"Thank goodness I managed to stop him," Anne murmured, placing her phone aside. "I don’t want him upsetting Mr. Benett just because of ."
Her eyes then drifted to the paper bag Audrey had handed her earlier. She rembered how Audrey had practically shoved it into her hands, insisting she wait until she was ho to open it. Curiosity began to bubble in her chest.
"What on earth did she get ?" she wondered aloud, her fingers already tugging at the bag handles.
Inside, she found a neatly packed box. With care, she removed the lid—and froze.
A gasp slipped from her lips as she stared at the daring red lingerie set. It was sheer, with a plunging neckline, delicate spaghetti straps, and so short it looked more like a suggestion of clothing than sothing ant to be worn.
Anne’s eyes widened as she gingerly held it up, her face quickly flushing a deep shade of red.
"Oh my God, Audrey..." she murmured, half in awe, half in horror. "You seriously expect to wear this!"
She pictured herself standing in front of Augustine in that barely-there outfit and instantly felt her skin grow warm. Yes, she had made up her mind about being intimate with him tonight—but this? This was bold, too bold.
She had never even considered wearing sothing like this before, not even during her ti with Denis.
"Nope. No way." Flustered, she stuffed the lingerie back into the box and snapped the lid shut. "Absolutely impossible."
With a jolt, she sprang to her feet and hurried out of the bedroom, determined to lose herself in dinner prep and ignore the provocative red lace now burning a hole in her thoughts.
Anne finally finished cooking. She turned off the stove and wiped her hands on a towel. The clock on the wall showed it was already half past nine. Yet there was no sign of Augustine. She was a bit disappointed as she glanced toward the door, silently wishing it would open and reveal him standing there, smiling like always.
"How long are you going to keep waiting?"
She lingered in the dining room for a few seconds, truly hoping he would walk in — but the silence persisted. With a faint sigh, she shook her head and tried to brush away the feeling of letdown. "Never mind. I’ll just go freshen up first."
She made her way toward her room. As soon as she stepped inside, the sound of her phone ringing startled her. Her gaze darted to the settee where she had left it, and she quickly rushed over to check the screen.
It was Audrey.
"Hello?"
"Do you like my gift?" Audrey asked right away, her tone bubbling with amusent.
Anne let out an exaggerated sigh, her eyes rolling as she flopped down onto the cushions. "Yes, it’s... a very bold gift."
"Isn’t it fabulous?" Audrey squealed. "I just know Augustine will lose his mind when he sees you in it."
A flush crept up Anne’s cheeks as she recalled the red, lacy lingerie. "Audrey, are you insane? You really think I can wear sothing like that?"
"Why not? You’ve got the looks, the charm — and that body. Flaunt it, Anne. Keep things exciting, and watch your man lt for you."
Anne narrowed her eyes suspiciously, her tone teasing. "You never suggested such things before. You’ve changed ever since you started dating."
Audrey let out a carefree laugh. "I believe in trying and testing everything. And trust , this works like a charm. Just wear it and walk out like you own the room. You’ll see the magic happen."
Anne’s face grew contemplative as Audrey’s words echoed in her mind. Gradually, the uncertainty that had clouded her thoughts began to fade.
’Why not give it a chance?’ a quiet inner voice encouraged her.
Drawing in a steady breath, Anne reached for the box again. Her movents were slower now—more intentional. She lifted the lid and took out the red lingerie once more, letting the fabric slip through her fingers. The sheer texture and daring cut made her cheeks warm, but this ti, she didn’t drop it.
Tonight, she had already made up her mind to close the distance between her and Augustine—to take their relationship to a more intimate level. So, why not try sothing new?
A small, determined smile tugged at her lips as she stood, holding the lingerie up to herself. "Alright," she said with a mix of nervous excitent and newfound courage. "I’ll try it."
Anne quickly ended the call, her heart thudding in her chest as she slipped out of her dress and carefully stepped into the red lingerie. As the delicate fabric clung to her skin, she turned to face the mirror—and froze.
A flush crept over her cheeks. She could barely recognize the reflection staring back at her. The sheer, lacy material hugged her figure, offering little coverage. Her curves were boldly outlined, and the hem barely reached the top of her thighs.
It felt daring. Bold. Wildly unlike her usual self.
"How am I supposed to face him in this?"
Just then, Augustine’s voice rang out from downstairs.
"Anne, I’m ho."
Her breath hitched in her throat, and she nearly jumped in place.
’He is back!’
Before she could even move, his footsteps echoed on the stairs, getting closer. "Anne, are you in the room?"
Her eyes widened in sheer panic. "Oh no, oh no—he is coming," she whispered frantically, scanning the room for a way out—or sothing to cover herself.
Knock. Knock.
"Anne, are you inside? I’m coming in."
In a blind scramble, she yanked open her wardrobe, grabbed her nightrobe, and flung it around herself. Her fingers fumbled with the belt as she hurriedly tied it in front, just as the doorknob began to turn. Her heart was racing, adrenaline pumping through her veins.
The door opened, and Augustine stepped inside, his eyes scanning the quiet room. "Anne? Where are you?" he called softly, brows drawing together in confusion when there was no response.
His gaze drifted to the settee by the window, where her phone lay abandoned. "Her phone is here," he murmured, puzzled. "But where did she go?" Turning toward the bathroom, he wondered aloud, "Is she in there?"
Before he could move further, the closet door opened behind him, and Anne stepped out. The mont their eyes t, the air seed to still.
"There you are," Augustine said with a gentle smile, relief lighting up his face. He moved toward her.
Anne stood frozen, her cheeks flaming with color. She held her breath as he closed the distance and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his chest.
"I missed you," he whispered, the tension of the day lting away now that she was in his arms.
Reviews
All reviews (0)