Mj williamz forbidden.., p.5
MJ Williamz - Forbidden Passions, page 5
“Well, I just wanted to say if you would be more comfortable hovering, as you say, I’d be fine with that.”
“I assure you, I’m fine leaving you to the limelight.”
“Isn’t it just wonderful?” Katie fairly squealed. “Doesn’t everyone look beautiful? Oh, how I’ve missed this. And they all say how wonderful I look. It’s as if I’m dreaming.”
Corrine had to smile at her. “I’m thrilled you’re enjoying yourself so.”
Katie took her hand. It felt soft and warm. Corrine cringed at her impure thoughts.
“Let’s walk toward the material room. Anyone who’s anyone will be there.”
“The material room?”
“Yes. See the high ceiling?” She motioned to the center of the store.
Corrine saw the two-story gothic vaulted ceiling. “What’s there?”
“It’s where all the material is kept, silly. I want to find the perfect color and feel for Saturday. Then we’ll choose a pattern and a seamstress.”
They jostled their way through the crowds, often being pressed into each other. More than once, Corrine’s hand ended up on Katie’s derriere.
She found herself blushing and apologizing the whole way to the material room. Katie seemed undisturbed.
If Corrine thought the entrance to the emporium was crowded, there was no word to describe the material room in the center of the store. Girls shrieked in excitement at everything—the sight of long-lost friends, the feel of the perfect material, even finding the perfect pattern. Corrine felt a headache beginning at her temples.
She briefly lost Katie in the crowd but soon found her, as no one else could compare to her beauty. She recognized her from her long, shining hair and the tilt of her head when she laughed. She walked over to find her surrounded by a group of young women, all obviously thrilled to be in her presence.
Katie looked like she was holding court. Corrine tried to retreat, but Katie reached out and took her hand again.
“Everyone, this is my mother’s dearest friend, Miss Staples. Miss Staples, these are all girls who went to finishing school with me.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” Corrine smiled easily. It was wonderful to see how Katie glowed.
The girls all looked at her with questions in their gazes. Corrine knew Katie would be the subject of many whispers for being seen with a woman in trousers. She wondered if she’d considered that. She found it hard to believe that Katie did anything that wasn’t carefully calculated.
“Don’t her trousers look comfortable?” Katie was saying. Corrine choked back a laugh. “I’m thinking of having a pair made.”
The girls didn’t try to hide their shock.
“Katie!” one of them exclaimed. “It’s not right.”
“Well, I think it should be all right. Aren’t they comfortable, Miss Staples?”
Corrine looked at her, amused. “Why, yes. They are quite comfortable.”
“Why shouldn’t more of us wear them?” Katie asked.
The girls looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. They slowly backed away.
Katie broke into laughter. “Wasn’t that wonderful?”
“You are a riddle, Katie Prentiss.”
“Oh, they are all too prim for their own good.”
“And I fear you may not be prim enough for yours.”
“Oh, Miss Staples, please, let’s not fight today.”
“Fair enough. Have you looked at any material yet?”
“Not yet. Look around. Isn’t it amazing? Look at all the choices.”
Corrine finally allowed her focus to wander from Katie. She saw rows and rows of shelves filled with every type of material in every color of the rainbow and then some.
“Come help me choose.”
“Oh, this really isn’t my forte.”
“But you must help me. Here, this is what we’ll do. I’ll hand you a swatch, or you can find one and we’ll hold it under my chin, like this.” She grabbed a light blue swatch and demonstrated.
“How does this look?”
Corrine felt foolish but fought to overcome it to make Katie’s day special. “It looks stunning.”
Katie blushed. “Okay, then hold this one. Now you choose a swatch.”
Corrine knew she was out of her element but couldn’t tell if Katie was toying with her or truly wanting her assistance. She had no choice but to go along with her, so she grabbed a rust-colored swatch.
“Now hold it under my chin.” She tilted her head back slightly. The color complemented her eyes.
Corrine took a few strands of Katie’s hair and laid them over the swatch. “It’s a nice color too. But I don’t like it with your hair.”
“I could have told you that.” She smiled. “So choose another color. Anything but black. I simply couldn’t bear wearing black.”
Corrine turned this way and that, trying to find the perfect color. She was relieved when Katie decided to help. Katie reached around her, pressing her bosom into Corrine’s back. She stiffened, even as she felt her crotch clench.
Katie placed her hand in the middle of Corrine’s back. “You need to learn to relax, Miss Staples.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Katie spun her around after she grabbed the swatch. Corrine was trapped between Katie and the shelves. Katie stood inches from her.
“What do you think of this color?”
Corrine swallowed hard and tried to stay focused on the task at hand. Katie was holding a hunter green swatch. Corrine was amazed at the way her eyes sparkled and the accents in her hair shone. Even her soft pink lips seemed lovelier with the swatch held near.
“Miss Staples?”
“I apologize, Katie. But that color is simply stunning. Your dress must be that color.”
Katie hugged her. “Thank you for playing along.” She kissed her cheek, then stepped back.
“Well,” Corrine began. “I suppose I didn’t realize how important this was to you.”
“It really does mean the world to me.”
“Now then, what’s next?”
“Now we go look at patterns. We need to find the perfect gown.”
“And what will that look like?”
“Silly, I won’t know until I see it.”
“Surely you have some idea.”
“Do you really want to know?”
“Of course. Tell me.” Corrine couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. Katie’s excitement was contagious. The kiss hadn’t hurt.
Katie stopped walking and traced the outline of her imaginary dress. “The bodice will dip to here.” She pointed to the crevice between her breasts. “I want puffy sleeves that come to just above my elbow. Oh, it’ll be beautiful.”
“Sounds wonderful,” Corrine managed, her mind’s eye still envisioning Katie’s cleavage in the dress.
They arrived at a table covered in books with likenesses of dresses drawn in them. Katie sat and patted the chair next to her. She slid a book over to Corrine. “Help me look.”
Katie flipped through her book and reached for another. Corrine was staring at a picture in her book. The sleeves weren’t terribly puffy, but she couldn’t stop looking at the picture, imagining Katie in the low-cut bodice. Moisture pooled between her legs. She knew it was a dangerous thought and was about to close the book when Katie cried out next to her.
“That’s it! That’s the perfect dress!”
“Katie, don’t you think that might be a little…mature for you?”
“I’m not a child, Miss Staples. That is my dream dress. Carry the book for me?”
“Where are we off to now?” Corrine heard herself ask when she knew she should have argued the inappropriateness of the dress.
“We need to go to one of the measuring rooms. Those are in the back. Come on.”
She led Corrine to a bank of doors along the outer wall at the rear of the store. Several doors were open, and Katie stopped at a desk in front of one.
“Good afternoon.” A woman with a kind face looked up at her. “How may I help you?”
“I’m going to need a dress made by Friday.”
The woman raised her eyebrows. “That’s a tall order.”
Corrine stepped forward. “I’m prepared to pay for the rush.”
“Please. You must have a seamstress available.” Katie was near tears.
“One moment please.” She walked away from her station and spoke to a group of women seated in the corner.
“Oh, I hope they can do this.”
“I’m sure they will.” Corrine had already decided no amount of money would be too much to pay for Katie’s happiness.
“They won’t say no to you, will they?” Katie pleaded with her eyes. “You’ll intimidate them, I’m certain.”
Corrine wasn’t sure how to take that. “I don’t like to threaten people if that’s what you mean.”
Katie cocked her head and looked at her. “Not threaten, really, but you are an imposing figure.”
“I’m not sure whether to be insulted.” Corrine was tired. Tired of shopping, tired of being aroused all day, and not sure she could keep from being baited by Katie.
“Not insulted at all. I’m just quite certain women don’t usually say no to you.”
Before Corrine could ask what that was supposed to mean, the woman was back with a younger woman in tow.
“Hello.” The younger woman with frizzy blond hair held her hand out to Katie. “My name is Addie.”
“Nice to meet you,” Katie said. “I’m Katie Prentiss, and this is my mother’s friend, Miss Staples.”
Corrine shook her hand and didn’t miss the appreciative, lingering gaze that ran from her head to her toes and back.
“Very nice to meet you, Miss Staples. Perhaps while you’re here, we could fit you for a new pair of trousers?”
“We’re here for a dress,” Katie said, her displeasure apparent.
Corrine had to look away to hide her smile, knowing that Katie was jealous. The idea sent her heart soaring.
“Of course. What dress are you looking at?”
Corrine turned back around and handed the book to Addie and let Katie flip through it to find the correct page.
“That’s beautiful. Oh, it’s perfect for you. And what will we be making it out of?”
Katie handed her the swatch of the dark green. “I’d like this made from satin.”
“Of course. This will be a joy to make. Come on in and let’s get you measured.”
Corrine watched their retreating backs and stood awkwardly, unsure of whether to join them. She was decidedly uncomfortable not knowing what to expect in the other room.
“Miss Staples,” Katie called to her. “Aren’t you coming in?”
“Surely I can find a place to wait out here.”
“We have a table and chairs in here. You’ll be comfortable,” Addie said. When Corrine entered the room, Addie laughed. “Besides, you just might enjoy this.”
Corrine felt less comfortable than before. She took in the room that was approximately the size of her room at the plantation. In the center was a platform a few steps high. Immediately to her left were a table and chairs. She sat down to await what was next.
Katie climbed onto the platform. Corrine watched in dismay when Addie began unbuttoning the buttons on the back of her dress. Her stomach turned when Addie winked at her. She wanted to tear her away from Katie and undress her herself. This was Addie’s job. She shouldn’t enjoy undressing Katie that much.
Her comfort lessened greatly when Katie peeled her sleeves off and stepped out of the dress. She stood there in her sheer cotton chemise under her corset. Her full breasts rested on the top of her white corset, her nipples hard against the flimsy material of her chemise. Corrine knew she was staring but couldn’t stop until Katie ran her hands over her breasts.
Corrine looked into her eyes, which twinkled playfully. Katie ran her hands down her sides, then moved them behind to cup her ass. Corrine stared at the patch of auburn hair visible under the chemise. She wanted to drop to her knees in front of her and lick her cunt until she begged her to stop. She tore her gaze away.
Addie handed Corrine the dress. “Bet you wish you had my job, eh?”
“That’s enough out of you,” Corrine said, lowering her voice when she saw Katie looking at her questioningly. “It would do you well to pay attention to your job and keep your filthy mind off her.”
“Can I be blamed for loving my job?”
Addie climbed onto the platform with Katie. She squatted and held one end of the tape measure at Katie’s ankle. She looked up, and Corrine knew exactly what she was looking at. She was rapidly losing her patience.
“Did you want to help me then?” Addie asked her. Corrine thought the woman was much stronger than she would have been. She wouldn’t be able to look at Katie’s hidden treasure without touching it.
Corrine made a show of removing her pocket watch. “How much longer is this going to take?”
“I’m in no hurry. Are you, lass?” Addie asked.
“Miss Staples, please. I want to make sure everything is measured correctly. I want the dress to be perfect.”
Corrine was torn. She didn’t trust herself around Addie. She ached to take her fists to her. She knew Katie would never forgive her. She thought about waiting elsewhere but didn’t want to leave Katie alone with Addie. So she sat watching and throbbing all over.
Addie made notes as she measured ankle to waist and elbow to shoulder. She enjoyed measuring Katie’s bustline too much for Corrine’s taste. She didn’t need to measure from the front, but Corrine knew she wanted the excuse to rub against her tits. She seethed.
Corrine thought her head would explode when Addie held one end of the tape at the base of Katie’s neck and held the other in her hand that disappeared under her chemise between her breasts. When she finally finished, Corrine stood and strode to Katie with her dress.
She held her hand up and Katie took it and allowed her to help her down the steps and off the platform. Corrine handed Katie her dress.
“The dress will be ready Friday afternoon?” she asked Addie while Katie dressed.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“We’ll be back then to try it on. Thank you for everything. I’ll see you out there,” she said to Katie and stepped out of the dressing room.
She found the same woman sitting at the desk and quickly approached her. “Excuse me. We’ll be back Friday to try on the dress Miss Prentiss was just fitted for.”
“Of course.”
She handed the woman a dollar bill. “I would appreciate it if Addie not be the one to assist us that day.”
Katie walked up to see the woman slip the bill in her bodice. “Anything you’d like, ma’am. She won’t bother you Friday.”
“What was that about?”
“Nothing you need to worry your pretty head about. Are you at all hungry?”
“I’m famished.”
“Then would you be kind enough to accompany me to dinner?”
Katie beamed. “It would be my pleasure.”
Corrine offered her elbow. “Shall we?”
Katie rested her hand inside Corrine’s elbow as they cut through the back of the store in search of a restaurant.
Chapter Six
They strolled along Dumaine Street, down to Decatur, to Bon Mange, a French restaurant overlooking the river. Corrine reveled in the closeness of Katie and cared little about the stares from passersby.
“You didn’t like Addie, did you?” Katie asked.
Corrine weighed her answer carefully. “It’s true I didn’t like her unsavory thoughts about you.”
“Have you ever had an unsavory thought, Miss Staples?” Katie said.
“If I had, I would certainly not discuss them in the company of a lady.”
“You sound like that inane Thomas DuPre.”
Corrine tensed. “I fear you need not remind me who he is.”
“Thank you for trying to protect me from him.” Katie held Corrine’s arm and pressed her breast into it.
Heat coursed through Corrine’s body. The feel of Katie against her warred with the anger at what Katie had let Thomas do, threatening to impede her ability to reason.
“I’d rather not ruin a lovely evening with talk of that incident.”
“Have you ever been in love, Miss Staples?”
The question caught Corrine off guard. “Why, yes, I believe I have.”
“What was it like?”
Corrine laughed. “Horrible.”
“Why?” Katie stopped and stared into her eyes.
“Mostly the struggle of wanting her so badly and not being able to have her.”
“So she didn’t love you back then.”
“Unfortunately, she did not.”
“She was a fool,” Katie said softly and turned to enter the restaurant.
The restaurant was crowded but not so much that Corrine and Katie had to wait. The host led them past booths carved of rich cypress to a table in the corner.
“This place is beautiful,” Katie said.
“I’m glad you like it.” Corrine was bursting inside that she was impressing Katie.
The waiter arrived and listed the fare for the evening.
“That sounds perfect,” Corrine said. “We’ll also have a carafe of Meursault.”
“As you wish.” The waiter bowed and backed away.
“The menu sounds delicious. How did you find this place?”
“Your parents and I used to come here when you were a child. Your aunt would sit with you while I treated them to a nice dinner.”
“Do you miss me as a child?”
“Do you miss being a child?”
“Not at all. But I still think you preferred me as a child.”
The waiter was back with their wine. Corrine handed a glass to Katie, then took a sip of hers.
“When you were a child, I couldn’t have treated you to the day we had today, could I?”
“So you must not hate me then to have done this for me.”
“I most certainly do not hate you. Quite the contrary.”
Katie smiled as she set her wine glass down.
“Now let me turn the question around,” Corrine said. “Did you like me more when you were a child or now?”
