Page 21 of Faded Colors

She leans in, whispering in my ear. A shiver runs down my spine.

“Sounds like a plan,” I say, kissing her. “Do you want to order it on the internet or go in person?”

She grins. “In person. I like to be involved in the process.”

“I figured,” I reply, starting the car. “Let’s go then. I heard Daisy talking about the shop she went to after she broke up with her boyfriend and needed to… take care of her own needs.”

Lexa turns to stare at me. “Daisy went to a sex shop?”

“Don’t be a prude, cariño,” I tease. “It’s normal. Besides, it’s about time you join the club.”

She laughs. “Okay, okay. I’m curious and I want to try everything with you.”

This is why I adore her. She’s always willing to try new things.

I never would’ve imagined she’d be so curious when we first met. The Golden Girl and the sex shop don’t exactly match. But then again, she’s full of surprises, and I love discovering every one of them.

And I’m ready for it. Bring it on.

The drive there shouldn’t take long, but the traffic is brutal, so by the time we get to the shop, it’s already past noon. I park the car, then look at Lexa, who’s biting her lip.

“Are you sure about this?” I ask. “We don’t need to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

“No, I want to. I’m just nervous, I guess.”

I take her hand, squeezing it. “There’s nothing to be nervous about. It’s just a store, like any other. And we’re just looking. We don’t have to buy anything if we don’t want to.”

“Okay,” she says. “Let’s do it.”

We get out of the car and walk toward the entrance. The sign above the door says “Pleasure Palace,” in pink neon letters. I smirk. It’s such a cheesy name, but so fitting.

I hold the door for Lexa. She steps inside, her eyes widening as she takes in the scene.

The shop is bigger than I expected, with rows and rows of products on display. There’s everything from lingerie, to toys, to DVDs, to bondage gear.

The walls are painted black, the lighting dim, the music soft and sensual. It smells like incense and perfume, a heady mix that makes me feel a little dizzy.

“Wow,” Lexa whispers. “This is… something.”

I chuckle. “Yeah. Come on, let’s explore.”

We wander around the store, looking at all the different items.

“Do you have much experience with this?” Lexa asks, picking up a vibrator and examining it curiously.

“Personally, no. But the girls at the Gators were crazy about it and they weren’t shy about sharing their experiences.”

“So this is all new for you too?” she asks, her voice tinged with hope.

I can tell she’s glad she’s not the only one who’s clueless about what we’re doing in here. While she wasn’t the first girl I was with, she was the first one that counted, and we’re learning this part of each other together. It’s kind of hot.

“Yes, but I always wanted to try it,” I confess. “To experiment. But I never had anyone to do it with.”

“Well, now you do,” she says, smiling shyly. “And I want to try everything with you. I want to make you feel good.”

Heat floods through me. “God, you’re so sexy when you say things like that.”

She laughs. “I’m glad you think so. Because I mean it.”