Inside the Lines: Without a Trace series, a contemporary erotic romance novel by Ally Bishop Page B

hugs me again. “Thank you so much.” Her eyes shine with joy.
    I drop a kiss on her forehead. “You are very welcome. I’m glad you’re happy. He seems like a keeper.”
    She nods, then casts a sly glance over at Fin. “So does he. I’m happy for you, too.”
    We exchange grins, and my heart feels lighter as I watch her nearly skip out of the room towards her lover. I slip behind Fin and thread my arms around his waist. “Watch’ya looking at?” I peer around his shoulder.
    He’s handling a rubber flogger handmade from recycled bike tires, according to the description on the price tag. I crane my neck to see his expression, amused when I discover something between horror and fascination there.
    “You thinking you’d like to give that a whirl?” I tease.
    He doesn’t say anything, just lays it back out on its display pad. His arm circles my waist, drawing me against his side, and then he whispers, “I’d be begging for death.”
    I laugh. “Only if your lover doesn’t do it right. It’s not as bad as it looks.” I glance back at the flogger. “Well, maybe that one is. But we’ll stick with the fun stuff.” I wink at him, and we return to the front.
    Shay is dusting the front counter, looking nothing like a sex shop owner.
    “Lux Trace? Girl, get over here and give me a squeeze!”
    I gladly follow instructions, as Shay is a dear friend. Tall, with plenty of curves, her mixed ethnic background reads like a Who’s Who of the Middle East. As a single mom with three kids, she’s always been tough as nails, but she’s well known in the kink and vanilla communities alike as someone who makes it comfortable for just about anybody to buy something to amp up their sex life.
    I introduce Fin, and she gives me a knowing grin. “Uh-huh. So you’re looking for a little something to spice up the night?”
    Fin turns an attractive shade of pink. “What would ye recommend?”
    “I recommend you keep talking, gorgeous. Damn, girl, how do you stand it? With that sexy accent and that smile—not to mention those eyes—you just come with me, honey. We’ll see who you go home with tonight.” She grins as only Shay can, loops her arm through Fin’s, and guides us over to the center of the shop. She explains several dildos and vibrators to Fin that, in fairness, look more like art pieces than sex toys. He asks questions, eyes several items seriously, and then finally settles on a vibrator.
    I watch, surprised by how open Fin continues to be. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he never stops glancing my way and giving me that crooked smile that sends my heart into flight. Damn him.
    On our way out of the store, there’s a gorgeous display of hand-painted jewelry, and I stop to check it out. The piece that catches my eyes is a deep blue leather cuff covered in an ornately detailed peacock’s feather.
    “I thought ye dinna like to be restrained?”
    “These are jewelry. Completely different.” The price tag is no small thing, so I admire but keep walking. “We should get home. We have a vibrator to try out tonight. You’re the one who’ll be restrained anyway.”
    That gets his attention. “Wait, this is for me?” He holds up the neatly wrapped, lacy bag containing his purchase.
    I grin. “Of course. Who else would it be for?”
    He makes a show of turning around to go back in.
    “Where are you going?” I ask, laughing and grabbing his arm.
    “I’m exchanging it for a smaller one.”

Chapter 13
    Behind the Barn Door
    It’s been two days, and I miss him. Terribly. I’m pathetic, I know. But Fin’s like no one I’ve ever been around: easy to smile, honest, and without guile. It doesn’t hurt that he’s completely infatuated with all things Lux Trace, I admit. Unlike previous partners, he has his own interests and passions, and he shares them openly and with gusto. I actually look forward to hearing his thoughts, and while it’s only been a couple of weeks, I find myself thinking of excuses to text