"Just about. It looks beautiful."
"That's because you take such good care of it." Joan moved to her bed, lounging back and lighting a cigarette all in one bonelessly fluid motion. "Damn! Looks like I've got a chipped toenail. If I said pretty please, would you be a darling and fix it for me?"
"Oh come now, first it was hair and now it's toenails. Are you trying to make a maid out of me? A maid like that Kate?"
"Hmm. You've noticed, eh?"
"Joan!"
"Well, it happens to be the truth. And now that we're on the subject, why not? You lap my cunt and kiss my ass on command – and then a little thing like a chipped toenail turns you off. Honey, listen, when you go out job-hunting every day are you really looking for work? Aren't you happier right here in our own little nest, just the two of us? You do like it here, don't you?"
"Of course I like it here. I happen to be very much in love with you, remember?"
"Well…"
"Okay, let's have it. Joan, what are you driving at? Are you offering me a job?"
"Nope. We're lovers, aren't we? How could one of us work for the other? No, the thing I'm offering you is a place to live and food to eat and some clothes maybe, if you need any. I'm making good money at the agency now; I can pick up the tab for both of us. And you won't have to get up at the crack of dawn every day just to go looking for a job you really don't want. Of course, you might want to get up… uh, to fix my breakfast maybe? Like I used to do for you?"
"You used to wash my underwear, too."
"Uh-huh. I remember."
"Well, would you expect me to do…"
"Oh, forget it! I'm tired of this conversation. Hmph. I guess I'm just plain tired!"
Elspeth was still for a long moment, an eternity, then she dropped to the foot of the bed and touched one small but very important toe with her lips. "Is this the nasty nail that's causing all the fuss? I'll fix it."
"You darling! Just for that I'll give you my cunt to suck all night tonight. Or my ass, if you'd rather."
"Or both?" Then, kissing toes again, "I'll fix them all if you like. A pedicure for my mistress pretty feet?"
"Ooh! A pedicure from my very own maid."
"N-no. Not your maid. Just your slave. Your lesbian slave…"