“Xander is so tricky.” She shook her head. “I bet he knew all along that you would tell me right away.”

“Yeah, I think that as well. I mean, it just doesn’t seem reasonable that he would think I didn’t tell you.”

“So that means he knew that I knew all along,” Liv groaned. “I’m going to get him back for that.”

“Oh? How?”

“I’m going to handcuff him to the bed tonight.” She grinned. “And then tease him. Let’s see how much he likes handcuffs then.”

“Oh, Liv!” I laughed.

“He needs to be punished.” She grinned again. “And what better way than from a budding Domme wannabe?”

“You don’t want to be a Domme, though.”

“He doesn’t have to know that.”

“Oh, Liv, you’re so bad.”

“I know.” She giggled. “I’m a bad, bad girl.”

“That’s what I said to Aiden last night.” I laughed.

“About me?” She looked confused.

“No, about me.” I grinned. “We really got into the role-playing. I think I’m going to ask him to rent a policeman’s uniform, and I’ll be the criminal he’s interrogating.”

“Uh, okay.” Alice laughed.

“And then maybe I’ll be an escort and he can be my John and we can meet up at a hotel bar and he can pretend he’s picking me up.”

“You do know that prostitution is illegal and if someone thinks you guys are for real, you might get arrested?”

“We’ll be fine. He’s a lawyer.” I grinned. “He can get us out of it if that were to happen.”

“You’re crazy, Alice.”

“Well, so is Aiden. And he likes my crazy. Well, some of my crazy, at least.”

“So what happens next?” She grinned and her stomach grumbled. “And do you want to go out to dinner?”

“Yes, let’s go and get some fried chicken. I’ve been craving it.” I nodded. “Hold on, let me change real quick.”

“Okay.” She nodded and followed me to my room. “So you and Aiden are official now?”

“No,” I said and sighed as I opened my closet door. “He didn’t really say anything about us being in a relationship. He didn’t ask me to be his girlfriend or his wife.”

“Alice, he’s not going to propose just because you had sex.”

“I know that.” I rolled my eyes. “He didn’t propose years ago, either. I guess I just hoped he would say something about us being more official, you know.”

“I know.” She nodded. “It’s hard to be sleeping with a guy and not really have anything confirmed.”

“Yeah, I feel like a bit of a slut if I’m honest.” I took my shirt off and pulled on a navy sweater. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the sex with Aiden, but I kinda feel cheap. And I don’t know why. I think that if men can have sex when not in a relationship then I should be able to as well, but it just feels wrong.”

“I think it’s because you want to be in a relationship with him, so you’re kinda in limbo right now.”

“Yeah.” I nodded as I pulled my jeans on. “I guess I just want that official title of girlfriend.”

“That’s understandable, Alice. I felt the same way with Xander. Well, kinda. I mean the first night was a one-night stand, but after I’d slept with him a few times, I did start to feel like ‘is he really into me and is this about more than sex or not?’”

“Yeah,” I sighed and sat on the edge of my bed. “I just want to know where this is going.”

“Why don’t you ask him?”

“You think so? It seems a bit forward, don’t you think? I mean, we barely just admitted that we had feelings for each other.”

“Yeah, but I think you’ve both had feelings for each other for a while.” She groaned. “Just ask him.”

“Maybe.” I sighed. “I don’t want to scare him away.”

“He’s Aiden. He doesn’t get scared.” Liv grinned. “If anything, he’s the scary one.”

“He’s a bossy bear, not a scary one.”

“I know, I know.” Liv groaned. “He’s the bossy bear who likes to tie you up and have his wicked way with you and you love it.”

“Don’t be jealous.” I giggled as we walked out of my room. “I can’t help it if my man has a kinky side.”

“Oh, I had a question for you,” Liv said as we left the apartment and headed to our favorite fried chicken place a few blocks away.

“What?”

“So what happens with Elizabeth now?”

“No idea,” I shrugged and then paused. “Though you wanna know something funny? When we were at the coffee shop and I saw Scott and Elizabeth looking at each other, it seemed to me that they had already met.”

“Oh, really?” Liv looked at me curiously. “Like, through Aiden?”

“No.” I shook my head and thought back to that moment. “It was as if they knew each other better than that. I don’t know. Maybe I imagined it, but I swear I thought to myself that they had a really intense stare for a few seconds and then it passed.”

“Ooh,” Liv murmured. “I wonder how they know each other?”

“Yeah, me too.” I grinned at her. “I’m going to see if I can find out.”

“Oh, Alice,” she groaned as we walked into the restaurant. “Can we eat first and then figure out a plan?”

“Sure,” I said as I took a deep breath and smelled the greasy wonderfulness that was fried chicken and French fries. “Let’s eat first.”

***

I lay in bed feeling full and happy. I was about to roll over and go to sleep when my phone beeped.

Hey sweet pea. I grinned as I saw the message from Aiden.

Alice: Hey.

Aiden: I missed you today.

Alice: Oh wanted to get some spanking in?

Aiden: Hmm. I’d use any excuse to touch your ass.

Alice: How was work?

Aiden: Good. I thought about you all day though. Had a big boner. :)

Alice:Aw, how special! I typed, but inside I frowned. Was this all about sex to Aiden?

Aiden: What are you wearing right now?

Alice: Why?

Aiden: I want to picture you.

Alice: Okay …

Aiden: So what are you wearing and where are you?

Alice: I’m at a costume party and I’m wearing a rat costume.

Aiden: Not sexy. :(

Alice: Where are you and what are you wearing?

Aiden: I’m in bed. Naked and thinking of you.

Alice: Oh Aiden, the words I’ve always wanted to hear.

Aiden: I wish you were here.

Alice: I’m sure you do.

Aiden: Take your clothes off.

Alice: At the party?!

Aiden: I know you’re not at a party.

Alice: Okay, stalker.

Aiden: Tell me when your clothes are off.

Alice: Why?

Aiden: Because then we can play.

Alice: Play via text?

Aiden: Just take your clothes off.

Alice:Okay. I groaned and took off my T-shirt and shorts. I’m naked.

Aiden: Good. Send me a photo.

Alice: No.

Aiden: No?

Alice: Nope. I don’t do naked photos.

Aiden: Face time with me then?

Alice: Perhaps.

I jumped out of bed and ran to my dresser and quickly applied some lipstick and blush to my face. I grabbed my comb and brushed my hair as well. There was no way I was going to FaceTime with him looking washed out.

Aiden: Is that a yes?

Alice:It was a perhaps.

Ring ring. I laughed as I saw the video call coming in from Aiden.