"I hate you, Edward Nigma," I said as I trudged into the room. My feet were killing me, and he was grinning like a jack-o-lantern all lit up on Halloween.

"I can tell."

We had started practice immediately after lunch, up until dinner. Eddie insisted I practice with him more after dinner as well. I admit I enjoyed our hips being pressed together and being held tight by him once we got the basics down. Paso basico (salida, cruzado, resolucion). Those words were going to be stuck in my mind. I would be trying to tango in my sleep. Damn him!

"You have some making up to do. How about a foot massage?" he said, lying back in the pillows, and wiggling his bare feet at me.

My eyebrows went up. "Make up? Foot massage? Honey, I've done enough making up to you to last me a long time. I indulged your sick little tango idea for more than half the day. If anyone is giving anyone a foot massage, it's you giving me one," I said, sticking my foot on his stomach.

Eddie pulled his tie off, and popped open the buttons, pointing to his neck. "You. Owe. Me."

"Oh, really?" I slinked across him, half forming into a leopard. Unsheathing my index claw, I popped the buttons off his shirt, opening it midway.

"Hey! No need to damage the clothing!" he protested, starting to sit up.

Shoving him back, I parted the fabric and gave him a kiss like the one I had last night, right over his heart. He simply melted, turning into a further puddle of goo when I kissed the corner of his jaw. "There. Debt repaid," I said, sitting back toward the foot of the bed.

"Ah huh," he grinned, looking drunk.

"If you need me, I'll be in the bathroom, taking a long, hot bath," I said, tugging his big toe. Slipping off the bed, I rolled my hips as I strolled to the bathroom, knowing he was watching me. Hey, if he was going to subject me to tango lessons, I was going to subject him to some not so subtle seduction.

~ ~ ~

The next day after lunch, Eddie told me he had come to an agreement with Miguel for the Apis statue. We would be leaving for France after breakfast the next day. The bulk of the money had been transferred into one of Eddie's secret accounts, with enough cash to pay Benny and Trigger their wages for the trip. No doubt they'd spend it whoring and drinking while in Paris. As long as they enjoyed themselves, it was none of my business how they spent their money.

Miguel had planned a big party for the night. While Eddie was in the meeting, I had gone back to the kitchen and chatted with Chef Rusk as he showed me how to make his special paella. That was to be the centerpiece dish for tonight's festivities. Casks of wine were brought up from the cellar, along with cordials, brandy, and enough various liquors to get a small army pleasantly smashed.

"See? Teaching you how to dance is paying off," Eddie said as he twirled me around on the dance floor.

"Mm. After yesterday, you should be thankful I'd even dance with you. That was just cruel to do to me yesterday."

"Cruel? What you did to me last night was cruel. Be thankful I let you come to this party."

"Oh, yes. And if I weren't here, you'd be dancing with Benny or Trigger," I said, nodding to where the two men stood with Tangram, drinking wine.

"No, I'd be sitting in a corner with Miguel, drinking brandy, and smoking a cigar. In fact, we'll probably do that later tonight," he said.

"Cigar? So you're sleeping on the chairs tonight. Because if you dare come to bed smelling of cigar, you will not touch or kiss me at all." Smoking. I never knew he smoked!

He dipped me and smiled. "I never had a partner to dance with. Not one who was willing to learn something new with me without question. I've always wanted to learn how to tango."

"No smoking," I said, determined not to let him throw me off the subject.

"And it certainly was fun to have those lessons with you yesterday. Admit that you had fun learning," he said, twirling me off the dance floor.

The man was quick. I didn't see him snag a couple glasses of champagne from one of the trays being circulated. He offered one up to me. I took hold of his tie instead, pressing my body against his.

"No. Smoking." Under his jacket, I traced down his spine, tucking my hand into the waistband of his slacks, gently caressing the small of his back. "I'll be very disappointed if you smoke tonight, Tiger," I added in a hushed purr.

Eddie's scent changed. He remained outwardly cool looking, and in control, but his scent was now sharper, muskier, and spicier. I took the offered champagne from his hand, sipping it as I turned my back to him and stared at the couples still swirling on the dance floor. Just as I expected, his free hand circled around my waist, resting on my belly and holding me to him. I smiled as I sipped my drink.

"Eduardo, would you care to join me and Roberto for a drink? We must help this young man have as much fun as we can before he gets married!" Miguel said, Roberto and Maria following behind.

"Go ahead. Maria and I can sit and talk while you three go be men." Removing Eddie's hand I hooked my arm into Maria's. I smiled at her, winking. "Let's find our own place to talk. It isn't just the men who need to have fun before marriage," I quipped, taking Tangram from Benny and Trigger who had made it over to us.

Maria led me off, saying something in rapid Spanish to one of the waiters carrying a tray. The man smiled and nodded, heading toward the kitchen. She took me out to a small garden, where we sat together on a swinging bench.

"So, tell me, Maria. How did you manage to get Roberto?" I said, genuinely interested. Me getting with Eddie had been a fluke.

"He has lived here most his life. His mother and father both came to work for Miguel's family when Roberto was just a child. His mother used to be the recorder and historian here. His father is still in charge of the vineyards. Roberto took over the job of recorder when he came back from studying at the university. His mother turned her job over to him, and took to hiring the staff. She hired me." Maria got a far off look as she smiled up at the night sky. "Roberto's room happened to be one of the rooms I was assigned to. He used to make certain he would 'accidentally' forget something so that he would have to come back to his room when I was cleaning."

"Clever," I laughed.

"Mm. He used to leave me little gifts, a rose, some chocolates, or a book. Eventually he asked me out." She shook her head. "He still leaves a rose on my pillow sometimes. I never thought a man like him would be interested in someone like me. I'm just a maid, he's a scholar."

"Nonsense! Obviously he's smart enough to see past a simple job title. And you are smart enough to keep his interest. Always remember that," I told her.

The waiter came back then with a pitcher and two glasses. He set the tray down, handing us both drinks before disappearing again. I sniffed the drink, wondering about the fruit floating in it, looking askance at Maria.

"Sangría. Red wine, vodka, and vermouth. It is the drink of Spain," she explained. "And it will get you drunk enough to put up with Edward."

I couldn't help but laugh then. "He has his moments, but he isn't that bad!"

"Perhaps. But you have changed him quite a lot. He used to be so stuffy and cold. How did you end up with him?"

"Wait! Tell me how he was before! I want to know!"

"Bitter. Very bitter and unhappy. Odd. He would dance with a girl only because Miguel had convinced him that it was fun. He always looked like he was sucking on lemons!" She clicked her tongue in disapproval. "Some very beautiful women were interested in him..." She stopped and looked at me. "I'm sure you know how attractive he is. The fact that he is a famous thief was a big attraction for many of the girls."

"Of course." I wasn't too happy about him not telling me about all the other women he had after him.

"Now tell me how you met him. I am curious to know how you managed to capture him!"

I told her the truth, saying that we had originally met years ago at a carnival, but that it wasn't until a few months ago that we had seen each other again and gotten together from there. What I didn't tell her was whom I had worked for when I met Eddie, nor what I was doing in the museum the night I had run off with him. Some details no one needed to know. I was determined to keep my triad background a secret for as long as possible. At any rate, I doubted it would be believed that a white girl was part of a Chinese triad. My past was no one's business but my own. Even Eddie didn't know everything.

Maria smiled. "He is happier now. That's what matters. Still," she began, filling my glass with more sangría, "it never hurts to cushion yourself."

We spent the rest of the night giggling and telling stories about our boyfriends and some of the strange things they had done. By the time I stumbled upstairs with Tangram, I could barely keep my eyes open from the sangría and all the champagne I had drank that night. I was half asleep when Eddie came to bed. He still smelt passionate (and thankfully not of cigars), but he got no further with me than a kiss or two before I fell asleep.
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