And discovered a duffel bag bursting at the seams with sex toys. I recognized some of them, but a bunch of them were still brand new in their packaging. Sex toy brands were constantly sending products to Ophelia, so her trunk was like a mobile sex toy shop.
I unzipped the side compartment, hoping this had been Ophelia’s idea of a joke, but that she’d had the decency to at least tuck a few outfits in somewhere.
Nope. Or rather, the other compartment technically contained clothes, but it was strappy lingerie and crotchless panties.
When I looked back up, they were both grinning, but Kelly had the decency to fight it.
“You went through my bag?” I snapped, trying to maintain some dignity.
Zane said, “Security had somequestionsfor Kelly about it. If it makes you feel better, they just about cavity searched him after he came through with that manyelectronics.”
Kelly was still staring. He tilted his head. “Time the fuck out. You’re the Propos—”
He cut himself off.
The Proposal Puker. He recognized me. Because of course he did.
I narrowed my eyes. “You were saying…?”
He looked at Zane and shook his head. “Not a fucking thing.”
The flight crew opened the aircraft door and I could see the customs agent waiting to come aboard, so I quickly zipped the bag shut and tossed it back onto the floor. “I’m glad you’re both enjoying this. Let’s see if you’re still laughing when I tell customs you kidnapped me. That I’m here under duress.”
Kelly looked back and forth between us like he wanted no part of this.Too fucking bad. Should’ve thought of that before you aided and abetted.
Zane leaned forward, expression deathly serious. “Do it, Maia.”
He didn’t threaten to tell the customs agent I was a sex worker. Didn’t threaten to tell the press about our past. Didn’t remind me how much more power he had in this situation.
He didn’t need to. He relaxed back with his legs sprawled, a man who knew an empty threat when he saw one.
Damn him.
One of the flight attendants handed the customs agent our passports, and he sorted through the forms, stamping them. He came over to the three of us and nodded politely in greeting.
“Welcome to London. I just need to ask a few questions as a formality even though I have it all here…and then I’ll have you on your way.”
“Not a problem,” Zane said.
“What is the purpose of your trip?” He smiled and waved his pen at Zane. “That one’s a bit obvious.”
Zane spread his hands in acknowledgement.
“How long do you intend to stay?”
Before I could answer, Zane said, “Two weeks. Three shows next weekend.”
The man said, “I’ll be there with my teens on the Saturday.”
Zane looked delighted. “Give my assistant on the tarmac your seat numbers and we’ll see if we can make it a special night.”
The man lit up. I probably could’ve told him Zane kidnapped me and he would’ve just rolled with it.
He leaned closer to Zane and said, “How do you do the trick where you hold the fire in your hand?”
It was how Zane opened his shows. He stood in complete darkness, opened his palm full of fire, and threw it up in the air where it ignited a series of pyrotechnic effects that illuminated the entire stadium.
Zane laughed, “A magician can’t reveal his secrets. Even to customs agents with the power to keep him from performing them…”
