A/N: As promised, I'm typing in between cooking bouts. Thank God Xmas fare needs plenty of oven time!

Xxx XXX xxX

It was Stella's turn to look insulted.

"Stefen! I'm DEFINITIVELY not pregnant! Put that measuring tape away!"

The man looked at her with a mixture of naughtiness and affection. "Bebe! I wasn't going to measure your tummy!" Stella seemed to relax a bit uppon hearing this. "I was aiming to find out what kind of work out is this young stud of yours giving your tits and arse!"

Lindsay took one look at Stella's expression and bursted out laughing. She didn't intend to be rude, but it was somehow funny to see her boss gaping and blushing and generally at a loss for words... or course of action, for that matter. She just hoped Stella would be able to understand that.

"There, there, Bebe... stop the sputtering. Remember a couple of years back when you were having a lovin' dry spell? You brought me back a couple of mine dresses cause they were starting to fit too loosely... then you were head over heels with the stockbroker and you rounded up in interesting places, ain't that right? In the past 10 years you've been coming here your measurments have never been quite the same as your previous visits."

Stell seemed to calm down, yet was still showing a deeper hue on her cheeks.

"Your reaction, however, leaves me to wonder why on Earth, Bebe, would you jump to the bambino conclusion so quickly. Someone's throwing caution to the wind in the throes of passion? Or is time so of the essence on those locker rooms of you that you forgo slapping a rubber on him?"

"Stefen Van Holdestein! How dare you!"

"He's that good, huh? You lucky bit, you! I have the perfect dress for you, now. We won't dissapoint Mr. Hard and Furious, Bebe"

And with that, Stefen lost himself amid two huge mounds of clothes. Stella slowly turned around to face Lindsay, who had been shocked into soberdom. The older woman was still trying to figure out how to give Lindsay a plausible explanation and yet save some face when she was interrupted by the younger woman's stage-like whisper.

"Can he really tell if you're not getting any just by measuring your curves????"

Not knowing exactly how to answer that, Stella merely nodded.

"Shit... how embarrasing!"

Stella looked at Lindsay and let out a healthy laugh. 'Only Lindsay', she thought, 'would worry over her sex life status when my so-called secret one has been outed so loudly and embarrasingly. Any other woman would take that knowledge and run with it, but not Linds.'

Just then, Stefen came back carrying an iridiscent copper hued fabric in both arms. Without a single word, he spread his arms and let the dress unfold and speak for itself.

Hanging from a silk-covered hanger was a halter sheath, with a high triangled neck that barely hung from two spaghetti straps. The sides dropped so low that they called for double-sided tape in order to avoid too much sideways exposure.

The fabric was tight across the breast and tummy areas, and then gently folded and pooled all the way down to the floor. The skirt flow, however, was deceiving, as it cleverly hid two side slits that reach well above mid-tigh level.

The back was equally revealing, as it plunged to a mere inch above butt level, leaving the upper part od the beasts, the shoulders and the back uncovered quite nicely. The fabric bundled and folded in the arse area, actually creating the illusion of having an arse to begin with. The silky material then gave way to a small tulle train. All in all, it was the perfect mixture between regal and sexy.

"No zippers, no clasps, no bra required. All yoiur young stud has to do is flick his wrist, undo the bow at the back of your neck and voila! Next thing you know the dress will be pooling around your stilettos. All you'll need then will be your luminicent smile, one of those adorable barely-there über-low thongs you fancy and thigh high stockings."

As if having a second thought, the designer added: "As for the general public, pull your hair up, add golden chandelier earrings and barely there make up and you're done. Not that they won't notice what you're NOT wearing, but I'd like to see them say that to your face. Think the bitch will go down in flames?"

Stella took one look at the dress, one look a the designer and then porceeded to do a victory happy dance. "Yes, yes, Y E S !!!! Stefan, you brute, I'd fuck you senseless right here, right now if I knew it'd rock your boat..."

"I'm touched, Bebe, and I'm sure plenty of guys would gladly give up their right nut for an offering like that but you ain't my favourite Greek gyro flavour. On the other hand, is Claire's marine still in mourning?"

"Not as much as he used to, but he's still as straight as they come. Sorry about that, babe."

"It's okay, Bebe. All the good ones are either married and non-cheaters, or straight and non-flexible. Do you have the trimmmings you need to go with the dress?"

"I could use the earrings..." Stella said, mock hesitance in her voice, "You wouldn't happen to have copper hued Manolos lying around now, would you?"

Stefan gave Stella a playful swat on her derriere. "Get out of here, you horrible Bebe. You know where to look for them. Go ahead and regale yourself. We'll talk payment once you're done."

And turning towards a still in shock, Lindsay, the designer said: "And now, Bebe, ready to be transformed into a sex goddess?"

Xxx XXX xxX

A/N: I'm not cruel. I'm just a mom and a homemaker whose family threatens invasion within the next 48 hours. Chapter 7 will be home for the holidays, though...