"You need another shower," Dee giggled as she poked another sandwich into his mouth.

"Mm. You need one too," he replied through the mouthful.

They lay in bed together now, Dee resting against his chest as she fed him more of the sandwiches. He gladly ate them, realizing how hungry he was. Both had imprints of the word search and list all over. Dee, however, was being terrible, using the pen to draw smilie faces and question marks on his bare chest. She had even started a game of hangman on his arm. As it was food color-based, he indulged her.

As he ate, he ran a finger along the fine silver chain of the necklace around her neck. He teased her, saying that she was now a collared and kept cat. To his surprise, she agreed, purring happily.

Dee put the sandwiches aside and lay on top of him. For a long moment, she simply stared at him, smiling. Then she kissed his chin, and put her head down on his shoulder.

"You've lost too much weight. You're not as comfy as before."

He grunted, trying to reach for another sandwich.

She pushed his hand to the bed and nipped his shoulder.

He swatted her bottom, scolding her for the nip.

She laughed.

He joined her.

She licked his jaw with the tip of her tongue, running it to his earlobe. At the very corner of his jaw, she placed a nibbly kiss.

"But I'm hungry," he managed, as his body reacted.

"So am I," she said in a throaty purr.

~ ~ ~

He didn't think he had ever been so pleasantly exhausted in his life. Dee had fallen asleep an hour earlier, and as much as he wanted to sleep too, he fought it, wanting instead to touch her and watch her sleep. She had come to him and apologized for what he felt she would never forgive him for. When he tried to make his own apology, she had quieted him, telling him he didn't need to say anything.

When she had gotten up to retrieve the sandwiches after hearing his stomach growl, he had taken out the package that had arrived the day before he picked her up at the Iceberg Lounge. When she returned to bed, he handed her the package as she handed him a sandwich. Her curious smile made him happy long before she opened the paper wrapped parcel to find the promised items from Madame Hsia. Dee generously rewarded him for his kindness in new ways. Her inventiveness in seduction brought out his own imagination. Though she worked her wiles on him in bed, her choice of games more than sex thrilled him far more than he could have anticipated.

In his arms she stirred, sitting up. The sheet slipped off her nude body, washing her in moonlight as she carefully moved his arm and tiptoed out of bed. He didn't make any noise as he watched her close the bathroom door behind her. A minute later she returned, pausing in the middle of the room to stretch. With a visible jolt, she hurried back to bed, skin pebbled with goosebumps. He lifted the covers higher for her to crawl under.

"Mm. I didn't mean to wake you," she said softly, pulling his arms around her as he spooned her.

"I was already awake."

"Then you should sleep," she said, wiggling a little further into his arms as she tucked his left hand between her breasts, shivering slightly at his cool fingers. "You need the rest."

"I know. I just don't want to go to sleep to find that I really did pass out and dream this."

Dee laughed, turning her face to his. "You're funny, Tiger. Don't be silly. Of course I'll be here. Now give me a kiss and close your eyes."

He did as she asked, finding that it was easier than he thought to drift off to sleep. So long as he held her, he was comforted. He had become dependant on her, and he didn't mind one bit. Dee stayed awake until she heard his even breathing, and felt his chest rise and fall rhythmically against her back. Reaching back, she stroked his thigh.

"That's my tiger," she whispered, feeling his warm breath brush across the top of her head.

~ ~ ~

No one saw or heard from the two for a week. When they finally emerged from the warehouse, both looked rested and happy. Though they spent a lot of time together during that week, Edward still found some time to scan the papers for anything that could possibly bring in more money. The cost of refurbishing the hideout had used up most of his cash, and he had spent a great deal of money in reordering everything from Kittlemeier's.

Over that time, he forced Dee to sit down and hear about his past history with women. He wasn't telling her to make her jealous, but so that she understood his side in case someone among his group opened their mouth as they were wont to do. Creating tension in his relationship would be a perfect pastime for his friends. He told her about larks where he would flirt with a girl, never meaning anything about it. Most of the time he had done it simply out of boredom, or because he had a little too much to drink and was feeling melancholy and lonely.

She struggled at first, unwilling to listen to the few details he shared, telling him she didn't want to know. He held her down, once more silently letting her know that he was physically stronger than her, and when he wanted her to listen, she would do so. After that she calmed down, and sat patiently and listened to him. While some of his words made her angry, she kept in mind that he was with her, not with any of the other girls he talked about.

No matter what, she felt guilty for what she had done to him, and how she had treated him. Li Mei had been right in saying that she had dishonored herself. She was doing her best to mend her honor, and hearing him out was only the start. He appreciated her efforts, but reminded her that he was partially to blame as well. That only started them bickering about who had more blame, him or her? She claimed she was more to blame, he claimed he was. Realizing they were getting on the same merry-go-round, he pinned her with a cool, yet amused stare and agreed that she was more in the wrong. She tried to smack him across the arm. He caught her hand, and pulled her to him, ending the argument with a kiss.

Dee came home one day after grocery shopping, begging Eddie to come with her to look at a car she had found. As they needed to make a pick up at Kittlemeier's, he went, and was surprised at what had her so excited. He had expected something small and sporty. Instead, he was confronted with a black 1938 Chevy panel van, also known as a Black Mariah. Faintly, on the matte black paint, the outlines from the original markings labeling it as a coroner's van could be seen.

"You really want this?" he asked, uncertain. The idea was rather creepy, but very much in keeping with her personality.

"Yes! Please, Eddie? Trigger said he has a friend who could customize it for me!"

"Customize? How much is that going to cost?"

"It doesn't matter! I can use some of the money I've got saved away for that, and if I take my shares of some of the next jobs, I can pay the rest off. He said it would take a while to do everything to it that I wanted."

"You've already talked to him about it?"

She nodded, looking up at him, eyes sparkling. "Please Eddie? It runs! I drove it the other day! All I'm asking is that you buy the car, I'll pay for everything else, I swear!"

The body was solid, and that was the important part. He had no idea what she had in mind as far as customization went. It amused him that she had even thought so far as to make a list of what she wanted. He circled the car once more.

"You certain this is what you want? You can have any new car you want, you know."

"I know. But I like this one. Pleeeease?!"

"You'll pay for all the work on it?"

"Eddie! Yes or no!"

He smirked. He loved stringing her along to the point that she got as worked up as she was now. And it was really her own money; she didn't have to do more than ask him for the cash he kept in his safe for her. The safe she had the combination to. Yet she was asking his permission, as her boyfriend.

"Yes."

Dee whooped with joy, leaping into his arms and kissing him. She had her own car now, and though she wouldn't get to drive it for quite a while, it was going to be hers! Eddie counted out the seven hundred that he had bargained the owner down to, especially after pointing out all the repairs that would need to be made on the car. A quick phone call, and it was arranged that Trigger's mechanic friend would pick the car up and take it to his shop.

"Now we just need to find something worth stealing that will bring in money," he said as they drove back home.

"And I know just the thing," she replied, pointing to an armored car that was passing through the intersection in front of them.

Edward smiled. "Yes. This could work out very well."
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