“Okay,” I say cautiously. “So, you’re taking me on a shopping spree and warning me to spend as much as I like?” I say, smirking. Knowing full well that isn’t the message he was trying to get across.
Marlen growls, knitting his brows.
“No, yes, but that’s not…” He sighs loudly and rubs his temples with his thumb and forefinger as though I’m exhausting him. “I am going to be watching you closely. At no point will you be out of my sight. Do not try anything. Do not try and escape. I am watching you like a hawk, girl, and this whole outing is a limited-time offer. It will not happen again.”
I widen my eyes and do my best to look innocent and sweet. “Yes, sir,” I say, no smile.
He cocks his head to the side, and something flickers in his eyes. Something dark and devious. He sucks in his cheeks,and his gaze tightens for a second. “Good girl,” he says, and turns his attention to starting the car.
My heart somersaults and heat builds between my legs, confusing the hell out of me.
Are you serious? Because he said good girl? How freaking cliche do you want to be, Stef?
Busying myself with strapping my safety belt on, I turn my face away from him to hide the glowing blush on my cheeks.
***
The mall isn’t too busy, given it’s a weekday early in the morning. I roam from store to store, picking out what I like, not holding back when it comes to spending his money. Maybe it’s my little jab at him for kidnapping me. Maybe I’m just having fun because shopping without a limitisfun.
But all the while I’m enjoying myself, I’m acutely aware of his eyes on me. The severity of his gaze is unnerving and makes me shy, which is weird for me because I’m never shy.
“When you saidlike a hawk,you really meant it, didn’t you?” I tease, trying to ease the tension.
“Are we almost done here?” he snaps in return.
I grin. “Nope, we’re going to the lingerie store next. I need underwear.”
His face tenses, and he stands up a little straighter.
“You can wait outside if you like, I don’t mind,” I shrug.
“Nice try.”
“Do you plan to come into the fitting room?” I raise my brows, knowing I’m annoying him.
“Just guess your size, and we can get home faster,” he huffs.
“Mm. No, after the lingerie store I want to go to the surf shop for a bikini,” I say casually.
He groans.
“Remember, you said it was a limited, one-time offer, so I should make the most of it,” I remind him.
“I’ve never heard of anyoneneedingfive different dresses and four pairs of jeans.” He lifts one of the bags he’s carrying and shakes it.
“That’s because you’re a guy. You probably wear the same pair of pants every day of your life. Girls are different. It’s not my fault you didn’t know that when you made this offer,” I smirk.
“I have more than one pair of pants,” he says defensively.
“Of course, one pair of chinos and one pair of jeans?”
“Oh shut up, I have more than two pairs of pants,” he huffs, but I swear I see a smile touch his lips.
Marlen is incredibly fidgety while I’m choosing underwear, but as promised, he doesn’t take his eyes off me. It turns me on to have him watch me like this, even though it’s for all the wrong reasons.
After the lingerie store and the surf shop, I drag him to a beauty boutique and make him wait while I ask far more questions than I need to about skin care, a winter routine, and makeup that also offers treatments.
He stands with a stern, annoyed expression and his hands shoved into his pockets. I notice how every girl who walks past steals glances at him, some giggling, some blushing. And I findmyself stepping closer to him when they do, just to let them know I’m with him and they should get in line.
