CW: Nudity, body image issues
It was a deep sigh, the type that tells the world that you see no way out.
She and Agustín were spending a rare night going out to dinner with Pepa and Felix. The Encanto had a few restaurants and one of them specialized in dishes from larger, international cities like Bogotá. She was sure that Agustín would do his usual scrutiny of the liqueur list after which the three of them would good-naturedly roll their eyes, but at present she had no desire to even leave the house. She had her own thing to scrutinize.
Her figure. All of her body, really.
Pepa had a new dress which would no doubt show her slim figure off. Julieta was proud of her sister in every way, but the envy, common to sisters, was still there when it came to looks. Pepa’s hair was lighter so her gray didn’t show, she had lost the weight with Antonio while Julieta still privately fretted over the extra pounds Mirabel had put on her, and she had the carefree personality to match her slightly avant garde style. Next to her, Julieta sometimes felt more like Pepa’s mother than her sister. And sometimes, like now, she just felt old and dumpy.
She was currently standing in front of her mirror with her dressing gown open, looking at her nude figure. No matter the turn she made or the light that hit her, she just couldn’t make herself feel comfortable with her looks. And she had been looking at herself for twenty minutes. She wished she could feign illness and not go out, but of course that was always impossible for her to do. It was at times like this that she didn’t like her gift all that much.
A small noise came from behind her and she gasped in surprise, pulling the robe closed and tying it. Then she realized the noise had been a side table falling over, which only happened if someone bumped into it.
“Gus, I know you’re there,” the brunette said with a roll of her eyes.
Somewhat sheepishly, Agustín emerged from his hiding place and gave her an endearing “you caught me” expression. However, there was another look in his eyes, one Julieta hadn’t counted on seeing. It was a needy, lust-filled gaze and it bore down on her, despite his attempts to minimize it.
“Lo siento, mi amor,” he smiled. “I…didn’t count on a show before dinner.”
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Oh, long enough,” Agustín replied, licking his lips and leaning against the wall. His eyes never left her face. Underneath his tie, he was sweating and it wasn’t from the humidity. “I liked it better before you put the robe on.” He gave her his ridiculous trademark eyebrow wiggle which she usually found endearing.
This time, Julieta felt her eyes burn. Her husband looked at her with such a desirous and loving expression and she couldn’t bring herself to understand why. She felt too old for this insecurity and irritated with herself for it. Agustín was an attractive man and she wasn’t blind to the looks he got from other women. His eye never wandered from Julieta and he was oblivious to his appeal to others, but it stung at her anyway.
“I have to hide my flaws somehow,” Julieta muttered, clutching the front of the robe tighter. “I’m trying to find something to wear tonight that will do just that.”
“Flaws, huh?” Her husband replied, the smoldering look still in his eyes. He pretended to ponder this for a moment, before walking over. “Well, if you’re trying to find your flaws, I’ll help. Let me take a look.”
Julieta turned back towards the mirror with a baffled expression. Rather than opening the robe, Agustín took the dressing gown and gently pulled it down so that Julieta stood fully nude. She cringed and her face flushed scarlet. Although they enjoyed their marriage bed frequently, it had been a long while since even he had seen her completely naked and the urge to grab the robe back was overwhelming. Tossing it on the bed, Agustín turned back towards his wife and swore slightly under his breath. She noticed his eyes grow wider and his face flush darker, but he kept his calm persona as best he could.
“Shhhh, I’m working,” he replied, letting his hands wander over her dark skin. “Let’s start here.”
He traced her stretch marks and cupped her breasts, his hands lingering happily on her while she watched them in the mirror. While kissing Julieta’s neck, Agustín traced a long finger down her back and then to the loose skin under her belly that had housed three beautiful daughters. For a moment, he let his finger dip much lower, eliciting a gasp from Julieta. “I don’t see any flaws in your skin…”
“Hush now, princesa,” he murmured in her ear.
He reached up towards her hair and tugged it gently down from its bun. The waves framed her face perfectly as he stroked it and let the silvery black strands grace his fingers. Burying his face in it, he inhaled the scent of basil and flour that always clung to her. He gently kissed her neck again still nuzzling her hair. Agustín’s voice was strained when he spoke again and his breathing was getting shallow. “Hair…Dios… is perfect.”
Turning her face upward, he held her head between his hands and gazed deeply at her. He combed his fingers through her hair and tried to keep his failing mind steady before a rush of words fell out.
“Your eyes…ears…everything. Mierda. Oh hell, you’re so beautiful…”
He pressed his lips to hers in a searing kiss which she happily returned. Julieta’s eyes fluttered and she giggled like a schoolgirl at the feeling of his mustache as he moved from her lips to the rest of her face. She relaxed. Agustín loving her body was not the same as her doing it, but she felt a bit of confidence grow back at the obvious enjoyment he was getting and the love that he looked at her with. He murmured against her neck before speaking again.
“But if you want a flaw, I’ll give you one.” After two minutes of his lips on her, a rather dark mark was left under her ear. Julieta’s bliss faded quickly when she noticed.
“Lo siento. You’ll…uh…need to wear your hair down,” Agustín gasped, trying to steady his breathing. “Other than that, I don’t see a single flaw in you.”
“Thank you.” His wife’s voice was a whisper.
With a newfound joy, Julieta reached for the dress she had planned to wear as her husband checked his pocket watch. Noticing the time, he laid a hand over hers. There was still an hour before they needed to leave.
“Although,” Agustín, murmured. “There may be a small problem I need you to help with.” The fire in his eyes had simmered, but it was still there.
Julieta tilted her head, confused and then noticed Agustín unbuttoning his suit vest. He winked at her.
@julietashealing-child — here is me showing the work 😆
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