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While I tossed a salad, Kit carted several TV trays into the living room and set them up in the
corners for the finger food and candy. It was just the three of us for a spell, so we naturally launched
into S.E.C.R.E.T. chatter.
“It’s a lot of money to just give away,” Kit said to me. “But the Committee voted this morning. It
was unanimous.”
“Fifteen million down the drain,” Angela said, with a whistle.
Kit smacked her arm. “You voted yes.”
“How could I not, after Matilda’s impassioned stance against ‘accepting money from an inveterate
misogynist.’”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Maybe it’s time we did more for women than just improve their sex lives.”
“Are you complaining?” asked Angela, holding the carrot she was peeling directly in my face.
I bit down on it and smiled. “Nope.”
“Speaking of sex,” Kit said. “Matilda said I could invite whoever I want for Dominic’s
threesome.” She was going to be one of the soccer player’s trainers. “What about you, Cassie? You
game?”
She knew the answer before I even opened my mouth.
“Kidding. By the way, how’s Jesse? Is it love?”
I knew they knew I had pulled Jesse out. But we hadn’t discussed it yet.
“We’re just testing the waters,” I said, shrugging like it was no big thing. “I have no expectations.”
Kit and Angela exchanged yeah right glances.
“Will you stay in S.E.C.R.E.T. while said waters are being tested?” Kit asked.
“We’re not there yet,” I said.
“I always regret not doing that ‘drive fantasy’ with Jesse after we recruited him,” Angela said,
popping an icing-covered finger in her mouth. “He’s a speed freak, you know. Not speed the drug,
speed as in going fast. Weren’t we lining him up to take Dauphine in a convertible somewhere through
the desert? Was it Sedona? Little weekend trip? She did so well with that pilot, we thought that would
be fun, but, alas … Cassie wants him all to herself.”
“Who trained Jesse?” I asked as casually as possible.
“Pauline freshened up his oral skills. I remember because I got to watch. That was hot,” said
Angela, shaking her hand like it just got singed. “And then I think … Didn’t Matilda practice bondage
on that boy?”
A hot wave flashed through me. Ouch. What was that? Jealousy? No, something different, deeper.
Whatever that was, it stung, and I quickly camouflaged the effects the news had on me.
“Jesse’s a favorite of Matilda’s. She was even looking to change the rules to keep him longer than
three turns. Until you pulled him. Sigh.”
Matilda and Jesse. Why didn’t she ever mention that to me? Maybe that’s why she was always so
hesitant to discuss pulling Jesse out of S.E.C.R.E.T., even way back, when he was my Step Three
fantasy and I had thoughts of stopping and getting off the ride. She convinced me not to. She convinced
me to stay. As for bondage, again, why was I so surprised? Of course she’d still train male recruits.
Why wouldn’t she? Why shouldn’t she? She’s still gorgeous, still sexy. God, when would that
magnanimity kick in, the confidence, the kind that Angela and Kit had? I felt like such a fucking
schoolgirl, with so much still to learn.
“Matilda’s got some plans to train Dominic now. Apparently, he likes to rock climb. Likes getting
all trussed up.”
“Ooh, I like the sound of that,” Angela said.