“It’s a gift. It’s not polite to ask.”
The clerk raised her brow and said, “Eight fifty.”
Not sure what she heard was actually correct, Janine said, “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
The clerk now had a look of amusement on her face. “This perfume is eight hundred fifty dollars for the one point seven ounce bottle.”
In that instant feeling like a back-woods ‘Bama, she said, “What? No! Michael that’s way too much money! Are you crazy?” She turned to the clerk. “I’m sorry, we’re not getting that.”
Thrown by her reaction, Michael said to the clerk, “Please complete the sale.”
He took Janine by hand leading her a short distance away from the counter. He leaned close and said in no uncertain terms, “It’s a gift. I spend my money on what I want and I want this for you. Please don’t embarrass me like that again.”
He let go of her hand and walked back to the counter to sign the charge receipt. He took the bag from the clerk and joined Janine who was still dumbfounded that he had just spent that kind of money for a small bottle of perfume…for her.
As they left the area, she had to make her feelings known to him. “Baby, please don’t misunderstand. That was really a sweet gesture. But I just think that’s too extravagant.”
To her utter surprise he said, “Extravagant is relative. Come on, I still have other things to get in addition to a gift for my mother.”
She thought, what the fuck? How the hell is spending over eight hundred dollars for an ounce of perfume “relative”? That shit was expensive. Little about their time together led her to believe that he had the capacity to spend that kind of money on anything other than tuition fees. He was usually so frugal like she was.
She took a deep breath and said, “It makes me very uncomfortable knowing you spent that kind of money on me. And you put it on a credit card.”
“Why does it make you uncomfortable?”
“It just doesn’t seem appropriate. I mean, yeah we’ve been together for a while, but…I mean really, Baby?”
“We’ve been together for a year…exactly,” he said.
Janine stopped fretting as she realized what was really happening. He was buying her an anniversary gift. Still way too much money, in her view. Rather than protest further she said, “It’s very thoughtful. Thank you.” Still holding his hand, she bumped him and wrapped her free arm around the front of his waist giving him as tight a hug as she could manage. He reciprocated and kissed her forehead as he led her up the escalator to the next level.
Once they reached the third floor, Janine realized they were in the lingerie department. He definitely isn’t shopping for his mama in here! She mused. He stopped at a display of bras and panties hanging on delicate silk hangers. He ran his fingers over the cups of the bras, taking time to feel the fabrics before moving on to another. A light blue underwire bra with demi cups caught his attention. Again he inspected the fabric and then turned to her.
“You’re a 34 C or D cup, right?”
“You know everything else. I’m stunned you don’t know the answer to that.” She poked out her breasts and shook them at him in a playful way.
To her surprise he walked over, spun her around and cupped her breasts in his hands with little regard to other shoppers.
“Actually, we might be looking at a double D cup for that style,” he whispered into her ear before licking it and letting her go. Taking the bra off the rack, he handed it to her. “Go try it on.”
“You’re kidding?” she chuckled.
“No, I’m not. Try it on…for me.”
His penetrating eyes seemed to glisten as he waited for her to follow through with is request.
“Hmm,” she said as she looked around for the nearest dressing room. “Okay.”
He smiled, turned from her and continued searching through the garments. Once in the dressing room, she careful lifted her shirt over her head, trying not to mess her hair too much. She removed her bra and took the sleek blue one off its hanger. Touching its fabric, she noted the silk sides and outer cup were among the smoothest she had ever held. Her bras tended to be more utilitarian given the fullness of her breasts. They certainly weren’t colorful. All her bras were either white, beige, or black. How in the world is this going to hold me? She thought. She maneuvered it under her breasts, hooked the eyelets while trying to adjust the nuisance of an anti-theft device. She finally was able to spin it around to cup her breast before lifting the thin straps onto her shoulders. She looked at herself for a moment in the mirror. Very pretty. Before she could remove it, an attendant knocked on her door.
“Excuse me, Miss. The young man waiting asked that I give you these.” The lady reached over the top of the door lowering the other items to her.
“Thank you. Where exactly is he?”
“Ummm…actually he’s sitting in the waiting area outside the dressing rooms.” The woman almost sounded embarrassed.
“I see. Thank you.”
Sorting through the items handed to her, she saw a pair of thongs matching the lovely blue bra. In addition, there was an off-white set and peach colored combination accented with white lace—all with similar fabrics and feels. She slid off her jeans and removed her panties. The thongs had a strip of protective paper, which made little sense given it was basically a string that went between her ass cheeks. She really didn’t like thongs but wore them…briefly—when they were together. As she looked at herself in the mirror she felt her devilish whimsy overcome her again. Seizing the moment before her nerve left her, she stepped out of the dressing room heading to the doorway where she saw him. He was sitting on the settee thumbing through the magazines provided.
“Well?” she asked with her arms raised overhead, holding onto the frame.
“Nice. Very nice.”
Not quite the reaction she’d hoped for, but she assumed there was more going on than he was letting on in the moment.
“Let’s see the others,” he told her as he returned to the magazine.
She went back, tried on the white set. She went back to the door with a new pose. Her hands were behind her as she leaned against the doorjamb. This time he just nodded his approval. Janine was convinced he was trying to outplay her in their little game. Again, she went back into the dressing room and changed into the peach combination before stepping back out. This time, she stood in the middle of the doorway with one hip slightly forward and her arms folded while resting on her head.
“How about this, Mr. Josey?”
This time he stood up extending his hand to her. “I like it. Come here.”
“I’m not coming out there!” Janine had no intention of stepping out where she would certainly be seen by passing shoppers.
“Come here, Janine.” He was daring her.
Letting go in the moment, she feared she’d lose her nerve if she let her gaze stray elsewhere, so she kept her eyes on him as she stepped out. When she reached him, he led her to stand in front of him. Turning his back to the outer area, he essentially blocked her from the immediate view of others. But there she stood, with a large three-way mirror in front of them. Moving his hands to her waist, he lowered them to the front of her hips and upper thighs gently rubbing up and down. She didn’t think he’d actually do it, but his hands moved towards the interior of her thighs making her jump.
“No, sir! You will not have me arrested for indecent exposure!”
She scurried back into the dressing room knowing she just lost the game. The whole exchange tickled her, especially the thought others had most certainly seen what transpired between them. Once fully dressed, she exited the dressing area and joined him. She realized she never looked at the price tags as he paid for the items.
After their adventure in the lingerie department, they headed to the home décor section on the second level. He found a lovely signature porcelain figurine by an artist his mother had been collecting for years. This particular one had recently been released. After p
aying for the gift, they went to the shipping department where he picked out an embossed lilac paper and intricate silver bow. The attendant expertly wrapped the gift before placing it in a shipping box filled with foam peanuts. Assured the package would arrive in time for his mother’s birthday, they left the store. After loading the small packages into the car, Janine turned to him saying, “Thank you. That was fun.”
“I’m glad you had fun,” he said stroking the side of her face.
“So…what’s next?” she asked playfully.
“Who says we’re finished shopping?”
“Oh, really? What else could I possibly need?”
“Hmmm.” It was a low growling sound he made as his own devilish grin crossed his face. There was something about that sound that made her clit twitch every time he did it.
“Well?” she asked knowing full well he had no intention of answering her. Instead, he placed his hand at the base of her neck, kissed her again and started to the car.
CHAPTER 7
He pulled out of the lot, making his way to the beltway heading south. After driving for about thirty minutes with few words between them, he took the Alexandria exit. He weaved his way through several sections of Old Town, before pulling into a parking space on the street. Per usual, he got out first and came around to open the door for her. This particular area was unfamiliar to her, but it looked quaint. He took her hand and they walked a little over a block through a row of shops mixed with the residential row houses. She noted the little coffee shop, floral shop and various knickknack shops. They entered a shop called Lucille’s. The sign out front looked a little like the old I Love Lucy graphic from the 1950s show except the heart was wrapped in a barbed chain. As they stepped inside, it was clear this was no knick knackery.
“Welcome to Lucille’s.” A woman standing behind the counter greeted them. The middle-aged woman wore a loose fitting tunic and equally loose pants. She had a bundle of random curls, more gray than brown, perched in a clip on top of her head. Her glasses hung around her neck on an embroidered strand. “Is there anything in particular you’re looking for or are you just browsing?”
“A little of both actually,” Michael said.
“Well, let me know how I can help you.”
“Thank you.”
Janine couldn’t believe they were in a sex shop. The shop was filled floor to ceiling with objects she had only heard about. The counter where the woman stood was filled with dildos of various sizes, shapes and colors. There were also little two-pronged things that she couldn’t quite figure out. This was unlike any place she’d been before. While there were a few familiar items like the dildos and handcuffs, there were others she had no idea what they could possibly be used for—let alone why anyone would want to use them!
She turned to Michael whispering, “You’re kidding, right?”
He just smiled and continued slowly moving down aisles, stopping to inspect a range of bizarre items. He turned to the proprietor asking, “Any new clothing shipments?”
Oh, hell! He’s been here before! Janine thought. What kind of kinky shit is THIS?
“Yes, we have some new leather designs that came in. I’m sure I have something in both your sizes,” she said.
“Nothing for me, but I’d like to see what you have for her.”
Janine leaned close and whispered to him, “So, you want to see me in a little leather, huh?”
“You have no idea,” he said coyly.
The attendant led them to a side room with mannequins in various poses. Some had arms cuffed overhead, while others were on their knees or spread eagle. Every mannequin had something strapped on, chained to, or placed over it. The clerk pulled an outfit off the rack that looked like a bikini but it had a number of leather straps connecting the standard parts. In addition, it had a variety of metal rings in fairly…strategic places.
She handed it to Michael. “If you’d like her to try it on, there is a dressing room in the back.”
Janine was a little offended that the woman directed her remarks to him instead of her, especially considering the fact the garment—or whatever it was—was clearly for a woman. But the woman was unfazed and she left them.
“Go try it on,” he said.
With less indignation than her words implied, “Seriously? I don’t even know what the hell this is!” Lowering her voice, she continued. “I can’t believe you brought me in here!”
“Indulge me. I want to see what you look like in it.”
Janine looked around at the unfamiliar things and then back to him, “So, you got this whole, freaky thing going on, huh?”
He just smiled. “You’ll find out soon enough.” There was that clit twitch again!
“All right, freaky man. I’ll try it on.”
She headed towards the back area and found the fairly dark dressing area. Slipping out of her clothes, she looked at the “outfit” for a moment just trying to figure out how to put it on. There was no obvious way to get into it, and her only saving grace was it had an area clearly was designed for breasts to fit in them…somehow. After struggling with it for a while she managed to get the thing adjusted. She stood in the mirror inspecting herself and thought how utterly ridiculous she felt…and yet. She decided to step out to let him see her. Hell, if she could step out in lingerie at Nordstrom’s, she certainly could step out in Lucille’s in this…outfit. When she came out, she assumed he’d be waiting outside the door, but he wasn’t. He was browsing further away than she expected.
“Well?” she called out.
He turned and slowly walked towards her with his hands behind his back. His eyes danced up and down her body. Instructing her to turn around by twirling his finger, she did as he asked. Then he made that sound again, “Hmmm…”
“So you like it?”
“Very much…But you need shoes.”
“Shoes?”
“Shoes.”
He revealed a pair of black leather strappy heels that were at least five inches high. Janine took the shoes, reaching down and putting them on. While a little unsteady at first, she finally stood and began turning slowly around to allow him plenty of time to see all her angles and curves.
The clerk emerged seemingly out of nowhere and said, “She looks nice. Is there anything else you need?”
Janine was embarrassed by the intrusion, but even more so when Michael turned to the woman and said, “Yes, I’d like wrist restraints and a small crop.”
“What kind? The leather ones would work nicely with what she’s wearing. But we also have standard handcuffs, silk and a muslin-like material in crimson,” she replied.
Janine was flushed with embarrassment excusing herself as she went back into the dressing room. She was certain he was just playing with her head. But she could still hear them talking.
He said, “I’ll take the leather cuffs for now, and I’d like a crop with about a three inch fold—do you have that?”
“Absolutely.”
“Thank you.”
Janine re-emerged from the dressing area, still intrigued by this adventure while acknowledging her rising trepidation. She didn’t see him or the woman but she heard them talking back at the front of the store. She made her way back towards the front where they were. With the garment in her hands, she handed it to him without a word. He took it, smiled at her and handed it to the woman. Once the sale was completed, he again took Janine by the hand and they walked out the store.
Back on the street and heading to the car, she said, “Well that was interesting.”
“What part?”
“All of it. I’ve never been in a shop quite like that before.”
“Well now you have,” he said without much more added.
They got in the car and once again had a fairly quiet drive back into the city to her apartment.
The hours spent shopping took up a good portion of their day. Returning to her apartment was something they both welcomed. Since they were hungry and neither was up to cooking,
they stopped at a Chinese restaurant for takeout. When they arrived back to her place, they brought in all the bags including their food. While Michael took the gifts to her bedroom, Janine got the plates and glasses. Together they pulled out the steamed vegetables, wonton soup and chicken lo mein noodles.
“What do you want to drink with dinner?”
“Do you have any wine?” he asked.
“I think so.”
She opened the small cabinet above the refrigerator and there she found two bottles, one Merlot and another of Cabernet. She got the wine glasses and corkscrew and brought them to the table. Michael opened the Cabernet first and poured it into the glasses.
“Thank you again for the lovely gifts.”
“You’re welcome…Again. I liked shopping with you.”
“Don’t you mean for me?” she said lifting the glass to her lips awaiting his reply.
“That too,” he said as he scooped soup onto his spoon.
“So, I take it you’ve shopped at Lucille’s before?”
“Yes.”
“Really? For whom?”
He let out a small humph and looked up at her. “Someone I used to fuck. A lot.”
She knew sometimes he said things just to unnerve her. The look on his face suggested he was waiting for the next query to fall from her lips and he was ready.
“I see. She liked that sort of thing…whips and chains and shit.” She awaited his response.
“We both did.”
She was too curious to stop her line of questioning, but it did make her squirm in her seat a little. This wasn’t something she thought black people did—at least none she knew. For such a loving and giving person, that kind of sex seemed completely foreign for the man she had come to know. In hopes of steadying herself she took another sip of wine. “What about it did you like?”
“The trust, the excitement, the pain… and the release. It’s all control,” he said, never lifting his eyes from his plate while he ate.
Jesus! Did he just say the pain?? She thought as she squirmed a little more. He’s eating and talking about this as if we’re talking about the weather!
Her Love and Regrets (Book I) Page 7