They squeezed in two Wallbangers before their thirty minutes had expired. Lexi made sure to keep a careful eye on her watch as the seconds crawled past. Despite what Erin said, she couldn’t wait to see what it was the boys had planned for them.

She knew Mason had been the one to concoct the plan: Zach was an awesome guy but he lacked creativity. Although, what he lacked in creativity he more than made up for in intensity. Man, Zach could brood. Mason, on the other hand, always had some new surprise to spring on her when they were in the bedroom… or in the shower, or the car, the couch.

Lexi shuddered a little, her sex giving a warning tingle. She hurriedly rerouted her thoughts from Mason’s physique and tugged her envelope out of her pocket.

“Ready?” Erin asked.

Lexi glanced up at her sister and smiled broadly. After a second, Erin’s lip-glossed mouth reciprocated.

“You should smile more,” Lexi said. “You’re so fucking pretty when you smile.”

Erin laughed. “And you’ve had way too much to drink.”

“You too,” Lexi said, punching Erin on the arm. “But at least you’re a little less uptight. That stick’s about an inch out of your butt. Just another foot to go.”

Erin glared at her, but after a second of maintaining the furious frown, she broke into a gale of laughter.

They tore open their envelopes and read in unison: “To celebrate our union, you are invited to a weekend of sinful debauchery at the decadent Hotel LeFleure.”

Lexi met Erin’s eyes, and they shared a quiet chuckle.

“Thesaurus,” Erin said.

“Google,” Lexi insisted.

They went on reading out loud, matching each other’s pace and tone as the note progressed.

“Your safe words for the evening are: wine, tequila, absinthe. Wine means: go. Tequila means: I like it, but don’t go any further. Absinthe means: stop.”

“Safe words?” Erin murmured. “You think Zach’s going to tie me up?”

Lexi shivered with anticipation. “God I hope Mason does! We’ve been wanting to try that for ages.”

“I don’t know,” Erin frowned. “What if I don’t like it?”

“That’s what the safe words are for, dummy.” Lexi added a grin to take the sting out of her words. “Just shout ‘absinthe’ if you don’t like it.”

Erin shrugged and they carried on reading.

“From the moment you enter our room, you will be under my full control. You must obey me with alacrity—” the girls glanced up in unison and shared a roll of their eyes “—and without protest.”

“Woah, woah, woah,” Erin said, snapping the page straight. “Obey? Full control? Nope.” She began folding the page.

Lexi’s fingers stopped her. “Erin…”

“Come on, Lex. He can’t be serious.”

Lexi bit her lip, and slowly unfolded the letter again. “That’s just it, sis. He’s way too serious. Just like you. It’s time you two let your hair down. Time you both stopped being such control freaks and just… just…”

“Let him tie me up and screw me?” Erin finished with a toss of her blond hair.

Lexi sighed.

“No, go on,” Erin said with mock enthusiasm. “Let’s see what else this jerk is expecting to do to me this weekend.”

“You can at any time use your safe words,” Lexi read, “but remember that speaking the word ‘absinthe’ will bring all the activities of the weekend to a stop.”

“All the activities?” Erin snorted. “Pity. I had a real craving for gimp suits and ball gags. You know? Like this itch, deep deep—”

Lexi cut in. “I want you to know that I love and respect you more than anything in the world. I asked you to become my wife because I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone but you. You are my everything, and I want to show you just how much you mean to me. I want to provide you with a level of pleasure and satisfaction that you’ve never known before.”

Erin’s mouth snapped closed. She pouted for a few seconds before flicking her fingers at Lexi.

“Would have been sweeter if they hadn’t photocopied the letter.”

“Erin…”

Erin inhaled deeply and flicked her fingers again at Lexi.

“Continue.”

Lexi was relieved to hear a note of encouragement in her sister’s voice. The soppy sentiment at the end of the letter was having an effect… that or the alcohol.

“Now, I will leave your first set of instructions. Follow each of these as accurately as possible. Do not skip a step.”

“Hear we go,” Erin mumbled.

“One,” Lexi read, raising her voice. “Make sure you’ve had at least two strong drinks, preferably cocktails.”

“Check,” Erin said, green eyes serious-as-sin as she glanced up at Lexi and drained the remainder of her cocktail. “Next.”

Lexi nodded and emptied her cocktail, grimacing as the alcohol stung her throat.

“Two: order two pantydropper shooters.”

Erin groaned. “Highly original.”

They both turned to the bartender as he passed and placed their order. Erin glared at Lexi as they waited for their shooters to arrive.

“What?” Lexi asked.

“I can’t believe I shaved for this.”

“Seriously?” Lexi slapped her palm on the bar. “Lighten up, would you?”

“Whatever,” Erin muttered, grabbing the shooter from the bartender before he had a chance to put it down. She tossed it back, grabbed up her letter from where she’d dropped it on the bar and read out the next instruction.

“Go into room seven.”

“Mine says eight—” Lexi began.

Erin’s withering stare made her teeth snap closed.

“It will be dark inside. You are not to turn on any lights. Darkness will be your only friend during this weekend.”

Erin snorted and lifted her luminous eyes to Lexi, but licked her lips and didn’t utter whatever derisive comment she’d been about to make. Instead, she carried on reading.

“At the door, you will strip naked.” Erin drew a deep breath, uttered an ‘ah geez’ under her breath, and continued. “There will be a table beside you. On it, the end of a rope under a paperweight. Follow the rope to the bed and wait there for me.”

Erin stared at Lexi. Her eyes could have burned holes in the wall like Superman.

“This is ridiculous.”

Lexi shrugged and tossed back her shooter. “I think it’s hot. This is going to be awesome.”

“Ugh.” Erin glanced around the empty bar. “Barbados.”

Lexi read the last instruction. “Finally: remember that I am no longer your husband. When you are in this room, I am your Master and you will address me as either Master or Sir. Using my name will have dire consequences.”

Erin started laughing and then shook her head, cutting off the sound.

“Oh my God,” she whispered.

“I think Zach would prefer Master.” Lexi grinned at Erin’s scowl. “Catch you on the flip-side.” She slid off her barstool and paused, pressing a finger to her lips. “Hmm… I wonder if Mason will let me out to eat?” She pointed at Erin. “If you don’t see me by Sunday, send in some room service.”

“Nice doing business with you,” Erin muttered as Lexi grabbed her purse.

Lexi glanced back at Erin’s stiff shoulders and sighed. Please, let Erin at least give this weekend a try. If not… she couldn’t imagine how her sister’s and Zach’s love life would turn out.