"Okay, so I'm surprised. Only now I can't figure out why you even came here. Julia, what do you want from me?"

"Nothing much. I just wanted to get a look at you. To see what my husband is so hot for. Only I haven't seen anything like that yet, at least not that exciting. It's beyond me. Unless maybe you're hiding something special under that dress. Are you? Take it off, let's have a peek."

"Silly. You-you can't be serious."

"Don't provoke me, my dear. Remember now, I'm in a position to make trouble for you. With my husband. And at your job. I could even kick up a fuss and have you thrown out of this apartment, considering who's paying for it. So perhaps you ought to humor me, hmm? I don't ask much. Let's go. Strip!"

Her abrupt change of expression came as a shock. The green eyes had narrowed to slits, the lipsticked mouth drawn thin, a cruel red slash. It was no time for me to argue. Besides, what could I lose? Afterward, she would still be puzzled – my just wasn't that great, with or without clothes. Oh sure, it had all the necessary curves, even a few extra for good measure. But it was far from spectacular. Just like my face, round and pleasant, with a turned-up button for a nose, cute but nothing to write home about. All in all, cute and cuddly in a kind of chubby way, too compact for real beauty. I had youth in my favor, sure, but not much more. No, this uptight woman could look all night and never understand what her husband found so attractive in me. That was our secret, his and mine.

I moved away from her, out to the middle of the floor, sensing those eyes on my back. Impulsively, maybe even deliberately, I let my hips sway with each step. If she wanted to look, I'd give her something to look at! I was glad now that my costume didn't include pantyhose; they're fine on the legs but all seamy up above, not very sexy once the dress comes off. And not very practical for my original purpose, of course, hardly conducive to a quick lay in some neighborhood hallway. I wasn't even wearing a garter belt, just round elastic thigh-garters to keep my rolled nylons from falling down.