"Good. Thank you," she says. “I appreciate that.”
I finish my hair and turn off the straightening iron, then slip off my robe to put on the dress. I position myself so she can't see me from the bathroom doorway, but just as I'm standing there in my black lace bra and matching panties, she walks into the room and stops mid-stride.
Blair stares for a beat, her eyes traveling down my body before she swiftly turns around.
"Sorry," she mutters.
I quickly put on the dress. "It’s fine. I'm decent now."
She turns back around, and I catch something heated in her expression.
"I just need to finish my makeup," I say, fumbling for words. "But I can wait outside while you get dressed?" I struggle with my necklace, the delicate chain refusing to cooperate with my trembling fingers.
"I don't mind if you don't. We're sharing a bed anyway, and we're both adults." Blair’s mouth curves into that grin again while she watches me. "Let me help you with that, sugar plum."
I want to scold her for using that word again, but she comes up behind me, gently moving my hair to one side and that simple action alone takes away my ability to speak. She's close; I can smell her shampoo. She smells nice. Her fingers brush against the nape of my neck as she works the clasp, and I shiver. This time it's not just the flutter in my belly—heat shoots between my thighs, sharp and unmistakable.
For a split second, a fantasy crosses my mind: Blair wrapping an arm around me from behind, kissing my neck, her hand sliding down...
"There," she says, her breath warm against my ear.
When I'm about to turn back around, she puts her hands on my shoulders, stopping me.
"Just give me a minute to get my underwear on. Unless you want to watch? I don’t mind."
I laugh and shake my head. "Are you serious?" I'm grateful she can't see my face right now because I suspect I look the way I feel.Damn it, Liv. Get a grip.I need to remember that this is all an act, even if my body seems to have forgotten. It's not easy; I'm only human and she's a very attractive woman. And she's currently standing behind me, naked.
"Just saying. Anything you want, Liv. You're the boss."
I shake my head and roll my eyes as I listen to the rustle of fabric.
"Done," she says, and when I turn around, she's wearing her chinos and the pink shirt. "It seems we're coordinated without even trying." She glances at my pink dress and arches a brow. "Couple goals, huh?"
"Sure." I chuckle as I notice her shirt. "By the way, your buttons are off by one."
She glances down, following the misaligned placket. "Damn it. I’m not used to wearing dress shirts. I borrowed it."
"Here, let me." I step closer and begin to undo her work.
She stands perfectly still while I unfasten each button, my fingers working methodically down the front of her shirt. When I reach the last button, I start again from the top, re-doing each one properly.
All the while, she's staring at me.
"What?" I ask, tucking her shirt into her chinos once the last button is secure.
"Nothing," she says. "Just enjoying the view. You look beautiful, Liv."
I wave her off. "I don't, but?—"
"You need to learn how to take a compliment." Amusement dances in Blair’s eyes. "Has anyone ever told you that you're terrible at accepting praise?"
"I'm not terrible at—" I start, but she cuts me off.
"You are. You deflect." Her gaze travels over my face, lingering on my lips. "But just take it from me, okay? You look beautiful. Elegant and fucking sexy."
I don't know where to look or what to say. I hate that for once, I'm not as in control as I normally am. Blair's making me feel off-balance, uncertain, and I don't like it one bit.
"Are you trying to get me in bed or something?" I ask, inching back and crossing my arms.
