Page 71 of Heart of The Night

I got up and walked to the full-length mirror, looking at my reflection. There was a sparkle in my eyes, a sign of the excitement and nervousness bubbling within me. I thought about what I would wear, daydreaming about the evening ahead. I knew I’d be looking at him from a new perspective, seeing the man I loved in every gesture, every word, every touch.

For the first time in a long while, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be. I was in love, and the knowledge of it filled me with a quiet joy. Tonight, I would bask in the warmth of that feeling, savour the beauty of what we had together, and let my heart lead the way.

16 | changing the game

CARA

I was in my bedroom, surrounded by a sea of delicate lace and satin, trying on various sets of lingerie before my date with William. The evening sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a pleasant glow on the plush, white carpet. My heart raced with anticipation as I reached for a particularly luscious set.

Just as I adjusted the straps on the black bustier, there was a knock at my door.

‘Who is it?’ I called out, throwing a glance at my white satin robe draped over the back of my desk chair.

‘It’s Livy.’

No need to cover up, then. ‘I’m trying on some underwear,’ I warned, ‘but you can come in.’

The door creaked open, and Olivia stepped inside. The moment she saw me, a gasp slipped out of her mouth.

‘Oh my goodness! Cara, you look amazing!’

I turned my gaze to the full-length mirror, studying myself. The black lingerie was indeed stunning. The bustier was made of fine lace and satin, hugging my curves perfectly and accentuating my figure. Intricate floral patterns adorned the sheer fabric, teasing glimpses of skin beneath. Straps extended from the bottom, attaching to black, low-denier stockings that clung to my legs, adding an extra touch of elegance and allure. The entire ensemble was both sophisticated and seductive, making me feel powerful and confident.

‘You think so?’ I asked, meeting Olivia’s eyes in the mirror. Her expression was one of genuine admiration.

‘Absolutely,’ she said, stepping closer to get a better look. ‘William won’t know what hit him.’

I smiled, a blend of excitement and nerves surging inside me. Tonight was going to be special, and I wanted everything to be perfect.

‘I’m going to hide it under this,’ I said, showing her the deep-red maxi dress I intended to wear.

She gave me a knowing smile. ‘You know that colour was made for you, right?’

I chuckled. ‘You always say that.’

‘Because it’s true.’ She folded her arms, grinning. ‘He’ll be a goner the second he sees you. You’ll knock the breath right out of him.’

‘Oh, I plan to do more than that.’ I gave her a smirk and cocked my head toward my bed. Her eyes followed, and her jaw dropped.

‘Handcuffs?’ she asked, her eyes widening as they fixed on the shiny metal glinting in the light.

Laughing, I walked over to my bed. ‘Yeah. He barely ever lets me blow him – says it messes with his endurance – but I badly want to do it tonight, so this is the only way.’

‘Go for it!’ she encouraged, nodding excitedly.

‘I will. But any ideas on how to actually get him into these without too much fuss? He is stronger than me.’ I dangled the handcuffs in front of my face.

Olivia’s eyebrows furrowed, her expression becoming thoughtful. ‘Tell him to close his eyes because you’ve got a surprise for him. Then just handcuff him quick.’

‘Yeah, that could work.’ I nodded. ‘Anyway, what’s up?’

‘I just wanted to let you know that I’m heading home. Jason and I are going to the cinema with Jon, Stephen and Giselle later, so I need to change and all that.’

Jason’s closest friends. Were they going to hard-launch that they were dating?

‘Right, okay. Have fun.’

‘Thanks.’ She eyed me up and down, then gave me a smirk. ‘You too.’

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