Chapter 1
The double bed was the last straw. It was bad enough having to travel to a pharmaceutical conference all the way up in Aberdeen, bad enough that Finance had insisted that due to budgetary constraints and the eye watering cost of the event tickets they’d have to economise and share a room, but one bed?
‘For fucks sake,’ Ari swore under her breath. She’d already spent too much time with Gale already; sitting next to her on the train, trying to catch up on Real Housewives with a large iced coffee, she’d found her attention being pulled over to the other woman, her head stuck in some massive fantasy book and nibbling her nails, oblivious to the world around her. Conferences were always such a fruitful time for her, not just for professional networking but personal too; she would usually slip into something slinky, head down to the bar once the sun had set, and schmooze. More often than not she’d catch the eye of some senior manager or professor, sometimes queer or just curious, grateful for her unflinching focus, and start talking, bringing them back to her room shortly afterwards. She’d fuck them, fuck them a couple of times, then turf them out, politely avoiding them for the rest of her time there. But Gale had scuppered that lovely arrangement completely, not that she seemed to realise.
‘If it means we have more money for research, then fine by me!’ Gale chirped once she saw the measly double bed. Ari rolled her eyes.
‘Although I might have to be a little annoying-’
A little? Ari thought to herself, already feeling immensely irritated.
‘And insist on taking the left side of the bed, if that’s ok? That’s my typical side for sleeping and I do think it’s better for my sinuses.’
Ari scowled to herself.
‘Of course, darling, whatever you need. Now - do you need the bathroom at all? Because the dinner starts in an hour and a half and I’d like to start getting ready.’
Gale looked at her in confusion.
‘You need an hour and a half to get ready?!’
Ari stared at her for a beat, incredulous at her innocence. She was still in a velour tracksuit, her glasses on, her curly hair tucked up in various clips to keep it off her face. Of course she needed an hour and a half to get ready.
‘Yes, darling. Perfection takes time, after all.’
Gale raised her eyebrows and pointedly looked at the floor. ‘I mean, it only takes me 20 minutes max but sure, go ahead,’ she sniffed.
Ari felt the irritation build inside her and gritted her teeth, deciding that she needed to remove herself completely before she said something she regretted. They had three more days of this, she needed to hold the peace. So she grabbed her toiletries, her gown and underwear and disappeared behind the bathroom’s locked door, grateful for some temporary solitude.
****
She could always stay in someone else’s room; the solution presented itself as she methodically exfoliated then shaved herself, committing to an Everything Shower. That usually made leaving easier anyway and, even though it was against her own rules, she could probably sleep over just this once, rotating partners each night. That would be better than bunking with Gale, surely - all that talk of sinuses had already half convinced her that she snored. Yes, a gamble on a stranger had to be better than that.
Decision made, she finished her ablutions, towelling down then oiling her damp skin until it shone, then scenting it. She did the same for her hair, slipped her contact lenses in, then shimmied into her underwear for the evening: a black lace strapless bra with matching knickers, suspender belt and stockings. She made sure the belt was sat under her underwear (for easy access, if needed, and easier toilet breaks), wrapped her hair up (in an old t-shirt, to preserve her curl pattern, never a towel) and tucked her lace clad body behind her satin kimono, opening the door and emerging in a plume of steam and perfume.
‘Bathroom’s free, darling,’ she purred, Gale looking up from her fantasy novel. Her eyes seemed to widen slightly as she took Ari in, the other woman wondering at what had caught her attention and looking down to find her robe slightly open, giving a glimpse of her cleavage and a portion of stocking clad thigh. She pulled it closed.
‘Hope there’s still adequate heat and pressure to the water,’ Gale muttered to herself, gathering her things and stepping into the bathroom. Ari sighed to herself; she needed a drink. Thank god there was a mini bar.
****
Almost twenty minutes later, down to the second, Gale re-emerged from the bathroom, the sound of the lock clicking pulling Ari from her scotch and makeup application. She lowered her mascara wand and looked over at her absently, nearly dropping it in surprise when she saw her.
‘You can’t be fucking serious.’
‘What?!’
Gale, clearly just as prudish as she’d assumed she’d be, had taken her clothes in with her, dressing in the bathroom to avoid, what Ari guessed at, was her predatory lesbian gaze. Which, ok, fair enough but - what on earth was she wearing? A navy polyester skirt suit with a cheap v neck white blouse - she looked like she worked in a bank, and like she was twenty years older than her actual age.
‘It’s a formal evening dinner Gale, not a fucking job interview.’
Gale blinked at her.
‘It’s a professional event and I’m wearing something professional, what’s wrong with that?’
Ari stood and approached her, lightly resting her hands on her upper arms to get her full attention.
‘Darling, this is a five star hotel. These companies have money and, when it comes to these things, they’re willing to fucking spend it. Believe me - this might be your first time at one but this isn’t my first rodeo. Fitting in, dressing up, playing the game - that’s how you get places, that’s how you get what you want.’
Gale looked up at her, nonplussed.
‘But what does it matter? It’s just clothes - I can talk about the work I’m doing, surely that’s enough?’
Ari laughed; what an innocent.
‘Darling - some of these people don’t have the brains or attention span to listen properly to all of that. I’m sorry, but it’s true. We’re here to get funding for your research - which is truly brilliant, I won’t begrudge you that - and you know how Cazador will react if we come back empty handed. So we have to pull out all of the stops and accentuate your…’ she picked up a damp sliver of Gale’s hair. Out of its usual messy bun it was longer than she’d realised. ‘…feminine charms,’ she finished doubtfully.
‘Well, this is all I have, Ari. I didn’t pack any alternatives and I’m not in the habit of buying ball gowns. The only other things I have with me are -‘
‘….slacks and sweater vests?’ Ari finished helpfully.
Gale glowered at her.
‘Thank god I brought spares; it pays to pack for every eventuality. Don’t worry, darling, I’m sure I can find you something.’
She’d already unpacked her most delicate items, flicking through them in the rather cramped wardrobe.
‘Now let’s see - red might work but I’m not sure if you’re ready for that, pardon the pun - and while we’re the same height I’m not too sure of your actual dimensions so I might need something with a little give. Ah, now this might be good - try this.’
She extracted a dress from the cupboard, a sleeveless body hugging number in a slate blue, the material plain but possessing a subtle lustre to it.
‘What shoes do you have with you, darling?’
Gale shifted awkwardly.
‘The boots I came in or..brogues.’
Ari tutted to herself. Brogues!
‘And what size are you?’
‘A five?’
Ari crouched down and rummaged through the bottom of the wardrobe.
‘I’m a six but I’m sure with a bit of extra padding we can sort something out - how about these?’
She pulled out a pair of pointed toe court stilettos, clad in a dark metallic material, the colour of gunmetal. She looked over at Gale whose eyes had turned wide and shining; she looked mildly terrified.
‘I don’t think I’ve worn anything with a heel higher than half an inch, Ari -’
‘It’s fine, darling, I can teach you. And as a heel veteran I’ve come prepared with all manner of plasters and cushioned insoles, so we can make sure you’re comfortable.’
‘I, uh -’
‘Now do be a doll and strip.’
She looked up and found she’d stunned Gale into silence; so there was a way to shut her up.
‘…what?’
‘Strip.’
‘I don’t -’
Ari sighed with exasperation.
‘You can go into the bathroom if you need to, and get yourself out of that diabolical bank teller costume, but this is a fiddly garment to get into and zip up, and I can’t have you damaging it. It cost too much to ruin. So you can strip here - only if that’s amenable to you of course, darling.’
She saw how Gale hesitated and rolled her eyes.
‘Oh please - it’s nothing I haven’t seen before, darling. And even if I do swing that way I can assure you I’m not interested in the slightest - I’m saving myself for Dr Hassan later on tonight. It’s her first time attending and I’m keen to make a very, very good impression.’
Gale hummed doubtfully, but seeing the truth in Ari’s face she complied, fastidiously removing each garment in turn and smoothing them over the back of a chair until she was standing in front of her in her underwear.
Black cotton briefs and a matching bra - that checked out. But the rest of her; Ari found that she was pleasantly surprised. It turned out that under all those bulky jumpers and wide legged trousers, Gale had been hiding one hell of a body. Soft but strong, smooth olive skin covering some dangerous curves, her waist small, hips full, and her tits - Ari had to stop herself from gawping. Her breasts were large and full, perfectly nested in her wired bra. She felt her mind immediately start to imagine what they would look like out of it - odds were, incredible - and stamped down hard on the thought. She cursed herself for being such a boob girl - not now, brain, this was strictly professional improvement.
‘Lovely; now, let’s try you in this.’ She approached Gale and kneeled in front of her, placing the unzipped dress by her feet.
‘Now step in, like that, rest your hand on my shoulder if you need to - and we’ll get you zipped up.’
She slowly pulled the dress up over Gale’s thighs, forcing herself not to ogle them too closely, then up over her hips, smoothing the fabric down before standing to arrange the rest of it.
‘Turn for me, darling.’
Gale glanced at her warily then turned her back to her, Ari stepping in behind her and moving her hair out of the way, tucking it over her shoulder. It had a satisfying weight to it - she’d need to ask her what styling products she’d brought with her, she already guessed the answer was none. She clutched the zip and steadily pulled it up, watching as the material knitted together over her back, muscled and strong. This close to her she could smell her shampoo - something cheap but fruity, ripe raspberries - and what she figured was some sort of perfume, fresh and grassy. DKNY? Tommy Girl? Whatever it was, she found it suited her. She finished zipping her up, pausing to look down at the back of her neck, the curve of it. Had she run her fingers over the skin there, daubed it with scent? She was wearing a necklace - she’d never noticed that before.
She took a step back to reclaim some distance, aware suddenly of how distracted she was. She really needed to get laid tonight, clearly she was more than a little pent up. She inspected her handiwork and found that, just as she’d expected, the dress fit her perfectly. More unexpected was Gale’s perfect hourglass body.
‘And turn back for me, darling, let me see you.’
Gale pivoted on her heel and stared back at her, turning shy. Ari bit her lip - she had an overwhelming desire to wolf whistle but she didn’t want to spook her. She looked phenomenal.
‘How is it? Is it too tight? Too much? I feel like it’s clinging too much to my -’
‘Gale, darling -’ Ari’s voice softened with sincerity, the other woman pausing when she heard it. ‘I don’t say this lightly, but you look fucking incredible.’
Gale frowned at her, unconvinced.
‘Don’t take the piss, Ari, I’m serious.’
‘And I’m being serious, darling! Here, look -’
Ari wrapped her fingers lightly around Gale’s wrist and tugged until she was standing in front of the mirror with Ari behind her.
‘Look at you -’
Gale smoothed her hands thoughtfully over her waist and hips, inspecting herself.
‘Gale, you look beautiful,’ Ari murmured, meeting her eye fleetingly in the glass. ‘ As much as i resent saying it, because I find you deeply annoying, it’s the truth. You’re gorgeous.’
Gale whipped round and glared at her.
‘How am I deeply annoying?! I’m perfectly polite and cordial- ’
‘Hush-hush-hush, come on darling, there’s plenty of work still to be done. We need to finish all of this off and make sure you look your absolute best. Let’s try it with the shoes.’
Ari knelt in front of her again, positioning the shoes in front of her feet.
‘Use my shoulders if you need to, you might need some help to get your balance.’
Ari heard Gale’s gasp as she slid her first bare foot- high arched and elegant - into one of the stiletto’s, felt how she gripped hard at her shoulder.
‘That’s it, next one -’
Gale did the same with her other foot, Ari making the mistake of looking up at her once she was secured in both shoes. She met her brown eyes over the swell of her chest, saw the surprise in them, the trust. She swallowed and stood, Gale stumbling for a second as she lost her footing.
‘There you are, darling, see?’ Ari had instinctively curled a hand around Gale’s waist to help stabilise her, belatedly realising it was still there as she pointed them both towards the mirror. She had to admit, they looked rather good together.
‘See how they tilt your hips, accentuate the lines of your body? You already have a great pair of legs, Gale, not that anyone would bloody know about them, but they look even better in these -’
Gale reviewed her reflection doubtfully.
‘They’re truly ridiculous pieces of footwear- ’ she grumbled. ‘But do you think so?’ She asked, looking back at Ari in the mirror, oddly vulnerable.
‘Oh, I know so,’ Ari replied with a devilish grin.
‘Now,’ she continued, determined to finish the job well. ‘How about some makeup?’
Her grin only deepened as she watched Gale’s face fall.
****
‘Do you even own a pair of tweezers? My god -’ Ari pulled harder at a particularly stubborn eyebrow hair, making Gale wince.
‘Ow! I don’t see the need to -’
‘This close, I certainly do, darling. Stop complaining - have another tot of whiskey if you need it - and hold still.’
Gale glowered at her then took another sip of her drink, grimacing as she felt the burn of it down her throat.
‘Good girl. Unfortunately beauty is pain. Now just a few more and then we can get to the fun stuff.’
Gale stared back at her folornly.
‘This is meant to be fun?’
Ari just grinned back at her, in her element. ‘Absolutely, darling, you’ll see. Now nice and still for me -’
Ari rested one of her hands lightly on Gale’s neck, tilting her face up to the light to catch the last few hairs blurring the high arch of her brows. Gale pouted and huffed but she didn’t move; Ari could feel her pulse fluttering under her fingertips, feel her breath warm and whiskey sweet on her cheek. They were sitting very close together.
‘There we go, darling, unibrow no more!’
‘I didn’t have a uni-‘ Gale started spluttering, Ari privately enjoying riling her up. She didn’t, her brows were naturally quite neat, but she wasn’t going to admit that just yet.
‘Now before I start on make up, I have to ask - do you need the glasses? Do you have any contacts with you? I’m sure I’ve seen you without them once or twice…’
Gale nodded, Ari realising her hand was still on her neck. She removed it.
‘I do - not a massive fan of them as they make my eyes dry if I wear them for too long but I suppose if it’s a couple of hours this evening that should be ok?’
‘Atta girl, that’s the spirit.’
While Gale dealt with her lenses, Ari topped up their drinks and started playing some music on her phone. Weirdly she found she was having far more fun than she’d expected to.
Gale returned and sat down in front of her, taking the chair while Ari perched on the bed opposite. This close to her, Ari could see the hazel in her eyes, the tiny flecks of gold.
‘Before we start, Ari-’
‘Yes, darling?’
‘I - you always look so glamorous with all of your, erm, stuff -’
‘…stuff..?’
‘The eye stuff and the lip stuff.’ Ah, her winged eyeliner and blood red lipstick.
‘But that isn’t me. I don’t think I can pull that off - so if it can still be..natural?’
Ari smiled softly at her and gently moved a strand of damp hair off of her face.
‘Of course, darling, don’t you worry. I’ll take care of you.’
She saw Gale’s body relax, caught her relieved smile.
‘Thanks,’ Gale murmured, Ari picking up a tube of something and getting to work.
Gale was slightly darker than her but, with an extra bit of bronzer she reckoned she could sort something out. Her skin, even though she did nothing with it, was clear and smooth, Ari deciding to still prep it just to show her. She massaged essences and serums into it, followed by moisturiser, gently smoothing it over the planes of her face, her high cheekbones, and down over some of her neck, Gale tutting but still closing her eyes, soothed by her touch. She worked quietly, only giving her the odd instruction to look up or down, move her head where she needed it. She added concealer, bronzer, a swipe of blusher, smoked out her eyes with a rich coppery plum shadow, matching liner and plenty of mascara. Confident that Gale’s eyes were still shut she snuck a look down at her chest, her ample cleavage, the necklace resting above it, a plain silver circle suspended on a chain. In the world she operated in that had a distinct meaning and she wondered if it meant the same to Gale; her interest was piqued.
‘I’ve been meaning to ask, darling -’ The two glasses of whiskey had definitely emboldened her.
‘What’s that?’ Gale replied softly, opening her eyes. She looked a little woozy, drunk on touch and spirits. Ari guessed she might be the first woman to have ever done this with her, tended to her face with such care.
‘This necklace of yours - what is its significance?’
She felt Gale stiffen and pull back slightly, her cheeks colouring.
‘A gift, from my ex. She got it for me a couple of years ago.’ Ari felt her eyebrows snake up to her forehead in spite of herself; a girlfriend, how surprising. She’d always figured Gale was rather sexless, and, if she had to pick an orientation for her, straight. Clearly her gaydar needed fine tuning.
‘..and I guess I never really stopped wearing it. I don’t really have much jewellery, I don’t really wear it, just this and the star earrings she got me.’
‘Ah,’ Ari replied, sensing that she needed to proceed with some sensitivity, not that she really had any.
‘What does it symbolise?’
Gale frowned, thinking it over.
‘I don’t really know - she said the wholeness of all things, of love. I like to think of it as the magic of biology, of the basic cell, the building blocks of life-‘
‘So it’s not a day collar?’ Ari asked slyly, Gale’s face slackening in incomprehension.
‘A…what?’
‘A day collar, darling,’ Ari continued on airily. ‘It’s what dominants in a relationship give to their submissives to subtly indicate their ownership and power over them, in D/S relationships-‘
Gale drew her chair back sharply.
‘I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about - she never, it was never - it’s just a metal orb, I’ve never heard about that in all my life - a submissive, I wasn’t - I - I was just her girlfriend - whatever we -’
She’d turned bright red and was starting to babble. Ari did her best not to smirk; clearly she’d hit on something, not that she, or even Gale, knew what it was.
‘Shh-Shh-shh, don’t go and implode on me, darling, it was a simple question, perfectly innocent.’
Gale shot her a knowing look, seeing past any pretence of innocence.
‘Come now, darling, don’t go and throw a wobbly now, we’re so nearly done. Just the lips to go, bring yourself back in.’
Gale huffed and puffed but still obeyed, drawing her chair back in and leaning back into her. It was only when Ari had lined her lips in rosewood pencil and started filling them in with a matching gloss that she risked her next question, quiet and close to her mouth.
‘And would you, darling?’
‘What, Ari?’
‘Like to be owned?’ She had no idea why she’d even said it, curiosity, she supposed. Something about Gale’s naivety, what she speculated could be hiding underneath it.
She saw how Gale’s pupils dilated in the milliseconds before she pulled away, outrage taking over.
‘What are you even talking about, Ari? No, why would I-‘
‘Forget I even said anything, darling, it was a silly little joke.’
Gale raised a sceptical eyebrow.
‘It was, promise! Now, how about this thatch of hair, hmm?’ She asked, promptly changing the subject.
****
Gale didn’t resist when she started brushing her hair, or flinch when she ran serum slicked fingers through the length of it. Instead she seemed to relax into it, Ari watching as some of the tension left her shoulders and she stretched out her neck, weight shifting to the back of the chair. She imagined how her body would feel like that, heavy against her own, then brushed the thought out in a stroke of bristle.
‘There we are, darling, I think my work here is done. Take a look at yourself,’ she uttered softly, Gale blearily opening her eyes.
‘I hope I don’t look like a clown,’ she muttered to herself. ‘No offence, Ari, I’m sure you’ve worked miracles, but this is all new to me,’ she added hastily as she wobbled over to the mirror.
‘Oh my - who is that?!’
Gale turned back to Ari, incredulous, Ari felt her heart swell with pride; who knew she even still had one?
‘I’m me, but I’m not - the make up is - I look like myself but better, it isn’t too much at all. How did you? And my hair, it’s so smooth? I swear it’s never curled like this before -’
Ari smiled shyly at her.
‘I’m only as good as my canvas, darling. And I have to say, under all of those layers you have some great material. You’re beautiful, Gale, I mean it. I suppose you looked as good before but I’ve just - accentuated what was already there.’
Ari returned to stand behind her, admiring her reflection in the mirror. She was right; she was herself but not, a woman who, if she encountered her in a bar as a stranger, she would make a beeline for. She realised then that actually, she didn’t really fancy finding Dr Hassan downstairs for a night of passion, not with the vision of a woman now standing in front of her.
‘Thank you, Ari, I mean it. No one’s ever done anything like this before and honestly, I never thought it would be for me. But I look…good.’
‘Oh more than good, darling, positively delectable.’
Gale’s face clouded over for a moment, the faltering confidence disappearing from it.
‘What is it, Gale?’
Gale met her eye in the mirror.
‘The shoes - I don’t know how to walk in them.’
Ari rested her hands on her upper arms - surprisingly toned and firm - to reassure her, smiling at her reflection.
‘Not to toot my own horn darling, but I’m the high femme master of them. I can teach you in five minutes. Let me get into my glad rags and I can demonstrate, hang on.’
Ari drifted back to the wardrobe, shedding her kimono and searching the rail for her chosen outfit. She could have sworn that Gale was still watching her in the mirror, that she could feel her eyes raking over her body. Let her, she thought to herself, picking out the grey velvet Bardot dress she was after and matching black courts. She had nothing to be ashamed of, sliding her dress over the curves of her body with a hint of performance and adjusting to her additional height in her heels.
‘Just a couple of finishing touches -‘ a black velvet choker and some garnet teardrop earrings, rich as blood.
‘While I’m doing this - it might be better to remove that necklace, darling, lest people get the wrong idea?’
Gale blushed furiously but said nothing, starting to fiddle with the clasp.
‘Here, let me, darling,’ Ari offered, seeing that she was struggling. She delicately moved her hair out of the way, tucking it over her shoulder, and undoing it in one fluid movement. She could feel the heat of her skin under the cool of the silver.
‘There you go, keep it somewhere safe,’ she murmured, pouring it into Gale’s hand. She took it and tottered over to her backpack, hiding it away in some compartment.
‘Now, let’s get you strutting your stuff, darling. Here - can I touch you, your body?’
Gale looked at her in trepidation.
‘Yes, of course.’
Ari rested a hand on her stomach and pressed one finger lightly into one of her butt cheeks.
‘Erm- ’
‘Focus on where I’m touching you, darling. Your movement needs to come from your glutes, here.’ She pressed her finger in a little harder then removed it. ‘Then keep your hips angled like so - and square your shoulders like this, no, no, don’t look down, look ahead, like you’re roller skating - yes, like that -’ she kept adjusting her, Gale righting her posture. When she wasn’t slouching she looked rather statuesque.
‘Ok, now walk to the door for me, then walk back.’
Gale nodded then started walking, uncertain but bolder than she’d been moments earlier.
‘More in the hip, that’s it, head up, it’s ok - you won’t fall - oh perfect, good girl, that’s just right, you have it!’
Gale beamed at her, resting a hand on her waist and popping her hip, clearly chuffed.
‘Darling, I think you might be ready.’
‘Can I have something to cover my arms a bit, in case I get cold?’
‘Of course, darling. Here, take this -’ Ari handed her a spare pashmina, shot through with silver thread. ‘And that would go perfectly with these -’ Ari rummaged through her travel jewellery bag, finding some topaz teardrop earrings that were a blue facsimile of her own. She wiped them down with an alcohol wipe then presented them to Gale with a smile, Gale smiling back at her.
‘Tip your hair back for me, darling,’ she asked softy, aware she was almost whispering. Gale tilted her head, allowing her to thread an earring through each love in turn, their faces close.
‘Beautiful,’ Ari murmured, accidentally stroking a fingertip over the shell of her ear. Gale smiled up at her, eyes shining from the praise. She really was.
‘Now, come on!’ Ari clapped her hands together, trying to clear her head. ‘Let’s go get that money, darling!’
She grabbed her clutch and offered Gale her crooked arm, the other woman linking hers through it, smooth skin on skin. She laughed, coming over giddy for a moment, then ushered her out the door.