Chapter 13

Formal Fondling

Alice had been both satisfied and frustrated by her solo performance. The fact that she and Kandomere had been only walls away from each other as they took care of their respective needs, only served to heighten her frustration. She hoped that he was feeling the same frustration. She knew it was a little petty, but he was the one making them wait. She understood objectively, but it didn't help.

Her mood hadn't improved by morning. Kyra had been talking about the nice restaurant Ayla had taken her to and how she's mostly been treated like anyone else. Unfortunately, Alice's mind kept drifting to Kandomere and she missed Kyra gushing about the nice waiter that had served them.

"Are you even listening?" Kyra said, flicking a crumb of toast at Alice.

"Hmm? Oh, sorry… I'm just… thinking about things."

"Something wrong?"

Alice bit her lip. She hadn't told Kyra about Kandomere and his invitation to the FBI MTF Ball. "Well, not really wrong… Uh… Kandomere kissed me."

"He… what?" Kyra exclaimed, almost dropping her plate.

"The other night. And last night." Alice couldn't fight the blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Just a kiss?"

"Well, it was a bit more. We didn't… you know. He wanted to wait. He invited me to the yearly Ball the Bureau throws. I guess it's a date of sorts…"

"He's taking you out?" Kyra was surprised. Not because she believed he shouldn't be, but because someone of his status usually wouldn't date a human.

"Apparently so. I have no idea what I'm going to wear. You've seen how he dresses! Even with the money we're getting from Alavara, I can't afford the sort of clothing that would come close to the sorts of designers he uses."

"Maybe you could ask Alavara for help? Maybe she'll let you borrow something from the studio? She seems to like you a lot," Kyra suggested.

It was worth considering. At the very least, Alavara might have an idea of where she could go to get something appropriate and within her budget.

"I suppose it can't hurt to ask for help. She might have gone to these things in the past."

Kyra grinned at her. "What was he like?"

Alice chuckled, fighting back the memory of his lips on her skin as her hand groped his bulge. "Let's just say that if I'd had my way, we wouldn't be waiting."

Kyra giggled. "You know that humans spread rumours that elves are built bigger? Though, I'll bet an elf started that."

Alice smirked. "I think it might be true."

Kyra gasped. "You're so wicked!"

"Oh, I definitely hope so!" Alice replied, finishing her toast.

They were still giggling to themselves as they left the apartment, only to bump into Kandomere as he was leaving his. Kyra looked between the two of them and declared that she'd meet Alice at work.

Kandomere was the epitome of utter control. Nothing outwardly showed just how he felt internally as Kyra made her excuses and left them alone in the corridor.

As soon as Kyra was out of sight, Kandomere moved to slowly press against Alice. He didn't kiss her as she had expected him to do, he just let his forehead rest against hers.

"You seem to have a great fondness for walls," she whispered.

He chuckled softly. "I'm certainly coming to appreciate their versatility."

Thinking about Kyra's comments, Alice slipped a hand down to his groin, sucking in a breath when she could feel his arousal. She was a little startled by how quickly it had happened, but she enjoyed the gentle groan that left his lips. It certainly helped boost her confidence that she had such an effect on him.

Kandomere was struggling to resist the urge to do what he'd wanted to do the first night they'd kissed. He'd said they should wait. He had meant his words, but the feel of her hand smoothing and tracing his pulsing shaft was making it difficult to stand by his words. It took a tremendous amount of will to pull her hand away and step back slightly.

"I might end up with a disciplinary if I turn up to the Bureau like this," he said, trying to readjust himself and will his erection away.

Alice bit her lip, her face flushed. "It's completely your fault," she replied, pouting.

Kandomere smirked. "I wasn't the one groping my cock."

Alice blushed harder. It was silly to feel so affected by his casual tone, but every time he referred to his package in such a way, she couldn't help but blush.

"You were rubbing it against my hip, I thought you might need a hand."

"Touché," he replied, inclining his head.

"Crap. I don't think Alavara will be all that understanding if I tell her I was late because I was groping you," Alice said, looking at her watch.

"I can give you a lift?" Kandomere offered.

It was tempting. Too tempting. She couldn't promise that she would keep her hands to herself in such close quarters. "That might not be the best idea. Besides, I could do with the fresh air."

She was probably right. The more time they spent together, the more likely they were to progress things sooner than he intended. He wanted to spend time with her in a setting where they wouldn't have the option of wanting to rip each other's clothes off. As much as he was looking forward to doing just that, it was important to him to know her in every other way he could.

"I see your point. If I don't see you before Friday, I will pick you up here at 7pm," he said, moving to leave.

"Uh… This Ball… Is there a dress code?" she called after him.

"Formal attire, black tie, that sort of thing," he answered. "You should speak to Alavara. She knows the sorts of things that are usually worn."

Alice nodded. There seemed to be a consensus. It was hardly surprising, elves knew fashion.

Kandomere left for work and Alice quickly followed, making her way to the studio. Kyra was already there and deep in conversation with Ayla. She busied herself with her camera, trying to ignore all thoughts of Kandomere, though she mustn't have been trying hard enough as Alavara made a beeline for her.

"Had a good morning so far?" she asked, her eyes staring intently into Alice's.

"No more than usual."

"I can smell his cologne," Alavara pointed out.

Alice sighed heavily. "We didn't…"

"Oh, I know. I would be able to tell."

"You would?" Alice asked.

"Of course. Humans have tells. It's not just scent, it's your manner. There's a difference in the way a human behaves when they've been intimate. It's probably not even something most are aware of."

"Well, he wants to wait until after the Ball. Speaking of which, I have no idea what to wear. I don't own anything formal," Alice said, sighing heavily.

"Oh, I can fix that. We have plenty here you can try on."

"I don't think anything here would fit. I'm not exactly model-sized," Alice stated.

"I'm sure we can find something. And if not? We'll go shopping."

"And therein lies another problem; I don't have Formal Ball money."

Alavara waved a hand. "Don't you worry about that."

Again, the urge to protest threatened to burst out of her mouth, but she knew by now that Alavara wasn't a woman to be argued with. It just didn't feel good that she was so willing to spend so much money on her. It felt like too much and she was becoming more and more aware of just what others in the studio were starting to think. It would seem very much like an unfair advantage for someone to come in with no qualification and be given such an important job. The fact that she was human would just be the icing on the cake. Thankfully, no one had said anything to Alavara. Alice doubted if they ever would.

When the work day ended, Alavara had already rummaged through her stock of dresses and set numerous examples she said would fit Alice on a rack for her to try on once everyone else had left.

Most of the dresses were far too fancy for Alice's taste. Lot of bling and trim that just didn't suit her. Even Kandomere was relatively understated compared to most of the clothing elves would often wear. They were incredibly fond of gold and not just in jewellery. Gold thread was woven into many fabrics, gold edging was used in many jackets. Alice didn't personally like gold. She felt it looked wrong with her skin, and she much preferred simplicity and elegance over ostentation.

She finally settled on a red satin evening dress with an A-line skirt. The bodice was slightly pleated in design with spaghetti straps that crossed over at the back, which dipped down slightly. She'd already vetoed several dresses that had dipped all the way down to her behind.

"I still think you'd look fabulous in the emerald green velvet," Alavara said, referring to the low-backed dress Alice had felt far too naked in.

"You had your veto over the midnight blue dress because you said Kandomere was likely to wear blue. I like this one. It's simple and doesn't flash too much. I'm going to feel out of place enough as it is. I want to feel comfortable in what I'm wearing at least," Alice responded.

Alavara huffed slightly. Alice was more curvaceous than the average elf, which was something she wanted to highlight. She understood Alice's reticence to stand out at a formal occasion where there were going to be both elves and humans of high standing.

"Well, at the very least, you need some good pieces of jewellery. I have plenty of pieces you can use."

She brought out an array of gold necklaces and bracelets. Alice tried to not let her displeasure show on her face as Alavara went through which ones she thought would best suit the dress. It was all just too much bling. Everything was over the top, which given what the jewellery was usually used for in the studio, was understandable.

"I have some pieces at home I can use. I have a white gold and garnet pendant my parents bought me for my 21st birthday. I don't wear it often. It's the only gold I own," Alice told her, setting down a bracelet Alavara had handed her.

"White gold? With red?" Alavara questioned.

"The garnet would go well with the dress. I have garnet ring I can wear too. The only thing I'm missing is shoes. I don't own anything dressy. It's all black flats and running shoes."

Alavara wasn't sold on the jewellery, but she could tell when someone was trying to redirect a conversation. "Shoes I can do."

"Nothing too high! I won't be able to walk in them. Or stand. I really don't want to be that person who takes their shoes off in the middle of dinner!" Alice called after Alavara as she busied herself with shoes.

She came back with shoes in red, silver, and black. All of them were heeled, though thankfully not all were mercilessly high. Red was the obvious choice. She understood the addition of the silver, given her insistence on wearing silver-coloured jewellery, but she wasn't sure silver would look right.

The weather was warm enough for a strappy sandal type shoe, but they didn't have the best support. A peep-toe would become uncomfortable as the night went on, so we opted for a red satin court shoe with inch and half heels. Alavara had also matched each pair with a bag, so a red satin clutch was handed to Alice as she stood looking at herself in the floor-length mirror.

"What do you plan to do with your hair?"

"Uh… Wash it?" Alice replied.

"Good gods… I will do your hair on Friday. We will get you ready here and I will send you home in my car in time."

Alice opened her mouth to protest, but shut it again when she caught Alavara's eye in the mirror. It was becoming a common theme between them. She sighed at herself in the mirror.

"Why were you so prepared to give me a job? Snapping a few shots wasn't really an interview. It was just to make sure I wouldn't drop the camera," Alice asked.

Alavara had expected such a conversation would need to happen one day soon. "Kandomere has been dear to me since he was born. He is as humans might say, my godson. He knows the value of a good person. Race isn't a factor. When he called me, I knew he wasn't doing so lightly. When you entered this studio, I could see what he saw. The integrity and consideration you exude is more than most elves I have ever met. Kandomere does not give his faith easily, nor his heart." She patted Alice's arm.

Alice was blushing furiously. She'd never really doubted her worth as a person, but working with elves who did nothing but look down their noses at her had left an impression. When she'd first met Kandomere, she had thought he would be much the same. But time had proven otherwise. She hoped she would be worthy of such consideration and faith as Alavara said she was.