Robert and Karen were on their way to a party. As they walked through the hotel lobby toward the elevator, Robert said, "Karen my dear, I have something for you."
Karen's eyes sparkled like perfect round diamonds set in a necklace of platinum and cultured pearls. "Ooh, Darling! Is it that adorable little trinket we saw in Tiffany's last week?"
"No, my sweet. I'm afraid not. This is something a little more expensive." Robert withdrew an envelope from the inside pocket of his tuxedo.
Karen looked both puzzled and disappointed as she opened the envelope. When she read the piece of paper inside, her expression became one of delight. "Darling! My gambling marker! You paid it!"
"Of course. My dear, your legs are spectacular. We can't have anybody breaking them, can we?"
"Darling, you have no idea how much this means to me!" Karen stepped forward to embrace Robert.
He held up his hand, stopping her. "I know exactly how much it means to you, Dearest. Thirty-four thousand, eight hundred fifty dollars. I have to tell you I'm not pleased."
"Oh, Darling! Neither am I. I'm very disappointed, and I've learned my lesson. 'Never pick the road favorite to beat the spread in a playoff game."
Robert pushed the button to bring the elevator. "This goes beyond road favorites, my Love. Some people would say you've got a gambling problem."
"I only have a problem when I lose, Darling. I admit I'm in a bit of a slump lately..."
"Thirty five thousand dollars isn't a slump, Precious. It's money. More precisely, it's my money. And this isn't the first time I've found a dead animal carcass on the doorstep and had to reach for my checkbook."
Karen bit her lip and looked down at her thousand dollar Italian made pumps. "I'm sorry, Darling."
The elevator doors opened. Robert and Karen stepped inside and Robert pressed the button for the top floor. "I know you are, my Love. I accept your apology, but I am still a little peeved."
Karen stepped toward Robert again and she ran her hand along his arm and shoulder. She played with Robert's ear with her other hand. "Thank you, Darling. I'd be delighted to make it up to you any way I can."
For the first time, Robert smiled. He said, "I'm glad you said that, Dearest. While I do forgive you, I still believe that some punishment is warranted in this case."
"Punishment?" Karen's eyes lit up again.
"Yes, my Heart. You've been a very bad girl, and you must be punished."
Karen smiled. "Oh, Darling Robert! I do so love you! How am I to make my it up to you?"
The elevator doors opened. Robert and Karen walked through the hall to the Presidential Suite.
Robert said, "My Dearest Karen, listen closely. At some point in the evening, somebody is going to say two words to you."
"Two words." Karen was bubbling with excitement.
"Those two words are 'Rabbit Stew.' When you hear those two words, you are to do exactly what the speaker tells you to. Everything. To the letter. Understand?"
"Yes, Darling." she said with enthusiasm.
"The speaker will then see to it that you're properly punished for your behavior. Remember, two words."
"'Rabbit Stew.' I've got it. Everything I'm told." Karen was almost jumping up and down. "Oh, Darling! Thank you for this chance to make up for my sins! I've been a bad, bad girl and I can't wait to get what I deserve."
"You say that now, but just wait. Trust me, there's something positively diabolical in store for you."
"Ooooh, Darling!" Karen swooned, "I can hardly wait!"
Robert and Karen joined the party. For two hours, Karen fantasized about the various tortures Robert might have in mind. She thought about the kinds of things he'd done in the past: duc tape, straps, whips, hot wax, suspension from ceilings, all kinds of depraved practices which had been hers to savor. Karen wondered what Robert could have in mind, and who he had recruited to administer this extreme punishment, and the more she wondered, the more anxious and aroused she became.
The room was filled with handsome, sexy men, and Karen was determined to meet every single one of them in the hope one would say, "Rabbit Stew" to her. She was shockingly flirtatious, even brazenly so, with every man she saw. She even flashed a nipple at one guest who happened to be a professional football player. The man's wife glared with hatred at Karen, so she decided maybe he wasn't the one she was looking for.
Karen talked to men about hunting, favorite game dishes, even Bugs Bunny, but none took the opening she gave and said, "Rabbit Stew" to her.
When Karen saw Robert after two hours of fruitless searching and flirting, she looked defeated. "Darling," she said, "I really want to be punished like the bad girl I am, but none of the men I've talked to have said the magic words."
After taking a sip of his Single Malt Scotch, Robert said, "'Men?' I don't recall telling you to look for a man, my Precious. I said, 'Someone' would say 'Rabbit Stew' to you. I didn't identify the sex of this person."
Karen's eyes lit up again. "Oh, Darling! You mean I'm looking for a woman? You've lined up a dominatrix to punish me?"