FSE

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Chapter -5-

Free to Leave

6:00 am AST New Atlantis Dome... 160 fathoms (958 feet below the surface) ...

** "God, it's like ... Easter Sunday in the city." ** Rufus looked about from left to right then slipped an arm around Karla's waist. "Jesus have mercy, look how far up that one goes. You can barely see the scaffolding on the side that far up. You know it's good you got us off that lil' sub, darlin'. As far down as we went, I dunno. I mean, my ears were poppin', and I know Sinopa looked uncomfortable. Who knows if that patrol would've fired on us. Speakin' of Sinopa, I hope she's gunna be alright."

Karla smiled inwardly then frowned. "Yeah. I'm sure she will be. Look, I'm sorry I've been mopey for the last, like, hour or two."

"Yeah, I thought you said sex makes ya' hyper."

"It does. And I was. You took a snooze, remember?"

Rufus turned to face her beneath the light of a street lamp. "Karla. I'm not as smart of a man as Evan or as quick-witted as Fox. But I still know when something is bothering someone. What is it, girl? Just talk to me."

Karla turned towards him, put her face into the crook of his neck and sighed. "I saw Aris Falcon and I let him go. Don't tell the others. I just ... I need to know more about what he's doing before I kill him. This whole thing might be a mistake. I don't want the others to judge and you don't seem like the judgmental type. So ... I just need to do some research. If he's as bad as people say, I'll go right back to him, pop up right in his little city, and I will punch him square in the face..."

"Got a solid jab, huh?"

"No, I can charge my uppercut with telekinesis. I'll shout 'Sho-Ryu-Ken,' and he'll go flying straight up through that glass dome into outer-freaking-space. I know you don't get my joke, but just the same."

Rufus leaned back from her and placed his hand beneath her chin. "Street Fighter. Played it in the arcade at the boardwalk when I went to the beach in the 90s."

Karla chuckled and brought her hand to her face, cupping her palm overtop his knuckles. "Heh, yeah. God I'm an emotional wreck. He said things that bothered me."

"It's alright. We cin' go on back to Florida. We can regroup, figure out the plan ... then you cin arm-wrestle Collobulous. World's strongest man against telekinetically-empowered world's strongest babe."

She replied with another soft chuckle. "You really put me at ease. After I go back to San Francisco are you going to follow me?"

"No, I'mma stay in Florida for right now. But when you come back to finish this here job, I'll have tied up all my loose ends. And then I promise I'll follow you around."

"What's in Florida for you?"

"Falcon's crap. All tha' dude's operations are based out of Miami right now. Mercenaries, supply shipping ... someone has to keep tabs. Might as well be me 'n Bull. But you 'n I cin visit one another as often as we like."

Karla pushed her palms into her eyes to dry them preemptively. "Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that. You're a sweetheart, Rufus." She leaned up and kissed his lips softly.

He returned the gesture gently.

"Ruebear," she murmured.

He smiled. "I like tha'. You already got a nickname for me."

She gave him a playful shove then said, "Let's find Fox and Evan."

"Reckon that's a right good idea. Damn, though, this city is impressive ... and beautiful in the morning light." They both looked up at the dim illumination of blue coming from the east. "C'mon, darlin."

Karla fell into step adjacent to him again. She rested her head on his shoulder and he slid his hand down over her hip, near the waistline of her skirt. She glanced up at a store in passing. "God, they have coffee shops here. It's bizarre." At the end of the street, they turned towards the left, where a street sign said, "Port of New Atlantis."

The buildings changed, becoming less commercial and more industrial in nature. They continued down the road, passed a factory, and followed signs towards the port. The street began to angle downwards, below the glass dome level. A large pool of water made up the port section where several submarines lined the dock. They were slightly larger than the one on which they arrived.

Karla spotted one with an open hatch. She gave Rufus' rump a pat and said, "Don't stumble; mind your footing."

All at once, they stood atop the back of the sub with the open hatch.

"How'n the hell do you ever get used to teleporting?" He put his hands out to steady himself then his left hand returned to her hip. He trailed his fingers up the small of her back then down. Rue gave her backside a reply pat then released her. "Ladies first."

The words felt oddly familiar to Karla. All at once a migraine headache overcame her. She flinched then blinked. Her eyes drifted to the distance and the flashback started with shocking clarity.

Years ago...

Karla flinched at a masculine voice. "Ladies first," he told her. She kept her eyes away out of disgust. The hallway ahead of them became an accordion; the beige floor panels held her attention. She saw his shiny shoes out of the corner of her eyes.

"Why are we doing this?"

"I have a very simple task. Kill the Asian Grand Justiciar. It's all planned out, Miss Chintzy. Any other questions?"

She sneered but said nothing else. A woman's voice came from off to the side, speaking in a foreign language - one Karla hadn't learned. The man adjacent to her replied in kind then gave Karla's backside a pat and told her, "Go on. Step in, turn right and find your seat, demon. The fun is just about to begin."

Karla clenched her jaw in disdain. "Go to hell," she murmured through her teeth. She kept her eyes on the ground, now a bluish-gray carpet. Her heart began to pound in her chest ... and all at once, the headache ended along with her flashback.

"Karla?"

The demoness grinned weakly at Rufus then descended the ladder. "I, uh, just a headache. I'll be fine."

Rue followed her down the ladder.

Karla blinked, seeing Sinopa on a bench seat in the tiny galley. "You're here!" She took a deep breath, which helped to restore her mood somewhat.

"Karla-san?"

Kuda dashed from Sinopa's shoulder, ran across a counter and hopped into Karla's arms. "Well hello, babyboy! It's so good to see you, too, Kuda!"

Sinopa lit up and smiled brightly. "You've made it!" She stood up and hugged Karla firmly. "I met Aris Falcon and was surprised at how docile he seemed! I made a fist and showed him my fire. He backed down right away and explained that there needn't be any violence. He said he knew what I came for and that he would be most honored to return the artifact to the emperor. Then he humbly asked for forgiveness, and spoke of his respect for Japan." Sinopa arched her brows at the fact that Karla clung to her. "Is everything well?"

Karla melted into the hug glad to have the emotionally-healing embrace. The demoness sighed in relief then, finally, she relinquished the hug and tucked a lock of blond behind her left ear. "Heh, sorry, it's just really good to see that you're okay, Sinopa. I was worried he might have tried to hurt you, that's all. So what was the artifact?"

Sinopa picked up her satchel and opened the top flap. She removed an ancient looking piece of metal then turned it over. "A compass. All it does is spin." She showed Karla and Rufus that the arrow whirled about wildly. "I've asked Tamamo-no-Mae about it but she will not answer me because I've insulted her. It will pass. She treats me like a child because she's a nine-tail. However, insulting your teacher is a matter of dishonor. So, for now, I am punished from her aid."

Rufus frowned and pushed his hands into his pants pockets. "Ya' gunna seek her forgiveness, foxy?"

"Hai, in time I shall break down the walls of the grudge she currently holds. I have all of forever to repair the damage."

"Aw dayum. Well, a'ite then. I'm glad things aren't messed up fer good. Humans bicker, too, and sometimes it lasts until they's dead."

"Well," Karla reached forward and drew a tendril of red hair away from the kitsune's ear, exposing it. "There. Perfect. Let me go and tell the boys that momma's home. It's time to get outta here." She eased herself around Sinopa in the cramped galley then moved to the front.

Kuda followed, trotting behind the succubus with a rhythmic canter.

She stopped in a section that had what looked like missile tubes with propellers on them. "Oh dear me. I know what _those _are." She took a ladder and ascended to the cramped corridor above then walked back along the mid-level deck to the base of the conning tower. "Foxie, Evan!"

"Karla!" Evan moved to the doorway and stepped over a metallic lip then took her hand and guided her, saying, "Mind your footing. This thing is a lot bigger than the other one. We've spent the last two hours learning how to drive it."

"And it has torpedoes."

"Yeah!" Evan beamed. "How cool is that? None of them have any warheads. They're basically battery powered pole-darts. But maybe if you used your abilities, you could punch holes in enemy ships with'em. Still pretty effective! I could make a glass point on them and we could use them for cutting into enemy hulls."

Karla smiled and approached Fox and hugged him. "Hey there. Permission to come aboard, Captain."

"Granted, sailor." Fox grinned back at her. "And he's right, those torpedoes are still handy in your hands."

"Sailor huh? Hooray, I'm a seaman. Heh, heh. I said ... semen." She cleared her throat into her fist then added, "I don't think we'll need to shoot anything with torpedoes, boys. I've, uh ... made a little mess beneath the city. You boys know how I almost always get my way - except when it comes to having a three-way with you two gorgeous virgins - but needless to say, I've pulled some strings and ... while I _didn't _find Donovan, I did ensure that we can pretty much just leave."

"Really? No fighting for our life?" asked Fox.

"Really." She picked Kuda up and draped him over her shoulder. His tail gently beat against her shoulder blade. "So ... I'll head back down the way I came ... I'll remove the docking ropes, close the hatch, all that good stuff. You boys get ready for embarkation or ... whatever the term is."

Evan nodded. "Embarkation is something we've already done. But I know what you mean. Embark on our journey home."

"Damn," Fox said. "Too bad we don't have enough gas to take this thing all the way back to California."

Karla smirked. "We already have a nice boat there. Oh hell, let's try to take it if you boys like it so much. You boys teach Collobulous, Rufus, Johann, Sinopa and Jules how to drive this thing. They'll need to hide it somewhere. Fox, you have money. You'll have to figure out the logistical stuff. We'll have to register it with bribes because we can use it to come back here. I just ... I have a feeling that having an attack sub will come in handy."

"Johann?" asked Evan.

"Well, maybe not Johann."

"Speaking of him, I have bars down here. My cell works. I called him."

"Oh yeah? Is he coming back to California with us?"

Evan frowned. "No. He's staying. I'm losing my sidekick."

"Yeah, well, I still need you to hero-train my cop buddy, remember?"

"I hope this Reno guy is as good of a friend."

"Don't worry, babe," said Karla with a smile. "It's temporary." She kissed the side of his face. "Look, just work with Reno for a little while. A few weeks, tops. Then I'll give you money to come back to Florida and if everything has calmed down, then you two boys can get an apartment together. You'll have your own batcave."

Evan offered a smile. "Yeah? That'd be awesome. I'd hate to have our friendship erode because of distance."

"Hai," said Sinopa from behind them. She stepped off the last wrung of the ladder and smoothed her shirt with her palms. "Johann-san will be the best man at your wedding." She waved at Fox, adding, "Konichiwa, Fox-san."

"My _wedding?" _Evan turned to face the kitsune and said, "I've never even had my first kiss. I don't date. Who am I marrying?"

Sinopa smiled. "Patience, Evan-san. You are a good man and she will be very taken with you." She scooped Kuda off of Karla's shoulder, bowed, and then backed out of the small control room. Without another word, Sinopa headed back the way she came, descended the ladder, and made her way back to the lower deck.

Karla rubbed her chin then clapped her hands with a giggle. "Oh, that's rich!"

"What?" asked Evan.

"I know who you're marrying!"

"What! Who?"

Karla cracked up in a fit of girlish giggles. "Oh, and she's freakin' perfect for you. She doesn't even cuss in English. She's _so perfect for you, _it's just ... God, you two would be adorable together."

"What's her name?"

Karla lifted her hands and shook her head. "Patience, young padawan. Patience." She turned about, still tittering with feminine delight, and stalked out of the conning tower, cackling all the way.

Evan groaned and turned to Fox. "God I hope this girl, whoever she is, is nothing like most women." He shook his head with a sigh. "Karla drives me up the freaking wall sometimes."

"You and me both." A moment later, a small light on the dashboard turned green, indicating the main hatch was now secured. "Okay, we're sealed in. Let's do it just like the manual said. You ready?"

"Ready, Captain."

"Okay, Number One," Fox said, knowing it would amuse Evan, "Forward thrust at one quarter impulse."

The other boy laughed and eased into the accelerator lever. The sub began to move away from the dock, slowly. "Ahead, one quarter, aye." The vessel moved out into the large water pool.

"Okay, Number One, standard diving procedures then take us out."

Again, Evan chuckled and made himself comfortable at the helm. "Aye, Captain."

X

X

12:30 pm EST Fifteen miles off the coast of Miami, Florida ...

** Jules Guillot walked along the back of the submarine** , shaking his head with a chuckle. "I've an idea, mes amis. Damn obvious we cannae take this thing t' port in Miami, having torpedo launching hatches on th' front 'n back. It's a free nation 'n all, but not _that _free."

Johann looked back at everyone else talking then peered back down into the entrance to the submarine. Evan came up behind him and whispered, "It's freakina awesome. So ... you really want to stay in Florida?"

"I dunno. There's a lot going on, man. The fact that Sinopa came back with an artifact is pretty big. The Justiciar would have been all over this if he wasn't dead."

"Yeah, true," said Evan with a nod.

Jules placed his hand on the small of Sinopa's back then said, "I've money. I can manage fuel. It will be a long trip but it avoids _everyone _and we remain completely off the grid. No flight mistakes. No lost cargo concerns ... we take this sub and the artifact to Japan. Personally."

Johann perked up, listening to the conversation.

Rufus folded his arms. "Will Japan let'cha near their borders with this here thing?"

Sinopa offered a wan smile. "Hai, Rue-san. I promise the Emperor of Japan will be delighted to make arrangements. I bring more than just the artifact. Naruhito is an intelligent and pleasant man. He and his father will help. After all, I bring him news that will delight him - it's my role as a messenger."

Evan stood up, Johann behind him. "Would it be impolite to be curious?"

"No, Evan-san. But the news is mine to deliver. No internet on this matter, please."

"I promise."

"Me, too," said Johann.

She grinned at the boys then said, "I bring news to Naruhito that will cure the depression of Masako. And just in time, as well. Naruhito is a little over sixty. Lord Inari has sought to deliver them a son. This will delight their line - the law of 1947 has stated that there is an agnatic primogeniture. The law, in my feminine opinion, should have changed to that of an absolute primogeniture but I have no standing in mortal Japanese law. So Lord Inari has bestowed them a son. It's dangerous to bare a son at such advanced mortal age but they'll have Lord Inari's blessing. It will be a healthy male heir to become the next crowned prince. Trust me, with this news, they will allow us safe passage on _any _vessel."

Evan rubbed his forehead. "I don't understand. That's not exactly how the world works. I mean, it's not like you can call up the Emperor or the current Crowned Prince on Skype and tell them who you are and ask them to let us in."

Sinopa eased between Fox and Collobulous and approached Evan with a grin. "I need only a reflective surface. I will emerge from a mirror in their home and approach them in my kitsune form, wearing a red scarf. I will speak to them. I will return to the mirror after delivering my message. I will return to this vessel and we will wait until an escort arrives. I will return the artifact and it will be placed into a proper and safe location."

"Can I see it?" asked Johann. "Please?"

"Hai." She removed the compass from her satchel and held it out to him. Her eyes widened. "It no longer spins."

Evan tilted his head, craning his neck to look at the compass then he glanced out to sea in the direction it pointed. "Fox, c'mere real quick."

Fox made his way up towards the hatch and looked from Evan to Sinopa then back to Evan. "What's wrong?"

"Which way did we just come from?"

Parker turned about then pointed east. "That way, why?"

Evan groaned. "Holy smokes!"

"What?" Johann asked in a soft voice. "What'd I do?"

"No, man, it was spinning earlier. Now it's pointing back the way from which we just came. Don't you get it?"

Rufus moved towards them and said, "I do."

"Yeah," Karla said, from behind Collobulous. "It means it's not a compass. It's some sort of locator. And whatever it's tuned to locate ... we were right above it, earlier." She glanced off the starboard bow towards the rental boat that Jules, Johann and Collobulous arrived on. She smiled then turned back to the group. "Do you know what that means?"

Evan rubbed his face. "It means we were practically there. Wherever it was. Sinopa, who would know what that compass is for?"

"Those who know its function refuse to speak of it," she explained. "Even Akihito wouldn't know its purpose. The Emperor is tasked with treasuring it, not understanding its earthen functionality."

Johann turned it around then flipped it in his grasp, looking it over. He withdrew his cellphone. "There's writing on it. Lance Patterson may understand it." He snapped a picture of the object, then turned it over and took several more. "I'll get a hold of him or we can talk to Steven Milford about it. If we need it for any reason, will the Emperor give it back or should we hold it for now?"

"Wait for it," Karla murmured, waiting for them to figure it out.

Sinopa pondered Johann's question then smiled. "Provided that we return to the very same location and find nothing, I am sure the Honorable Chrysanthemum Throne will undoubtedly allow it's use to aid us. But we do not know what it is leading us to. Perhaps another artifact below the ocean floor? Or possibly something Aris Falcon now has in his possession? Perhaps that is why he was willing to part with this compass: He feels he has exhausted its usefulness, yes?"

Evan rubbed his palms together in thought. "If Japan will let us use the compass again in the future, we'll have to use that as a locator to locate him."

"Exactly!" Karla exclaimed. "If that's tuned to something Falcon wanted to find, whether it be a place or an object, that compass could lead us right back to him in the future. We have a Falcon Finder."

"A very wise conclusion, Evan-san."

"Karla seems to have figured that out first."

The succubus preened and curtsied with her skirt hem.

Sinopa grinned then turned back to the aft section and said, "Jules. We will need aid in operating this vessel."

"I volunteer," said Johann.

"Ah man," Evan frowned. "We work so well together."

"Yeah, man, but c'mon. Japan!" Johann beamed.

Even nodded and chuckled. "Yeah. Japan. It's pretty awesome."

"No kidding. I'm totally in."

Rufus and Collobulous looked at one another in silence. After a moment, Rufus asked, "You get seasick, Tonto?"

"I've never been at sea for long amounts of time. Bruddah, I'm too tall."

"Yeah, me too. I dun' think I could do it for a long cruise." Rufus shrugged. "Karla? Evan?"

Karla shook her head. "Evan's with me." She turned to Parker and said, "Fox? You already know how to interface with it." She approached him and put an arm around his shoulder then spoke to him in a hushed tone. "Topaz needs this. She adores you. She loves you. She needs you in her life ... but right now, she needs to break away from her security blanket. I'll keep her safe."

Fox deliberated silently. After a moment, he nodded then turned to hug Karla. He whispered in her ear. "You may never know how much I love her. You may never understand it. So please. Please keep her safe and alive."

"I will, hon. I'll be there to be her maid of honor."

Fox drew his head back and eyed her. "Say what?"

Karla grinned. "Sinopa predicted that you would marry her."

Fox's eyes widened and he waved his hands as if to keep her quiet. "Say what? We can't. She said _I _would marry Topaz? What?" His tone was a hiss of a whisper.

"No. She said I'd be Topaz's maid of honor. She said Jules, of all people, would be the best man to the groom. Now, we all know that Topaz doesn't care for men. So, I made an assumption."

"Well ... don't," Fox replied, his voice barely audible above the ambiance of the ocean. "If she meets the right man, I'd be very happy to see her happy."

"She was _born _with the right man so hush." Karla reached for him, cupped her hands over his ears, pulled him close and kissed his forehead. "I think you two are perfect for one another."

"Just ... stop. It's not legal in any country and it would never happen." Fox walked away from Karla, took a deep breath, and announced to Sinopa, "I'd be honored to join you all in your journey. Four people will be enough to operate a submarine of this size, I think. It's fairly small but there are two officer's quarters and four births. Mr. Guillot, Ms. Crevan ... you can take the Captain's quarters. It has the largest bed ... which isn't all that large but it's something. Johann, you can have the other. The births will be empty, so I'll take them, or the Commander's Quarters - Johann's bed, if we take opposite shifts or something. We'll eyeball it. So ... when do we get underway?"

Johann moved close and whispered, "Sex demon driving you batty?"

Fox nodded and licked his lips apprehensively. "You have no idea." He cleared his throat then said, "I'm ready when you guys are. I'll take the first shift at the helm. I can show you guys what I've learned about the controls. Uhm ... we'll need gas, of course, and food. We'll need to chart out some pit stops. So we should get underway as soon as possible since there's no telling if another freak-hurricane will form out here."

Collobulous gazed up into the overcast sky. "It will clear up by the end of the arvo." He glanced at Jules and Johann then back at the rest of the group. "By this afternoon. They have been teaching me Americanized speaking."

Sinopa nodded. She ran her fingers through Kuda's fur then whispered into the animal's ear.

Jules patted Fox's shoulder. "Sound advice, though. We should get underway incase another storm forms. We'll figure out sleeping arrangements, mon ami." He turned to Rufus. The two eyed one another.

Rufus spit into his palm.

Jules spit into his own palm and the two shook firmly. "A'ite, fuzzball. You all stay safe back in Florida. I'll contact you as soon as we're back in the area." The two clasped one another in a firm hug with an equally firm pat on the shoulder.

"Ayup. Thanks for the help. I've got'cher back where-and-whenever you need it. I owe you a dozen times over, Jules."

"Dun' sweat it, frère. We're all on the same team. It's the least I cin do, mon ami."

Rufus grinned and nodded then gave Jules one final pat on the shoulder. "I'm makin' steaks when y'all get back from Japan. You dun' wanna miss my steaks, son. They're where it's at."

"See ya then." Jules turned back to his new crew and motioned to the hatch. "Say yer goodbyes then le's shove off, oui?"

Karla grinned over at Fox and said, "You're gonna look so cute in a tux with a cummerbund and bow tie."

"Uh ... and on that note." Fox put his foot up on the top of the vertical hatch lid, did a backflip off of it and dropped down into the sub without touching the ladder.

Johann and Evan exchanged looks then both peered down into the sub. Evan cleared his throat then said, "If he teaches you how to do that kind of stuff, you gotta show me."

"That was hella cool." Johann pulled Evan into a 'bro-hug', half handshake with his free arm clasping about his friend's shoulder. "I'm going to miss you, man. We're the best team ever."

"No doubt about that," Evan chuckled. "I'll see about setting up a campaign when you get back."

"You got it." He eased back from Evan and waved at Karla. "See ya, demon!"

Karla disappeared. She reappeared adjacent to Johann and gave him a hug. "Just don't go sneaking up behind any Japanese women like you did with me when we first met. They'll bust out the karate on you, same as I did."

Johann reached behind his head, rubbing at the nape of his neck. "Heh, yeah. That charlie-horse took two days to settle down. I will _never _sneak up on you ever again, that's for sure." He kissed her cheek.

Karla grinned and grabbed him by either side of his face then kissed him on his lips, causing him to freeze. She half-dipped him back during the lip-lock.

Silence.

All at once, Karla broke the kiss then grinned. "See ya, sailor." She waved a hand at him. Johann disappeared into the submarine. "Evan, don't give me that look. I'm the hottest girl he's ever kissed. You used to think about hooking up with me. Remember what you told him a little after you two saw me naked in my kitchen? 'I would.' Well ... you'll get your chance soon, just not with me. Remember. Patience."

Evan blushed brightly. "You heard me say that?"

"Sure did. Okay, off with your scrawny ebon tush." She waved her hand at Evan and he appeared on the chartered boat adjacent to the submarine. She turned back to Sinopa and Jules and opened her arms to them both then drew them into a hug. "You two are adorable together. If there's a wedding, I want to be there. I mean it."

Sinopa blushed and bit her lower lip with a beaming smile. "Hai, I promise. It may be a Japanese wedding. It may have royal guests."

Karla laughed and drew back with a grin. "I get it ... you're telling me I'd have to behave. Well, that won't be a problem. As silly and fun as I am ... I'm weepy and reverent at weddings. Something I'll never have."

"Aw, I'm sorry t' hear that," Jules said. "I'm certainly hopeful that you'll be there if Sinopa'll have me."

The kitsune cast a smile at her love. "You know I would be honored."

Jules grinned at her then at Karla. "That solves that, then."

"One more thing, Karla-san."

"Yeah?"

Sinopa reached up to her shoulder and gently pried Kuda off. She placed the little fox-like animal into Karla's arms. "I will be back for him. Take care of him for me."

Karla smiled and hugged Sinopa. Kuda climbed up onto the succubus' shoulder and sniffed her hair. After the hug, the little animal laid down on her shoulder, tail curled around the nape of her neck, across her other shoulder.

Jules smiled at Karla with a nod then said, "A'right, then. We'll be off."

Karla chuckled and shook her head. "Too cute, I swear." She waved her hand at them, placing them down in the sub with her ability. She pushed the hatch shut and waved her hand at it, locking it from inside. She turned back to Collobulous and Rufus. "There goes the two richest boys I know personally, other than Lance. God, all these rich people, and none of them are having mansion parties with hot girls in bikinis. What's up with that? I swear. I know all the wrong rich people." She waved her hand again.

Rufus, Collobulous, Kuda and Karla appeared on the aft deck of the chartered boat. "Mister C., do you think you and Evan can handle piloting us back to Miami? Ruebear and I could use a nap after our long adventure."

"Guh," Collobulous shook his head and chuckled. "The big round table up in the front of the cabin turns into a bed. Try not to get too loud, during your 'nap.' And try not to rock de' boat too much. I don't want to capsize."

Karla waggled her brows with a devious grin. "I'll try, but I'm not promising anything." She took Rue's hand and led him into the heart of the twenty-eight foot boat. "So, Ruebear, what's with the man-hug with Jules? What'd I miss?"

He followed Karla up to the front and closed the door for privacy then started pulling the table and cushioned bench seats apart to make it into a bed. "Sometimes, Bull and I live day to day. We do odd jobs to get by. Money gets tight every now and then, y'know? Jules and I had a man-to-man about finances before we left Florida. Real discrete-like. He gifted me ten grand. And another ten grand gift for Bull. I've not told the big man yet. I will after you 'n I take a 'nap.' Heh."

"Wow. Ten thousand each? Impressive and generous."

"It's the perfect amount sum' fierce. Most you can give without paying taxes, I reckon. The two of us cin live off that for a while for sure. Th' two of us ... we've been a team a long time, now. We ain' never had anyone help us like tha'. Twenty grand is truly a blessin'."

Karla smiled and helped him finish making the table into a bed. "Well, look at you. You've met new friends that you can trust, you've got your finances on track, and you've got another night with a blonde bombshell fantasy fuck. Things are looking up for you, wolfman."

Rufus grinned deviously. "You offer the best part, sweetheart: No strings. And I'm hungry like the wolf." He reached for the hem of her skirt and began to hike it up alongside her hips.

She smiled at his Duran-Duran reference. "Mm, is that so? Time to straddle the line in discord and rhyme." She reached for his shirt, pulling the buttons apart then put her hands on his chest and pushed him back onto the converted bed and moved overtop of him.

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Next Chapter: https://www.sofurry.com/view/649389