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“He’s still alive, yes. But no, you don’t need to do anything to him. Last I heard from a friend of a friend, he’s still sitting around in the New Salem trailer park crater, soaking his undies with urine. He’s an alcoholic who’s been slowly dying for the past decade. He’s too busy punishing himself. It wouldn’t be satisfying.”
And just like that, I’ve ruined our lovely autumn stroll by trauma dumping. I let out a long, weary exhale, then move out of the way of fellow pedestrians as they cross the street like normal people. “Come on,” I say, stuffing my hands into the pockets of my hoodie. “Let’s go. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
Xavian’s face is unreadable as he stares down at me as if he can’t decide whether to move on or try to hug me or what. His hand hovers in the air like he wants to touch my shoulder, but he thinks better of it, then nods. “Right. Yeah, okay. Let’s go. There’s this great deli I want to take you to. Best sandwiches on Terra.”
I lift one corner of my mouth in a smirk. “That’s a big claim. You better not be lying out of your ass, Xav.”
“To you?” He shoots me a sultry look that makes my thighs clench. “Never.”
34XAVIAN
“Xavian, would you mind if I tried to write some music in here?” Emily asks as she leans against my doorframe.
I’m sitting on the edge of my bed, mid dumbbell curl, when I see her standing there in a low-cut camisole top and matching pajama shorts. My eyes skim over her breasts and down to her exposed thighs, and my breath hitches.
“Of course you can,” I say. “You don’t even have to ask.”
She steps in and closes the door behind her. Then she moves to straddle my lap, smattering my face with kisses.
“You better not be wearing anything that’s going to take me ages to wash off,” I say in between laughter. I’m teasing, of course. I don’t mind when she kisses me with red lipstick that seems to stick like concrete. It’s just more evidence that what we’re doing right now is real. Ill-advised, yes, but real.
“I’m not. Just gloss,” she says as she rubs her nose against mine. “And I sort of do have to ask you for permission, because there’s a follow-up request and I need you to promise me not to say no right away.”
I lean back on the bed on my forearms and grin. “Uh oh. That doesn’t sound good. If you have to prep me beforehand, is this something that’s going to upset me?”
She puffs out her cheeks as she gets more comfortable on my lap. I’m hard, of course, because her thighs keep brushing against my pelvis in a way that makes me want to tear off all our clothing.
“I need an instrument. I don’t have any with me, they’re all back home at my flat on Portorillo,” she says. I stare at her. She stares back. “Which means we need to go buy something.”
Oh. Now I see.
“Sure. Let me just ask Aiken if he wouldn’t mind making a trip on his way back from Missasauga.” I sit up and reach for the terminal button on my wrist, but she snatches my hand, stopping me.
“No. I mean … I’m grateful, yes. But I was hoping … we could go to Persephone’s Cradle. They have the biggest and best music store in at least six galaxies,” she says, her eyes filled with hope. Ugh. When she looks at me like this, it’s impossible to say no to her. I wonder if she realizes this. She has to know, right?
“Em … sweetheart, you know we can’t leave. Your publicist told everyone you’re on Mercadia on an extended holiday.”
Her head droops, and I can swear I hear the sound of her heart breaking. “I know. But … it’s ages since I’ve been out. I can’t do this anymore. It isn’t healthy.”
I lace my fingers through hers and give her hand a little squeeze. “I know, babe. Listen, I called in a favor with my friend Max. He runs a gym nearby. A stupidly expensive one with state-of-the-art equipment and a pool. He says we can use it after normal hours so no one sees or bothers us. How does that sound?”
The light in her eyes returns, but I can tell there’s still some lingering sadness. “That sounds great, thank you. But….”
“But it’s not composing. I get it. Can’t we stick to Toronto, at least? Find a music store here?” I suggest, hoping to strike a compromise.
She nods and holds up the wrist with her terminal band on it, shaking it. “I already tried looking some up. No one in the entire city has what I need.”
I tilt my head, confused. How could there not be a single music store in one of the biggest cities in North America that would suffice?
“I don’t play any of Terra’s instruments. They’re slightly similar to the whirrble and the ceyloria pith, but it would be like comparing a cat with an elephant. Yes, they’re both mammals and both have four legs. But that’s where their similarities end.”
Grinning, I say, “Okay, now who’s spouting word salad? I have no idea what those things are, but I don’t think it’s a good idea. Someone might see you.”
She rolls her hips forward slightly as she readjusts. My cock practically begs to be put out of its mercy. “I know, but I have Weaves and that hoodie. And you’re the best bodyguard in the universe, remember? You can keep me safe. You always do.” She winks down at me and leans forward to brush her lips against mine. As she deepens our kiss, I let out a strangled gasp, running my fingers against the small of her back and the curve of her butt. When she finally breaks away, I’m panting.
“Fine,” I grind out. “You make a compelling argument. You’re really manipulative, you know that, right?” I sit up, and she hops off my lap to roll onto the mattress.
“It’s not manipulation if what I say is the truth,” she murmurs. “You really are the best bodyguard I’ve ever had.”
