“That’s not what you did.”
“We talked about this already. I’ve been doing on-the-job training. You’re still an apprentice.”
“But how will I get better if I don’t practice?”
“We’ll work more on self defense when we get to Promised Land, but you also have to know when you’re outgunned.”
His thoughtful look turned sly, and his eyelids dipped coquettishly. “You were so hot back there.”
My neck grew warm, bashful all of a sudden at his praise. I should be used to Kitten’s advances, but he always managed to catch me off-guard. “You like it when I save your life, huh?” I slid a hand across his navel, to a place where he was particularly sensitive, and he shivered under my light touch.
“Yeah, turns me on. I wish I wasn’t so full right now, or I might have to do something about it.”
My mind ran through a number of creative sex positions until Kitten threw me for another loop and asked, “Do you think there might be children in Promised Land?”
I hadn’t really considered it. I guess I’d gotten used to not seeing them around. “Maybe. There might even be a school.”
“I wonder what I’ll do there. I can’t read vampire novels and eat ice cream all day.”
He did a hell of a lot more than that, and he was always willing to help out where needed. “There will be chores, I’m sure. Hopefully you’ll find something you like.”
“What about you? What will you do if there are no Rabids to slay?”
“I guess I’ll have to retire.”
He smiled. “Take up wood carving?”
“Why not?”
But it did get me thinking. What would a guy like me do in a place like Promised Land? Milk cows? Slaughter animals. I was good at killing Rabids, but I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it. Surely there were people acting in a security capacity or something similar. Maybe I could do that?
I turned onto my side so that I could gaze down on him. My fingers drifted lazily over his smooth skin, across his collarbone and down the center of his chest. I blew on his nipples just to see them pop up like little brown buttons.
“Do you like pitching or catching?” he asked as his own hand meandered southward and edged under the waistband of his briefs.
What an odd question,I thought. “Neither. I can barely swing a bat.” He shot me a perplexed look. “Are we talking about baseball?” I asked.
He giggled and without knowing why, I found myself smiling too.
“Sex, Cipher. One person pitches and one catches.”
“Oh,” I said, still a little lost. “Ohhhh. I guess I don’t know for sure. I haven’t done either yet, but it would probably take some serious drugs or alcohol for me to relax enough to catch. I’m wound a bit tight.”
“You haven’t done that before?
“Nope.”
“But I thought you were, like…”
“A slut?”
“I didn’t saythat.”
“Anal takes some preparation, and a bit of recovery too until you get used to it, or so I’ve heard. I’ve never trusted anyone with that or expected anyone to trust me. You’re the first person I’ve ever fallen asleep with, Kitten. In case you hadn’t noticed, my armor has armor.”
He smiled. “That actually makes me feel a little better. I thought you were waiting for me to catch up.”
“I told you before, I don’t want to rush anything with you. Having this,” I motioned between us, “is more important to me than sex.”
