Page 44 of Crushing Clover

“We’ll be getting that one, too.”

By the time he’d bought me enough clothes and shoes to get me through two weeks, both of us were exhausted, but Lucky was determined we needed to hit the lingerie store next.

“I don’t need anything extravagant,” I objected. “Didn’t you say there’s a department store in this mall?”

“How are you going to seduce Saint in granny panties?”

“Don’t be a snob. They sell all kinds of underwear at department stores. They’re often more comfortable and not such a waste of money.”

“Why do you think panties are a waste of money?”

I trailed after him into the store. Of course, as soon as the two saleswomen saw Lucky, they headed our way.

“Hi there! Can I help you with…anything?” the blonde one called before the brunette could stake a claim.

“She needs new underwear. And bras.” He stepped aside and gestured to me, and both women looked crestfallen.

“What do you like?” the brunette asked me, recovering first.

“What’s on sale?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about that,” Lucky said, frowning.

Moments later, they were bringing him things, and he was pointing out what we did and didn’t want. The pile of underwear and bras on the counter kept growing—most of them wispy and far too sexy to be useful. Thankfully, he wasn’t asking me to try things on.

They moved from that to negligees, and I gave up entirely and found a padded bench where I could sit. It was probably meant for men waiting for their girlfriends, but my tired legs didn’t care.

If you walked out, he wouldn’t even notice.

You could make a run for it.

And go where, exactly?

Lucky was fun to be around when he wasn’t trying to relocate my cervix, and being with the guys kept a roof over my head and food in my stomach. It also kept me from being recaptured and sold to a brothel on the other side of the world.

Either of these women would gladly trade places with me, and if they met the other two guys, they’d probably fucking faint. If I didn’t look like their ex, and if I hadn’t been foisted on them, maybe this whole situation could have been fun.

All things considered, though, Saint was an asshole, and my butt had some spectacular bruises from the belt spanking he’d given me.

By the time Lucky had paid and gathered all the other bags he’d been toting, I was almost asleep.

“Come on, shy girl.”

“Shy girl? I’m not shy,” I said, frowning. “I used to be a dancer, and you know what I do now. How could I possibly be shy?”

He smiled down at me, his gaze affectionate. “I can tell.”

If I thought we were heading back to Lucky’s truck, I was sadly mistaken.

“Where are you taking me now?”

“It’s a surprise.”

He opened a door that stood in the middle of a walled-up storefront. I had barely enough time to register the warning saying the construction area required safety gear before he shut the door behind us.

“I don’t think we’re supposed to be in here.”

He put a hand to my lower back and ushered me deeper inside.

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