The loft lights were on, but I saw no signs of wild parties, so I didn’t object when Reed pulled me straight into his house and up to his bedroom.“Trust me?” he asked as he breathed against my neck.I loved when he asked that because it meant my kinky Reed was back.“Absolutely.”“I bought a few things that I want to try.”I didn’t know entirely why those words caused such a reaction, but my panties were no longer absorbent. Reed had no problem getting them off and appreciating my need.“I like you wet,” he said after my dress disappeared, though he left my heels on.Bedstraps and Velcro cuffs were my surprise. Reed brought out more bubbly before leaning me back on the bed.“I love your legs and the high heels are icing on the cake,” he said as he attached the cuffs around my ankles. He kissed my toes before spreading my legs and fastening the mattress straps to the ankle cuffs.He stood back and looked at me before placing cuffs around my wrists, ignoring the mattress straps he’d se

It felt strange to wander around Reed’s large home without him in it. I’d finished washing his sheets the day before along with my laundry. The cleaning crew would be in tomorrow and I didn’t have driver’s training until the afternoon with the big test on Friday. I decided to tackle Reed’s paperwork again and create a spreadsheet to figure out what was what.It took an hour to set up the spreadsheet. As I started on the first stack of papers to add in the figures, the office phone rang. I debated answering, but quickly decided I should because it was one of my job responsibilities.Message pen in hand, I answered, “Reed Tyler’s residence. May I help you?”“Who is this?” It was a decidedly female voice.“This is Jaycee Shumway. May I help you?”“I don’t know who you are, but I will speak with my son immediately.”Ah, oh. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Tyler is unavailable.” There was no way I was telling Reed’s mom he was in Florida and I couldn’t believe she didn’t know.“Take a message and get

Michelle Browning followed me inside the apartment. Her assistant, Julie, behind her. Bitsy was excited until she saw who was with me. My heart ached for both Bitsy and Jon. Michelle had never been anything but kind to us; she gave us the trailer. But her predecessor and the months Bitsy and Jon spent in foster care were not good memories.“How are you, Bitsy?” she asked kindly.Bitsy hid behind me holding my leg. I could feel her little body tremble, and more than anything I wished we never had to go through an interview like this again.Michelle understood Bitsy’s fear and turned to Jon, asking the same question.“I’m good,” he answered stiffly. His long black hair obscured most of his face and he didn’t move it aside. Jon looked down and my heart clenched even more. I would never be able to erase those months that CPS took them away and the fear that it would happen again.Michelle turned from Jon and focused on me. “How is school going?”I took a breath. “With our new living arran

I worked the Saturday afternoon shift at Tasty Burger and then stayed with Bitsy that night while Jon went out with his friends. One of them had a car and Jon promised to wear his seat belt, not let anyone drink and drive, and if there was sex involved to cover up. I ignored all his eye rolls.There was a city curfew and he managed to get in with two minutes to spare. We didn’t need any trouble, and CPS would find out if he was caught by the cops. The next morning, I gathered our laundry. Jon was sleepy and grumpy; he sat on the couch while Bitsy ate a bowl of cereal. I picked up the basket and carried it to Reed’s house to wash.I started the first load and heard the front door open when I walked toward the front of the house. Expecting Jon or even Bitsy, my mouth dropped open when I saw Reed standing there. He looked exhausted, rumpled, and absolutely delicious. I was wearing my oldest threadbare sweatpants and a tight secondhand t-shirt that said “whales blow” on the front under a

Bitsy stayed the night at Maggie’s on Friday and Jon was going out with his friends. He did his laundry and packed his bag for our trip before he left, but I needed to wash for Bitsy and me and then pack for us too. I had a hamper full of clothes and was almost to Reed’s front door when a shiny, very expensive car pulled up. It didn’t take any imagination at all to figure out who the impeccably dressed woman stepping out after the driver opened the door was.Oh my hell.The glare she gave me should have turned me to stone. I looked about the same way that I had when Reed surprised me when he showed up Sunday. Mrs. Tyler could have stepped from a fashion magazine. Every died-brown hair in place, her skirt and blouse perfectly adorned with refined jewelry, and her face having been through subtle tightening, so, God forbid, no wrinkles marred her well-moisturized skin. I stood waiting for the attack.“I’ve come to speak with my son. I’m assuming you’re hired to do…something and forgot th