I ran faster.
“Belshazzar, where the hell are you?” I screamed into the chilly, passing breeze. “Iknowyou can hear me! Get control of your damned brother!”
We stopped running when our feet hit slick concrete, skidding to a literalscreechingstop as we slid—managing to stay on our feet as our arms windmilled. Our eyes took in the scene in appreciation, our perusal of the goods completed in seconds.
I pointed to the right. “I want that one.”
“What is that?” Aiko closed one eye and squinted at it with his other. He shook his head and opened his eye. “I can’t even fathom what that is for, though it does look like a man who was bankrupt in the pants created it since it has a huge penis pointing at us.”
I coughed through a laugh, this strong, silent man surprising me with his zingers. “It’s called a tank. We get inside it and drive it.”
“Like a train?”
“Something like that.” I headed right for it.
“Do you know how to drive a tank? You certainly did not know how to drive a train.” He trailed at a slower pace, staring at the tank warily.
“I do.” I smacked my gums together. “When I was awoken early from my last Rest, one of the humans I drank was in the military. He had a lot of experience with new military advances. In fact, I’m going to need your help. We’ll have a lot of fun with this one.”
To the right, four humans ran into the room. And exploded.
Aiko shook his head, muttering quietly to himself.
I chortled and hopped over a mutilated foot. “I’m telling you, that is the darndest thing.”
He groused dryly, “Right.”
We climbed up the tank and stopped behind the gun turret. I opened the hatch, and down the two of us went into my new favorite toy. What it lacked in speed, it made up for in power. This was lady boner material in the making.
I settled into the seat and whooped! “This is going to be awesome.”
Aiko surveyed the many controls, bending over the back of my chair. “If you say so.” He watched as I turned it on and jolted where he stood when we started moving, gripping the back of the chair harder. He cleared his throat pointedly. “How do you plan to get out of this building?”
“That’s where you come in. Remember the big penis? Well, you’re going to fire it. I’ll tell you how.” I sent a cheeky grin over my shoulder. “But I’m guessing you’re already pretty good at that.”
He blinked…and a slow grin etched his stoic features. “Why yes. Yes, I am.”
A fast rush of air blasted us from behind, bringing with it the scent of fresh blood. Then, a breathless Belshazzar griped, “I want to drive this.”
“Not happening. And we could have used you a little earlier. Dorian is on the wrong mission.” I thumbed a dial getting the right readout, not even glancing back. It wasn’t his blood he was wearing. I’d know that scent anywhere now. “Close the hatch.”
“I took care of the issue. He’ll leave Aiko alone for now.”
“Much appreciated, but it’s a little cramped back here,” Aiko griped as my soul mate moved to do as ordered—closing the hatch. “Queen Gwynnore, will I still be able to fire the penis with your soul mate’s crotch pressed against my ass?”
“With vigor.” I snorted. “And I’m really beginning to like you, Aiko. It’s always the quiet ones that surprise you the most.”
