They piled the groceries out onto the kitchen isnd. Betty moved fast to put the first few things way and then set the first of the ingredients out.

  -Assembly line commence, she said as she shut a cupboard.

  Alice sighed. She picked up a knife and started chopping garlic.

  Zed left them to it. He walked to the living room. The record pyer sat in the corner. He put Italian opera on. Cheesy.

  He walked back to the kitchen. Alice narrowed her eyes.

  -Now why am I not surprised you have a record collection hidden away?

  -Thought it would add to the atmosphere.

  -Cozy?

  Alice looked around the dim corners of the room. She lowered her voice.

  -More like a den of ill repute.

  Zed started mixing drinks. He handed one to Betty.

  She inhaled the scent.

  -My, my. A man of many talents.

  She took a sip.

  -Delicious. Kamikazes are my favorite. Very sweet. Very simple.

  Alice took her gss and took a big gulp.

  -Sweet and simple, huh?

  Someone knocked at the door.

  Zed checked the clock. Five to seven.

  -She's early.

  Betty jumped. She set her drink down.

  -That must be Car. Do I look alright? I want to make a good impression, she said as she smoothed her dress.

  Alice sighed and finished her drink.

  -Rex. You look fine.

  Zed opened the door.

  Car stood there. Tight sweater. Pencil skirt. Curves that the uniform had hidden.

  -Hi.

  She held up a bottle of wine.

  -Welcome, Zed said.

  He took the bottle.

  -Come on in. I'm gd you brought this. I was afraid to admit to the dies I was out.

  Car stepped inside. She saw Betty and waved shyly. Then she leaned in to Zed.

  Betty beamed. She hooked her arm through Car's.

  -It's wonderful! So considerate of you to bring wine. Come meet my sister, Alice.

  Alice was pouring the wine. She eyed Car.

  -Hi, she said curtly.

  -Alice is a sweetheart when you get to know her, Zed chuckled.

  Alice gred at him.

  -Don't push it, sweetheart.

  They moved to the table. Betty served. The smell of garlic and marinara filled the room.

  -You made a meal fit for a king, Zaid said. Or queens, he added.

  -Are you suggesting we're not royalty already?

  Betty filled Car's pte.

  They ate. They drank.

  Zed watched Alice. She was sucking up a long strand of spaghetti.

  -Important to carbo load, Zed ughed.

  Alice finished the strand. She licked a drop of sauce from her lip. She looked at him.

  -Careful, Zed. Keep looking at me like that and people might get the wrong idea about what kind of loading is on the menu.

  Zed leaned back.

  -Speaking of which. What's for dessert?

  Betty cpped her hands.

  -I’m so gd you asked.

  She stood up. She went to the counter and retrieved a tray covered with a cloth.

  -I may have whipped up a little something. Just for occasions like these.

  -How’d she hide that from us?

  Zed looked at Alice. Alice swirled her wine.

  -She’s got more secrets than a soap opera vilin.

  -I can’t wait to learn them.

  Betty set the tray on the table. She pulled the cloth away.

  -Voi.

  Chocote truffles. Dusted with cocoa. Gold leaf glinting in the dim light.

  -Wow, Zed said.

  -Grandmother’s recipe. Taken me ages to perfect.

  Betty picked one up. She held it to Zed’s lips.

  -Here. Hope it meets your approval.

  Zed opened his mouth. She pced it on his tongue. Her fingers lingered, brushing his lip. Dark chocote. Bitter.

  Zed swallowed. He picked one up himself. He turned to Car.

  Car watched him. He brought the truffle to her mouth. He traced her lips with it.

  -Open.

  Car parted her lips. He pressed the chocote inside. Her tongue caught a fke of gold leaf.

  Alice ughed mockingly. She snatched a truffle from the tray. She popped it whole into her mouth and chewed aggressively.

  -Chocote. How predictable.

  -Brown Betty might've been better, Zed ughed.

  Betty giggled. She fanned herself.

  -My, my. Aren't we feeling adventurous?

  -Whipped cream would be fantastic, Zed said with an idea. Tell me you hid some of that away too.

  Betty pced a finger against her nose, pretending to think.

  -A dy always prepares for every eventuality.

  She went to the fridge. She came back with a chilled canister.

  Zed took it. He shook it. The metal ball rattled inside.

  -Sharing is caring.

  He turned to Betty.

  -Come here.

  Betty stepped close. She tilted her head back. Zed sprayed a dollop into her mouth. He leaned in, kissing her, tasting the sweet cream on her tongue.

  Betty moaned.

  Zed pulled back. He turned to Car.

  -You too.

  He sprayed a line of cream down her neck. Car shivered. Zed bent down. He licked it off.

  Alice watched from the table. She looked bored. Her foot was tapping against the table leg.

  -Pathetic. Really.

  Zed stood up. He looked at Alice. He shook the can again.

  -Open wide?

  Alice recoiled.

  -Whoa. I haven't agreed to---

  Zed sprayed.

  A white sptter hit her face. Cheek. Lip. Chin.

  Alice gasped. She wiped at her eye.

  -What the fuck, Zed?

  -Sorry, he said, stepping in closer and taking her chin in his hand. Let me get that for you.

  Alice gred. Her chest heaved. She could see the dollop of cream on her nose.

  -You... asshole, she said, letting Zed hold her chin.

  -I can help, Car piped up.

  She reached out.

  Alice spped her hand away.

  -Get off.

  She looked back at Zed. Her eyes were dark.

  -You made the mess. You clean it up.

  Ned smiled lewdly and unzipped.

  Alice stared at the heavy ridge. Then she looked at the dollop on her nose.

  -You’re kidding.

  Zed stepped closer. He pressed the head against her cheek. He swiped it slow. Down to her jaw.

  Alice shivered.

  -You... you absolute...

  Zed pressed against her lips, getting the st bit of cream onto himself.

  -Clean it up, Alice.

  Alice gripped his hips. Her nails dug in.

  -Fine.

  She opened her mouth. She took him in. Hard.

  Betty watched from the table. Car sank to her knees beside Alice, as if snapping into her side.

  Alice gagged. She pulled back. Eyes watering.

  -Fuck...

  She gred up at him.

  -You think you can break me?

  -I don't want to break you.

  He brushed a stray hair from her forehead.

  -We should have a safe word.

  Alice ughed.

  -A safe word? For me?

  She licked her lips, tasting him.

  -Venom.

  -Venom?

  -Because that’s what I’m full of. And if I say it, you stop.

  -Deal.

  Zed grabbed her hair. Gently.

  -Now show me.

  Alice dove back in. Deeper. Competitively.

  Zed groaned. He looked at Betty. At Car. At the dishes on the table. The room spun.

  -Let’s take this upstairs.

  He pulled away. Alice gasped for air. She looked disappointed. And relieved.

  -Upstairs?

  -Bedroom tour.

  Zed took her hand. He took Betty’s. Car followed.

  They climbed the stairs. Upstairs was dark. He opened the bedroom door.

  Zed threw Car onto the bed. She bounced. Giggled.

  -Comfortable?

  Betty wrapped her arms around Zed’s neck.

  -The grand tour is over, darling. Time for the main attraction.

  She pulled him down into the bed with Car.

  Alice stood by the door. She watched the tangle of limbs. She shed the oversized shirt and crawled onto the mattress.

  Zed reached for her.

  -Careful, Alice warned.

  Alice straddled his thigh. Betty and Car embraced each other.

  -Just because I let you do that downstairs doesn't mean we're cuddling.

  -I'm focused, Zed murmured.

  He guided her down. Alice took him. No hesitation this time. She rode the rhythm. Hard. Fast. She pulled away without warning.

  -You just can't get enough, can you?

  Her head fell back. Throat exposed.

  Zed sat up. He grabbed her hips. He drove into her.

  Alice screamed.

  -Venom!

  Zed stopped instantly, a chilling fear.

  Betty and Car pulled away from each other to look.

  Alice took a jagged breath. She looked up at Zed.

  -Just checking, she whispered.

  She smirked.

  -Don't stop.

  Zed drove her into the mattress. Betty and Car pressed in close to each other and them, a tangle of limbs and moans.