Chapter 3

“I don't think I can do this.”

Quinn stepped out of the closet and placed three candidate dresses across the bed. She wiped a faint smudge of dust off her hands and gave Sandra an unimpressed look.

“Alright, I’ll go home then,” Quinn said smoothly, reaching for her purse on the nightstand.

“Wait.”

Sandra picked up one of the dresses and ran her fingers over the fabric without really paying attention.

“I think I’m just nervous.”

“I know. You don’t have to force yourself.”

“I can do this,” Sandra asserted, more to convince herself than her friend.

Quinn nodded, her eyes scanning the clothes on the bed with a critical gaze. “We're going shopping.”

“For what?”

Quinn gave her a look that said she couldn’t believe Sandra was actually asking.

“Lingerie.”

Sandra's face warmed instantly, heat radiating up to her ears. “I have underwear.”

“Of course you do.” She picked up one of the faded, high-waisted cotton panties on the bed and threw it to Sandra. “But you don’t have anything appropriate for the occasion.”

“Is it necessary?”

“It absolutely is.”

Before Sandra could argue, Quinn had already picked up her handbag.

“Let’s go. We don’t have all day.”

An hour later, Sandra was standing in the middle of an upscale lingerie store, wondering why she had let Quinn talk her into this. Soft, sensual music played in the background an. She walked down the aisle with her hands tucked nervously into her jean pockets, overwhelmed by the sheerness of the garments around her. Some of them were basically transparent, a mesh of material that left absolutely nothing hidden.

The shop attendants seemed completely unfazed, moving around the racks as though they were walking through a grocery store.

Quinn turned to her, holding up a black strappy lace set.

“No.”

“You haven't even tried it.”

“I don’t want to.”

She imagined the material around her skin and couldn’t help heating up.

Quinn picked up another hanger. “This one.”

“No.”

“This one?”

“Definitely not.”

Quinn sighed dramatically, returning the hanger.

“All of them would look amazing on you. He’ll be impressed.”

“I'm not trying to impress him.”

“You—”

Before Sandra could finish her sentence, a familiar voice sounded behind them.

“Baby, you look good in anything.”

Quinn's expression stiffened. They both turned towards the sound.

Mark was standing in front of the rack across from them, dressed in the shirt Sandra had bought him for his birthday last year. Hanging on his arm was the woman he had cheated with, Chloe, clutching a delicate pastel garment.

When they had been together, Mark had never gone shopping with her, yet here he was just a few days later.

Their eyes met. Mark raised a brow, his lips curling into an insufferable smirk.

“Do you think dressing up sexily is going to win me back?”

Quinn stepped forward, her eyes blazing with pure fury.

“Listen here, you little—”

If it weren’t for Sandra quickly holding her back by the crook of her elbow, Quinn would have rushed over to Mark, and Sandra couldn’t guarantee he would leave the shop safely.

“Save your money, sweetheart,” Mark added with a sneer. “I’m not interested.”

Quinn took a deep breath and put on a sickly sweet smile.

“Sorry to burst your bubble, but after breaking up with you, Sandra met a very, very handsome man, and she’s here to get ready for a weekend getaway with him.”

Sandra shot Quinn an embarrassed look, but Quinn entirely ignored her and continued speaking, her voice loud enough to echo down the aisle.

“Sandra has forgotten all about your existence.”

On the other side, Mark’s arrogant expression vanished. His jaw hardened, his hands clenching by his sides as his gaze locked onto Sandra with disbelief.

“How about you help us pick something out?” Quinn added smoothly. “After all, men know men’s tastes better.”

She moved out of Sandra’s grip and picked up a copy of the flimsy set Chloe was holding.

“What do you think of this?” she asked, holding it in front of Sandra.

Mark didn’t answer. Instead, he stomped out of the shop, the woman tailing behind him and yelling at him to wait for her.

As they left, Sandra and Quinn both burst into laughter.

“I’m not having a weekend getaway,” Sandra finally said, catching her breath. “It’s just a maybe one-night stand.”

“He doesn’t need to know that.” Quinn smiled. “Did you see his face? That was more satisfying than hitting him would have been.”

“True.”

Sandra smiled and turned her gaze back to the shop, looking for something she might actually like. She didn’t want Mark walking back in and finding out they had lied. Seing his wounded pride had made her feel an unexpected thrill.

Quinn, on the other hand, spotted something at the other end of the room that made her eyes light up.

“Found it.”

“What?”

Quinn didn’t answer. Instead, she dragged Sandra along past racks of crosets, crocheless panties and more.

“This is perfect.”

On the mannequin was a simple red silk dress with a loose sash.

“This is perfect for you.”

Sandra nodded. Compared to the other clothes in the store, this one seemed somewhat decent.

Quinn picked up a copy of the dress and held it against Sandra.

“The sash is the perfect addition. It can serve other purposes.”

Sandra raised a brow, not understanding.

Quinn leaned closer, whispering in her ear, “For example, tying you up.”

“Quinn,” Sandra called, her voice louder than she had intended.

Over half of the store turned in their direction, but Quinn only smiled, signaling for an attendant to come and attend to them.

Sandra held the shopping bag against her chest when they left the store.

“I still can't believe I'm doing this.”

Quinn linked their arms as they walked down the sidewalk.

“You'll thank me later. Trust me, you're going to have fun.”

“I hope so.”

She still had no idea what would happen when she stepped into Suite 804 and found the man from Desire waiting for her.

*******

By 8:00 p.m. the next day, Sandra was standing in front of the hotel mirror, already rethinking her decision to come.

She was the only one there.

The room itself was beautiful, the most luxurious hotel room she had ever been in. There was a large king-sized bed in the centre, a sitting area near the window that overlooked the city’s skyline, and a bathroom that was larger than her bedroom at home. Desire had taken care of everything. All they had to do was show up.

Sandra checked the time on her phone again.

8:47 p.m.

She sat on the edge of the bed.

Then stood.

Then sat again.

She looked at the door.

Had the man bailed on her? He probably changed his mind.

Her phone buzzed.

Quinn: You there?

Sandra: Yes.

Quinn: You’ve not started yet?

Sandra: Yep.

Quinn: He probably got delayed by something. Don't you dare leave.

Sandra stared at the message.

She typed a reply, deleted it, then finally put her phone down on the nightstand.

She had already come this far.

But a thought still nagged at her.

She could put her clothes back on properly, walk downstairs, and go home.

Nobody would know.

She glanced towards the bathroom. Her clothes were folded neatly on the counter where she had left them. It would take less than ten minutes to change and be out of there.

She reached for her phone to send a message to Quinn.

Then there was a knock on the door.

Sandra froze.

Her heart began beating so hard that she could feel it in her throat.

Another knock followed, and then the door opened.