Scorpio House
Later that evening, Anna rummaged through her closet. Robert walked into their bedroom rubbing a towel against his wet hair.
"You've been in there since I got in the shower. What are you looking for?" asked Robert.
Half of Anna's body was in the closet and her voice came out muffled, "Something plain … that a … a conservative wife with a bored husband … would … wear."
"Hmm, none of that applies to you. Is it a new fashion trend?"
"I wear what I like, Robert, not what magazines tell me to," said Anna emerging with a mustard yellow, long sleeved, flower print dress with a mock collar.
Robert grimaced, "I don't think you've EVER worn that. Please NEVER wear that."
"I must have blocked out all memory of buying this dress. It's one of my Luv costumes," said Anna. "Horrid dresses and an ugly scar do tend to put men off."
"Burn it," said Robert. "It's too old fashioned and ugly for my gorgeous wife."
"It's a perfectly good if out of date dress."
"How can you look at it and stand being reminded of the past and that scar thing?"
"It wasn't all bad."
"Pretending to NOT be our daughter's mother was good?"
"I chose to focus on the positive things like keeping Robin safe." Anna brought the dress into the light of the bedside lamp. "This dress served a purpose then and it will now."
"To instantly transform you into an unattractive woman," said Robert rooting through a bureau for clothes.
"How unattractive?"
"To be honest I wouldn't give you a first look in that thing."
"Then it's perfect. The men at the club will ignore me."
"What club? What men?"
"At Rabbit's. I'm going to watch and observe there tomorrow night."
Robert sat down at the foot of the bed and dressed. "You didn't say anything about this at dinner."
"Of course not. I wouldn't want to give Robin any more ideas about the work of a detective. She glamorizes it enough on her own," said Anna. "I got the distinct impression that Candy Wilder, the manager, was hiding something and that it's related to Nicole."
"What's the connection to the dress?"
"It's part of my cover."
"Writer librarian becomes voyeur for the evening?"
"No. Wife seeking tips to spice up a love life gone predictable and to give bored hubby a birthday to remember."
"You're kidding me!"
"Candy was almost on to me. I had to think fast." Anna hung the dress on a hook. "Candy herself suggested that I watch the, um, performers to get some ideas." She stood in front of Robert. "I didn't get to see any of the fantasy ladies today."
Robert cleared his throat. It was a sure sign of anxiety or nervousness. "Well, that's too bad. There's nothing to see really."
"She's one of the ladies, isn't she?" asked Anna.
"Who?"
"Your fantasy woman."
Robert put a hand each on Anna's hips. With easy grace, he swung her about then laid her on the bed on her back. "Who needs make believe when I have the real deal right here." He pulled at the ties of her robe.
With a small smile, Anna let Robert off the hook. She made a mental note to make sure she met all the ladies at the club. It was obvious to her that Robert had visited the club at least once and maybe more. On this matter her curiosity had to be satisfied. "Is reality better than fiction?"
"Always," murmured Robert as he kissed her neck and parted the folds of her robe. "Shall I play the part of the unpredictable husband tonight?"
"Could you?"
"We are still newlyweds," said Robert. "Shall we play" His agile hands skimmed the insides of her thighs robbing her of breath and logical thought processes.
"Yes, please. Something … different."
"Hmm, I can do that but first …"
Anna felt Robert leave their bed. She heard the click of the lock. The lamp was dimmed plunging most of the room into darkness. The rustling of clothes being removed teased her ears. The bed sank as Robert returned.
"Where did I leave off?" asked Robert.
Anna could sense rather than see his form and movement. "Something different."
Robert bent down and rained kisses on her face. She pressed against him chest to chest, thigh to thigh. His hand gripped her waist. With gentle pressure, he eased her robe off her body and maneuvered her to lie on her stomach.
Anna gasped as she felt Robert's lips on the back of her neck and his hands wandering further below. "What … what do you have … in mind?"
"Let me surprise you," was Robert's husky reply. One finger hooked the strap of her nightgown. "A robe and a nightgown. Making me work for it are you?
"Some things shouldn't come too easy, Robert." She sighed. "You need to rise to the challenge."
The strap slid off followed by its twin. Robert traced a line from her right hand up to her shoulder.
He bent down and said close to her ear, "Remember the last time I surprised you? Really surprised you?"
The slight lilt in his voice told Anna he was talking of a private surprise. She arched helping him to remove the gown. "The ambassador's closet?"
"Hmm," murmured Robert watching the smooth glide of the nightgown up and over his wife's sleek body. "Lovely."
"There's, um, no, um … equipment, Robert."
"I found something very interesting this morning."
Anna turned over and searched her husband's face. "Whatever it is, it's certainly put you in a playful mood. More than usual. What did you find?"
"A sealed box in the garage. Your things I believe. There was lots of pink stuff inside."
Anna was mortified. She could feel her entire body flushing with embarrassment. "That was for the garbage."
"Why? Some of it looked imported. It's perfectly natural to have-"
"I don't need them anymore." Anna ran both hands up and down Robert's back. She liked the intake of breath he took every time she did it. "I'm a respectable married woman now."
Robert chuckled. "I liberated a few items. Okay, all of them." He kissed her collarbone. "Made them part of my intimate espionage kit."
Anna laughed in sheer delight. "I only think about you. About us. That's all it takes." She watched the play of light and shadow across Robert's body. God willing it would be a view she'd enjoy for years to come. "However, an agent is trained to use his kit as often as possible to get the maximum benefit."
"No opportunity must be wasted." Robert reached for the nightstand drawer. "Now, Mrs. Scorpio, lie back and just try to think about England while I put my new kit to its very proper use."