After lunch, we wandered around the mall to various stores. We laughed as we held up silly objects in Spencer’s, tried on outlandish outfits in Hot Topic, and browsed at Natural Wonders.
After that, we went into Sam Goody to browse music. Chris trailed off with Griffin to look around and then later found me in the middle of the store looking through the Led Zeppelin albums. He came up behind me quietly, looked over my shoulder, and watched as I thumbed through the CDs in the rack. When I picked up the Led Zeppelin IV album, I felt him get closer and then rest his chin on my shoulder as I ran my fingers over the track list. My breathing slowed as I paused at each title, letting my mind wander to the times when I would ride around town in the Jeep with my Dad, listening to each of these songs, then I set it back down in the rack. I put my hand on the first CD in the front of the rack and rocked it back so they fell like dominoes, and the Led Zeppelin CD disappeared. Then I walked away towards the front of the store, and Chris followed. Isabelle was now making her way towards the front of the store, too, with Watson and Griffin in tow.
“Come on, Isabelle, let’s go to Victoria’s Secret,” I said, and Chris’s eyes got wide at the suggestion. I made a sultry face at him, then looked back at Isabelle.
“Yes! Finally! Let’s go!”
“I am not going in there,” Griffin said.
Watson and Chris shared a look of disappointment, then looked back at us.
“I guess we will catch up with you girls later. We’ll meet you at the fountain when you’re done,” said Watson.
Then Chris took a step towards me and leaned in close. With a warm breath into my ear, he whispered, “I can’t wait to see what you buy,” then he turned and walked away.
When we got into the store, we were swarmed by girls who didn’t look much older than us. They were wearing skimpy pink shorts and tank tops with the word PINK in black block letters across their chests, and headsets in their ears.
“Hi, welcome to Victoria’s Secret! What can we help you find today? Something special?” Isabelle and I looked at each other nervously, then laughed.
“We have no idea. We just want to look around,” I replied.
“Okay! Just let us know if you need anything or need help finding a size,” one of them said as she turned to greet the next guest who was coming through the door behind us.
I turned to Isabelle and pointed towards a table full of lace lingerie in the back of the store.
“Let’s go check those out,” I said shyly, and she turned to me with surprise.
“Damn, Allie! Okay!” she said, as she followed me to the table.
The large-breasted, tan, blonde-haired mannequin in the center of the round table was wearing a set of red lace panties and a matching lace bra. It was cut low, just above the nipples, with thin satin straps. I walked around the table, touching each pair of panties, feeling the lace on the edges as I went, and I wondered which color Chris might like best. I picked a pair of black panties, then moved to the table of bras, but I wasn’t sure of my size, so I called to Isabelle, who was looking at the colorful sea of Hanky Panky thongs.
“Hey, Isabelle, can you grab that measuring tape on the table and measure my rib cage? I’m not sure what size I need.” I tried to keep my voice down, worried about my volume for fear that the girls with the headsets might come running.
I was too late. The sales girl came flying around the corner and had her measuring tape around me faster than I could protest.
“You’re a 32,” she said confidently. “Turn around, let me see your chest,” she said, as she grabbed my arm gently, spun me around, and stared at my chest intensely. “You’re a C-cup,” she said matter-of-factly, then she sorted through the bras on the table until she found a black lace bra to match the panties and escorted me to a changing room. I looked over my shoulder at Isabelle, who was laughing uncontrollably at the violation of my modesty.
In the changing room, I stripped down and tried on the lingerie. Once everything was on, I stood there in front of the mirror, tilted my head, and admired the look of lace across my body. I was never one to buy lavish undergarments. I always wore sports bras and cotton panties for field hockey practice, so this was an unfamiliar feel. The lace was slightly scratchy, but I had to admit it was sexy. Just then, someone knocked on the door.
“How’s it going in there?” came the voice of the salesgirl through the door. Before I could reply, she came barging in.
“Oh! I’m not dressed!” I replied in shock.
“That’s okay, girl! No need to be shy, I just wanted to check the fit of the bra. Turn around, let’s see the cup size,” she said as she grabbed me on either side of my arms and stood me squarely in front of the mirror. “Yep, I knew it. You’re a C-cup. That looks amazing on you. The cleavage is perfect, and there’s no spill-over. Whoever gets to see you in this is going to lose their mind,” she said as she winked at me and was gone as fast as she had arrived.
What just happened?
I removed the lingerie, set them down on the bench, and put my clothes back on then went to find Isabelle. She was waiting by the cash register, just finishing her transaction.
“Are you buying those?” she asked, as I approached with the black lace lingerie in my hands.
“Yeah, I can’t believe how aggressive these sales girls are. She just came barging in like we were having a naked party in the dressing room,” I said, with a mix of shock and laughter. I paid for the lingerie, and we left to go meet the boys who were waiting by the fountain.
As we walked up, Chris’s eyes landed on the pink and white striped bag in my hand, and I caught a small smile on his face. Isabelle went to talk to Watson and Griffin about what they had purchased as Chris approached me.
“Are you going to show me what’s in that bag?” Chris asked quietly enough that the others didn’t hear, but I just squinted my eyes and shook my head no, as I reached up and brushed my fingertips on his cheek. As I did, he grabbed my wrist, and his eyes shot open as he pulled me in close with his other hand. When I leaned in to kiss him, he dodged my lips, brushed his cheek across mine, and then whispered in my ear, “Don’t start something you can’t finish,” he said with a fire in his eyes that looked like he wanted to eat me alive.
“Ready to go?” Watson said as he looked up from the others who were showing each other their purchases.
