Sam sighs deeply, shaking her head. "I never thought you could win. I wish I could say you didn't, but no matter how I look at it, you met the terms of the challenge. I was stupid to leave the rules so vague."
"So you admit I won?"
Sam doesn't reply at first. I know she heard me. I know repeating the question won't help any either.
"Yes, you won," she finally says softly. "And if I don't fulfill my end of the deal, then the notions of honor and sportsmanship I've pursued for so long have been for nothing. I don't like the situation, but I got myself into this mess."
This isn't quite the enthusiastic response I was hoping for. This isn't how any of my fantasies ever played out, but those were fantasies and this is what is really happening. I'm not really sure how to react, though.
Sam looks me square in the eyes. "So you won me, fair and square. I'm yours however you want me. But the terms of the deal never said I had to do it more than once, or that I had to like it." |