Bob again stood in silence, staring at his intruder while thinking about what to say. The look of exuberation on Ma'amusa's face began to fade. Knowing it would be replaced by a look of failure, and when that happened she'd likely head for the door to leave, he gently took her by the hand and walked her out of his bedroom.

He let go of her in the hallway. "Go back and get our coffee," he instructed. "We both need a refill."

Ma'amusa did as she was told, and brought the empty mugs to the kitchen. She found Bob standing by the coffee maker, looking relaxed but under control.

"Please, Mr. Rohan, if I may," she began, placing the mugs on the counter. "I do not need more coffee. I'm freaked out enough as it is."

Bob gave a staccato laugh. "You're freaked out? This thing is your idea."

"Yeah. Well. Um." Her hands fluttered while she stammered. "Like we said. I scare me too."

Bob poured another coffee for himself while shaking his head. He turned to find Ma'amusa digging in the fridge to find the coffee cream. She held the bottle in both hands, looking servile and meek. Upon realizing her intent, he stepped aside with grace, indicating she could finish preparing his coffee. She added a dollop of cream, then fished a packet of raw sugar from a pocket in her coat.

"You know you're still not fully dressed," he said to her back while she labored.

She presented him with his coffee. "Oh? Really? And how so?"

"You're not wearing jewelry. When I see you at Benjamin's, you always are."

The look of doe-like innocence returned to her face. She stood before him with both hands stuffed in the pockets of her coat.

"Do you ever wear clothes, Mr. Rohan?" she asked after a moment had passed.

"Not if I don't have to." He sipped at his coffee while standing tall. "But back to you. You're not wearing jewelry."

"What do you suggest?"

Bob blinked. "I don't understand."

"You said you have noticed. What was I wearing when we first met?"

Bob scowled. "You mean when you threw paint at me?"

Ma'amusa lowered her gaze in embarrassment, looking at his feet. He stepped up and pushed on her shoulders to make her look at his face. She inhaled, taking in the cocoa butter and mango scent of his body, before making him release her by backing up.

She rocked a bit on her heels with her hands again in her pockets. "You have to admit," she said with a laugh. "We had a lot of fun."

"Because you missed me and got it on you."

"Yes. Which was the funnest part. But do you remember what I wore?"

"You had a necklace made of wooden beads. Various sizes and natural looking."

She pulled the necklace from her pocket, presenting it in an open hand.

"There was a bracelet too."

She showed she had that as well. "They're tagua and acai," she said of the beads. "They smell nice when you rub them together."

Ma'amusa worked the beads in her hands, then held them up to Bob's nose. The woodsy scent was unmistakeably her, bringing his thoughts back to their time in the manor, when he washed her feet.

"And what about yesterday?" she quizzed. "Do you remember what I wore then?"

"Square black beads made of stone, with a white elephant as a pendant."

From her other pocket, she produced that necklace. "I feel your eyes upon me," she said while waiting for him to choose. "Like you, Mr. Rohan, we are also observant. Too observant, I suppose."

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Bob chose the wooden necklace, then indicated with a demanding stare that he expected Ma'amusa to turn around and let him put it on her. She complied, lowering her head and holding her hair out of the way. He pulled down her coat a bit to expose her skin, then worked the barrel clasp and put the necklace on her. When finished, she gasped and shuddered, feeeling him plant a kiss on the nape of her neck.

"Give me the bracelet," he said into her, holding his hand out where she could see it.

Her heart beat fast while doing as he ordered, causing her to tremble. With both his hands in front of her, he fumbled with the bracelet's clasp, his body pressed to her back and his chin resting on her shoulder.

"Hold still," he demanded, causing her to tremble harder.

"I feel your arousal," she offered as an excuse, sticking out her bum to better experience it.

He kissed her on the neck again after he was finished, this time near her shoulder. "Mmm. I feel yours too," he said, biting where he had kissed her.

She flew away and spun around, giving a resounding hiss. "Mr. Rohan. Please!" she implored, her dark eyes wide and bright. "Do not bite me anymore."

Bob stood silent and stared, assessing her request. He took a sip of coffee, while she struggled with maintaining eye contact.

"Why am I not suppose to tell anyone that you're here?" he asked.

"I beg your pardon, Sir?"

"You said I mustn't tell a soul."

"You mustn't tell that we're boarding."

"Oh," Bob said, slowly nodding. "So you're more worried about that than the fact that you broke into my home."

"We didn't break in. The door was unlocked."

As Bob nodded again, Ma'amusa took a breath to steady her jangled nerves. "We're not using our brainboards in the way the contract allows." She pierced him with a stare "You do remember the contract you signed. Yes, Mr. Rohan?"

He sounded unconcerned. "Yeah. There was a contract."

She spoke as if reading a script. "Brainboards are to be used only at the behest of a licensed therapist, in an environment of their choosing, and under their control. We're not doing that."

"Neither is Tylene Gunn," Bob said, of his wife's fashion designer friend.

"We know. You are also not honoring the contract." Ma'amusa spoke in a friendly manner. "It's not like we're the only ones. People ignore the contract. But I am seeking tenure, and La'u Ma'a Taua is under another contract with his football team. We stand to lose everything if we're caught not honoring the brainboard contract."

"I see," Bob said, again nodding. "Yet you risk further trouble entering my home without permission."

Ma'amusa swallowed hard. "It's not like I'm just terrified of what you might do. I'm scared of everything."

"So why do it?"

"Mr. Rohan. When La'u Ma'a Taua saw in me how much I enjoyed time with you when we first met -- how you cared about me and took care of me -- it was like a door had opened. Did your mate feel it too?"

Bob thought about his answer. "Not really. But we sensed it."

Ma'amusa's voice became husky. "Okay. This is La'u Ma'a Taua. An athlete's life is structured, especially in team sport. Everything is pre-ordained -- what you eat, when you train, how you play."

Ma'amusa brightened visibly. She spun around with her arms in the air. "But my life is a ferris wheel! It goes up and down and all around! Like a carousel! A parade!"

As Ma'amusa laughed and sang to the ceiling, Bob could better see how she was able to admit to being crazy. She noticed his disapproval and improved her behavior. Still, her eyes were dilated, wild and excited.

"And then I met you, Bob the Button Man. Oh my! What a treat!" She placed her hands on his shoulders. "We didn't have sex when we met, but we could have."

"Speak for yourself, my heart of stone. I'm committed to my marriage."

"Oh, we could have. Do not lie! I mean, you made me cum! And I came today as well. You allowed me to do it!"

Bob smirked, acquiescing for the moment. "You kind of had me by the balls."

With her hands still on him, she shook him lightly for fun. "And you came a little too. I taste it in my mouth!"

He gently removed himself from her clutches. "Okay. Okay," he said, calming her. "What's your point?"

Ma'amusa's voice became husky again, speaking for her husband. "We can't have sex when boarding. But my god! Do you know how it feels to cum when you're a woman?"

"Ah... no."

"You go up and down and all around, over and over again. Guys can only cum so much, and most times only once."

"Speak for yourself," Bob interjected, implying he could do so more often.

Ma'amusa reared back at the realization. She approached to again lay her hands on his shoulders and attack with greater fervor, but he sidestepped to avoid it.

She complimented him instead. "You are amazing, Mr. Rohan."

"I have to be. I'm married to my Seas."

Ma'amusa bowed, staring at the floor with her elbows tucked in. "Yes sir. I apologize. Of course you are. I am sorry."

Bob huffed to clear the air. "You say you want to live here, at least until you get tenure. And my Seas is going to notice how much I like you the next time we board."

Ma'amusa's eyes shot up, filled with expectation.

"Don't take that as a yes," Bob scolded, pointing at her face.

She cast her eyes back down. "Yes sir. We will not."

"But either way, you have honored me with a secret I must keep." He paused to weigh his words. "I can't guarantee that Cecilia will agree with what I'm about to show you, but we have a secret too."

With his coffee in hand, he exited the kitchen. Upon realizing that Ma'amusa wasn't following, he returned.

"Come with me," he ordered.

Ma'amusa skittered towards him, taking tiny steps with her eyes still cast down. He led her into the hallway, to stand beside a decorative panel. It stood floor to ceiling high, covered with a delicate art deco pattern of gold inlay, set on a muted brushed steel matte.

"Sunset starfish nine-two-two," he said to its right hand side.

A voice activated lock gave an audible click, proving the panel to be a pocket door. Bob slid it into the wall and walked through the opening.