Free S&M III, Vol. II by Vera Roberts

her.
    Mariana was startled as she looked up. She had a big smile on her face. “I was just thinking. I was thinking about the future.”
    “Oh, really?” Scott perched himself on Mariana’s desk. “Do tell.”
    “Um…” Mariana felt flushed. “Maybe privately?”
    “Sure,” he smiled, “are you hungry? Let’s go out to dinner.”
    “Okay,” Mariana grabbed her purse, “say, I’m going to need some money for Christmas.”
    They began walking to the parking garage. “How much do you think you’ll need?” Scott asked.
    “A lot,” Mariana stated. She caught Scott’s disapproving glance. “Okay, a few hundred.”
    “What are you buying?”
    “Gift cards for my family, something nice for you, and of course, something for me. Tis’ the season to be giving, you know?”
    “Don’t worry about me, baby,” Scott opened the passenger door for her. “I’ll give you money for you and your family.”
    “Come on, Scott! I’m sure you want something nice for Christmas!” Mariana said.
    Scott grabbed Mariana’s hand and kissed it. “I have everything I want right here.”
    Mariana’s heart melted. “After dinner, let’s stop by the Christmas lot and pick out a tree!”
    “A tree?” Scott asked.
    “Yes, a Christmas tree. You know, it’s pretty big, pine, and green.” She gesticulated. “You can put decorations and fake snow on them if you want?”
    Scott shook his head. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a Christmas tree.”
    “How long?” Mariana asked.
    Scott thought hard. He honestly couldn’t remember when the last time he had a Christmas tree. “Childhood?”
    “Oh, you’re definitely getting a tree! That’s it. No argument.” Mariana put her foot down.
    Scott grabbed Mariana’s face and pulled her in for a kiss. “What did I do deserve you?”
    “I think I should be asking myself that question.”
    “Oh,” Scott started up his car, “what was it that you wanted to talk to me privately about?”
    Mariana shyly smiled and rubbed his thigh. “I decided I want to do a little voyeurism and exhibitionism experiments.”
    Scott’s interest was pique. He sensually smiled at his girlfriend. “Oh, really?”
    “Yeah,” Mariana nodded. She was ready.
    “Just to be clear on this, you can decide when you want to do this, and you can always back out,” he said.
    “I know,” Mariana sexily smiled, “but we only live once, and I say why not?”
    “I’ll let you when the next play party is. I’ll take you there,” he replied.
    “Great! This is going to be so much fun!” Mariana smiled.
    Scott warmly smiled at his girlfriend. “Ooh, my baby got a little freak in her?”
    “It’s because you brought it out in me.”
     

F OURTEEN
    “Okay, your flight leaves Christmas night around one PM from LAX. I arranged a driver to come meet you at your home, and you have a rented luxury car when you arrive in Atlanta,” Elissa handed Scott his itinerary. “Was there anything else you needed?”
    “A body double,” Scott grimaced. He was not looking forward to the trip back home.
    “That bad? Still?” Elissa asked.
    “They say time heals all wounds, but what is the healing method for time?” Scott wondered aloud. “Seven years was a long time ago, but they make it seem like it just happened yesterday, all the time.”
    “Well, to be fair, Scott, your mom and sister were harassed a lot while you were in Europe. They had a lot to deal with, and no one could get a hold of you.” Elissa mentioned. “Your dad and your uncle had to call in other agencies to come help them with the traffic and media.”
    “And I’ve apologized to them several times over,” Scott spun his chair around to look outside, “it seems they don’t want to forgive me.”
    “It’s not your fault the Great Disaster did what she did,” Elissa comforted her boss, “it’s not your fault at all.”
    “Yeah, but Mari’s gonna suffer,” he shook his head.
    “She might or she might not. Look at it this