Page 387 of The Winslow Brothers

I grab Rachel’s hand and lead her to a shop I spotted right before we walked into the bookstore. Originally, I didn’t even consider it as something we needed to check out, but after I found her standing in the aisle with her mother’s book in her hands and her eyes glazed over with emotion, it became imperative.

But it’s not for the reasons most people would think. It’s a hell of a lot more complex and solely based on intuition.

When we come to a halt in front of the entrance, Rachel stares up at the sign that hangs above the door and contains only two words—Secret Pleasures.

“You brought me to a sex toy shop?” she asks and glances between me and the sign.

“I sure did.” I grin at her and step forward to open the door. “Just…trust me, okay?”

“Why do those feel like famous last words?” she retorts back, and I chuckle.

“Just get your sexy ass inside so I can tell you the challenge.”

She stares at me for a long moment before huffing out a melodramatic sigh and stepping over the threshold.

“Welcome to the best sex toys that New York can offer,” I announce and gesture toward the inside of the store with an accommodating hand. “This store is legendary. Anyone who is anyone has been inside these four walls. Marilyn Monroe. Frank Sinatra. Three of the Kardashians. Rumor has it that Jack Nicholson buys all his favorite ladies a special gift from this very place.”

“Jack Nicholson?” She stares forward, her eyes taking in the discreet shop that is filled with just about every kind of sex-related toy, lube, lingerie, dildo, game that you can imagine. “Are you serious?”

“Not at all,” I answer with a wink. “But I’m sure you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for.”

“Oh my God, I should’ve known!” Rachel’s responding giggles make my heart feel like it’s about to burst through my damn rib cage. “You’re insane.”

“When you say insane, I’m pretty sure you mean awesome and handsome and really fucking fun.”

She snorts. “Oh yeah, that’s exactly what I mean.”

“Now, Rach, are you ready for your challenge?”

“If you’re going to tell me we’re fucking in the dildo aisle, I’m leaving.”

I laugh. Outright. “That is not the challenge. Though, you pose an interesting premise.”

“Ty.”

“Fine. Okay.” I hold up both hands. “Your challenge… Walk around this store and look at all the inventory until you find one thing, one special, exciting, wild thing that you want to try but have never done.”

“Try? As in, this week? With you?”

“It is our week of not-being-good, right?”

“Right.” She grins, and I can’t stop myself from stepping forward to press a kiss to her lips.

“Let the challenge begin.”

She turns on her heel, but a second later, she turns back around and meets my eyes. “Wait… Are there any restrictions?”

I shake my head. “The only rule is that you have to pick something that makes you excited to try.”

She taps her chin and squints toward me. “And if I want to try putting nipple clamps on you? That counts?”

“If it makes you excited to think about, yes.”

“Damn, you didn’t even blink before you answered,” she muses on a laugh. “You’d actually let me put nipple clamps on you?”

“Doll, if it’s something that will give you pleasure, I’m open to it. Always.”

Truthfully, this challenge isn’t really about sex or pleasure. Though, it’s certainly a bonus. It’s about Rachel getting to make a choice. For herself and only herself.

---