AllFreeNovel
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In spite of everything, he still shone so bright.
“How romantic. Nuzzling each other’s genitals, like puppies.”
The cool voice issuing from the stairwell made them jump. Liv scrambled to wrap the sheet around her naked body, her face heating.
Sean sat up and glared at her. “Holy shit, Tam. You could knock.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Her head and shoulders poked up over the stairwell. She sniffed the air. “Hmm. I see you two have been busy.”
“Disappear, Tam,” he snarled. “Wait for us downstairs.”
She laughed, and vanished down the hole. “Since when have you gotten so prissy?” her voice floated up from below. “My sources led me to understand that you liked kink.”
“Your fucking sources led you wrong.” He yanked on his jeans and clattered down the spiral staircase after her.
Liv hastened to pull on her T-shirt, longing in vain for her underpants. She started down the stairs, bracing herself for anything.
Tam propped a taut buttock on the edge of a couch as she lit up a cigarette. She was dressed in black jeans and a silver-gray tailored blouse. Her hair was swept into a roll that looked both careless and perfect. She took a deep drag on her cigarette, nostrils flaring in disgust as Sean rooted through cold leftovers from last night’s dinner.
“Garlic, at this hour?” She shuddered delicately. “God.”
“Something tells me you’re not going to serve us coffee and croissants,” he said, dropping a slice of filet mignon into his mouth.
He twitched the cigarette out of her mouth, and scowled at it. “What is this, Tam? Your breakfast?” He ground it out in the empty tabouleh container. “Are you trying to starve yourself to death?” He grabbed a sourdough roll, smeared butter onto it and held it out. “Eat a goddamn piece of bread, already.”
Tam recoiled. “Carbs. Ick. Back off.”
“Why should I?” He took a bite of the roll. “If you’re going to be rude and invasive and in my face, I’m going to return the favor.”
She sniffed. “That’s gratitude for you. I got up early and went shopping this morning, for your friend.” She turned her gaze up, and ran it over Liv. “Morning sex becomes you,” she said, her tone approving. “Makes your lips red and puffy. You barely need the makeup I got. There are your new clothes. Have fun.”
She gestured towards a cluster of shopping bags near the door.
Liv stammered for a moment, bemused. “Um…thanks.”
“No need.” Tam shrugged. “I wouldn’t have bothered doing it if I didn’t enjoy it. Shopping is relaxing. Particularly when someone else is paying. Which reminds me.” She pulled a handful of credit card slips out of her jeans pocket and held them out to Sean. “These, I believe, are yours,” she said. “Pay me back in a timely manner, please.”
Sean took the slips of paper, studied them. His jaw dropped. “Holy shit. What is this stuff? Is it cut out of cloth of gold?”
“Shame on you, you cheap bastard,” Tam scolded. “Aren’t you man enough to buy your woman some decent threads?”
Sean stared at another one of the charge slips. “It’s not that I’m not man enough,” he said. “It’s that I’m not rich enough.”
“Bullshit.” Tam clucked her tongue. “You’ve just never stayed with any one woman long enough to be obliged to buy her clothes.” She shot a glance at Liv. Her mouth curved. “I think you’d better get used to it.”
“He doesn’t have to get used to anything,” Liv broke in. “I don’t need a man to buy me clothes. Don’t worry, Sean, I’ll pay you back, as soon as I get the insurance money from the—”
“Stop!” Tam’s voice rang with sharp command. “This is a teachable moment, cupcake. Don’t spoil it for him.”
“But I don’t need anyone to buy me—”
“And besides, this extravagant boy is a walking fashion plate in his own right. I never see him but he’s wearing Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani. Custom tailored this, leather-tooled that.”
“My wardrobe is none of your goddamn business,” Sean growled.
“Don’t let him tell you he can’t afford it, either.” Tam’s eyes gleamed. “I’ve seen his tax returns, his investment portfolio, the income from his rental properties—”
“Hey!” Sean was outraged. “How do you know my private stuff?”
