Page 34 of The Toy Maker (The Pink Cherrie #1)

TWENTY-NINE

My body betrayed me every time his hand came down on my bare ass.

“Nineteen.” I bit my lip to hold back the moan climbing up my throat.

Jason was completely invested in breaking me so he could parade me around as his conquest; I, however, was determined to disappoint him.

I dragged in a deep breath just as his palm landed again. “Twenty.”

That was the last one. Relief and anticipation swirled in my gut as his hand rubbed tenderly against the inside of my thigh. I wanted to hate how badly I craved his touch, but it was useless.

His fingers lightly tapped against my pussy lips, and anticipation had me soaked. Maybe he would finally finish what he started.

I should have known better than to get my hopes up. Amy came clicking over with freshly styled hair and a latte. I saw her stomach before I saw the witch attached to it, but by then it was too late.

“Oh my God.” Her eyes widened in delight as I hurried to get my skirt back in place.

This is bad. This is so bad.

Amy’s smirk grew, her gaze darting between me and Jason.

“This is too good.”

Jason was no help as I floundered for an explanation, “I was just tying my shoe and then?—”

Amy wasn’t buying it. “I knew you had to be sleeping with the boss.” She tilted her head. “I just thought it was Kitty.” Fire crawled up my neck. The idea of being with Kitty made my face flush.

Jason chuckled under his breath, and I had to fight the sudden, overwhelming urge to elbow him in the stomach.

Amy’s smug grin told me what she was already planning to do.

My chest tightened. I’d be known as the slut of all sluts, the queen slut, and not in a good way. “You can’t tell anyone,” I pleaded.

“Oh?” I could practically see the flames of hell reflecting in her eyes. “I really can, and I think I’ll do it right now. Starting with your little friends.”

She turned on her heel to spread her web of gossip when Jason finally spoke up,

“If you tell anyone about this,”—his voice was calm, dangerously so—“I won’t hesitate to kick your ass out of my business.” A sense of pride filled my heart. Even after disappearing on me, even after leaving me alone, he was standing up for me.

Amy’s jaw nearly fell to the floor. “You can’t talk to me that way. I’m pregnant.”

Jason didn’t even blink. “Unfortunately, you are.” This time, my mouth fell open as he continued, “And if losing your job isn’t enough of a consequence, if I hear that you so much as whispered about this to anyone, I’ll tell everyone who the real father of your baby is.”

I stared up at him, wide eyed. It’s not Lucas?

Amy’s smugness cracked. “Fine,” she gritted out. She tried to regain her composure, but it was clear she was visibly shaken up. “No one would believe you two are together anyway,” she added bitterly before stalking off.

The second she was gone, I turned to Jason.

“How’d you know about the baby?” I exclaimed.

He shrugged. “Lucky guess.”

I stared at him, searching for answers, but before I could press further, his hand settled on the small of my back.

“Come on.”

He led me down the hallway, toward an exit.

“Where—”

He cut me off, “Field trip.” The sun hit his bare chest, making me momentarily forget everything. Right then, he could have persuaded me to follow him off a cliff.

Instead, I followed him to the back of the building, where a sleek, hidden garage housed his expensive car. He pulled a shirt and shoes out of the trunk, letting me pretend not to watch as he dressed.

Then we drove in silence until he pulled into the packed parking lot of a familiar place.

“The mall?” I asked skeptically, raising a curious brow at him.

He found the only vacant spot within a ten-mile radius and cut the engine.

“We’re going shopping.” Jason left me in the car without further explanation, heading toward a boutique. I barely managed to catch up before the doors shut behind him.

He moved fast, weaving through departments with clear purpose.

“From now on,” he finally said, “you will dress for my convenience unless I say otherwise.”

My brows shot up. “Excuse me?” I sputtered.

“That means skirts, loose tops, lingerie, or no underwear at all.”

Part of me wanted to fight for the use of my sweatpants, while the other was intrigued.

“So, we’re here to buy clothes?”

He nodded, peering at me over his shoulder. “Yes.”

“Hate to break it to you, but my salary doesn’t exactly cover sexy merchandise.”

Jason rolled his eyes, the hint of a smile teasing his lips. “I’ll take care of it.”

“What if I need a new robe?”

“Don’t push it.”

He navigated his way to the aisles until we arrived in the lingerie section; he seemed to know exactly where he was going.

Before I could process it, bras were being tossed my way. Lingerie piled into my arms, each piece skimpier than the last. The Cherry uniforms were modest compared to this.

I tried not to pass out at the price tags.

Once he was satisfied, I shoved the pile into his arms and grabbed a burgundy corset.

“I’ve been dressing myself since I was five,” I said, making my way toward the changing rooms.

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. As we passed through the different clothing sections, a pair of fluffy pink pajama pants caught my eye. I made a mental note to definitely come back for them after I finished playing dress-up.

But when I reached the changing rooms, I turned, and there they were, dangling from Jason’s fingers.

My heart stuttered.

“For me?” I asked, trying to keep my voice casual.

Jason laughed lightly. “They’re not really my shade.”

I blushed, warmth curling in my stomach.

For a second, I wanted to drag him into the dressing room with me.

But before I could act on that reckless thought, the attendant emerged from the back. Her hair was platinum blonde, and she had long lashes and curves in all the right places.

Her gaze flicked between us, lingering on Jason’s firm chest.

I cleared my throat, hoping to snap her out of whatever fantasy she was having, and handed her my items. She barely glanced at me before waving me in. But the second Jason moved to follow, she perked up.

“Sorry,” she said sweetly, touching her hair. “No men allowed in the dressing rooms.”

Jason didn’t look remotely bothered. “I’ll wait here then.”

I glanced between the two of them and wondered if I could strangle her with a bra strap before Jason could pull me away.

I tried to remind myself that I had no real claim to him. That he wasn’t mine. But spending so much time with the girls, soaking in their unchecked, raw emotions, wasn’t helping me be a rational human being.

I huffed and slipped down the hall.

The dressing rooms were empty, probably because no sane person willingly dragged themselves to the mall this early in the morning.

I undressed quickly, keeping my eyes away from the mirror. Store lighting was designed to shame hopeful women.

But when I finally looked?—

I sucked in a deep breath.

The burgundy corset hugged my curves, black lace tracing delicate patterns across my skin. The garter belt cinched at my waist, holding up thigh-high stockings that made my legs look longer.

Thinking of the attendant sent my jealousy into overdrive. I knew she would still be eyeing Jason, still be imagining what it would be like to have him.

And maybe it was petty, maybe it was desperate, but I grabbed my phone and took a picture. Sending risqué pictures to your boss is generally a terrible idea.

But considering his cock had been inside me not even a day before, I would make an exception.

He responded quickly, ‘I believe we’ve found a winner. Now, come back out here so I can properly enjoy the view.’

A slow smile curved on my lips. My mother always said teasing wasn’t ladylike.

But I never cared much for rules.

‘I don’t know... I think I’m going to sightsee a little on my own...’ I swallowed down the anticipation gathering in my throat.

His next message came faster.

‘Don’t you dare touch yourself.’

I could practically see his nostrils flaring at my disobedience. Of course, I knew that my actions would come with consequences.

That was the point.

I sat on the plush ottoman in the corner and let my hand drift between my thighs, making sure to send another photo.

‘It just feels so nice...’

‘Tara, do not tempt me.”

I responded with a final snapshot of my thighs spread wide, fingers dipping where I knew he wanted to be. ‘Your move.’

Silence.

I closed my eyes, rubbing slow circles against my clit, dragging myself to the edge of my long-awaited orgasm, but there were loud footsteps approaching.

I barely had time to process them before Jason stood by the door. I scrambled to let him in, my heart pounding.

“What are you doing?” I whispered, suddenly very aware that we were about to get caught.

He smiled, pleased by my panic. “Finishing what you started.”

“We’ll get thrown out,” I protested.

“Relax.” His fingers trailed down my arm. “The attendant went on break.” He stepped closer, heat radiating off him. “Now,” he murmured, “why don’t you go back to what you were doing?”