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“You’ve only known me like that for a week!”

I’m overwhelming her, so I back off. “Maybe a week is all I need.” I lower my voice. “I have something I want to show you in my bedroom.”

She doesn’t crack a joke as she follows me into the other room. As soon as I open the door to my private suite, I’m pleased to find everything I ordered already out.

“Ju… lianna?”

Alessa stands beside me, gobsmacked.

I step forward. On the far end of my bed is a white, lacy negligee in Alessa’s size. The moment my personal shopper sent me the picture, I knew I had to have it for my girlfriend.

“Let’s start with you putting this on.” I ignore the tools and implements neatly lined up on my bed. “We’ll go from there.”

“Holy shit, Jules. This is…”

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. We won’t do anything too intense tonight. I merely want to introduce you to some flavors beyond sweet vanilla.” Don’t get me wrong. Vanilla ice cream is my favorite of all flavors, and there’s something to be said for going with the old standard and knowing exactly what you’ll get.

I don’t always want vanilla, though. Sometimes I want dark chocolate. Sometimes I want tarty strawberry. Sometimes I want nuts and candy, and sometimes I want sticky syrup that gives me a rush I never asked for.

“I want you to see everything we have at our disposal. You’re in charge of tonight’s choreography.” I clear my throat. “Except for the lingerie. Change into it. Now.”

She drops her purse with a start. “In front of you, or in the bathroom?”

I face her. “Strip for me.” My desk chair beckons, so I go to it, sitting with a satisfied sigh. “Seduce me, Alessa, and I’ll seduce you right back.”

“Um…” Her eyes continue to linger on some of the smaller materials. When she glances at the ebony nipple clamps, she makes a sour face. Guess we’re not using those tonight. “I knew you wanted to do some kinky stuff, madam, but…”

“That’s a good start,” I say with a chuckle.

“What?”

“Calling me madam. Every time you do that, I get more excited.”

“Do you?” A battle rages within her. One side of her wants to comply, to give in to the moment and enjoy herself, enjoy me. The other side is telling her to slap me and run. I must be careful if I don’t want to scare her away. “Do I do that to you?”

“Oh, yes, Lessa.” You may not see yourself the way I do but trust me when I say you’re… inspiring.” I’ve been undressing her with my eyes ever since we got back in my car. This dress covers enough skin to keep my mother from muttering in my direction, but it doesn’t leave that much up to the imagination. I can see every hot, smoking curve waiting for me to touch it with the palm of my hand.

“You only think that because you found out I was a virgin.”

In a way, she has a point. My interest in her was piqued when I realized how to my advantage it would be to mold her, shape her, create the lover I was meant to have. Not to mention the thrill I enjoy knowing that I will always be her first. Never thought I’d get off on that before, but here we are. “If you took that aspect away from you, I’d still want you, Lessa,” I say with confidence. “Because you are beguiling and beautiful.”

I sense that she still doesn’t trust me. But I win because she unzips her dress and lets it fall to her feet.

God, have mercy on me. I have to cross my legs to keep my arousal contained. Button up my jacket so she can’t see how I respond to her beauty.

Her underwear doesn’t match, although I can tell she tried. Perhaps she’s not used to anyone noticing the difference between black and dark gray, but I can. I also appreciate it, however. I live for her breasts spilling out of her black pushup bra, enticing me to squeeze them and sink my face into her generous cleavage. I also yearn to nibble her silk undies and to inhale her scent. I’m turning into a base version of myself, and I’m not entirely opposed.

Chestnut hair frames her face and cascades down her torso, outlining her arms and those breasts I can’t stop staring at. She stumbles when she attempts to step out of her dress with her strappy sandals still on her feet, but she catches herself with such grace that I want to break out in applause.

“Everything?” she asks.

“Take it all off.” I want to see her naked. The lingerie might make her more irresistible, God help me, but I want to see her naked before I have her.

She unsnaps her bra. Her light brown nipples are already hard enough for me to suck with benign satisfaction. Her short fingers tug her underwear down. Someone’s been to a spa since we first made love. While she still has hair on her mound, it’s been trimmed back and looks as neat as the rest of her. I do appreciate, however, that I have a better look at her delectably pink nether lips, begging me to part them and take her until she’s screaming in pleasure.

I uncross my legs, kicking off my heels and pushing them to the side. My toes remain pointed into the bedroom floor. “Come over here, Lessa.”

“But I thought you wanted me to put on…”