Page 26 of Homebound
“Yes, sir. He’s an alien.”
She waited, terrified that he was going to end the interview with a resounding no.
He smirked. “Missy, allowing those creatures any outside time is a huge concession as far as Warden Heis is concerned. We don’t have to allow them anything because guess what? The Earth laws don’t protect aliens.”
This was the argument Gemma came prepared to handle.
“But to maintain the Universal Treaty, we have to treat those who settle here peacefully in a humane way, don’t we?”
OO harrumphed but didn’t say no - small progress. She gave herself a mental pat on the back.
“This alien in cell 35, he’s disabled,” she continued to force her issue in deferential tones. “Wheelchair-bound. Taking him outside would be a mercy, and consistent with our prison policy of positive reinforcement. And because of his condition, he’s a very low flight risk. No risk at all, really.”
OO rose and made his way around his big desk to prop his hip on the corner of it, close to Gemma. He took off his glasses and started twirling them by the stem.
“How long do you propose his outings to be?”
“The same hour that is already given to the third floor. Sir.”
“He will need supervision.” His leg was swinging, his boot heel lightly hitting the leg of his desk in rhythmic bumps like a clock. “Do you expect me to assign a guard for only one inmate?”
He was going to refuse.
Gemma started panicking. She couldn't lose! Simon had to be taken outside so she could feed him yogurt.
Slowly, she straightened her back to its full extent. Her unbuttoned overcoat fell open, revealing her chest encased in a thin sweater. As if bewitched, OO zoomed in on that one part of her anatomy.
“I volunteer to personally supervise the outings, sir.”
“Do you now?” he murmured. “It’s a lot of responsibility.”
Cringing on the inside, Gemma bowed her back to better display her assets. The twin Mounts Everest strained the knits of her sweater dangerously tight. OO’s mouth opened in awe.
“I understand, sir,” Gemma purred. “I am willing to take full responsibility for the outings.”
OO’s hand stopped twirling the glasses, and slowly he brought it forward. Gemma went completely still, her mind in turmoil. He wouldn’t dare… She wouldn't let him… It wasn’t worth the humiliation…
The backs of his fingers brushed over her left breast, across the nipple. Revulsion shot from where he touched her and exploded in a million violent goosebumps all over her skin. Her mind screamed at her to recoil, to slap his hand away, yet her body remained immobile, her hands frozen by her sides, not encouraging him but not refusing him either.
Bolder now, wearing an enraptured expression, OO cupped her breast, frankly fondling it.
Gemma wanted to puke. Her body strained to flee this chair and the warm office. She never wanted to be warm again, if this was what it took.
Yet she remained where she was morbidly curious at how far she would allow him to go.
The door opened after a perfunctory knock, and Warden Heis stepped inside the office. OO briefly closed his eyes as frustration and disappointment briefly contorted his features. He removed his hand from Gemma’s person, embarrassed not in the least at being caught in the act.
Gemma swiftly got to her feet.
“Good day, Warden.”
He nodded at her, obviously waiting for her to leave. She turned to OO.
“Thank you for hearing me out, sir. I will start with the outings tomorrow if it’s okay with you.”
He hesitated as if he wanted to argue but after a quick sideways glance at the warden pursed his lips. “The checkpoint guards will put him in a tracking device.”
And with that, Gemma was dismissed.
