Page 30 of Illicit Education
I nodded. “Definitely.”
Mina grinned, then looked past me into the store. “Laurel, ring up that bustier Rylan was admiring, the black velvet one.” She paused, giving me a quick once-over. “And the magenta under-bust corset we just got in. Both on me.”
My eyes widened. “No, no, you don’t… I can’t–”
Mina winked. “Pair the bustier with some slacks like those”—she pointed at my pants– “for work, or maybe a nice pencil skirt–no jeans–and you’ll be all set. The under-bust corset will look amazing over a white dress shirt. Consider it your welcome gift, or uniform allowance.” She flashed a smile. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few things to tend to before I head downstairs.” She slipped back into the office and closed the door, leaving me a bit dumbstruck.
Greer grinned wildly by the cash register. She’d already grabbed the corset in question and Laurel was on her way back with the magenta under-bust corset, which was apparently just a maze of straps that looked completely confusing. I hoped it came with instructions.
As I approached the register, Greer pushed the corset against my chest. “Put it on.”
I set it on the counter. “No way. I’m not wearing thatnow.” I glanced at Laurel, hoping that hadn’t come across offensively. “Aren’t we going to go eat? This is for work.”
“Fine. But you’re putting it on when we come back after dinner.”
My eyes narrowed. “How did you know we were coming back?”
Greer beamed. “I was invited.”
Laurel smiled, slipping the corset into the bag and passing it back over the counter. “See you tonight, ladies.”
As we reached the exit, Greer whispered, “Lacey invited me.”
I turned to face her again. “That woman from the bar you talk about nonstop?”
Greer’s eyes widened and flicked to Laurel, then back at me. She grabbed my wrist and pulled me through the door out onto the sidewalk. “Laceyworkshere, Ry,” she whispered in horror. “God, I can’t take you anywhere.” Greer shook her head as we headed toward the pub across the street.
“I didn’t even say anything embarrassing.”
She scoffed. “Oh, only that I talk about her all the time.”
Rolling my eyes, I pulled the door open and followed Greer inside the noisy pub. We settled into a booth at the back of the bar area, and I realized for the first time tonight that my best friend could barely hold still. And, as much as she loved me, it finally occurred to me that she was probably not buzzing from excitement over my internship–or even my new job at the lingerie store. Something else had her lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
After ordering my loaded potato skins and a pint of blonde ale, I rested my forearms on the table and looked pointedly at my best friend. “Okay, tell me about the bunny hole.”
Greer rolled her lips to keep from laughing. “Rabbit Hole, Rylan. Like, when Alice slipped into therabbit holeand all of her fantasies came to life?”
Ah. That makes more sense. “All right, so… what’s so big about this, like, underground nightclub or whatever?”
“It’s a fetish club.”
“Awhat?” I said way too loudly.
Greer leaned forward. “It’s a fetish club,” she whispered. “Kink. Bondage.”
“I know what a fetish club is!”
Greer cocked one eyebrow incredulously. “Then why did you make me explain?”
“I didn’t… never mind.” The pieces began falling into place. The vague way Mina described things, the hint at a non-disclosure agreement…
Shaking my head, I asked, “And Lacey… works there? Downstairs, I mean?”
Greer nodded, her eyes wary. “She’s having a fashion show tonight and she invited me. She went to the Fashion Institute.”
I pursed my lips, considering what kind of fashion a person might wear at a fetish club.
“Stop. I know what you’re thinking.”