The dress was elegant, yes, but it was at least fifty years out of date. The sleeves were puffy and loose, the waist was cinched in the least attractive way possible, the skirt went all the way down to her ankles. Greta looked like she was wearing crushed velvet curtains. Johannes even tied the bow on the back of her dress the same way he tied the curtains back.
“This dress has cleavage too.” Greta grumbled. She pulled the V in the front apart. Johannes promptly pulled it together.
“You look beautiful.” Johannes gently kissed the top of her head, careful not to ruin her hairstyle. He’d spent ages trying to tame Greta’s hair, refusing to even let her brush it out. Now he made her stand in front of the full length mirror while he went to his wife’s dressing table.
“Can I at least choose the jewelry?” Greta asked.
Johannes hesitated. He looked away from Greta. There was no reason to check his lapels; he’d done it multiple times that evening, every time Greta tried to fight back.
“C’mon, Jo.” Greta tried to hide her frustration. “Please?”
Johannes sighed and opened the small wooden cabinet on the antique dressing table.
“Which one would you like to wear?” Johannes gestured to his wife’s necklaces.
“I have my own-”
“You don’t have any that will match the pinot noir color.” Johannes cut Greta off. “Pick something from here.”
Greta forcefully sat down in front of the dressing table. As annoyed as she was, she couldn’t help but gaze at Carmen’s jewelry in awe. Delicate pearls and interlocking swirls of gold and silver, contrasted with statement pieces and arranged just so across the small cabinet’s velvet interior. Greta selected a simple piece, a long gold rectangle with an off-center onyx stripe. Johannes moved into the reflection of the mirror, triggering a tension in Greta’s chest as he reached over her shoulder towards the necklace in her hand.
“Good choice.” Johannes wrapped his hand around Greta’s.
The tension melted away. It was a silly reaction; if the dress was Carmen’s, then any of Carmen’s necklaces would go with it.
“That one has a secret.” Johannes leaned close to Greta’s ear. He pressed his thumb on the small onyx gem on top.
The rectangle buzzed to life. Greta would have fallen out of the chair, releasing the surprise, if Johannes hadn’t been gripping her so tightly, locking the vibrator inside her small hand. Only the tip was visible as it poked out of their clenched fists.
“Do you like it?” Johannes asked.
Greta blushed.
“Try it on.” Johannes murmured in Greta’s ear. He guided her hand towards her chest, gently touching the tip to her left breast. The pressure was too much, Greta dropped the necklace the moment he released her hand. The floorboards creaked as it scuttled under the dressing table.
“Please be nicer to Carmen’s jewelry.” Johannes retrieved the necklace. He held it gently in his hands, letting it vibrate in his palm. “This was custom made by an artist in the north of France. He only works with real onyx.”
“I don’t think I want to wear it.” Greta mumbled.
Johannes looked hurt.
“It looks so good on you.” Johannes said. He pressed the vibrating necklace to Greta’s heart. “See?”
“I don’t…” Greta’s voice died as the pendant slid down her chest.
“I thought you would appreciate it more.”
“…it’s very nice.” Greta murmured. The buzzing against her left breast sent a warmth through her body. She squeezed her legs together.
“You said you didn’t want to wear it.” Johannes pouted.
“I- I would…” Greta’s voice caught in her throat.
“You would?”
“I’ll wear it.”
Johannes smiled. He pulled the vibrator out of Greta’s dress and clicked it off.
“Have you ever tried something like this?” Johannes asked. He held the pendant out to Greta, the square tip pointed at her crotch. Greta turned beet red.
“Do you want to?” Johannes asked.
“What time is-”
“We have time.” Johannes said. “Just try it.”
Greta stared down at her lap. Her knuckles were two white stones in a wine dark sea, soon joined by Johannes’s bulky hand sliding across her knee.
“You’re so beautiful like this.” Johannes said. “I want you to enjoy yourself.”
Greta looked around for the pendant necklace.
“Please, darling. I want you so much.” Johannes buried his face in Greta’s lap.
Something cold pressed against Greta’s ankle.
“Be careful with the dress.” Greta murmured.
Johannes lifted his head and smiled. He helped Greta lift the dress up around her waist and pull her tights down to her ankles. He held onto her shoulder with one hand, the vibrator with another, and pressed the pendant’s golden shaft against her. The vibrator clicked on and she jumped. Again, she was steadied by Jo.
Warmth ran down Greta’s face and up from her hips. She wriggled into place and Johannes matched her, pressing it up where it needed to be. The vibrations ran through Johannes’s palm and up his fingers, diffusing the sensation, spreading it out across her every time his fingers flexed. She pressed against it, pushed herself up into his hands, her mouth opening to accept his kisses. He held her through her moaning, through the quiet gasps, held her still as her body stiffened and released.
“Good girl.” Johannes whispered. He pulled away the pendant and turned off the vibration. He wiped his hand off and gave the pendant a wipe down before stepping behind her and latching it around her neck.
“I don’t-” Greta started to speak.
“You already said you would wear it.” Johannes said. “You don’t have time to choose another. Pull your tights up, we have to leave now.”
Heat radiated out from the pendant, stronger than the warmth that spread across Greta’s cheeks.