Expensive.
“Mr. Mason Sterling dropped this off for you at the front.” Vicky grins, showing off the box. “Where do you want it?”
“Put it on the cuck chair,” Jade says, pointing to the armchair in the corner, awkwardly facing the bed.
“That’s not what it’s called,” I protest, but Vicky giggles.
“We call it that, too,” she confides, shooting Jade a wink.
And Jade…
My Jadeblushes.
For a moment, I’m sure I must be seeing things. My Jade doesn’t blush. She’s unflappable. A shameless flirt, sure, but she does it with a swagger that’s all confidence.
But right now, her cheeks are a rosy pink, and a half-eaten strip of bacon hangs out of her mouth as she tracks Vicky across the room, watching as she sets the box down.
That’s…different. New.
Choosing to ignore it for now and making a mental note to follow up on this later, I cross the room to Alec’s gift. The box is even prettier up close.
“I’ve been asked to deliver a message with it,” Vicky informs me, grin widening.
I nod, urging her to continue.
“He requests you wear it tonight. If you find it acceptable.” Bea circles her ankles, mewing for attention, until Vicky reaches down to scoop her up, rubbing their noses together. “Hi, little baby! Aren’t you just the cutest?”
Bea purrs as if it say,yes, yes I am.
“If it’s more sex toys, you might want to tell him to cool it,” Jade advises me as I untie the ribbon. “You’re going to run out of room for them in your apartment if he keeps this up.”
Vicky giggles again, and the pink on Jade’s cheeks spreads up to the tips of her ears.
Okay, she and I are going to need to have a serious talk later about whatever is happening between her and Vicky. I shoot hera befuddled look before I lift the lid, pushing tissue paper away to reveal the contents of the box.
It’s a dress. Jade draws in a quick breath as I pull it out and hold it up in front of me.
Adesignerdress, I realize, peaking at the delicately embroidered label inside.
“It’s gorgeous,” I breathe, running my fingers over the midnight black silk. It’s short, barely long enough to reach past the top of my thighs. The shockingly high neckline comes up to clasp almost like a collar. And the back? I turn the dress in my hands. Nearly nonexistent, dipping all the way down to the hips.
“This must have cost a fortune,” Jade murmurs, getting up and stepping closer to rub the fabric between her fingers. “Oh my God, Sydney, I think he had this custom made.”
I don’t doubt it. It’s beautiful, like a work of art.
“Are you going to wear it?” she asks, as though there were any question at all.
“Of course,” I say. “I may be pissed off, but I’m not stupid.”
“Looks like there are shoes, too.” Jade rummages through the box and pulls them out, holding them out for me to take. Sleek high heels, with ankle straps that mimic the collar of the dress.
“You’re going to look stunning,” Vicky says warmly. She sets Bea down, giving her one last stroke, all the way down her spine. Bea makes a happy chirping noise, and Vicky laughs. “Not you, baby. You already look stunning.”
“She likes you,” Jade tells Vicky.
“Of course she does. I’m very good with pussy,” she replies with a smirk.
Jade’s face turns scarlet. I think she’s stopped breathing.
