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Matteo: Because you live for theatrics.

That is true.

Jamie: I wasn’t. But you don’t have to believe me. We can still call it even. One betrayal for one betrayal.

Matteo: You got the kill. Then you escaped. How is that even?

Jamie: You wanted me to escape. Or you’d have kept me prisoner yourself.

Matteo: Is that your kink now?

Jamie: Now?

He’s too smart to suggest something so ridiculous. I talked him into our prisoner / captor role play at least once a month.

I don’t push it.

I let him work himself into a tizzy. He’s frustrated by his failure to keep me caged. But he’s more frustrated by his inability to get over me.

So I take a play from his book. I wait patiently for his response.

Okay, I wait impatiently for his response, tapping my fingers against my bare thigh as every second stretches on and on.

Finally, he texts back.

Matteo: I’m not falling for this again. I’m not listening to you whisper lies.

Jamie: What if I do it while you’re inside me?

Matteo: Don’t start.

Jamie: Okay, Mr. Honesty. Tell me the truth. Are you hard right now?

Again, he makes me wait.

Again, I pretend I’m doing it patiently.

Matteo: That’s a physiological response, not a psychological one.

Jamie: Really? That’s the truth? You have this reaction to any gorgeous blonde with perfect breasts?

It’s too far. I need to back off. Let him believe he’s in control.

But I don’t.

Jamie: Or did you like me because, deep down, you knew I was bad?

Matteo: Don’t flatter yourself.

Please. He’s obsessed with me too. Hera has a source at Mi6. Says finding me is Matteo’s hobby. Hell, his co-workers chide him for his American work ethic. Tell him to give it a rest and take a weekend.

Jamie: Then why don’t you pull up the Victoria’s Secret catalog? Do those women give you the same response?

Silence. We both know why.

Jamie: And if you imagine the taste of cyanide on my neck?

Matteo: Why don’t you come over here wearing some and find out?