Page 107 of Degradation
‘What’s this?’ I ask, glancing at Blake first because the last box was from him.
‘Not me,’ he says, putting his hands up. ‘But I did help choose.’
‘The hell you did,’ Mav snorts and pushes the box toward me. ‘Open it.’
I untie the black ribbon and pull up the shiny cardboard lid, peering in. Inside are colorful scraps of satin and lace.
‘Oh!’ I exclaim.
Shade looks over my shoulder. ‘Lingerie?’
‘We noticed that you didn’t really have any,’ Mav explains, running a hand through his hair.
I pick up one of the floss-like scraps and cock a brow. ‘Do Inow?’
Blake sniggers. ‘Just try them on. They’re all-natural fibers so they should be pretty comfortable. That was my idea.’
Mav rolls his eyes at Blake and then smiles at me. ‘We can get you something else if you don’t like these, Tulip. We want you to be comfortable.’
‘Comfy first. Sexy second,’ Blake mutters with a wink.
I pull out a red pair of panties and a matching bra.
‘How did you even know my size?’ I ask, pulling up Mav’s shirt that I’ve taken to wearing around since Shade stole his robe back.
It takes me a second to realize no one has answered and when I look up, their eyes are all roaming hungrily around my body.
‘I’m good...with...sizes,’ Blake finally says, his eyes not moving as I put on the bra and step into the tiny undies.
‘Well?’ I ask, going to the closet to look in the mirror.
‘Perfect,’ Shade breathes.
I glance at my reflection and do a doubletake.
‘Wow,’ I say softly. ‘I mean, aesthetically… I look...’
‘Amazing,’ Blake murmurs, coming up behind me. ‘Just like we knew you would. How do they feel?’
I move around in front of the mirror to test, jiggling everything a little.
I think one of them swears, but I don’t understand why so I ignore it.
‘I think so.’ My eyes meet Mav’s in the mirror. ‘Thank you. I’ll wear them today.’
Mav grins. ‘I can’t wait to have a longer look at you in them later. Maybe you can show me the other colors, too.’
I blush a little, looking away, and I hear his low chuckle.
‘Shade and I gotta get going, Tulip,’ he murmurs, adjusting my twisted bra strap and kissing me on the shoulder.
They all share one of those looks that I’m on the outside of, but before I can ask them what it means, both Shade and Mav are gone.
It’s just Blake. He hasn’t taken his eyes off me once.
He comes up behind me.
‘You look gorgeous. Perfect,’ he whispers.
