Acheron

borrow your cell phone?'

Justina pulled it out and handed it to her.

She called Pam. 'Hey sweetie… no I'm fine. I'm at the Sanctuary Bar over on Ursulines. Any chance I can get you two over here?'

'Sure. We'll be right there.'

Tory hung up the phone and returned it to Justina. 'Just FYI, I'm going to head out for a few minutes, but I'll be right back.'

Katherine's expression turned stern and immovable. 'You're not going anywhere without us. We're under strictest orders to keep you safe at all costs.'

Ash… she could almost beat him for it, but then again that protectiveness was part of what she adored about him the most. At least sometimes.

Unwilling to fight, Tory held her hands up. 'Fine. Just don't tell Ash. We'll slip out and be back before he finishes the next set.'

Katherine didn't look convinced. 'I'm not so sure about this.'

'Oh, come on. It's just around the block a bit. We'll be fine. Besides forewarned is forearmed. We know to watch for them.'

Katherine was still resisting.

'I trust her,' Justina said. 'She's stubborn, but not stupid. Tory wouldn't do this if she really thought there was a problem.'

Katherine finally relented. 'All right. So where are we going?'

Tory grinned. 'It's a surprise.'

Tory hesitated in the doorway of the overly bright store. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all… She looked over her shoulder at Pam who was proudly sporting her most prized possession, her vintage 1984 Duran Duran tour T-shirt.

'I don't know about this place. Isn't there another, less… um, extreme place to shop?'

Pam pushed her forward, into the store. 'Oh shush, get inside. This is one of my favorite places and it's perfect for what you want.'

Which didn't really endear it to Tory since Pam's fashion sense was the polar opposite of her own. While she was sedate, Pam was outrageous.

Kim pushed her from behind while Justina and Katherine opted to stay outside on Bourbon Street. 'Come on, people, we're blocking the exit. Fire hazard here.'

Tory's eyes widened as she went deeper into Pandora's Box, which was covered with spiked black leather corsets and teddys. All kinds of sex toys and pasties. Oh my word! She might be adventurous, but really, some of this stuff was just too much for her… like the men's bikini briefs that held an elephant's trunk where a certain piece of male anatomy would be. 'I thought we were going to the little lingerie store on the corner.'

'This is so much better.' Pam pulled her to a display of edible panties.

Tory cringed at the thought of putting something like that on-would Ash even like it? 'I'm not ready for all of this. Can't we ease me in slowly?'

Pam scoffed. 'You're such a prude! How can a woman who lives to base jump cringe over edible panties?'

'Cause no one sees my panties when I base jump and they certainly don't eat them off me.'

Pam gave an evil laugh. 'Believe me, the panties are a lot more fun than base jumping. And given Ash's height, think of it more like pole vaulting.' She wagged her eyebrows playfully.

Tory rolled her eyes.

'How about this?' Kim held up a pair of pink fuzzy handcuffs. 'These could be fun… ooo and look at the sex dice. You get to roll for positions and acts.'

'Hi, can I help you guys?'

Tory turned around to find a woman not much shorter than her with long auburn hair and a very round, pregnant body. Dressed all in black, she had a spiked purple collar that was decorated with chains and amethysts. She smiled as Pam turned to greet her. 'Hey girl, how did those whips work out for you?'

Pam beamed with pride. 'Like a charm, until we broke up. Men suck.'

The woman winked evilly. 'Yes, but that's when we love them best.'

Pam laughed. 'Tabitha Magnus, meet my best friend Tory Kafieri.'

Tabitha sucked her breath in sharply as she wrinkled her face up and waved her hand in a kill gesture at her throat. 'Ex-nay on the Greek ame-nay. Hubby's in the backroom doing taxes and he has a mental problem with all things Greek.'

Kim looked shocked. 'Really? I thought he was Italian.'

'He is. It's that whole Rome versus Greece thing that he never really got over. He's a nutcase, but I love him.'

Pam gestured to Tabitha's belly. 'Obviously, and considering your condition and the store you own, I'd say you love him often.'

Tabitha laughed insidiously as she placed a protective hand over her distended belly. 'Honey, if you ever saw that man naked, you would, too.' She grinned. 'So what can I do for you guys?'

'Tory is planning on having sex.'

'Pam!' Tory would have crawled under the nearest rack except for the fact it contained sex swings and other items she didn't want to think about.

Pam gave her an innocent blink. 'Well you are, aren't you? It's not like Tabby can't tell from the mere fact that we're here. Not to mention you can see that she's had some herself.' She pointed to Tabitha's stomach again.

Tory growled at her as she shook her head, then spoke to Tabitha. 'I apologize for Pam. I accidentally hit her in the head with a baseball when we were in fifth grade and knocked her out cold. She's never been right since.'

Tabitha laughed. 'You can't embarrass me. Believe me. Pam and I are cut from the same cloth. So tell me a little bit about this guy and I'll find you the perfect thing for him.'

Tory smiled at the mere thought of Ash. She didn't know why but it made her giddy and warm. 'Well he's tall and dark-haired.'

'Tall, please,' Pam scoffed while Kim laughed. 'The man is a giant. She found the only six-foot-eight guy I've ever seen. Ooo and Tab you ought to meet him. He's Goth and gorgeous.'

'And Greek,' Kim whispered.

Tabitha frowned as she looked at them suspiciously. 'Really? He sounds just like a friend of mine…' Wrinkling her nose, she shook her head, 'But no, it couldn't be him.'

'Him who?' Tory asked.

'Ash Parthenopaeus.'

Tory's eyes widened.

Then so did Tabitha's. 'NO!' she breathed in total disbelief. 'You're getting a piece of Ash? Oh my God, girl, you go!' Tabitha started waving her hands and cackling excitedly. 'If you want to make some real money, make pictures. I know women the world over who would pay big to see him naked, myself included!'

Pam high fived her.

Tory buried her face against Kim's shoulder while Kim patted her on the head. 'There, there, baby. We'll hide her body in the trunk later.'

Tabitha began running around the store, pulling things down from racks and shelves. 'Ash definitely requires something black… no wait. Red. Racy red.' She held a red furry teddy up, made a face and shook her head before Tory could even comment. 'Not really your color. Oh wait!' She ran to the back room, then came out with a sheer black babydoll that had small skull and crossbones with tiny pink bows on their heads. 'Perfect for Ash. He'll love it.'

Tory had to agree. But it made her wonder just how well Tabitha knew him. 'Tabitha have you and Ash ever…?'

'Please, no. Don't I wish.' She leaned over to whisper in Tory's ear. 'And don't tell my hubby I said that cause