Page 74 of Perfect Pursuit

Pour Vous is having a sale.

Grab your reusable shopping bags and run, don’t walk, to pick up their custom-made lingerie. After all, Christmas isn’t that far away.

—Moore You Want

“I did some shopping,” I share with Whiskey in a confidential tone, attempting to hide my anxiousness at his call. I was comfortable with having not heard from him. Yet, he was back. Even knowing Becca was monitoring the call wasn’t helping.

Even thinking of Ethan had me barely holding on.

Whiskey purrs appreciatively. “Are you wearing it?”

I glance downward at the leggings I have on beneath an oversize sweatshirt and playact for all I’m worth. “Beneath a robe. Do you want me to take it off?”

“Yes. Lose the robe,” I’m immediately ordered.

Standing, I slide my fleece sweatshirt off, so the swoosh of the material sounds as it drops against my desk. Then I gaze at it as the color reminds me of Ethan’s eyes and the boundaries we crossed my graduation night. A strained laugh escapes.

“What’s so amusing?”

“I didn’t realize it when I made the purchase, but I certainly hope you like the color green.”

“Love it. Why?”

“My body’s covered in green lace.” I can’t help the satisfied twist of my lips when I hear his harsh expulsion of breath.

There’s a contented hum before his dark voice asks suddenly, “Is it really?”

“Is what?”

“Is your lingerie really green?”

“It is,” I confirm.

He mumbles something I can’t quite make out before I hear, with significant authority, “You deserve a treat for being such a good girl, Filia.”

“What do you want me to do?”

There’s a heartbeat of silence before he orders, “Crawl to the foot of the bed. When you get there, I want your head and shoulders down so your hands can be free. Can you do that and still be on the phone with me?”

My heart thumping against my ribs, I rasp, “Yes,” before I, orally, do exactly as he says.

Later, I’m going to have to replay this scene with Ethan, knowing he’ll be the only person to see me in the items I bought.

What does it matter if I just described them to a stranger?

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

KENSINGTON, TEXAS

Show me photos of the worst Halloween costume your parents subjected you to. Celebrities, you first!

—Eva Henn, Fashion Blogger

“What’s your favorite fantasy?” Filia asks.

I rattle the ice and whiskey in my glass, causing it to make a tinkling sound against glass. I have to keep this bitch on the phone for twenty minutes before Sam and Leanne are safely out of the system. “Oh, I have quite a few.”

“Any you want to live out with me?” She purrs into my ear.

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