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"Sorry."
"No, it was the best torture."
He walked me into the flat, and I said, “Wow, they really did get all the details right."
“Yeah,” he said absently. “Do you think they were watching us?"
I shook my head. “Gabewould have said something by now. Maybe they would have separated us."
He squeezed my hand then. "Well, I’m not going to let that happen."
I started to shake my head and say something, but the look in his eyes was a stormy gray, like he was ready for a fight if I even mentioned anything about it. I wanted to be here. I wanted to be in his arms. I wanted to be held by him. I wanted it all. I wasn't greedy. I knew I would have to give him up at some point, but I just wanted to prolong that for as long as possible.
"What's on the agenda, Lock?"
“I'm so glad you asked, because we are having a picnic."
"Are we now?"
“Yes. And then there will be card games."
"Card games? I'm not playing strip poker with you."
"Who said anything about strip poker? We’re playing rummy five hundred."
I blinked at him slowly. And then despite myself, I laughed. I knew what he was doing, and the more outrageous he was, the lighter I felt. He was taking care of me. When he took my hand and led me upstairs, I blinked in surprise at the array of candles.
"What in the world?"
He licked his bottom lip. "I called a friend. You didn't meet him at the club that night, but my friend Felix set it up for me."
“Did you tell him you have some girl you were trying to impress?"
“He wouldn't have believed me if I had, but are you impressed?"
I laughed. "A little."
“Good. I'll take a little. I can work with that. I said I was going to take care of you and I meant it."
I stared at him for a long moment. “You're serious? You want to take care of me?"
“I've never met anyone who needed being taken care of more. And no one ever takes care of you. What Gabe did to you, that was shitty. I don't know what to do with it. I don't know how to fix it for you. But what I can do is draw you a bath, feed you, give you eye candy in the form of naked rummy five hundred, give you a massage, and put you into bed, you know, with a couple of orgasms."
I choked a laugh. "These wouldn't be solo orgasms, would they?"
“You want to watch me give myself one?"
"No, that’s not what I meant."
"Tonight is about you. You've had enough bullshit to deal with."
"Why are you so good to me?"
"Haven't you figured that out yet? You matter to me. You are everything—.” He cut himself off and dragged in a deep breath. “When I thought I might lose you in the Winston Isles, I was mad. Really fucking pissed off. The idea of losing you… I couldn't. I just... “ His breath hitched again. “I couldn't."
“You didn't," I said, shaking my head
"So, what do you say?"
“You're on. And I’ll warn you… I really do hate to lose at cards."
His chuckle was low as he left me in the bathroom. “Saffron Abott, you act like I’ve never met you before.”
