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Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Wear a Dress for Me

Lynn held back her curiosity, waiting until everyone else had left.

”What photo? I want to see.”

Lynn felt something wasn’t right. The night she’d stayed over at Aerie Garden, Nina Norton had shown her plenty of Ian Sterling’s childhood photos, but not the one Zoe Sterling had mentioned.

Ian Sterling didn’t say a word, breaking free from Lynn’s hand and trying to head upstairs.

Lynn wasn’t about to let him get away. She followed close on his heels, and when he entered the bathroom, she went right in with him.

”Are you sure you want to stand there and watch?” Ian Sterling asked, his hand on his pants as he looked at Lynn helplessly.

”Why can’t I? It’s not like I haven’t seen it before,” Lynn said, batting her eyelashes.

Ian Sterling nodded slowly. ”Fine. Then watch.”

He watched for her reaction as he made a move, but her gaze remained fixed where it was, unabashed and unflinching.

Ian had to look away. After using some toilet paper, he walked around Lynn to the sink to wash his hands. It was only then that she wrapped her arms around him.

”Come on, let me see. I’m so curious. If I can’t see it, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

She rarely acted so coquettish, but now, driven by curiosity, she was pulling out all the stops.

After drying his hands, Ian turned and looked down at her. ”Are you sure you want to see it?” he asked.

Lynn nodded with earnest determination. Ian laughed in exasperation, then took her hand and led her out of the bathroom. He picked up his phone and started scrolling through his mother’s social media feed.

The photo had been posted to her feed years ago, and even Nina Norton herself had forgotten all about it. But those who had seen it could never forget.

Zachary Quincy and the guys would whip out the photo to tease him now and then, but Ian didn’t care. Who hadn’t done something embarrassing as a kid?

But with Zoe Sterling and Zachary Quincy bringing it up today, he felt that something was off.

He found it and handed the phone to Lynn.

Lynn stared at it with wide eyes for a long time, occasionally glancing up at Ian, who sat beside her.

There was no ridicule in her eyes, only awe. With a few taps of her fingers, Lynn forwarded the photo to herself before handing the phone back to Ian.

She leaned in and cupped Ian’s face, her admiration growing the longer she looked. ”Why were you embarrassed to show me?” she praised. ”You looked so beautiful.”

”A boy wearing a dress... don’t you think that’s weird?” Ian wouldn’t meet her eyes, and the tips of his ears, now visible as he turned his face away, were a little red.

”What’s so weird about it?” Lynn insisted on meeting his gaze, turning his face back toward her to carefully study Ian’s features.

An idea suddenly struck her. ”Could you wear a dress for me now?” she proposed.

”???” Ian couldn’t believe his ears. ”What did you just say?”

Lynn released Ian and walked over to the walk-in closet. From the wardrobe that was gradually filling up with her dresses, she pulled out a loose-fitting one.

The dress was exceptionally large. Lynn hadn’t thought about that when she’d bought it a few days prior; she’d simply seen an international supermodel look gorgeous in it and ordered one for herself. When it arrived and she tried it on, Ian had laughed at her, so she’d relegated it to the back of her closet as a mere ornament.

Now, it was proving to have a purpose after all.

Ian watched as Lynn held out the dress, her eyes pleading. He took a step back, reluctant to accept it.

But Lynn made a promise. ”I swear, I’ll just take pictures for myself to look at. I’ll never, ever share them. If you just wear it for me, then tonight—no, for the entire next week—I’ll do anything you say. I promise I won’t refuse or argue with you about anything!”

Fearing Ian might think she was trying to trick him, she raised her hand and swore earnestly, ”I swear, if I go back on my word, may I gain twenty pounds and never be able to lose them!”

Ian just stared at her in silence, completely still.

Lynn stepped forward, draped the dress over his wrist, and pleaded pitifully, ”Please? Just let me see you wear it.”

”Were you serious about what you just said?”

Lynn gave a firm nod. Taking the dress, Ian walked resolutely into the bathroom and locked the door.

Lynn stood outside the door, rubbing her hands in anticipation. Her phone was already in camera mode, ready to snap a picture at a moment’s notice.

The dress had been big, loose, and a little long on Lynn. On Ian, however, it was a bit tight and a bit short.

Ian walked awkwardly out of the bathroom, tugging at the collar. ”The shoulders and neckline are really tight,” he said.

Lynn stood frozen, staring at him, stunned. She swallowed hard, then raised her phone, and the sound of the shutter clicked in a rapid-fire burst.

”Don’t you dare show this to anyone,” Ian warned, still uneasy. Lynn just hummed in response, her movements stiff as she slowly circled him.

”You’re so beautiful...” Lynn murmured softly. ”It’s just not fair. Why are you, a man, so beautiful?”

Ian just smiled, not at all bothered by her using a word meant for women to compliment him. He reached out, pulled Lynn into his arms, and started toward the bed.

His intentions were mischievous from the start. He ripped the collar of the dress so it would stop choking him, but he kept the rest of it on the entire time.

Lynn finally began to regret her decision. Between breaths, she managed to say, ”Can you please... not wear that...”

’This is just so weird. Incredibly, incredibly weird.’

”No,” Ian refused flatly.

Lynn wanted to cry but had no tears left. By the end, she panted, ”You’re the worst.”

”Am I worse than you?” Standing by the bed, Ian took off the dress—uncomfortable, but the source of his recent fun—and tossed it directly into the trash can.

A five-figure dress, trashed just like that.

Lynn, however, didn’t feel the loss. It had served its purpose. What she did feel was pity for herself. Thinking of the impulsive promise she’d made, she felt like crying but couldn’t squeeze out a tear.

Ian, on the other hand, felt like laughing. One moment of indignity in exchange for a week of blissful satisfaction? It was a bargain no matter how you sliced it. As for the photos of him in a dress, he didn’t mind one bit. After all, he’d just recorded a little video on his own phone.

A video of himself, in the dress, ”bullying” Lynn.

When Ian gathered her back into his arms, a sharp ache shot through her waist and legs. Lynn whimpered and began to cry. ”I’ll never mess with you again, I promise! Can you please just forget what I said before?”

”Too late. I’m taking it very seriously,” Ian said, his eyes narrowed. He poked her waist, and another jolt of soreness made Lynn regret her actions to her very core.

’Ian Sterling is a monster.’

”Not sleepy? If you’re not tired, I could keep going. I seem to recall another dress in your closet that might be suitable.”

”I’m asleep!” Lynn cried, hastily grabbing Ian’s hand. She squeezed her eyes shut, her lashes trembling.

Ian sounded somewhat regretful as he settled back down. ”Fine. I’ll just have to wear one for you next time, then.”

Lynn gritted her teeth, cursing him in her head.

’Bastard!’

By the time they fell asleep, it was already two or three in the morning. When Lynn finally woke, it was noon.

Ian was leaning against the headboard, looking at his phone while idly twirling a lock of Lynn’s hair in his fingers.