Page 13 of Call of the Ride
I ignored the insult, far too thankful for the suggestion, especially paired with the hint of a smile on Vasi’s face. If my witch wanted to start dressing like a dominatrix, I was certainly not going to stand in her way. In fact, I was more than happy to join her in the dressing room.
You know, to help with zippers and such.
Luckily, there was no welcome wagon waiting for us back at Catty’s—probably helped by the late hour of our arrival—although the concierge gaily greeted us as we passed reception.
“Welcome back, Miss Vasilisa! You are looking exceptionally lovely this evening.” Something about the man’s tone made me possessively growl. There was polite and there was lecherous, and as someone firmly on Team Lecher, I recognized a fellow creep when I heard one.
Before I could take out my stressful evening on this poor chap, Vasi laid her delicate little hand on my arm. “He canseeme, Tan,” she hissed through clenched teeth while we hurried into the lift. I stared down at her in confusion as Ace and Nox instinctively closed in, wondering how a random blue collar could see past her old-ladyness when so many others couldn’t. Her expression was pleading as she added, “I don’t know how, but I thinkeveryonecan now.”
Anthia graced her with a concerned glance before promptly schooling her features into disinterest once again. Vasi sounded downright panicked over the idea—probably because it was so different from what she was used to. While the guys and I had always seen the curvy little wet dream she was, most saw her as a hideously ancient fairytale witch. It was a strange concept, to consider how she’d been hiding her true self behind a disguise for so long.
I suppose we’ve all been wearing masks in a way…
“Ya, well,” I carefully replied. “That simply means we need to find a badass wardrobe worthy of our feisty little witch.”
I internally fist pumped as a grateful smile twitched Vasi’s luscious lips. If my girl needed some black leather armor to feel comfortable facing the world again, I would do everything in my power to make sure she was dressed for battle.
Chapter 11
Vasilisa
While I’d hoped Anthia would take me shopping, Tan was proving to be an enjoyable—and surprisingly helpful—substitute.
“Doll, now Iknowthese shoes are not suitable for everyday witchery,” Tan called from the far corner of the store, waving a six-inch heel that looked more weapon than wardrobe. “But I bet Acey would let you strap them on and walk over his dick while you called him your good little bitch.”
I froze, waiting for the other shoppers to turn their judgmental gazes my way, but no one so much as batted an eye at the announcement of our bedroom practices.
Is everyone else here a witch too?
“Hi, I’m Alabaster! Are we finding everything ok?” A slender girl wearing black lipstick and what appeared to be a fishing net as a dress suddenly appeared, exhibiting far too much cheer for my taste. “We just got a shipment of new Kawaii dresses, if you’re interested. They aren’t even out in Japan yet!”
“Kawaii..?” I trailed off, mesmerized by the chain dangling between her nostril and earlobe, wondering how much blood would gush out if I were to yank on it.
“Yeah,” the girl chirped, twirling a lock of blueish hair between glittery fingernails as she ran her assessing gaze over me. “It means ‘cute.’”
My claws lengthened, my veins burning with a need for vengeance. “I AM NOT CUTE!” I amplified my voice, rattling the inexplicable chain-link fence dotting the space. Again, no one around us seemed to notice or care.
Alabaster grinned broadly, flashing two sets of fangs, although I didn’t get the sense she was threatening me with them. “Mmm. More Dark Cottagecore, are we? I have just the thing.”
Tan excitedly dragged me along after the strange creature, even as he sent me a blast of soothing energy down our bond. Sighing, I allowed his light to calm me slightly, although I still was in no mood to be dressed like either a cute doll or a cottage. Honestly, I wasn’t entirely surewhatI was looking for.
I just want to feel like...me.
The girl stopped in front of a rack of flowing black dresses that looked promising, although the length of the skirts were startlingly shorter than what I usually wore.
“Pardon,” Tan waved the stiletto in Alabaster’s face to catch her attention. “These dresses are fine for the streets, but my witch also needs a few items for the sheets, ya? Preferably something see-through, so all those delicious curves are on full display. On that note—crotchless panties, if you have them. And add these bedroom heels to the pile, please. I need them wrapped around my neck.”
I was so used to Tan’s babbling, I barely registered what he was saying, but Alabaster took a long look at him before turning to me with one penciled-in eyebrow raised. “This is your boyfriend?”
“One of them…” I murmured distractedly, pulling a black dress off the rack for a closer look at the lace panel. “I have two more back at the hotel.”
“Daaaaamn, girl. You are hashtag goals!” She cackled, revealing her fangs again, the realization that they weren’t actually real distracting me from her nonsense. “I’ll go pull those items for you and get a dressing room ready. Down the hall, the last door on the left. And, it’s big enough for two…” she snickered as she bounced away to fulfill Tan’s odd requests.
Is she...encouraging us to play in the dressing room?
My Rider held out his hand for any dresses I wanted to try on. “So, does that meanI’mnot allowed to call you cute?” An irresistibly mischievous light danced in his eyes, his cheekiness making me soften, as always.
“Only if you want to suffer the consequences,” I curtly replied, spinning on my heel to hide my smile as I led him in the direction Alabaster had indicated.
