Page 126 of No Such Thing as Serendipity

We’d agreed not totouch each other until we’d taken Millie for her walk, which was pure torture. Made worse by Millie’s lackadaisical urge to check out every patch of grass before she chose the perfect location to squat. After tearing into the grass to cover her offering, she trotted farther away from Robyn’s apartment.

“You’re killing me, Millie,” I said to her.

Millie just sniffed the ground and kept moving forward, oblivious to my suffering.

I glanced back at the lighted window of Robyn’s apartment, imagining her changing into something more comfortable. We’d divided the labor, with me taking Millie out, while she tidied up the bedroom. Having seen her apartment, I doubted there was much to do, but her comfort was important, so I hadn’t argued.

After Millie had dragged me another two blocks, I decided it was time to put my foot down. “Okay, Millie, enough. Finish up your business so we can go back home.”

Millie snorted at the ground.

I stifled a laugh. “And don’t talk back.”

She looked up at me with her big brown eyes.

“Fine. I’ll give you a treat.”

Her ears perked up, and she pranced around the sidewalk. Taking advantage of her enthusiasm, I jogged back with Millie on my heels.

When we entered the apartment, Robyn called from the bedroom. “Where have you two been?”

“Where’s her treats?” I called back.

Robyn laughed. “Apparently, the little scammer took you for a walk, not the other way around. They’re in the little paw print cookie jar next to the microwave.”

I dug out a treat and gave it to Millie. She gulped it in one bite and then looked up at me expectantly.

“If I give you one more, do you promise to give me and your mom some privacy?”

Interpreting her innocent look as ayes, I tossed her another treat, which she ate as quickly as the first. I walked over to her bed and patted it. She stared at me, so I got down on the floor and put my head on her bed, hoping to entice her. Her tongue hung out of her mouth, giving the impression she was laughing at me.

I probably looked comical with my ass in the air and my head in her bed. Of course, that was when Robyn entered the room.

“What are you doing?” Robyn asked from behind me. “Nice view, by the way.”

I looked at her over my shoulder, ready to admit my embarrassment, but all thoughts left my head.

“Jesus.” I leaped to my feet. I stared at her, likely with my mouth open.

She wore black corset lingerie. The off-the-shoulder straps left Robyn’s collarbones exposed.Shit.I never realized collarbonescould be so sensuous. The straps connected to a leather bodice in front that lifted Robyn’s ample breasts. Crisscrossed laces connected the two pieces of leather. A hint of cleavage peeked out between the laces. A delicate patterned lace extended from the leather around Robyn’s sides and down the curve of her hip. The sheer lace skirt was jagged and ended just below her black lace panties.

“Too much?” Robyn asked.

“Jesus,” I said again.Fuck.I needed to do better than that. “Wow. I’m...just wow.”

Robyn grinned. “Do you like it?”

I must have looked like an idiot as my head bobbed up and down. “You’re breathtaking,” I said, finally sounding coherent.

“I bought it ages ago but never wore it.”

“Why not?” I took a step toward Robyn, trying to keep my eyes on her face, even though her body was taunting me.

“I bought it for a special occasion.” Her neck and chest reddened.

I took her hand in mine, still gazing into her eyes. “So is this a special occasion?” I hoped she heard the hopeful note in my voice.

“You tell me,” she responded.