Page 107 of Tyton: The Spider and the Dragonfly
Fingers found their mark, sinking into a familiar rhythm and Sesi swirled her tongue around a hardened bud.Talia’s nails provided the slightest hint of pain, the contrast of sensations that she loved so much.
Even as she cried out, the deer took no notice.They existed as just another part of the environment.There was no other way to be.The Earth would not give them a third chance.Whether they had even earned their second chance still remained to be seen.
The three women lay naked on the rock for another hour before Sesi said they should return.They had another month before the sun would remain constant in the sky and flying a transport back in the dark was beyond Sesi’s skill level, even if it was AI navigated.
“Thank you.”she brushed Talia’s air-dried hair away from her face.“Both of you.I know this was a lot to ask and I feel like I came at this with a lot less planning than I usually do.”
“Because you never wanted kids?”Callie offered.
Sesi nodded.
Callie shifted.Her muscles were sore from laying on a rock for the past couple of hours.“You’re not going to become one of those moms who tell other women that they’ll want kids even if they say they don’t, will you?”
“Oh god.Please hit me if I ever say that to another woman.”
Callie’s eyes widened.She would never.
Talia grinned.
Cat bounced Pinga on her knee while Lusa slept in her bassinet, head lolled to the side.A scrap of Tornit’s sealskin coat leftover from when Talia had modified it to accommodate heat sinks mostly obscured her from view.Tiny snot bubbles expanded and contracted as she breathed.
Callie rushed forward to scoop her up.“How can something so disgusting be so adorable.”
“She’s half Talia, you know.”Sesi shot Talia a playful glance.
“I’ll make her pay for it later,” Talia winked.
“Not in front of my mom.”Callie frowned.
Talia ignored her and took Pinga from Cat.Pinga squealed with delight.“Thanks for watching them, Cat.”
“Mom,” Cat corrected.“I’ll also acceptgrandma.”Cat stood on her tiptoes to kiss Talia’s cheek.Talia allowed it.
Callie slipped her arm around her waist and brought her close.Talia still felt discomfort around her mom’s affection.“Thanks, baby.”she whispered.Pinga gurgled.She still had Sesi’s eyes, but more of Callie’s complexion and hair.
Talia brushed it away from her face.“Do you think she’ll get your freckles?”
“God, I hope not.”Callie flustered.“I sunburn too easily.Even this far north.”
Lusa started to stir.Callie rocked her as she woke, but it didn’t take her long to start crying.“Someone’s hungry,” Callie announced, passing her to Sesi.Talia’s bright mahogany eyes stared back at her as she fed, but she had Sesi’s hair.
“This certainly seems easier with three of you looking after them.”Cat remarked.
“And you.”Callie hugged her mom.“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Are you kidding?”Cat hugged back.“You won’t be able to keep me away!”Cat stole Pinga back from Talia which was just as well since Pinga had spit up all over her.“There are burp cloths behind the counter,” she called, walking away with her prize.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.”Talia stared at the cream-coloured liquid coating her top, looking decidedly less badass than she normally did.“I thoughttheywore the bibs, notus.”
Callie dabbed at it.“It looks good on you.”But Talia’s attention was elsewhere.
“Isn’t she beautiful?”Talia gazed longingly at Sesi.
Sesi held the baby to her breast.Lusa was rapidly dozing off again, but not quite ready to unlatch.She glowed like the focal point of a Caravaggio.
“You’re just staring at her tits,” Callie nudged her with her shoulder.
Talia shoved her back.“Still counts,” she muttered.
