Page 62 of Laila Manning
“Okay.” I replied whimsically. “Whatever you say.”
“Say it.” He growled, and I instantly knew what he was demanding from me.
“Whatever you say, Daddy.” I whispered shyly as excitement bloomed where fear and shame had tried to take hold before.
“Good girl.”
An hour later, my front door opened, and I jumped a mile from my seat on the couch, screeching in surprise and then groaning when I saw Carly’s blonde hair bob her way in through the frame. “Jesus, Carly!” I gasped, “You cannot do that to me!”
“Sorry.” She smiled with only the smallest bit of remorse visible as she started moving around my small apartment.
“Can I help you?” I closed the book I’d been reading and watched her walk into my bathroom and come back with my bathrobe slung over one arm.
“Yes!” She pointed flippantly at me as she started opening my dresser drawers, “Where are your thongs?”
“My what?” I squirmed. “There are things you should never borrow from someone else, Carly. Butt cheek dental floss is most definitely at the top of that list.”
She glared at me over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. “Not for me, dummy.” She pushed my underwear around until she found the only semi-attractive pair of black lace panties I owned. “For you.” She dropped them back inside. “We’ll have to buy some.”
“For what?” I crossed my legs under me, even more perplexed by her sudden visit.
“For the gala!” She sighed. “Keep up.”
“I’d have to be moving to keep up.” I challenged, “And right now I’m so lost I can’t even stand.”
She sighed and stopped assaulting my granny panties and shut the drawer before turning to me. “The dresses will be here in twenty minutes. Shoes, accessories, and jewels come after that. Then there’s the hair and makeup trial since I’m sure you’ll want to try a couple of different styles of both before deciding for sure.”
“Stop.” I held my hand up, shaking my head. “English, Carly. Or take your Greek out of my place because you’re giving me a headache.”
“God, it’s no wonder you and he get along so well. You’re both so boringly dramatic when I get excited.”
I deadpanned, “Get out.”
“Zeke arranged for you to be spoiled like the perfect little princess you are to him, and we have to go.”
“Zeke did what?”
She groaned and threw her head back as she stopped by the couch, tossing my shoes down on the floor, just stopping short of touching me and lifting me off the couch herself. Thank God even in her dramatic underwear snooping tirade, she remembered my boundaries.
I’d be sure to add my panties to that hard limit list in the future, though.
“Come on, I’ll explain on the way.”
“But where?” I slid my feet into my shoes but crossed my arms before following her like she so desperately wanted me to. “Triggers, Carly.” I reminded. “I don’t follow people anywhere, let alone blindly.”
“Oh, right.” She paused and took a deep breath. “Sometimes I forget, especially lately, because you don’t seem so skittish all the time.” She offered a small smile. “Ellie’s house. To find a dress and all the fixings for the charity gala tomorrow. Zeke called and said he wanted you pampered and completely armored up for the event.” She scrunched her nose at the description. “I’m not sure what armor has to do with lingerie—” She shrugged, “But whatever.”
I smiled at the description, knowing exactly what he meant. He wanted me to feel like I looked the part of a gala guest to alleviate some of my anxiety and fear of falling short.
That man.
“I think I’m happy for you,” She said, drawing my attention back to her standing there staring at me, catching my love drunk stargazing smile, “But I’m trying to gauge my reaction on yours, and I’ve never seen you so—” She tilted her head to the side like she was studying me, “Giddy.”
“I’m not giddy.” I rolled my eyes.
“Are too.” She shrugged her shoulders as she motioned for me to walk out first. “And you have every fucking right to be, believe me. It’s just uncharted territory for me.” She closed the door behind us as I walked us out to the exit.
“Yeah, me too.” I whispered under my breath.
