A couple of months flew by extremely fast.
The work for Regina was dangerous, but also extremely profitable.
Somewhere along the way, I decided not to buy my own vehicle.
Instead, I made a deal with Panam to be my driver.
She got twenty percent of the expected reward.
Right now, we were driving back from another job.
“Shit.
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how easy you make everything look.”
I gave a bitter smile.
“Easy?
Panam, I worked my ass off to make it look easy.
And honestly, I’d trade all this ‘easy,’ even the comfortable lifestyle, for a quiet life as a tech.”
“So what’s stopping you?”
“That it’s impossible in Night City.”
I sighed.
“City of Dreams.
Pretty ironic, considering this is where Militech and Arasaka’s interests collide.
They’re fighting over it like it’s the center of the universe.
And people suffer.
The moment I stop being a solo and become just a tech, I either end up as collateral in a gang shootout, or I run into some psycho client who thinks my prices are too high.
Either way, I end up dead.”
I shrugged.
“So what’s the point of quitting the solo life if nothing changes?”
“What about moving to another city?”
Panam gave me an interested look.
“Well, it’d probably be better there.
But by how much?”
“Not much?”
I shrugged again.
“I’m almost certain of it.
There won’t be Arasaka and Militech, but there’ll be others.
Other gangs.
And there, I won’t know who to trust and who not to.
Plus, there’s another reason.”
“Another one?”
“Yeah.
I wouldn’t have two amazing friends there.
Panam and Judy.”
“Jerk.”
Panam took her hand off the wheel and hit my shoulder.
“You could have left out the part about that ‘friend.’ You ruined the moment.”
“Come on,”
I smirked.
“I’m not Judy’s type.
So you don’t have to be jealous.”
“Yeah, right.
Wait, I’m not jealous!”
“Panam, who are you trying to fool?
I know perfectly well that you’re attracted to me.”
I put my hand on her thigh and gave it a light squeeze, careful not to move it inward or upward.
“Tch.”
She tracked my hand.
“Don’t push it.”
“Panam, I know you’re not ready yet.
That’s why I’m not crossing any lines.
But a little light touch like this shouldn’t bother you.”
She sighed.
“David…”
“Come on, Panam.
I was actually planning to invite you over to my place.
I’ve got homemade pizza and some good mead.”
Her eyes lit up.
She gave me a very interested look.
“And there’s marinated shish kebab in the fridge.
We can grill it on the electric barbecue.”
I’d built all those appliances myself.
Including the small fridge.
I scavenged the parts from the city dump with Panam’s help.
“Shish kebab?”
“Yeah.
Got real meat through Regina.”
She licked her lips.
“You won’t try anything?”
“Who do you take me for?”
I was genuinely offended.
“Of course I will.”
“Pfft.”
“Relax.
You know it’s not very strong.
Less alcohol than beer.
So, if you think I’m overstepping…”
Panam sighed.
“Fine.
But if you push it, I’ll punch you in the face.”
“No problem.”
I shrugged and touched her shoulder.
“Turn here.
We’re going to the megabuilding parking garage.”
Panam nodded, licked her lips again, and turned.
I’d brought her some of my cooking before, and she knew I could really cook.
We pulled into the garage, parked, and I paid for an overnight spot.
“Alright, let’s go.”
I waved for her to follow.
She got out and walked with me to my apartment.
“Hey, David!”
I waved silently at my neighbor from the apartment next door.
I never really clicked with her or her crew.
I got along okay with her specifically, and I’d run into the blonde a few times, but the rest of them always wrinkled their noses when they saw me.
Whatever.
“Still ignoring me?”
She gave me a pointed look.
I just walked past her, opened my door, and let Panam in first.
“Sigh.”
“Hey, Becks.
Everything’s fine with me.
I’ve got myself a girlfriend.
Hope things are good with you too.”
“Yeah, but…”
I was already inside, and the door clicked shut.
“What was that about?”
“My neighbor.
Rebecca.
She’s a solo.
Works with Maine.”
“Ah.”
“Not the most famous solo, but his crew gets results and has a solid reputation.
Only problem is the guy’s way too obsessed with chrome.
He’s going to crack if he doesn’t slow down.”
“Hm.
And…”
Panam nodded toward the door as she sat down on the small couch I gestured to.
“Rebecca’s too aggressive.
If I’d started talking to her out in the hall, we wouldn’t be sitting here together right now.”
“Got it.”
Panam nodded.
I walked over to the small nook I’d converted into a kitchen.
I pulled the pizza out of the freezer and put it in the oven.
The shish kebab went into the electric grill.
I grabbed a two-liter bottle of mead and set it on the table with some small sandwiches.
“Alright.”
I poured the mead into two tall glasses and clinked mine against Panam’s.
“To my best partner!”
“Suck-up.”
Despite her words, she smirked and took a sip, closing her eyes in satisfaction.
I grabbed the remote, dimmed the lights, and put on some classical music.
“Da-avi-id.”
“Yeah, yeah?”
I refilled her glass and sat closer, picking up a mini sandwich and holding it to her lips.
“I’m not…
mmm.”
She bit into it, nodding gratefully.
I popped the rest into my own mouth.
“What are you doing?”
“Courting a beautiful woman.
Slightly pushing her understanding of the situation and her worldview.”
“And you’re even going to tell me what you’re hoping for?”
“I will.”
I nodded.
“Tonight, I’m hoping for a few passionate kisses.
And for you to stay the night.”
She frowned slightly.
I put a finger to her lips, stopping her from speaking.
“To clarify: I’m not hoping for sex.
I’d love to sleep in the same bed, but it would just be sleeping.
No sex. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Maybe a few, a couple, or a dozen passionate kisses.”
She sighed.
“I’m too sober for this shit.”
For a while, we just enjoyed the mead.
Panam nibbled on the sandwiches I fed her.
Then a timer went off, and I went to the oven to pull out the pizza.
“Smells amazing.”
Panam sniffed the air.
When I brought the pizza to the table and cut it, she grabbed a slice and bit into it greedily.
“Mmm.”
She closed her eyes and chewed with obvious pleasure.
“Heavenly.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Listen, if you keep feeding me like this, I might just move in.”
She gave me a smug smirk.
“I wouldn’t mind that at all.”
I smiled softly.
Panam’s eyes went wide with shock.
“I was joking.”
“I wasn’t.”
I shrugged.
“I’d genuinely be happy if you stayed here.”
“I…
let’s not rush things.”
“Okay.”
We devoured the pizza quickly.
Then the shish kebab was ready.
After that, Panam couldn’t hold back anymore.
She grabbed me by the collar and kissed me.
She tried to pull away quickly, but instead, I caught her in my arms and slipped my tongue into her mouth, starting a playful duel.
“Jerk.”
That was her first word after the long kiss.
But I didn’t give her time to think.
I kissed her again, and this time, she responded with just as much enthusiasm.
“What are you doing to me?”
“Me?”
I picked up a piece of meat, brought it to her lips, and she bit off half.
I ate the other half myself.
“I’m trying to show you that staying the night is a very good and right idea.”
“I don’t know.”
She shook her head but happily returned the next kiss.
During it, she climbed onto my lap.
Then, it was her turn to feed me.
She grabbed a piece of meat, and I bit off half while she finished the rest.
“Is it working?”
“I’m leaning toward ‘not a terrible idea.'”
Another kiss, longer this time.
I let my hands wander lightly across her back and shoulders.
“Keep your hands to yourself.”
She said that after I’d taken another bite of meat.
“What?
I’m not doing anything.”
I shook my head.
The evening was perfect.
When we’d finished eating, I gave Panam my bed and laid down on the small couch.
“Hey, David.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you awake?”
“Still here, beautiful.”
“Is it comfortable over there?”
“Not really.”
She sighed.
“Fine.
Let’s sleep together.
But keep your hands to yourself.”
I got up, walked over to the bed, and climbed in.
“Come here.”
I opened my arms slightly.
Panam gave me a wary look.
“Panam, you called me over.
The bed’s not huge.
If we don’t cuddle, neither of us is going to sleep well.
So come here, my little thorn.
I’ll hold you, and we’ll sleep.”
She sighed, moved closer, and nestled into my arms.
The night promised to be challenging, it would take a lot of self-control, but it was also going to be incredibly pleasant just having her there beside me.