“Try this.” Vivian hands me another dress and helps me into it.
This one is simpler. Ivory silk with sleeves that fall off the shoulder and a skirt that flows down to the floor. It has a small train, but I don’t think I’m getting through this experience without one.
I look… beautiful. There’s no tulle or beaded bodice. Nothing over the top. It’s elegant and feels like… me.
“This is perfect.”
Vivian smiles. “I thought you’d like this one.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t take me dress shopping with you!” Kacey shrieks, nearly spilling her iced coffee when I show her the picture.
“It wasn’t exactly shopping.”
She groans, stealing the phone from me and analyzing the photo. “I can’t even be mad at you because this is such a beautiful dress!”
“Vivian has good taste.”
“That she does.” Slurping from her cup, she hands the phone back to me. “Okay, well, if you went dress shopping with Vivian, then you at least have to go lingerie shopping with me.”
"Kace—" I don't know how to tell her that’s not something I need at all. Vivian has my undergarments stocked to the brim. Lacy panties and matching bras for every day of the year, it seems.
"Come on, it’ll be fun. You won't let me plan a bachelorette, so at least let me do this."
I can't dispute that. That last thing I wanted was a bachelorette party for my fake marriage. And who would I invite? My only friend is Kacey, and it's not like I'm going to invite Asher's sister.
So, I cave in. "Okay."
An hour later, when we finally arrive in the West Village, Kacey drags me into the first lingerie store we see. A sultry and sophisticated boutique with a sign that readsWhisper.
Arms linked together, she drags me through the racks,oohingandahhingas she grabs pieces that are far too bold for me. Too many straps, too revealing. Pieces made for sex and not for daily wear.
But you want sex, don't you?
The vision of that contract sitting on my desk appears in my mind. Even though I’ve been hesitant to talk about this, I can’t hold back any longer. I literally have the kink encyclopedia right here in front of me in the form of my best friend. No amount of research can help me make a decision about this like she might be able to.
"Hey, Kace…"
"Yeah, babe?" She's still flipping through items, occasionally stopping to hold one up and adding it to the pile in her arms if she likes it.
My stomach does that fluttery thing it's been doing ever since Asher kissed me in Bali. The memory of his hands on my body, the way he took control of everything… I wanted him to go further. I think I would have done anything he said in that moment.
"Have you ever signed a contract for, like… ya know, doing…kinkystuff?"
Kacey freezes, turning to face me with her deep brown eyes wide as saucers. I half expect her haul to drop from her arms. She looks like she's short circuiting for a moment.
"He wants you to sign a contract?"
I nod, unsure what to think of her reaction. “Well, I kind of initiated things, but he won’t do more without a contract.”
"One sec." Walking over to the sales associate, she hands her the pile of garments she's selected and comes back to me. "Come on, we need a drink for this conversation."
She leads me outside to a bar two doors over, where we find a booth in the back and order wine.
"Okay." Kacey begins, her hands lightly smacking the table as she leans back. "So, I want more details, but I'll start with this. The community in general is split on contracts. Some think that they're abusive. They can in no way hold up in court. So it'smostly just for the couple to agree on things, which you don't really need a contract to do. There are a ton of checklists that you can fill out?—"
"Yeah, I have one of those too. But it's…"
"A lot?" Kacey finishes for me.
