Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lottie climbed the steps to the second-floor apartment, stepping onto the landing she found a large rectangular box wrapped in black paper with a large red ribbon tied around it. Picking it up, she looked around, seeing no one, she unlocked the door and carried the present inside.
She tried not to get excited about the gift. It could be from a stalker leaving her something nasty…it happened to women all the time, she thought staring at the shiny wrapped box.
Setting down her things, she laid the box on the kitchen table while she went to change out of her work clothes.
She refused to get ahead of herself by acting like a teenager about a damn present.
Oh, for fuck’s sake who was she kidding…
rushing back to the kitchen she tore into the wrapping, ripping the paper from the box.
When all that remained was a white garment box, she stepped back taking it in.
Grabbing the scissors from the junk drawer, she sliced through the tape on all four sides. Setting them aside, she lifted the lid and folded back the layers of tissue paper.
Her mouth dropped open seeing the contents of the box.
She lifted a black knee-length suede coat and slipped it on. It fit like a glove. Pulling out the next item was even more exciting for her; it was a matching pair of over-the-knee-high boots with spiked heels. “This is definitely from Razor.”
Underneath the coat and boots, she found a black leather pantie and bra set with French silk stockings and garters. Her heart started beating faster, and she dropped the boots and sat down.
What had she been thinking when she said yes to accompanying Razor to The Red Door?
Taking a deep breath, Lottie reminded herself she had accepted his invitation as a spectator, not a participant. Just because he gave her the undergarments didn’t mean she couldn’t wear something over them. That’s what I’ll do.
Sliding her hands into the coat pockets, she pulled out a small note card:
Lottie: I’ll pick you up tonight at 9 pm. Don’t worry, you’re off tomorrow.
Razor
“Tonight!!!”
Lottie stared at the note, the ink almost blurring in front of her eyes as her heart skipped a beat. She had known Razor would be intense, but this was a whole new level of…something. Her hands trembled slightly as she set the card down on the table and looked back at the coat and boots.
The items fit her perfectly, which made her feel both excited and anxious.
Something was thrilling about receiving such a gift, yet it felt like she had been swept into something much deeper than she’d anticipated.
She had said yes to accompanying Razor to The Red Door, but this.
.. This felt more personal, more intimate.
The undergarments—deliberately picked and so daring—made her question how far this was really going.
“Get it together, Lottie,” she muttered to herself.
There was no going back now, and a part of her, deep down, was more curious than scared.
She had agreed to this night, and it wasn’t like she hadn’t wanted to explore where things might lead with Razor.
He had a way of making her feel seen in ways that were both unnerving and enticing.
She glanced at the clock. It was already 6:30 p.m., giving her just a couple of hours to prepare. She couldn’t let herself overthink this. Tonight wasn’t about being a participant, not really. She had told herself she was just a spectator, and that was still the plan. But would it be that simple?
Lottie looked at the items on the table again: the coat, the boots, the lingerie—and tried to figure out how to navigate this line between play and power. Razor had given her a hint of what he wanted. But she didn’t have to give him everything, did she? She could still set her boundaries.
After a long breath, she went to the closet and picked out a simple black dress, something understated. She’d wear the coat over it and keep the boots as a statement, but the undergarments… well, those would stay hidden underneath, at least for now. It would be enough. It had to be.
Lottie’s heart pounded in her chest as she hurriedly grabbed the clothes from the kitchen table, clutching the soft, dark fabric to her like a lifeline.
She could almost feel the weight of the night pressing against her, like a heavy, electric current running through the air.
The anticipation and the tension were almost too much to bear.
She hurried toward her bedroom, but her mind raced, thoughts tumbling over each other. What was she doing? This wasn’t just a casual evening out. Razor’s presence had a way of upending everything, shaking loose her expectations and leaving her unsure of what came next.
The door to her bedroom clicked shut behind her, and for a brief moment, she stood there, looking at the bed as she laid out his gifts.
The sight of the clothes made everything feel more real.
The sleek black suede coat, the over-the-knee boots with their dangerously high heels, and beneath them, the delicate lingerie that made her heart flutter just thinking about wearing them.
She set the clothes down quickly, almost reverently, but she couldn’t look away from them.
She needed to calm down, but her mind was spinning. Take a breath, she reminded herself. There was no turning back now. This was her chance to make a choice about how far she was willing to go, about how much she was willing to let go.
Without wasting another moment, Lottie stepped into the bathroom.
She turned on the faucet and let the warm water fill the tub, the steam rising to meet her.
She sank into the water, letting it wash over her as she closed her eyes, breathing deeply.
The soft lavender scent of the bath oils helped calm her nerves, and for a few moments, she allowed herself to just be, to drift away from the tension of the day.
But it didn’t last long, as doubts started to creep in.
Get it together, Lottie, she thought. She wasn’t about to let her own nervousness sabotage her.
Razor had made it clear: tonight wasn’t about being passive, it was about showing up, being present.
If she wanted to go along for the ride, she needed to stop overthinking every damn detail.
After a quick, cleansing bath, she dried off and began her routine of hair and makeup. She might be wearing the clothes he bought, but her look would be all hers. After all, Razor had given her more than clothes; he’d given her a challenge. An invitation to something deeper.
Lottie’s fingers brushed over the fabric of the lingerie as she picked it up. Her heart beat faster. She hesitated. What if this night really is about more than I thought? She wasn’t about to second-guess herself now.
She slid into the delicate black lace bra and panties, the silk stockings following closely behind.
The garters clipped into place, and her fingers trembled slightly as she adjusted them.
She didn’t know whether it was the tightness of the outfit or the anticipation of what was coming, but a slow heat unfurled in her chest, making her feel both daring and exposed at the same time.
Next came the simple black dress. Then came the boots, the spiked heels giving her that height and confidence she hadn’t even realized she craved.
She stood, testing them as she stepped in front of her full-length mirror, and she admired the total look she pulled together.
If she didn’t capture Razor’s full attention, nothing would.
Lottie slipped into the black suede coat first. The feeling was like nothing else—smooth, luxurious, and perfectly tailored to her frame. It made her feel powerful, and for a moment, it helped her banish the flutter of doubt in her stomach.
Giving herself one final glance in the mirror. The woman staring back at her was different. She wasn’t just preparing for a night out anymore. She was preparing for something she couldn’t quite predict. But for the first time in a long time, she felt ready.
She heard the knock at the door and checked the time.
It was precisely 9 pm, and her stomach flipped.
She didn’t know if she was more excited or terrified.
She took one last look at herself in the mirror, her reflection staring back, a mix of woman and warrior.
Picking up the small black handbag, she headed for the door, ready for whatever awaited her.