A Spirit's Touch

Thirty-Three. Claire: Part One

1969

"The house is lovely. When can I move in?" An excited Claire beamed. She performed an exaggerated spin in the front room before laying eyes on the young eager estate agent.

The estate agent, Stephen, let out a breath he held. "Excellent, Miss Donovan. Are you sure you are happy with everything? The furnishings come with the tenancy." Stephen waited for the returning nod. "Great, M will be pleased."

"M?" Claire questioned.

"The landlady. She lives abroad and has no plans to return to the UK. She prefers to be referred to as M. Unfortunately her real name is a secret and even my boss won't disclose that information to myself to pass on."

"So I'll be relatively undisturbed during my tenancy?" Claire asked with a serious tone.

Stephen grinned. "Yes, apart from the six month check up to the foundations, you could almost say this place will be yours to do as you please. All that is requested from M is that you keep her home clean and tidy at all times."

"Excellent, where do I sign?"

Claire settled into the little Loughborough house just a week later. She did not bring much with her as she possessed very little and the house was supplied with enough furniture to get started.

After unpacking the few items she owned and several folders of papers for her job, Claire was keen to get back into her work routine.

The thirty-five year old worked for a publishing house in the nearby city of Leicester. She drove to the office three days a week and was fortunate enough to work from home two days.

Claire washed and dried herself but instead of getting into pyjamas, or even staying in her towel, she removed the cloth and sat at her desk, completely naked. Claire began looking through her folders trying to find the current project she was working on, unaware that she was being quietly observed from another presence in the corner of the room.

***

Woah, what is she doing? Julie was horrified at the sight of her new and first tenant. She wanted some human company in her house but never in a million years would she have guessed a nudist would apply.

The spirit watched the new tenant as she appeared completely comfortable working on her projects in the nude.

Julie observed Claire's bare back and shoulders. She admired the slender features on the older woman before diverting her gaze elsewhere.

Maybe I should give her some privacy. She may realise she isn't dressed soon. I hope.

The spirit left Claire in the main bedroom and ventured down the stairs into the front room. She wanted to look around the newly refurbished room, at the various items and trinkets that Claire had brought into her life, well afterlife.

The business-esqee woman did not have any hobbies except collecting folders for work it seemed as the shelves were lined with binders of past and potential projects. A few cat ornaments were scattered around and a picture of the London landscape was hung above the fireplace.

Well, you have a living person in your house. Now what? Julie realised she had not given her motives any thought beyond setting up a fake profile to advertise her house for rent with the local agency.

She was bored and found her ability to interact with and alter the physical realm was far stronger than even she could have hoped for.

Julie was able to write a letter to the agency and leave it on the mantle piece for the next inquisitive mind to come to her door. It did not take long for the letter to pass hands and allow the wheels to set in motion.

Four months after deciding she wanted contact, Julie now had Claire in her life. A professional nudist it seemed.

While examining the cat ornaments a creak on the stairs grabbed at Julie's attention. She placed the cat piece she held down in a different place to where she found it and turned to face the door.

Claire appeared, unaware of Julie's presence, and entered the room. Julie averted her gaze once more as Claire came into view. She was still nude, causing Julie to blush.

Wow, and I thought I was the free spirit, Julie thought. She eyed Claire with great interest; curvy hips, strong thighs, breasts that seemed to fit perfectly.

She is stunning, Julie thought before turning away again, not knowing where to look. She felt embarrassed for looking even though the woman had no idea she was there.

She watched as Claire grabbed a book from the shelf and sat back on the sofa to read. Her legs were slightly parted open and Julie guessed this was a woman who was very comfortable living alone.

Julie kept her distance, she did not want the nude woman feeling cold, a downfall Julie had learnt was the case with herself when near the living. She stood far enough back that she could still study her new tenant.

Claire's chest was rising slightly and falling again with her breathing. Julie would not have noticed it as much if she was still alive but she was surprised at how much the upper torso moved to account for the lungs to function.

Claire's breasts were lifted up and fell with an ever so slight bounce with every breath. Julie was slightly curious as to what they felt like; it had been a very long time since she felt the softness of skin and she was not able to touch her own.

Julie crept slowly towards Claire before recoiling. No, I can't do it. I mustn't or I would frighten the poor woman. She retracted her movements, choosing not to disturb the new tenant.

Claire suddenly looked up from her book as if acutely aware of someone else in the room. She scanned all four corners before staring at the door for several moments.

Julie panicked and glided out of the room. It was going to be difficult adjusting to having someone else live in her home, especially someone who made her a little uncomfortable inside.

She only wanted to experience human company again and to sit and observe new life in her home. Why did she get the urge to touch her guest?

***

Word count- 38252

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