He didn’t judge me; he loved me back.
CHAPTER 12
FOR MY BIRTHDAY, REMINGTONgifted me a gym membership. I wouldn’t let him pay for more than a year, but he insisted on at least one, especially so we can keep spending time together at least once per week.
But that hasn’t been difficult for us. It’s been over six months since we met, our initial, new relationship energy settling into a fuzzy sense of peace and security that I can’t get enough of. Whenever I’m in Remington’s arms after a long day, I wake up refreshed and ready to take on the world. Even Celeste meows a little brighter, adoring our combined attention.
Today, I’m leaving Celeste at home with plenty of food and fresh litter. Remington keeps his big hands pressed over the cheap Halloween costume he picked, hiding the design from me, but I have to turn my back to hide mine.
“Stop looking already,” I laugh.
He groans, throwing his head back. “I can’t. I’m dying to picture you in it.”
Thankfully, I don’t have to continue to dissuade him; it’s his turn to check out.
Except he swipes my costume from my hands to pay for it, keeping his eyes off the design as he tucks it beneath his costume.
I gasp. “Rem!”
He chuckles, greeting the cashier. They quickly ring up the costumes, and I accidentally peek at Remington’s costume choice.
We agreed on equally “cheap, slutty Halloween costumes,” but I didn’t expect Remington to be able to find an outfit for himself that’s this revealing: his knightly “armor” only covers the tops of his shoulders and chest, leaving his abdomen exposed. Rather than pants, there’s just a floppy little skirt to fit around his hips, padded with fake armor over a rich, red loincloth.
Remington hums. “Lilibeth Norris.”
I bite my lips, quickly averting my eyes. “I– I saw nothing.”
His sharp, huffing laugh makes the cashier blink a few times, spurring Remington into even more laughter as we exit the store.
“Answer me honestly: did you see it?”
I shake my head. “Not on you, so it didn’t count.”
He laughs, pulling me to his side with a big hand on top of my head. Leaning down to mutter into my ear, Remington deepens his low voice. “Naughty girl.”
My stomach flip-flops. I really do feel naughty, considering what we’re about to use these costumes for.