some award or something.”
Brexton Miles, my bodyguard and one of the King’s right hand men, a man who’d been to war, a man you called in to handle deadly situations, was secretly a giant teddy bear. I found myself thinking about what Clara said about him being in love with Georgia. I couldn’t see that working out.
“Well, in that case.” I turned up the song. “It’s not bad.”
“I’ll tell him it meets your approval.” He turned off the A4202 onto Grosvenor, passing a number of shops on his way. There’d been a time when Grosvenor Park had housed numerous embassies. Many of them were now being converted into luxury flats to service the affluent locals. We passed the Eaton Mayfair, a luxurious Georgian building turned hotel where one of my favorite restaurants was located. My stomach rumbled, an increasing phenomenon. I seemed to always be hungry these days. But I wasn’t looking for food now. I had something else on my mind.
“Here!” I said as soon as I spotted the lacquered black storefront. It stood out against the stone and brick of the surrounding buildings. But it wasn’t merely the paint choice that contrasted with the high-end watch shop across the street or the chic clothing store next door, it was its window. My favorite lingerie shop did little to hide its intentions. Mannequins sported sensual lace that snaked and crossed in fashions as provocative as its name implied.
Brex took one look at it and swallowed hard. “I’ll wait outside.”
Despite my refusal to be driven around, he had the advantage of being more mobile than me. Before I’d managed to unbuckle myself by my overdue baby bump, he’d circled round to open my door. He helped me out with a patient smile.
“I’ll only be a moment.” I flashed him a shy smile. I don’t know why I was so embarrassed. If Clara was right and he was in love with Georgia, he was going to need to be a little less prim in the face of some leather and lace.
Stepping inside, I immediately knew I’d made the right choice. Inside, the store turned into a glamorous and darkly decadent space. Black carpet with a subtle floral pattern and gold shelving maintained the hedonistic atmosphere. I might not fit into most of the items in the shop at the moment. I couldn’t help admiring a body suit of intersecting straps that formed a sexy cage on one mannequin’s torso. Someday, I’d be able to wear something like that for Smith again. For now, my choices were limited to the store’s more suggestive accessories.
“May I help you?” A shop girl wandered over, and I felt a surge of envy at her tiny waist. She could fit into anything here and I could barely undo my safety buckle in the car.
Turning from the glass case of gold collars and bracelets, I smiled at her. Her mouth fell open, confirming that I was as big as a house.
“I won’t pop,” I promised.
“My apologies!” She sounded sincere but dubious as to the veracity of my claim. “You didn’t look…” A ruddy blush painted her cheeks as she stopped herself.
I bit back a giggle, marveling that my pregnant belly could shock anyone in a store full of crystal-tipped whips, gold-plated handcuffs, and lingerie that served no other purpose than to entice.
“Can I see that one?” I managed to say evenly, pointing to a simple collar made from gold and black, silk rope.
She unlocked the case and withdrew it for my inspection. “It’s a lovely piece.” She sounded less embarrassed and more impressed. “That’s a slipknot, if you slide it, you can adjust the collar.”
She reached to demonstrate how the cold collar split in half when the silk rope was loosened, allowing it to slip over one’s head.
“Would you like to try it?” She held it out.
“I don’t know if my husband would appreciate someone else putting a collar on me.”
Her eyes widened, flashing to my belly and back up. “I’m s-s-sorry.”
I was going to give the poor girl a heart attack if I didn’t stop playing with her. It had been a long time since I shocked someone, and I couldn't help enjoying it a little.
“I’ll take it.”
“Would you like it gift-wrapped?” she asked with a nod.
“There’s an idea,” I said thoughtfully. The piece would send the message, but a gift like total submission deserved the proper presentation. I wasn’t about to bother strapping myself into one of their sexier pieces. I didn’t need to either.