“He may live to be a hundred and the word ‘smart-ass’ will never pass those perfect lips of his and you know it,” she said.

Daniel half laughed. “He is a bit too proper for that, isn’t he? I suppose he would say you were—”

“Impudent,” she suggested.

“A fair assessment, I think. He could have warned me you were impudent.”

“I guess he thinks it goes without saying. Since you’re playing good cop, should I expect a big dinner now? A massage maybe? Or how about the sob story about your poor dead wife and how you’re so sad I should blow you nine ways to Sunday?” she asked, deliberately trying to get a rise out of him. But he still seemed unmoved. That scared her even more than an emotional reaction would have. His pain was too deep to be touched. It made him seem far beyond her.

“I think we’ve left the kingdom of impudent and entered the realm of bitchiness.”

She almost laughed. Bitchiness—another word she would never hear him say.

“A fair assessment,” she said, repeating Daniel’s words.

Daniel inhaled and exhaled heavily. She could tell he was considering his next words.

“I won’t burden you with a sob story,” he said. “But you deserve some explanation for your presence here. I was married, blissfully, for seven years. My wife and I were as you and—”

“If you want to get on my good side, please don’t say his name. I’ll make it through this week a hell of a lot easier if I don’t have to hear about him or talk about him.”

Daniel nodded. “As you and he are,” he continued. “She was more than my wife. She was my property, my possession...and my best friend. She died three years ago. I have been with no one since. When I confessed this to S—to him, he insisted that some time with you would be therapeutic. As you belong to him, there is no threat of romantic entanglement. And as you are already familiar with the specific requirement of the lifestyle—”

“I’m kinky. You don’t have to resort to euphemisms.”

“Then the transition from celibacy back to sexuality would be far smoother.”

“So you do plan to fuck me then?” she asked although she knew the answer already.

“When you’re ready and if you have no objection.”

“I’m here, aren’t I? Nobody’s got a gun to my head.”

“Force is for amateurs. I will sleep alone for eternity before I would ever take an unwilling partner to bed. He has shared you with others before, hasn’t he?”

“Yeah, of course. But—” she said and took a breath “—he was always there.”

“I understand. As I said, when you’re ready. And not until then.”

“So what now?” she asked after a moment’s pause. Daniel stood up and went to the door. She quickly joined him.

“I’m sure you need to unpack and rest. So I suppose for the night I’ll simply send you to your room.”