Getting Ready

While she got ready to go to her gallery, Dani gave Jessica a blow-by-blow account of their night together. James was happy to let Dani tell the story and contented himself watching her get ready. He loved the very feminine way both Jessica and Dani did their hair and make-up and chose their clothes. There was something about the process that he found very intimate, like peaking behind the curtain to see how the magic was really done.

“I can’t believe he made you beg like that!” Said Jessica just as Dani finished applying her make-up.

“I’ve got to admit,” she said, standing up and searching her drawer for underwear, “had anyone else tried that I’d have kicked them in the balls and thrown them out of the flat. But for some reason, when James did it, I don’t know,” she said with a bra in one hand and matching knickers in the other, “It just did it for me.”

“I know I’ve surprised you with this whole moving-in-with-us stuff, but seriously, are you sure you’re okay with it?”

“Jess, it’s fine, now I’ve had time to think about it you’re right, the harem only works if we’re all living together. I do need a little time to get my affairs in order though. Maybe I can move in on Saturday?” she said, stepping into her knickers.

“Saturday sounds good to me, I will have a room ready for you by then.”

“I think this calls for some sort of celebration, shall we go out to a nice restaurant, or maybe do something at home?” Said James, watching Dani put her bra on.

“That’s a great idea, we should definitely do something to welcome Dani into the house. What do you think Dani, a swanky night out or something a bit cosier indoors?”

Dani pulled a pair of black tights from her drawer, then sat on the bed next to Jessica to pull them on.

“If the weatherman is to be believed the British summer is finally due to kick in this weekend, and you’ve got that lovely pool so why not make the most of it?” She said, standing up again and pulling the tights up around her waist.

“Oooh, champagne and cocktails in the sun by the pool, I think that idea is a winner,” said Jess.

“Do you have a barbecue? I’m not much of a cook but I’m pretty good with a pair of tongs and a barbeque,” said James, his eyes fixed on the half-dressed Dani.

“I’ve got a great gas barbeque.” Said Jess, “I can just see us two milling about in the nude with a cocktail while you feed us your meat,” the joke not lost on the other two who giggled.

“That sounds like a plan to me,” said Dani, selecting a small black mini-skirt from her wardrobe, “What time shall I come over?”

“Emily is coming over at ten, so if you could get to the house around midday, that’ll give us time to help you settle in. Unless you need us to come over and help you pack your things up?”

Dani pulled her skirt on and then selected a shiny, silver-coloured silk blouse from her wardrobe, “No, I don’t need any help thanks, I’ll only bring a suitcase or two to begin with, I can grab the rest of my things later on when…hang on a minute, who’s Emily?” She said, buttoning up the blouse.

“She's our fitness instructor, we’ve had one session with her and have booked her in to come over a few times a week. You might remember her, she’s a friend of Kelly’s, we met her at the wedding.”

“Oh, I remember, a pretty redheaded girl?”

“That’s the one,” said Jessica as Dani slipped on a pair of black heels and then ran a comb through her hair again.

“For a minute there I thought we had another potential member for the harem,” said Dani.

“I’m hoping she will be, she’s definitely got the hots for James. I’m working on turning her to the dark side of the ****,” said Jessica.

“Sounds promising. So if you’re working on Emily, and I’m going to work on Sophie, who have you got in your sights, James?”

“I thought you were joking about Sophie?” he said, trying to buy time to think of an answer.

“No, I was serious. I don’t even know exactly when she’s coming over, let alone if she wants to throw her sanity out the window and share your cock with the rest of us but I’ll give it a go.”

“Wow, okay, I’d better start looking for someone then,” he said, trying to hide the panic rising in him.

“That would work well, I’ve got six bedrooms, there’s three of us so far, so if we each recruit one person into the harem that will fill the house up nicely.”

Dani smiled at James, “So how does a five-woman harem sound to you James?”

“It sounds like I’d better buy some Viagra.”

“Oooh, now there’s an idea!” giggled Jessica.

“Now, if that’s everything, I’d better get my arse in gear, I need to show my face at the gallery at some point today,” said Dani, walking out to the living room to find her handbag and phone.

“Actually Dani, there was something else I wanted to ask you,” Said Jessica.

“If it’s about Whittaker IT you’ll need to give me a few days, I’m meeting some people this week whom I can broach the idea with. Speaking of which, James, we do need to chat about my website, are you free the rest of the day?”

“As far as I’m aware I am?” he said, looking at Jess for confirmation.

“We’ve got no plans today, I was just going to potter around the house getting things ready,” she said in reply to James. “But that wasn’t what I wanted to ask you, Dani. We’ve got a problem retrieving James’ things from his home and thought you may be able to help us.”

“What sort of problem?” said Dani.

Sensing the change in Jessica’s tone Dani, who found her handbag but was still searching for her phone, gave Jessica her full attention.

Jessica spent the next ten minutes telling Dani everything that had happened with James and his father, by the time she was finished Dani was seething with anger.

“I can’t believe he did that to you James. Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine, thank you,” he said, not entirely sure if he was telling the truth.

“So how can I help?”

It was Jess who answered, “A while ago you had that issue with a painting and employed a firm of solicitors to get it back. Do you think they could help James retrieve his things?”

“It’s just the picture of my mother that I want, I don’t care about the rest of my stuff,” he said.

“When I set them to task that time I had a contract with the client that proved the picture was mine. It was quite an easy task for them really. And they specialise in that type of corporate stuff. I’m not sure they’d be able to help with a personal situation like this.”

“Ah, I see, well it was worth asking.”

“All may not be lost though,” Said Dani, looking up to the ceiling, deep in thought.

James and Jessica waited in silence for her thoughts to materialise.

“Hmmm…maybe there is a way. If James’ father is the type of person I think he is, then what we need to do is stoop to his level.”

“What do you mean?” Said Jess with a frown.

“Playing in the gutter is not usually my thing, sorry, no offence James…”

“None taken.”

“…but on this occasion I’ll make an exception. James, have you got a list of the things you want retrieved?”

“All I want is the photo of me and my mother, it’s in a black frame on the shelf in my bedroom.”

“Leave it with me, I’ll see what I can do.”

“You’re not going to tell us what you’re planning?” Said Jess with a slight frown.

“It’s probably best you don’t know. Anyway, I’m not very hopeful, it’s a long shot at best, I’d look for a plan B if I were you. Right then, shall we be off?” Said Dani.