On one level it’s hard to imagine it really happened, but on another, what happened between us seemed like the most natural thing in the world.
My attraction to Clem is off the charts, but so is my level of ease around her.
I recall the cozy chat we had after our mind-blowing make-out. She asked what my week looked like and I explained that I’d have to work evenings and weekends, but also that I would be visiting my mom in a couple of days.
“I’d like to meet your mom,” she said softly.
I squinted down at her. “You would?”
“Yes, I’d really love to.”
I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face.
“I’ll be baking her a cake after work tomorrow.”
“I could help you.”
We laughed. “You just want to steal my recipes.”
“Sprung.” She giggled. We were silent for a moment.
“Thank you,” I murmured, holding her close. “I’d like that.”
And that was my last memory before we both drifted into sleep.
Now I cast one more glance at her silken hair on the pillow, the rest of her snuggled under the quilt, before reluctantly tiptoeing to the shower with the hard-on from hell, where I freeze it into oblivion under jets of ice-cold water. After I’ve dried myself, I quietly go back to my own room and dress in my sheriff’s uniform.
I don’t have breakfast, don’t even grab a coffee. I’ll get one my way to work, I reason. I do, however, scribble a note for Clem on a scrap of paper, and leave it on the mattress next to her, with a flower picked from the front porch. She doesn’t even stir. I guess a bout of Labyrinth overwhelm followed by rampant sex might just have exhausted her.
I don’t go directly to work.
Instead, I head for Digger’s Diner and grab a coffee. “Have you got time to take Clem to the markets?” I ask Tippy as she hands me my regular double shot, with chocolate sprinkles and one sugar.
“I’ll check if Digger is okay with me taking a break. But if so, sure, I’d love to.”
Grabbing my coffee, I stride back out to my jeep and drive toward the huge portal elevators on the outer edge of level one. I know exactly where Jax will be, in his little office next to the loading station.
Already this morning there’s a queue of trucks lined up, full of goods from other levels to be checked off. Ten lifts for all ten levels, all with different products. There are other peripheral supervisors, one on each level, but Jax is in charge of them alland everything gets a final check here. Sometimes real Jax and holographic Jax are pretty much in the same place. Now is one of those times.
I shiver as I realize how many truckloads are coming from level six. The munitions factory.
A few blank-faced humans are guiding them into the huge portal elevators.
There’s very little conversation. They don’t even glance at me; I’m of no interest to them.
When I stride into his office, Jax is sitting with his boots up on his desk, vaping.
He glances up and raises a brow as I walk in. “How’s my sis?”
“Could be better.”
He sits straighter and has the grace to look concerned.
“She got a bad case of Labyrinth overwhelm yesterday.”
“Ah, shit, is she okay now?”
“Yep, she’s okay.”
