The Contract Read Free Page A

feeling like I’d partied way too hard last night.  “Oh my God,” I moaned.  As I moved my sore arms, the memories of the night before flashed through my head. “Ohhh, shit.”  I finally opened my eyes and found myself alone in Cray’s bedroom.  There was a note on that heavy cream paper sitting on his side of the bed.  I considered ignoring it, but then again why not just read it then toss it on the floor and say I hadn’t seen it?  Too bad I hadn’t been so clever last night.  Then I wouldn’t have gotten sucked up into that sexual nightmare.  Blah.
    The note went like this:
    Little Bitch,
    Don’t forget you will be without clothes today.  This includes the time that Marleen comes to teach you how to clean efficiently.  That should keep you busy for awhile, but do feel free to find the work out room if you feel bored. 
    —Cray
    I glared at the letter.  Fuck learning to clean naked.  He’d be damned lucky if I didn’t take the vacuum and beat Marleen over the head with it.  And then work out!  I’d expected six kinds of apologies for last night and this is what I get?  Well, welcome to the real world, Crayfish, ‘cause things just don’t swing like that.  Not where I’m involved.
    So thinking, I took a long shower and washed my hair, then put on my jeans and a stretchy t-shirt.  I skipped the underwear and bra so hopefully that would be slutty enough for him.
    I sauntered into the main room to see Marleen cleaning the kitchen.  She said, “Hello, I am Marleen, and I am supposed to see you learn to take over the cleaning of this apartment.  My goodness you’re pretty.”
    Apparently Marleen did his grocery shopping too since there was now a nice bowl of fruit on the counter.  I took an apple and ate it.  “Hey there, Marleen.  I’m fine with you teaching me what to use with what, but I will not now, nor ever, be cleaning this apartment.”
    “Mr. Cray said—”
    “He was just kidding.  You know he has that weird sense of humor, right?”
    “No, no, he was very clear that you were to work beside me, and he said,” her voice lowered a bit, “that you weren’t allowed to wear any clothes.”
    I laughed as if I’d never heard of such a thing.  “I doubt even you believe Cray meant that.”
    “It was very odd.”
    I smiled.  “Okay, start with the teaching.  I can give you two hours, then I need to rustle up a masseuse.  I have achy shoulders and a whole lot of tension that needs to be rubbed out.  Do you know if there are masseuses for the building?”
    As I’d figured, the quick switch of subjects along with the rich bitch voice put Marleen right under my thumb.  Before fifteen minutes had passed I had a massage scheduled for two hours from now with a guy named Lance.
    The cleaning lesson actually went pretty well.  I had no idea the places that needed to be cleaned—ledges, light switches, the list went on and on.  After an hour and a half Marleen and I had a break and ate peanut butter sandwiches and milk.  Cray, the shit, had locked up his fine display of wines.
    When Lance arrived (can you say yummy but gay?) Marlene said she’d just continue cleaning without me.  I waved a hand at her and Lance showed me where Cray had a massage table with all the bells and whistles.  I pulled off my clothes and climbed aboard, telling him I’d been handcuffed to the head of the bed and my shoulders were still sore.  Lance wasn’t shocked.  Apparently he’d been handcuffed a time or two himself.  Well, well, well.  Lance and I were going to have to chat.
    We were nearing the end of the massage when I heard murmured voices.  I turned my head to see Cray looking anything but happy.  Lance was told to go and gave me a wink as he left.  I stretched luxuriously.  “That was fabulous.”
    Marlene had already left either sensing the gathering storm or told to leave by Cray.  We were alone.  I hopped up to sit on the table and swing my feet.  “Nice day at