One of the more off-the-wall decisions Maria had made when she first bought the building that now houses her struggling adult store, Romancing the Stone, was to have a small theatre built in a storage area connected to the main shop. It was partly prompted by the empty warehousing space - but mostly because Maria spotted a set of theatre seats on eBay that came with a forty-five-foot screen and hit 'bid'. As far as impulse purchases go, this one was far from inspired. But, to her credit, when Daniel and I grilled her about it, she didn't put up much of a defense.
"What can I say? I got swept up in the moment. I thought it might boost DVD sales, bring people into the store. Make it a destination."
We both raised our eyebrows at her. Her business acumen wasn't stellar, but even Maria wasn't that naive.
"Okay, okay. I thought having my own movie-theatre would be so cooool."
We all burst out laughing. It was cool. Just not her smartest financial gamble.
Daniel, his girlfriend Lisa, and I had arrived at the store around lunchtime. Maria promptly locked up behind us - no customers in sight - and we had a full day planned. She hung a homemade sign in the window that read:
Stock-taking
More pleasure tomorrow
Daniel gave a very eager Lisa the grand tour of The Stone, leaving me a few minutes to catch up with Maria.
"I've missed you," I began. I wasn't sure how much time we'd have to talk, and didn't want to waste a second.
"I've missed you too," she said, placing her hand gently over mine. "You look spectacular."
'Spectacular' is our word.
I hadn't had much prep time that morning - blame the whole Joe situation and the, ahem, very relaxing bath that followed - so I'd pulled my blonde hair into a loose half-up style. Wavy strands framed my face while the rest was swept back in an easy, tousled knot. I did go bold on the makeup though: smoky, sultry eyes lined with smudged kohl, accented by fluttery lashes and rich, shadowed lids. My lips were plump and sculpted in a silky nude-pink shade that played off the drama of my eyes. I wore a tight black Rolling Stones T-shirt that hugged my chest, paired with a short, flared red skirt that flaunted my legs, thighs, and - let's be honest -- showed my ass. Finishing the look with modest black heels; nothing sky-high, since I actually needed to function today. I was channeling confidence, effortless rock-goddess, and sexy mama. So yeah, Maria's compliment landed sweetly.
I have ordered a new uniform for Maria, but she still sported the awful pink polo and poorly cut trousers. I hadn't yet revealed the surprise of the new uniform to her.
Despite looking like a supermarket chick, her face was glowing. Her smile, downright magnetic. I could happily get lost in her eyes all day. But instead, I glanced over at Daniel and Lisa, who had their backs to us. I stole a kiss from Maria. Her lips were warm and inviting, her tongue soft but untamed, and she tasted faintly of chili.
"I've got an idea to make this photo-shoot even more fun today. Just be ready when I say so," I whispered with a playful smirk. She squeezed my hand in reply.
"Tease. I can't wait," she giggled.
We wandered over to Daniel and Lisa and ushered them into the movie-theatre. Daniel lugged his camera gear while Lisa carried a tote filled with makeup and hair tools. Maria flicked on the lights as we stepped inside.
The bulbs spluttered and blinked before flooding the room in full brightness, revealing its peculiar charm. To the right, the former warehouse office perched on stilts like some Cold War-era watchtower. Fiberglass windows poked out from behind grimy white paneling, with a slim staircase curling up to its door. If I stretched my imagination to its limits, I could almost see how Maria pictured it as a projection booth.
Now, it housed an actual projector - blasting a terribly costumed film called 'Count Dickula' onto the opposite wall, where a modest screen hung. Below it, a raised platform draped in black fabric barely qualified as a stage, but at least it pretended to be one.
Between the screen and the projector sat exactly one hundred seats, just as described on the website. Classic red, velvet-upholstered theatre chairs, each seat with its own cup holder, bolted in five precise rows. The seats ascended in shallow tiers, with narrow steps lining either side. Under the bright overhead lights, the space had all the ambiance of a dental waiting room. But in the dark? I imagined no one would care - assuming anyone ever shows up.
To the left of the screen, a discreet door led to a storage room, something I only learned later. It was crammed with merchandise, a chaotic maze of boxes and supplies, with a wide delivery door that opened to the outside world for shipments.
"Let me kill the movie, and we can get rolling," Maria said, already making her way toward the projector steps.
"This is so dope," Lisa exclaimed, clinging to Daniel's arm.
"Yeah, it's bussin," Daniel added.
I didn't bother interpreting. Safe to assume they were impressed.
There's a loud, cackling laugh from the screen and we all turned as, presumably, Count Dickula, emerged from a coffin stark naked except for a black and red cloak, the worst prosthetic fangs you have ever seen, and a very impressive cock. Three maidens, who have somehow come across the coffin scantily dressed in see-through, white night dresses, scream, but surprisingly don't run away. Before any truly X-rated action could commence, Maria switched it off, and the screen turned bright blue.
"Leave the projector running," Daniel called. He'd already clocked the potential. The screen could work as a blue screen, letting him add digital backdrops - beaches, cat-walks, cityscapes, bedrooms, dungeons, you name it.
He began setting up his equipment while Lisa kicked off her sandals and began strutting dramatically in front of the screen. It was over-the-top and theatrical in the best way. Her energy was infectious, playful, and full of spark - though I did start wondering whether she had the maturity to be anything seriously long-term for Daniel. But that was a concern for another day.
Maria was back with us, pointing toward a nearby clothes rack and a carton near the platform. She'd hand-picked an incredible assortment from The Stone - bodysuits, lingerie sets, statement accessories, elaborate roleplay outfits, and fetish-wear like the halter-neck bra I'd snagged on my first visit. Hoods, gags - the whole curated collection. Perfect to show off the store's personality and hopefully get some online sales.
"What should I try first?" Lisa asked brightly.
"Let me get some test shots of you just as you are," Daniel replied, adjusting the camera and posing her where the light hit best, and the shadows vanished.
Meanwhile, Maria and I agreed that a Gothic corset with lace sleeves, paired with a short leather skirt, would be a strong opener. I grabbed the outfit and handed it to Lisa.
"The changing rooms are back in the store. We'll wait here."
"Nah. We're all besties!" She chirped, peeling her tank top over her head without hesitation, revealing her bare, pert little breasts. I blushed. No idea why. Maria was standing right beside me, and I've had my mouth on her breasts; I've caressed and kissed her boobs, but Lisa's sudden display caught me completely off guard. She wriggled her slender hips out of her denim shorts too.
"Should I keep these on?" she asked, tugging at the waistband of her skimpy white panties.
"Yes," I answered quickly. Shocked again - why was I suddenly so prudish?
"It's just... the white might show through," she said, before deciding for herself and sliding them down her legs.
Lisa was now naked in front of us. She looked truly sensational. Her small breasts perfectly round. Her nipples perfectly centered. Her areola perfectly symmetrical. There was not an ounce of fat on her. A manicured line of pubic hair pointed down to her pussy lips, that were closed and tight. The V of her pussy mound magnificently defined between her toned, athletic thighs. My mouth was open. Maria's mouth was open. Daniel was behind us, he got to pleasure this perfect, athletic specimen whenever he wanted, but I'm sure his mouth was open too.
