EroticReverie

I stretched my arm upwards and over standing on the rolling ladder of the bookshelves. I bit my lip in concentration trying to balance instead of just going back down and moving the ladder over and re-climbing.

It was my job to restock before closing and I was behind because I’d also been giving the task of pricing a large collection of books a woman had brought in and donated to the store.

I worked part time at a local used book store. I loved it and I kept to myself the happiness I achieved every time I stepped onto the rolling ladder. It reminded me of Belle from Beauty and the Beast. And I was never alone in the store to try my attempt of holding my arm out and cascading down the entire wall like she did in the movie.

As I slid an old book into its place , the cracked spine sliding into its spot and lining up perfectly with the books next to it I heard his feet shuffling up the aisle.

It was the owners son. A pretentious little prick who had pretty much lived in this bookstore since he was a kid. So of course he could tell me and anyone else everything about everything. And he could be making the shit up I wouldn’t have known. I’m sure he thought he was quite impressive but his cock sure attitude about every topic irritated me to my core. What irritated me even more was how attractive he was. I sighed as he got closer and leaned back into the ladder , no longer reaching out and placed my hands on the side.

“You really should be careful.” He said looking up at me as I looked down at him. I didn’t miss his eyes on the lower part of my legs for a moment before he looked up. He’d complimented my dresses many times. I have to admit. Maybe it’s why I wore them. Because even though I despised him, I enjoyed knowing that he wanted to study what was under my dress just like he’d studied the books in the store. And I knew it was a knowledge I could keep from him.

“I am careful” I told him as he reached his hand up as I started to climb down , keeping it behind me as if his palm would keep my weight from toppling if I were to fall backward. He didn’t place it on my lower back or my behind , although I always considered him the type that would. He just held it about a foot away from me. Just incase.

“That’s a nice dress.” He said after he let out a sigh at my disregard for his concern of my safety.

“Is it new ?” He asked looking at the hem and down at my shoes and back up. He wasn’t oogling. He wasn’t making me uncomfortable. He was just observing.

“Yes” I said and ran my hand over my stomach and down the fabric smoothing it out. “And thank you.”

It was a navy vintage day dress with small white polka dots. The sleeves were capped and the neckline only showed the very top of my cleavage which had a small silver heart pendant from my necklace currently lodged between it. The bottom half was loose and the hem came to my knees and I was wearing plain navy flats with it.

“Of course” he said and smiled slightly and looked again at my dress then back up at me. I watched his eyes as they regarded my dress. I wondered what he was thinking. Simply about my dress or more ?

“Did you need something ?” I asked politely and watched as his gazing stopped and his ridiculously long dark lashes lifted and his absurdly blue eyes peered at me.

“Hmm?” He said as if forgetting he was the one that walked up to me. “Oh” he said. “No. Just wanted to see how much longer you think you’ll be. I’m still doing stuff up front. But just wanted to check” he said and he lifted his elbow up onto a ring of the ladder, moving himself closer to me as he leaned on it.

I shrugged. “Twenty minutes maybe. I just have the rest on the cart to put away” I said letting my hand gesture over to the cart a few feet away.

“Alright.” He said with a nod that made his dark hair fall slightly in his face. His hair was short on the sides but longer on top. And he kept it pushed back by constantly running his fingers through it all day. I can’t say the act wasn’t distracting at times. Watching him slightly tilt his head back running his fingers through his stupidly thick and perfect head of hair. I inhaled at my secret thought without realizing it.

“You okay?” He asked

My eye brows raised in surprise realizing I’d let a thought of him cause an audible response. “ oh yeah. Yea. Just tired ya know” I said with a shrug.

He smiled. “I can let you leave early. I can finish those when I’m done up front” he nodded to the unstocked cart of books.

I shook my head. “No. It’s alright. Thank you” I said and realized I was becoming flustered. It’s happened a few times with him. When I was worried he could read my mind. I felt my cheeks grow warm with nervousness.

“I don’t mind, really” he said and even though he wasn’t moving closer at all I felt as if we were somehow closer than we were a moment ago as he tilted his head to the side , a lock of his stupid fucking hair falling in this face. Don’t do it. Don’t fucking do it I thought. As he did it. Lifting his hand and brushing it back , running his fingers through it. I swallowed the saliva in my mouth that would’ve been dripping from the corners of my mouth like a drooling school girl looking at a poster of her favorite singer or actor hanging on her wall.

“I. I got it” I said as he looked back at me.

“Ok” he said with a smile.

I stood there getting goose bumps on my arms as he just stood there looking at me with his confident smile and his eyes looking at my dress again.

“I really like that one dress you wore last week” he said.

I lifted my hand to the same rung of the ladder her elbow was placed on and rested it there.

“Which one?” I ask.

“Same style as this one…but it was red.” He said.

I nod. I know the one.

“Well. Thanks.” I said.

“You wore the matching red lipstick with it” he added and at first I thought he was just listing off facts as they were. But I saw him lick his lips slightly as he stared at my mouth and then up to my eyes. I inhaled audibly again and he seemed to smirk knowingly.

“I really liked the lipstick too” he said showing more of his smirk as he let out the word really.

“Thank you” I said, swallowing again before licking my own lips without even thinking about it. They were bare today. Plain. No lipstick.

“Mhm” he said and shifted slightly and I felt myself inhale and hold my breath as he moved in just the slightest bit more. “Thank YOU” he said his eyes going back and forth from my mouth to my eyes and he smiled with a slow blink of his eyes.

“For what?” I asked softly , by body tense and feeling like I’d get shocked if he were to touch me with the electricity I felt right then between us.

He smiled and said nothing and my body felt it as he moved in even closer now and I was looking up at him my eyes on his.

“I’ll be up front if you need anything” he said softly , stopping with our bodies too close, closer than they’d ever been, almost touching.

I nodded. “Okay” I said , our eyes not leaving one another’s. Just do it I thought. You pretentious fucking man tease. Just do it.

I felt my body relax as he stepped back, his elbow leaving the the ladder and taking another step back with a smile.

“Okay” he said and turned around and walked down the rows of books and turned to look back at the end of the aisle to find me still watching. He grinned and turned the corner.

I felt my breath whoosh out of me and chest drop as I finally fully exhaled not realizing how much I’d been holding in. I grabbed the sides of the ladder with both hands and braced myself.

“Fuck” I whispered to myself as I hung my head between my arms and took a few breaths. I felt a slight ache inside and knew as soon as I’d move I’d feel that he had made me wet. His eyes burning into me like that. Standing so close. Smelling his cologne. I lifted my head a closed my eyes inhaling one more time. I made a slight noise at the imagery in my head of him had he put his hands or mouth on me just then. What we’d be doing right now if he had. On the floor with his hands up my dress ? Would I be pinned against the wall of books? Lifted onto the cart with my legs around him? Stop it. Stop it. I told myself and opened my eyes.

I shelved the rest of the books and went to the back of the store , put on my cardigan and grabbed my purse and decided to leave through the back. I texted him when I got to my car.

“Sorry Jackson ,Forgot to say goodnight. Just left. Finished all the books. See you tomorrow” I typed and hit send.

I placed the phone in my lap and turned on my car and put my hands on the wheel. I bit my lip and looked down at my phone. The little bubble popping up as he typed a response. It stopped. Started again. Stopped. Started again. Stopped. Started again.

“See you tomorrow. Have a good night Audrey”