Page 89 of The Alpha's Protective Mate

“Wait.” Jazz holds up a hand. “So, let me get this straight. You two have already slept together, and you still don’t know how to seduce him?”

“I told you, I was drunk,” I whisper.

Jazz gives me a long look. “Girl, if you don’t know how to turn a man on, always go for the fool-proof method.”

I lean forward. “Which is?”

She just smiles.

I have a feeling I’m not going to like this.

******

The plan wasn’t to seduce Robert.

All I wanted was to be able to express my emotions the way he does: fearlessly. But that’s something I struggle with. It’s not easy to just go up to him and be physically affectionate.

I stare at the three pieces of lingerie Jazz made me buy. She’d convinced me to go shopping during our break when Gina showed up for her shift. I should have said no.

I should have protested when the first piece of lingerie had the crotch cut out. It was bad enough that it was so sheer, a dark black number that hid nothing. When I tried it on, I thought I would explode from embarrassment. The other items were similar.

Jazz chose the most provocative lingerie she could find, and then, once I had paid for it, she proceeded to cut off the tags so I couldn’t go behind her back and return it—something I had already been planning to do the moment I got the chance.

And now, I’m stuck with it all.

It’s raining outside, and Robert has gone to get takeout since Mrs. Mallory had to go to her daughter’s place tonight. I’m alone in the house, with both Mano and Zeno sleeping downstairs. Maybe if I try on the black one again, it might not be as bad as I imagined.

Thunder crashes outside, the rain lashing against the windows.

I slip out of my clothes and into the tiny, black slip of clothing.

It hugs every curve, the circle on the crotch displaying everything to the world. My nipples are visible, as are my breasts and my flat stomach. When I turn around, I close my eyes in mortification.

It’s like wearing nothing.

How am I supposed to sport this in front of anyone?! It’s as good as being naked!

I grab the zipper on the side and try to pull it down, only to realize in horror that it’s stuck. I try again, but it’s jammed.

“Damn it,” I mutter. “Will you just dislodge?!”

I’m trying to yank it down when suddenly, there’s a knock on the door, and it opens. “I forgot my wallet at the—Charlotte?”

Robert’s hair is sticking to his forehead, wet from the rain. His t-shirt is no better, clinging to his muscled body. His eyes are on me, and there is no mistaking the heat in them.

My mouth turns dry at the way he’s looking at me. “I—The zipper is stuck.”

For a moment, Robert doesn’t say anything. Then, he enters the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click. His voice hoarse, he asks me, “Need a hand?”

“Yes.” It’s not easy to speak when his eyes are devouring me like that.

As he approaches me, I mumble, “I was just trying it on, and the zipper got stuck. I wasn’t trying to—I mean, I thought you would be gone for a while, and—”

“It looks good on you.” Robert comes to stand behind me, meeting my gaze in the mirror. My face is red, and I don’t know which way to look. “Why did you buy it?” he murmurs, his hand settling on my stomach.

My heart is pounding so hard, I know he can hear it.

I consider lying, but the truth forces its way out of me. “I wanted to be confident, like you are.”

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