Part 3 (1/2)

”I want to,” I said obstinately. It was true that I didn't really have the money to buy him sheets, but I also needed to feel that I wasn't just getting a free ride. ”Besides, I'll be getting a paycheck soon, right?”

”I don't really want you spending your hard-earned money on me.” He frowned. ”But if you insist. And if you will actually accept and cash my paycheck.”

”I ...” my voice trailed off. He was right. I did feel funny about cas.h.i.+ng the checks. It just didn't seem right to take money from my boyfriend, no matter if I was working for him or not. It was okay when we were just friends, but to be sleeping with him and taking money made it all seem a bit sleazy.

”Lucky, you have to take the money.” Zane folded his arms across the chest. ”You still have to send Leeza your rent money every month.”

”I know, I know.” I crinkled my nose and grabbed his arm. ”Let's go look at sheets, we can talk about this later.” We finally moved away from the couches and I saw a little girl staring at us curiously. She was bouncing up and down on a beanbag chair while her parents measured the dimensions of one of white couches to the right of them. I was surprised that they were considering a white couch with a kid; frankly I wouldn't get a white couch if it were just me, not with how messy I was. I smiled at the little girl as we walked and she stuck her tongue out at me and turned her face away. I giggled to myself at her precociousness and I saw Zane giving me a side-long glance. I was sure he was likely wondering if I was crazy or not, but I just smiled and continued walking. Let him think what he wants. The crazy part might be right; I wouldn't doubt it if someone said that I was.

”No pink sheets, Lucky.” Zane squeezed my hand. ”Please no pink sheets.”

”I'm not a little princess, you know.”

”You're my princess.” He purred and I punched his arm. He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me towards him, and I squealed as I pushed him backwards. He held onto me as he fell back and we both landed on the queen-sized display bed that was behind him. ”Lucky, I know you want me, but we're in public.” He grinned at me as we lay on our backs.

”You wish.” I shook my head and tried to sit up. He pulled me back down towards him and kissed me hard and I melted against him, enjoying the warm sweetness of his lips on mine.

He smiled as he pulled away from me and licked my lips. ”You taste like honey.”

”It's maple syrup.”

”Well, it's good.” He leaned towards me again and ran his tongue over my bottom lip slowly. I stared into his eyes, and we laid there for a moment, just gazing at each other.

”Excuse me, excuse me! You guys can't be on the bed doing that.” I looked up, embarra.s.sed, and saw an elderly lady staring at us with a shocked expression. ”You two need to get up off the bed. This is a reputable business, not a brothel.” She glared at us and I jumped up off of the bed quickly. Zane stood up slowly and smiled at the lady.

”Sorry, ma'am, my wh.o.r.e and I got a little carried away.”

”Zane!” I gasped and noticed the lady's face turn red. She turned away from us mumbling something about how rude this generation was.

I turned on him and hissed, ”Zane, how could you say that?” My face was still flus.h.i.+ng a deep red and I wanted to sink into the ground.

”You know you're not my wh.o.r.e, but what did that busybody expect after saying we thought this was a brothel?” He grinned and grabbed my hand. ”Now let's get these sheets and get out of here. I don't think I'm made for Ikea.”

”You don't even know Ikea.” I shook my head. ”I didn't know you were an elitist about where your sheets came from.”

”I'm not. I just want to be somewhere a little less crowded with you.” He ran his hand down to my a.s.s and I swatted it away.

”Zane,” I protested quickly. ”Let's not get kicked out.”

”I don't mind if we do.” He looked sheepish.

”You're bored, aren't you?” I laughed. ”Let me choose something and we can leave.” I spotted a green duvet cover with circles on it and rushed over. ”Oh, look at this. I love it. Don't you love it?” I grabbed the package and stared at it before eagerly showing it to Zane.

”Not really,” he grimaced.

”What do you like?” I put the package down and walked over to a plain sky-blue cover. ”Something like this?”

”No.” He shook his head and walked over to a black striped set.

”No way.” My voice rose, and this time it was me shaking my head. ”There is no way I'm sleeping in a death bed.”

”A death bed?” He looked amused.

”The color black in a home is not for me,” I said. ”It's too gloomy. I prefer bright colors. Don't get me wrong, though, I'll wear black clothes.” I laughed loudly. ”I do like the slimming look.”

”You don't need any help looking slim.” He purred and I hit him in the arm.

”You're such a suck-up, Zane.”

”And you love it.” He paused. ”I mean, I'm sure you loved it when I gave you super big tips.”

”You did that on purpose?” I turned around and gasped. ”I mean, of course you did it on purpose, but did you do it to suck up to me?” I laughed at his 'you-got-me' expression. ”I guess I should say thanks. You saved me from getting evicted many times.”

”You were that broke?” He frowned.

”Yes,” I sighed, remembering all the stress from the last year. ”My parents didn't have an insurance policy when they died. I had to use my student loans and credit cards to pay for the funeral expenses.”

”Couldn't you use money from the estate?” He looked upset and I shook my head.

”There was no estate. My parents were in pre-foreclosure.” I sighed as I remembered the stress they had been in before they died. ”They were fighting just to keep the house.”

”I'm sorry.” His voice was tight. ”I don't want you to worry about money with me, Lucky.”

”I don't want your money, Zane. This can't be about money.” My throat constricted as I looked up at his face, which was growing increasingly angrier. ”Please understand that.”

”I don't understand why you won't let me help you.”

”A relations.h.i.+p built unevenly isn't solid, Zane, and money makes things uneven.” I stared into his eyes, hoping he would understand where I was coming from. ”I don't want to be dependent on you.”

”I want you to be dependent on me. I want to be your provider.” His words came out hoa.r.s.ely. ”I would do anything for you, Lucky. Money means nothing to me. I just want you to be happy and safe. And you're not going to be safe if you're on the streets.”

”Well, right now I'm in Los Feliz.” I smiled weakly.

”Yes.” He stared at me for a few seconds and turned away. ”What about this one?” He walked over and picked up a cream duvet cover with a s.h.i.+ny silver pattern running across it. I was glad for the change of subject and looked at it.

”I love it,” I beamed. ”I really love it.”

”Should we get the matching sheet set, as well?”

”I ... uh, sure.”

”I'll pay.” Zane's voice was firm.

”No,” I sighed. ”I'll buy the duvet cover. You can buy the sheets.”