Page 86 of Lethal Devotion
“Morning,” she says with a smile, looking up, and I smile back, though it feels a little strained.
“Morning.” I sit down across from her, biting my lip and already feeling a blush staining my cheeks. I’ve never had girlfriends that I talked about this kind of thing to, or an older sister to confide in. Valentina and I don’t know each other all that well, and I’m a guest in her home. But I can’t think of anyone else to ask. If I still worked at the club, I’d go to one of the girls there, but that’s no longer an option.
“What are you thinking about?” Valentina smirks, sitting up fully and setting her magazine aside. “You’ve got something on your mind. What’s going on?”
“Damian is going to divorce me, when the Russos are gone.” I blurt it out without thinking, and Valentina raises an eyebrow.
“Konstantin mentioned that was his plan,” she says slowly. “That’s not what you want?”
Just the thought makes my throat tighten. I don’t know what a real relationship between us would look like, what obstacles that might come with, or what it would be like to live in this world permanently. But the thought of never seeing Damian again, of him never touching me again… I have to fight back the ache of tears burning at the backs of my eyes.
I shake my head. “No. I don’t.”
“Hmm.” Valentina lets out a breath. “Well, I don’t know, Sienna. Damian isn’t one to talk about these kinds of things or listen. I don’t think hearing anything from Konstantin or me would help, really.”
“I know,” I say quickly. “I didn’t want you to talk to him. I wanted to ask you about—” My cheeks burn, and Valentina gives me a knowing look.
“Oh.Thatpart of marriage. Have you and he?—”
I nod quickly. “Yes. He’s just… he’s really careful with me. And I want to make him lose control. I want him to stop thinking so much… to stop overthinking it. And I was wondering if there might be some things I could buy, if there was a place I could shop, or?—”
I’m stammering over most of my words at this point, my face on fire, but Valentina doesn’t look scandalized. Instead, she just laughs and smiles.
“I know just the place,” she says firmly. “I’ve shopped there before for things to spice up my love life with Konstantin.”
She grins. "Besides, I've been dying for an excuse to get out of this house. Konstantin's been hovering like I'm made of glass."
“I’d need someone to watch Adam—” I bite my lip. “I feel bad every time I ask someone to keep an eye on him.”
Valentina waves a hand. “The staff all love him. They’ll be delighted for an excuse to chase him around for a few hours. I’ll arrange for a security detail, and we’ll head out in an hour.”
An hour and a half later, we’re in downtown Miami, walking into what looks like an upscale lingerie store, all soft lighting and silk displays. But Valentina leads me past the pretty bras and panties to a discreet door at the back, where a well-dressed woman greets us.
“How can I help you?” she asks with a pleasant, professional smile, and Valentina answers for me.
"My friend here is looking to expand her... repertoire," Valentina says smoothly. "She's relatively new to this, so she'll need guidance."
The woman—her name tag readsSuzane—nods knowingly. "Of course. Are you shopping for anything specific, or would you like me to show you some of our most popular items for beginners?"
I look helplessly at Valentina, who takes pity on me. "Why don't you show us a selection? Something that would appeal to a man who likes to be in control."
"Ah, perfect. Right this way."
For the next hour, Patricia walks us through an education I never knew I needed, even having worked at a strip club in the past. I heard the girls talk about things like this, but I never had the nerve to ask for more information, and I certainly nevertriedany ofthem. I never knew how innocent I was, exactly, until this afternoon.
She shows us silky restraints and blindfolds, massage oils and toys I didn't even know existed. Some things make me blush so hard I'm sure I'm going to combust, but Valentina keeps encouraging me, asking practical questions that I would never think to ask.
"This," Patricia says, holding up what looks like a silk scarf, "is perfect for beginners. It's soft, non-intimidating, but it serves the same purpose as more... intense options."
"What about sensation play?" Valentina asks, and I give her a confused look.
"Temperature, texture, that sort of thing," Patricia explains, showing us cooling and heating lubricants, feathers, and other items designed to heighten sensation.
By the time we leave, I have a matte black shopping bag full of items that Patricia assures me will "enhance the experience for both partners." I feel a little overwhelmed and embarrassed, especially when we reconvene with the security detail waiting outside, but Valentina is grinning at me like we share a secret now—like we’re friends.
"He's going to lose his mind," she assures me as we drive back to the estate.
"You think so?" My lip is raw from how hard I’ve been chewing it. I’m already second-guessing everything I have planned.
