Fat Tuesday(126)

But as soon as they were inside the room, she grabbed the box and set it on the bed."I can't wait any longer!" She tossed the lid aside and separated the folds of pastel tissue, then a long, rapturous "ahhhh" escaped her as she gazed down at the shimmery, sheer fabric studded with sparkling stones and colored crystals. She even folded her hands beneath her chin like a little girl saying grace at suppertime.

"It's almost too beautiful to touch. What is it?"

"Take it out and see."

She lifted the two garments from the box as though handling holy relics, although there was certainly nothing sacred about the costume.

The brassiere was two stone-studded, glittering cones held together by flesh-colored strings. The bottom half was a pair of harem pants with a similarly jeweled bikini. The legs were sheer and banded at the ankles with rows of stones. Also in the box were a pillbox hat with veil attached, and a pair of gold leather slippers with bells on the toes.

Her reaction was a wide-eyed mix of delight and dubiety."Are you sure this is for me? Maybe you picked up the wrong box."

"Don't you like it?"

"Oh, yes. Very much. It's gorgeous," she said in a gush of breath.

"It's just sort of skimpy."

"You think so? Why don't you try it on? Then if you don't like it, you'll have time to exchange it for something else." He looked her up and down critically, drawing his brows into a steep frown.

"You know, you may be right. It does seem a little too risque for a girl your age."

The reverse psychology worked like bra-ca-f*cking-dabra. Nose in the air, she snatched up the costume and headed for the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind her and locking it. Bardo chuckled. Women were so damned predictable, was it any wonder men had to invent new ways to amuse themselves with them. Old, young, beautiful, ugly, skinny, fat, white, black, or any other color, what woman, having been insulted, even mildly, wouldn't want to prove him wrong? Now Flarra couldn't wait to show him how mature and sophisticated and daring she was.

He drew the drapes on the window and checked to see that the door was latched and the chain lock secure. Then he sat down on the edge of the bed to wait and to savor his own anticipation.

But when she didn't reappear after a full ten minutes, his patience began to wear thin."Flarra? Need any help? Is everything all right?"

"No. I mean, no I don't need any help. And, yes, everything's all right. I guess."

"Doesn't it fit?"

"Hmm."

"Well, let's see it."

After a few moments' hesitation, the bathroom door opened. Bardo's gut clenched with expectancy, but even a connoisseur of women like him wasn't prepared for the living fantasy that stepped across the threshold in slippers that jingled when she moved. The veil covering her nose and mouth only emphasized the charming modesty with which she gazed back at him. Her breasts were barely contained within the small cups of the bra.

"I don't think my sister realized how brief it is," she said, selfconsciously moving her hand down her exposed belly. One less sequin and he could have seen pubic hair." Do you think it's okay?"

"Oh, yeah." It seemed his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth.

"I think you look great."

"Honest?"

He stood and walked toward her."Honest. In fact, you look good enough to eat."

His smile must not have been very trustworthy because she laughed nervously and took a step backward."Thanks." She turned away."I think I'll change back into my clothes until it's time to dress for the party."

He caught her hand and brought her back around."It's time, sweetheart.

This is the party."

He ripped off the hat and veil, then stamped his mouth over her lips, which had parted with alarm. Pushing his tongue into her mouth, he curved his arm around her bare waist and pulled her against him, grinding his pelvis into hers. She struggled, which only tantalized him.

She even struck his face, which provided him an excuse to hold her tighter and to wrestle with her until he had her arm behind her and pressed up between her shoulder blades.

"What are you doing? Stop!" she cried."That hurts."

Lowering his head, he bit her breast where it swelled out of the bra cup. She screamed.

"Shut up." He squeezed her jaw painfully between his fingers and thumb.

"You do that again, and I really will hurt you, understand?" She began to cry, and her tears only intensified his lust. He loved it when they cried either out of fear or pain.

"If you hurt me, Pinkie will kill you."

He laughed."Yeah, sure he will, sweetheart."

"What are you going to do?"

"Now what do you think?" he purred, sliding his hand between her thighs and squeezing.

She shuddered in what he knew to be revulsion. To him, it was as good as a shiver of ecstasy.

"Th-they know you have me," she stammered."They'll come looking for me."

"Haven't you caught on yet, honey? Your brother-in-law arranged this little party."

"You're lying. Pinkie would never "

"But he has. You'll have him to thank for all the fun we're going to have together."

"My sister "