[Next Morning] [10:17 AM]
Charlie woke up in a king-size hotel bed with sunlight creeping through the curtains. He turned his head slowly, every muscle still humming from last night's marathon. Laura lay beside him, one leg draped over the sheets, her hair a beautiful mess, and a lazy smile already forming as her eyes fluttered open.
"Morning, Rockstar," she said, stretching like a cat.
Charlie smiled. "Morning, Lady Luck."
They didn't linger too long. After a quick shower and a mutual agreement that pancakes were non-negotiable, Charlie pulled on a clean button-down, some fitted jeans, and his favorite boots. Laura wore a tight black tank top, distressed jeans, and boots. He pulled Laura close before they left the room.
"Since we won big last night," he said. "I think it's only fair we spend some of it where it counts."
Laura gave him a suspicious smile. "You're buying me a private jet?"
He laughed. "Maybe one day. But today, we're going shopping."
..
[Shopping District – 11:42 AM]
The upscale stretch of Melrose Avenue was busy as usual as Charlie and Laura stepped out of the car. Charlie tossed the keys to the valet and slipped on his sunglasses. Laura adjusted her oversized shades. The morning sun hit just right, reflecting off the boutique windows and polished luxury vehicles. Everything looked expensive as hell.
Their first stop was a boutique that specialized in high-end streetwear and formalwear. The interior smelled of leather and fresh fabric, the kind of place where the hangers were made of brushed steel and the lighting made every stitch look expensive.
Charlie headed straight for the suits, running his fingers over the fabric like he was judging wine. A store clerk approached, all black turtleneck and a curated mustache.
"Something for a red carpet event, perhaps?" the clerk asked.
"Something formal, but not too catchy."
The clerk's eyes lit up. "Right this way."
Charlie tried on several outfits. A dark velvet blazer that shimmered under the lights. A crisp white shirt with hidden buttons that fit like it had been sewn onto his frame. Slim-fit black trousers that made him look like he had an agenda and a backup plan.
Meanwhile, Laura browsed the women's section. The boutique's assistant brought out dress after dress, each one flirtier than the last. Laura chose a deep burgundy wrap dress that clung to her curves, a silver backless number that looked sexy, and a short leather minidress that looked like trouble with a zipper.
She walked out of the changing room wearing the burgundy wrap, did a slow turn, and raised an eyebrow at Charlie.
He paused mid-button and stared. "That one. Absolutely that one."
They bought three sets for each, and Charlie bought three sets for Lisa too.
From there, they walked down the block to a high-end shoe store. The walls were lined with everything from Italian leather boots to stilettos.
Charlie picked up a pair of sharp-toed Chelsea boots in oxblood red and matched them with a suede pair in matte black. Laura tried on heels that made her taller than him for a moment, strappy sandals that wrapped halfway up her calves, and a pair of silver stilettos that practically begged for a spotlight.
They bought two sets for each and for Lisa.
Next came makeup.
They entered a luxury cosmetics store that had the brightness of a spaceship and the layout of an art museum. Laura didn't hesitate. She knew what she wanted. Foundation, highlighter, smoky palettes, and a matte lipstick set that ranged from "Boardroom Boss" to "After Midnight."
Charlie grabbed a second basket and filled it with what Lisa usually uses and some more that he had no idea about.
"Think she'll like it?" he asked.
Laura smiled as she tossed in a second tube of coral gloss. "Yup!" She looked into the basket. "You know her too well."
By the time they reached the register, they had racked up nearly five thousand dollars in beauty products, shoes, and designer clothes. Charlie didn't blink. He simply handed the card.
Their next stop was a boutique tucked between a designer eyewear shop and a champagne tasting lounge. The window display left little to the imagination: sheer lace, silk garters, and mannequins in transparent bikinis and lingerie. Oh, there were some weird clothes for men too.
The sign above the entrance read: Velvet Vice.
Charlie glanced at Laura. "Lingerie?"
Laura smirked. "If we're spending, we might as well make the nights interesting too."
Inside, the lighting was bright but with a slight reddish tone. The scent of rosewood and musk hung in the air, mixing with the soft sound of jazz. Racks of satin, lace, leather, and mesh were arranged like art pieces.
A tall woman with platinum hair and a tape measure draped around her neck greeted them. "Looking for something bold or something that leaves your man breathless?"
Laura grinned. "Both."
She disappeared into the red-lit back area and returned a few minutes later with a handful of pieces: a black lace teddy with a plunging neckline and open sides, a deep emerald garter set that looked vintage and dangerous, and a velvety crimson robe that made Charlie's imagination run wild.
She held up the teddy and raised a brow. "This says 'rockstar girlfriend,' right?"
Charlie stared for a beat, then nodded. "That says, 'don't make plans tomorrow.'"
Laura gave him a sly look, then disappeared into a fitting room.
While she was gone, Charlie wandered over to the men's section. It was smaller but just as provocative. Silky boxers, mesh shirts, and leather harnesses that looked like they belonged in a music video or a lawsuit. He picked out a midnight blue silk robe with gold trim and a matching pair of boxers.
Laura returned wearing the emerald set beneath the crimson robe. She gave him a single spin.
Charlie whistled low. "We're going to get banned from hotels."
They spent nearly half an hour shopping. Charlie bought a transparent yellow lingerie, a purple silk robe, a micro bikini, a sexy short office dress that one usually wears behind closed doors, and three sets of bridal lingerie for Lisa.
After stuffing their last bags into the trunk of the Mercedes, Charlie stretched his arms overhead and cracked his neck with the satisfied groan of a man who had just burned a hole through his bank account and enjoyed every second of it.
"So," Laura said with a knowing grin. "We going full tilt with this day or pacing ourselves?"
Charlie gave her a long look, reached for his phone, and tapped into the maps app. Then he turned to her, completely straight-faced.
"There's a place three blocks from here. Neon sign. No windows. It's called... Pleasure Loft."
Laura's eyes lit up behind her sunglasses. "You Googled it?"
"I Googled everything within five miles that made me raise an eyebrow," he said. "This one raised both."
Ten minutes later, they were inside.
That place was surprisingly clean. No sleaze, no creepy lighting. Just well-lit, polished shelves, glass cases, and a curated atmosphere that was somewhere between a modern art gallery and an upscale apothecary. Everything was color-coded, labeled clearly, and tastefully packaged. A couple of shoppers browsed quietly, like they were buying luxury candles and not premium-grade restraints.
Laura was in her element.
She made a beeline for the accessories wall, eyes gleaming. First, she grabbed a set of padded leather handcuffs, testing the give on the straps. Next, a black suede flogger that she flicked once against her palm.
'Looks good,' she thought.
Charlie picked up a pair of blindfolds, one velvet, one satin, and gave Laura a look that said options matter.
In the next aisle, Laura found chokers: one simple black leather, the other decked with a steel O-ring. She tossed both into the shopping basket.
Then came the butt plugs. Three different shapes, ranging from slim and curved to one that looked borderline decorative. Laura read the labels like she was choosing fine wine. "For variety," she explained, adding them one by one.
She strolled by a glass case and pointed at a chrome-finished ball gag, nodding at the store clerk. "That one too, please."
The clerk smiled without blinking. "Excellent choice." [Clerk was a milf.]
Charlie hovered nearby, pretending not to be flustered. Then Laura called out, holding a pair of nipple clamps on a silver chain.
"You trust me, right?"
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "I'm rethinking all my childhood choices."
She winked and dropped them in the basket.
Around the corner, they entered the costume section. Laura picked out a sexy nurse outfit with a red cross patch on the chest, a schoolgirl skirt and crop top, and a French maid costume complete with lace trim and a feather duster accessory.
Charlie wandered over to the couples section and returned a few minutes later holding a cat costume: Fluffy ears, black mesh bodysuit, and a matching butt plug tail attachment.
He held it up with a smirk. "For Lisa. She's got... moods."
Laura burst out laughing. "I don't know what's wilder—that you picked it, or that she'll probably rock it better than I would."
They checked out with two full baskets and zero shame. The clerk boxed everything with professional efficiency and handed them a discreet matte black bag that looked like it belonged in a boutique perfume shop.
Back in the car, Charlie started the engine, glanced at Laura, and asked, "Shall we grab some lunch before heading back?"
After that, they grabbed a quick lunch and went back to Malibu. Tonight was going to be fun.
---
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