“You want me to go with you?”
“Of course, treasure.” He tugged me into the store. “I know I’ve been keeping you all to myself this week, but it’s time to introduce you to my family. Since everyone will be there tomorrow, this is the perfect opportunity.”
Now that I knew I was going to be meeting his family, the people who meant so much to him, I had to find the perfect outfit. I didn’t want his mom to see me for the first time and think I was a slob.
“Get whatever you want,” Max urged when I glanced at the price tag of a dress I thought might be suitable for a wedding. Having never actually attended one before, I didn’t really know what to wear to it, but the dress was a mixture of sweet and elegant.
“It’s too much,” I tried to argue, hating that he was spending so much money on me.
He grabbed the dress I’d just placed back on the rack and took my hand, leading me back to the dressing rooms. Someone was just leaving one of the stalls, and he pushed me into it, thrust the dress against my chest, and commanded me to try it on before closing the door in my face before I could argue.
Mutinously, I took my time changing. The dress hit me mid-thigh, the top clung to my chest, emphasized my small waist, and then flared out at the hips with the help of a little tulle. I loved how it looked on me, but it was so expensive…
The vibrations on the door told me someone was knocking, and I knew my time was up. Reluctantly, I opened the door, ready to tell Max I didn’t like the dress.
His reaction, however, gave me pause. The way his metallic eyes widened, his nostrils flared, and his mouth dropped open, I knew he liked the dress on me even more than I did. Given the tent in his jeans, there was no mistaking he enjoyed seeing me in something so beautiful.
My period had started on Tuesday, just as I’d expected it to, so we hadn’t had sex since Monday. But by tomorrow, I would be off my period, and I was going to jump him again as soon as I possibly could.
Swallowing hard, he ran a hand down his face, and I wondered if he was groaning. “You’re getting it,” he signed after another few moments of just standing there looking at me. “I’ll probably end up killing someone tomorrow, but burying a body will be worth it if I get to look at you in that all night.”
I grinned. He was joking about killing people. It was kind of adorable. My sweet Max was a gentle giant. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. It was one of so many things that I loved about him.
“Fine,” I gave in. “But only because I like the way you’re looking at me right now.”
“Shoes,” he said, pointing over his shoulder. “Nothing with a tall heel. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
“You are so bossy,” I complained, hiding my lingering smile as I walked past him in search of a pair of flats. He didn’t need to worry, I’d never even been given the chance to wear shoes with a high heel to them, so I wasn’t going to embarrass myself by trying the first time I met his parents and risk face-planting right in front of them.
I found a pair of black ballet slippers that I figured would go with anything, and I tried them on. When Max gave me a thumbs-up in approval, I went back to the dressing room to change back into the jeans and T-shirt I’d been wearing.
Of course, he wasn’t done spoiling me, though. We didn’t leave the store until there were a few more outfits added to the pile. Then he was pulling me into Victoria’s Secret for a few pretty bras, some sexy panties, and even a hoodie and some sweats in my size. I didn’t complain about how much he spent in that particular store because it seemed like the more intimate items were just as much for him as they were for me.
Afterward, we walked around a little more, but outside the bookstore, I paused when I caught sight of a figure in the window. Whipping my head around, I looked to where I thought I’d seen a familiar face. But by the time I turned my head, the person was gone, a small group of teenagers in his place.
My heart was pounding against my ribs, but I tried to tell myself I was seeing things. It wasn’t likely that my uncle’s second-in-command, of all people, would be walking around window-shopping at the mall. I kept telling myself that, and when I didn’t see him again, I pushed it completely from my mind.
If I thought our shopping adventure was over, however, I was mistaken. After we picked up the package for his sister on the first floor of the mall, he guided me into a jewelry store.
“No, Max.” I glared up at him. “This is too much.”
“Hush,” he commanded and dropped the many bags in his hands as a woman dressed in a black skirt and red top walked over to us with a bright smile on her face.
“How can I help you today?” she asked, her gaze bouncing from Max to me expectantly.
“Earrings, necklaces, bracelets. Whatever she wants,” he told her as he signed the words so I could understand since he was facing her and not me.
Her eyes lit up even more. “Of course,” I read her lips. “Let me show you a few of the pieces we just got in.”
As she walked over to a case a little farther away, Max started to follow her, but I stayed where I was. When he realized I wasn’t beside him, he turned back and took my hand in his, pulling me over to where the sales rep was already removing several pieces of beautiful jewelry from the case she was standing behind.
“This
set will go nicely with your dress for tomorrow,” he observed, taking the necklace from the woman’s hand and holding it up to my neck.
“Lovely,” she agreed. I glared at her, but she only winked.
He took the earrings next, holding one to my ear and nodding. “Beautiful.” His mouth formed the word, his eyes glittering hungrily down at me.