In the middle of the weekday, the store is quiet. She wanders through the open space, running her hand gently along the racks of delicate undergarments. Her gaze flitting from shelf to shelf, skipping from mounds of brightly colored panties to intricately carved bras. Pastels merging into bold creations, setting the tone for each section of the store. In her arms she holds a delicate confection of lace and strings, seemingly too insubstantial to even require a hanger. Picking up a packet of stockings along the way, she makes her way to the fitting rooms and glances around for the store clerk. Seeing no one nearby, she tries the door to one of the dressing rooms and finding it unlocked, slips inside. The dressing rooms are in a half-circle around a little sitting area, concealed behind a heavy curtain. The sitting area has a soft, long, overstuffed ottoman for the waiting guests and a large mirror.
Inside the dressing room, she unbuttons her shirt and is unsnapping her jeans when the cell phone warbles in her purse. Scrambling, she reaches in and pulls it out, smiling as she sees the caller ID of the person calling.
"Hi," her voice softens involuntarily. She steps out of her jeans and slips the shirt off her shoulder as she holds the phone with one hand.
"Where are you now?"
"In a store..."
"Which one?"
"Leila's Boutique, I told you I was going, remember?" She halts and glances down at her watch, wondering if she's running late or if he simply forgot.
"I remember. I finished early, I'll meet you at the store."
"No, wait..." she stares mutely at the phone as it goes dead in her hand and swears softly. She doesn't want him to see her buying these things, she wants to surprise him. Perhaps there is still enough time before he gets there.
Stepping out of her panties and slipping off her bra, she reaches for the clothes she brought with her. First the thong, then the thigh high stockings, and finally the corset. Her fingers hurry to tighten the delicate lacing in the front, pulling the corset together, as it lifts and squeezes her breasts, pushing them up. The corset laced, she leans down to test the range of movement and in that moment hears a sharp rap on the dressing room door. Her heart leaps in her throat but a scant second later she realizes that the missing store clerk has probably reappeared and is checking the rooms.
"Yes?" her voice shakes a little, but her heartbeat is already slowing down.
"Open the door, please." It's him. Apparently he was a lot closer when he called than she thought. She doesn't have time to think and refusing him is not an option. Slowly, her hand reaches for the door and turns the handle. His long legs are the first to meet her eyes as she takes in his body, stretched out on the settee in front of the dressing room. Arms folded across his chest, he regards her with a steady gaze.
"Very nice," the sensual tone of approval in his voice brings a flush to her cheeks, reminding her just how underdressed for a public place she is.
Stammering, she steps back into the dressing room,
"I'll only be a moment..." before she can finish, he raises his hand, commanding her to silence. The words freeze in her throat and a delicious sense of helpless inevitability spreads through her, heating up her skin, letting the blush suffuse her chest and arms. She swallows and watches as he rises gracefully from the settee and takes a step toward her, entering the dressing room and crowding her back toward the little puffy cushioned seat in the corner. Though these dressing rooms are about twice as large as those in a usual store, his size dwarfs the space and his close presence makes her heart gallop in her chest. When she hears the soft click of the lock on the dressing room door she suddenly finds it difficult to breathe, her whole being concentrating on him. Though he's seen her naked before, somehow this invasion of privacy, even though she is partly dressed, seemed more intimate.
She fights the impulse to step close to him and hide herself but unable to resist, does just that, sliding her arms around his back and molding herself to his comforting frame.