Page 3 of A Night of Indulgence and Sloth
“Damn, girl. Look at that body!” She motions for me to do a spin, and the moment my back turns to her, she slaps my ass.
“Calla…” I say, more embarrassed than annoyed. “There’s absolutely no way I’m wearing this out in public. My ass practically hangs out at the bottom! Isn’t there anything with, I don’t know, a little more coverage?”
Right then, I noticed a woman with a lanyard hung around her neck standing near the dressing room. She comes a little closer, assessing me.
“Actually… we just received a new piece that would look absolutely gorgeous on you. It’s a little more modest than that but still very sexy. Just give me a second.”
I nod, retreating into the dressing room and taking off this godforsaken outfit. Clad only in my bra and underwear, I peruse the rest of the outfits hanging in my stall and cringe further. Why had I let my sister talk me into this?
Footsteps approach, and suddenly there are two articles of clothing being passed over the door. “Here, try these on.”
The top is a satin bustier with spaghetti straps and corset-style ribbing down the bodice in the color champagne. It tapers in near the bottom, exposing the curve of my hips when I put it on, and even though my moderately-sized breasts are on display, it’s still considerably more coverage than the last outfit.
A pair of leather shorts accompanies the outfit, and while still shorter than I’d usually wear, at least they cover my ass. I feel sexy for what could be the first time in my entire life.
With a smile, I unlock the door and step out. Even if Calantha doesn’t like it, I’m already determined to buy this one. The entirething is still a step outside of my comfort zone but not enough to throw me into a full-blown panic. A compromise.
It turns out that I have nothing to worry about though, as my sister starts a slow clap. “Holy shit! You’re a knockout.”
“This is the one,” I say, confidence lining my every word. The associate is nowhere to be found, so I turn back to the dressing room. Before I can lock the door, I hear a panted, “Wait!”
She’s out of breath but hands me a pair of boots. “These sneaky devils were trying to hide from me, but I finally found them. It’s our last pair though, so hopefully you’re a size seven.”
Excitement fizzles through my veins as I stare at the black, knee-high boots. The heel isn’t very high, just an inch or two thick. I sit on the cushioned bench and pull them on. I knew the shoe size would fit me, but in my experience, the shoe size and the calf size don’t always match up, so I had no clue if these would work.
The boots go a little higher than my knee, leaving a creamy expanse of flesh between them and my shorts. Once again, this isn’t an outfit I would have ever chosen for myself, but it makes me feel strong, confident, and ready to put my trauma behind me.
On top of our shopping trip, somehow Calantha had snagged appointments for us at the spa. She confessed to having booked these after applying on the off chance I was accepted, and my heart swells at how loving she is. Not only would I be arriving at the club with a fresh blowout, but I’d also be buffed and waxed until I felt shiny and new.
I couldn’t have thanked her enough for this, and truthfully, it was exactly what we both needed. After our conversation yesterday, I realized we hadn’t truly been living. Sure, we couldn’t exactly afford weekly spa days, but we could splurge now and then.
With this new mindset, I was ready to make some changes. It would be easier once I started working for Exalta Solutions because the pay was almost double what I made before at the family-owned textile company, not including the employer paid benefits and extra time off allowance. Once I made it past the probation period, we’d have more days like today.
As the nail technicians put the finishing touches on our pedicures, doubt rears its ugly little head. Should I really be leaving my sister vulnerable and alone just so I can go to this sex club? How had Calantha even heard about it anyway? It could be a trap… some gross trick played by my aunt and uncle to remind me just how much they owned me.
It wasn’t exactly logical, but I couldn’t get my brain to shut off. Calantha must have noticed, since she leans over to grab my hand. “Whatever your brain is telling you right now,stop listening. Everything will be fine, Lily.”
“I’ll be locked away all night… What if you need me? If something happens to you and I wasn’t there because of some stupid sex club, I’d never forgive myself.”
Her only response is a scoff as we slip our sandals back on and head out to the car. Once inside, she turns to me with a serious expression lining her face. “I promise you, I’ll stay inside all night. As much as I want to drop you off to make sure you don’t bail,” her eyes narrow, letting me know just how much she believes I might ditch it, “I’ll stay home, watch a movie, and eat popcorn. Stop trying to find excuses, and remember how fucking hot you looked in that outfit.”
I roll my eyes as she starts the car and pulls into traffic. She’s right. Again. When the hell did my baby sister grow up into such a sensible person anyway? Though I was happy to see our past at the farm didn’t chain her down. That’s all I’d ever wanted, really. But now I had to face the fact that I wasn’t alright. I’d never letmyself move past it, and as scared as I was for tonight… I needed it too. Fuck, change was scary.
By the time we arrive home, I only have an hour until the doors lock. Just enough time for me to put on a bit of makeup—Calantha insists that I wear a darker shade of lipstick than I’d usually wear, yet I can’t deny how good it looks—and before I know it, my cab is outside.
I take one final look in the mirror and place the strap of my handbag on my shoulder. The woman looking back at me is barely recognizable. My black hair hangs loosely around my shoulders, the soft strands shinier than I’d be able to do on my own. There’s a glint in my eyes too, something that screams ‘sexual goddess’.As if!
“They aren’t going to know what hit ‘em,” Calantha says, hugging me at the door.
I ignore her comment—because what the hell would I even say to that? —and ask her a question instead. “You’ll lock the door after I leave? And stay in all night?” Before she answers, the sound of corn popping in the microwave fills the space.
“Yes, yes, yes. Now get going. You’re already cutting it way too close. Ah! Have so much fun!” She hugs me, placing a quick kiss on my cheek, and then shuts the door.
The lock clicks into place, and I hear a muffled “Go!”, a clear indicator that she knows me way too damn well. I rush outside and into the waiting cab, giving them the address to Club Rapture with a shy smile.
Either they don’t know what goes on there or they don’t care, because the ride is silent. My mind races with both scary and intriguing thoughts. This will either be the night of my life or a fucking disaster. As much as I fear the latter, I’m also hopeful that it’ll be just what I need.
The cab pulls off the main road toward a large building with the number twenty-two printed on the side in gold lettering.The smooth, black concrete walls stand out from the nearby buildings but otherwise give nothing away about what goes on inside. We drive past the valet area and the cab stops. Pulling some cash from my wallet, I pay the driver and step out into the cool night air.
