Jesus, Nick, have you come up in the world or what? Anyhow, maybe it'll help with the bad news I'm bringing." Bad news?" What the hell could he be tal...king about?"Yeah, I'm afraid Schaunard"—the La Boheme role he'd been lining up for me just before everything broke loose—"isn't available any more. They told me they couldn't wait any longer." He looked appropriately mournful, but a glint in his eye told me this was tongue-in-cheek.I laughed. "Sam, I don't think I'm going to be singing too many. I tried for my previous dreams. All the time I heard the neighbours' noise. It was clearer than from the bathroom.The bedroom had full height windows. Before winter they would need curtains but were presently bare. I would have turned on the light and read but felt embarrassed that the people would see I was awake and overhearing them.Eventually my curiosity won out. Standing to one side of the window I could see past the bamboo.I had seen my neighbour, a plumpish pleasant enough looking woman. Regardless of the cost, he thought, they wanted to personally thank the people who saved their daughter’s life.As he watched, Doug thought about his own situation. A veteran of the Army and the Special Air Service or SAS, after release from active duty he had gone to the City where he found making money to be both very easy and very dull. Moreover, his grandfather, aside from his ducal holdings, had been a very astute investor as well, so the family fortunes were in the best shape they had. A game she hadn't told him she was playing. His mind supplied him with a game she could be playing ... but he'd have to be careful."Princess," he said calmly. "Not only am I going to spank that pretty bottom of yours, I'm going to fuck your socks off."The look on her face changed again, to one of poorly disguised anticipation."No you're not," she panted. "No sex for a month, Bob." I don't think you understand," he said, taking a step toward her. "That was before you teased me, and called me.