“Be careful of Bailey,” she squealed with dismay, reaching out to try to find the dog.
“I moved her after turning out the lights,” Dante said reassuringly as he crawled up her body. “I suspect things are going to get interesting on the bed and did not wish her harmed.”
“Oh,” Mary breathed, and then, “Ohhh,” as his hands began to move. Her last thought, before he stole her ability to think of anything but him, was that things were always interesting on the bed with Dante Notte . . . glow in the dark penis or not.
Seventeen
“What about this dress?” Francis asked, holding up a knee length dress in a deep crimson. “You might need something for dressy nights out if you can drag Dante out of bed long enough for him to take you out to dinner.”
Mary eyed the dress and almost winced. The color was just too close to the color of bagged blood for her to want to wear it. It was bad enough she had to drink the stuff; she didn’t want to dress herself in it. Fortunately, she didn’t have to say as much. Francis must have read her mind because he suddenly lowered the hanger and grimaced.
“Yes, I can see that would not do then.”
Mary smiled faintly and said, “I think I have enough, Francis.”
“Thank God,” Lucian said dryly.
Mary glanced over with amusement at the three men all now rising from the chairs by the change room. Dante, Russell, and Lucian had sat there since entering this last store over an hour ago, all three of them keeping their opinions and comments to themselves as Francis helped her pick out clothes. Until now, that was.
“Not quite,” Francis countered, and pointed out, “We have everything but lingerie.”
Lucian groaned and sat down again. Russell did as well. Dante, however, moved closer to offer, “I will help with that.”
“Oh, no you won’t,” Mary said at once on a laugh. “Lucian would end up dragging you out of the changing room again like he did at the last store.”
This was the third store Francis had dragged them to since leaving the Enforcer House that morning. The first hadn’t seemed to have much in the way of clothes suitable for warm weather. They’d left the second in a rush after Dante had decided to “help” her change and scandalized nearly everyone in the store with the moans, groans, gasps and cries he’d drawn from Mary as he’d helped himself to her rather than just “help” her undress in the tiny cubicle. If Lucian hadn’t interrupted and dragged Dante out when he had, they’d probably just now be waking up from unconsciousness in a heap on the dressing room floor. Or in jail for indecent something or other.
When they’d entered this store, Lucian had insisted Dante sit with him and Russell and leave Francis alone to help her.
“Mary is right,” Francis said at once, stepping between Dante and Mary. “You would be of no help at all. Go sit down.”
She smiled faintly as disappointment immediately filled Dante’s expression and he turned to reclaim his seat, and then turned to Francis. “Actually, while I appreciate all your help today, Francis, I don’t think I want you helping me pick out intimate apparel either. It’s kind of . . . well . . . intimate,” she said dryly.
“He understands completely,” Lucian said, standing up again. “We shall leave you to it and go have a beverage in the food court while you get what you need.”
Dante looked surprised at the announcement and stood up with a frown. “I do not want to leave her by herself. What if something happens?”
“We are not in Texas,” Russell pointed out reasonably. “She is perfectly safe here in Toronto, Dante.”
“Russell’s right,” Lucian announced, and then turned to begin collecting the clothing Francis had been setting on the last chair as he spoke. “We will pay for all of this now so that you need not be hindered by trying to keep track of it all while you select your intimate apparel. Russell, Francis and Dante will then take it out to the car and join me in the food court for a beverage,” he added, handing items to each man until all the clothing was gathered but he held none. “I shall leave my credit card with the cashier. Just have her ring up everything you want and collect my credit card when she is finished with it, and then join us in the food court.”
Turning away then, Lucian headed for the front of the store. Russell and Francis immediately followed, but Dante paused to kiss her quickly on the forehead. “Shout if you have any problem, anything at all. I will hear you and come running.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said with amusement. “I have shopped before, Dante.”
“I know, Tesoro. But you are my life. I worry.”
“You’re sweet,” Mary murmured and leaned up to kiss his cheek. “Now go. I have scanty silky bits to buy to tempt you with.”
As she expected, his dark eyes immediately began to glow silver and he moved toward her, growling under his throat.
Laughing, Mary ducked the hand he reached for her with and waved to the front of the store. “Go.”