“I have an idea. Go upstairs and get into the tub while I get our bags out of the car. And when I’m finished, I’ll joinyou.”
She giggles. “I have a very strong feeling that if you get in the tub with me, you’ll end up owing me eight keys instead ofseven.”
I owe her seven keypulls?
Mother.Fucker.
“Seven? Are yousure?”
“The first time was when I was Mrs. Broussard. Two was showgirl-flogger night. Three was after the spanking you gave me for talking to Craig at the blackjack table. Four was the night after we played craps until midnight. Five was after the big-stakes poker game. Six happened after you flogged me for the second time. And last night makesseven.”
Damn. She’s right. I’ve been too busy enjoying her to notice how many key pulls she’s been earning. And she’s not even counting the morning sex that we had. Guess she’s considering those as vanilla encounters and notchargingme forthem.
Fuck, these keys are going faster than I intended. And honestly, I thought that Emma Lia enjoyed our trip. I wouldn’t have expected her to bring up the keys as soon as we walk through thedoor.
“Come on. Let’s go pull your keys.” And get that shit overwith.
“It’s okay. I can do it after mybath.”
“I’d rather you do it now.” I can’t sit here worrying about this for one minute longer thannecessary.
She follows me to my office, and I unlock the cabinet where I’m storing the box of keys and move it to my desk. She sighs and closes her eyes, reaching in and pulling out the first key. “One.”
She repeats the process until seven brass keys are lined up along the edge of my desk. She picks up the first key and inserts it into the lock, turning it. And nothinghappens.
Thankfuck.
She shakes her head. “Not thisone.”
She goes through the same process six more times, holding up the final key. “Last one, Broussard. Do you think this could beit?”
“I’m not finished with you and fate knows it. So, no. This key won’t fit the lockeither.”
She pushes the key in, but nothing happens when she turns it. “You are correct. Fate seems content for me to stay with you a whilelonger.”
Relief washes through me like a wave rushing over a beach. But then that consolation that I feel recedes when I consider that maybe next time she will pull the key thatworks.
“Go on and get yourbath.”
“Are you still getting into the bath withme?”
I shake my head. “I just gave you seven key pulls. Seven, bebelle. I’m not ready to give you anotherone.”
“O… kay. But you know where to find me if you should change yourmind.”
I bring our bags up and begin unpacking while Emma Lia soaks in the tub. I go still and listen when I hear her singing at the top of her lungs. I chuckle deep down because it’s so damnbad.
“Tell me you love me,” she beltsout.
“Are you seriously entertained by that horridsound?”
I look up and see Claudia standing in the doorway of my bedroom. “I am, but only because it’s soterrible.”
“Does Miss Mundane think that she cansing?”
“She knows that she sounds horrible, yet she doesn’t care.” I love that abouther.
Claudia walks into my bedroom toward me, but my glare stops her in her tracks. “You know that you aren’t allowed in here without an invitation. And I didn’t inviteyou.”
