"Damn, Kitty... you absolutely destroy me," she panted. I laughed, playfully splashing water at her face. As I did, I noticed the raw, red marks on my wrists from the ropes.
"I destroy you? I thought you were the one about to pass out," I joked. "And where did that box of toys even come from?"
"I had everything delivered the moment you confirmed you were coming. There's plenty more in there," she admitted, pulling me into a hug and caressing my rear. "It’s actually all yours to keep." She let out a soft laugh, her gaze turning uncharacteristically tender. "It’s going to be so damn hard going back to a reality where I don't have you in my bed every single night."
"My bed will always be open to you," I promised, my voice steady despite the lingering haze of pleasure.
I held her face in my hands, my thumbs tracing the line of her jaw. I ran my fingers down the column of her neck before pulling her into an intense, searing kiss. We stayed there, wrapped in each other's arms, watching the sky explode in a kaleidoscope of fireworks until my body finally began to grow heavy with sleep.
Kelsey helped me out of the pool and carried me back to the bedroom. We showered together, the warm water rinsing away the salt and champagne. She was incredibly gentle as she tended to my wrists, treating the red rope burns so they wouldn't bruisetoo deeply. When she reached for the ointment to treat my thighs, I stopped her.
"Don't," I whispered. "I want to remember today. I want to feel it."
"You’re unbelievable, Megan," she murmured, her eyes filled with a mix of awe and affection.
She pulled me into her arms as we climbed into bed. I didn't last long; I was out within minutes, completely intoxicated by the scent of sandalwood and whiskey that always seemed to define her personal space.
For the next two days, it felt like we were on a honeymoon. The only interruptions were the occasional calls to confirm furniture deliveries for my new place, checking in with my mother, and lounging in Kelsey’s lap while she navigated corporate crises.
Since New Year’s Eve, we had barely left the suite. Aside from the occasional dip in the jacuzzi or the heated pool, Kelsey insisted on having every meal brought to the bed—all while wearing the Van Gogh socks I’d bought her.
Dressed in a long black t-shirt, underwear, and those socks, she padded toward me, grumbling about our impending departure.
"I wouldn’t leave either, but I have to get to the Caribbean this weekend," she muttered. "After freezing our asses off in Holland, I think warming up by the sea is exactly what we need."
"A promise is a promise," I reminded her. "And speaking of promises, I heard from my sources that Donald is actually in town. I thought we could catch him for dinner."
"What do you mean, 'Donald is here'?" I asked, playfully mimicking her serious business tone. She burst out laughing, her mood noticeably lighter than when we first arrived.
"Word is he has a boyfriend here. An acquaintance spotted him at a private New Year’s Eve party," she revealed.
"Hand me your phone," I commanded. As soon as she slid it over, I called Donald on speakerphone. He picked up on the second ring.
"Don, what on earth are you doing in Amsterdam?" I demanded.
Kelsey nearly collapsed with laughter at my bluntness, leaning against the headboard as we waited for the future "first husband" of my career to explain himself.
"Megs? How... how do you even know I’m here?"Donald stammered, caught completely off guard.
"Don’t worry, Don. Your secret is safe with me. But I need to see you—we need to talk," I replied, my tone firm but reassuring.
Before Donald could even process that, Kelsey snatched the phone from my hand.
"Donald, my friend! It’s Kelsey Calama," she announced, her voice booming with confidence. A heavy, terrified silence followed from the other end. "Megs is with me. Meet us for coffee tomorrow morning; I’ll send you the address."
"Am I being blackmailed or something?"he asked, and I couldn't help but let out a laugh.
"No, Don. I just really need to talk to you. Honestly, I’m not even sure what Kelsey has up her sleeve yet," I added.
"I want to talk about funding for your campaign after the two of you have your chat, of course," Kelsey clarified.
"Okay. Fine. Send me the address and I’ll be there tomorrow,"he agreed, sounding slightly more at ease.
"No need to bring the boyfriend. This conversation is better kept between the three of us," Kelsey concluded, ending the call before he could argue.
"You officially terrified him," I noted, shaking my head. Kelsey just pulled me into a hug, trailing kisses down my neck with a smug smile.
"Oh, at first, sure. But I’m going to bankroll his campaign," she said playfully. "He just doesn't know I was already planning to do that long before I started sleeping with his best friend."
