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You still don’t know how you gained entry to the country"s most exclusive tailor shop. You partly blame your friends because they are the ones that talked endlessly about the Virtuoso Tailor Shop and its eccentric owner Touchstone. You thought they were joking when they said his name, but you did your research and found out that indeed that is his name, Basil Touchstone. Besides that, you only discovered that he usually talks in a Shakespearean way when dealing with clients. You still debate if it’s an endearing quality or not as you make your way to his shop for your appointment.
As you wait in the designated area you hear a deep and lyrical voice that must belong to him since every sentence is fluid and rhymed. You know he won’t be the one that takes your measures since it’s known he’s very picky, but you do hope that you’ll get a glimpse of him before Nigel, Touchstone’s top tailor will take you to the fitting rooms.
A door opens and the baritone voice sounds crystal clear now. Your eyes widen when you see the smiling, tall man. He’s on the heavy side, but what draws your eyes is his oddly styled chocolate brown curls. You do wonder if he put a fork in the electric outlet to have it thus. Your eyes drift to his hands. Large with long fingers, adorned by expensive rings. His clothes are fine and well fitted, making him quite alluring. His lips are rosy and tempting with a groomed mustache adding to the nice visage. A slightly crooked nose that seems fitting for the eccentric male, expressive eyebrows, and… your heart beats faster when you see the umber eyes looking at you with curiosity.
You avert your gaze as your cheeks gain a pink tinge. He caught you staring.
“Miss L/n?” the receptionist calls your name.
You turn gingerly and are relieved to see that the tall man isn’t there anymore “Yes?”
“We are ready for you. Room 1.” You get up and take a single step before you freeze with what she says “Mr. Touchstone is waiting for you.”
Your head snaps and you stare like a deer caught in headlights. Touchstone is the one that will make your new dress and that both makes you happy and shocked.
Your feet seem to have lead in them as you go to your designated room. You enter and the portly male is there, calmly jotting down something in a notebook.
“Good evening.” You say so softly that you are surprised he hears you.
You refrain from frowning when he merely nods his head and waves to the small stool. You get on it and are thankful that you put on pants today because it would have been more awkward if he tried to measure you under the dress.
You watch his arm extend to grab the measuring tape and it wavers slightly before grabbing it almost as if your thought also occurred to him.
He comes behind you, measuring your shoulders and you feel every puff of air he exhales tickling your skin. Your body heats up a tad as he measures your arms and your face flushes when he comes in front of you to continue.
It surprises you when you see that his cheeks are a bit red as well as he winds up his arms around you to measure your torso. You think his face changes briefly to satisfaction after he sees the measurement of your chest. You do wonder if he is a breast man. He continues down to your waist and his fingers brush your abdomen momentarily, and you can’t believe that butterflies are attacking your stomach all of a sudden.
He measures down your legs and when he gazes up at you, you swear that it’s the most beautiful sight you’ve ever seen. He nods after he’s done and goes to write the final measurements.
You step down the stool and prepare to leave. You gave a short description of what you want for the dress to the receptionist as per protocol at this shop, but you can’t help yourself.
“Mr. Touchstone?” his eyes met yours and curiosity swims in them “I was told you are the best in this business. I wish you to make me a dress… a dress you think would fit me well.”
His eyebrows rise slightly, and you think you piqued his interest because he nods firmly.
“Thank you. Have a lovely day.”
You exit the door, and he leans heavily on his desk, his heart beating erratically and cheeks a deep red.
You were informed that the Virtuoso shop doesn’t do any fittings of the clothes. The garments are simply sent to the client when they are done, and you pay the courier. It comes as a shock when in less than a day you open the door to a package from the tailor shop. The price as well astonishes you because you heard how high they were but the one you pay is surprisingly low.
When you open the box, the first thing that greets you is a red rose and a small card. The bloom smells divine and when you read the note you are baffled. It appears to be an invitation to another fitting, and the price will be half-off as well. You narrow your eyes slightly. The man changed his pattern completely. From what your friends told you, his prices are the highest and fairly so, plus he never did ‘promotions’ like the card you are holding. Not to add the fact that he’s overbooked while the note informs you that you can drop by anytime.
You eye the paper that covers the dress. Maybe he made it so hideous that this is his way of apologizing. You cautiously remove the thin paper, and you can hear your jaw clattering to the ground when you pull out the dress.
It’s simply gorgeous. A burgundy and gold number, with glittery sequin and handmade 3D floral appliques that now as you study them you can see the actual gold thread used to make them. You never removed your clothes so fast to put a dress on in your whole life. The built-in bra fits you perfectly and the corset back makes your figure simply striking. He outdid himself. Not even one garment that was made by him can match this dress and he even dressed kings and queens.
You watch yourself in the mirror and can’t remember when was the last time you felt so good in a dress. The gown hugs your form deliciously, making the viewer intrigued with the promise of the forbidden fruit. It’s simply divine and you don’t even remember when you dial the number to the tailor shop, only the receptionist answering and agreeing to an appointment for the next day.
You barely sleep that night and the next day you are out the door, hastily making your way to the Virtuoso shop. The moment you cross the threshold, the receptionist tells you to go to Room 1. Like last time, you find the portly male already there. He smiles at you and nods in greeting. You don’t fail to notice that his waistcoat and cravat match the gown he made for you flawlessly.
“Good morning. Um… the receptionist didn’t give me the form for what I wanted… I was thinking of a suit…” you say timidly as your cheeks burn from his smoldering gaze.
Again, he nods and indicates the stool. You get up and wonder why since he took all your measurements the previous time. Fire. Your body is on fire when he starts to take measurements again, his hands brushing your body shyly.
When he comes in front of you, your breath hitches when his face comes so close to yours as he measures your chest. Both of you stare at one another with half-lidded eyes for a few blessed moments before he moves forward with his measurements.
He finishes and goes to write his findings.
“Mr. Touchstone?” his enchanting eyes find yours and he smiles at you “Make me a suit that you think will fit me.”
His smile turns into a loop-sided grin, and he agrees to the challenge.
“Thank you. Have a lovely day.”
You exit the door, and he simply crashes into a chair, his large hands rubbing his flushed face.
The next day the courier arrives, and the price is almost insignificant at how low it is. You open the box hurriedly and again find a red rose and a card, just like last time. When you pull out the suit your heart bursts out from your chest. The material is as soft as silk in a deep blue color with a subtle silver design. You put it on, and your eyes study the form-fitting suit. From the double-breasted blazer with mother-of-pearl buttons to the trousers that make you seem taller and more imposing. It leaves no room for doubt, you mean business about looking good in the clothes he made for you.
You never made a call so fast in your entire life.
You are like a freight train when you arrive at the tailor shop the next day. You go to Room 1 and find the tall man there, again dressed to match the garments he made for you.
“Good morning,” you get on the stool, and he raises his eyebrow slightly when you don’t say what you wish him to make.
He comes to measure you and when he gets in front of you to measure your chest your hands come over his. Umber eyes snap to you and uncertainty swims in them.
“Basil.” You whisper and hope that you didn’t imagine all of this and that what you feel isn’t one-sided.
The measuring tape falls to the ground, and he swallows hard as he pulls away. You feel tears sting your eyes. You were wrong.
“Sorry… I thought…” you stammer as you get down from the stool “Sorry.” You turn to leave but a strong hand grabs you and spins you around while a strong body pins you to the door.
“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” The deep voice you heard the first-time whispers and soft lips crash on yours, kissing you passionately.
“Basil.” You breathe out when his lips descend to caress your neck.
“A heaven on earth I have won by wooing thee.”
You smirk as your hands tangle in his hair “Heaven you say?”
He nods as he pecks your lips again “I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is not that strange?” he confesses and your pulse skyrockets “When you depart from me, sorrow abides, and happiness takes his leave.” He declares and the look he gives you confirms his words.
“Then don’t let me leave.”
His smile is breathtaking and the lock clicking on the door makes a smile bloom on your face as well before he kisses you ardently.