Chapter 4

It was close to Emma's birthday, at the end of summer break. She would soon be seventeen. When I first met her, just before my marriage to her mother, I could see she was a charming young lady. Certainly her mother's daughter, in so many ways. Now she was my stepdaughter. Her thirty-eight year old mother and I had wed in the spring. I was a fifty year old professor of English. It was my first marriage.

I must say, I knew very little about women, to be honest. I was educated as a scholar of the English language, and its literature. Of course I was not ignorant, but the subtleties of the female mind often escaped me. What they wanted, or what they needed could elude me. But I was happy that I seemed to have brought pleasure into Erica's life, and to that of her daughter, Emma.

Emma came downstairs one day around noon. I had just finished having a snack. Nothing heavy. I noticed she was wearing a dress. It was what they call a sundress, I believe. It had straps holding it up, fit snuggly about her bosom, and then flared out at the waist. Her legs were long and perfectly tanned now. Her tiny feet were in ballerina slippers. Her hair was not in braids today. Long, brown tresses fell about her shoulders.

I didn't believe she was wearing a bra. Not that she really needed it. Her breasts were conical in shape and had little, if any, sag to them. I had been watching them for weeks now. They were similar to the tits I might suck every night before going to bed. Emma and her mother were almost twins when it came to body shape. But there was something compelling about my stepdaughter.

"You look fine, Dick. Always wearing the tie. It's terribly sweet, you know that? So let's go. I'm ready."

"What? I mean, I'm not really sure what you're trying to say, Emma. Ready for what my dear?"

"Dick, please. It's almost my birthday, remember? We're going shopping. It's so nice of you to do this. You're the best, Dick. Always so good to me."

"But I'm not sure about this. Did your mother give her permission? Does she know? I hadn't really decided what we were getting for your birthday, Emma. This may not be a good idea today."

"Sometimes I wonder about you Dick. I think you may be the original absent minded professor. Of course we can go. You promised, you know?"

She giggled. Placing her delicate hand on my bare arm she stroked it and the goose bumps rose up as always. A slight shiver ran up my spine, making my groin tingle. I felt a slight growth there. It would be best to allow this little trip to happen. I supposed that I had promised. Yes, of course, I had.

"Well, just let me get my cap, and we can be on our way. I hadn't thought about it. I'm not sure where we shall go."

"Oh Dick. Don't be silly. You're so funny sometimes. We're going where I want to go. It's my birthday, after all. I know exactly where to go. Come on. Let's get on our way."

Emma took my hand. I feared she would feel the dampness of my palm. It was still summer and I must have been feeling the seasonal heat. We walked out to the car and were soon on our way downtown.

"I've been online checking the local stores, Dick. You have quite a nice college town here. It has everything one could want. I like it here. Especially with you and Mom with me. I love living here with you, Dick. Both of you."

She giggled again. Her mother giggled like that. Often it would come when we were having our little sex games. Yes, Erica often giggled like that. It always aroused me, somehow.

The address Emma gave me was right in the Central Business District. I knew where to go, but I couldn't recall what shop we would find there. Emma was being rather coy about it. Well, it was her birthday. I wasn't going to spoil it with questions.

We parked off the main street, in a free lot, and walked down an alley and around to the front of the businesses. She had taken my hand again. It was rather sweet. Yes, she was a sweet girl in many ways. I was smiling as we walked to the display window of a jewelry store. Emma stopped and looked at the items on display. It was alright to look, but this was a rather expensive place, I believed.

"Okay Dick. Here we are. See that lovely locket there? I saw that one day last month. I realized it would be a perfect present. I'm right, aren't I, Dick? I'm turning seventeen, and I really ought to have some nice things to wear when we go out to dinner. Come on, we'll go in and I'll try it on. I want your honest opinion whether I'm pretty enough to wear something like that."

It wouldn't hurt to try it on, but I was already wondering how much it cost. Besides, it seemed rather extravagant for a young lady. It appeared to have some rather expensive looking gems on it. Oh well, I could just say no. We went through the door, tinkling the little bell. A lady my age approached.

"Good day. We're still having lovely weather aren't we? What can I help you with today?"

"Well, we were going to just try on that locket in the window. Here, it's right there."

"Yes, fine choice. You have a good eye. That piece is actually on sale this week. It's marked down."

She handed the locket to me. Emma's long fingers, with the ruby red fingernails, touched my palm and took the locket. She gazed at it and then handed it back.

"You put it on me Dick. Alright? Let me lift my hair up."

She turned away, raised her arms and hands, and brought her brown hair up. Her long, tanned neck was bared. My slightly trembling hands placed the gold chain about her neck, allowing the locket to lay on her dress, between her breasts. I assumed it would fall just above her cleavage when wearing a lower cut garment. But I was still not sure this was appropriate for a girl her age.

"It's perfect Dick. You have good taste. I could tell you liked it, and you were right, of course. But am I pretty enough to wear something like this? I'm not sure."

"Well, you're certainly pretty enough. That would go without saying, Emma. You wear it quite well. You know you're a lovely girl. But I'm still not sure this is proper for you. And the price. It's something your mother might want to be part of deciding, perhaps."

"You're always right Dick. I think it looks perfect on me too. Yes, it's just what I wanted. Mother will be surprised on my birthday. What fun that'll be. Thanks Dick. It's lovely. Let's have it wrapped. I still want to go to another store."

She had reached up while she was talking and had unclasped the chain, removing the locket and handing it to the store clerk. The clerk smiled as she was ringing the piece up, and then wrapped it quickly, as a gift. I paid, since I seemed to have approved. I would sometimes get a little befuddled with Emma. Her chatter was so fast. But it was a nice present, certainly. And she definitely deserved it. I mean, she was a grand stepdaughter.

As we left the jewelry store Emma placed her arm in mine and walked along with me, in step. She was smiling into my eyes as I placed the gift in my coat pocket. We were walking about a block when she stopped and looked into a store window.

"Yes, this is the place. Let's go in here Dick. I need to try something on here. I've decided I need to feel my age now. I'm a young lady, aren't I dear Dick?"

"Of course, Emma. You seem older and older every day. Yes, you're quite a lady. But this is a shop for undergarments, isn't it? I mean, these things are rather risqué, I believe. Not exactly what I would think you would want or need, Emma."

"There you go being silly again, Dick. You're always trying to get me to laugh. Come on. I was in here before. There are a few things I thought I might try on."

She went about the shop, picking up items. She had four or five when she came to me. Taking my hand she drew me to the back of the store. I assumed she wanted me to wait for her outside as she tried on items. A clerk came over. This time it was a young lady not much older than Emma.

"Hi. This is my dear friend. He's going to help me pick the right things. That's cool, right? Can we use this dressing room?"

"Oh, sure. Yeah, he can go in. You can have up to six items. Let's see, oh, five, that's okay. Great. If you need help just call me. Okay?"

As she walked away I turned to Emma. "What would you need me for? I shouldn't be in there. I'm sure you know that Emma. It wouldn't be the thing, you know?'

She giggled. "Dick, Dick, stop making me laugh. I know you aren't serious. You've seen me without any clothes on, haven't you? Silly dear. Come on. I need your opinion. I've never worn things like this before."

She took my hand and brought me into the empty cubicle. I was reluctant, because anyone I knew could have entered the shop. It wouldn't do to have them see me. I didn't think it was so terrible, really, because I had, after all, seen Emma sun bathing in the nude many times now. But what would people think?

She drew the door closed and slowly started to remove her dress, after slipping her slippers off. Her little feet were bare as she lifted her dress up and over her shoulders and head. For some reason she wasn't wearing any undergarments. I had thought she was without a bra, but she didn't have panties either. Her hairless pussy was sending out a scent that mixed with the jasmine perfume she always wore.