"I'm between things. It's just some guy who asked me out." Oh," I said. "Well, I'm just some guy asking you out."She smiled and took another drink."OK... what the hell," she said. "I told you I respect serious drinkers. You've won me over."She tilted her glass and took down the whole drink."Let's get the hell out of here," she said.I gulped down my drink and followed her out a side door."I know a place. You've had more than me. Do you want me to drive?" she asked."I walked her anyway," I said.I. Right-down-to-it:"Cully, I'll ask you the same questions. These questions must be asked. Now is the time." Are you going to be able to bear witness and accept my coupling with Tommy? We will be joined physically and mentally. Do you understand that, boy? I don't want you to run off in a fright, carrying on in that house. You want this? It will be as close as you and I have been. As close as I can be with him. I want to be close to him, Cully. I need to be. I want you there because you desire to. Larra's eyes flicked towards the servant at the door. "No, Mistress, this slave said nothing." 'sroight yew didn't. Cuz yew know that's wrong. Slaves don't speak 'til spoken to, roight?" Yes, Mistress," Larra said in a tense voice.Amanda looked at Larra's face and wanted to applaud Bessa. But then she spotted the keys dangling from Bessa's fingers and became confused.Bessa kept her eyes fixed to Larra as long as she dared before her resolve gave out and she turned away. Her hands trembled a bit. “I was wondering when you would join me, Mage Tricky Ricky,” Micky tossed at him as she flicked her eyes over him. He didn’t look a day older than the last time they had met. She grinned at his raised eyebrows.“Mage Tricky Ricky, I’m deeply offended that you have forgotten me so easily,” she pouted at him, but she had no real annoyance in her voice. She knew he could read her body language and the nuances of her voice better than probably anyone on this planet. For all she knew, he could.