Page 115 of Lovely Venom

Raina

We arrive at a women’s clothing store in SOHO and glide into a spot Blade hustled out front.

Connor steps out of the pickup like he owns the street. Not wearing a suit, like his guards, he still looks stunning in dress slacks, a white button-down shirt, and a light gray jacket. His impossibly broad frame moves with quiet precision. Those storm-blue eyes lock on me, and I shudder at the possession in his gaze.

He should be out on the streets, hunting enemies for the empire. Instead, he won’t leave my side. Not after what happened to me this morning, and not after hearing how Tahiri’s men retaliated so quickly.

There’s no escaping this war that now rests on my shoulders. But Connor won’t hide me. Or keep me tied down. We’re out shopping to make sure I have the right fucking shoes to meet his mother.

Christ, that unravels me more than any threat ever could.

With Blade staying outside the store to watch the truck, Connor and I go inside, hand in hand. He marches right up to the sales counter and takes off his shades.

“Good afternoon,” he says smoothly while pouring on the accent.

The woman does a double-take, he’s so gorgeous. “Can, can I help you?”

“Shea-Lynne Quinlan sent me. Said you’d clear out your store for me. My woman needs clothes. We’ll be here a while.”

The woman eyes my cargo pants with a tank top under one of Connor’s jackets and nods in agreement.

My cheeks heat up. I never thought he’d ask the owner to kick everyone out. How embarrassing.

But the owner salivates. I can’t tell if she’s picturing Connor on top of her or the sales score she’ll make today.

I keep my head held high to show I’m not some spoiled kept woman. “I just need enough stuff to—”

“Stuff?”she says, all Miranda-Priestly-psycho on me.

“We’ll get you taken care of, baby.” Connor kisses my nose.

Apparently, I can’t pick out clothes on my own.

Ten minutes later, I have a dressing room all to myself, and it’s pure chaos.Mirandaand Connor are competing to load racks of items for me to try on.

“I only need a few days’ worth and a dress,” I say, peeking out of a dressing room wearing only my bra and panties.

“Start with these.”Mirandabrings an entire rack into the changing area.

Connor fists the rack and narrows his eyes at her. “Thanks. Can we be alone?”

She glances at him and then back at me, not seeing it. Not seeing what a man like that sees in me. Maybe if she saw him shirtless with someone’s blood on his chest, she’d have a different opinion of who’s out of whose league.

“Fine,” she gives in. “I’ll be at the sales counter if you have any questions.”

“Keep your doors locked.” Connor takes out his wallet and hands her his credit card. “The men in suits in front of the store are with me.”

“Yes, sir.” She takes the card and slithers away.

Staring at the rack, panic seizes me. “I know I need to do this. Start fresh with some new clothes because I have a different life now, but it’s overwhelming. I can’t put an entire wardrobe together in a day, Connor.”

He pinches his dimpled chin. “Okay. Let’s take it oneweek at a time.”

My head falls back, and I groan at the idea of shopping again in a week. Running my fingers across the rackMirandabrought in, I’m impressed at the variety of clothes to get me started.

Everything is simple. But very elegant and holy-fucking-shit expensive.

I grip a light sweater perfect for the upcoming fall, and when I get over how soft it is, I hold up the price tag. “Seven hundred dollars? For a sweater?”