Thanks to Rexbrookdale for helping with editing this chapter.
*
It was the day of the party, and Zemora had finally found the perfect costume to wear. She had decided to be risqué, and found a revealing costume she wouldn't have dared to wear any other time. That evening, while in her hotel suite getting ready, the telephone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey, 'Mor, it's Analisa. Demetri and I will be in the lobby waiting for you tonight at 6."
"Okay, that sounds great!"
"Alrighty then, I'll call in you in a couple of hours to make sure you're ready."
"Okay. I'll see ya later."
Analisa was Zemora's best friend from childhood. They were practically sisters: both Lebanese, and raised by strict parents. They had made a promise to each other: when they turned 18 they would move in together, and it had come true seven years ago.
Now, Zemora found herself in Portugal, on holiday with Analisa and her fiancé, Demetri. They were visiting his family and had decided to go to an annual event, held in Lisbon. It was like Halloween in the sense that everyone dresses up; but it was not celebrated the same way. Zemora couldn't wait to experience it.
She emerged from the shower dripping wet, and wrapped herself up in a towel, then bent at the waist, and did the same with her hair.
A minute later she released the towel from around her body and began to rub lotion with a touch of shimmer into her skin, followed by a spritz of perfume on her wrists and other pulse points.
She put on a silk robe and began to work on her hair, massaging in some product, and blow-drying it. Separating it in sections, she began to curl it into lose waves. Satisfied, she sprayed it with hairspray to hold everything in place.
Next she lightly applied cover-up with a hint of bronzer, then some blush, and carefully traced the eyeliner pen along inside of her lids. She opened her eye shadow palette and worked the color on with a tiny soft brush; then mascara to finish, completing the dramatic look with red lipstick and a hint of gloss.
She washed her hands and stepped into the closet to grab her outfit: a four-piece genie costume. The halter-top bra and split skirt were decorated with beads; sequins sewn in the shapes of genie lamps embellished the borders.
It all fit perfectly in place: the diaphanous fabric of the skirt made her bikini bottoms visible from behind, the front slits revealed her toned legs, and the halter-top bra showed off her breasts and smooth abs admirably.
A pair of gold open-toed Jovial sandals adorned with rhinestone accents, showed off her pedicure. Her 5'4" frame now stood at 5'8".
She went over to the mirror that hung up on the wall and examined her appearance. Wow, she thought. Her legs seem to go on forever underneath her skirt.
"Heads will turn tonight," she spoke aloud. The phone started ringing again.
"Hello?"
"Hey, we're on our way down to the lobby now."
"Okay, I'm on my way now too."
Zemora sprayed some more hairspray and grabbed her purse. She stopped at the door and turned to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything, then opened the door and stepped out into the hall to the elevator.
A few moments later, she was in the lobby making her way over to Analisa and Demetri. The couple's eyes grew wide, and heads turned from every which way to gaze at Zemora's seductive outfit.
"Oh my God, Zemora...look at you!" Analisa spoke up. "You look like a sex goddess."
"Well, that is the look I was trying to go for." Zemora said seductively.
"You're naughty, and I love that you're naughty." Analisa cheesed out.
The couple's outfits were quite handsome, too. Demetri was dressed as a gangster, with a white Lycra shirt, pinstriped vest, and black tie. He had on black slacks with black leather shoes, and a black hat slanted to the side. He looked irresistibly sexy, and the theme suited him perfectly.
Analisa was dressed up as a 'wise gal' She wore a pinstriped cutout dress, with a leather belt attached. Red scalloped lace hemmed the skirt; pearls and diamonds accentuated her neckline, along with teardrop earrings flowing down the side of her neck. Knee-high leather boots made her frame come close to Demetri's, who stood at 6'6".
They both looked dangerously sexy.
"Wow, you two look amazing." Zemora finally said, after admiring the two's look.
"Thank you," they both said in unison.
"Well, we must go now. The limo is waiting for us outside," said Demetri, pointing towards the door. They walked toward the revolving door, with Zemora following behind, and made their way outside where the limo driver was standing by, opening the door as they approached.
They got in and he shut the door behind them.
"Anyone want a drink?" Demetri asked.
The girls nodded and he poured them what they had requested.
"I'm so excited!" Zemora said, gleaming. "I can't wait to get there."
The couple just smiled at her. They too were excited.
"Several of Demetri's friends are also meeting us there," Analisa chirped out. "Maybe you'll find one of them interesting...."
Zemora just smiled at her and shook her head. "Maybe.... Hopefully they won't get the wrong impression because of my outfit." She looked down at herself.
Her costume was a flight of fancy, for the fun and spirit of it; she didn't want men to get the wrong idea about her. Tonight was an exception to real life in which she was traditional and not the type to dress so provocatively. However, since she was on holiday in a different country, and no one knew who she was, it might be okay; once in a while she needed to take risks in her life. Still, she could hear her father's voice in her head scolding her for the times when she had dressed somewhat revealingly when she was younger. After all, he had brought her up to be a classy woman, a woman of sound morals and good character....
They sipped and chatted; but the closer they got to the place, the more intense the butterflies felt in Zemora's stomach. On her second gin and tonic, she finally started to feel more relaxed.
