“Hm, yes, something softer, more delicate, would suit your disposition much better.” She clicked her forked tongue and tapped her talon-like nails against the table as she seemingly lost herself in thought. I debated telling her that it didn’t matter, but then she snapped her fingers, apparently having arrived at a conclusion. “I may have just the thing!”

Excitedly, she rifled through the rack to the left of the corset display, murmuring a series of curt noes before letting out a triumphant “Ah-ha.” She held up her find: a light blue babydoll nightdress. It was sheer where it flared out from the tie under the bust, and the hems were lined with decorative lace.

It was pretty.

Beautiful, in fact.

“This goes with your eyes,” the shopkeeper said. “It also has a matching thong, and if your prince doesn’t fall to his knees at the sight of these, then he needs his brain readjusting.”

She was good at her job, I’d give her that, but even if she was only blowing smoke up my ass for the sake of a sale, it didn’t deter my interest now that it had been piqued. The set was adorable, and not too out there, even if the thong made me nervous. Alex always said pale blue was my color, so it was almost like it was meant to be.

My heart beat a little faster. I’d never been particularly adventurous in bed. Sure, I liked being bitten until I bled, told what to do a little, and I’d recently discovered I liked my hands being restrained, but coming up with new things to try wasn’t in my wheelhouse.

Well, except sex positions, but those only came to me because of the books I read.

It would definitely be a surprise for Cair, but would it be one he’d appreciate? What was I saying? Cair was horny for anything I did, and he’d never dream of ridiculing me, so there was every chance he’d see me dressed up and go absolutely feral—a thought that had my belly heating. Would I still feel the rough grip of his hands through the fabric? Would his fangs pierce the layers and mark my skin?

Would he call me pretty as he bounced me on his cock and made me beg to come?

“Alright, I’ll take it!”

The shopkeeper beamed at me before her keen eyes raked over my body as if mentally memorizing my shape. She nodded to herself, then returned her gaze to mine. “Perfect! I’ll grab your size from the back. Meet me over by the counter in just a moment.”

With that, she moved gracefully toward the curtain behind the till, but before ducking through, she paused and turned back to me, her face lit up. “Oh! I almost forgot, we have a brand-new range of spiked anal beads in stock. Can I interest you in a sapphire set to match your lingerie? I’ll give you a twenty percent discount.”

I blinked.