<strong>Tsade - regrouping after the surprise attack</strong><br/><br/>The arrival of his mother had completely tipped him off balance. He had prepared for all eventualities, a sting operation by the government, a hostile take over by a competing corporation, Tsade even had a detailed plan to handle the second coming of christ.<br/><br/>He must have looked a sight for Lily to suggest she hide in the closet. But this was so unexpected and untimely, he stared at Lily oddly for a moment then laughed.<br/><br/>It was true. Few people could imagine his mother, and those that had experienced her, shivered.  He was sure she was a terrier and Tasmanian devil hybrid.  Although there was no one alive who had actually witness her birth. However, her reputation proceeded her.<br/><br/>His mother was tenacious. Once on the trail of something suspicious Her Ladyship was relentless. Impervious to suggestions to the contrary and impossible to distract once she had her mind made up.  There was a path of destruction where ever she went and she went everywhere.<br/><br/>Currently, Her Ladyship Duchess Alice Beatrice of Glidehaden on Tsade was in her son’s guest room tidying up in much the same fashion as a tornado rearranges trailer parks.  He had lost three butler to his mother’s tidying up over the years. Possibly four if the current one had answered the door.<br/><br/>Tsade stepped to Lily and pulled her against him. Her warmth filled him with the rush of desire again. Desire tempered with imminent doom. He kissed her hard and stroked her body as if the fire inside her would warm him just enough.<br/><br/>When he broke the long hungry kiss he continued to hold her, “Hide? Absolutely not.”<br/><br/>“We shall not lie either.”<br/><br/>His index finger raised between them in warning, “Nor shall we try to convince her of anything. Do I make myself clear?”<br/><br/>The occupation had begun.<br/><br/>