He sighed, not in frustration, but more in resignation. Probably so. But even then, it wasn’t resentful, more a fond acceptance. Was he still in love with her? Or was it just simply a lifelong longing for what he no longer had? A bittersweet price to pay for a costly mistake.
He reckoned there were far worse things to ponder. He just couldn’t think of any at the moment.
Since the events of last night, he’d made the decision to rework his itinerary. Trivial errands would wait. He knew he wouldn’t have time to do everything he needed to do and make it back before he went out. But there was one thing he had to do if he didn’t do another thing the whole trip.
Reluctantly, he untangled himself from the creature and arose. Daylight was wasting away. A hot shower and shave helped revitalize him. He pulled on his finest black trousers, put on his whitest, banded-collar shirt and topped it off with his fancy, going-out-on-the-town, paisley dress vest. He then slipped on his prized pair of genetically-engineered ostrich skin boots. He topped it all off with the fancy black frock coat he kept for such special occasions. The new plan was to take care of this urgent new business and then pick up Lulah afterwards.
“I’ll be back later tonight,” he told her, not thinking anything of it. He was in for a rude awakening.
Everything had been fine until she realized she wasn’t going with him. Her big eyes went even wider with fear. She scurried toward him, wrapping her arms around his waist, squeezing tightly.
“Now, now!” he cooed, as if talking to a child. With his finger on her chin, he lifted her face up to his. “No need for all this. Everything’s gonna be just fine. I got room service scheduled to deliver your dinner at six.” He gave her an excited wink. “Steak dinner tonight and all the fixin’s … with apple pie! Mmmm mmmm!”
This did little to calm whatever fears she was unable to communicate. She still looked up at him apprehensively. He wasn’t liking the way this was starting to feel. The last thing he needed was a clingy, oversexed fox-girl complicating his life. But then again, could she really help what she was? More than likely, she’d been engineered this way. This thought suddenly triggered another. Whoever had created her … they’d invested a lot into this prime piece of furry sexiness. Enough that they had her under armed guard. That meant they’d be wanting her back. Badly.
“Ok, ok,” he said, as he reached into the nightstand for his Starhawk. Pulling it out of the holster, he held it up. “If anybody tries to cause you any trouble, this baby has a full clip. To cock it, you have t—”
He never finished his instructions, as she took the gun out of his hand and expertly activated the charging sequence and chambered a round. She held it up and sighted down the barrel. He could only stand in awe, as she took the holster from him and slid the pistol back in. She gave him a shy smile, as he shook his head.
“Ok, where’d you learn to do that?” he asked, slightly bewildered. He suddenly got the strange feeling that he might not want to know. “Eh, never mind. I think you got the basics down …” When it came to this little critter, there was obviously more than met the eye.
He reached into his bag and pulled out another PDC. Turning it on, he handed it to her. “If you know how to use a gun, I assume you know how to use this?” She nodded affirmatively. “My number’s programmed in. I know you can’t talk, but if you need me, text me.” He grabbed his bag and held it up. “I got a few more things in here I’m gonna sync up to that also.”
When he finished instructing her on the other apps, he gave her the PDC and glanced at the clock next to the bed. It was getting late and he needed to go.
“Alright, my dear, I got business that needs attendin’ to.”
She sat up on her knees on the bed and pulled the front of his coat together, buttoning it up, her amber eyes looking into his longingly. Damn, if you ain’t gonna make it hard to leave! She put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.
“You never did let me know if you had a name,” he smiled affectionately, as he looked down at her. “You have beautiful eyes. I think Amber would be a good name. How ‘bout it? Would you like that … Amber?”
She smiled her approval and nuzzled into his neck, taking in the fresh scent of his soap and after-shave. Her fur felt soft under his jaw as she breathed him in deeply. He slid his arms around her and pulled her into him. As he took in her scent, there was something about her. Something that made him want to stay with her. Just stay here and hold her. But he couldn’t. He had to go. He had no other choice. Reluctantly, he pulled away.
“I gotta go.” He kissed the top of her head softly. “I promise I’ll be back ... before two shakes of a fox’s tail.”
My Old Man worked at Marshall Space Flight Center, back before the Authority closed it down and moved everything to Von Braun.
