My hands trembled slightly as I gripped the Camry's steering wheel. Today I was finally going to do it. I had arranged for a day off from work. There would be no time constraints, no lunch hour pressure. The boredom I had felt with Mark, and the fear that it might be bad news for the relationship, was compelling me to try something new. It took nerve to call the place up and get directions, but here I was driving downtown. This was certainly going to be a more interesting day off than I'd had in years.
My destination was on Constitution Avenue, the main drag. I briefly feared someone from the office might see her, but put the thought out of her mind. Besides, what business would they have downtown, miles from the office?
I was grateful for a parking spot on the street, not an easy task at this time of day. I fed the meter and walked up the block. The Secret Boutique, an exclusive fetishwear shop, was new, recently opening in an old tailor's shop. The heavily tinted windows made it difficult to see inside. I removed my sunglasses, my blue eyes squinting in the bright noontime sun, and checked my reflection. My sandy-colored hair fell in a bobbed cut around my jaw, framing my face in a soft halo. I smiled widely, making sure my lipstick didn't smear my teeth. Casually dressed, in comfortable jeans and a cute Japanese cartoon character T-shirt, as well as my well-worn Doc Martens, I felt perfectly anonymous. I was simply one of a thousand shoppers going about their business. Swallowing nervously, my heart pounding, I rang the bell and was buzzed inside.
Coming in from the bright sunlight it took my eyes a moment to adjust to the dim lighting. I blinked a few times, trying to orient myself. Totally blind at first the only sensory input I got was the aroma of leather mixed with incense and... rubber? I was barely able to make out the outlines of the shop when a friendly voice behind me called out, "Hi! Welcome to The Secret Boutique!"
I jumped. After my pulse returned to normal I turned to greet the voice. "Can I help you?" asked the clerk. She didn't seem too weird for a fetish purveyor. A cute twenty-something in a white-blonde crewcut, her green eyes sparkled mischievously. Dark, blood-red lipstick accentuated her smiling mouth, and the color was repeated on her sensibly short fingernails. She dressed in a simple, long sleeved black minidress that hugged her body nicely. A few silver earrings and a long silver chain with a fairy pendant were her only jewelry. The overall impression I had of her was that of a mischievous elf. At first glance I thought she was as tall as me, but then I noticed her beautiful boots, the only tipoff that she might have been into her merchandise. Form-fitting and reaching to her knees, made of shiny black leather and equipped with four-inch stiletto heels, they accentuated the lines of her very nice legs. I would have killed to find a pair of boots that hot.
The salesgirl smiled and reassuringly rubbed my shoulder. "Relax! I'm not here to hurt you." Extending her hand, she smiled once more. Her eyes twinkled charmingly in the dim light. "My name's Debra. Nice to meet you."
"Sara, hi."
"Well, Sara, this is a no-pressure shop. Take your time. Gather your thoughts. We get first-timers in here all the time. They're confused and a bit nervous, but very curious at the same time. It's like they've been waiting to do this their whole lives and the moment has arrived. It can be quite a powerful moment."
Breathing deeply, I smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I just got nervous. You're right, I've never been in a place like this. I guess I just got overwhelmed. I don't know what I was expecting-Madame Vixen's Dungeon or something."
"Well, this isn't a dungeon. I may supply the costumes and a few props, but that's it. Besides, I'm not zoned for it." She giggled. "Just kidding. So tell me, what brings you here today?"
I blushed, nervously smoothing my hair. "Jesus, this is embarrassing... I saw your ad in this magazine. You see, it stirred up certain... ideas. My boyfriend, Mark, is a great guy and I love him to death. We've kind of stalled out in the bedroom department, though. When we have sex at all, it's kind of blah. I was hoping I could jazz it up a bit." Debra nodded knowingly, smiling in a comforting way and not interrupting. I relaxed a bit and continued.
"Mark's a cartoonist, and if he isn't watching fifty-year-old Looney Tunes videos he's squirreled away in his studio reading and drawing superhero comics. Knowing his penchant for goofiness it's entirely possible I'll wind up one night in a Bugs Bunny costume, being chased around the house by a boner-wielding Elmer Fudd. 'Scwewy Wabbit' takes on a whole new meaning, if you follow me. A little kinkiness is all well and good-well, a lot of kinkiness is all well and good, but if things are going to get weird I want to be in the driver's seat!" I breathed deeply and smiled. "Well, there you have it. My life story. Please, be gentle with me."
Debra laughed softly. "I promise you I won't bite. Why don't I show you around? I might be able to make a few suggestions."
Recessed lighting gently illuminated the store and Enigma played on the stereo, just loudly enough to create a relaxed, otherworldly, slightly erotic mood. Racks of fetish clothing surrounded them. I owned a leather jacket or two, and had once borrowed a girlfriend's leather miniskirt for a date, but the thought of creating an entire ensemble of leather, or some even more exotic material, dazzled me. The aroma of fetish clothing hung in the air like an aphrodisiac. Debra lit several candles and dimmed the lights, making the shop even moodier. The butterflies in my stomach began to be replaced by another sensation.
Debra asked me if anything had caught my eye. I hesitated, unsure, with a bad case of option anxiety. Debra rummaged though a rack on the wall and held up an item. "Why don't you try this latex catsuit? It seems to be your size."
I snorted amusedly. The outfit hung shiny and shapeless, looking smaller than a child's swimsuit. I doubted it could even be used as a swimcap. It felt cool and smooth in my hands as she examined it, and the fragrance of latex wafted under my nose. I inhaled deeply, and thought of being encased in such a material. What would it look like? What would it feel like? In a thickly aroused voice, I said, "Okay, let's go with this. I'm not exactly Pamela Anderson, but what the hell!"
Debra smiled her pixie smile once more. I began to feel quite at ease with her. "This stuff is skin tight," she cautioned. "Everything shows, so off with the bra and undies. Use the baby powder and dust yourself all over. It'll help you get it on easier. If you have any problems, give a yell and I'll be right there."