Page 46 of Tyton: The Spider and the Dragonfly
“The Lumijute.It’s pretty rare and stupid expensive.”
Sesi breathed a laugh.“We got it from the same place we’re going today.”Callie raised an eyebrow.“And I’ve been informed that people will spend an absurd amount of money on sex.It’s the only authentic experience left.And if you’re the only one in the club with Lumijute?Tell me you wouldn’t be fighting a dozen other subs to be tied up in it.”
Callie pursed her lips.She couldn’t deny the second part.And it was rather unnerving how everyone seemed to know she was a submissive.“Did Talia tell you?”
“Tell me what?That you’re a sub?”Sesi tilted her head and then shook it.“No, it’s very obvious.You know the scene too well.It’s how you hold yourself.”Sesi gestured broadly.“The way you flirt.Obvious to anyone picking up on it, but you don’t want to give too much away.You don’t want Dommes to think you’re untameable.But you also can’t help yourself.You’re drawn to power and confidence.You don’t need to wear a collar for anyone to see that.”
Callie realised her mouth was open.Embarrassed, she tried to gather her wits.“Next, you’re going to call meWatsonand say that it was all elementary.”
Sesi laughed.“Those are some very old books.Do you like to read?”
Callie nodded.
“Just ancient detective novels, or other books?”Sesi smiled broadly, as did Callie.
“I loved the Nanoid Plague Chronicles.I must have reread it a million times,” Callie beamed.
“So wholesome!”Sesi teased.
“What?Why?What do you read?”she said, a bit more heatedly than she was intending to.
Sesi smirked with her entire face.“Come see my library sometime.”
Callie cleared her throat and rubbed her arm for a few moments before remembering that Sesi said they were going somewhere.“So,weare going to…?”
Sesi nodded as she spoke.“Yes, we.We still have to talk, but there’s one more thing we need and I’m the only one available, so you’re coming.”
Callie turned a delicious shade of pink at the innuendo.Sesi smiled and shook her head.She wasn’t even going to deny it this time.“You like those sorts of jokes, huh?”Sesi teased and narrowed her eyes.“What else do you like?’Too far, dammit, too far.Callie went from pink to red – the same colour as the alarm bells ringing in Sesi’s head.She was having fun, but needed to dial it back.
“What are we calling you?”Sesi changed the subject.
“What?”Callie’s face suddenly cooled.
“What are we calling you?”she repeated.“Like a code name to avoid complications later on.”
“Oh, uh, I hadn’t thought about it.”Callie stammered.
“I’m going to keep calling you Freckles then.”
Callie’s forehead formed adorable lines between her eyebrows and Sesi practically melted, but she managed to retain control of herself.“Oh.Yeah.Okay.”Callie wasn’t sure abouteveryonecalling her that, but found she liked it a little bit too much coming from Sesi’s mouth.
“Okay then.”
Sesi moved toward the hatch.“Follow my lead,” she said, entering the tunnels.We both know that’s what you really want,she thought.
The few minutes of banter had thrown Callie off.An hour ago, she had been debating whether Talia was girlfriend material and now she found herself wanting Sesi to show her the Lumijute.This is not good, she thought.What if I end up throwing Talia away and Sesi doesn’t even want me?But Siku said…
Callie realised she had fallen behind and raced to catch up.The brief stint of exertion left her flushed a bit more than usual and she worried that Sesi would get the wrong message.But it was the right message, wasn’t it?Her chest tingled and all she wanted to do was hide, but it was too late.
Talia was sweet.She was kind.Her attitude and confidence and swagger were fucking hot.And she was amazing in bed.
But.
Within ten minutes, Sesi made her feel like she actually wanted to know her.Not just sex.Well,yes,sex.Please yes,sex.But so much more.Everything fake and cheap and manufactured and manicured about this whole fucking city suddenly felt like trying on a shirt that you used to wear when you were two sizes smaller.Like she was suffocating and she wanted to light it on fire for making her feel bad about herself.
“Tell me more about these books in your library that you insist I see,” Callie was done second-guessing herself.It was time to find out where this would lead.
Sesi half turned to look over her shoulder.Callie thought she saw the beginnings of a smile.“A lot of them are really old books and magazines from when they abandoned the place.Trash romance.Spec fic.Some comics.Most of the books have a lot more men in them than the stuff written now and a lot of the magazines have a lot more naked women.”
