The Apricot and Cream Dress
Back in the fitting area, Sabrina hung the gorgeous apricot and cream dress on a wall hook and said, “turn around sweetie.” She unzipped his pink satin dress, and he meekly stepped out if it. He sighed obediently as he was used to this routine by now… he had been doing it all afternoon. Then, he winced as he took another good look at the ultra-girly dress he would soon be wearing. It was made of a warm ivory cream satin with delicate pale apricot accents. The sleeveless, fitted bodice was decorated delightfully with raised rosettes to create an elegant, textured surface. At the waist was a prominent oversized satin bow. The skirt was the worst! It was incredibly full and voluminous, made of cascading tiers of sheer organza over satin. It looked like a sissified apricot cloud!
Once she hung his off-the shoulder pink dress back on a hanger, she held up a different pair of white tights still in the packaging. “Change into these, sweetie,” she said cheerily as she tore open the plastic, “they are much more sheer than the ones you have on and will look adorable with that dress.”
Edward nodded, then blushed once more as he realized she was not going to leave while he changed his tights. Cringing, he compliantly sat on the little padded stool next to the mirror and pulled off his white, ribbed tights. Then Sabrina handed him the silkier, sheerer tights. As he had now learned to do, he carefully pulled them on. Immediately, he noticed how much lighter and more delicate they felt compared with the ones he had just taken off. The stretchy fabric had a cool, slippery cling as it slid over his legs. He shivered a bit as he pulled them up over his pink panties, and he tried to be careful not to snag the gossamer material with his fingernails or his corset. As he pulled them into place, he saw the off-white tights had a delicate feminine floral pattern with elegant small blossoms and leaves. When he stood, his cheeks warmed again.
“Perfect!” Sabrina said enthusiastically. Next, she instructed, “Arms out, honey.” Edward’s face heated as he lifted his arms stiffly, aware of how girlish he must look. She slipped a silky cream colored camisole top over him and straightened the thin spaghetti straps on his shoulders. “There,” she added, smoothing it over his chest, “how pretty.”
Edward squirmed and dropped his eyes to the floor. “Now for your petticoat!” she said brightly. She held up a fluffy, multi-layered white tulle petticoat with a smile. “To be honest,” she giggled, “it’s completely unnecessary with that fluffy skirt, but it also happens to be what your wonderful Aunty wants!” Sabrina couldn’t help but add with a teasing smirk, “and I’ve noticed that what Aunty wants… Aunty gets!”
Edward cringed, embarrassed by how clearly she seemed to grasp the situation. It was obvious that Sabrina and Skye had no reservations about meeting his aunt’s expectations. Sabrina held the petticoat’s elastic waist open for him, and he reluctantly stepped into it. It rustled sweetly over his clingy floral tights, and he flinched at the electric sensations when she tugged it into place just over the bottom edge of his corset. The ultra-girly petticoat flared around his slender waist in stiff, rustling layers. Every small movement seemed to create another papery whisper from the airy tulle.
Sabrina grinned in amusement as she saw how timid he was, but she pressed on. She pulled him directly in front of the large mirror. “Time for the dress!” she announced brightly. “Arms up again, my love,” she instructed.
Having no other choice, Edward raised his trembling arms up high. The gesture made him feel awkward and exposed. Sabrina skillfully shook the elaborate dress once to free the tiered skirt, and the layered organza answered with a soft rush. Then she lifted it high and dropped it carefully over his head. The dress whooshed down over him in a frothy cloud of cream and apricot frills. Satin, organza, tulle and lace all engulfed him at once as Sabrina settled it meticulously over his petticoat like a fluttery breeze.
He felt lightheaded as Sabrina began zipping up the satin bodice. She drew the zipper up slowly, and each small pull made the dress feel more confining and final. In seconds, he was snugly enveloped in the gloriously girlish cream and apricot creation. For a dizzy instant, Edward felt swallowed by the dress itself, as if the satin and frills were a soft, rustling tide that left only his burning face above it. Then, he watched helplessly in the mirror as Sabrina began to straighten the bodice and fluff the skirt with brisk strokes of her skillful hands. The more she smoothed and fluffed the layers, the more he felt trapped. He felt incredibly enclosed and on display.
It was then that Skye sunnily returned. She opened a pink, tissue-lined box to reveal a darling pair of ivory ballet flats. She had been thrilled to find the last pair in his size. The lustrous satin slippers had a slightly pointed toe box and a charming ankle strap with a decorative trim made of glossy white imitation pearls. With their innocent appearance, they looked tailor-made for a flower girl!
“Be still, honey, so I can get you strapped into your pretty slippers,” Skye said with a grin. Edward watched as Skye knelt on the carpet in front of him before he quite understood what she meant to do. He flinched a bit in surprise as Sabrina placed her hands on his bare shoulders from behind to steady him. He stiffened at once, embarrassed at how mollycoddled he felt. He could smell the girls’ delicately feminine perfume all around him as they moved closer to dress him in tandem.
He looked down but could see only the soft, rustling bell of his billowing skirt, so instead he watched Skye in the mirror with nervous fascination. Underneath the gauzy puffs of his extravagantly fluffy dress, he saw her go to work.
“Right foot, honey,” she directed gaily.
Edward hesitantly lifted his right foot from the carpet. He felt Skye guide the dainty shoe into place, easing it over his toes before fastening the slender ankle strap with a delicate little pull. Skye then repeated the process with the other shoe. “Now the left,” she said with a pleased chuckle. Once that strap was adjusted and fastened as well, she pronounced, “There we are!”
When Skye stepped back, Edward returned to the mirror and could now see how the dainty ballet flats complemented his completely sissyish outfit. He felt utterly prettified from head to toe.
The next touch turned out to be an oversized satin hair bow which Sabrina pinned carefully in his curls. The pale apricot confection was a triple layer, ruffled delight, and he immediately felt the weight of it on his head. “There,” she said, stepping back with a pleased, teasing smile. “Sweet as a little cupcake!” she chuckled softly.
As Sabrina pinned the bow into his curls, Skye told him to hold out his hands and said brightly, “I found these near the shoes and thought they would go perfectly with the rest of your outfit as well.” Edward’s face went hot and his pulse quickened as he saw the pair of lace tea party gloves in her hands.
Helplessly, he asked, “Do I… do I really need the gloves… too?” he asked, the words coming out uneven. Dressed as he was, he realized instantly how silly it sounded to protest now, and his voice failed him before he could finish.
Skye chuckled, as though she thought his pitiful reluctance was hilarious. She waited with a patient, expectant smile. After a moment, Edward slowly extended his hands. Before he could do little more than swallow, Skye slid the lace gloves over his fingers. They were stretchy, sheer and delicate… patterned with tiny flowers and prim little bows at the wrists.
As if on cue, Sabrina gave his bodice a final smoothing. “Just look at him,” she gushed, “Isn’t he precious?”
Skye tilted her head a bit and flashed a bright, mischievous smile, “I think his Aunty will be over the moon!”
When the two salesclerks stepped aside, Edward saw his latest outfit properly for the first time. The sight took the breath out of him. Despite all the dresses he had been put into so far, this one seemed like something else entirely. It was incredibly sissyish! His reflection made his face burn, and the longer he looked, the more it made him want to wince. His gorgeous dress, floral tights and darling satin shoes seemed to cheer on Aunt Patricia’s plans for him. He felt so far away from the boy he remembered being. Everything about him looked prissy, pretty and polished.
Topic: The Portrait of Edward Gray (Read 9411 times)
