CHAPTER 41: MEETING HUBBY'S FRIENDS III
Diana's jaw dropped as her gaze landed on the price tags. They were astronomical, each garment whispering of exclusivity and obscene wealth. "James," she gasped, turning to him.
He raised an eyebrow and shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes. "Baby," he drawled, "you're married to a tycoon. Time to step up your wardrobe. Besides if i can accommodate your taste, shouldn't you also accommodate mine?".
Diana considered this. He wasn't wrong. "Fair enough," she conceded, a smile tugging at her lips.
She disappeared into the fitting room with Melissa, the stylist, while James flipped through a magazine, trying to appear nonchalant a bored facade barely masking his excitement. But his ears perked up at every rustle of silk, every whisper of Melissa's praise.
Diana emerged in a series of corporate outfits – power pant suits, sleek dresses, and sharply tailored skirts each paired with the perfect heels and bag. Each piece amplified her confidence, making her feel like a force to be reckoned with.
James, engrossed in a magazine, occasionally looked up, his eyes gleaming with approval. He loved them all, his eyes scanning her body with a possessive hunger. He wanted to buy every color, every variation, but Diana put her foot down to keep him in check, otherwise she would have gone home with the whole shop. She wouldn't turn into a walking advertisement for his money.
Finally, they reached the nightwear section. Diana's stomach clenched. The last thing she wanted was to parade her half naked body in front of James, knowing how easily she ignited to his touch and light caresses. She just couldn't resist him and she definitely didn't need another layer of silk fueling the flames.. "Can't you just pick these for me while I try on the lingerie?" she pleaded.
James shook his head. "At least try on a few nightgowns for me," he pleaded, his voice husky.
"Are we negotiating now?" Diana asked back.
"No am asking, come on" he drawled.
Diana grumbled, but accepted. She took the three nightgowns he designated, her cheeks burning, and turned to Melissa with a forced smile. "I'm good, Melissa. I can take it from here." Melissa melted away, leaving Diana alone with her anxieties.
The door clicked shut, and James leaned back, a predator waiting for his prey.
Alone in the fitting room, She donned the first nightgown, a simple silk slip that skimmed her curves. James, already standing few meteres away from the door, gave a curt nod. Before he could move closer, Diana scurried back into the room.
James chuckled. "Did my little wife just outsmart me?" He said in a small voice to no one in particular.
The next gown was a masterpiece. Short, sleeveless, it whispered against her skin, transparent as dreams, clung to her curves like a second skin, revealing huge glimpses of a better part of her breast beneath the moonlight-soft silk.
As she stood before him, James felt the room fade away, replaced by the scent of her, the heat of her, the sheer, exquisite vision of her. His throat went dry.
He reached out, fingers grazing the delicate fabric that felt soft against her skin. His breath caught in his throat. The room seemed to tilt, the air thick with the scent of her perfume and unspoken promises. She stood silhouetted against the light, like a goddess bathed in moonlight, and for a moment, he could only stare, speechless.
Then, he moved, drawn by an invisible force. His fingers grasped her arms before she could escape again, sending a shiver down her spine.
Diana gasped as he grabbed her and swallowed. His eyes, hungry flames, devoured her inch by inch, each flicker of anticipation mirroring her own.
James leaned close, his voice a husky whisper against her ear. "This one, baby. Wear this for me tonight".
Diana felt her body ignite, a delicious fire spreading through her. She pushed him away playfully, needing a moment to breathe. "I think I'm done trying things on," she declared, her voice breathless.
James chuckled, content to give her space, his patience a virtue. He settled back, content to wait, a slow smile playing on his lips and watched as she finally tackled the lingerie.
When she finally emerged, her eyes met his, he saw the exhaustion on her face, the way her shoulders slumped with fatigue. Suddenly, the clothes, the shopping spree, all paled in comparison to the woman before him. He just wanted to hold her, to soothe her tired body, to make her smile.
James' eyes softened at the fatigue etched on Diana's face, but he held his tongue. Instead of pushing her further, he called the manager and ordered all their selections delivered to Holland Gardens.
The manager, accustomed to James' mercurial moods, bowed in silent acknowledgement.
"Come on, dear," he said gently, taking her hand. "Let's head home."
Diana's eyes widened. "Without the clothes?"
"They'll be delivered," James assured her. "Besides, you're obviously tired."
But Diana, fueled by a sudden burst of energy, shook her head "Not yet," she protested, a spark of defiance flickering in her eyes. "We need to go to the market, I want to make you dinner."
He looked at her, his surprise genuine. "You want to make me dinner despite being this exhausted?"