Part 12 (1/2)
”Starving like a bandit.” The food in the take-out carton had a gelatinous consistency to it. It would take five rounds in the microwave to make it look semi- fresh.
Ilida pressed the foot lever on the bottom of the garbage can. The lid popped up and she tossed the carton in.
”s.e.x makes you hungry, Ilida.”
Ilida slammed the refrigerator door and pointedly stared at Beverly. She was a little to close to the truth for her comfort. ”I'm ordering take-out and staying in my room.”
”Seriously, are you okay?” Beverly asked following her.
Ilida considered her question and her own state of mind. She so needed advice, but didn't want to go into great detail.
Standing in Ilida's bedroom doorway, Beverly waited patiently. Ilida took a deep breath and said, ”Have you ever had...sympathy s.e.x?”
”Oh yes I have. Is that what happened tonight?”
”Let's just say comforting took on a whole new meaning tonight.”
”Was it good?”
”It was incredible. I surprised myself.” Did she surprise herself? She'd never had s.e.x that way before. Her last boyfriend showed her pictures of a couple having a.n.a.l s.e.x. It looked painful. It was painful half a second then a burst of pleasure. ”Have you ever cried after having s.e.x?”
”Sure. It was so bad I cried while digging my vibrator out of the trash. He made you cry?”
”Like a virgin. It was intimate.” Her body was different. She was different, and even if she never saw him again, she'd have this feeling to carry her into next week and beyond. I'm a s.e.xual being! Hallelujah! She cleared her throat.
”How did you surprise yourself?”
Ilida cradled the cordless phone in her hands. ”I'm not terribly s.e.xual. Well, that's what I'd thought.”
”I know. You've had the s.e.x life of a nun since you broke up with Kevin.”
”Thank you for the sideline commentary.”
Beverly crossed her arms and gave her a knowing look. ”So will you see him again?”
”I don't think so.” She hunched her shoulders wis.h.i.+ng she could talk with her best friend about Daedalus. She didn't want their friends.h.i.+p to suffer because of her unwillingness to talk about him. ”It's complicated.”
”Do you regret what happened with whomever tonight?”
”Oh G.o.d, no. It was amazing.”
”Okay, so go with the flow.”
”Just like that? Whatever happens, happens?” Well, the committed way hadn't worked. Wait a minute. No, one day she would find the right guy. All right until then she would wait and see.
”Why not?”
”Maybe I will.”
Chapter-Eight
I have five minutes. That was good enough.
In Alec and Tania's penthouse apartment, I pulled of my gauntlets and black top to my Ninja outfit. Folded that neatly. I took off my pants, then the tabi socks.
They'd offered me an apartment across the hall from them months ago. It takes up the other half of the floor. We would have access to each other's apartments. I'd declined the offer. It would have been too much togetherness too soon, but miracles I heard do happen. I don't think they happen for the likes of me.
”Daedalus?”
I b.u.t.toned my s.h.i.+rt reaching the bottom when Alec appeared holding a garment bag. ”Yeah?”
”I have a suit...” He stopped dead in his tracks and looked me over from head to toe. His bottom jaw hung open. ”No suit?”
”No suit.”
”Why not?”
I pulled on my pants, tucked my s.h.i.+rt in, and zipped up. ”I hate suits. This is good enough.”
”One night you might have to wear a suit.”
”It won't be tonight.”
”The idea is to look highly competent and to match the new Haemo High Council's look.”
”To look competent is to be confident in one's self. Tailored pants and a silk s.h.i.+rt is my look.”
Alec dropped the suit on his bed and crossed his arms looking every bit the blue-blood grouch he is. Not getting his way was killing him.
”Relax old man.”
”Ready, Daedalus?”
”Let's go.”
We waited for the high-speed elevator that would take us down to the ground floor in the lobby then we'd have to make a left turn to the conference room. The tension radiated off him.
The bell rang and the art deco doors opened up to birch wood, bra.s.s detailing and oriental carpeting. The familiar warmth spread over my body as we stepped in the elevator.
Daedalus.
Ilida? I thought you'd had enough of me.
You're still in my head, Daedalus. Can't get rid of you.
I'm heading into an important meeting right now.