly laced with tension and hurt. They used to communicate so easily, so amicably. Now, Jenny was quick to snap and Matilda quicker still to tears. She huffed to herself, breath fluttering the hair by her face. Communication relied on honesty and God knew Jenny couldn't be honest with Matilda. Particularly after last night.

Jenny froze by the doorway as Matilda's hand dove into her shorts. Her moan of relief darkened Jenny's already flushed complexion. Jenny gazed, transfixed, at the movement between Matilda's legs. Guilt gnawed at her as she flicked her eyes to the blindfold still resting over Matilda's eyes. Jenny's stomach twisted to think that she was watching without her knowledge.

Jenny shook the memory from her mind. This was why they needed a nice, platonic outing. Matilda was not the only one who needed to be reminded of what they were to each other. They were best friends who built sandcastles together. Today was going to be exactly as platonic as every beach day before.

Matilda rummaged in her closet for her swimwear, pondering Jenny's abrupt suggestion this morning. There was no indication that she'd stayed last night after she'd untied Matilda's wrist. She hadn't flushed or avoided eye contact or even let her eyes linger as long as Matilda had hoped when she'd come down in nothing more than a shirt and panties. As far as Matilda could tell, Jenny hadn't stuck around to watch. Which meant she had to keep pushing. She smirked to herself as she pulled out her skimpiest bikini.

When the pair arrived at the beach, Jenny pulled the picnic basket out while Matilda grabbed the towels. With a devious grin and a sudden "race you to the sand", Jenny took off at a sprint, legs eating up the distance before Matilda even had a chance to react. When she finally raced after her, Jenny was already halfway to the sand. As she reached it, Jenny turned back with a triumphant laugh and Matilda nearly tripped over her feet at the self-satisfied smirk that made her body feel all kinds of tingly.

Quickly, she averted her eyes and lay down the towels. With a mischievous glance at Jenny, Matilda pulled off her shirt to reveal the white, strappy bikini clinging to her curves. Pretending not to notice Jenny's searing gaze, Matilda reached for the suncream nonchalantly. Realising Jenny was yet to sit, she smirked up at her.

Jenny swallowed, gaze locked on the swell of Matilda's breasts, stark against the white of her swimwear. Before she even knew what she was saying, the offer fell from her lips:

"Shall I do your back?" she asked, gesturing vaguely at the suncream bottle.

Matilda's eyes blew wide in surprise, but she nodded tentatively. This had not been part of the plan. Jenny settled on the towel behind her, gathering cream in her hands. Then, they fell to Matilda's back, warm and slick. Matilda couldn't help her gasp. Gently, Jenny kneaded the skin beneath her fingertips, dragging slowly across the exposed planes of Matilda's back. When her fingers met the boundary of Matilda's bikini straps, she slipped them underneath, revelling in the feeling of the fabric giving way to skin.

Matilda wasn't sure she was breathing. Jenny's hands were sliding across her shoulders, under the straps that held her bikini top in place. Her fingers curled over the tops of Matilda's shoulders, tantalisingly close to her breasts. Matilda shivered at the gentle caress, arching into the touch. Jenny was so close that she could feel her breath on the back of her neck. Suddenly overwhelmed with the desire to touch Jenny back, Matilda spun to face her.

Startled at the proximity of their faces, Jenny jolted backwards, nearly falling into the sand behind her. Unthinking, Matilda grabbed her by the waist and pulled her in. Jenny's eyes fell to her lips, breath hitching. Hastily, she brought her gaze back to Matilda's face, only to find her similarly distracted with her eyes fixed on Jenny's unusually exposed décolletage. Jenny cleared her throat awkwardly and Matilda's cheeks pinked in embarrassment as she quickly snapped up her gaze.

Matilda was beginning to find it increasingly humiliating to be called out on her attraction when it was so evidently reciprocated. Feeling retaliatory, she stood abruptly and pulled off her shorts with a half-hearted explanation about going swimming. Jenny's eyes dropped to her ass instantly, darkening as they took in the minimal coverage, and Matilda's smugness was only bolstered by the flush that spread across her previously admired chest.

Matilda couldn't help it – she cleared her throat pointedly. Jenny shot her a glare, but her blush deepened as she murmured some vague excuse Matilda couldn't make out. Internally, Jenny felt a wave of guilty nausea rise, as she gave into the same temptations as she had last night.

Jenny was helpless to the voyeuristic urge, staring as Matilda's body tensed with the tell-tale signs of impending orgasm. Sweat beaded on Matilda's chest and face, slickened her hair against her forehead. As Matilda's toes curled and her head tipped back further, Jenny found herself leaning against the doorframe for support, one hand veering dangerously south.

"Oh…Jenny," Matilda moaned.

Jenny's fingers delved beneath the hem of her own dress, pressing firmly against her clit through her panties, desperate to relieve the ache. On the bed, Matilda's hips were bucking up into her hand. Suddenly, her hand paused and hurriedly withdrew, fingers glistening with desire, and Jenny almost fell over in her haste to escape the room before Matilda tore off the blindfold.

Now, her eyes traced the outline of Matilda's bikini as she walked toward the sea. Jenny's mouth went utterly dry observing the gentle sway of her hips, and the maddeningly sexy length of her legs. In the near distance, Matilda's silhouette paused. Her fingers fell to the ties at one side of her bikini bottoms and Jenny's eyes nearly fell out of her skull as she watched her untie them. She swallowed harshly, eyes glued to the skin carefully revealed as Matilda re-tied her bottoms, slipping a thumb underneath to test the strength of the knot.

Jenny wasn't sure this beach day had been a good idea.