Chapter 6: Consumers

I pulled the Jeep up to the door and waited. A mental touch showed she was on her way. I felt a smile cross my lips as she stepped out, dressed in jeans and a white short sleeve button up shirt that was actually a bit conservative for her. I'd gotten used to her uniform, which really left very little to the imagination, but she was right, shopping dressed like that would just cause problems. People would probably spend so much time trying to get a better look she wouldn't get any service.

"Let's get going before Henry changes his mind." She spoke as she slid into the vehicle. "I had to listen to a half hour on the evils of overextending myself."

I glanced over at her and took in the tired slump in her shoulders. "He really cares Emma. You were… Let's just say we all thought he was insane to try and…"

"Put humpty dumpty back together again?" Her voice was so casual as she talked about that. I don't think I'll ever be that comfortable with it. I glanced at her lips, which had a slight sneer to cover up her own fear about how close that was. Those lips I found under her couch.

"Well, you've just joined the resurrected club. I'm the president." I give her a small teasing smile. "Dues are required to keep your membership in good order."

Her eyes softened just a bit before I turned to start the Jeep and move towards the gate. "So would a new dresser cover my entry fee?"

"It might." I glanced over at her and felt a small thrill at the searching gaze I saw. It was open, honest, and the lack of sarcasm to hide her real feelings made me feel like I'd made progress. "But I want a light wood, not white."

"And perhaps something with a bit more style to wear." I didn't let the irritation control me as she said that. I normally would take that as an insult, but I knew now that she was just like that. It wasn't personal.

"Well, based on the amount of flesh your typical wardrobe shows, I think I should pick that out myself." I smile over at her to make it clear I wasn't snapping at her.

"I just don't understand you." She sighed with mock confusion. "You have the figure, but I've never seen you in less than full body armor." I pulled the jeep onto the main road. "Well, that's not completely true, you did have that one outfit that showed off your abs."

The silence was a bit too loud so I glanced at her and smiled. "Maybe a new wardrobe is called for. You have enough time to help me out with that?" My clothes weren't as bad and Emma indicated, but maybe something wilder would be helpful. Emma might like me in something more revealing, and with time really not on my side, I needed to push ahead with operation seduction or lose her to Scott.

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I'd planned to buy a wood dresser that could also double as a makeup table, but as I followed Emma into her furniture store I realized there wasn't a wooden anything in there. I'd never seen a furniture store that nothing but the ultra modern style she liked before, but I guess I should have realized it must be out there, since the shops I normally toured didn't have anything like it.

"The office furniture is over here." She indicated the path she'd be taking. "And bedroom furniture is in that corner." She pointed to the back corner of the large store.

"I'll go with you." I was pretty sure I wouldn't find a dresser I'd like here so I might as well. She started down that path without questioning that and I gaped at the odd coffee tables and couches as I went past. Apparently what I'd considered her strange style could be worse.

"Have you considered painting the walls?" I asked as I walked beside her. "All that white in one room looks a bit sterile. A little color could do wonders." I was thinking a subtle color and the furniture here came in white, black or bright colors. I don't think anything I could see in the distance qualified as a soothing muted color.

"I like all white, it's clean and crisp."

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"What do you think?" I stepped out of the dressing room and did a small turn to show off the little red dress.

"Oh, that's nice." Emma glanced over at me from the mirror she was looking at her own outfit from. White of course, but it was hugging her form very well.

"That looks very sexy." I nod towards her and kept my voice very sincere. It wasn't hard. I'd always thought Emma was beautiful, I just used to think her being a complete bitch counteracted it. "Maybe with your hair partly up…" I moved closer to her and carefully moved my hands under her hair, barely brushing over her shoulders as I took some and pulled it up loosely to show her what I meant. Her body was frozen for just a moment in shock before she covered it and looked into the mirror to see what I was doing. It took effort to not grin too flirtatiously as I held the hair in place. "See. That looks nice."

"So what you're saying is I should buy this outfit."

I swear I must be more possessed than I thought I was because I gave her a rakish grin in the mirror and leaned forward to talk into her ear. "Definitely, you look amazing in it."

Was that a hint of a blush? I moved back and slowly released her hair as she tugged on the skirt she was wearing. "Well, I think that exhausts this particular store out." She glanced at me and again I felt like she was staring just a bit longer than normal. I couldn't really blame her. I did get a bit obvious there for a moment. Her eyes traveled down to the small red dress that showed more than a hint of cleavage and came up high enough that I'd have to be careful how I sat in it. "Put that on my tab as well. You look good in red."

"You don't need to buy it. I do have a paying job." I wasn't sure how I felt about letting her buy everything. The dresser I accepted, because it seemed like a peace offering, but I wasn't about to continue that on. It wasn't a good dynamic, making her think she owed me. If I really thought she needed to buy me off for what she did, it would take a lot more than this, but I didn't.

"Yes, but I have two paying jobs, and one pays a lot better than the other."

I looked right into her pale blue eyes. "You don't owe me." Her mask slid into place as she smirked at me.

"I just like shopping and spending money. I'm actually using you so I can do that. I do it all the time, ask Angel. She was my last project." Her eyes traveled over my body again, but it was only cursory. "You really do clean up nice."

"Thanks." I spoke softly acknowledging her compliment and the fact that I wasn't going to argue anymore. If she wanted to buy it I'd let her. She was right, it wasn't like she couldn't afford it, and I knew she had her own insecurities in relationships with people. Emma Frost learned when she was young that people liked you for what you could give them. It wasn't something that she'd get over quickly, but the fact that she was trying to buy my friendship indicated a change in our normally hostile relationship. She was going to meet me halfway in the only way she knew how.

And I used to think she threw her money around to prove she had it. Once again I was struck by how I'd managed to misinterpret her motives so often.