TEMPTATION

Miriam’s POV

Surprisingly he looked cute, flashing me that bright smile.

His bright smile seems to take my breath away. I have to admit my husband was a good looking man.

He might not be the man I thought I was going to marry, he will fill in for now.

“Uhmmm…. So what were you doing at the men's clothing store?” Lazar asked.

I had almost forgotten why I drove all the way to the mall. 

“I came to get some clothes for you. I noticed you did not bring anything with you when you moved to my place. Or do you stay close by? We can go over to your place and pick up your things.” 

I have no idea why I did not think of that solution in the first place.

Lazar's face got pale again and he kept looking at his secretary weirdly.

“Are you okay?” I asked, confused.

Or wait, does he not have a place he is staying.

“Well… I think…going to my place will not be convenient right now.” Lazar replied. Looking uncomfortable, refusing to meet my gaze.

“Uhh… why.” I asked.

“Well…. Miss the thing is that…. Lazar’s place is currently…. Under construction.” His secretary said and my eyes almost popped out of its socket.

“What?” I asked, completely baffled.

He does not have a place he is staying? How is that possible?

I tied around to look at Lazar who also looked shocked and slightly embarrassed and that was when I realised I had been too intrusive.

“Oh…. I understand. Well I guess we can go shopping then.” I said, trying to brighten up his expression.

“Oh… no no. I will go over to my friend’s place and get my stuff, you don’t have to worry,” Lazar quickly interrupted, chuckling awkwardly and scratching the back of his neck like he just got caught peeing in the pool.

I stared at him for a beat, lips pursed.

“Your friend better not be a woman,” I teased.

He blinked, looking slightly startled. “Huh? No! Why would you.. I mean… even if she…No! It’s a ‘he’… totally a he. Beard and everything.” he stuttered looking flustered.

I narrowed my eyes at him, fighting back a smile. “Relax, I’m just kidding. You’re sweating more than a thief locked in a vault.”

His secretary, a poor man, was standing like a statue beside us, trying his possible best not to laugh at how awkward Lazar was, but I could see his shoulders twitch ever so slightly. 

“Okay then, since you obviously don’t want to go to your mysterious construction site-slash-friend’s house, you’re coming with me. We’re going shopping.” I clapped my hands with excitement.

Lazar groaned like I had sentenced him to lifelong suffering. “Shopping? Can’t we just… I don’t know… do something else… “ he complained.

“Oh, come on! Don’t be dramatic.” I said, already dragging him into the car while his secretary closed the door and drove off.

“I’m not dramatic, I just don’t want to try on twelve shirts I will never wear.” he muttered like a grumpy puppy.

“Tough luck. You’re married to me now. This is part of the package so bear with it.” 

We arrived at the second mall destination which I owned. 

His secretary trailed behind us looking around with a sharp gaze one would think he was a security detail and not a secretary.

The last time I took a man shopping was with William… ugh. The thought made my stomach turn. That memory felt like chewing bitterleaf with a mouth ulcer.

I just want to pretend that never happened, that he never existed and I was not foolish enough to have planned a wedding with a cheating bastard.

Lazar was a new start for me, something fresh, mildly chaotic. Plus, he made funny faces every time I handed him a shirt, and that alone was enough entertainment for the day.

At the first store, I picked out a plain white button-up shirt and held it against his chest.

“Hmm… sexy professor vibes,” I said.

“Do I look like I grade papers?” Lazar asked as he stared at his reflection on the mirror with a weird face.

“Probably.” I winked.

And his secretary choked back a laugh.

“Why do I feel like I’m your mannequin?” He grumbled as I pushed him toward the changing room.

“Because you are. Now move it, mister.” I ordered playfully while he obeyed like a defeated soldier.

After what felt like forever he perked his head out with a solemn expression on his face.

“Do I have to come out? I feel like a giant baby trying on his first communion suit.” he grumbled, not looking enthusiastic at all, but it alone made me more curious.

“Come out!” I snapped, half laughing.

Reluctantly, he finally did.

I tilted my head to the side, while I graded the outfit.

“Hmm… you look like someone who charges by the hour.”

“I agree.” His secretary added.

Lazar shot the poor secretary a glare causing the poor man to shuffle behind me.

“Is that a compliment?” Lazar asked.

“Yes. You look too expensive to be poor.”

He rolled his eyes and waddled back in to change.

We moved from store to store, trying differnt outfits. From casual wear, street style, formal, even one place that sold only black clothes. At one point, he was balancing more than five shopping bags in each hand like he was training for the Olympics.

And the poor secretary could barely see with the heaps of bags in his hand.

“I swear, Miriam, this is how kidnapping starts.” he grumbled.

“Stop whining, Lazar. You’re ruining the fairytale,” I said, sipping on my ice coffee as I made him twirl in another jacket.

“You’re enjoying this way too much,” he muttered.

“Duh. I live for this,” I said, grinning.

And it was true. Spending on him gave me this weird buzz. Maybe because he wasn’t like William. 

Lazar does not seem pretentious. He seems like an easy going guy who was not trying too hard to impress me or beg for favours and that it was new and refreshing for me.

When we were at the last store, Lazar finally turned to me with a suspicious look.

“Miriam, serious question. Where are you getting all this money from? Did you… secretly rob banks or something?”

I burst into laughter. Feeling a little nervous. 

I had been spending all day without a care in the world.

“I….I work at La Amore,” I said, trying to sound non chalant.

“La Amore? The perfume company?” he asked, sounding suspiciously 

“Yup.” I replied trying to seem nonchalant but my heart was racing frantically.

“You… work there?”

“Yep.”

“Well, damn. They must be paying you in gold bars and unicorns,” he muttered, clearly impressed.

I giggled but didn’t say more. He didn’t need to know I owned the whole damn company. Not yet. 

*****

“Gosh I am so tired. I will go freshen up.” I sighed before walking it to the bathroom to wash up.

“Remind me never to go shopping with you again,” he whined.

“Oh please, you loved every second,” I teased.

“I tolerated every second,” he corrected, pointing a finger at me.

“Same thing.” 

I walked out of my room fully dressed in my night dress that I had carefully picked out. 

I flopped on the couch, and that was when Lazar walked out in the loose white shirt that I bought for him a few hours ago.

His hair slightly drenched, sticking to his forehead and water droplets caressing his neck and cheeks.

He looked so hot, I could not help myself from gulping.

My face flamed red hot as I recalled how hard and big he had felt in my palm earlier today.

He had a kitchen towel over his shoulder as he walked to the kitchen.

“You want to cook?” I asked, my voice about three octaves higher than normal.

He blinked at me. “Yeah. I figured you were tired.”

“Oh.”

No man has ever cooked for me, not even William.

His eyes moved over my outfit, and for the first time since we got married, he looked… hesitant.

Then his eyes lingered…just a second too long.

“Nice gown,” he said, his voice sounding a little bit strained and I could not help but smile.

“Thanks. Got it just for nights like this.” I stood and walked slowly toward the kitchen, pretending to be focused on the pot.

“I wanted to ask you something, Lazar.”

“Hmm?”

I stopped beside him, my shoulders barely brushing his.

“I was thinking…” I licked my lips nervously. “Maybe we should… I mean, we are married…”

He turned fully to face me, his expression unreadable.

“…so maybe we should consummate the marriage?” I finished, forcing the words out of my tongue.

He stared at me dead silent, not saying anything and I felt extremely embarrassed.

I actually wished the ground would open and swallow me whole, as the silver stretched between us.

“Wait. Are you asking me to sleep with you, or is this part of the dinner plan?”