Page 171 of The First Taste
I tilt my head, looking her up and down. “Is it something that spending a lot of my money can fix? I brought you here to…” I search for an alternate word for apologize, because I don’t want to get in that habit. “Make up for any negative feelings you might have had when we ran into Honor the other night.”
For a second, her brow wrinkles as if she’s struggling to recall something. “Oh. Wait, we’re here for me?”
Her genuine puzzlement is charming.
“Yes, beauty. We are here for you. I thought that you could use a fresh new wardrobe.” Tightening my arm around her waist, I wiggle my eyebrows. “I’ve asked them to pick a selection of their best pieces and some truly scintillating lingerie.”
Kaia’s eyes widen. “Lingerie?” she gulps.
I have to laugh at that. “Yes, Kaia.”
“Oh,” she says faintly, looking embarrassed.
Anna comes back with two champagne flutes, handing them to us. Kaia immediately takes a huge sip of hers, trying to hide her red cheeks.
“If you’re ready, I’ll have the models come out. We will start with outerwear, then move into evening wear, and then intimate apparel.”
Kaia ducks her head. I’m not sure why she’s so demure all the sudden; last time I saw her, she gave me fuck me eyes all evening.
Well, until Honor showed up.
I clear my throat and look at Anna. “Whenever you are ready.”
As soon as Anna is out of earshot, Kaia looks at me imploringly. “You hired models to walk the runway?”
I repress an eye roll. “That’s part of the whole reason we are here. You don’t have to try anything on unless you want to. We can just order it and then it arrives, perfectly fitted.”
Her eyes scan my face. “How much money does an evening like this cost, Calum?”
I shake my head and sip my drink. “You’re not allowed to ask that. Just sit back and let me pamper you, beauty.”
Her brows pull down but she doesn’t argue. All she does is put one of her small hands onto my chest, lean in close, and give me a soft kiss on the mouth. Chaste, yes.
But it arouses me nonetheless, giving me a soft erection. A model struts out onto the catwalk and Kaia turns her attention toward her.
But she also finds my hand with her own, locking her fingers into mine. When she squeezes my hand, I get this weird tightening sensation in my chest.
I stare down at our hands, clasped together on my lap, and something deep inside my chest thaws.
I’m not an idiot who thinks that a stripper is actually into him. I know that Kaia is here for the money.
But I will admit that it doesn’t feel terrible to have her cling to me just now. To feel like I’m giving her something she couldn’t get anywhere else.
Kaia leans her head close.
“Hey, how do I indicate that I like one of the looks?” she whispers.
I glance up, roused from my thoughts. “Anna!” I bark.
A second later, Anna appears. “How can I help?”
Kaia casts a look back at her. “How do I tell you when I see something I’m interested in?”
Anna smiles lightly. “You can tell me. Or I have placed a card here,” she says, stepping forward and handing Kaia a pen and a piece of card stock. “Whichever makes you happy.”
Kaia flashes Anna a shy smile. “Thanks. This is my first time here, if that’s not obvious.”
Anna bows her head. “I think this is a unique experience. Most people haven’t been in this private gallery.”
