Her CEO - Flora Ferrari Page 0,20

only advise her on her choices when she starts to fish for price tags.

“They don’t have prices on them, sweetheart, like the restaurant. It’s just how it is,” I remind her quietly, giving her a gentle squeeze from behind, letting her know not to worry about that crazy thing called money.

We have plenty.

Time flies and I have to sit down, the view of my girl in a variety of outfits, even some lingerie she flashes from the changing room doors, makes me so hard I have to avoid scandal by being seen in a dress shop with a raging hard on, precome saturating the front of my pants.

I use my jacket to cover myself, keeping it folded over my lap, counting the seconds until I can have her again.

“Which is madam to choose today?” the store owner gushes, a selection of maybe a dozen outfits and lingerie with matching shoes and jewelry.

Alyson looks embarrassed, awkward and like a fish out of water.

“All of them, of course,” I state, standing up suddenly and coming to her rescue, holding her elbows from behind, guiding her to the exit.

“Have them sent up to my suite, charged to Chambers,” I call out cheerfully, and I guide Alyson to the nearest nook, just out of plain sight so I can kiss her deeply, my hands ravishing her through an outfit she still has on.

But not for much longer.

Chapter Fifteen

Alyson

I’ve never seen so many beautiful clothes. Never known anything to feel so good and actually fit.

Eduardo, the tailor assures me in between changes that, “Not all our clients are size six and we have a good range for classically beautiful shapes, which you are darling!” he gushes.

I feel flattered and can tell that Eric feels safe letting Eduardo so close to me, he doesn’t pose a threat, only sound fashion advice. He’s a sweetheart, though a little too interested in my man, but he keeps it professional.

Wanting to feed me again, I wonder if Eric isn’t trying to fatten me up.

“I really shouldn’t,” I protest when he asks me what we should have for lunch.

“What? You shouldn’t eat, to sustain life… to create a life?” he asks, looking down at my belly, and I see his eyes take on a special, proud look. Like he can see the future or something.

As if on cue, and totally betraying me, my belly rumbles loudly and Eric slaps his thigh.

“Ha. It’s settled. But something simple, yeah? I think I was maybe trying too hard with Angelo’s yesterday, even though I practically live there,” Eric observes.

“Angelo’s was fine,” I chime in, not wanting to sound picky, or like I’m trying to control Eric. He can lead the way if this magic carpet ride keeps going the way it is, just perfect.

Lunch is even better than the day before and Eric catches me being paranoid about getting anything on my new clothes.

“I’ll have you out of them soon enough,” he informs me, “and you can have fresh outfits with every meal if you want, you’re worth it, Alyson. I mean it.”

His voice gets lower and his face serious as he finishes what he’s saying.

It’s another one of those moments where the whole room, then the whole world just disappears and it’s just me and Eric, alone together again.

I love it when he focuses on me like this, I love him and I mouth the words so he doesn’t feel embarrassed.

“I love you more,” he reminds me, kissing my hand and smiling over to a couple who gasp.

The great Eric Chambers, spotted in public, kissing a fat girl.

I can just read the imaginary headlines already, and can’t seem to shake the habit of putting a negative spin on things still. Always putting myself down, but slowly figuring out that I have a choice whether I do that or not.

I do know that Eric only has eyes for me and we enjoy our lunch until I feel confident enough to pinpoint what’s really bugging me.

“When are you going to give me some actual work, Eric?” I ask, not being playful either. I love being treated like a queen, but I don’t expect a free ride. Not by a long shot. I can see how hard Eric’s worked to get to where he is and I don’t want him thinking I’m not genuine about wanting actual work to do as well.

He frowns for a moment, wiping his mouth then smiling.

“I told you last night, you already did. I have a memo drafted to put