“I have no idea what she would do.”
“I know what she wouldn’t do,” I say.
“Do you?” Noah asks.
“Yeah,” I assert. “You. She wouldn’t do you. But I would.” I take a step toward him.
“Look, Lorelei,” Noah says, holding up a hand. “I’m not sure how I feel about this. You deceived me.”
“I’m telling you the truth now.”
“I invited you to sit at my table.”
“And I came.”
“I didn’t know who you were.”
“And I didn’t know who you were, either. It’s not as if you’re sharing everything about yourself with the general public, is itDungeon Master Max? We both have secrets.”
“You knew who I was when you came here today.”
“Yeah, and you made me be an orc!”
Noah’s mouth twitches at this. “My bad. But youwereinsanely good.” I can feel him starting to thaw.
“The advisory board is going to shit cinderblocks about it,” I grin.
“Advisory board?”
“Manager, agent, lawyer … you know, my whole team?”
“You’re actually going to tell people you were on my show?”
“Fuck it,” I say. “I don’t care who knows. I can’t wait to see what happens at the next session.”
“What makes you so sure I’ll invite you back, Lorelei?”
He’s speaking in the commanding voice of the Dungeon Master now, and it vibrates through me.
“Come on, Noah, you know you want me at your table.” I place a hand on my hip, acting confident, but I’m actually desperately scared he’s going to throw me out.
Noah stands and takes a step toward me, leaning on his wizard’s staff for support. His robe’s ties have come undone. The top is hanging open, exposing his hard, broad chest, which is lightly dusted with pale-brown fur. I follow his gaze to my chest, which is barely covered by the drooping sheet, now that my makeshift corset stays are unlaced.
The thunderstorm outside is growing closer. The flashes of lightning are becoming brighter, and the house-rattling booms are following them more closely.
“The Dungeon Master confesses that he actually wants to have you ON the table.” He steps closer to me and pulls on the laces, undoing the stays entirely, then yanks the corset off, leaving my entire chest exposed.
I reach for the wig to pull it off, and he shakes his head. “Oh no, that stays on, and we’ll be exploring suitable punishments for your character should you ever shout at me in Russian and spit on my floor again, Lorelei.” His eyes flash and burn as he says my name. “It’s your move,” he says, handing me the di.
Lightning and thunder crack almost at the same time, and I fling myself at Noah, pressing my skin to his skin, lips to lips, teeth and tongues clashing. We both lean on his wooden staff for support.
“Just to be safe from the storm,” I say, heart beating with anticipation, “we should probably go back down to the basement.”
kenna
I takeone last look around the Adventureland Suite, trying to commit as much as possible to memory before I go. This really has been the adventure of a lifetime. And possibly exactly what I needed. Because even though I’ve managed to avoid thinking about the future all week, I woke up knowing exactly what I want to do next.
Rafe, Orly, and Naomi are all still fast asleep, and I don’t want to wake them. I place the folded note for Rafe under the camera that I’m leaving in the middle of the dining room table. Much as I’d love to, I can’t possibly keep it.
