033 - From the ashes

Cynthia started the car once they got back inside and got back on the road. It took around another dozen minutes before she stopped in front of another store. This one was even bigger than the previous one, with beautiful dresses and gowns on display through the windows. Obviously they catered to female customers here, and not the ones struggling financially.

"Now, it is your turn to make the decision for me."

Hearing that, Daemon followed Cynthia inside. The latter spoke in a low voice to a saleswoman who approach Daemon:

"This way please, sir."

He gave Cynthia a look, then followed his guide to a more private space. It had couches, enough space to walk around, and a curtain hiding a smaller space where one could try the clothes.

Now he understood why the store had seemed empty. And the discretion of the place was indeed more comfortable.

It took more than ten minutes for Cynthia to come inside, followed by staff members who were carrying different dresses that were put behind the curtain.

Cynthia placed her bag beside Daemon, gave him a seductive smile, before sashaying to the changing space.

With his legs crossed, Daemon leaned back to wait for what the woman was selling in her gourd. And he didn't have to wait for long as she soon came out. It was just that she was not in the same outfit as earlier. She was now wearing a dress with a slightly deep shade of yellow. It was strapless, with her bust held high, her stomach hugged above a bottom that reached the floor. The slit on the left side of the dress was just short of reaching the waist, and to emphasize that, she stopped not far from him and exposed her beautiful leg for him to appreciate.

No wonder she had a seductive smile when she left. She wasn't planning on the shopping trip to be straightforward.

Daemon didn't shy away. His gaze lingered on the exposed parts above and below, which made Cynthia smile. Despite his calm, his gaze had a depth that pleased her.

She leaned forward to take a pose that gave a better view to the sitting audience, before turning around and returning behind the curtain.

A few minutes later, she came out again, but this time with her dress exposing the space between her breasts. The exposure reached the middle of her stomach, just above her navel, while the dress itself did not go past her thighs.

She had her hair gathered on one side, and after twirling around to raise the bottom of her dress and make it open like a flower blooming, she went back to change. The color of what she was wearing underneath her dress made Daemon distract himself by rubbing his right index and thumb together.

Cynthia's next dress had all of her back exposed, followed by another light blue one that this time was not covering her sides.

By then, the purpose of the trip seemed to have been forgotten. Or maybe the ongoing spectacle had always been the true purpose. The woman didn't bother to make things clear, and the man couldn't be bothered to ask for clarifications.

As Cynthia kept changing dresses, they started to turn more provocative. She came out from behind the curtain with a black short one that would have been a little modest, if not for the diamond shaped hole in the middle of the chest. The smooth skin of the exposed halves of her globes brought some warmth to the air-conditioned space.

Cynthia didn't seem shy at all, with her smile only becoming more pronounced as she felt the gaze from the eyes in front of her linger more and more on what she was presenting. She followed with a body hugging black dress that reached her ankles this time, but with a daring long asymmetrical cut out.

She turned around, and came back with a red satin dress this time. Like many other dresses she had tried, this one also had her go without a bra.

It combined the features of a few previous dresses, with the deep straight plunging neckline in the middle exposed in all its glory as she had her hair tied up high. The gown didn't end with straps on her shoulders, letting them free and ending behind her slender neck instead after hiding her breasts. The slit, this time, didn't shy away from reaching the waist, and the dress had a trail that was not too long sweeping the floor behind her.

She made a turn on her black strap heels to let him appreciate the exposed back that almost reached her butt dimples.

As she turned around, she made sure the slit of the gown let Daemon have a view of the darkness beneath.

She could see the obvious interest in Daemon's eyes, and he was giving her his full attention. Him not swallowing his saliva was already a sign of restraint, of that she was sure.

This made her smile deepen, and she left once again. This time she took longer to appear, and when she did, she was not looking provocative anymore.

It felt a little dissonant after all the spectacle, but the beauty she was exuding in her new dress blew the feeling away. She took a deep breath, appearing surprisingly a little shy this time.

It was a champagne colored, long, off-shoulder gown. It gave a romantic feel, making Cynthia look enchanting. The dress was embellished with floral lace appliques ravishing through its fit and flare silhouette. It was featured with a corset style fitted bodice, complete with a classy lace-up back that she turned around to show him.

He became entranced for a moment, before smiling:

"Did you make your choice long before?"

This made Cynthia turn away with a blush on her face. Indeed it was obvious, and everything before felt like a spice for what should be called a date.

Daemon shook his head, but he didn't feel offended. Whether it was because she didn't trust his sense of fashion because he was a man, or because she wanted to choose something perfect for a moment that might be unique in her life, he couldn't find fault with her. And her choice could be said to be perfect. He would not have made a different one.

"I will consider the earlier show as compensation. Have them pack everything up and let's go."

Happy that he let go without getting angry, she went back to change into her original clothes.

Meanwhile, Daemon called the saleswoman and gave her his card.

"We will be taking everything."

"Yes, sir."

A dozen dresses that were in total worth way more than the annual salary of the average man. Affluent customers were not rare, but those that would spend that much at once were still not seen everyday. That made the woman become even more friendly as she processed the payment.

Cynthia came out, and Daemon took her hand and left the store:

"Let's go, they will send the clothes to your place later."