The cream-colored lace and feminine pink piping softened the impact of an otherwise outrageously revealing bustier. It was cut very low, with coverage beginning just above the dark pink skin around Tessa’s nipples. The cups did not meet in the center, creating a provocative strip of bare breast straight down the middle of Tessa’s torso. The seams and stays pushed her breasts up, giving her ample cleavage and curves. Yet even when Tessa twisted and leaned, her nipples and the dark ring around them remained covered.
Tessa slid the silk charmeuse over her head and felt it glide past her bustier and hips. The hemline hit her just below the knees, and the airy sway of fabric made Tessa feel like a cross between Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly.
While the emerald dress had taken her breath away with blatant, nearly-naked sexuality, this dress was more titillating than ribald. The bottom of the neckline’s V ended mere inches above Tessa’s naval and the bustier did not cover the valley between Tessa’s breasts. With the right vantage point, a man could admire a long stretch of soft, naked skin.
“I’ll take it,” Tessa said.
“It’s gorgeous on you. I also have an amazing shaper half-slip.” Before Tessa could respond, the clerk was off to fetch it. When she returned she handed it to Tessa for inspection. “The charmeuse will show every little bump and line. I recommend this slip with no panties. It will tuck right under the bottom of the bustier and give your derrière and thighs a very sleek silhouette.”
Tessa tried it on. Like all shapers it was skin tight, but the spandex moved with her, so it was reasonably comfortable. Best of all, it erased all the bumps and imperfections any flesh and blood woman was bound to have. She took it too. By the time she was finished, Tessa’s credit card was smoking and the sales clerk was smiling.
Tessa hung the new dress in the closet as soon as she returned to her room. She kicked off her shoes, uncapped a Diet Coke and turned on her laptop. Her face lit up when she saw she had a new email from David.
Tessa,
I don’t know what to say. You told me you had issues and I figured they must be significant if you went all the way to Australia to find some resolution. But that you tried suicide in May? Of course I couldn’t have known, but Tessa, I would never have even guessed; you seem like such a happy person.
I mean no disrespect to your late husband, but how could any man cheat on a woman like you? I don’t get it. And I do mean exceptional disrespect to that guy you dated. I’m not a violent man, but if you ever pointed him out, say we were riding on the subway and you said, ‘that’s him!’…I’d be overcome with a desire to turn into Rambo. Maybe it’s a guy thing or just a human thing when a person cares about someone.
I know we haven’t met in the flesh (yet). But we share our feelings about a zillion things as well as our daily ups and downs. I look forward to your emails or calls, and especially, your beautiful face when we have a chance to Skype. Since you’ve just been very open with me, let me do the same: Tessa, I’m nuts about you and want nothing more than to see if our friendship blossoms into something more.
On a lighter note, guess who’s gotten out of the cold weather? My boss is sick as a dog and needed me to pinch hit for him at a meeting in Honolulu. I didn’t have anything else going and it’s always good to be owed a favor by the guy who signs your paychecks (metaphorically speaking anyway.) Also, it’s a chance for me to shine in my new position. And, full disclosure, being in sunny Hawaii wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to a guy. I’ve got today to get over some jetlag and get up to speed on the boss’s notes. Meeting starts at 9:00 tomorrow, Hawaii time. (I think I’m a day behind you, more or less.) Wish me luck.