Tuesday 28th July 2015
Glasgow
I checked my appearance in the mirror before leaving the staff room, adjusting my gold name badge to sit neatly. I wouldn’t need it for much longer.
The door opened and Dennis, a relatively new colleague walked in.
“Good morning, Frank. You only have a few days left, but I see you intend to maintain a smart appearance.”
“Hi, Dennis.” I grinned. “I blame my fixation with personal turnout on the Royal Navy.”
“It’s strange, how someone holds true true to those high standards for a long time after their career. I only found out about your service a few days ago.”
“Well, you’ve only been here about two weeks so you’re not expected to know everything about your colleagues within a short time.”
“How long did you serve?”
“Twenty years, so a good turnout becomes second nature.” I paused on the way to the door. “What was it you did before joining us here?”
“I worked in a stationery store so coming to a bookstore is a sort of sideways move. I’m only twenty-six, so maybe this will be my big career move.”
“Talking of moves, I’d better get moving, and see what’s ahead of me. Enjoy your break, and I’ll see you later.”
“Yeah, I’ll see you later.”
I arrived in the stockroom to find the most recent delivery had been substantial. For my final few days I had responsibility for what we referred to as the ‘naughty corner’. The section was labelled Steamy Romance and Erotica. The new stock was already stacked neatly but still required to be broken down into sections. I located the delivery sheets that related to my area and commenced checking off titles and quantities before stacking them onto a small trolley.
After thirty minutes of refilling and reorganising the appropriate shelves, I paused to check what remained on my trolley. As I turned, it was to have the unexpected pleasure of seeing a stunning woman nearby, perusing a section of books. She was about forty, maybe six feet tall, with long, wavy brunette hair and beautiful features. Her open lightweight jacket, short skirt, and high heels enhanced her appearance.
For a moment, I stood with a book in my hand, gazing at her, transfixed. She was one of the most striking women I’d seen in a long time. When she turned and smiled at me, I felt my face warming, and before I could busy myself, she replaced the book on the shelf and approached me.
“Hello, Frank,” she said, glancing at my badge.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “I couldn’t help—”
“Did I catch you in a moment of wishful thinking?” She nodded to the book I was holding.
I looked at the title—Dressed for My Pleasure. “Well, this is a great. Get caught staring at a beautiful woman while holding a book about crossdressing and feminisation.”
“I’m sure it could have been worse.” She smiled and outstretched a hand. “Nigella Trainer.”
I briefly shook her slender hand, and quickly turned over the book in my other hand to check the author’s picture. “I’m delighted to meet you, and this photo doesn’t do you justice.”
“That’s sweet of you, and brightens a rather ordinary day.”
“I hope I didn’t cause any alarm with my lechery.” I bit my lip. “I normally glance at the customers while I’m working, but you are a captivating sight.”
“Does your wife or partner know that you flirt with your customers?”
“I’m not married or in a relationship so I can be open and honest.”
“I like it; footloose and fancy-free.” She nodded towards the nearby shelves. “Are you restocking this entire section this morning?”
“Yes, and I only have a few new titles still to put out.”
“I’ll wait until you finish so I can check on the competition.”
“It’s only my opinion, of course, but I don’t think you have any competition in your genre.”
“Oh, really, and how many erotica authors have you read?”
I quickly looked along the nearby shelves. “Seven, or eight including your titles.”
“I’m impressed. Do you read any other genres?”
“I’ve read widely because I wanted to try my hand at writing.”
“That’s fantastic. What length and type of stories have you attempted?”
“So far, I’ve written a few novellas and short stories, and they’ve been adventure, thriller and romance.” I grinned. “I’m considering self-publishing but haven’t gone that far yet.”
“Okay, so you haven’t tried writing erotica yet?”
“No, but erotica is my latest genre, so like the others, I’ve been reading different authors.”
“When do you intend to try writing the naughty stuff?”
“I finish work on Friday, so I’ll get my retirement underway with my first attempt.”
“If you don’t mind me saying so, you can’t be close to retirement age.”
“I’m fifty-five, but I’ve got a Navy pension so I can afford to stop regular work ten years early.”
“I’m pleased for you, Frank.” She arched a shapely eyebrow. “Erotica is quite a diverse topic as you know. Have you decided which sub-categories your first attempt will be about?”
“No, I haven’t, and I wish we’d met before now. I’d love to have talked about your stories, and asked for your advice.” I looked into her gorgeous brown eyes.
“I’m always happy to help a new author ….” Her words trailed off. “Do you go out of the branch for lunch, Frank?”
“I normally go to Barbara’s Bakery on Argyle Street.”
“Tomorrow, I’m off to London and I’ll be there until the weekend.” She paused, and studied me. “I could meet you for lunch today to talk about writing.”
“Seriously?”
She grinned and leaned forward to whisper. “There are two things I don’t joke about, Frank. One is anything to do with sex, and the other, is anything to do with writing.”
“I’ll be in Barbara’s Bakery at one o’clock. It’s a cafe on Argyle Street.”
“I know it—” Her phone buzzed. “Excuse me, Frank—one o’clock.” She nodded, winked, and walked away, answering her caller. A hint of her perfume remained where she’d stood.
Darren approached, and looked back a couple of times at my new acquaintance. “Frank, please tell me that she is a regular customer in here.”
“Sadly, she isn’t.” I held up the book in my hand. “Nigella is a favourite author of mine.”
“Bloody hell.” He took the book and glanced at the title and turned it over to read the blurb. “How long have you known her?”
“I’ve read a few of her books but I met her for the first time about fifteen minutes ago.”
“Wow. Maybe I’ll ask to deal with this section next week, just in case she comes in again.”
“I’m sure your wife wouldn’t be pleased to think that you’re lusting after an older woman.”
Darren laughed. “We’re tolerant when it comes to that type of thing. We both recognise when someone is attractive, be it a man or a woman.”
“You’re fortunate to have a relationship like that. In my experience most women become insanely jealous if their man looks at someone else.”
“I’m fortunate in that respect, and lucky to be married to a gorgeous, sexy woman.” He grinned. “I’d better get back to the Natural History section. I’ll see you later.”
*
I strolled along Argyle Street and arrived in Barbara’s Bakery just before one o’clock. Nigella waved from a booth at the rear of the seating area. I waved back and savoured her appearance again as I approached. She’d removed her jacket and her well-filled blouse now caught my eye. It would have been difficult to lift my gaze from her impressive chest, but her face was gorgeous.
“Hi,” she said. “I said I’d order when my lunch date arrived.”
I slipped out of my jacket and hung it over my chair. “You’re making me feel special, referring to me as your lunch date.”
“You’re already special if you want to become an erotica author, Frank. How special you become will depend on how far you’re prepared to for your craft.”
I worried my lip. “That makes me feel like I’m a character in one of your books.”
“You never know … if you play your cards right … coffee or tea?”
“Coffee, please.”
She looked behind me. “Hello, Jackie. Could we have a pot of coffee for now, please?”
“Certainly.” The young waitress left us
For a moment we both looked at the menu, although I already knew what I’d be ordering.
Nigella said, “What do you recommend?”
“All of their food is excellent, but I’m partial to their filled, baked potatoes.”
“I’ll be hoping you take my advice soon enough, so I’ll take yours.”
Five minutes later, we’d ordered and were sipping coffee.
“Right,” Nigella said. “You said earlier that you’d like to talk about my stories, and ask my advice, so off you go.” She lifted her coffee with both hands and the bright glossy red of her immaculate nails contrasted with the white cup.
“A lot of authors say they use personal experience to create believability in their work. How far would you say that you employ your own adventures within your stories?”
She lowered the cup and licked her glistening lips. “My latest is based on fact?”
“Dressed for My Pleasure? That’s about a man being feminised by his wife.”
“I caught my husband wearing my lingerie last year, and that story was born.”
“He really left you when you suggested he must go outdoors en femme?”
“Yes, my husband wanted to continue crossdressing, but would only do it in private.”
“He was a fool.” I gazed into her eyes. “If that had been me, I’d have done anything for you.”
“How interesting.” She smiled.
“I’ve never crossdressed, but when I read that book, I fantasised about being your husband.”
“If your questions impress me, Frank, we may meet again when I return from London.”
***
Katya Cumming Erotica 