There was a brief trill of static and music on the other line before it cut out.

"Sonya! It's good to hear from you again!" The chipper, bright voice of the succubus Astraeya was eager in my ear. "What can I do for you?"

My mouth was open, but it took me a long moment to speak. Was I really going to do this? I had the money…for now, but not enough saved to really justify spending it on something like this. What if this only put a pause on the problem? What if I became addicted to Khell?

As if my tongue knew my brain might deny me this moment, I spoke in a rush. "I'd like to book a night. With my partner from before."

"Excellent, excellent. I'm so happy you enjoyed your experience with MSA," Astraeya rattled on.

Natalie was twisted around her chair to watch me, and my irritated pedicurist was glaring at me, her small chin perched in her hand.

"Can I ask…if your partner was unavailable at the time you needed, would you be willing to partner with another?" Astraeya asked slowly.

My heart leapt into my throat, and my head was shaking uselessly. "I—No, I can do any time. I…I only want Khell, please," I whispered over the line.

"Excellent!" Astraeya said, much louder in my ear this time. "Give me just a moment to, um…check the calendar and I'll—Hold, please!" she all but shouted.

I pursed my lips and let out a slow breath, turning my back on Natalie and letting my eyes fall shut as the waiting music played lightly in my left ear. But this wait was much longer than the first, and all my slow breathing couldn't stop the worried racing of my heart or the furrowing of my brow. Was Khell really so booked up they wouldn't be able to find a place for me? He'd been available on short notice the first time. Or had he left the cottage and told MSA not to pair us together again?

My stomach turned queasily and I opened my eyes again, searching for the clock on the wall and watching the seconds tick by.

A minute went by. It wasn't going to happen. I'd given into the impulse to schedule just one little night of bliss, only to run into a scheduling conflict?

Two minutes.

My skin was breaking out in clammy goose bumps, heartbeat slowing as reality set in. Five days. All I was going to get, all I had, was those five days. It was time to move on and—

"Sonya! Hi, sorry for the wait." Astraeya's voice in my ear made me jump in place, my free hand slapping over my lips to cover my gasp. "You and your partner are all set for a night at the cottage this Friday. You can arrive at our office as early as three pm, and we'll get you over there by four!"