When Arthur found out about the larger trust, he joked that if we weren’t married by the time we’re thirty, he’d marry me and we could split the money.
At least I think he was joking.
“So what did you get?” Sage asks from where she’s sitting on the edge of her bed.
“This,” I offer, spinning and showing off the first item I’ve removed. It’s a gorgeous black lace bodysuit. The boning creates a sexy structured silhouette all on its own, even as I hold it in front of me. There’s strategically placed keyhole cut-outs, dainty red satin bows, and adjustable garter straps.
“You’re going to wear that?” Sage chokes out, eyes wider than I’ve ever seen.
“Well, I didn’t buy it just to stare at it,” I tease with a wink.Holy fuck, did Sage just blush?
“Did you start dating someone I don’t know about?” Arthur asks.
“Obviously not,” I confirm, rolling my eyes in his direction.
“Can I see?” Sage asks hopefully, completely serious as her gaze shifts from the lingerie I’m holding to my face. Her cheeks are still a shade darker than I’m used to, but her question was confident.Sage is actually asking me to try on lingerie for her. Is this some sort of cruel joke from the universe to test my ability to hide my crush? To see if I can behave or if I’ll end up exposing myself and ruining the best female friendship I’ve ever had?
I swear my heart is attempting to beat right out of my chest as I stare back at her. Sage and I have become really close over this last month, and she truly does feel like my best friend. But I haven’t been completely honest with her. It isn’t personal or because I don’t trust her. It’s just that, every time I go to tell Sage I’m attracted to women and not men, something interrupts us or the topic changes, and it’s no longer the right time.
It has nothing to do with me having a crush on her.
Okay… fine. Maybe I’ve been waiting for my tiny crush to fade before I tell her. I figured that way, I can avoid any awkwardness of her guessing that I like her as more than just my best friend.
Plus she specifically told me she’s straight, so there’s no point in having this stupid crush. I’m sure it’ll go away any day now.
“You want to watch me try on lingerie?” I repeat when I realize how long I’ve been standing here without answering.
“Yeah, it looks so pretty on its own, but it probably looks even better on you. I’d love to see!”
“Wow, I totally forgot I agreed to meet my roommate for dinner,” Arthur says, springing up off of my desk chair. “I have to go, see you at the party later!” He hurries out of the room before Sage or I can even say goodbye.
“Bye,” Sage calls out after him anyway, cheery as ever.
I’m not really sure what to do here, but as I try to figure out a way to politely dismiss her request, Sage bounces over to my bed.
“Are there more options in there?” she asks, gesturing to the other packages. I nod. “Can I help you open them? I’ve never seen fancy lingerie in person. I had no idea how beautiful it could be.”
“Sure?” I answer, trailing up at the end like it’s a question.Seriously, what is happening right now?
“Oh, you have to put this one on first! It’s my favorite color,” Sage exclaims, holding out an emerald green silk corset that reminded me of her eyes when I purchased it.
“I’m not sure I can even get that one on by myself…” I trail off, hoping she’ll give up on this plan.
“I can help you, silly,” she assures me. Her cute giggle that follows the phrase completely melts away whatever last-ditch protests had been forming in my throat. When Sage laughs, it cuts right into me, feeding my soul and lighting me up from the inside like a reminder of all that’sgood in the world. The sound is so light and pure, that no matter how many times I hear it, its effect is never dimmed. I can’t help but be happier around my little sunshine of a best friend, and there’s no way I can deny her something that’s lighting up her eyes the way they are now.
“If you insist,” I finally agree, hoping my tone is teasing and doesn’t sound guilty.
I take the corset from her and turn around before taking off my shirt and stepping into the loosely laced-up garment, waiting to remove the bra I’d been wearing until the corset covers my torso. If I ignore the fact that some of it is made of a very sheer lace, especially the parts that aren’t doing much to conceal my breasts, then it’s basically like I’m still wearing a shirt.This is fine, totally normal even. We get dressed in front of each other all the time in our small dorm, and this is less exposed than that.
“Ready?” Sage asks, far closer than I expected as she steps up behind me. She gathers my hair into one hand, sending a shiver up my spine. I wish I could blame it on being cold in here for why my nipples are suddenly so hard, but Sage’s breath on the back of my neck as she moves my curls over my shoulder and out of the way certainly isn’t helping the situation.
I don’t think I’m even breathing at this point, afraid of what my voice will sound like if I attempt to speak, but I manage a nod. Sage begins to pull the silk strands tying the garment together tighter, taking her time as she works herway up my back.It’s only my back, this shouldn’t feel so intimate.But it does. As each strand is pulled, I feel my body temperature rise even higher. I’m so turned on right now, and can’t help but shift my position where I stand, uncomfortable with how wet I can feel myself getting.
“Done,” Sage says triumphantly before walking around me to get a better view. “Holy shit. Honey, you look like a Victoria’s Secret model.”
I can’t help but laugh at her assessment. “Everyone looks like a Victoria’s Secret model wearing this sort of thing.”
“Oh no, I would look like I was playing dress-up, but you look unbelievably hot. Whoever gets to see you wearing this, and gets to help you take it off, is one lucky man,” she says with a bright smile. Sage’s eyes roam over my body, returning again and again to my breasts. I’m desperate to seesomethingin her expression: desire, want, curiosity even. But I only see admiration. She’s looking at me the same way she does when she compliments a dress I’m wearing or the way I’ve done my hair, not like someone who wants to continue to touch me after they help me out of my lingerie.
