AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tareq rose, pulled out her chair, then held it for her as Nomi took a seat.She was grateful for the courtesy, given the dress she’d chosen for tonight.
Picking out what to wear had been a study in commitment issues.The whole day had been a trial as anxiety and anticipation made her stomach muscles tight, and she’d changed her mind about coming half a dozen times.
Once she was seated, Tareq rounded the table and took his own seat.
He eyed her appreciatively.“I like that dress.”
“I thought you might.”Nomi adjusted the off the shoulder sleeves, which were really just draped bits of chiffon.
She’d bought this dress to wear to a wedding at the Getty Villa.Given that the museum was housed in a recreation of a Roman country home, the layers and intricate draping of the dress were a subtle nod to ancient Greek and Roman fashion, without being costumey.
The bodice was fitted, with pleated layered fabric that gathered at a central point just below her breasts before trailing down in long lines to the hem.While the bodice was sturdy, with layers of fabric, boning, and a snug fit to help it keep its shape, the rest of the dress was loose and flowing, the thin, diaphanous material tending to cling to her curves.
When she’d worn it for the wedding, she’d had on heavy-duty foundation garments that smoothed out her belly and thighs.Those didn’t give her the cinched waist of a corset, but did minimize and control her body.
Tonight, she wore nothing beneath the dress.No bra, no foundation garments.Just a pair of boy-cut satin stretch panties.No bra meant her boobs weren’t as lifted as they would have been if she forced herself into both a strapless bra and the structure of the dress itself.No foundation garment meant that her rounded stomach and the “extra” roll on her hips were both on display as the fabric of the dress clung to her.
It had taken all her courage, and a protective shield of “anyone who thinks I’m not fucking gorgeous right now is a dick” attitude to walk out of the Subs’ Garden.
She’d felt people’s attention on her as she walked through the club, but hadn’t checked to see what their expressions were saying.The optimistic part of her wanted to believe everyone was merely curious, since she wasn’t wearing fet wear, that the long, formal-if-low-cut and clingy gown was drawing attention in a good way.
The pessimist within was sure that at least one of those people saw her and thought to themselves “oh, there’s that fat sub.”
Despite her comment to Tareq last night that fat was just a word and not necessarily derogatory, part of her curled up into a protective ball at the idea of anyone using it to label her, accurate or not.
“Nomi.”
She jerked her attention up from her lap, where she’d been twisting fabric between her fingers.
“You okay?”
“Yes.Sorry.Just…thinking.”
“Do you want a drink?”
“Sure.”
He started to rise, but she held out a hand.“Not red wine.I don’t actually like red wine that much.”
Tareq’s brows drew together.“Then why did you order it last night?”
“Because it’s the smart option.”
He dropped back into his chair, the frown smoothing out a bit.“Because red wine drinkers are snobby if they see you order white?”
“Because red wine is supposed to be healthier.Less sugar than white.Certainly less sugar than my actual favorite drink which is a French 75.”
Tareq planted his elbows on the table and leaned in.The posture made his shoulders seem huge, and even though they were both seated he loomed.
“You lied to me.Again.”
“That’s…uh…that’s not the main takeaway from my statement.”
“Isn’t it?You lied because you were more worried about appearances and what people thought—”
“That’s not fair.I was protecting myself—”
“Nomi.”
