Yes. Any color pref?

  I tap my lip, pondering some more.

  Purple dress. Lavender lingerie. Use the card I gave you.

  The next message doesn’t come for several minutes. This time there are images accompanying the message with possible screenshot lingerie options.

  I can’t wait 2cu.

  I flip through the pictures she’s sent: the first is sweet, the second is sexy, the third is slutty. Charlene likes to keep things interesting in the bedroom. Frankly, so do I.

  Option one. Looking forward to dinner.

  There’s a tap on the trunk, and I look in the rearview mirror to find Alex waiting for me to pop it. When I do, he tosses his bag inside, closes the trunk, and comes around to the passenger side.

  He drops into the seat, grinning. “Hey, man, sorry I’m late.”

  “No you’re not.” I shift the car into gear and pull into traffic, heading for the gym.

  “You’re right. I’m not.” He adjusts his seat—Charlene was the last one to sit there, so his knees are currently hitting the dash. “Why does Charlene sit so far forward?”

  I shrug, because answering that will tell him far more than he needs to know about what happened the last time she and I went for a drive. “You have an actual excuse for being late, or you just couldn’t get your lazy ass out of bed?”

  “I surprised Violet with a spa day.” That grin of his widens even more.

  “What does that have to do with you being late?”

  “She wanted to thank me in advance for being so thoughtful.”

  “Over a spa day? Don’t the girls go all the time?” Charlene’s nails are always perfectly manicured, and I know she’s not doing them herself.

  “Dude, do you have any idea how relaxed and happy Violet is after a day at the spa? And smooth. Every single inch of skin is like satin. And she smells fucking fantastic.” He shifts around in his seat, his knee bouncing with excitement.

  “So you’re sending her for your own benefit?”

  Alex gives me a look, like I’m dumb. “It’s mutually beneficial. She gets to relax for the day, and when she comes home, I get to enjoy the aftermath of her relaxation. Usually for several hours.”

  I tap the steering wheel, considering this. “But can’t she set that up on her own?”

  “Well, of course she can, but it makes me look good when I’m the one who does it for her. All I have to do is call and ask them for the deluxe spa day package, and they do the rest. Then I reap the benefits when she gets home. It’s win all around.”

  “I wonder if Charlene would want to go with her.”

  “Probably. I made the appointment early this week, but sometimes they have cancellations. You want me to call and find out if they have space?”

  “Sure.”

  Alex makes the call while I drive to the gym. He’s put on hold while they check for openings. A few seconds later, I learn it’s my lucky day because someone had to cancel on short notice. He’s still on the phone when I pull into the underground lot. I should probably check to make sure Charlene is available for whatever Alex is helping me set up.

  I call instead of text, because it’s easier. She answers on the second ring, sounding out of breath.

  “Hi, sexy. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

  “No. Nope. Not at all. What’s up?”

  “I’d like to make a change in your plans for today.” I glance at Alex who’s giving me a strange look.

  “Oh? You don’t have to cancel, do you?”

  I like how concerned she sounds about the prospect. “No. Nothing like that. Violet’s going to the spa today. Would you like to join her?”

  “At the spa?”

  “Yes. At the spa.”

  “Umm…that sounds nice, but I don’t have an appointment, and the place she goes is usually booked up weeks out.”

  “I’ve already taken care of that, but only if you’re interested. Otherwise I can cancel.”

  “Wait. What?” She sounds confused.

  “The appointment is already made if you’d like to go. I believe there are several services you can take advantage of.”

  “Seriously?”

  I’m not sure whether I should be entertained by her disbelief or not. “Yes. Seriously.”

  “That would be amazing.”

  Now it’s my turn to smile, although she can’t see it. I give Alex the thumbs-up, and he finalizes the appointments and writes the start and end times on a piece of paper so I can tell Charlene.

  “Excellent,” I tell her. “I’ll take care of everything. All you have to do is show up. You can coordinate with Violet on getting there, and your first appointment is at ten thirty. Your final appointment will end at four. Of course, if there’s anything you want to do differently, feel free to make changes.”

  “Okay. Um, Darren?”

  “Yeah, sexy?”

  “This sounds wonderful, but I might not have time to go dress and lingerie shopping.” Her voice is soft, nervous and excited.

  “Hmm… You have a point. Would you still like to try to make time for that, or should I expect that you’ll be unable to fulfill that request?”

  “Would you still like me to try to make time for that?”

  I don’t answer right away. If Charlene is worried about dress shopping, she’s not going to be nearly as relaxed—in fact she’ll be on edge, which usually isn’t a bad thing. But I feel like it might defeat the purpose of what I’m trying to do here.

  “I don’t think that’s necessary. Of course, if you have the time, please feel free to use it, but it would be perfectly acceptable for you to provide options for me to choose from when I pick you up. Does that seem like a reasonable compromise?”

  “It sounds perfectly reasonable, Darren.”

  “Fantastic. Enjoy your day, and I’ll see you tonight.” I hang up the phone feeling good about myself, at least until I get a load of the look on Alex’s face. “What?”

  “What the shit was that about?”

  “What was what about?”

  He shakes his head. “I don’t know about you sometimes, man.” He puts his phone to his ear. After a moment he says, “Hey, baby, I’ve got another surprise for you.” There’s a pause while he listens to whatever Violet is saying. Then he laughs. “No, baby, not that kind of surprise. Yeah. You can pick some of those up—not the ones covered in sugar though. They’re messy, and I don’t like the way they feel. Yeah—Yeah. Those are my favorite, but that’s not why I’m calling… Listen, Charlene’s gonna spend the day with you at the spa.”

  There’s some high-pitched shrieking, and Alex laughs again.

  “Darren set it up for her on my suggestion, so feel free to come up with some creative ways to thank me later, if you want.” He’s quiet for several seconds, his grin growing wider. Eventually he ends the call and shoves his phone in his pocket. “Tonight’s gonna be fucking awesome.”

  “Agreed.”

  We get out of the car and take the elevator up to the gym. “You can’t use your sex-a-thon tonight as an excuse to pussy out on today’s workout,” I warn him.

  He flips me the bird. “Whatever, dude. This is my warm-up.”

  We start with laps on the indoor track and move to weights. Alex is still recovering from his accident last season, so he’s on low weight and high reps for his shoulder. He gets frustrated pretty easily with how slow his progress is, but I don’t let him push himself beyond what’s reasonable. We’ve been friends long enough that he doesn’t get too pissed when I tell him to take it easy.

  It’s harder for him to stay within his limits when we’re working out with the team, so he and I go at least three times a week on our own—and that’s on top of his physical therapy sessions.

  After weights, we hit the pool and then the hot tub, followed by the sauna. No one’s in there but us, so we sit down and relax, letting the heat do its job.

  “I can’t wait to check out the tattoo designs.” Alex runs his palm over the most recent addition to his body art—he had The Cup tattooed on the inside of his right bicep after we won it. He doesn’t have a ton of ink, but he keeps adding to it, so I’m assuming at some point he might end up making it a half sleeve if nothing else.

  If there’s one thing I know about addictions, it’s that once you get a taste of something you like, it’s hard not to keep going back for more. I don’t think it’s any different with body art. Ballistic is about to start another full sleeve, and Romero has a massive back piece. Miller and I are the only ones who haven’t bitten the ink bullet before now. I figure if there’s one thing I can safely put permanently on my skin, it’s something hockey-related.

  “We go in to see them soon, right?”

  “Yeah. Ballistic says they look amazing, but that’s not really a surprise.”

  I nod. I’ve been to Inked Armor once for the original consult on the team tattoo, just after the season ended. Since I started seeing Charlene, I’ve spent a lot more time hanging out with the other guys on my team who have girlfriends. It’s not something I usually do, considering my relationships with women haven’t ever been all that conventional. Until Charlene. And it’s still not exactly conventional.

  Alex rolls his shoulder. I have a feeling he pushed it a little too hard today, despite my efforts to rein him in. He’s competitive, and he has a hard time with the idea that he might not be in top form by the time training camp starts.

  “Can I ask you something?” he says.

  “Yeah, man, shoot.” I’m stretched out on the sauna bench, head back, eyes closed.

  “It’s about Charlene.”

  I try not to flinch, or react in any way. Alex and I are tight, almost like brothers, but we don’t get into deep discussions about my relationship with Charlene. She’s his wife’s best friend, and giving him too many personal details when it comes to her is complicated. It’s not that I don’t trust him, because I do. But since he’s married, I figure whatever I tell him I’m also telling Violet. So I pretty much avoid the topic.

  “Violet says she has her nipples pierced.”

  I crack a lid. He’s not looking at me; he’s staring at the ceiling.

  “What’s Violet doing looking at Charlene’s nipples?”

  “So she does?”

  “Yeah.” I have to work hard not to picture Charlene’s nipples in my head, or the conversation that led to her getting her nipples pierced. Or how fucking hot it is when she wears the delicate gold chain that connects them to each other, or the one that hooks to her belly ring. She looks so pretty and soft with her clothes on, but the second they come off and the lights are dimmed, she’s a whole different woman. I fucking love it. Most of the time.

  “What’s that like?”

  “What are Charlene’s nipples like?”

  “Violet asked me how I felt about her getting her nipples pierced, and honestly, I have no fucking clue because it’s not something I’ve ever thought about. But apparently it’s something she’s considering, so I figure I should be informed by someone who knows the deal.”

  I squeeze the back of my neck, working out how I want to word this. “Well, Charlene likes them because they make sensation much more intense.”

  “So it’s good?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Like, orgasm good?”

  “For Charlene, yeah.”

  “And you like them?”

  “I think they’re sexy on the right woman.” And Charlene is exactly the right woman. The two-month healing time was the best foreplay ever.

  Alex nods thoughtfully and doesn’t ask any more questions. I don’t give him any more answers.

  After four hours at the gym—half of it spent not working out—I make a stop at one of the stores where Charlene likes to shop, based on the purchases that appear on the credit card I gave her. She doesn’t abuse it, which is why she has it. She only uses it when I request that she get something new, or sexy.

  I’m well aware that her salary and mine don’t come close to matching, so I don’t think it’s fair that she has to spend her own money on something I’m going to appreciate for only a few minutes before I peel it off her incredibly sexy, toned body.

  I head straight for one of the salesladies and tell her exactly what I’m looking for. Apparently, dark purple is not popular this time of year, and the only thing they have has a floral print on it. Charlene prefers solid colors to prints, so I browse the store, looking for something I think would look good on her curvy, lithe frame. I end up buying two dresses, because I like them both equally, and I’m also partial to giving Charlene options.

  My next stop is the lingerie store. I spend much more time there. Charlene and I have very different taste in her lingerie. Not that I mind the things she picks—they’re interesting. But I prefer slightly more refined options. I’m willing to compromise, sometimes. Not tonight, however.

  I find exactly the right thing, and a few others she might like as well, and I have the saleslady take the tags off before she wraps them in tissue paper.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to leave the tags? In case she needs a different size?”

  “I’m positive I know exactly what size she wears.” I tap my credit card on the counter.

  “Of course.” She gives me a conspiratorial wink.

  I smile, but I don’t understand what the wink is about. I can’t imagine not being aware of what size the woman I get into bed with on a regular basis wears. I also don’t want Charlene to see the price tags on this stuff; otherwise she’s liable to think she needs to make it up to me in some way. We have enough of a power struggle as it is. I don’t need to make it worse with what’s supposed to be a gift.

  The cashier rings it up to the tune of nine hundred dollars, which I’ll gladly pay, because Charlene in pretty things is a sight to behold.

  I head home, shower again—because the ones at the gym don’t make me feel particularly clean—shave, and hit my closet. As I rifle through my clothes, I shoot Charlene a message asking about her day at the spa. She sends me a picture of her lavender-painted toe and fingernails.

  Instead of messaging her again, I call. She answers on the second ring.

  “Having fun with Violet?” I ask.

  “So much. Thank you again for this.”

  “No thanks necessary. What time do you think you’ll be home?”

  “Violet’s just finishing her last treatment, so we’ll be leaving here in the next half hour.”

  I check the time. It’s four thirty, which gives me and Charlene plenty of time.

  “I assume you won’t be able to go shopping.”

  “It’s unlikely. Is that going to be a problem?”

  “I anticipated that might happen, so no, it’s not a problem.” I finger a dark gray tie with fine purple stripes and wait for her response.

  “Oh. Okay.” As expected, she’s not pleased by this.

  “I have a request, though, if you feel the timing is adequate.”

  “Oh? What kind of request?” Excitement makes her voice waver.

  “I went shopping for you.”

  “Really?”

  I wish I could see her expression right now. I’m not sure if her surprise is a good thing. “Really.”

  “What did I do to deserve all this pampering?” she asks softly.

  “You put up with me. Isn’t that enough?”

  Charlene laughs. “Like it’s such a chore. So what’s the request?”

  “I’d like to come by your place a little early so you have time to get dressed.”

  “And you want me to model everything for you?”

  “Mmm.”

  “How would you like me to answer the door?”

  I close my eyes and filter through all of the ways Charlene has answered her door in the past, in various states of undress. “Not naked would be preferable.”

  “Well, that’s no fun.”

  “I’ll see you at six.”

  She sighs. “Okay.”

  “And Charlene?”

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t forget your pearls.”

  “Of course not, Darren.”

  * * *

  I arrive at Charlene’s at 5:57. I chose the tie with purple stripes to match the dress and lingerie I’ve purchased, which is hanging from my finger. I ring the doorbell and hear the quick clip of shoes coming down the hall. She’s wearing heels. I’m excited to find out what she’s paired them with.

  She opens the door a crack, enough for me to catch a glimpse of one hazel eye and her lip-glossed smile. “Hi.”

  I raise the bag dangling from my finger. “I come bearing gifts.”

  She steps back and opens the door just enough to let me in. There’s a good reason for her to stay out of her neighbors’ line of sight. Charlene isn’t exactly naked, but she’s close. She’s wearing a pair of black heels and, of course, her pearls. The fine gold chain I love so much connects her pierced nipples. My dick is immediately annoyed that we don’t have nearly enough time to play before we have to leave for dinner.

  Anticipating a greeting such as this, I took care of myself before I left my place. It takes the edge off, but getting through dinner is probably going to be a challenge. I close the door and turn the lock—not that I expect anyone to come barging in, but Charlene is mostly naked, and I don’t want anyone to see her in this particular state but me.

  “Should we go upstairs so I can model everything for you?” She has her hands clasped behind her back. It pushes her breasts out and pulls on the delicate chain across her chest.

  I follow the fine gold links with a fingertip. “I think down here is better, don’t you?”

  She shivers when I graze the swell of her breast and stop short of her nipple. “If that’s what you’d prefer.”

  I give the chain a tug and her eyes flutter shut. Her lips part, and her breath leaves her on a tiny, almost inaudible whimper.

  “Come with me.” With my finger still hooked under the chain, I guide her down the hall. I have her wait at the entrance to the living room while I pull all the curtains closed. Then I move the coffee table out of the way and survey the room. I can feel Charlene watching me, but I don’t look at her—mostly because if I do I’m liable to say fuck trying on the things I bought for her, and then the entire point is lost.