* * * Part One * * *
The shop is stylishly furnished, the exact opposite of what you would expect in a sex shop in a dark, shabby side street. Behind dutifully covered up display windows opens a sparkling world of colorful latex and rubber, leather in all shades and shapes, glistening stainless steel and wonderfully skimpy cloth rags. My eyes almost pop out of their sockets as I stumble inside for the first time.
In contrast to the winter cold that reigns outside, the air of the shop feels boiling hot and I wish I could shed some clothing items. I look myself up and down, over that thin, girlish, light pink mini dress that barely covers my butt and becomes almost transparent in the right lighting, and I feel naked. The bow is still in my handbag, the one my Mistress had tied around the packet with the dress, next to the letter with the short but precise instructions - not more than the time, the address and the short sentence "Wear this, nothing else, go to the staff and ask for lesbian bondage magazines."
My stomach rolls into a knot as I recall those instructions, but I have promised to follow them unconditionally so I resist the urge to turn on my heels and flee back into the anonymity of the dark side street. I stalk slowly over to the counter while trying to keep images of greasy sales clerks und lusty looks out of my mind, then around a clothes rack full of see-through underwear and come to halt somewhat surprised and insecure.
The girl who sits there, I consciously call her girl because she can't be much older than eighteen, looks like she has sprung from one of my wet fantasies. She reclines her juvenile body in a futuristic chair made from black leather and chrome and smiles at me from a delicate face framed by strawberry blond shiny curls. The high cheekbones give her a slightly exotic touch, and she owns a lithe, trained body as the finely carved lower leg clearly shows that peeks out from the tight red leather dress and, glowing like silk in the warm light, rests casually on the table before her. I stare at her and swallow.
She doesn't seem to mind my stare, or if she does, she is concealing it with masterful skill, and she rises with cat-like elegance and walks around the counter to me.
"Can I help you?" Her look from the big green eyes is self assured, and even though she's a good few inches smaller than me I have the feeling of having to look up at her.
I want to sink into the ground as I recall my task, and I stall, while a deep blush runs over my cheeks and she looks at me patiently. I'm probably not the only one, I realize, who gets nervous in a sex shop. "I," my voice is barely more than a hoarse whisper and I clear my throat, "I'm looking for - I - I'd like..."
I feel like being quizzed at school for the first time again, her eyebrows lift slightly, questioningly, and my nervousness heightens again. "I'm looking for lesbian bondage magazines" I manage to say hastily and take a big, relieved breath.
Her lips, enhanced by the light red lipstick, sparkle as the tip of her tongue runs over them, quick and unconsciously, but my eyes become glued to them. I'm entranced by her sweet, beautiful face and almost miss that she is talking to me.
"...not catch you," she tells me with an apologetic smile, "could you repeat it a bit slower?"
My stomach spins for a moment and I have the feeling of falling into empty space, like in an elevator that starts to move down. Her eyes look at me inquiringly, and I feel stark naked in front of her. I gather all my courage together, becoming worried that my Mistress might enter any moment and notice that I haven't fulfilled my appointed task yet, and I say slowly and with downcast eyes: "I am looking for lesbian bondage magazines."
My glance meets hers for a short moment, and she looks highly amused. She did understand me quite well the first time, I realize, and a short, surreal bout of dizziness washes over me, heat rushes through my body - and transforms into a strange, tense excitement.
"Those are over there in the shelf," she points at a magazine rack at the other side of the showroom, "come on, I'll show you."