Dree followed her into the living room to make sure Marie-Therese got out the door safely and that it was locked behind her.
Marie-Therese shot back at Maxence, “Rubbing one out on yoursecretaryis just pathetic.”
Dree opened the door and held it for her. “I assure you that His Serene Highness is not sexually harassing me nor any of the other staff members.I’mwearing business formal, notlingerie.”
Marie-Therese had walked outside the apartment’s door, but she turned back. “I don’t know what you thought you had in Nepal with him, but this isMonaco.”
Dree looked up at Marie-Therese, who was still astonishingly beautiful even when she was snarling-mad. She said, “Oh, honey, I’m good country folk, but that is some hillbilly stuff, right there. Trolling for dates at the family reunion just ain’t smart.”
Dree flicked the door closed in Marie-Therese’s face and twisted the lock until it clicked hard.
She strolled back to his bedroom.
Maxence wasn’t in the room. She called out, “Max?”
He leaned out of the adjoining bathroom, where he had a toothbrush stuck in his mouth.
“Wow, you have gotsomerelative problems,” Dree told him.
He leaned back into the bathroom. Spitting sounds ensued, and then he said, “I textedyou.I was waiting foryou.I left the door unlocked foryou.”
“I have a key.”
“And thisone timeMarie-Therese decides to slip into my bed, the damn door was unlocked.”
He came back to the bedroom, still clutching his toothbrush.
Dree asked him, “So, is your cousin a good kisser?”
Maxence froze and then stuffed the toothbrush back in his mouth and scrubbed his teeth ferociously. Foam dripped down his arm.
His toothbrush bent from the pressure and snapped in half.
He stared at the broken handle in his fist and spat the brush head into his other hand.
She laughed at him. “It’s okay, man. I’m just kidding. Take it easy on your gums.”
Maxence went back in the bathroom and spat foam like he was trying to clear poison from his mouth.
Gargling sounds followed.
And then the shower started. Splashing and a long male sigh emerged through the door with the steam.
Dree sat on the bed and waited.
He emerged wearing a white towel tucked tightly around his waist.
“You okay?” she asked him.
Maxence rolled his eyes and shrugged. “That wasrevolting.”
“Do you need to talk to somebody?”
He shook his head, shrugging, and walked over to sit beside her on the bed. “I’m not traumatized, just offended. It’s like, you think you’re in the movieFifty Shades of Grey,but then it turns out you’re in hentai.”
Dree snorted. “What the heck was she even doing here, anyway?”
He dropped his head to his hands. “I haveno ideawhy she did this. I thought it would be amusing if you crawled into bed and found me already naked, but I was tired and drifted off. Then, a woman was kissing me, and I was still fogged with sleep, and it took me a minute to figure outmy cousinwas trying to seduce me.” He sighed. “It’s weird when your cousin grabs your dick.”
