Bayou Bishops Box Set: Books 1-12

CHAPTER 4

Cherie was beside herself with excitement. She was about to be seen with the most handsome man on the planet and she could even pretend they might be more than just friends. To keep the hookers off his back.

“You mind if I escort you, Miss Cherie?” he asked when they approached the crowded looking park with lights around a small field.

“No sirree,” she mumbled, clutching his arm when he slipped it in hers. She stepped on a root and said strong arm wrapped her waist and held her up before she could break her ankle.

“These shoes may have been a bad idea.”

“The trees are a bad idea,” Revelator said, making her giggle.

“Watch it, I may forget your celibate,” she warned, only barely joking.

“Make it count, if you do,” he muttered. “We got one incoming now.”

“Revelator? Is that you?”

Cherie eyed the beautiful blonde with the never-ending bosom squeezed into a tight t-shirt. She reminded her of the Duke’s of Hazard chick only with blonde hair. Her beauty beat down Cherie’s self-esteem with only a smile.

“Miss Macy,” he said, nodding.

Cherie realized too late that he”d intended to plow right past her. She sure would”ve let him if she hadn”t assumed he would stop. Now they were pulling each other in opposite directions.

“This is Cherie,” he announced, giving up the fight.

“Hello, Cherie,” the woman said, eyeing Revelator with a curious smile. “Is she a friend?”

“A very special friend, yes,” he said.

“Ohhhhh, I see,” she said, making Cherie wonder what special friend meant to a woman like that. “I love the new look.” She winked at him. “If you’re around later and feel like it, I’d like that dance you promised me last year.”

“We’re just here for the Bat-tie then we’re going.”

“Oh, we can stay and dance,” Cherie said, willing to suffer this woman if it meant getting him near a dancefloor. She’d had time to imagine his life and it was pathetic. He needed to live a little. Enjoy himself.

He muttered a string of French after they escaped the woman. “You’re supposed to be rescuing me, not leading me into the fire.”

“I’m sorry! I panicked!”

“You panicked? I thought you were experienced!”

“I am, but…the gorgeous Daisy Duke may have steamrolled my courage. It won’t happen again.”

“You have no idea what gorgeous is, I see.”

“Don’t lecture me while I’m rebounding,” she chided. “And your special friend trick didn’t work too good with that one. She looked at me like I might be your pet mental patient.”

His laughter made her grin, and his arm went around her waist, pulling her closer to him. “Maybe this puts the right meaning in special?”

Her heart raced as she did likewise, wrapping her arm around his lean waist. “Guess we gotta tango with these bitches, then.”

“That’s the Cherie I need tonight if I’m going to escape this place unscathed.”

“You should’ve worn your frock, I’m thinking.”

She got another treat of his deep laugh as he pulled her to a small set of bleachers next to a field. He climbed to the second row and she sat next to him. His arm went around her, and he pulled her till their hips touched.

“Okay,” she said, glancing up at him. He eyed her for a few seconds.

“You alright?”

“Perfect,” she barely said, her heart skittering at the smile tugging the corner of his beautiful mouth. “You?”

“Perfect.”

He put his feet up on the bleacher before him and took her hand in his, glancing around. “We can pray together while we watch.”

She snickered. “Oh that’s slick. Hope Jesus doesn’t round house us in the teeth for misusing the power of prayer.”

His laugh never failed to tickle her tummy. “I never said I wasn’t praying, Mah Cherie,” he whispered in her ear. If you get round housed in the teeth, I’ll know you were being naughty.”

“I can multi-task, trust me,” she nodded, patting their clasped hands with her other one while wanting to squeal at how amazing he felt. “By design, I’m a mother, and mothers can do a bajillion things at once. Pray, swear, instruct, dance, sing. That’s just a few.”

“You will make an amazing mother one day, this I know.”

She leaned away, looking at him, then pointed her finger at his gorgeous face. “Best not to whisper in my ear. Your voice is way too sexy for that.” She lifted her shoulder and rubbed it against her ear, maintaining her serious expression while he grinned.

She regarded the empty field before her, lit up by lights. “So tell me about this fight. Who’s rumbling tonight?”

“The Belle Eveque and The Eveque”s ex-wife.”

“The what-a-what?”

He smiled, leaning to her ear. “The Belle Eveque is the wife of the man you met earlier. He’s the Eveque. It’s French for Bishop. He’s the leader of a group called The Twelve and his wife is called The Belle Eveque or The Beautiful Bishop.”

Cherie couldn’t close her mouth. “So many things you just said,” she cried. “First, that title is bad-ass! And did you say she’s fighting his ex wife?”

“I did.”

“Is there like a brochure they pass out explaining this or will you be so kind as to fill me in.”

“From what I’ve learned, The Belle Eveque was given an assignment to get his ex-wife to help around the farm.”

“The…wait….What is his ex-wife doing at the farm?”

“Her and her daughter are there which is the daughter of the Eveque. His ex left when they were not long married. Broke our Eveque into a million pieces. He just not long ago learned she was pregnant when she left, and she hadn’t told a soul.”

“And now she’s suddenly back? For what?”

“She’d gotten caught up in a bad gang and had been waiting for a chance to get free. When she got the chance, she took it and came to Eveque for help.”

“And he helped her?”

“He did.”

“After she did that to him?”

He nodded. “He’s a good man. He could’ve just taken the daughter, but he knew she loved her mother and needed her. I personally disagree,” he muttered, showing his feelings for this ex loud and clear. She realized how much he liked The Eveque. Even referred to him as Our Eveque.

“So what are they fighting for?”

“To get his ex to do simple chores around the farm she’s living at with him and his parents.”

“She’s living with him and his new wife and his parents?”

He nodded, smiling at her. “It’s a very large tract of land with plenty of space and housing. They’re very traditional. Family stays together.”

“Like a clan,” she said, getting his nod.

“Most of the swamp families believe this way.”

She looked around, realizing what he’d just said. “So wait…all these people here are from the swamp? Is that like…a different place than Breaux Bridge?”

He chuckled, his beautiful eyes twinkling all over her. “It is. The Bishops govern it.”

Her eyes popped at that, and she whispered, “So they are like a secret society? In the swamp?”

“Sounds accurate.”

She turned more toward him. “Wait, wait, wait. “You said they’re fighting to get her to do some damn chores?”

He nodded, looking as disgusted as she was.

“Why would The Belle Eveque bother? Why not just kick her out?”

The sigh Revelator gave indicated there were layers to this story he might not know. “I would suggest the same, but Belle Eveque has decided to use this to make an example of her.”

“Ohhhh, now it’s getting good. What’s her plan?”

“Last I heard, if she wins, Katrina—his ex—has to write a paper on the importance of family as well as agree to do the required chores.”

Cherie was floored with that. “I can’t believe she’s having to fight this fool just to get her to push a broom!”

“I think Eveque may have caused all of it because he doesn’t want her serving as his right hand.”

“Who serving as his right hand?”

“His Belle Eveque.”

“Why he doesn’t want her serving? Wait, she can serve as his right hand? I like this club.”

He licked his full smiling lips, glancing around. “Because if she serves as his right hand, she can go to war if they ever do, and he doesn’t want her in danger.”

It all started coming together. “So why not just say she can’t be the right hand?”

“Because it’s in their code unless they change it.”

“So change it?”

“Requires a unanimous vote with The Twelve, including his mother and father. And it’s his mother who first instituted the rule.”

Her eyes widened, fascinated. “The first Belle Eveque? And she thinks it needs to stay?”

He shrugged. “I’m not sure. Kind of hoping to find that out. And that brought you up to current swamp news.”

She faced forward, hyper-aware of the way his fingers methodically adjusted in her hand, stroking hers each time. She didn’t mind at all but did wonder what was going on in his head.

She tried to focus on everything he’d just told her, but his touch was too distracting. “What time does this start?”

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and slid through names then put it to his ear. “I thought it started at 8:00,” he whispered to her. “Eveque. We’re here and I don’t see anybody yet.”

She tried not to hear anything then Revelator stood but kept her hand tight in his. “I think I might see them now across the field by the kitchen.”

He sat back down and glanced at her. “I do. She’s my bodyguard tonight. Yeah, she’s perfect,” he said, making her pulse quake. “Alright. I’ll see you soon.”

“They’re not here yet?” she wondered when he put his phone back.

“He couldn’t find the keys to his boat. He thinks somebody may be trying to force a forfeit.”

“Ohhhh, that’s a dick move.”

“They’re on their way. I sure hope his Belle Eveque had plenty of training.”

“Training for what?”

“To fight.”

Cherie gasped. “She can’t fight!?”

He shook his head. “Never fought before in her life.”

“The hell? What is she thinking?”

“She’s thinking she’ll do what it takes to prove to her Eveque she can handle any job he gives her. She had a job to get her to do the chores. Katrina said no. So, the Belle Eveque challenged her to a Bat-tie.”

“Daaaamn, now I really like this Belle Eveque!”

“She’s got a unique soul.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” Cherie said. “I usually identify with the underdog. I know what taking a wrong turn can do to a person’s life. But no, I gotta go with my girl The Belle Eveque on this one.” She shot a look at Revelator. “You said she trained?”

He nodded. “By his sister Juliette Bishop. She wrangles alligators for a living.”

Cherie shot up with a gasp. “Shut up! The Juliette Bishop?” She quickly sat back down. “I know her! She kicked a guy out of the Piggly Wiggly for disrespecting me! Literally! I love that woman! She trained The Belle Eveque?”

Revelator’s smile went clear to his eyes, and she didn’t think it had anything to do with what she’d said. He pulled her closer to him again. “You’re a lot of fun,” he muttered. “Yes, she trained The Belle Eveque.”

“You better get back to your praying,” she said, eyeing their hands.

“I can multi-task too. I haven’t quit praying since we got here.”

Her mouth dropped, making him smile again. “For real?” She patted his back. “Where’s your wings?”

He laughed, putting his arm around her shoulder and leaning to her ear. “I think you’re wearing them.”

Oh this made her laugh, and it was the kind that everybody could hear, and did. “Oops,” she whispered, glancing around and hiding her face against his arm. “We could do comedy together, I think. On the road, do a road trip.”

“Don’t need a road to go on a trip with you.” His hand slid over her hair, almost like a caress. “You hungry? Thirsty?”

“Oh,” she said, looking around. “I’m kind of craving some boudin balls, you think they have some?”

“I’m very sure they do. T-Ray-Boo is cooking. He’ll have something you’ll love.”

****

“Am I allowed a drink?” Cherie asked after he ordered her Boudin Balls.

“You mean alcohol?”

“I don’t have to if it makes you uncomfortable. I rarely do.”

“Why do you?”

She shrugged and opened her mouth for a bite. The way she mmmm’d and fluttered her eyes had every male part of his body standing at attention.

“Good?” he asked, forgetting everything else.

“Sooooo good,” she moaned, making him aware of the man in the immediate vicinity.

“Maybe you should eat in private.”

Her eyes popped open, and she gave one of her cute, embarrassed giggles. It was getting harder not to have some part of himself always touching her. And he wanted her closer than what their little charade required. Like in his lap.

On top of that, he kept forgetting what he was supposed to do and not do with her. The plan was to let her cross lines, but he’d crossed way more than her. If she noticed, she didn’t show it. She loved it though and that’s what made it hard to remember. Every time he saw her craving his touch or attention, he’d give in. Guess that was the same as letting her lead. She was just leading fast, and he was getting nervous about how all the pieces would land once everything settled.

He remembered her question about drinking. If she got the least bit tipsy, she might lose the little discipline she was using with him and that would make everything harder for him. Literally. He really needed to have a word with Bishop.

“I’ll just have a coke,” she said.

He wasn’t sure what to say other than, “I’ll get it.”

“I get you’re probably worried what kind of drinker I am,” she said when he returned. “I don’t blame you, I’ve seen some craziness in my days. May be why I don’t drink for the most part.”

“Why did you consider it?” he wondered.

She took another bite of food, and his mind went to work on her beautiful lips. He wanted to kiss them more every second. She licked them and the site of her pink tongue made his own restless in his mouth.

“I have something on my mouth?”

He raised his gaze to hers realizing her eyes might be a bigger weakness.

“That’s a lot of staring,” she barely said, with a wince.

“I never stare,” he said, trying to explain. “Usually.”

She nodded, patting his shoulder. “You’ve met your match,” she whispered. “Finally, a woman soooo beautiful you can’t help yourself.” She waved a dismissive hand. “I’m picking on you, I know you’re staring because you know it’s safe to.” She looked around. “Not sure how safe I am with these other fools that can’t keep their eyes off me.”

“You’re entirely safe,” he assured, while her first statement about meeting his match burned through his celibate blood hotter than she knew.

“Well, it’s obvious they all know you’re celibate so I must be your illegitimate relative from plantation relations gone by.”

He took her hand again, slowly sliding his fingers between hers and closing them tightly. He was stuck in those beautiful eyes again. “Better?”

“Gonna be hard to eat, but I can wait till we get to the bleachers.”

“The food or my protection,” he offered.

“Definitely you, but I’m gonna need the bathroom before we sit,” she whispered.

He walked with her to the edge of the park. “I’ll be right here in yelling distance.”

“Thank you,” she said, sounding like she needed to hurry as she handed him her food bag and hurried off.

He pulled his phone out and texted Bishop. Need some advice with Cherie. I told her I remember I was celibate mostly to help put her at ease but now she thinks I still am. It obviously makes her feel safe but I’m surely not celibate with her. Now we’re at this park with a lot of eyes on the celibate preacher, and she’s warding off potential female attention by playing pretend girlfriend a little too good. I get to hold her hand and touch her but I’m not sure I can hide what I feel much longer. Any help would be appreciated.

She rounded the corner and the sight of her was a punch in the groin. She was an exotic dream and those eyes felt literally hot on him. She gave him a sweet smile and held her hand out for his and he eagerly laced their fingers, watching her face. “Do I look okay?” she asked. “Nothing out of place?” She leaned and whispered, “You can give me a non-celibate answer for moral support.”

“In that case, I think you’re an exotic dream.”

She gave a slow gasp with a happy smile. “That was good,” she said, like he was pretending and had scored high. “Ohhh, they’re jamming,” she said, letting his hand go and moving her body in ways the felt like a sexual come on. He couldn’t tear his eyes off her hips, mesmerized.

“It’s called dancing,” she explained, her smile huge. “You’re looking at me like you’ve never seen that!” she laughed.

“Not like that,” he was sure. “Is it exotic?”

She gave another gasp. “There’s that word again. Does it look exotic?” She moved her body while turning in a slow circle. When her backside faced him, she twirled her ass and looked over her shoulder at him.”

“My God,” he whispered.

He wasn’t sure why she thought his reaction was funny, it wasn’t to him. “You should see your face.”

“Like I’ve been burned alive?” he was sure.

He realized nothing he said she took seriously even though he meant everything he said. That was good and yet bothersome. He wanted her to know he meant it and yet seeing her laugh came with its own reward.

“You have some great one-liners.” She gave her hand back to him, and he took it in his tightly.

“Ohhh, now that’s a possessive grip,” she said with a sure nod. “People understand that.”

He considered what she meant by that. He was more possessive than she had a clue. If he could play possessive without causing her insecurity, he surely would.

“They’re here,” he said, heading to the bleachers with her.

“Who is?”

“I see Eveque and Belle Eveque. Juliette, Maggie. Spook. And I think that’s T-Beaux.”

“Spook, huh? Is he scary?”

“He’s quiet.”

“Ohhh, I get it. He’s sneaky.”

“Something like that.”

“Wow, which is The Belle Eveque?”

“The one with the long hair on both sides.”

“The what?” she wondered. “Ohhhh I see it, I see it. Lorrrd, now why that child did that to her hair?” she whispered, making him grin.

“I think something in her past makes her.”

“Oh, right. You think means you see. I might be playing a jealous girlfriend so don’t do too much hand seeing.”

“Hand seeing?” he asked, confused and excited with the jealous part.

“Meaning using your hands on another woman to see.” She shook her head a lot. “Noooo, I’m not good with that. Even if we pretending, you gonna need to pretend you’re not handsy while with me. I can’t stand that.”

He hoped Maggie was merciful is all he could say. She had a power about her that was almost impossible to resist.

“Can I get an amen?” she cried in a sweet voice, looking up at him, worried.

“Yes ma’am, you surely can,” he said at seeing her vulnerable, scared side. “These celibate hands are all yours.”

Her mumbled “Good” came with mixed emotions and he wished he knew which they were.

“Stay close to me?” he reminded her.

“I’m on you like white on rice, baby.” She put her other hand on his bicep. “There won’t be a woman here that doesn’t know without a doubt what kind of friend you are to me. My goodness, what is this?” she whispered, stroking his muscles. “You’re like some kind of swamp deity.”

He had to laugh at that while her joking touch reached his manhood.

They arrived at the private Bat-tie party happening at the bleachers and Bishop spotted them. “Revelator!” he called, hurrying over. “Can’t tell you how good it is to see you here,” he muttered, turning to Cherie. “Miss Cherie, it’s such a pleasure to officially meet you. I’m Bishop.”

“I’m excited to be here,” she said, with perfect English. “Where is The Belle Eveque? I’m dying to meet her. Samuel has told me amazing things about her.”

His dick flexed at hearing his name out of her mouth, like she owned it. She did, he realized.

Bishop called his woman and she hurried over with an exuberance, hands reaching for Cherie. “You must be Cherie!” she said in a light squeal, pulling her into a brief hug. “Bishop has told me as much as he knows.” She leaned to Cherie’s ear and whispered something then pulled back with a sparkly mischief in her eyes that she flashed at him.

Bishop pulled her into his arms, kissing her the way he longed to kiss Cherie in front of everybody.

“Oh,” Cherie muttered on an impressed gasp like she dreamed the exact same.

At seeing Maggie, Revelator put Cherie in front of him and crossed his forearms over her chest. Was mostly to have an anchor and wall between them.

Thankfully, Cherie didn’t find it overboard, even gripped his forearms tight. At seeing Maggie headed right for him with a touching intent, he pulled Cherie against him more.

“Damn, this one’s coming in hot,” Cherie muttered, mildly amazed while gripping his arms across her chest.

He leaned to her ear. “She’s harmless.”

The few seconds it took her to get there, he’d accidentally seen more details of Cherie”s trauma. Betrayal with friends. The worst kind. But what happened to her was worse than normal betrayal and not knowing what exactly had him tense and holding her tighter. Why was he seeing it now? Was it Maggie doing it? “I got you,” he whispered at her ear, feeling her trembling.

“Revelator,” Maggie whispered, the look on her face almost frantic. “I need to speak to you.” She eyed Cherie then him. “Privately.”

“Can you call me later?”

She shook her head and he realized she had news she felt was urgent.

Spook approached and Revelator took the lifeline. “Spook, how’s it going? I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Cherie.”

“Oh, I thought she was just a friend?” Maggie whispered to Spook.

“I’m hard to resist,” Cherie announced, patting Revelator’s arm across her chest.

“She is,” he agreed.

“So you’re not celibate now?” Maggie wondered, her question innocent like a child’s, maybe hopeful.

“Maggie,” Spook whispered. “That’s kind of private.”

Alarm filled her face and her worried gaze moved to Revelator then Cherie. “Sorry. I don’t have a lot of practice,” she whispered.

“It’s okay,” Cherie said, sounding genuine, but the tension in the words might mean the mercy was a one-use gift.

“Hey! I know you!” Juliette said, hurrying over to them.

Cherie laughed and Revelator released her at seeing Juliette wanted a hug. It was at that moment that Maggie hurried to him and grabbed hold of his hand. Once she did, there was nothing he could do but close his eyes and see what she had for him to see.

Revelator watched a sped-up reel of Cherie’s past, starting from her first betrayal.

“Wow, she done snuck in the second I turn my back,” he heard Cherie mutter.

“You see?” Maggie whispered, gripping his hand tight.

“Stop,” he whispered when the vision got too real, and Cherie’s pain cut through him. “Please, stop.”

“He said stop!”

Maggie’s hand wrenched out of his and Cherie latched on to him, trembling. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to push that hard,” she whispered as Spook held Maggie and pulled her face into his chest as he soothed her. He signaled she was okay with a hand up, and his breath released. The last thing he wanted to do what hurt her, especially when she was only trying to help him with Cherie.

Maggie peeked at him from Spook’s chest and slid her finger along her cheek over and over. He realized she was telling him about his scar. She pointed to her finger and dragged it along her face, nodding.

Realization held him in silent awe. She’d touched his scar and unlocked him from his prison of fear, and the celibacy was tied into that. But that wasn’t the only reason he was being sucked into Cherie so hard. It was those demons she’d just shown him. They were darker than he’d originally seen, even tied to the darkness recently threatening the entire swamp.

Revelator guided Cherie to the bleachers, sitting them at the top near the Bishops. “Good, I can see here,” Cherie muttered.

Her struggle to appear unaffected by Maggie was wearing into him, making him need to assure her and holding hands wasn’t cutting it. He searched for something to tell her that might help.

“Oh, that’s her?” she whispered, standing and leaning to look at Katrina.

“That’s her,” he said, pulling her onto his lap before she sat again. She turned and looked at him with surprise and the distance put his face too close to hers. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered, forgetting everything he’d intended to say.

Her eyes softened and she whispered back. “And who is this show for?”

“A woman that I like.”

She put her arm around his shoulder, fighting a smile. “Is this the same one woman you liked?”

“It is.”

“Oh boy,” she whispered, pressing her perfect ass against his groin as she turned a little forward. “Do I know this woman?”

He smiled, cutting through the jokes. “It’s you.”

She turned sharply in his lap making him grunt at the exquisite torture. “Me?”

“Yes, you.”

“The…real me, not the one playing…”

“The real you.”

She turned back around, leaving him hanging on the cliff. “I don’t know what…to say to that.”

“You don’t need to say anything. I just wanted you to know.”

“Why?” she barely asked, remaining turned.

“I don’t want to hide it from you. Nothing I’ve said tonight is a joke to me.”

She was quiet for a moment. “Nothing?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re supposed to be celibate,” she whispered over her shoulder, like it was now a problem.

“I let you think I still was.”

“Why?” she asked before he could finish.

“So you felt safe.”

“Oh,” she said lightly, nodding.

“You’re still safe. I’m not acting on anything.”

“This isn’t acting on anything?”

He grabbed her hips and moved her next to him on the bleachers. “There. Safe and sound.”

“Oh really,” she muttered, her tone possibly amused. “So you tell me you like me for real and then just set me aside like a dish?”

“Yes. Like a dish I want to devour but won’t unless….”

“Go on,” she scolded, nudging him with her body.

“Unless you want me to.”

“Oh, is that it? I just gotta want it? And then you what? Eat me? Oh…crap that came out wrong.”

“I think it came out just right.”

“Ohhh, k. Is it hot here?”

“Scorching,” he chuckled, angling a look at her, very much enjoying their chat.

“So to recap…you like me…the real me…and you’re not celibate but you won’t do anything unless I want you to. Are there any disclaimers with this?”

“You’re back to joking.”

“No, no,” she muttered, shaking her head. “Very serious.”

“What do you mean disclaimers.”

“Like…you’re not responsible if the dish gets dropped and shattered in the process of consuming said dessert.”

He leaned close to her, putting his mouth at her ear. “Ma Cherie…I think you know I would kill any man that hurt you. I surely would not. But you can take as long as you like to establish this is true.”

She was back to eying him like he might be a glitch. “As long as I like? Even like… a year?”

“You can take seven years.”

“Seven! I surely wouldn’t last that long,” she muttered, making him angle his smile at her.

“I love your humor Ma Cherie. And everything else about you. Take as long as you like. But I will not touch you unless you request it.”

She sat there, looking like she weighed and calculated, making him hold his breath. “What can I request?”

“Anything you desire that is mine to give.”

She licked her lips. “What if…I needed to…test various…requests.”

His cock jerked at what she might mean. “I am yours to use as you wish.”

“Ohhhh my,” she whispered, fanning her face. “Died and gone to heaven,” she muttered, making him laugh.

“That makes two of us.”

“So…just to be…clear,” she whispered. “I can…request anything I desire, and you will only do that?”

“I will only do exactly what you request. Nothing more.” He leaned close to her. “I will be your eager slave.”

“Ohhhhh shit,” she gasped, making him desperate to get her alone. “I’m sure you want an answer,” she muttered.

“I don’t need one.”

“Well, I accept this arrangement. But…I don’t know when I’ll…be brave enough to use my…love coupons.”

“Take all the time you need.”

She finally looked at him and he let himself look right back, fully and unapologetically. “Thank you,” she whispered.

When the need to put his lips on her became too much, he took her hand and brought it to his mouth. “My pleasure, Ma Cherie.” He pressed his lips on her soft skin, watching her stare at his mouth with an open, innocent desire that set him on fire.

He looked at the field. “They’re starting,” he said.

“Okay,” she barely said, sounding lost. His power over her was thrilling. But not as much as the deal he’d just made with her. He had essentially given himself to be her slave to do whatever she wanted. And Bon Dieu, he prayed she wanted everything.

Cherie was breathless as she fought to focus on the Bat-tie about to start. Had he really just given her an endless supply of pleasure coupons to be used whenever she wanted? Wait...what if it wasn”t pleasure but something else?

“What if…I want non-sexual stuff?” she whispered.

“That falls under anything you want, yes.”

She nodded, feeling better knowing that. “And...sexual?”

“Anything you want there too.”

Mercy mercy me. It surely wasn’t a matter of if she would take everything he had to offer, it was a matter of making sure he was offering everything she wanted. Which was everything. All of it. The whole package.

She wanted to pinch herself. She couldn’t believe this was happening. What if she misunderstood him? She wouldn’t recap it again. Not now. Maybe later. Definitely later.