Page 193 of Tempting-

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But still...

Her confidence fills me with a pride that goes all the way to my bones.

"Brendon?" She holds up a cheetah print thong. "Can you explain it to me?"

"It's a thong."

She laughs. "I get that part. But the animal print?"

I shrug. "Fuck if I know." I join her at the rack. Go straight to a row filled with lacy pink stuff. "Now this—" I pick out a sheer pink bra and panty set. "This is sexy."

"Why?"

"You really have to ask?"

"Have to is relative."

"It's sweet. Innocent. Angelic."

Her cheeks flush. "It's too small. I'm the next size up."

I trade it in for the next size. "I'm buying this for you."

"I thought we were here for a—" She lowers her voice. "For something else."

"You can say vibrator. They have a whole wall of them."

"An entire wall?" She scans the room for said wall. "How am I supposed to know what to get?"

"We could ask the salesgirl for help."

Kaylee's eyes go wide. Her lips press together. She shakes her headno way. "I can ask you for help."

Perfect. I press my palm into her lower back and lead her toward said wall. Only I take the long way.

Kaylee gawks as we pass a wall of porn. She stops to stare at all the lifelike dildos.

"It... it has veins." She reaches out to touch one of the packages. It's modeled after some porn star. "Is that sexy?"

"I'd know?"

"True. But... it's just..." She tilts her head to the other side. "Why?"

"Capitalism."

She laughs. "Of course." She looks up at me. "I like punk rock anarchist commie Brendon. But I think... I think whatever you'd call this guy—the small business owner who shops at Ikea—I think he's more you."

"You'd feel different if you appreciated The Ramones—"

She laughs. "And you'd feel differently if you appreciated The Smiths. But no one is perfect." She turns to check out the rack behind us. Ball gags. Then bondage gear. She picks up an under the bed restraints kit. "Do you have one of these?"

"Of course."

"Or... do you use rope with the bed?"

"Both."

She turns it over to read the label. "You, um, we haven't that much. Maybe we could... try it again? Soon."

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