The door to the tiny bookstore opened, and the winter breeze rolled in. The young shop owner retreated her hands into the thick coat that shielded her body from the world. She turned from the wind as LeeAnn strode in, arms clutched around a bundle of books. 

 

LeeAnn slowed, taking careful steps while waiting for the fog to clear from her glasses. Snowflakes sprinkled off her hair with each step. The shop owner smiled as the hunched girl approached. 

 

“Hi, Kate.” LeeAnn’s voice was barely an audible shiver. “I’ve got some books I’d like to sell.” 

 

“Selling?” Kate asked as she collected the books. “What, you don’t want this stuff in your personal library?” Kate looked down at the pile. The books were old, but very well kept. The covers had no dents, tearing, or any of the typical marks of wear. She read through the titles.

 

Astronomy for Amateurs: Mapping the Night Sky, The Golden Age of Steam: Engines, Boilers, and Beyond, and A Practical Guide to Hypnosis and Suggestion

“Where’d you get these?” Kate began thumbing through the astronomy book. It was printed in the 1950s on soft almost pulp-like paper. It was filled with notes, dog-ears, and highlighted sections. 

 

“At an estate sale.” LeeAnn was already browsing the “New Arrivals” section as she spoke. “There was a lot of good stuff…” She pulled herself away from the tempting shelves, just long enough to make eye contact with Kate. “There was even a first edition copy of The Silmarillion!” Kate smiled at the girl’s enthusiasm as she started flipping through the book on steam engines.

 

Like the astronomy book, it had been similarly marked up, as if every piece of information within the book had to be annotated or commented on in some regard. The previous owner even included their own ideas on how to construct a new kind of engine. 

 

“But… I’m never going to read this stuff,” LeeAnn muttered, now holding two different editions of the same Brandon Sanderson novel in each hand, as if their weight would somehow indicate which was a better read. “They were clearly special to someone. I was thinking if anyone could find these books a proper home, it’d be you.” 

 

Kate started thumbing through the hypnosis book now; casually reading the notes in the margins, when the pages suddenly flipped over on their own. The spine rested naturally in this position, as if the book had been held open at this page for a long time. The chapter title was written in bolded capital letters that couldn’t be ignored. 

 

 

While issues of confidence on either end can lead to many couples feeling disconnected, the techniques applied here can help lovers overcome anxiety and become truly joined with their partner.

The two girls stared at the book, held open by inertia, for five whole seconds before LeeAnn slammed it shut; her face redder than Kate had ever seen.

 

“Anyway, so like I was saying. Do you think you could take these off my hands? I really don’t think they’re for me…” Kate could only imagine how mortified she would be if she was in the girl’s shoes. 

 

Kate forced a smile, trying to break the tension. “Yeah… I might have to put that one in the back section with the racier stuff, but sure thing, LeeAnn.” LeeAnn was completely avoiding eye contact now. Kate couldn’t help hurrying up the process, to help the embarrassed girl escape. She began keying in a custom sale into the register.

 

“You prefer store credit, right?” Kate hoped LeeAnn didn’t notice as she quietly slid the hypnosis book into a backpack behind the counter.

 

 

* * *

 

“You really wanna try this?” Mike flipped through the hypnosis book, a grin tugging at his lips. “You think it’ll work?” 

 

Kate had pulled her feet up onto the chair so she could hide behind her knees. “I mean, I know it sounds embarrassing–”

 

“It’s not embarrassing,” Mike cut her off, “I’m glad you finally told me something you want to do. Yeah… Yeah of course we can try this!” He looked at her with his beautiful hazel eyes. “As long as you’re into it.” 

 

Kate smiled and nodded from behind her knees. Mike kissed her on the knee and went back to the book.

 

He was reading the “Bedroom” section over and over, muttering to himself about cadence and timing, just like he did when designing a new setlist. Kate could tell at a glance his mind was buzzing with possibilities. 

 

And for the first time, maybe I won’t back out, she thought to herself.

 

* * *

 

Mike spent the last two weeks buried in the hypnosis book. He even set up a spreadsheet where he documented all the margin notes and organized them in some convoluted way that only made sense to him. While he was on the air, entertaining the morning commuters with his specific blend of top 40 and pop classics, Kate tried taking a peek at his computer. She struggled to make sense of it all, and the dizzying number of color-coded tabs quickly repelled her. 

 

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she realized she had no idea what he was planning. 

 

Kate had hoped they would practice before the big night, but Mike insisted it would be more fun if he left it all as a surprise. She wasn’t sure if that made her more nervous or more excited. The new Amazon boxes with “Don’t look Kate!” written all over in permanent marker certainly didn’t help, let alone the fact he’d brought home a professional microphone to ‘record himself and make sure his intonation was just right’.

 

The big night was Sunday. All Kate could do now was wait.

 

* * *

 

Steam drifted from the bathroom as Kate stepped out of the shower: naked, clean, and ready to be reborn. Mike had seen her naked hundreds of times, but tonight he was going to hypnotize her. Somehow that made it different. More intimate.

 

 

With towels wrapped around her hair and body, she carefully made the ten-foot journey from the bathroom to her closet. Mike’s Italian suits, football jerseys, and concert tees hung confidently on one side. Kate’s collection of thick sweaters in a variety of earth tones were hunched over their hangers on the other half.

 

Kate desperately wished she had something sexy to wear for him. 

 

 

Kate let the towel fall and took a step toward the hallway; braver than she’d ever felt; her ample breasts bouncing slightly with every step.

 

She proudly walked just inside the hallway forward before sighing, and turning around. She went back into the closet and threw on her favorite brown sweater.

 

 

* * *

 

The first thing Kate noticed as she walked into the living room was the smell. Tea tree, her favorite scent, was drifting from a diffuser she’d never seen before. Mike had his portable DJ setup on full display. Soft ambient music wafted from high-fidelity speakers. Party lights, each on their own tripod, faded between soft shades of blue and purple. A laser projector turned their ceiling into a starscape. 

 

If Mike was bothered by her distinctly un-sexy clothes, he didn’t show it. His grin was the biggest she’d ever seen, and for a moment, the room, the lights, the music, everything felt designed just for her.

 

“Welcome to my world,” he said in his deep, sexy, radio voice, “Take a seat on the couch, Kate. I can’t wait to get started.” 

 

Kate exhaled a breath of relief. Mike loved her. He really meant it when he said he was excited to try something she wanted. She sat on the couch, deliberately keeping her legs uncrossed. She wanted to be open to him, both in body and mind. Only then did she notice the garment bag hanging from one of the light stands, and the open Amazon boxes beside it.

Mike stepped into her line of sight, filling her view. His Hawaiian shirt hung open revealing the abs he worked so hard on every day. His jeans were just loose enough to leave something to the imagination, but tight enough to show the strength she loved in his legs. To Kate, he was the sexiest man alive, and he went through all this trouble just for her.

Shy, demure Kate. Always hiding behind jackets, sweaters, or anything else she could cover up with. It was a miracle Mike had found her in the first place, let alone that he actually decided to ask her out. She didn’t know what he was going to do once he hypnotized her, but she was ready. She trusted him. She wanted to be able to do anything for him. She wanted to make him happy more than anything.

 

“You ready?” Mike’s hands were trembling as he pulled out the crystal pendulum. Kate couldn’t help but smile at his giddiness. She nodded, leaned back on the couch, and watched the pendulum begin to swing.

 

* * *

 

Being entranced was liberating. All of Kate’s worries fell away. Mike was making everything so clear to her.

 

“We’re all just actors playing roles, aren’t we? The face you put on at home is different from the face you put on at work, isn’t it?”

 

Kate slowly nodded before her head slumped back to her chest.

 

“When you wear different outfits, you will switch to that character. You’ll still be you, Kate. The actress will be playing the role. You don’t need to be scared. You always control your actions, but you’ll just be acting like someone else. Just playing pretend. You like playing pretend don’t you?”

 

Kate nodded again.

 

“Just remember, the clothes make the woman. If you can dress confidently, you can act confidently.”

 

“The clothes… make the woman…” Kate whispered to herself.

“And you trust me, don’t you, Kate? If the clothes make you act a certain way, it’s only because I want you to feel free; to enjoy yourself without shame. You’ll always know it’s what I want for you.”

 

It all made so much sense.

 

“This is what you want for me…”

 

* * *

Her legs were cold. 

 

Kate had never worn a skirt this short in her life. It might as well have been part of her shirt… or… tank top? What was she wearing? 

 

Kate looked down to see the bright red and white colors of her high school blaring back at her. Though the mascot on the chest was different, she was clearly wearing a version of her old high school's cheerleading outfit. 

 

 

That’s right! The game!

The Firebirds had just won state. Kate and Mike skipped the after party to head back to her place. 

 

“Sexy… sweaty… Mike…” Kate breathed as she rubbed her hands over his bare chest. She was so lucky to have him, though she couldn’t let him know it. She smirked and swayed her hips just slightly. 

 

“Do you even know how lucky you are to get to fuck me?” Kate reached down and began sliding her spankies to the side. Still marveling that she cheered the entire game without panties. 

 

Wait… didn’t I already graduate? 

 

She didn’t question the inconsistency for long. Mike’s cock was pressed hard into his pants. Kate had to keep herself from smiling. It was clear he did know how lucky he was. 

 

“Come on, Mr. MVP, let’s see it.”

Mike began slipping his pants off, and his thick cock pointed straight in the air. Kate couldn’t hold herself back. She straddled the football player and lowered herself onto his length. His cock dragged against the displaced fabric of her cheerleading outfit as she did, though he didn’t seem to mind.

“Jesus Christ, you’re wet,” Mike gasped right as she felt his full length reach inside. Being on top of him felt so right, yet so unfamiliar at the same time. Kate felt her balance slip for a split second and rocked forward to catch herself. Mike groaned as she accidentally gyrated on him, and Kate couldn’t help but repeat the motion. His hard cock was reaching deeper than it ever had before.

 

This is so good… so why does it feel so strange…? Don’t we do this all the time? Slutty cheerleaders like me love riding their boyfriends…

 

Kate looked down over her cheerleading uniform at Mike writhing beneath her. She couldn’t help but be turned on by her own skirt splayed out over their joining.

 

The clothes make the woman… The phrase echoed in her head again. She couldn’t help but get lost in the experience as she rode him harder and harder. She was so lost in the daze, she didn’t even realize he was begging her to stop.

 

“Kate… Kate please… Please climb off…” Kate didn’t stop, instead she teasingly squeezed down on him.

 

“Why? We’re having so much fun aren’t we?” She squeezed him again.

 

“Oh God!” His hands gripped her hips tightly. His cock was throbbing like a second heartbeat inside her pussy. She loved the feeling of his hands on her. She loved the feeling of his cock inside her even more. He was just barely thrusting now, like he was scared of what would happen if he thrust too hard even just once. He started taking slow, deep breaths.

 

“Climb off, Kate… There’s something else I want to try…” He was holding her still now. Kate knew she could push him over the edge with just a single squeeze.

 

But he was just too fun to play with. She’d let him enjoy her a bit longer.

 

“Fine…” Kate whispered teasingly in his ear. “Can I climb off now, or do you need to calm down for a minute?” Mike wrapped his powerful arms around her and held her in place. Kate didn’t like giving boys this much control, but it was cute how into this he was. 

 

He held her like that for nearly a minute before his cock just barely softened enough for her to feel safe climbing off. 

 

“There. I didn’t make you cum, even though I wanted to sooo bad.” Kate flicked her tongue at him as she said this. She almost felt like she should be embarrassed.

 

Why? What did she have to be embarrassed of? She was beautiful, and she was sharing her beauty with a man she loved.

 

 

 She felt so sexy teasing him like this. “Don’t say I never did anything nice for you.” Kate reached down and squeezed his cock. A firm reminder of how into him she was. Mike groaned, before quickly standing up, and opening another garment bag.

 

* * *

 

Mike and Kate played out a number of other scenarios over the night. 

 

Kate was a doctor who couldn’t resist her patient’s huge cock. She was bent over the bathroom sink, letting him slam into her while she moaned that his cock would be worth losing her job. The stethoscope swung with her tits as he pounded her.

 

Kate was a French Maid. She always so dutifully cleaned her master’s house. When the mistress was out, she would give herself to the master. Master Michael enjoyed her ministrations, but Kate was going to make him fall in love with her. She flung herself to the living room floor and raised her ass as high in the air as it could go. She flipped up her frilled skirt to reveal her soaking wet pussy.

 

“Please Monsieur, let me please you like she never could.”

 

As he thrust she slid herself back into him. She vaguely wondered if she might be bruising him. She was slamming herself onto him so hard. His cock was reaching so deep inside. She would show him what a real woman could do. And eventually he would love her more than his wife. 

 

Wait, when did Mike get married? Maid Kate smiled. Doesn’t matter, he’s mine now.

 

She moaned in both pleasure and disappointment as he pulled out of her. She dusted herself off and turned around to see why he stopped.

 

Mike holding up a pair of high heels. Just the shoes, not even the flimsiest costume. She was just going to wear the heels.

 

 

***

 

Mike was leaning back on the couch as Kate stood over him, one leg braced on the armrest with her pussy occasionally dripping onto his cock as her tits dangled in his face. 

 

“You love my body, don’t you?” Kate had never felt this powerful in her whole life. It was like she could do anything. She could actually admit how hot she was and she didn’t have to be ashamed. She was fucking sexy and she fucking loved sex. 

 

She reached down and grabbed Mike’s cock. Mike's arms tensed as he automatically thrust upward. She effortlessly guided him to the right spot, and he entered her perfectly; somehow stretching her more than he ever had before. Mike’s eyes rolled back in ecstasy. 

 

And it was her sexy body that was making him make love to her like this. Why shouldn’t she be proud of it?

 

The clothes make the woman. Everyone can see that I don’t need to hide anything. She wrapped her arms around Mike. 

 

If feeling like a stripper means I get to have the best sex I’ve ever had with Mike, why shouldn’t I get to enjoy that? Why shouldn’t I get to just act slutty and enjoy a nice cock? 

 

Mike was thrusting even harder than he had when she was a cheerleader. With a smile, Kate began rocking back and forth to meet him. His cock slid into her with perfect unity as she met every one of his thrusts with her own. 

 

He was so tense. He wouldn’t last long. Kate knew there was no way he was holding back this time. He was going to cum so hard in her. Kate began slamming herself down on Mike. She felt him reach the deepest place inside her. It just barely hurt how far he reached, but it hurt in such a satisfying way. 

 

 

He grabbed her ass and started forcing her rhythm up and down on his cock. This was it. He was so tense. Kate held him tightly and whispered in his ear.

 

“Do it. Cum in me.”

 

His entire body tensed, and his warmth flooded her.

 

They held each other for almost a minute. Then Kate stood up, kicked off her shoes, and dragged him into the bedroom for more. 

 

* * *

 

Late that night, as they lay in bed, Mike listened to Kate’s soft breathing as she dozed off next to him. He was surprised he hadn’t already fallen asleep himself. This night had been so amazing, and he was so tired now. 

 

 

He looked over to see Kate, sleeping in his Hawaiian shirt. She had been acting pretty normal by the time they finally went to bed. 

 

It’ll be fine. Kate wasn’t acting like a hula girl or anything like that from the Hawaiian shirt. She had just been the normal snuggly version of herself. Though maybe she had been a bit extra snuggly after he fucked her brains out. Kate writhed next to him, and he felt his cock throb in response to her heat. He wrapped his arms around her and grabbed one breast in each hand, his arms crossed over her. 

 

“I love you, good night,” Mike whispered as he finally succumbed to sleep. Confident that his girlfriend was herself again; free from the hypnotic spell. 

 

But wrapped in his arms, Kate was in her absolute favorite costume.