Title: Only The Lonely
Chapter Title: How Sweet It Is
Author: Restive Nature
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Dark Angel. They belong to Cameron/ Eglee. No infringement is intended and this fiction is for private enjoyment only.
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Fan Fiction
Type: Romance, Humor
Pairing: Max/ Alec
Summary: A remake of the "Pretty Woman" movie, with Max and Alec in the lead roles.
Spoilers/ Time line: This takes place pre-series. Due to the nature of the fiction, some information will be different, but should not overly affect the fiction.
Feedback: Always welcome!
Distribution: Ask first please.
Chapter Four
How Sweet It Is
"Okay," 494 sighed as he shut the door behind himself after ushering Max into his suite at his fairly nearby hotel. He hadn't planned on bringing her back there, but after her mentioning that she'd need to change back into her own clothes, it had felt like the right thing to do. "Bathroom's that way," he muttered, gesturing to his right. Max smiled, a little uncertainly. This part of the evening, the end as it were, was where she would dress quickly and get the hell out of dodge. There were very rare occasions that she needed to actually change. And of course, those were usually the fetish group. Few and far between. And most of them were into the schoolgirl look. Which wasn't a problem for her. Hair in braids, Catholic schoolgirl outfit and a lollipop or sucker usually filled the bill. So she could handle this. But when she didn't move, Alexander's eyes widened slightly, wondering at her inaction, as she herself was. "Problem?" he asked softly.
"Um yeah," Max forced herself to speak. But what could she say? "Oh, pay!" she burst out and Alexander looked startled. "You could pay me. You know, as per our agreement."
"Oh, oh right!" Alexander shook his head, looking askance. "Sorry," he mumbled as he reached for his wallet. He thumbed through the bills inside and hastily withdrew some bills. As he was about to hand them to her, the distinct chirp of a cell phone rang. He shoved the money into her hand and then reached for the cell phone that he had set on the entrance table right by the door.
Max grinned, enjoying the way she had flustered him with her, in her opinion, reasonable request. After all, she had provided a service that night. She glanced down at the crumple of mopey in her hand and efficiently smoothed it out. She began to count it, as was her long standing habit. Some guys, probably not Alexander, tried to stiff her by shortchanging her with a bunch of bills that didn't quite add up.
494 glanced down at the cell phone's display, recognizing the number that represented the rest of his unit. He swore silently and glanced up at Max, counting the money he had given her. "Sorry, I have to take this. Make yourself at home," he gestured quickly again in general. Since she had her money, she would probably be out of there like a shot. Or maybe he should call her a cab. He was unsure about hooker protocol. The girl nodded absently, still absorbed in the cash. 494 moved into the private bedroom and slipped the door closed behind him. He certainly didn't need her eavesdropping on this conversation.
"Yeah, what'd you need?" he answered in lieu of saying hello. Again, it was 511.
"Hey man, you back from the party?" his friend asked. 494 found himself nodding.
"Yeah, just got in," he confirmed.
"So how did the hooker perform?"
494 winced at the innuendo dripping sarcastically from his friends voice. "She did well. Extremely well, in fact. I'm in."
"Excellent," 511 chuckled. And then waited, expectantly. "And?"
"And what?" 494 growled. He knew exactly what his unit mate was expecting to hear.
"So what, you just paid her, thanked her for her help and sent her on her way?"
"Not with the bundle of cash I had to drop on that outfit she wore," 494 snapped. "She's getting changed first."
"Ah," 511 drawled. And unlike Jonas Cale, his drawl actually meant something.
"What?" 494 demanded, a little guiltily. Of course that had crossed his mind. She was a gorgeous girl. And it was her job. But that was not what he had hired her for.
"All right man," 511 sighed in resignation. "So I take it you've covered your ass with your girlfriend for the rest of the week?"
"Family emergency is out," 494 responded, "since ostensibly she's an orphan. We can still pull that she's needed back home by her lawyers or something. But get this, the Marchmont viper invited us to her little shindig tomorrow night."
"Hmm," 511 mused. "798 and I got an invite as well, yesterday, remember?"
"Hence my saying that I'm in," 494 retorted sarcastically. It wasn't that he was ticked off at his friend, but there had been something tangible in the air for the last few hours. 494 knew himself well enough to recognize the arousal that had coursed through him, the lust that had taken hold every time he had looked in Max's direction. Dancing with her had not been a good idea. Closer proximity seemed a dangerous thing when he couldn't afford to take time and didn't have the luxury of indulging said lust. But 494 sometimes liked to live dangerously. It added a little spice to life, as he'd heard one ordinary guards that worked at Manticore, say.
"Yeah, but if you show up at Marchmont's without your date," 511 began reasonably, "that could screw you over again."
"Yeah, I thought about that," 494 grumbled. "Actually, the girl pointed out that it would mess up the Queen's seating plan."
"No worse insult to a hostess," 511 quipped. "And does the girl have a name? It was uh, kinda pointed out to us, um, cavemen, that referring to her as the hooker was a little, well..."
"It's Max," 494 supplied. "Or Maxine. Whichever. She answers to both."
"I thought it was supposed to be Denise," 511 asked teasingly.
"Yeah, Max is her middle name," 494 explained without hesitation. "I only call her Denise when I'm annoyed with her."
"Man, you really did get it together with her, didn't you?"
"Not like that," 494 stressed irritably. Mostly because he did indeed want to get it together with her. "We needed the background." He would have continued but he heard a minor scuffle and then someone else's voice came over the line quite clearly.
"Will you quit teasing him and tell him what the brass said!"
"Yeah yeah, I'm gettin' to it!" 511 snarked back and then his attention was back on 494.
"What'd they say?" 494 demanded swiftly, trying to quash the growing feelings in the pit of his stomach. 1 part hope, 99 parts dread.
"Well, when I informed them of the change in plans, as expected there were... commendations on your quick thinking," 511 chuckled. "For the most part. But someone managed to contact that Carlton guy. Apparently he recommends your girl highly. In all areas."
"What does that mean?" 494 growled, the implication not lost on him.
"Well, sex yeah, I'm sure," 511 laughed outright. "But apparently, this girl puts his other escorts to shame. According to Tranner," 511 referred to one of their handlers, probably the one that was intimate with Carlton's business, "this guy couldn't sing her praises enough. Discreet, sexy, can play a role like she was born to it..."
"So she proved tonight," 494 smirked, feeling one hundred percent vindicated. "So what's the verdict?"
"Orders are," 511 sounded a little more professional now, "to keep up with her if she'll play along. Offer her two grand for the week. Manticore will cover it. A line of credit for clothing and other essentials will be ready in the morning if she agrees. Put it on the Visa you've got. And 494," here his voice grew even more deadly and 494 could tell that the distasteful orders had definitely been included. "Standard op procedure if she becomes a problem."
"Accidental take out," 494 confirmed even as his gut twisted at the thought.
"Yeah," 511 breathed out. None of them liked the idea. Killing civilians that weren't actively against their alma mater wasn't a palatable idea, but if it became necessary, it was a function they could and did perform.
"Well damn it," 494 realized that he'd been talking long enough to... "I better get back out there and make the offer then, shouldn't I?"
"Uh huh," 511 was back to his teasing genial self. "Have fun tonight."
"Fuck off," 494 snarked, shutting the phone off on his friend's not doubt, sarcastic reply. Tossing the phone to the bedside table, he loosened his tie and headed for the door. Yanking it open, he hoped dearly that she had dawdled and taken her time. He sure as hell didn't want to have to spend any time chasing her down. But what he found when he came through the doorway, was enough to make his jaw drop. If only slightly.
*****
Max thumbed through the money, certain that she'd counted correctly, but uncertain as to why the number was off. Alexander had paid for the dress. She'd told him her price for the night. So instead of there being one hundred dollars in her hand, why were there two? Unless of course... well payment for the party and payment for... Well, if it were other services rendered, then she could go with that. But what if it were a mistake? After all, he had just grabbed a handful of cash and thrust it at her. Didn't those rich playboy types care not one whit about money? They had plenty enough of it.
A slow smile curved her face as she thought about the possibilities. His arousal on the dance floor was easy enough for a girl of her profession to read. He had wanted her. She didn't know any guy that could fake that type of response. Oh, he'd played it as low key as possible, throwing out looks and smiles, but not all for the benefit of those he'd meant to impress with the arm candy. Folding over the money and stuffing it into the bag she had brought up with her, Max devised a very simple plan. If it was a mistake, it would be easy enough to play off. If it weren't, he'd take up the unspoken offer in a heartbeat. But no way in hell would she say anything about the extra money. She wasn't dumb. She wasn't about to look a gift of three days worth of food in the mouth. And where the hell did that saying come from anyway? Who bothered to look in horses mouths anymore. Except vets, and they of course were paid the big dinero.
Her thoughts veered around as she casually stripped off the gown that Marjorie had provided her with. She laid it out carefully over the back of the sofa. She hadn't been invited into the bedroom, since Alexander had taken his call in there. Or at least what she presumed to be the bedroom, since unlike the motels she was used to, there wasn't a bed in sight. And she didn't think it was a good idea to hang it in the bathroom. Yes, some clothes were steam cleaned, but Max also knew that it could damage some fabrics.
She glanced down at herself, wondering how much she could get away with. Would Alexander like the strapless push up bra, matching panties, garter belt, stockings and heels dealio or would it be more convincing if she lost the heels and garter belt? She was supposed to change. Or maybe she should just doff it all. If that didn't get his attention, then nothing would, she figured. And besides, clothes just got in the way of getting down to the dirty.
Max deftly unhooked the bra and folded it carefully before putting it into her bag along with her strappy bra that she'd been wearing earlier that evening. No one had said anything to Alexander, but Marjorie had charged him for the underwear set. Because, ew! There was no way that Marjorie would pawn off used undies, even to those bitches that deserved it. And now Max had a nice set to call her own. Much fancier than anything she'd ever owned before. And, of course, as Marjorie had pointed out, one small step closer to her goal. Or at least what other people thought was her goal. Working for Ramon.
The garter belt was removed and joined the dress, but the panties joined the bra. Max mused about wearing them home afterwards. It was decadent and girly, but damn, did she love the feel of that material against her skin. Even as she thought that, Max realized that the stockings would be hers as well. Since they had very nicely conformed to the shape of her feet and legs, unlike the cheap brand she bought for work that were baggy and useless after a few wash and wears. Remembering instructions about how to remove them so that they wouldn't snag and potentially run, Max began to very carefully roll first one and then the other down her legs. It was just as the second, her left leg, was at the knee, did she hear a door open. Grinning to herself as she caught a whiff of male testosterone pound through the air, she schooled her face to calmness as she glanced teasingly over her shoulder. Well damn! She'd called it all right. She could feel herself responding to the arousal that was suddenly rolling off of his body as he gaped slightly at her naked form, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he tried to suck air into his lungs.
494 stared at the picture before him. How the hell did she make undressing so erotic looking? Of course, with that perfectly shaped sweetheart ass, it wasn't difficult to garner a response. But her leg, up on the edge of the sofa made her look even that more inviting. And then she had turned her head, her hands stilling as she gave him a damn come hither look that 494 had no trouble reading at all. And almost, almost, the plan Manticore had laid down just about flew from his mind at the new deal she was throwing out on a silver platter. But oh, damn, the plan. At least he didn't have to chase her down.
"Uh, sorry," he stumbled over the words. She was obviously still in the middle of taking his directive, although why she hadn't moved to the bathroom was beyond him. But then, maybe she just wasn't that shy about her body, like some ordinary females he knew of. "That call. Had to take it. Business."
"And is business all done now?" Max asked lightly, turning back to finish removing the stocking. She drew it out and peeped out from under lowered lashes to watch his reaction. Yup, there was that minute shift in the hips and a small grimace on his face. Definitely still interested.
"Not quite," 494 managed to rasp out. Damn, did she really need to take that long? But then the girl straightened up and carefully set the stocking with the other one she'd already removed.
"Well then," Max seemed all business, but inside, there were flutterings in the stomach. Oh how she hadn't felt this in such a long time, with such a clear head. Not since... but that was ancient history, well forgotten, especially at a time like this. She reached for the small bag that she kept well stocked with condoms. Again, she wasn't dumb and while she tried to stay current on her pills to prevent pregnancy, any minor slip up with those could wreak havoc. And then there was the fact that they didn't prevent sexually transmitted diseases. And she made it clear that condoms were a priority and those that didn't wear them with her, wouldn't have the chance to not wear them with any other girl, ever. Max figured that most guys were savvy enough to know the score and realized that a tryst with her or another girl like her was not a gift that should keep on giving in more ways than one. And so, her johns fell into line.
Carrying the bag with her, unzipping it as she moved sinuously towards him, Max pursed her lips thoughtfully. "That's something we better take care of, hmm?" she continued. Alexander watched with hooded eyes as she approached him, her feet padding softly through the thick carpeting. The only sound in the room, their breaths. Max stopped just short of him and eyed him consideringly before regarding the little bag again. "So what'll it be? Colored, flavored, oh, I have it, the champion of champions!" She pulled out a small golden circlet, wrapped not unlike a chocolate gelt coin that one usually found around Christmas time. "There ain't nothing getting through this thing baby." She held it up, one corner of her mouth tilting upwards as Alexander's eyes dropped to the condom she held and then flickered back to her face.
"I-" Alexander seemed unable to get any more words out, unbeknown to Max, he was still trying valiantly to keep his mind on Manticore business and not what she was so blatantly offering. The smirk she wore grew into a grin as she moved in even closer, the tips of her pert little breasts would have been rubbing all over him if he could get in more air than he was currently managing.
"Honey, the thing about me?" Max winked impishly up at him, "I don't stop 'til I get the job done. So just relax and put yourself in my hands baby. I'll take care of you."
'Well fuck,' 494's mind flickered. She was right. He had paid her. He had put the money in her hand. If she was willing, who was he to say no. Nothing was said that he had to offer her the long term engagement right this second. There'd be time enough afterwards. And with that decision made, 494 nodded.
That was all Max needed. Zipping the little bag up again, she tossed it off to the side. Not too far out of reach. Flipping the coin-like condom to between her first and second finger, she reached up to help Alexander in removing the tie that he had already loosened, even as he pulled his jacket off. It was tossed negligently to the floor. Not caring, she unlooped the tie from his neck and it joined the jacket. Their hands worked together to unbutton the shirt he wore and to avoid a tangle towards the end, Max moved her hands to his waist, deftly unhooking the tuxedo trousers. "Let's get this bad boy on you."
"Whatever you say darlin'," 494 grunted, relieved that the pressure of the material stretched over his arousal was being momentarily and if only slightly relieved.
"Mmm, you like a woman in charge, huh?" Max asked teasingly. She didn't bother to compare him anymore to the other johns she had known. Every guy was different. Some might be similar in looks or in tastes, but each one was a separate engagement to be forgotten unless they came looking for a repeat. And then her eidetic memory supplied any details she'd need. To make the experience worthwhile. Sex for him, good tips for her.
"Apparently so," 494 agreed with a gasp as his pants were stripped down his legs, the boxer briefs he wore shortly to follow. She nudged him backwards and 494 found himself being settled into a broad, over stuffed easy chair that reclined. He didn't have long to wait as Max easily threw one leg over his lap and settled herself on to him. Supporting her weight with his knees, 494 contented himself with looking at her. Max bowed her head, paying attention at last to the most prominent feature he now sported.
His dick was fair sized, smooth and without blemish, the tip gently rounded and flushed with the blood thrumming through it. Carefully, she moved her left hand to caress it softly. As expected Alexander groaned under her timid seeming ministrations. Through trial and error, she had learned that some guys were more sensitive in certain areas and some guys less. A carefully built up momentum would tell her how far she could go. And while she knew some guys were into a little pain with their pleasure, she didn't think Alexander was one of those. And so she rubbed her fingers over the underside of his penis, gently at first and then with increasing pressure. His hips began to thrust in time with her movements, his dick springing upwards when she backed off a little and she took the opportunity to wrap her hand around him entirely. While she slowly pumped him into full readiness, Max used her teeth to break the seal on the condom, careful not to rip the latex. She quickly applied the covering to his member and then smiled up at him.
"Anything special you like?" she asked with refreshing honesty and 494 was strangely grateful that she was in fact a hooker. There were no games to play that the ordinaries thought so necessary for this type of coming together. No drinks to buy, no wooing to be done, no signals to have to figure out. Just question and answer.
"Whatever you want to give me," he answered truthfully, reaching both hands to cup her head just behind her ears. He drew her forward, his head tilting to one side, only to find himself stopped by her hands on his chest.
"Easy there tiger," she whispered, a little regretfully. "Sorry, I forgot to mention house rules."
"Huh?" 494 grunted, a little ticked at her sudden interruption.
"No kissing," Max shrugged delicately, tipping her head back to look up at him, since he had sat up a bit to reach her. "Too personal," she explained in brief. 494 regarded her and realized that there was some truth in that. The exchange of saliva was very personal. And though they would be exchanging other things in a very short time, there was that barrier there that would protect them both. And he wasn't in this to score himself a real girlfriend. It came back to that refreshing honesty again.
"Okay," he conceded quickly. "I can work with that." And lunged forward again, this time, his lips making contact with her neck, just under her jaw.
Max's head tilted back, her hands sliding over to his shoulders as his slid down her back.
Max was happy to note that while Alexander might like a woman in charge, he was certainly no slouch in this department. He was an active participant in the foreplay. His lips covered a broad area of her body, staying lower as she had silently asked him to. Leaving a moist heat behind with deft flicks of his tongue. His hands were at the small of her back, pulling her forward and while Max would have expected to get right to it, Alexander seemed to enjoy just having her rubbing against him, as he was against her. Max could feel the wetness pooling between her thighs and began to squirm in a way that wasn't affected and put on, like she did with others. She was more than ready when Alexander's hands shifted to her waist and pushed.
She rose scant inches above him, enough for his seeking cock to spring up between them once more. While his hands were encumbered with golden flesh, hers were not and she reached for his dick, guiding him into her entrance. As she sank down onto him, both sighed their relief.
494 stared up at this enigmatic young woman whose hair was forming a curling cascade-like curtain around her face. Her eyes were closed and she was inhaling deeply. She reached blindly for his hands and he moved them into her, letting her place them where she would. Pleased he was able to reach up to cup the breasts he'd been wanting to touch ever since she had appeared in that debutante's wet dream of a dress. He pushed them together and upwards, his thumbs flicking over the distended nipples in a fast unrelenting pattern. She smiled and arched further into his touch. With practiced ease, she rose and fell onto him steadily. 494 grunted as her slick heat surrounded him and retreated, repeated and built. It didn't seem to take long at all before the tricks she had up her proverbial sleeve had him on the brink of blinding need. But 494 was never one to sit idly by.
Max was thoroughly stunned when Alexander suddenly moved his hands from her breasts and pushed her back from him. Her first thought was that she'd done something taboo for him, but realized that things had been progressing the same all along. She was almost falling when she was caught, with his hands at her back and he was moving with her, propelling them both off the recliner and onto the floor. Only now, their positions were reversed. With the thick carpeting cushioning her back, Max twisted her legs until she was able to wrap them around Alexander's waist, drawing him deeply into her again and she let out an unconscious moan at the depths he was reaching.
"We've got a lot in common babe," Alexander smirked down at her as he flexed his hips, bringing another sharp gasp out of her. When Max widened her eyes, staring up at him, her hands scrabbling at his shoulders, he continued. "I don't stop 'til I get the job done either." She understood what he meant immediately as he began to thrust into her once more. He wasn't the kind of lover to take his pleasure without giving at least a little something in return. And she had no objections to that.
"Oh," she sighed as she felt his cock rubbing at her clit. Alexander definitely knew what he was doing. "Yes, there," she moaned, raising her hips to meet his. Her words weren't entirely the practiced encouragement that she offered the young studs that wanted to prove themselves or used her as a practice female.
The movements increased and intensified and Max found herself caught up in a rare tidal wave of feeling that began to crash through her. She stared up at Alexander's face, unintentionally studying it, memorizing it as his teeth grit, holding himself back until she had shown signs of distinct pleasure. And then Max could think no longer as her body took over completely, shutting her mind down.
494 continued to thrust, his narrow waist clamped between her thighs, her hands roaming over his chest, her nails leaving slight rakes behind that he found himself liking. He heard her small gasps and pants as if from far away, barely registering except to hear the pleasure in them. Her whispered babble of direction led him where they both wanted to be and when at last 494 could feel her orgasm breaking upon her, did she let out a small scream of his name.
"Al-ec- oh!"
He had taken her by surprise, 494 realized. Whatever she'd been about to say, his name, an entreaty was stunned from her lips and he found himself liking hearing it. He continued to thrust, damn he was so close. "Say it again," he gasped and the girl looked up at him, uncomprehending before her face softened once more.
"Alex."
"No," he grunted, his pace increasing as his spine tingled at the base. "Harder." She stared up at him, her hips still trying to keep up in time with his. Understanding dawned in her eyes and one hand reached up to cup his cheek and he came to her chants of 'Alec, Alec, yes, baby, Alec!'
*****
How long they laid there like that, still joined, Max supine, cradling him with her body, his head braced against her collar bone, 494 couldn't say. He felt as if the act they'd just performed had imbued him with a temporary paralysis, but in a good way. A better way than Manticore could ever come up with. It took him several moments to realize that her hand had gone from cupping his face to stroking his cheek, pushing strands of sweat dampened hair back over and over again. She smiled down at him, a secret, feminine, satisfied smile. And 494 found himself returning it.
"Well," he finally sighed. "I'd say that was a job well done."
"Oh very definitely," Max giggled in agreement. "Not used to the game going into overtime."
"Don't they call that sudden death?" 494 chuckled, caught up in some strange mood that hitherto he'd never known before, but certainly wasn't adverse to. Afterglow, maybe, as he'd heard discussed before. "Or as the French say, le petite morde?"
"I wouldn't know," Max retorted, "I'm not French."
"Well whatever you are," he whispered into her ear, "you wear it well."
"Thank you kind sir," she giggled again, basking in the rare moment of contentment. But all too soon, she knew, reality would come crashing back in. And as Alexander shifted, she still had no idea where the 'Alec' thing had come from, she knew that it would happen soon.
"Here, let me move," he finally managed to gasp out as lingering sensation down below reminded him pleasantly. "Too heavy for you."
"You're not," Max denied instantly, but dutifully let him go. "Um, would you mind if I take a quick shower? It's not often I get a chance in so ritzy a place."
"Not your customer's usual style, huh?" Alexander quipped, not at all offended. In fact he thought a nice hot shower would be the perfect end to the out of bed portion of the evening.
"Oh they wouldn't mind," Max shrugged one shoulder beneath him, "but I don't like sharing the shower stall with the usual creepy crawlies at the motel."
494 grimaced. "Can't argue with that. I wouldn't like it myself. And yeah, feel free, in a minute. There's something I want to ask you."
"What would that be?" Max murmured as she watched in fascination as Alexander discreetly removed the condom he'd worn and discard it in a nearby very convenient trash receptacle. Once that was done, he casually dropped back down to the floor, sitting cross legged before her. Max pulled herself up with her stomach muscles and rested her arms across her raised knees.
"I was thinking," Alexander mused, eying her thoughtfully, "that you really did a wonderful job tonight. I meant earlier, this evening," he clarified as he caught the knowing look in her eyes. "I mean, not that this wasn't great, it was, but oh hell!" He could see her laughing quietly at him as he tried not to offend her.
"It's okay," she finally waved a hand dismissively. "If I weren't any good, I wouldn't have the clientèle I do. But, you wanted to discuss the escort portion of the evening?"
"Exactly," 494 nodded gratefully. "See, I know we said this was a one night deal. But it occurred to me, that if you left right away, any headway I made tonight could be lost."
"So you want what?" Max pursed her lips as she thought through what he was talking about. "Something more... longer... help me out here."
"Well, there's a little less than a week left of parties and business opportunities," 494 explained. "I'll be heading back to New York at the end of the week. Do you think it would be possible for you to stay on that long. Do your thing for another five, maybe six days?"
"I think it's definitely possible," Max half-smiled. "Anything is. But what would it entail?"
"Let's see," Alexander slouched a little as he thought it through. "I'd pretty much need you to stay here, with me. Go with me to functions. Basically the same as tonight. Just be charming and sweet and a little edgy. You had them eating out of your hands, you know."
"Okay," Max tilted her head to one side, acknowledging his compliment silently. "That I can do, but you're asking me to give up my job to make you an exclusivity. That'll cost. I mean, I usually charge a hundred for the night. But you'll want me for days too."
"That's fair," Alexander agreed.
"And then there's the clothing issue," Max reminded him. "I don't think I can get everything from Marjorie, since as we both know, the people in your circle are familiar with her goods. I mean, I would have to have some stuff of my own that I packed and brought with me."
"True," Alexander nodded. "So I was thinking, I could give you my card and you can get what you need. As long as you don't go overboard."
"I can do that," Max mused. "I'm a very economical shopper."
"Okay, so give me a number here," Alexander grinned. "What's your time worth?"
Max mulled it over a moment, the numbers already run through her head, but she wanted a moment to go over it again. She would have gone higher, but he was kickin' in on clothes and extras. "Two thousand."
"Done," 494 blurted out without any hesitation. And then laughed as her eyes widened.
"Damn," she chuckled. "If I'd known you were that easy, I'd have gone for more."
"Nah," Alexander teased. "That was just the number that was floating in my brain, too. Plus, you get the bonus of a nice clean bed to sleep in, hot water, room service, clothes."
"You're right," Max nodded. "A girl shouldn't get too greedy. And there are other... compensations," her eyes dropped down to his lap and 494 felt himself stirring again. With a toss of her head, Max pushed herself up to her feet. "I'm gonna shower and then I'll meet you in the.. bedroom?"
494 nodded his agreement. No way in hell was he going to relegate either one of them to the sofa. He knew when to grab the perks, extremely rare, that came along with his job. And as he watched her unselfconsciously moving away from him, he realized that life was very good right now for this soldier boy,
Chapter Five
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