“What?”
“I don’t know,” Kingsley said, happier than he’d been in a long time. Happy to have his dream coming true but far happier to have Sam back with him where she belonged. “But I can’t wait to find out.”
40
November THE RENOVATIONS TOOK THIRTYSIX DAYS AND COST one-point-two million dollars. Kingsley handed over the credit card to Sam with his eyes closed and said, “Do what you have to do to make it perfect. Don’t show me the bills.” On opening night, Kingsley took Sam by the hand and kissed the center of her palm. She’d let him outshine her tonight. While she wore a basic three-piece pin-striped suit, Kingsley was dressed in Sam’s favorite of all his new suits—an Edwardianstyle formal tuxedo—vest, tails and an open collar. And of course, the boots she’d given him.
“It’s perfect,” he said as they stood at the ledge of the balcony overlooking the empty play pit below. “Parfait. And you did all of it.”
“You paid for it.” “You made my dream come true,” he said. “Worth every penny. It’s everything I wanted and more.”
“I have to show you the best part.” Sam took him by the hand and led him past the bar to a door at the back. They walked through a large storage room that led to a hallway that led to another hallway that led downstairs and to the hall of the masters.
“What is this?” Kingsley asked as she stopped at a door— second to last one on the right.
“Your playroom.” She pulled out a key chain and unlocked the door. She left Kingsley standing on the threshold while she stepped in and lit a lamp. “What do you think?”
Kingsley’s eyes widened as he stepped into the room and looked around. Sheer white fabric hung over the walls and divided the bed from a side room full of kink accoutrements. Silk-covered sofas and pillows lay about in artful arrangements.
“It looks like…” Kingsley began.
“I told the decorator to think Lawrence of Arabia, Omar Sharif or a desert king. He did good.”
More than good, the room was magnificent. No one could walk into this room and not immediately want to lie atop the bed with its blue, red and gold pillows and offer up their body and soul to the master of the house.
“Sam, I can’t…” Kingsley’s voice trailed off. “How did you know I loved Lawrence of Arabia?”
“I called the padre and asked him for ideas. He said something about T. E. Lawrence being kinky?”
“He did love a good f logging, I hear.”
“I have one more little tiny gift for you.” She pulled it from her pocket and put it in his hand.
“A key chain?” he asked, holding up the silver f leur-de-lis.
“You need a key chain for your keys to the kingdom. I had this one made for you. But not only the key chain. There’s a key on it which goes to a lock.”
“What’s the lock?” he asked, finding the tiny key.
“This one.” Sam grinned as she pointed to the little silver lock that hung over the top button on her suit trousers. “I told you I put a lock on my pants. I wasn’t kidding.”
“And you gave me the key?” Gone was all his cynicism, all his sarcasm.
“If you still want me, I’m willing to try. I also wasn’t kidding when I said if I had to be with any man, it would be you.”
“Sam…” He wrapped his fingers tight around the key chain. “Of course I want you.”
“We have an hour before the club opens. I can’t promise I’m going to be any good at it.” Her voice shook, but she never lost her smile. “But I know a lot of queer girls who fuck guys. They say it’s fun. A fun change of pace. And it’s you, and I love being with you, so why not?”