Ben got up as well and looked to Karen and Penny who had somehow procured a deck of cards and were playing some kind of game. They glanced over at Ben and saw he was getting up. They packed up their stuff and were ready to leave when he was. They all shared the elevator to go back to their rooms but when they got off the elevator Karen snagged Gabriella’s sleeve.
“Could we speak with you and Ben in private?” Penny asked.
Gabriella nodded and sent Daniel on ahead to get ready. The rest went to Ben’s room. Ben and Gabriella sat on the couch and the two ladies took the chairs facing them.
“Ben told us today that he will take care of us, help us make lives but we can’t flirt or have sex with him,” Penny said bluntly and Ben blushed while Gabriella smiled at him.
Penny continued. “When we had lunch with the nice Russian family with the twins Ben rescued they looked at us like we were hideous. Are we ugly?”
Karen’s lower lip was trembling and her eyes were glassy.
Gabriella leaned forward. “No! Not at all! You are both very beautiful!”
“Then why did they look at us like that!” Karen wailed and began to cry.
Ben realized they hadn’t completely accepted the answer he and Galena had given them. The couple’s reaction to their physical appearance had been too obvious.
Gabriella reached out and Karen crossed over to be held by the woman. Gabriella made soothing noises and looked at Penny who also looked upset. Ben opened his arms and Penny went to him. She was trembling as he held her. Gabriella sent him a sad look.
“Let me be very clear. You’re both very beautiful. Certain aspects of your beauty have been emphasized and the Noskovs were just envisioning their daughters being changed in the similar way by Shakir. They’re just children! No parent wants to see their children grow up. Did Shakir ask you if you wanted to have these medical procedures?” Ben explained.
Both women shook their heads.
“Was it painful?” Gabriella asked.
Both nodded emphatically. Gabriella and Ben gave them firm hugs.
“No parent wishes for their children to experience that,” Gabriella said gently.
“Men look at us differently than they do at you or Catherine… or Margaux,” Penny said to Gabriella. “You’re all beautiful but their faces don’t look the same as they do when they look at us.”
Ben looked at Gabriella with a concerned expression. He wasn’t sure how to deal with that without hurting their feelings. She smiled at him.
“Men are drawn to beauty. They can’t help it. Women are too, to be fair, but for men there’s a drive to mate. Your beauty was emphasized with these operations and some of the changes send a very strong mating message. A message you’re not intending to send but it’s there. That message can be toned down but it would mean another operation. You’ll still be beautiful and men will still desire you. That’s just a burden we have to bear.” She grinned at them and got them to smile as well.
“Whatever you choose to do I will support your decision,” Ben said.
They nodded and smiled at him.
“Now, it’s time to get ready for dinner. Do you like Chinese food?” Gabriella asked.
The two women looked at each other. “We’ve never had it.”
“Then you’re in for a treat!” Ben said and everyone smiled.
Gabriella left after getting hugs from the ladies and a kiss from Ben. Karen and Penny closed the bedroom door to shower and change.
Ben had time before his dinner date so he opened his laptop and did some banking, transferring funds to pay off credit card charges and checking on a few other outstanding items. Most of his payments were automatic withdrawals so they didn’t need managing but he tracked them anyway.
He checked his email and saw a note from his lawyer informing him that the background check was proceeding but it might take some time as records were not so good. He was also looking into the legal procedures for establishing new identification records. Ben would have to talk to Karen and Penny about that.
Then he spotted an email from his neighbor, Barry Walker. The old gentleman Ben helped with his leaves and snow shovelling. He lived next to Daphne and the twins and Ben rarely saw him and his wife Phoebe. He didn’t know the man even had a computer. He read the message.
“Dear Mr. Shepherd,
I hope this note finds you well and recovered from your recent injuries. I also hope you don’t mind but I got your address from Daphne McKellan. When I spoke with her she said it would be ok.
It is my understanding that you have purchased a number of the houses in our neighborhood. As you have been a good neighbor to Phoebe and I for so many years I would like to offer you the opportunity to purchase our home before we put it on the market. Phoebe’s sister has finally been convinced to move to Florida so we will be moving to our condo there permanently in a few weeks.
Please let me know if you are interested at your earliest convenience so we may discuss the details.
Your neighbors,
Barry and Phoebe Walker.”
Ben read the date on the message and saw it was two days ago. He immediately wrote a response thanking him, indicated he was definitely interested, that he would be home in a few days, and to contact Shelly Spencer to work out the details in the meantime. Ben knew Trish’s cousin would ensure the Walkers would get a reasonable price for their home. He CC’d Shelly on the message so Barry would have the email address and the woman would be in the loop. He sent a separate note to Shelly letting her know roughly how much he was willing to go and to inform him if that wasn’t accepted.
Feeling upbeat from this delightful news he was grinning broadly when Karen and Penny exited from the bedroom. “Wow! You two look great!”
Brightly colored tops over tight black leggings and their customary high heeled shoes… but not quite as high. The design and pattern on the tops subtly de-emphasized the size of their breasts so they both looked a little nervous as it was not their typical style. Ben stood and walked over to look at their new outfits appreciatively.
“Truly! This is a smart look for you both. Very stylish and lovely,” Ben said honestly.
They gave him happy hugs and a kiss on the cheek then headed out. It was time for Ben to get ready for his date.
Catherine had so much fun shopping in Nice and had found some really beautiful outfits she was looking forward to wearing at work.
What made the day that much better was Chanel. The woman did something to her. Something only Ben and Gabriella did. It was like being supercharged! There was an energy in her that wasn’t present when she was with anyone but those three. Catherine had experimented a little in University but she’d never really experienced sexual attraction to a female until that night with Ben and Gabriella. Something had changed for her. A new door had opened.
Chanel had worn a simple black tank top and a pair of white short shorts which showed off her long tanned legs. Classic black and white low rise sneakers completed her outfit. Catherine was impressed with how strong Chanel’s arms looked and the woman had caught her staring a few times. The brunette’s eyes had been hidden behind dark shades but Catherine could feel them on her and it was electric!
Catherine wore a short sleeved red button down blouse over blue shorts and white sandals. Her bra wasn’t doing a good job of hiding how excited Chanel was making her. While they shopped Chanel would occasionally pass her in the aisles and accidentally brush up against her, or touch her arm, hip, or shoulder and each touch sent shocks through her body. She had gasped aloud on more than one occasion and blushed furiously when eyes would turn in her direction. Chanel walked away in each instance with a little smile of satisfaction.
Sitting across from Chanel during lunch at a sidewalk café Catherine got her revenge. A large flower planter next to the table hid Cat’s foot as it slipped up the inside of the brunette’s leg. She teased the sensitive skin on the inside of her thighs while Chanel did her best to hide her reaction to the stroking. It quickly became apparent that the woman was equally affected by Catherine. Her face flushed and she gripped the side of the table until her knuckles went white. Catherine finally pressed her big toe to the tender spot between Chanel’s legs and her legs snapped together trapping her foot. The brunette went very still as she squeezed her eyes shut and rode out the waves of an intense release. Eventually Catherine was able to pull her foot back. Chanel slipped her sunglasses down her nose and the look she gave Cat promised of sweet retaliation. Sparks shot through the blonde’s body once more.
After they were all exhausted from shopping they headed back to the van and discussed dinner plans. Chanel asked Catherine if the two of them might go to a restaurant she’d always wanted to try and she agreed. The others were going for Chinese then out dancing afterwards. The plans were set.
Now Catherine was getting dressed for her ‘date’ and she was feeling strangely nervous. A good nervous but still. She looked over at Sophia who was also dressing.
“You don’t think less of me because I’m going out on a date with another woman do you?” she blurted with an anxious expression.
Sophia’s eyebrows went up. “What made you think that?”
“I caught the looks you three were giving me all day and I’m worried you disapprove!”
“We were giving you looks because we saw how close you two were to tearing each other’s clothes off in the middle of the shop! We had a bet going that you’d disappear into one of the change rooms with her. We can see you’re happy and we’d never do anything to keep you from that. We’re just worried about how this affects you and Ben. What about him?” Sophia asked.
“I’m not giving Ben up. I love him too much. He and Gabriella know I’m attracted to Chanel. She makes me feel amazing! It’s a lot like I feel when I’m with Ben… but different. I can’t really explain it.”