tight!” she said.
“It's not, trust me,” Lia said patiently. “It's supposed to fit like that.”
Now that Daisy was looking, he could see that Lia's gown nipped her in at the waist and pushed her breasts up.
“All right...”
Lia was just reaching for the buttons again when the door opened.
“A one-month anniversary doesn't mean much if a man must celebrate it alone,” said Sheikh Khilafa Baykara.
“Khilafa! I will be right down, and next time, for the love of all that's good, knock! This is my sister's room!”
“Beautiful sister,” came an amused voice from behind Khilafa. There was another man there, one that Daisy couldn't see, but she still yelped, gathering up the edges of her dress and turning away. Her face was on fire.
Khilafa laughed.
“At your convenience then, beautiful women,” he said, shutting the door behind him.
“I swear, that man only plays the savage sheikh when he thinks it's funny,” Lia muttered. “Now come here, and let me take care of you. We really are a bit late.”
Daisy submitted to her sister's ministrations, her face still flaming red. She could imagine how she looked, half in and half out of a gown that was far too beautiful for her, her skin pale and doughy in the bright light.
Lia was right. The dress was comfortable once it was secured. Daisy could feel the way it made her stand up straighter. She was a little self-conscious about the way her breasts were pushed up and her hips were pushed down, but she figured there would be enough people there that she wouldn't stand out too horribly.
Lia ran a quick brush through Daisy's hair. Like Lia's, it was wavy and naturally sleek and shiny. All it took was a brush to make it glow.
“There, now you're beautiful,” Lia said approvingly. “Do you want to see what you look like in the mirror?”
“Not at all,” said Daisy. “Let's go before we're that much later.”
Lia rolled her eyes at her sister's reticence, and arm in arm, they left the room.
***
When Lia had spoken about the one month ceremonies, Daisy had been expecting something formal, long, and impressive. The main hall, decked out in hothouse flowers with a real fountain sparkling at one end was indeed impressive, as were the people who crowded its length. Some of the attendees were dressed in traditional Samaran splendor, others were dressed in western ball gowns and tuxedos, but clearly all were there to impress and stun. Daisy had never felt more out of place in her life.
There were no long speeches or rituals, however. Khilafa, dressed in white robes and handsome as a movie star, had stepped up to the dais. With a glowing grin, he gave a brief speech on his duties as the protector of Samara and how he had found the one who would protect it just as fiercely as he would. He presented a brilliant Lia to thunderous applause. When the tumult died down, they raised their joined hands.
“May all be welcome in our house!” they cried together, and the music had started.
Daisy knew that her sister wouldn't be able to take up her old role of social buffer for her. It didn't stop her from feeling adrift and lost amongst all the beautiful people, though. A few of them smiled at her, but her answering grin, probably nervous and shy, prevented most from approaching. When she saw a few who did want to come near, Daisy couldn't stop herself from ducking through the crowd.
Maybe I just need to loosen up a little, she thought hopefully.
She made her was to the long refreshments table and was promptly confused by the variety of things offered there. There was a lull in the crowd, so she didn't feel so very pushed, but still, she wasn't sure what she wanted.
“Do you need some help, beautiful girl?”
They were the first words spoken to her since the party began. It was just as well she hadn't been holding a drink because she would have spilled it all over herself.
“I... I don't know...”
The man standing beside her was dressed in an impeccably fitted
“It's not, trust me,” Lia said patiently. “It's supposed to fit like that.”
Now that Daisy was looking, he could see that Lia's gown nipped her in at the waist and pushed her breasts up.
“All right...”
Lia was just reaching for the buttons again when the door opened.
“A one-month anniversary doesn't mean much if a man must celebrate it alone,” said Sheikh Khilafa Baykara.
“Khilafa! I will be right down, and next time, for the love of all that's good, knock! This is my sister's room!”
“Beautiful sister,” came an amused voice from behind Khilafa. There was another man there, one that Daisy couldn't see, but she still yelped, gathering up the edges of her dress and turning away. Her face was on fire.
Khilafa laughed.
“At your convenience then, beautiful women,” he said, shutting the door behind him.
“I swear, that man only plays the savage sheikh when he thinks it's funny,” Lia muttered. “Now come here, and let me take care of you. We really are a bit late.”
Daisy submitted to her sister's ministrations, her face still flaming red. She could imagine how she looked, half in and half out of a gown that was far too beautiful for her, her skin pale and doughy in the bright light.
Lia was right. The dress was comfortable once it was secured. Daisy could feel the way it made her stand up straighter. She was a little self-conscious about the way her breasts were pushed up and her hips were pushed down, but she figured there would be enough people there that she wouldn't stand out too horribly.
Lia ran a quick brush through Daisy's hair. Like Lia's, it was wavy and naturally sleek and shiny. All it took was a brush to make it glow.
“There, now you're beautiful,” Lia said approvingly. “Do you want to see what you look like in the mirror?”
“Not at all,” said Daisy. “Let's go before we're that much later.”
Lia rolled her eyes at her sister's reticence, and arm in arm, they left the room.
***
When Lia had spoken about the one month ceremonies, Daisy had been expecting something formal, long, and impressive. The main hall, decked out in hothouse flowers with a real fountain sparkling at one end was indeed impressive, as were the people who crowded its length. Some of the attendees were dressed in traditional Samaran splendor, others were dressed in western ball gowns and tuxedos, but clearly all were there to impress and stun. Daisy had never felt more out of place in her life.
There were no long speeches or rituals, however. Khilafa, dressed in white robes and handsome as a movie star, had stepped up to the dais. With a glowing grin, he gave a brief speech on his duties as the protector of Samara and how he had found the one who would protect it just as fiercely as he would. He presented a brilliant Lia to thunderous applause. When the tumult died down, they raised their joined hands.
“May all be welcome in our house!” they cried together, and the music had started.
Daisy knew that her sister wouldn't be able to take up her old role of social buffer for her. It didn't stop her from feeling adrift and lost amongst all the beautiful people, though. A few of them smiled at her, but her answering grin, probably nervous and shy, prevented most from approaching. When she saw a few who did want to come near, Daisy couldn't stop herself from ducking through the crowd.
Maybe I just need to loosen up a little, she thought hopefully.
She made her was to the long refreshments table and was promptly confused by the variety of things offered there. There was a lull in the crowd, so she didn't feel so very pushed, but still, she wasn't sure what she wanted.
“Do you need some help, beautiful girl?”
They were the first words spoken to her since the party began. It was just as well she hadn't been holding a drink because she would have spilled it all over herself.
“I... I don't know...”
The man standing beside her was dressed in an impeccably fitted
Similar Books
