She'd spoken openly and honestly and I loved her for it.
We walked on for quite some time and I admired the view of her beside me, as I had been before only now she was more accepting of it. She let her hat fall back to hang by its cord from her throat so that her black hair blew freely in the breeze.
A whole realm of conversation that I had never delved into before was opening up to me and somewhat trepidatiously I ventured forth into the discussions of married life, "What is with that outfit you're wearing anyway?"
I watched her smile as she asked, "Why does it tempt you so much?"
In honest reply I said, "You'd tempt me no matter what you wore."
She glanced up and her eyes sparkled. She'd liked that comment. I'd only spoken the truth.
"Is that a corset?"
"An under-bust one yes."
"Let me guess, it can withstand a 50 caliber round delivered at point-blank range right?"
Maria grinned big, "Well Elsie didn't mention 50 caliber rounds, but my impression was that it's good for all the other calibers, including explosions."
"What about your chest?" Some part of me couldn't begin to imagine that I was even asking such a question.
"Unfortunately not bulletproof, but I have other surprises."
I was going to leave the conversation at that for now.
She looked at me speculatively, "I have to say I was surprised at the façade if you will of Elsie's business."
I held my hands up chuckling, "I had no part in that trust me! That was all Elsie's doing and quite frankly I wish she'd chosen something else for a cover, but we each have our own decisions to make in life and Elsie's was a tacky one to say the least."
"Are you sure you're not into being beaten and tied up?" Maria asked teasingly.
Darkly my mind drifted back over the years, "I've been on the brunt end of a beat up session enough times in my life without seeking out any more punishment I assure you."
I don't know what made me say it other than that it just slipped out, "I have no problems with tying you up though."
I swear her face was the deepest shade of red imaginable for the next half mile. I thought about apologizing, but the more I thought about the idea of playfully tying her up the more it sounded appealing to me. I was definitely going off the deep end in more than one way.
"Maria do you trust me?"
She pursed her lips and then wryly said, "It all depends. If I say no are you going to tie me up?"