I knew I had no business being in this part of town so late at night, but I needed a costume for a gig I was doing the next night. The girl who was supposed to be dancing went into labor, so my agency called me. I had never danced professionally, in fact, I was not supposed to debut for another couple of weeks. They directed me to this shop in what appeared to be the most run down part of town, but they spoke so highly of this place, so, here I was.
FAISAL'S, read the sign above the door. I stepped inside the dimly lit store, listening to a bell chime.The walls were burgundy. A beautiful, guitar melody with someone singing in Arabic pumped from the speakers. There was a long glass counter along one wall. Behind it were beautiful coin belts, sequined veils, gloves, zills, candles, anything you could think of that a belly dancer or someone looking to create a Middle Eastern themed party might need. Costumes hung in circular racks around the room. A thick velvet curtain with gold trim hung in the back of the store.
I began looking at the costume sets when I heard,
"Can I help you?"
"Yes, I..." my breath caught in my throat. I was expecting the shopkeeper to be some uptight Arabic man with a beer belly and horrible breath, but the man who stood before me was tall and handsome. His broad shoulders filled out his shirt nicely. I could see the biceps bulging at the sleeves. He wore dark jeans and a belt with a beautiful gold buckle. His eyes were a beautiful brown. His olive colored skin looked smooth and tanned. He had nice straight hair that was cut shorter in the back and was slightly longer in the front. A thin beard and mustache covered the lower half of his handsome face.
"Are you Faisal?" I asked timidly.
"Faisal is my father. I am Amir." He spoke with a slight accent. "Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"
"Jamilah," I gave him my stage name.
"Jamilah," he repeated. "Such appropriate name."
"Sorry?"
"It means beautiful in Arabic. Surely you knew that when you chose it." He winked. "You are a belly dancer, no?"
"Yes. I um...I am making my debut a little early, tomorrow night, in fact. I need something to wear."
"Yes, I can help you with that. We need to find something to flatter your skin and figure. Come, let me measure you."
He led me to a set of mirrors in the back, a three way mirror surrounded by a step platform. He helped me up, pulled out a measuring tape and said,
"Raise your arms."
I complied. He pulled the tape around my breasts. I thought I felt his thumb brush my nipple, but I dismissed it. Next, he measured my waist and my hips.
"How tall are you?" he asked.
"I'm five feet four inches." He frowned. "Oh, I'm sorry, about a hundred and sixty three centimeters."
"Thank you. I have never gotten used to the American system of measurement," he said as he flipped through the rows of costumes. "Now, because of your beautiful cinnamon colored skin, I suggest warm colors." He threw about three outfits over his arm.
"Come, you must try these on. I need to see if there are any adjustments to be made."
He guided me to the back of the store and pulled the curtain aside. I saw a dingy but clean bathroom and a room with a light and a mirror. I assumed that was the dressing room. Amir turned on the light for me.
"Here. Let me see you in each one of them."
"Okay."
I went in and shut the door. Damn, he was so handsome! I blushed as I undressed. The first outfit was red, the second one yellow, and the third was a beautiful coral color. For some reason, I felt drawn to the coral. The bra was a solid satin with gold coins sewn in circular patterns around the cups. Gold chains dangled from the band. The skirt had a full panel in the back and one in the front that covered me, but allowed my legs full access to the outside. The bra fit beautifully. I felt a twinge of butterflies in my stomach as I exited the dressing room. Amir stood with the measuring tape around his neck, waiting.
"Amir?"
He turned. When he saw me, it took him a second to breathe.
"You are living up to your name, my dear. There are a few accessories to go with this costume. Come to the three-way mirror."
He stood me in the mirror. He fitted a beautiful coin necklace around my neck. He smelled very nice, like burning wood.
"Do you use a veil when you dance?"
"Sometimes."
He brought out a large matching veil trimmed in gold sequins and handed it to me.
"I need you to dance for me so I can see how the outfit moves."
"I...I'm...."
"Don't be shy, Jamilah. You will be in front of an audience tomorrow, no? There is no one here but you and me. Please, we do not want anything falling during your performance."
He had a point. I spread the veil behind me and I began to move seductively to the song pumping from the speakers. I began to sway and shift my hips in a circle. I moved the veil in front of my face as I started to undulate. I slowly tightened up the undulation until only my belly was rolling. I moved the veil aside so he could see. I was getting into the music, and I noticed that the store was taking on a sweet scent.
"I hope you do not mind that I am burning incense," he said. He stared at my belly.
"Not at all," I said. I was teasing him, and he knew it. He shifted his weight back and forth. He began to rub his face.
"You...are...a very sexy dancer. You move very well for a beginner. You have a natural talent."
"Thank you." I stopped dancing.
"Why did you stop?"
"You want me to keep dancing?"
"I like the way you move." He came closer to me. "Please, you must know that you are an attractive woman. I did not see a ring on your finger. You do not belong to anyone?"
"No. No husband, no boyfriend..." why was I feeling a little bit like I had been drinking?
"You have one of the most beautiful bellies I have ever seen on a dancing girl. There are so many things I would like to do with this belly, and with you, my beautiful American princess."
"I...I..."
Amir stepped onto the platform. I felt him slide his arms around me.
"Amir..."
He caught me in his arms as I fainted.
"Jamilah, awaken my dear."
Darkness engulfed me. As I became more aware of my surroundings, I tried to move. My wrists were tied together! They hit something solid, like a pole or pillar. More rope kept my ankles together. I shifted and felt a tight rope around my waist, just above my navel.
"Mmmmmmmmmmm, mmmmmmmm!" Something soft filled the space of my mouth and made normal speech impossible. As I wriggled my jaw, something sticky and thick lay across my lips. I could not expel the thing in my mouth even if I wanted to. My tongue was pushed against the hard roof of my mouth by that object so I could not use it to free my mouth. I smelled the strange incense and heard the haunting Arabic music.
"Do not be afraid my dear. You are in my apartment above the shop."
"Mmmmmmmm, mmmmmmmm, mmmmmm!
Mmmmmmm, mmmmmm, mmmmmm!"
"I am sorry that I must keep you gagged my dear, but we cannot have you screaming, especially once I begin giving you mind blowing orgasms."
What? Was he crazy? Was he some kind of freak?
"That incense, I am used to it, but it can be quite potent if you are not used to the scent."
"Mmmmmmmmm, mmmmmmm, mmmmmmm!" I wriggled as much as I could, but the ropes did not give me much leeway to move.
"Do not worry, my sweet American princess. You will enjoy yourself once you let go and let this happen naturally. As I said downstairs, you have a magnificent sexy belly." Amir ran his fingers across the rope holding my waist captive. I felt something warm and wet on my navel, was it his tongue? My belly quivered under his touch.
"Mmmmmmmmmm! Mmmmmmm, mmmmmmm, mmmmmmmmmmm!"
"I cannot understand you, Jamilah. You are frightened, but also turned on."
What? No! I can't be turned on! You drugged me and tied me up! Let me go! I told him all of this, but of course, he could not understand me. Amir slowly lifted my bra. My breasts protruded forward. My nipples hardened in the cool air.
"Your breasts are perfect." He began to lick one nipple while fingering the other. No! Stop it! What are you doing? Untie me!
"Shh, shh, let your body take over. You were flirting with me. You saw me watching you. You will entice men with this gorgeous belly of yours." He left my breasts and kissed across my belly. When he got to my navel, he swirled his tongue around while fingering my breasts.
"Let go, Jamilah. Respond to my touch. Respond with your heart, not your head. Let me feel this magnificent belly in my mouth."
My body was already betraying me. My nipples felt like two little hard raisins. Moisture began to pool in my pussy.
"Mmmmmmmmmm, mmmmmmmmm," I moaned.
"Roll this sweet bound belly for me. Pull your belly in and push down past the rope."
"Mmmmmmmmmmm," I complied.
"Good girl. Now, pull it in from the bottom and push it up and over."
I did as he instructed me.
