Page 26 of The Cost of Love

She looks at the price tag on one of them, and her eyes bulge as they meet mine.

“I hope this goes without saying, but this whole trip will be on me. Actually, let’s just lay the groundwork here. Anything we do, I will be paying for, and there is no need to protest because I won’t hear it.”

She shakes her head, her hands coming up like she can block the words. It’s clear she intends to argue anyway as she steps towards me with a stern frown on her face.

“I can’t let you do that. I would feel really bad. It won’t be like a treat, it will be like charity.”

“How so?” I ask.

“Well, you know, based on my jobs that I don’t have the money to buy these things for myself, so you are paying for it because I can’t. That makes it feel like I’m only getting these things because you feel like you need to buy them.” Crossing her arms, she quirks one hip up as she shuffles her left leg forward. She looks more put out than I thought she would be at the idea.

I have no right to assume her reasoning behind why she doesn’t want to be given things freely. Still, I have to wonder if it’s just because of the nature of our relationship. If she were my girlfriend, would she be more comfortable with me spending money on her?

“I am not doing this because I feel like I need to. I am doing it because I want to. This night is a gift to me as much as it is to you. So think of it like I am treating myself, and you getting to keep the items is a byproduct of that.”

She doesn’t look convinced. She levels me with a stare that speaks of her hesitation.

“If you are worried about the dynamic, then we can meet up tomorrow and you can buy me a coffee, bagel, or whatever you see fit to do. There are plenty of ways that you can spoil me back, like by letting me see your face as you come undone.” I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her into me.

She looks up, her breath catching at the proximity of my body to hers. Peppering kisses across her jaw, I decide I am going to seduce her into agreeing if logic won’t work.

“I don’t know why I am arguing with you,” she says, relenting.

In all honesty, I don’t know why she is either, but it makes me like her more. At least one thing is revealed through this conversation: she isn’t just after me for my money. The same can’t be said about most women I come across, rich and poor.

Heaving one last heavy sigh, full of unsaid words, she turns free from my arms and starts browsing. Like taking a test in the back of a magazine, her choices will reveal a side to her that I haven’t previously seen. As she moves languidly through the selections, I watch as she stops at everything that is see-through or black. She picks up a few pieces and adds them to a basket that the attendant provided.

Looking at her bright turquoise earrings and remembering the red dress she wore on our first date, I assumed she would lean more towards color. Yet, none of her options strayed far from a neutral color palette. She turns to look at me and gestures for me to come closer with one curl of a finger.

“I want you to pick some.” She hands me the basket. “If you are going to be taking these off with your teeth, I think you should have a say.” Arching one thick brow, her smile is full of all the sex appeal that statement has.

With her beautiful dark brown skin, I try to imagine what will pop against it the most.

Gravitating towards a bright purple two-piece set, the lace trim and leather corset have me picturing her dominating me in the bedroom.

“This,” I say, handing it to her

“This?” Her mouth pops open as she looks the top up and down. Her fingers graze the fabric, the shiny center catching the light. “I don’t know about this.”

“What’s there to know? You will look amazing in it. Enough said.”

Putting it in with the others, she can’t help the smile on her face. She looks at me like she is done, and I see that she has only chosen three things for herself.

“Get more,” I say, gesturing around the room. “If you are going to put on a great show, then I need there to be at least ten outfit changes.”

“Are you serious?”

I tell her I am, and for the first time tonight, I see her get a little excited. She moves through with more consideration, finding different things she likes in her size. When she stops at a nurse’s outfit, the possibilities of what we can do open up for both of us. She grabs it and puts it in, with a wink in my direction.

Her saucy side, which usually only shows in conversation, is starting to come out in relation to our sex. It will be no time before she is vocal in all aspects of our relationship.

“Okay, I think this is enough,” she says, basket overflowing.

I take it from her hand, guiding her over to the toy section. Before she can even ask, I pick up handcuffs and hand them to her.

“You planning on tying me up too?” she asks.

“I imagined doing so with silk ties, actually.” I hold in a chuckle when she gawks at me. There will be a time for both the cuffs and ties if I have a say.