We Went Lingerie Shopping. He Bought the Lace Briefs.

Nina had asked Sam to help her choose lingerie. She had not expected him to develop a strong opinion about scalloped lace before the kettle boiled.

“That one's nicer,” he said, pointing at the laptop.

“The black set?”

“The green. Better colour.”

She looked at the man who had once described every item in his wardrobe as “the good one”.

“Since when do you have opinions about lingerie?”

“Since you asked.”

Fair. Annoyingly fair.

He had more opinions about lace than she expected

They'd been together long enough to know each other's coffee orders and precisely which cupboard argument to avoid. Their flirting hadn't disappeared, but it occasionally had to fight through a discussion about the dishwasher.

Tonight was supposed to be easy. A little shopping, a little showing Sam things she might wear, perhaps an answer more enthusiastic than “yeah, nice”.

Instead, he was leaning forward.

“I like that pattern.”

“You know you don't get points for identifying a flower?”

“I'm giving useful feedback.”

He was, actually. It was becoming quite distracting. Nina clicked through to another page and a row of lace briefs appeared.

Sam stopped talking.

She waited.

“Those are men's,” he said.

“Excellent reading.”

“I didn't mean it like that.”

“How did you mean it?”

He took a sip of tea that was clearly too hot and attempted to look casual about both the question and the damage to his tongue.

The lace briefs were for him

“I reckon I'd look good in those,” he said eventually.

Nina had been preparing a joke. She put it down.

“I reckon you might.”

Sam looked at her properly then, checking whether she was taking the piss.

She wasn't. The thought of him choosing something because he wanted to be looked at was rather more interesting than the evening's original shopping plan.

“Black or green?” she asked.

“Black.”

“Suddenly you're not the colour expert?”

“I contain multitudes.”

“You contain tea and about six biscuits.”

He pulled the laptop towards him. “I'm checking the size.”

For once, Nina managed not to make another joke. She watched him find the measurements, choose the briefs and add them to the basket. He looked pleased with himself. It suited him.

The parcel gave them something to flirt about

By the time the order arrived, both of them had contributed more commentary than the purchase strictly required.

Sam had asked whether Nina wanted “advance notice of the outfit”. Nina had asked whether he planned to retire the grey underpants with the exhausted waistband. Sam had said those were comfortable. Nina had said some things could be both comfortable and ready for the bin.

The parcel sat on the kitchen bench through dinner.

Neither pretended not to notice it.

“You first,” Sam said.

“I thought you were the one arranging an outfit announcement.”

“I may have oversold my confidence.”

Nina reached across and took his hand.

“Put on whatever you want. I already fancy you.”

He squeezed her fingers. Then, because staying sincere for too long made him itchy, he added, “Strong opening review.”

He kept the socks on

When Sam appeared in the bedroom doorway, he'd put the black lace briefs on with a plain T-shirt. He'd also kept his socks on.

Nina's eyes went to the lace, back to his face and then, briefly, to the socks.

“My feet are cold,” he said.

“I haven't said anything.”

“Your eyebrows have.”

She laughed and walked over. Up close, he was trying very hard not to ask whether she liked them.

“You look fucking good,” she said.

His shoulders dropped. The grin arrived a second later.

“Even with the socks?”

“I'm prepared to negotiate on the socks.”

He turned towards the mirror, looked once, then looked again. The second look was different. Less checking for a mistake. More enjoying what he'd chosen.

Nina let him have it without filling the moment with a speech about confidence. Sometimes you could just let your partner like their own arse.

Next time, they both got to choose

A week later, Sam sent her a link while she was buying groceries.

Green this time?

Nina stood in front of the eggs smiling at her phone like a person who had completely forgotten what size carton she needed.

Thought you were a black-lace man.

I contain multitudes.

She bought the eggs, added biscuits and sent him a thumbs-up. Then she followed it with a better message.

Yes. I want to see you in those.

The typing dots appeared immediately.

Funny. Usually she had to ask twice whether they needed milk.

Fancy choosing something for yourself?

Our men's lingerie guide covers briefs, lace, thongs and jockstraps. And our guide to choosing lingerie you actually want to wear starts with the person getting dressed. Socks remain your business.