We kiss and exchange pleasantries before departing separately heading off to work. I don't have the courage to ask her yet. Work seems to drag on for ...ours but finally ends and I rush home. I clean up the remaining piles of dirty clothes and wipe down the kitchen before ordering delivery from her favorite italian resturant just up the street. She arrives 10 mins to 7 and we kiss passionately before I serve us dinner in the livingroom. This is nice. I think silently as we snuggle after dinner. "That's for sure. Two of you? That would be too much."She moved her hand, gently, thank god, down my flank."What about your rib?" It's taped. It's sore and the tape pulls when I bend or turn, but it's supposed to mend on its own."I looked over at Carla again."How long until she can walk?" At least a week before she can even sit up. It's not the leg so much, that's a clean break. It's her kidney and spleen."This was the end of our competition hopes, of course. Without Carla and me, our squad. "Here let me show you how to put them on," Elizabeth said in acondescending voice taking the pack back from me and opening them.Just because I was born a man didn't mean I was born stupid I thought tomyself. She talks to me like I am a little girl getting dressed for thefirst time. Again she was leading me, thrusting femininity upon me.But I listened attentively as she pulled out the piece of cardboard thatyou always get in a pack of tights or stockings, and rolled my first pairof tights up. He hated Martin.Over the next year, he exacted an act of brutal and cruel revenge onMartin. Anthony didn't feel he was doing anything wrong. Martinsuffered, but he had assaulted a member of his family and seriouslycrossed them in ways that were unacceptable. People had to learn torespect and fear his family.But Anthony had no idea of the seriously powerful friends Martin had. Hehad no idea that Martin was a personal friend of the Princess of Castileand the Empress herself. Anthony.