Page 124 of By His Rule

My chest heaves as I stand there staring at myself in disbelief.

The smooth lines of my body, the way it cinches in my waist, smooths over my hips and pushes my tits into the perfect place is mind-blowing.

“How are you doing in there?” Magda asks, impatiently waiting outside for me to reveal myself.

I’m pretty sure she thought she hid her disappointment when the other three dresses didn’t have the desired effect, but I could read her every thought.

This one is going to change everything, though.

My hand trembles slightly as I reach for the heavy curtain cutting me off, and I suck in a deep breath as I prepare for her reaction.

But it turns out that it doesn’t matter how deep that breath was; I could never have been prepared for the ridiculous screech she lets out the second her eyes land on me.

“Yes, yes, yes. That is the one,” she announces excitedly, her eyes a little glassy with pride and awe.

Having been disturbed by Magda’s over-the-top reaction, footsteps race our way before a large shadow appears at the entrance to the dressing rooms.

“What’s—oh fuck,” Kian gasps the second his eyes find me.

Heat unfurls inside me as he slowly takes me in from head to toe.

But it’s got nothing on the moment his eyes find mine. They’re nothing but deep pools of desire, and damn if they don’t suck me right in.

“She’s going to show you up in that dress, Mr. Callahan,” Magda tells him.

His smirk ensures his bottom lip is released by his teeth.

“As it should be. Please can you ensure Lorelei has everything she is going to need for that dress? Your colleague already has my credit card details.”

With one last smoldering look, he turns on his heels and walks away.

“I-I already have shoes and a purse,” I stutter like an idiot.

Kian shakes his head.

“Everything, Magda,” he instructs before walking away.

With a beaming smile, Magda announces, “I know exactly what you need to complete this outfit,” and then rushes behind Kian.

“Are you really accompanying me to this appointment?” I ask as Kian slides out of the car behind me, in front of what is arguably the most famous salon in the city.

Women wait months to get an appointment here. God only knows how he managed to get one at the last minute.

“Yes. Something tells me that you’d run away if I left you alone right now,” he says confidently, standing to his full height beside me on the sidewalk.

With his hand on the small of my back, he guides me toward the entrance with his words ringing in my ears.

Would I have tried running if he sent me to do all this on my own?

Yes. One hundred percent, I would have run.

I may not have totally defied him. I possibly would have bought a new dress, although my limit would have been a trip to Macy’s, not the boutique he took me to. But I definitely wouldn’t have been standing in the reception of this salon with the most groomed woman I’ve ever seen in real life staring back at me.

She’s beautiful, sure. Wide eyes and nice high cheekbones, but she’s trying too hard. I bet she would look even better without the filler, fake lashes, and makeup. But that’s just my opinion. I’m not exactly an expert.

I’m half decent at doing my own makeup, and I’ve figured out a decent routine for my curly hair over the years that I often get compliments, but that’s about my limit. Everything about me is natural, and I intend to keep it that way.

Mom loves all this stuff. But then, she has spent her entire life trying to be someone she’s not. Whereas all I want to be is nothing like the woman who birthed me.

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