It was nearly midnight. Who the hell opens up for late-night shopping in November? I ambled aimlessly along, looking in windows. My heels clacked in time with the mall music, counterpoint to a dreamscape. I wasn't here to buy anything. I was just bored, wandering, watching the other people drifting through. Immersed in their own little worlds. I like watching them. It appeals to my dreamy side. I met eyes with a girl in white jeans, walking past with her boyfriend. I checked out the guy coming out of the flower shop. Did they notice me noticing them? Or did they pass by unaware of my glances? I like to give them stories in my head. Sexy stories to amuse myself. Naughty things for these strangers to do. That girl? She'll be down on all-fours for him later. In far too much of a hurry to pull those tight jeans much past her knees. The guy with the flowers? He's earned himself a deeply appreciative blow-job from his pretty wife. Sloppy. Moaning. Spit dribbling down his shaft onto her tits.
While tracking a guy in a long coat my eye caught a new target. Myself, reflected in the department store window. Fashionable bag on my shoulder, wearing a white blouse and office skirt. Make-up correct and every hair in place. I looked pretty good. The blouse was a fitted one, the skirt just the right length. Nothing inappropriate, no buttons undone or thigh showing. Just clothes that fitted the trim body underneath. Drawn by the image I floated through the store entrance, passed the security detectors and into the warm interior. Music played. Fast paced, big-based pop. Not chart, and not really family-appropriate if you listened to the lyrics. Incongruous music, more for the club dance-floor than this deserted women's clothing section.
Not really sure what I was looking for, I browsed the racks. Thinking maybe I should get another pair of pants for the office. While idly weighing up a pair of culottes my eye fell on a black top that hung on a rail near a big mirror. It was see-through Lycra with an embroidered ivy pattern that would provide only the barest amount of modesty. It had long sleeves, a round neck that mockingly suggested some feminine propriety, and it was delightful. On a whim I took it to the mirror and held it up to my body. It would be tight and sexy on me. Perfect for clubbing. I could wear a nice black bra underneath it... Or maybe not... I moved with the music. Imagining myself showing-out in that top 'sans bra'. The hottest thing in the club.
That's when I noticed him in the mirror.
A cute guy, staring at me over the top of a clothes rack. He was searching through ladies jackets but my swaying ass had caught his notice. I quickly averted my eyes as a little bolt of excitement shot through me. He hadn't noticed that I'd caught him checking me out. I furtively flicked my gaze back to the mirror. Yup, he was making a big deal of moving those jackets but his eyes were tilted up. I shifted so I could pretend to look at myself in the mirror but instead see him more clearly. Having a little fun, I adjusted the top against myself, supposedly interested in how it would stretch over my bust. His eyes were locked on me, and to have him watch me like that gave me a strange thrill. A watcher, just like me. I gazed at him past the edge of my shoulder, pondering.
Did he make up little stories, like I did?
The moment stretched out, slowed down, and I got careless. Our eyes almost met. With a fright I jerked back from the mirror. My heart was racing a little. I didn't think simply being "looked-at" could actually get me excited. I turned around and he studiously avoided my gaze. Just an ordinary guy, doing ordinary things. Now that I was facing him another bauble caught my eye and I smirked. Sexy panties. They were hanging on the opposite side of the unit he was pretending to investigate. He couldn't see them and he concentrated intently on the jackets when I walked up to take a pair. They were nothing more than a belt of lace, with a scandalously narrow gusset and barely a ribbon to pull up the backside. A disgraceful lack of material for something with that price tag.
My stomach tingled a little as I scooted back to the mirror. Checking for him under lidded eyes I matched the panties to the top. Holding the top against my torso and positioning the panties at my crotch. While swaying my ass to see how I liked them, I pouted and waited... and waited a little more. Those eyes flicked up. Then they side-checked if anybody was looking. Then they checked if "I" was looking. Carefully I held my own stare in the mirror, the thrill rising in me. Then he stared... and stared... drinking me in. I stared back, watching him watch me. My mind formulating his story. I've caught you. I know what you are thinking, you naughty boy! You're thinking about me. Thinking of me showing up to your bedroom dressed in this gear. Ready to fuck you. And do you want to know a little secret?
I'm... kind of... thinking the same thing.
The music was thumping and my heart beat time with it. I glanced to get a better look at his face... and our eyes met in the mirror. His crystal blue and my cloudy green. We both froze and I counted four thuds of my heart beating. He started blushing and I found, to my horror, I was too. The spell was broken and panic set in. I dropped the clothes down, not knowing what to do. Flustered I looked around, stupidly thinking an onlooker would read our minds and shame us. We were simply looking at each other but now we were acting as if someone had caught us kissing in the school supplies closet. I faced him, matching his shocked expression, and he ran for it.
Simply ran straight through the door.
Now I was alone in the store since "cute guy" had done a runner and I laughed out loud from the sudden release of tension. My cheeks felt hot and my mind was whirling, discombobulated. I hardly could remember what I was even doing there. My heart was beating strong and I was breathing fast. I felt... tingly. Watching strangers was a little game I liked to play. True, I indulged in some dirty thoughts about them but, always in a silly way. Never before had the watching game affected me on such a level, but never before had I been the "watchee". I tried to figure out what had made me act-up like that. After a moment of staring dumbly at the clothes in my hands I supposed I had better try them on. I looked around for the dressing rooms, or at least for somebody to point them out, but there was nobody around. I wandered around, realising I was pretty horny now.
The changing rooms were tucked away in a corner, almost impossible to find. Not even a sign for them. Why do stores do that? There was a rack of discarded clothes waiting to be put back and eight booths with short grey curtains. Four facing four, all open, each with a big mirror in the back. There really was nobody around. I went to the end of the corridor and took the one on the right, dropped my bag, and hung my selections on the pegs. I smirked at the see-through top and tiny panties. They really didn't go with those boring office-pants. What was I thinking?
I drew the curtain closed and discovered another unwelcome feature so common in clothes stores. Changing room curtains that don't properly cover the gap. The thick grey fabric was springy and ironed into stiff cleats that no amount of fidgeting could make fit the entire width of the booth. If I pulled it across, a two-inch gap on the left would allow somebody in the corridor to peek in. Worse again there was line of sight into the shop itself. If I covered that gap, there would be an even bigger four-inch gap on the right. Virtually guaranteeing a showing from that angle. I clucked in annoyance. Why do stores do that? Probably trying to make people hurry up and get out. Opting to cover the left gap and shield myself from the corridor I kicked off my pumps and dropped my skirt in order to try on the trousers.
They fit fine, not too long and they gave my ass a nice shape. I checked all the angles in the mirror and took them off again. Putting them back on their hanger. Then I paused and considered what to do about the see-through top and tiny panties. I hadn't really intended to buy anything like that when I came out. Should I just put them back? I thought about it. Probably yes, but I had used them to flirt so mercilessly with that guy it felt like they were calling out to me. I'd invested so much imagination in what they "might" look like on me why not find out for real? Stores don't let people try on underwear but, I figured if I bought them anyway, what was the harm. Looking in the mirror I weighed up my options. My skirt was off, but to do it properly, I'd have to get naked. Lose the shirt, my bra, and my boring white panties just so I could transform myself into that imaginary sex-bomb for a few moments.
While considering my reflection my mind started to wander naughtily. Maybe the gap in that shitty curtain would give a passer-by a flash of my bare ass while I got changed. Maybe they'd stop to peek in and silently watch me modelling with a thong jammed up my butt and nipples poking out of a see-through top. And they would poke out. They were hard as buttons already, making clearly visible bumps on my white cotton shirt. I examined them in the mirror and pouted. I looked horny. God I felt horny and, if I was going to do this, then I'd better do it right. I pulled the bobbin out of my dark hair and let it fall loose. After shaking my hair out I started opening buttons, but I only got about two undone when a sharp swishing sound made me stiffen with fright.
The curtain!
I jerked around in panic and saw my curtain still in place. Closed on the left and leaving its big gap on the right. What made that sound? Somebody had gone into the booth across from mine. Shuffling around. Shedding clothes. Seemed to be in a real hurry too. My heart was hammering again. So many jump-scares were taking a toll on my delicate state. I felt my pulse throb in my neck and suddenly I thought maybe getting naked wasn't such a good idea after all. I looked around to find my skirt but continuing strange sounds from the booth across gave me pause. This girl was acting weirdly. I could hear her breathing in the gaps of the music. Low, fast, and heavy, with an occasional soft smacking sound.
What the hell was she up to? It was all really weird.