The captain looked positively green. “You can see me?”
“I have intercepted your feed and directed all of the cameras to you. They are going to remain that way until you begin to understand a bit of what my kitten goes through. It is not fun to be watched at all times. The feeds will randomly display your office to folk in the depot. You can be in it or not, but the spotlight will still be there. It will end when I feel like it or when kitten asks me to stop, and she will have to ask me very nicely.”
“Stop being such an asshole.” She grumped. “Just turn the surveillance on randomly when he is at his desk. Or entering or leaving the men’s room.”
Laughter filled the room. “There are your claws.”
She nodded to Zera. “I have the com and the writs. We can go now.”
Zera’s shoulders were shaking as Salat singsonged out, “Have fun, kitten.”
“Jackass!” She called it out as they left the room.
“Miss you, too!”
“It has been six hours!”
“I am counting the minutes as well, kitten. Have fun with Zera.”
“I am leaving now!”
He was laughing uproariously as the office door closed behind them.
Zera was laughing so hard that Khytten had to support her as they headed out to their transport. The com registry office was across the street, and they went to get the replacement. It was fairly smooth with the writs to get the new com unit, and Khytten splurged for the best model available, recommended by Zera.
Once she had her small communicator and projector, she felt better. It was like she had been naked, but now the flat cuff was in place with all her data, accounts, and correspondence available.
“Now, kitten, sign that contract.”
She grumbled. “Fine. When is your birthday?”
She and Zera were in the transport.
“Why, what does it matter?”
Khytten chuckled, and Zera looked at her when she said, “Free, no-holds-barred sex on your birthday until you are sated or I pass out, whichever comes first or last, I guess. Non-transferrable if you are out of town.”
“You are trying to kill me, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely not, but rules are rules.”
He began to whisper in her head all the delightfully depraved things he would do to her. It was like when he had been invisible and his lips were next to her ear. Her pulse quickened the same way.
* * * *
Zera looked at what was rapidly becoming a friend and laughed at her appalled expression. It reminded her of her first dates with Torun. He had trouble letting go, but once he did, it was like she had unleashed a beast that loved rough sex and cuddling. When she thought back to the early days, she remembered her being in a daze most of the time and Torun showing up at her door after every clash and intervention, wanting attention. He noticed the power that she gave him when they had sex, and he wanted to be the best that he could be and enjoy an actual relationship at the same time.
Dating someone on the teams was forbidden, and she was charged, and he was put on a warning. That was when Blind Date was created. For it to be a legal escort arrangement, she needed to open membership and have more escorts. She and Susara discovered that there was a true need for the service, and the company grew. The training regimen for new recruits took trial and error, but if they could make it through the vids and practical, chances were that they could make it through a date while blindfolded.
“Khytten, would you like to go out for dinner?”
“I couldn’t take up more of your time. You have a funeral tomorrow.”
“Sweetie, you can help me forget; plus, Torun keeps trying to get me to move in with him, and I have no idea where he actually lives. I think I am better off in town for now.”
She gave directions to the transport and made a call. Her usual table for two would be ready in half an hour.
“Khytten, did you want to dress for dinner?”
Khytten perked up. “That sounds fun.”
“Dress-up is one of the best parts of the job.”
Khytten’s colour began to rapidly rise. “He would disagree. Hell, he is disagreeing.”
“He can do what he likes, but I can put together a signal jammer if he keeps interrupting. He can listen, but he needs to stop commenting.”
Khytten tilted her head and nodded. “He agrees. He was just playing with a new toy.”
Zera smiled. “What did you promise him?”
“Absolutely nothing.”
“Fine, what did he ask for?”
“Oh, he just wants to listen in at private moments.”
The transport pulled up at the corporate headquarters, and they left it and headed inside. Time to do a five-minute makeover and hit the town for a nice meal.
Zera looked at her friend and grinned. “Well-chosen, Kit.”
“Kit?”
“It is shorter and cute. You deserve a cute name. Did you sign the contract?”
“I did.” She pressed a hand to her ear and blushed. Salat must be expressing his enthusiasm.
“Excellent. Torun was starting to get interested, and since Salat wants you to be exclusive, that would get messy. They would probably both survive but not if Torun gets his head cut off.”
Zera finished applying her lipstick and smiled. “Ready when you are.”
They linked arms and headed back down to their new luxury transport, which glided smoothly away once they were inside.
“So, do you go out for dinner like this often?” Kit smiled.
“Not as often as I used to. Life has gotten away from me. I need to get it back so that I enjoy it a bit more.” Zera chuckled. “Also, I like to show off. We are stunning and ostensibly available. What they don’t know might drive up clientele.”
Kit laughed. “Well, then, what do you suggest?”
“Don’t be shocked if I
