Damon had died. Tyrel went to jail partly because Damon wasn’t around to clear his name-not that he’d have ever done so, realistically. All that money just disappeared. And there was the last person who had seen Damon alive, driving by.
“They went in the mall parking garage?” J’Von asked.
* * *
Lorelei smelled him almost as soon as they came off the escalator from the bottom floor. She didn’t recognize the individual, but knew the type. Turning around would do no good; even if he didn’t catch her scent yet, he might pick it up later and investigate, and then discover her vulnerability. This had to be dealt with, quickly and decisively… and preferably not in front of Alex. She needed a way to keep him occupied.
“I would guess that you don’t have a clear idea of what sort of clothes you’d like to see me in,” she said, “at least in public.”
“I figured you should just wear whatever you like. You’d look good in anything. I’d be happy with you in jeans and a t-shirt or whatever’s comfortable.”
“Hm. You do prefer a bit of glamour, though. That much is plain.”
“Well, I don’t know who doesn’t appreciate someone taking the trouble to look good, but I wouldn’t expect that all the time. Can’t be wine and roses every night of the week.”
She smiled. “Silly master.”
“Hey, you should really call me Alex,” he whispered to her.
“Oh, no one’s listening to us… Alex,” she added as a concession. “What you mean to say is that because you do not go to great effort for fashion, you wouldn’t expect it of others.”
He looked down at his outfit, frowning. “It’s not like I’m a slob,” he muttered.
“You love various Goth looks,” Lorelei continued, “and business casual with a hint of sexiness. I imagine you would rejoice if all the world’s hipsters died in flames?”
“I wouldn’t want to use that turn of phrase in front of someone like you, but sure. Trying too hard to make a point of looking like they’re not trying. Past that, I guess I just like whatever works for a given woman? If you want me to pick out clothes for you, it’s going to be a disaster. I want you to get what you want. I’m pretty sure you look great in just about anything.”
Lorelei nodded. “I can accept that.” She slipped her hand in his. “However, we should begin at the beginning.” Lorelei led him with calm, confident purpose toward a shop that Alex hadn’t dared set foot in since he was ten years old and at his mother’s side.
“Um,” he tried to protest, “this is a lingerie store.”
“It’s not especially racy. They provide more than lingerie.”
“Yeah, like five tight shirts and some hand lotion,” Alex said. She didn’t slow down; they were really going into this trendy, spacious store for things that Alex honestly didn’t know how to discuss with other women without sounding perverted.
“I would prefer a more upscale store specializing in much more alluring intimate wear,” Lorelei admitted, “but this works for now.”
“Isn’t bringing me in here going to be… um…”
“Awkward? No. Many ladies bring their men in here to explain what they’d like to see in the bedroom. Isn’t that right?” Lorelei asked the sales associate who suddenly appeared right in front of the couple.
“Absolutely,” she smiled boldly without missing a beat. Alex’s gaze rose up from the floor to trace quickly up those shapely legs in black lace stockings, a tight, knee-length black skirt and an ample bust under a black tee. His eyes finally settled on her rather pretty face. Pert nose, smooth skin, short, curly black hair. Amusement in her almond eyes.
“Hi, I’m Audrey,” she said, offering her hand. “I’m the store manager.”
Alex blinked. Store managers didn’t randomly offer to shake hands. She was clearly fucking with him only because this was so embarrassing. He considered dying, right there on the spot. Instead, he simply shook her hand and mumbled, “Hi, I’m Alex.”
Audrey winked. Then, as Lorelei spoke again, her expression seemed to change. The hot lingerie store manager started looking at Alex like he would make an exciting addition to her bedroom furniture.
“My boyfriend here has been a bit deprived,” Lorelei said to Audrey. She stood closer to the other woman than necessary, speaking almost directly into her ear. “He’s-well, forgive me for being so forward, but he’s a thrill a minute in the bedroom. I’d do literally anything he asked of me, but he just doesn’t know what to ask for. No idea what to call things. Religious upbringing.”
“I see,” Audrey nodded. Her eyes were locked on Alex’s.
“So now that he’s free to enjoy himself, I’d love make sure he has a good time. You know, wear the right things to drive him mad. I couldn’t ever blame any woman for throwing herself at him. Anyway, I think he could stand an education from an expert.”
“I’d be more than happy to help,” Audrey offered. Her chest rose and fell a bit heavily.
“I’ve got a lot of shopping to do, and the mall won’t be open too much longer. Could I leave him in your capable hands? I’m sure he’ll show a lot of gratitude.” Her tone conveyed a very clear offer.
“Absolutely,” Audrey said. She still had his hand.
Lorelei leaned over and kissed his neck. “Let go and have some fun, master,” she hissed. “It will be good for all three of us.”
“What-are you leaving?” Alex blinked.
“I’ve another spot to visit here, and not much time tonight,” Lorelei said as she walked away. “I’ll know when you’re ready to leave.”
* * *
J’Von, Tony and Mike were wandering the terraces of Pacific Place when they spotted their prey leaving the store alone.
“We gonna go get her?” Mike asked.
“What, right here in the middle of the mall?” Tony frowned. “This is a rich people’s mall. Cops’ll be on us like flies on shit if we screw up.”
“He’s right,” J’Von nodded, “but we ought’a let her go, anyway. Think I saw her boy still there in the store. She’ll come back.”
“So what? You wanna wait?”
“If that bitch really did do Damon, she gotta be, like, mob or some shit,” J’Von thought aloud. “For real. But her boy there, he look like he’s her kid brother or somethin’. He’s the weak link. We grab him, it don’t matter if we get her right away or not. She’ll have to play ball.”
“The fuck’s he doin’ in there, anyway?” Tony grumbled.
J’Von scowled. “Maybe homeboy needs some new panties?”
* * *
“These are thongs, and these are what we call boy cut panties, which is what I generally prefer,” Audrey explained with that cool, teasing smile. She played the whole lecturer angle fairly straight, but her grin, the look in her eyes and the way she stayed well within Alex’s personal space hinted at much more of an educational experience than simple vocabulary lessons.
Alex felt like he could die. This was embarrassing. It was also irresistible, entirely because of Audrey’s physical nearness and the looks she gave him as she took him through her store.
“You see a little bit more skin with thongs, of course, but there are times when less is more. Boy cut panties hold a little more allure.”
“I can imagine that,” he replied, managing a grin. The urge to flirt back slowly began to overtake his embarrassment.
“It’s probably best if I just give a hands-on demonstration,” she mused. “Maybe something a little more intimate.”
Okay, perhaps this isn’t something to die over, Alex considered as he felt her breath on his right ear and the side of his neck.
“Alex Carlisle?” a voice asked.
He looked up. Across the table full of thongs and lacy boy shorts stood the tall, lovely girl who’d kept at least a quarter of his higher brain functions preoccupied through his junior and senior years. She had-unwittingly and innocently, and he knew it-cost him many hours of sleep. He turned up late for his second crack at the SATs when she’d had a flat tire and called him in a panic, unable to find anyone else. He missed pretty much every decent play his high school football team made because he paid more attention to her in her cheerleading uniform.