Page 2 of A Little Christmas 4: Teller
I blanched at his words because I’d said them to myself a million times. “I developed some bad habits during college. I find I like sleeping indoors and eating on a semi-regular basis. This isn’t my only job, but I meet nice people, so I don’t mind it too much.”
“Ah, I understand. What other jobs do you have?” the big man asked, his interest in me a bit intimidating.
“I work for Hillsdale Dry Cleaners, doing alterations. I can do them at home, which makes it nice, and I wait tables at O’Malley’s Pub on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons.”
The tips weren’t bad at the pub, but the eye candy made the job a lot better. Hot jocks came in to watch college football on Saturdays and professional football on Sundays, and while I’d never meet the man of my dreams there, I did enjoy perusing the goods.
“I see. When do you work here?”
“Monday through Wednesday, two until closing,” I answered.
“So, you only have Thursdays off?”
“More or less. It depends on how many alterations I have during the week. Basically, I work all the time. Fashion is hard to break into, but I hope someday to have my own fashion line. Maybe my designs will sell here,” I joked.
“What jacket would you wear with this tie?” he asked.
“We have a lovely suede tobacco-brown bomber jacket that would be perfect for a less formal event. There are some nice leather jackets as well,” I answered as we walked toward theseasonal section, which was now burgeoning with men’s winter coats.
I didn’t have the key to unlock the leather and suede coats, so I needed to find Mr. Kerry, who kept a tight fist on it because those coats were pricey. He’d also hijack a commission without missing a beat. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any say in his antics.
“You’re a forty-two long, correct?” I asked.
He was more like a forty-four or a forty-six, but I didn’t want to insult the man. He was broad-shouldered and his waist was slender, but he had long arms that would feel damn good wrapped around me.
Silver Bear laughed. “Not for a very long time. I’m a forty-six long, which isn’t easy to find without going to a specialty shop.”
“You’re in luck. We carry sizes for men such as yourself.” I stepped over to my favorite suede bomber in his size and touched the shoulder. “Let me find Mr. Kerry to get the keys so you can properly try it on.”
“I’m here, Teller. Good evening. Would you like to try on that jacket?” Mr. Kerry asked as he stepped between Silver Bear and me.
Mr. Kerry whipped out the key ring and unlocked the hanger from the bar before he fished out the metal braided line that went through the sleeves. He then held up the jacket. “Teller, take the gentleman’s coat.”
I hurried to the other side of the rack and took the three ties from the man before sliding his jacket off his shoulders and down his long, muscular arms. I wanted to wrap it around myself because the scent coming off him was absolutely mouthwatering.
Mr. Kerry slid the jacket up the man’s arms and over his shoulders before brushing his palms against the bulging muscles I longed to touch. I was sure I was green with envy.
Silver Bear turned to me and grinned. “What do you think?”
I held the tie up to his suede-covered arm. “See, it matches perfectly.”
Mr. Kerry cleared his throat. “I’ve got this, Teller. Go check the dressing rooms, please.”
And right there was the sound of my commission on the coat and ties going out the window. I nodded and hung the wool sport coat on the end of a rack, placing the ties next to it before I went to do the dreaded dressing room clean out.Fuck you, Mr. Kerry.
“And he was absolutely gorgeous, but Mr. Kerry took over the transaction because he had the keys to the locks in the coat section, and he sent me to clean out dressing rooms,” I complained to Maizie as we waited at the bus stop to go home. Maizie lived one floor below me at the Shelton Arms—or Shitty Arms, as we called it.
The building was a hundred years old, and it looked every year of it. It hadn’t been painted or remodeled in any way since they opened the doors to rent it to soldiers returning from the First World War, I was certain. No doubt, the place was full of mold, asbestos, lead paint, and the largest rat population known to man. At least my plumbing didn’t leak in my studio apartment like Maizie’s did.
“By the way, Mistress Geraldine sent me a text this afternoon. The date for this year’s Little Desires holiday party at Leather & Lollipops is going to be December eleventh. That’s only two weeks. It’s going to be a winter pajama party. Please, say you’ll go!” Maizie’s hands pressed together as if she were praying.
Maizie and I had met at the Little Desires Halloween party at Leather & Lollipops, a kink club downtown, the previous year. I’d been invited to the club by a Daddy I met through Hillsdale Dry Cleaners. I had been sent to his office downtown to take his measurements so I could alter a suit he bought off-the-rack on a trip to New York. I hated to tell him, but he overpaid for it. Idid my best, and the damn thing appeared to be of much better quality when I was finished.
Instead of giving me a tip, as was customary when I returned with the altered suit three days later, he gave me an invitation to Leather & Lollipops for the Little Desires Halloween party. I’d had no idea what Leather & Lollipops was at the time, and when I found out it was a place where people like me could enjoy age-play kink, it’d been the best day of my life.
The cheapskate and I didn’t work out because he wanted me to wear diapers—nothing wrong with it if that’s your thing, but it wasn’t mine—and he got really mean when I refused to humor him. He ended up getting kicked out of the club, and I never saw him again, thankfully.
“Oh, a pajama party sounds fun. I just finished making a footed onesie out of cute polar bear print flannel. I was just going to wear it at home, especially since the radiator in my apartment still works for shit, but I think I’ll save it for the party. How about you? Do you have anything special? I can make you a baby-doll dress with shorts that have ruffles on the back.” I’d had the idea of it in my head, and it would be so cute on her.
