Eventually the hug goes on for long enough that it starts to become weird. Or, weirder, I guess. I worry he’s going to take things to the next level if it goes on much longer, and I’m not ready for that. So I pull away from him and give him a bright smile. “Shall we go inside?”

He grunts assent, and when I offer him my hand, he takes it and leads me back in.

The store’s just as empty as when we left it. Part of me had hoped, I guess, for Emma to return while we were gone. I can’t blame her for not coming back, given that I’m accompanied by a rather unfriendly dragon and all. Still, I miss female companionship. I’ve spent the last seven years in the After with Amy and Claudia, and I miss them. I hope they’re well.

Heck, I hope they’re alive.

Troubled by my thoughts, I’m quiet as we head for the bed I made for myself in the linen department. The pallet of blankets on the floor is just as cozy as when I left it, and there are mountains of fluffy pillows to ensure that I’m comfy. I might try blowing up an air mattress tonight, because even with a bunch of blankets, the floor’s still hard tile, and it’s not great on my aching hip. To have all these things is a luxury, I tell myself. Enjoy them while you’ve got them.

After all, who knows how long we’ll be here? Best if I take everything the store has to offer and not worry too much about my friends back at Fort Dallas. There’ll be time enough for that later. I sit down in the blankets and glance over at Dakh. “So what are our plans for the day…?”

I trail off as I realize he’s picked up one of my romance novels and is studying the people on the cover intently. It’s a historical romance, with an earl and a half-naked lady necking on the cover. And, I’m a little embarrassed to see, the woman has dark, curly hair that looks a lot like mine. Dakh touches the picture and then stares at it even more closely, then glances over at me. “Sa-cha?” he asks, pointing at the cover.

“No, that’s not me.” I can feel myself blushing.

“Sa-cha…” He pauses and makes a strange expression, then gestures a bit more. I squint at him, trying to figure out what he’s asking. When he repeats it and then mimics the man’s hand on the woman’s waist, I realize that the weird facial expression he’s making? It’s the cover model’s O-face.

I don’t know if I find this hilarious or horrifyingly awkward. “I’m not sure what you’re asking,” I say, trying to keep a straight face. “I told you that’s not me.”

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He picks up another romance novel and regards the cover. Then he turns it to me and points at the woman on the front. “Sa-cha?” He taps the picture of the man with his mouth on the heroine’s face. “Dakh?”

I gasp. Is he asking if we can make out? Or if I’ve made out with someone in the past and he wants me to show him how? “Whatever you’re asking, the answer is no. Even if it was yes, I wouldn’t answer that anyhow.” I glance down at his naked body to see if I need to be alarmed, but his cock is at half-mast. I breathe a little easier at that. It’s just an innocent question, then. “It’s a book about a relationship,” I tell him. “The people kiss in it, but there’s also a big adventure.” I get to my feet and pull the book from his hands, opening it to the painted stepback. This second book is a reprint of an old classic, and the inside cover is filled with images of pirate ships and swashbuckling duels as the heroine clings to the hero’s leg. “See? It’s excitement and romance, but I guess the sex is what sells it. I’m a fan of the entire story, not just the sex.”

Taking the book from him, I close it again and set it down on the bed. Part of me wonders if I should tear the cover off so he won’t get any ideas about sex—my least favorite hobby ever—but I can’t bring myself to deface books that have been so pristine for years in the After. They’re a treasure, and I plan on enjoying them repeatedly.

As I set the book down, I see my arms and hands look very dirty against the pale, clean sheets. Ew. I grab a handful of my hair and sniff it, and it smells greasy. I bet I stink. I glance over at Dakh. “Do we have more plans for going out today? Because if not, I’d like to take a bath.”

His brows draw together, and he studies me, silent.

“You know what? I’m going to roll with it and say that we’re not going out again.” I give him a bright smile. “And since we’ve got a whole aisle of shampoos, I want to take advantage of them. Come on.”

I get a shopping cart, and I spend some time picking out my soaps and shampoos. There’s bubble bath, too, and I grab some of it, along with some lotion. I’m going to have myself a spa day, I decide. Dakh can find something else to do if he doesn’t want to play along. Once I have all of the bath supplies, there’s the small problem of an actual tub. I head over to the summer supplies and pick out a kiddie pool. There’s a kitchen in the break room of the SuperMart, and it’s got a large sink in there, so I can attach a garden hose and use it to fill up my pool with water. I don’t know if the hot water will work, but I figure I have a dragon and that’s the least of my problems.

After I get the hose, some beach towels, and my pool, I turn my cart back toward the clothing section and pick out a swimsuit. I doubt Dakh is going to leave while I bathe—heck, it’s hard to get him to leave when I have to use the facilities—so better safe than sorry. I should pick a one-piece, maybe, but there’s a frilly pink gingham bikini that’s screaming at the girly side of me, and I can’t resist it. It’s been years since I had frivolous clothing, and who’s going to be here to complain if I wear something a little impractical? I won’t be naked, and that’s the important part.

Dakh watches me with an interested expression, as if he’s trying to figure me out. He follows along at my side, silent, as I steer my cart to the back of the store and push it into the employee area. The break room still has a fleet of chairs and folding tables laid out, so I have Dakh move them aside, since I can’t do much more than shove them around with my bad arm. When there’s enough clear space, I manage to get the pool set up (again with Dakh’s help) and hook the water hose to the sink. Then I retreat to the ladies’ room to change into my bikini.

It takes forever for the pool to fill up, so I get in the moment it gets hip deep and wince at how cold the water is.




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