Page 55 of The Watcher's Bride

I haven’t thought about him for a few days. It’s been almost three weeks since the last time I saw him. He didn’t rescue me, which makes me realize that now I’m alone.

Back in New York I had been attracted to Max, and today I was starting to see some of that in Leo. He has been charming and funny, making me laugh along with him at some of the ridiculous outfits the overzealous store clerks have suggested. He’s been acting like the same guy I could have fallen for back in New York if I hadn’t been so messed up.

“We have to be done now, right?” I say to Leo as he places our latest purchases into the trunk, which is already full of bags.

“Not quite, we’ve got just one more store to visit,” he replies with a mischievous grin.

The store turns out to sell gorgeous yet risqué lingerie.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I say, turning and raising my eyebrow at him.

“I never kid,” he replies.

I curse myself, not for the first time today, for giving in to temptation and following him into his room to take a peek at him showering this morning. Clearly, I’ve given him the wrong impression.

“No way,” I insist, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Nora, you need new underwear. You forget I had to pack up your stuff and bring it here. I’ve seen the sorry state of your panty drawer. Plus, have you never heard that good quality underwear makes an outfit fit far better,” he reasons.

He does have a point. “Fine, but I’m not coming out of the changing rooms to model these.”

He looks at me with one of those intense smoldering gazes as if he’s mentally undressing me, and my skin tingles.

“Good, I wouldn’t want to share that sight with anyone. Any unsuspecting man that came in might lose an eye just for looking.”

“You’re not getting to see that sight either. Not now and not later,” I insist, though the words sound hollow even to my ears.

“We’ll see,” he replies, his words a promise as he opens the door and ushers me inside.

As usual, the sales associates are quick to flock around us, fussing over us and asking how they can help. The attractive young females’ attention is focused more on Leo as they bat their eyelashes at him, even though we’re clearly in here shopping for me.

“Please help my wife find anything that she likes,” Leo says, which results in looks from the women that are equally filled with jealousy and admiration.

One steps forward. “I’m Candy, and I’ll be yours today,” she addresses me, but the way she glances at Leo as she pouts and tucks her platinum blonde hair behind her ears, makes it clear who she’d much rather prefer doing business with.

I soon find plenty of options to try on. I firmly but politely refuse anything too sexy and opt for some cute practical lingerie sets and a couple of very impractical but too pretty to resist ones. With Leo following us around silently watching and noddinghis approval, I want to make sure I don’t give him the wrong impression.

When Candy leads us into the sex toy section, I freeze in panic. If I was worried that sexy lingerie would give Leo the wrong impression, buying any of this stuff definitely would.

“Oh, um, no need to go in here,” I stammer uncomfortably.

Leo simply looks amused. Bastard. He’s not going to make this easier.

“I understand this section can seem a little overwhelming, especially if you’re not used to using toys. But I can promise you, you won’t be disappointed if you experiment a little,” she says, her eyes lingering on Leo.

Clearly, she’d like him to experiment with her. I hate myself for the flash of jealousy that rises up. How dare she flirt with my husband like this right in front of me? Letting my irritation get the best of me, I announce, “We’ve always found toys to be a bit plastic and artificial, and our sex life doesn’t need spicing up. Does it, darling?” I ask, pressing myself closer to him possessively.

Leo lets out a small bark of laughter, his eyes dancing with mirth. He snakes his hand around my waist, lifting me up slightly and giving my bottom a gentle tap that makes me let out a little yelp of surprise. “With a woman like this, a man would have to be crazy to want anything more. But I’m not opposed to finding new ways to pleasure my wife,” he says, his eyes smoldering as he looks at me. He doesn’t bother to look away for more than a second when speaking to Candy. “Please, show us what you’d suggest.”

“Of course,” she says, flustered. “Allow me.”

Unwilling to back down and both taking it as a challenge, Leo and I proceed to put more and more outrageous things into our basket. I even go back and grab the raciest lingerie sets I can find until we have practically everything in the store. Candy manages to maintain her professionalism, and I can practically see the dollar signs in her eyes as she rings up our purchases, no doubt planning what she’ll spend her hefty commission on.

“Thank you for shopping with us, sir,” she purrs submissively as she hands Leo back his card, making sure to brush her long fingernails against his hand as she does so. “If you need anything, anything at all, you just come back here and let me know.”

Christ, she might as well be dry humping his leg and begging him to fuck her.

“Do you often try to flirt with women’s husbands right in front of them or am I just lucky?” I snap, surprising even myself.

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