Irreplaceable

“I’m not really into pain.”

“Pain!” She burst out laughing. “Beauty comes with pain, but my goal is to keep you as relaxed and distracted as possible. Now get those jeans and panties off and cover yourself with this. I’ll be back in a couple.”

“Panties?”

“Mm-hmm. Part of the hot-date package, but no worries, I’ll take care of you.”

She walked out and shut the door behind her. Holy hell, was I really going to get fully waxed? Would she remove all the hair, or leave a little something? It was February, after all—too cold to go bare, right? Or was I just being crazy? I pulled off my jeans and looked down at my purple panties.

Yeah, definitely crazy. I needed Logan to have my body at its best, and a man like him would want all smooth sailing—quite literally.

I shimmied out of my panties and lay back down, covering myself with the towel she’d left.

“Knock knock, you ready?” Maya opened the door and stepped inside. She must’ve seen the apprehension on my face, or perhaps it was my wide eyes and hands clutching the side of the table that did it, but she blew out a breath and smiled.

“So tell me about this guy of yours. Hottie? He must be if he caught your attention, especially after Mark. God, I’m sorry, but your ex is a dumbass.”

My hands clutched the table harder—not because of the fear of having my skin torn off, but from thinking about Mark.

“Yeah, he is,” I grumbled through gritted teeth.

“You’re going to show him, though. I don’t remember you ever coming in here to get all prettied up for him.” She giggled, and I relaxed instantly.

“All right, what you thinkin’? Brazilian, or—”

“Take it all! Just do it quick before I change my mind,” I spit out, and she laughed louder.

“You got it.” The heat of the wax being spread over a place few had seen left me uneasy, but Maya was a friend from elementary school and had been working at the salon since her aunt opened it when she was thirteen. If anyone was good for the job, it was her.

“So, this mystery man…you hoping to screw him at your place or his?”

“What—AHHH!” I bit my lip hard. “Damn! That hurt!”

“Yes, but you didn’t see it coming. Mind over matter.”

I closed my eyes, breathing steadily, ready for the next one.

“Wow, you look amazing!” Hilary jumped from the spot she’d occupied for over three long hours and rushed toward me.

I was both sore and excited. Full Brazilian? Check. Smooth legs and underarms, and brows primped to the perfect arch? Check. Hair full of curls and sprayed with enough chemicals to outlast a tsunami? Check. And last but not least, makeup that screamed sexy, including a dark, smoky eye? Check.

I was all ready to go for the next phase, which included a grocery trip.

“Come on, I still have to get some food to cook for dinner, and then I gotta get dressed.”

It was already pressing four o’clock, and he’d be there at six on the dot. I had no doubt about that—especially since I’d made it clear he didn’t want to be late.

“Already done,” Hilary replied, holding open the salon door for me.

What? When? I stared at her, waiting for her to explain.

“You didn’t really think I could sit there and look at magazines that long, did you?” She smiled. “Go home. Everything you need is there.”

Grinning, I gave her a big hug, relieved I was able to go home. “Thanks.”

“No problem, but I expect to see you at my door tomorrow with full details!”

“Making no promises,” I shot back, still smiling as I headed to my car.

Hilary’s idea of dinner differed greatly from mine. The groceries she’d piled into my fridge included oysters, a cooked rotisserie chicken, strawberries, chocolate sauce, and four cans of whipped cream. On the counter was another bag, which included a box of biscuits and can of corn.

I shook my head, irritated but amused. I should’ve known better—or at least asked her before I’d driven all the way home. There was no time to go back out, so I’d just have to go with it.

After preparing everything in the kitchen, I headed for the bedroom with my new bag of clothes. Slipping my toes into the pantyhose, I began to feel it—the awakening of the relentless beast that lived deep in my gut and seemed to answer to only Logan. The garters were snapped in place, corset sewn up my front with a ribbon.

Standing in front of the mirror, I could no longer see the girl who was worried about heartbreak or love. I was a woman—a fierce woman about to have sex with a man who’d fulfill some piece of me that would give me my independence back. Give me back my empowering will to live my life without the need for a man…at least, until the right man came along.

I buttoned the dress, slowly covering the treat underneath, and let my imagination run wild with thoughts about how he’d unwrap me. A slow, seductive play of undoing each button at a time, or a quick rip down the front, buttons flying in the air as he laid his eyes upon the naughty side of me, dressed in black lace just for him?

There I stood, fully dressed, including a pair of black six-inch pumps Hilary had left in front of my closet. The image reflected from my full-length mirror was overwhelming, powerful, and beautiful. I was a real woman, and ready for Logan to hear me roar.

I turned to my side, bending over to see exactly how much of a show Logan would be getting before the main event. The dress tugged up to show just a hint of the garters underneath. Logan was in for one hell of a surprise tonight.

The alarm clock on my bedside table glowed ten to six, and the butterflies were fully aware of it. As I turned to leave the room, my phone went off in my purse sitting on the bed.

I answered to Hilary’s bubbly voice.

“Nice grocery shopping!” I complained instead of saying hello.

“What? It’s exactly what I’d want.” She giggled.

“I’m sure it is.” I rolled my eyes, smiling. “I can’t talk, he’ll be here any minute.”

“I know, but first look beside your bed, between the side table and your mattress.”

Curious, I walked around the bed to find a hot-pink gift bag poking out. I picked it up and sat on the bed holding it. Tissue paper covered the contents.

“Should I be afraid to look inside?” I asked.

“It’s five fifty four, hurry up and open it!”

“All right.” Jeez, she was more nervous than I was.

I pulled out the tissue paper and gasped.

“Seriously, Hilary!?”

Her laughter filled my head as I dumped the rest of the bag onto the bed. There was the biggest box of multi-size condoms I’d ever seen. Judging by the girth pressed to my backside the night we slept together, there was only one size that man was going to need.

“Two minutes left! Have fun! And Cassandra, whatever happens, it’s okay to let yourself feel everything you do for him.” With that, she hung up.

I knew she was hoping tonight would help me see how much Logan meant to me and be less one-night-stand, closure sex. She wouldn’t say it straight out, but I knew she wanted me to forgive him.

I shook my head and pulled my attention down to the pump-style bottle of lube (which I was positive we wouldn’t be needing), rhinestone-encrusted nipple clamps, blindfold, and pair of fuzzy handcuffs that were scatted over my comforter.