Page 50 of Ashes

“Okaaay.” I squeeze past the bed. “But men usually suck at guessing a woman’s bra size. And if you get it wrong, I quite literally won’tfit in.”

A hint of a smile curls the corner of his mouth, but he bites his lower lip to get rid of it. “So, tell me your size.”

I’m about to answer when I have a better idea. I grab the bag and rifle through it. “Here.” I take out the spare bra and panties Rev sent me and offer them to him.

“Sizing can vary. I’m guessing this naughty clothes store you’re going to will have a sales assistant who knows what they’re doing. Give them these.”

Luther is staring at me as if I’m trying to pass him illegal drugs or a venomous snake. “Right.” He takes them quickly and bundles them into his jacket pocket. “Fine.” He turns back to the door. “See you.”

Then he’s gone.

24

LUTHER

Iwalk the two blocks from Merv’s hotel toPeriapt—a store I’ve heard lots about but never had the cause to frequent.

With each step, the knowledge that I’ve got Nova’s underwear in my pocket sends an uncomfortable shiver through me. Not arousal, but something close to it. Probably guilt; Nova’s my brothers’ girl, and I’ve got her panties in my pocket. Not only that, I’m about to visit a fucking fetish club with their girl. Hell, I’m on my way to pick out the sluttiest outfit I can find and dress her up in it. All while Mack nurses an injured leg, Tanner fights his crippling headaches, and Kole tries to stop ripping up the forest.

How’s that right? How haveIended up being the one to do this?

Tanner’s words as we left the cabin ring in my ears:At least Luther won’t get distracted. He’s above all that.

Right. I’m above all that… I click my tongue loudly. I might not like the girl, but do they seriously think I haven’t noticed she’s hot as hell? The literal definition of fire.

Especially the last few days, waltzing around the cabin—mycabin—wearing barely anything. Fucking Tanner and Kole while she wearsmyt-shirt. The sounds of her orgasms bleeding down through the ceiling while I sit in the living room and try to fight the erection straining in my pants.

I shake my head and try to forget the fact I’m going to be sharing a room with her tonight. After, of course, an evening together atSpine—the filthiest club in the state.

Finally, I’m at the store. I push the door open, and a bell rings. With the Bureau hunting us down, it’s a terrible time to be out in public. But these kinds of places are designed to be discreet.

Inside, I’m greeted by row upon row of items I can’t interpret. Toys, implements, hangers with what look like nothing more than leather straps hanging from them.

I stop in front of a mannequin. It has strange, pointed, plastic boobs and a too-tiny waist. But the outfit could work. I’m searching for an assistant when someone lightly touches my shoulder. A guy about Tanner’s age with long blond hair, dark makeup around his eyes, and piercings along his top lip.

“Can I help you, Sir?” he asks, eyes widening as he looks from me to the mannequin. “For you? Or a friend?”

Trying to seem like the kind of guy who does this all the time, I smile casually and take Nova’s underwear from my pocket. “I’m looking for something for my girlfriend. A surprise. Do you have this in her size?”

The blond guy lifts Nova’s bra and panties, examines the labels, then smiles at me. “I surely do. I’ll be right back.” He returns her clothes to me and disappears out back.

While he’s gone, my eyes travel the shelves behind the counter. An array of vibrators, rings, and plugs.

“Here we go…” The blond guy returns and hands me a complicated ensemble that I guess, when put together, will mirror the outfit on the mannequin.

“Great. Thank you. I’ll take it.”

“And for yourself?” He folds his arms and looks me up and down.

“Me?”

The guy lowers his voice. “Most first-timers who come in here are in town for the same reason.” He raises an arched eyebrow. “Tickets toSpine?”

Clearly, he’s not buying for a second that I do this all the time, so I go with it and shrug a little. “You got me.”

“Well, then it’s not just your girl who’ll need to dress up.” The blond guy strokes his chin and looks me up and down. “We need to fix you up, too.” He bites his lower lip, then says, “Do you trust me?”

“I don’t trust anyone,” I reply.

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