Kota stared at the Galleria Houston with his jaw hanging loose, his brain struggling to process the sheer scale of the building in front of him. A massive glass atrium rose from the center, reflecting the sky in a thousand glittering panes.
Theo stepped out of the McLaren like it was just another Tuesday, smoothing down his fresh lavender button up and adjusting his cuffs with practiced ease. He glanced back at Kota, who was still frozen in the passenger seat, and let out a soft, amused laugh. "Darling, quit staring. You're going to attract pigeons with your mouth hanging open like that."
Kota finally unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out, his neck craning upward as he took in the full height of the building. "Where did the extra space come from?"
"The Hawthornes made some strategic investments in the redevelopment project about ten years ago," Theo said, his voice carrying that particular casualness that came with extreme wealth. "Father wanted a more impressive venue for his annual fundraising galas. The old Galleria was too 'pedestrian' for his tastes." He hooked his arm through Kota's and started walking toward the main entrance, dragging him along. "Now come on. We're not here to admire the architecture. We're here to shop."
Sebastian trailed behind them, his eyes even wider than Kota's. He had never been to the Galleria either. His shopping experiences were limited to the tiny bookshops near Oxford and the occasional desperate trip to a department store for emergency tweed. This was a different world entirely.
Theo led them through the massive glass doors and into the atrium. Kota barely had time to register the marble floors, the towering palm trees growing right out of the ground, the ice rink glittering in the center of it all, before Theo was steering them sharply to the left and into a store that made Kota's face go bright red.
Blush & Bind. The sign was elegant and understated, all flowing script and soft pink lighting, but the displays in the window left absolutely nothing to the imagination. Mannequins with exaggerated post-Vanishing curves posed in delicate lace teddies, strappy harnesses, and panties so tiny they were practically dental floss. One mannequin wore nothing but a black silk robe that hung open, revealing a matching g-string underneath.
Kota stopped dead at the entrance. "Is it even allowed for me to be here? This is a lingerie store."
Theo turned around, one eyebrow arched, a teasing smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Darling. Everyone in the world is a guy now. There isn't exactly anyone here to call you a perv for looking at panties. Besides," he stepped closer, his voice dropping into that low, syrupy register, "I want you to see what I pick out. That's the whole point."
Kota's blush deepened, spreading down his neck and under the collar of his white hoodie. "It still seems kinda weird. I'm just gonna... stand here. By the door. Looking at nothing."
"Suit yourself." Theo blew him a kiss and disappeared into the racks, dragging Sebastian along by the wrist.
Kota tried to look at nothing. He really did. But the store was small, and everywhere he turned, there was another display of scandalous lingerie. String bikinis in neon pink. Mesh bodysuits that were completely see through. Lace thongs with delicate little bows. His mind, despite his best efforts, started to wander. He pictured Theo in the pink string bikini, those massive cheeks swallowing the thin fabric, the straps digging into his hips. Then he pictured Sebastian in the mesh bodysuit, his lanky frame and narrow chest on display, his face bright red with embarrassment. The combination made Kota's cock twitch in his cargo pants.
He was mid daydream, imagining both of them bent over together in matching panties, when he realized he was standing alone. Theo and Sebastian had vanished into the depths of the store. He looked around, confused, until a familiar voice called out from the direction of the changing rooms.
"Kota, darling, come here!"
He followed the voice to a row of curtained booths at the back of the store. The curtains were heavy and plush, deep pink velvet that matched the store's aesthetic. Before he could announce himself, a hand shot out from one of the booths, grabbed the front of his hoodie, and yanked him inside.
The changing booth was larger than he expected, with mirrors on three walls and a small velvet ottoman in the corner. Theo was standing in the center, practically naked except for a pair of super scandalous see through lacey panties. The fabric was so sheer it might as well have not existed. It hid nothing. His tiny cocklet was clearly visible, already half hard and pressing against the delicate lace. His massive ass was completely bare, the panties cut in a way that left his cheeks fully exposed, the thin string of the thong disappearing into his deep cleft. He looked like a centerfold. He looked like sin incarnate. He looked at Kota with a slow, knowing smile.
"Do you like them, darling? I was thinking of getting them in blue as well."
Sebastian was pressed into the corner of the booth, his eyes squeezed shut, his hands clutching a bundle of black fabric to his chest like a shield. He was still fully dressed, his tweed blazer looking more out of place than ever against the pink velvet curtains.
"Sebastian hasn't tried anything on yet," Theo said, his voice dripping with playful accusation. "He's being shy."
"I'm not shy," Sebastian protested, his eyes still closed. "I'm simply... I'm assessing the garments. Before committing to a fitting. It's a very important decision. Lingerie selection should not be rushed."
Theo glided over to him, his bare feet silent on the plush carpet, and leaned in close to whisper something in Sebastian's ear. Kota couldn't hear the words, but he saw the effect immediately. Sebastian's face went from pink to crimson, his eyes snapping open, his mouth falling into a small, shocked circle. Whatever Theo had said, it had worked. Sebastian nodded shakily and shooed them out of the booth, his voice strangled. "Fine. Fine. I'll change. Just—just give me a moment. Wait outside. Please."
Theo stepped out of the booth with Kota, still practically naked, completely unbothered by his near total nudity. He stretched his arms over his head, the motion making his tiny cocklet press more visibly against the lace. "He'll be out in a moment. I told him he might be able to tempt you if he dressed a bit more slutty. That seemed to motivate him."
A couple walked by, two femboys holding hands and carrying shopping bags from various stores. One of them, a shorter guy with bright blue hair, couldn't help but stare at Theo. His eyes dragged over Theo's nearly naked body, the see through panties, the massive exposed ass, the smooth pale chest. His mouth actually fell open.
His boyfriend noticed immediately. He yanked his hand away and punched him hard in the shoulder. "Are you seriously staring at someone else right now?! Right in front of me?! We're on a date!"
"I wasn't staring! I was just—I was looking at the—the curtains. The pink curtains. They're very nice curtains."
"You were looking at his ass!"
"The curtains are behind his ass! It's not my fault his ass is in the way of the curtains!"
The argument continued as they stalked off, voices rising and fading into the ambient noise of the mall. Theo watched them go with a deeply satisfied smirk.
Inside the changing booth, Sebastian was having a full blown crisis. He stared at the black panties in his hands, his mind racing at a million miles per hour. The panties were beautiful. Delicate black lace with a small satin bow, cut in a cheeky style that would leave the lower curve of his ass exposed. They were sexy without being obscene. Tasteful without being boring. But were they enough? Theo was out there in see through lace, practically naked, his entire body on display like a five course meal. What did Sebastian have to compete with that? A pair of sensible black panties and an Oxford education? Was this the right level of reveal? Should he have picked something sluttier? The mesh bodysuit had been right there, and he had walked past it like a coward. Now Theo was going to outshine him completely, and Kota was going to forget Sebastian was even here, and he would die alone and virginal and buried in tweed.
But maybe the black lace was enough. Maybe it was elegant. Sophisticated. Maybe Kota preferred understated seduction over blatant exhibitionism. Maybe the contrast between Sebastian's academic exterior and the hidden lace underneath would be so compelling that Kota wouldn't be able to resist. But how was he supposed to act when he stepped out? Confident? Coy? Should he pose? What kind of pose? The mannequins in the store all had their backs arched and their asses pushed out. Should he do that? Would that look ridiculous? Probably. Almost certainly. But he was going to do it anyway because he had no other ideas and Theo was waiting and Kota was waiting and the entire universe was waiting for Sebastian Rupert to emerge from this changing booth and prove that he was capable of being sexy.
He took a deep breath and started unbuttoning his shirt. His fingers were shaking so badly he could barely manage the buttons. This was fine. Everything was fine. He was about to walk out in nothing but black lace panties and pray that Kota didn't laugh at him.