I cringed both at her words and the actual item I’d indicated. But as we walked closer, Baxter trotting along at Lauren’s side, I realized there was something I liked just behind the giant dick.
“Actually,” I said, walking around the wooden penis. “I was referring to this.”
It was a long, narrow table with sleek lines and metal accents. It had a clean look without feeling cold. And I could envision it in my house.
“Okay. Good. I think that could work well with the pictures I’ve seen of your home.”
“Great.” We shared a smile.
We continued walking around the store, each of us indicating various items and discussing whether we liked them or not. Lauren was insightful and full of information, and I was impressed. Not that I wouldn’t have hired her otherwise. But it made her even more appealing in my eyes.
I ran my hand along the top of a desk that looked like a prop from a movie that had flopped. “This is hideous, right?”
I could see why she’d brought me here—they really did have an eclectic range of pieces. Everything from modern to traditional, farmhouse to industrial—her terms not mine. And somehow, it all worked. At least here.
“It’s not to my taste, but I wouldn’t call it hideous,” she said, keeping a straight face. What a diplomatic answer.
“Nope.” I shook my head, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m not buying it. I want to know what youreallythink about it.” I leaned in. “I promise not to tell.”
She laughed, brushing her hair over her shoulder and giving me a whiff of her coconut scent. “To put it in a language you’ll understand, it’s kind of like the saying ‘What’s your kink is not my kink.’”
“And what is your kink?” I asked, wishing she would answer but assuming she wouldn’t. She really had been all business thus far. But she would break.
I wasn’t normally quite so brazen, so crass, but this woman made all my baser instincts roar to life. And considering our conversation at Target and now, I knew she liked it. For the first time, maybe ever, I felt like I could be my true self with a woman. She liked the dirty talk, and she gave as good as she got. It was sexy as hell.
She shivered but shook her head and then straightened. “What I’m saying is, furniture, design, it’s all subjective—personal.”
“Like kinks.”
“Yes.” She huffed and rolled her eyes. “I knew I never should’ve used that analogy.”
“Well, let’s continue with the analogy. You know—so a non-professional like me can understand.”
“Okay.” She drew in a deep breath, though I saw the way her lips twitched as if holding back a smile. “One person might get off on being called Daddy or spanked, but another can’t stand it. One person may love that table, while another thinks it’s hideous.”
“Do you like being spanked?” My voice was gravelly.
“Do you like…” She glanced around as if searching for something before landing on, “This couch?” Her voice was breathy, and I smiled to myself.
I’d let her get away without a response—for now. She turned toward a gray upholstered sofa, and I did the same. The couch was nice. Clean lines. Classic.
I sank down on it and immediately frowned. “Too stiff.”
“Agreed.” She bounced up, making her tits sway. “I think the look is good, but we don’t want a stiff couch.”
All I could think about was how stiff she was making my dick. First the sculpture, then the comments about kinks, and now the couch. Who knew shopping for furniture could be so…sexual?
She started walking, and I raced to catch up. “So, we’ll take the table.” She indicated the one I’d chosen—my first furniture selection. “The lamps and the coffee table, correct?”
I nodded, reaching into my pocket for my money clip. “Sounds good.”
She placed her hand on my forearm, and I glanced down at the connection. “I’ll order it and send an invoice later. Unless you’d like to discuss payment plans.”
I shook my head. “I’ll pay in full, up front. As I said, money is not a concern.”
“Okay.” She swallowed, removing her hand slowly as if she didn’t want to. “Sure. Well, I’ll let you get to your call, and I’ll coordinate the items here.”
Was it already almost four? Sure enough, when I glanced down at my watch, it confirmed it was indeed a quarter till. I wasn’t ready to leave, but I knew I’d see her again in a few hours. And then we’d be completely alone. Uninterrupted.
“Sounds great.” I smiled down at her, so tempted to brush her hair over her shoulder and press my lips to her temple. But I didn’t. “And I’ll see you tonight. Eight o’clock. A tour and dinner.”
“Hunter…”
“Nope.” I held up a hand as if to silence her protest. “I always start a business partnership with dinner and drinks. Why should this one be any different?” I backed toward the door, not wanting to give her a chance to respond.
I may have said dinner and drinks, and that was true. But I wanted to have her for dessert.
