The Alpha Mafioso's Prey

Chapter 6: Dining with Danger

 She gave up on the drab, olive dress from lunch.

It just wasn't her. Boxy, stiff, puffy sleeves, square neckline--the only thing familiar about it was that she felt invisible. Who would give her a second look but to make fun?

She was Valentino's... girlfriend, she supposed, even if it were for convenience's sake. Standing in front of her wardrobe in just her underwear, she tapped a finger to her lip, regarding the selection.

Dinner at 8:00. Dress nice.

Part of Aurora simmered at Valentino's brevity. What was she, a doll to look pretty by his side? Part of her wanted to drag her bloodied, muddied clothes out of the trash just to spite him, make him the laughingstock of whatever restaurant they were bound for.

But the biggest part of her revelled in the possibilities, doll or no. She never wore expensive clothes, and she only ever toyed with makeup--not for lack of wanting, but for practicality. People remembered a pretty face. Clothes were bulky and expensive--not a good investment, and hard to pack in a hurry if she had too many. For too many years--her whole life, really--life had been a series of concessions of what she wanted for what she needed. Well, she was already well and truly caught out by Valentino. Why shouldn't she get what she wanted?

Aurora trailed her hand through the hanging dresses. She ruled a few of them out immediately--an A-line maxi dress, a floral gown, a pink dress that looked like it belonged in a high school homecoming--but more than a few caught her eye. There was a black sheath dress she reached for, rubbing the soft fabric between her fingers.

No. Not for tonight. It was lovely, yes, but simple, standard. It was a dress she'd love to wear, and she would, but... she wanted more. She was far, far out of her safe little comfort zone. Why not push a little further?

A red dress caught her eye. She unhooked it from the hangar, holding it up to her chest and stepping in front of the mirror.

She gasped.

Slowly, reverently, she stepped into it, fabric clinging to her skin, and tied the straps behind her neck in a neat little bow. The front revealed her chest in almost a diamond shape, her bra peeking out in the middle of her chest. The skirt was asymmetrical, cut high on her thigh in front and dragging on the floor behind.

She turned, twisting her neck to see behind her. It was backless with the straps dangling down her back; again, her bra was glaringly visible.

It wouldn't do. Unhooking her bra and slipping it out from under her dress, she tossed it aside and smirked at her reflection. This... this would do.

---

Valentino knocked as she was putting the finishing touches on her makeup.

"Just a minute!" she called, opening her lips in an O and applying the last bit of wine-red lipstick. She smiled at her reflection, already crinkling her smokey eyeshadow.

She padded barefoot to the door, dress making subtle shushing noises as it pulled along the ground, and opened it. Valentino stood, arms folded over a black suit, head tilted in impatience.

His head straightened as he took the sight of her in. His lips parted, and his pupils expanded into the inkiness of his irises.

Aurora lay a hand on the doorframe. "Ready to go?" she teased, noting the way his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed.

Valentino cleared his throat. "You need shoes," he said gruffly, pushing past her into the room. Aurora's lip curled as she followed him back to the wardrobe.