Page 29 of Luca

My heart hammered in my throat, but sensing I wasn’t in any immediate danger, I cleared my throat and tried to play it off. “Oh… I, um… I don’t think it’s really my thing.”

“Nonsense! Everyone deserves to wear sexy underthings at least once in their lifetime.” She sashayed closer, her tail coiling behind her, and I had no option but to crane my neck to meet her eyes. She winked. “I’d wager that prince of yours would agree.”

“I don’t know…” I combed my fingers through the hair on my nape.WouldCair be into that kind of thing? I’d never asked him or even given it much thought, to be honest. I had no complaints in the sex department, so spicing things up with toys or lingerie rarely occurred to me. Alex had brought it up before and I’d balked at the idea. Mostly because he’d suggested it as a way to get Cair to throw caution to the wind and finally admit he wanted me, and I hadn’t wanted to look utterly desperate, but maybe it wouldn’t be so terrifying now that we were actually together?

I needed convincing.

“You think so?” I asked, and the shopkeeper grinned.

“Absolutely! The way he looks at you…Gah, he’d be foaming at the mouth seeing you in something like that.”

I hummed, considering. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s a little too… bold? I’ve never bought anything like this before.”

“Hm, yes, something softer, moredelicate, would suit your disposition much better.” She clicked her forked tongue and tapped her talon-like nails against the table as she seemingly lost herself in thought. I debated telling her that it didn’t matter, but then she snapped her fingers, apparently having arrived at a conclusion. “I may have just the thing!”

Excitedly, she rifled through the rack to the left of the corset display, murmuring a series of curt noes before letting out a triumphant “Ah-ha.” She held up her find: a light blue babydoll nightdress. It was sheer where it flared out from the tie under the bust, and the hems were lined with decorative lace.

It was pretty.

Beautiful, in fact.

“This goes with your eyes,” the shopkeeper said. “It also has a matching thong, and if your prince doesn’t fall to his knees at the sight of these, then he needs his brain readjusting.”

She was good at her job, I’d give her that, but even if she was only blowing smoke up my ass for the sake of a sale, it didn’t deter my interest now that it had been piqued. The set was adorable, and nottooout there, even if the thong made me nervous. Alex always said pale blue was my color, so it was almost like it was meant to be.

My heart beat a little faster. I’d never been particularly adventurous in bed. Sure, I liked being bitten until I bled, told what to do a little, and I’d recently discovered I liked my hands being restrained, but coming up with new things to try wasn’t in my wheelhouse.

Well, except sex positions, but those only came to me because of the books I read.

It would definitely be a surprise for Cair, but would it be one he’d appreciate? What was I saying? Cair was horny for anything I did, and he’d never dream of ridiculing me, so there was every chance he’d see me dressed up and go absolutely feral—a thought that had my belly heating. Would I still feel the rough grip of his hands through the fabric? Would his fangs pierce the layers and mark my skin?

Would he call me pretty as he bounced me on his cock and made me beg to come?

“Alright, I’ll take it!”

The shopkeeper beamed at me before her keen eyes raked over my body as if mentally memorizing my shape. She nodded to herself, then returned her gaze to mine. “Perfect! I’ll grab your size from the back. Meet me over by the counter in just a moment.”

With that, she moved gracefully toward the curtain behind the till, but before ducking through, she paused and turned back to me, her face lit up. “Oh! I almost forgot, we have a brand-new range of spiked anal beads in stock. Can I interest you in a sapphire set to match your lingerie? I’ll give you a twenty percent discount.”

I blinked.

I blinked again.

“Um, n-no. I think the…” I swallowed thickly, pointing to the nightgown. “That will do for now. Thanks.”

“Of course,” she said, and dipped out of the room.

I stood there for a second, rooted to the spot with my cheeks flaming, staring absently after her in slight mortification. I was no prude, not really, but the idea of anything “spiked” going near my asshole made me want to die a little.

No judgment, butwhat the fuck?

I gave a full-body shiver before making my way up to the counter and fishing out my coin purse. Hopefully she’d return quickly and without any more offers so I could leave and never have that image in my head again.

Any mentions of pear of anguish butt plugs, and I might just faint.

* * *

With my purchase neatly wrapped and safely stowed in my pack—sans any torture devices—I left the shop. Cair was outside as I had predicted, propped against the shop wall, casually scoping out the area and looking as handsome as ever.

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