“Don’t suppose he can rustle up a tux in a week, can he?” She winced. “I’m going to Larchester Manor Opera nextweekend and want something a little nicer than the off-the-rack thing I had last time.”
“Gosh, no. Samuel is old school, and you’ll be back and forth like anything for fittings. Leave it with me for the morning. I may have an idea.”
Before she could speak again, John had gone, and her office was silent again. She wasn’t sure what had just happened, but she felt it was positive. She threw herself into her work and only came up for air two hours later when a message from John pinged on her internal mail.
As she clicked on it, she realised her heart was much lighter than it had been this morning. Yes, she’d had a few odd looks and, as John had predicted, Marjory had muttered about pronouns until Rory glared at her and reminded her of the HR policy around EDI and gender identity.
She checked the contents of the email.
Rory,
My friend Charles works at Markham’s Department Store. He does semi-bespoke fittings for suits and can fit you in this week. I’ve checked your schedule and tentatively put you in for Thursday afternoon. He is Daniel’s godfather and will take care of you.
Best, John.
He/Him
Rory let out a huge breath of air and sat back in her chair. Of all the people to support her at work, she would not have counted John among them. Sitting back in her chair, she then took a moment to check herself. She had dismissed him as an old-school lawyer with conservative views and someone who was not, and never could be, an ally. She had forgotten his son was gay. This gave her hope for when she saw her parents.She pulled her phone out to text Gemma the details for Thursday before forcing her brain to finally concentrate on the multimillion-pound deal she and John were working on currently. Unhelpfully, her brain kept working out her bonus for this deal and how she would love to take Gemma on a holiday with the money she would make. Images of Gemma in her bikini then swam in her brain, and she had to forcibly chase them from her mind to get any work done at all.
25
GEMMA
When Rory had said ‘shopping,’ Gemma had in mind traipsing from shop to shop with a grumpy Rory like they had last time. She had not imagined being in a changing room in a department store with Rory’s lips on her mouth, hand on her breast, fucking her towards a wonderful orgasm. She used every bit of self-control to keep quiet, but the smallest of whimpers escaped into Rory’s mouth as she came. Rory kissed her lazily as she gentled her down from her climax. Gemma gripped her fingers into Rory’s shoulders and let the familiar liquid heat run through her body. She felt strong arms hold her up as her legs had turned to jelly, and for a moment, she couldn’t think straight.
Once she could stand properly again, she pulled Rory in for a kiss. This one was gentler and more loving than the frenzied kiss they had shared earlier, which had led to her girlfriend being knuckles deep in her in a public changing room.
“Where the hell did that come from?” she whispered to Rory. Fortunately, the changing rooms were busy enoughfor there to be plenty of noise and bustle around them, but not busy enough that someone wanted this cubicle.
“Guess I really missed you.” Rory peppered kisses along Gemma’s neck until she met her lips and gently kissed Gemma. “And you look really, really good in these jeans.” Rory pointed toward the jeans that she had just stripped off Gemma.
“Hmm, I really missed you too,” Gemma moaned as Rory found that bit on her neck that turned her on every time, the bit of her neck that got them into this mess in the first place.
She pushed at Rory’s shoulders. “Shoo. Do not start that again.”
Rory grinned and sat on the stool in the corner of the dressing room. Gemma picked up the jeans she had been trying on and waved them at Rory.
“Well, I guess we are definitely buying these now.” She threw them at her girlfriend to fold and reached for the clothes she had been wearing when they had arrived. Once they had put themselves back together as best they could, they escaped from the changing area into the main store.
“At least we came here before Markham’s,” Gemma giggled. “I really like their food hall and couldn’t bear it if we’d been caught and banned from there.”
Rory tapped her credit card to the reader and led them out into the summer sun. Hand in hand, they headed towards the newest luxury department store in London. Entering through posh glass revolving doors, Gemma could already hear pound signs clinking in her mind. They headed up to the menswear and tailoring department. This was a far cry from the department store they had tried last week, and Gemma could feel Rory relax as they walked. Rory gave her name at the cash desk and waited patiently.Gemma had stereotypically thought that the tailor would be a camp man with odd-coloured hair and was surprised to see that he was a nondescript middle-aged man with a beard and kind eyes. She mentally slapped herself for being so prejudiced and making assumptions.
“Hello Rory and…” He paused to allow Rory to introduce her.
“This is my girlfriend, Gemma.” Rory squeezed her hand, and Gemma felt a frisson of joy as Rory introduced her. Most of her other girlfriends hadn’t hung around long enough to warrant that title, but with Rory, it felt natural and right.
“Lovely.” He pushed his glasses up his nose and shook their hands. “I’m Charles. My wife Emily will be helping out if that’s okay?”
Charles led them to a private room that had plush carpeting, several comfy-looking chairs and an enormous mirror to one side. A middle-aged lady with a warm smile, bobbed blond hair, and a tape hanging around her neck stood to one side.
“Hello.” Her smile widened and seemed to fill the room. “I’m Emily. I’ll be helping today.” She draped the tape measure over Charles’ head, so it hung over his shoulders. “Can I get you started with a drink? Champagne? Or something soft?”
Gemma looked at Rory, and they shared a secret smile. The last time they’d had champagne together had been at the opera.
“Well, as I need a tux, then champagne seems appropriate. But could I also beg for a coffee?” Rory’s super charming grin was in full effect. Gemma nodded that she’d like the same, and Emily toddled off to get their drinks. Gemma felt like something out of a film. Her family had never beenpoor by any means, but this was service unlike anything she’d experienced.
“Now, what are we looking for?” Charles ushered them to the chairs and sat opposite them.
