Chapter Twenty - Post-Coital Smokes

Jane bent over the side of her bed and fumbled with something while I watched, still breathing a little hard, blankets tucked up to my neck. "What are you doing?" I asked.

She chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm not ready for a round six," she said. "Ain't got that fancy D-ranker stamina."

She came up with a pack of cigarettes that looked half empty and a small hotel-style matchbook. I didn't even know they still made those.

Shuffling backwards, Jane sat up onto her pillows, put a cigarette in her mouth, then lit it with a match. "Ah," she said.

"Those are bad for you," I said.

Jane snorted. "I only smoke when I fuck," she said. "And I hardly fuck enough for it to be that bad."

I sighed, stretching my legs out as far as they would go, which meant they slipped out from the bottom of the covers. I curled my toes, then relaxed. I felt good, real good. "And here I thought you'd never admit to that," I said.

Jane laughed. "Yeah. But I fucked you, so who cares, yeah? Besides, I'm missing more cigarettes than you would, huh?" She tipped the pack my way, revealing that it was above half smoked already.

I plucked one of them out quickly, then looked it over before putting the filter-end into my mouth. I took the matchbook, then lit it. A moment later I was coughing, my throat tickled by the smoke I'd inhaled.

Jane chuckled. "It's not for everyone," she said as she took the pack and placed it next to the bed.

"Yeah," I said. The taste was awful. Still... well, no harm. I didn't plan on keeping this timeline, even now. It was... about three in the morning. I had work in a few hours, and was far from home, sweaty, and tired in a good way. "You're my second."

Jane turned to glance my way. "Second?"

Why was I even saying this? Maybe sex loosened my tongue a little? Maybe I just needed some therapy, and Not-So-Plain-Jane was the nearest thing to a shrink I had. "The second person I've had, ah, sex with," I admitted.

"Huh," Jane said. "Figured you were a little inexperienced, but you weren't bad or anything."

"Thanks," I said dryly.

"So, who was lucky lady number one? Or mister?" Jane moved a bit. Her naked thigh touched the side of my leg.

"Lady," I replied before sinking back into the pillows. She had really nice pillows. I took a pull of the cigarette. It wasn't as bad this time. I suspected that Jane didn't cheap out with these and bought quality ones if they were for special occasions. I fiddled with it for a moment before continuing. "Her name was Louise. Is. Is Louise."

"Mhm. Cute name. French, right?"

"She is, yeah," I replied. "From France, moved over to Fortress ENE about two, three years back? I don't know. I... stalked her online, a little? Is that creepy."

Jane snorted. "A bit? But I've heard worse."

"Yeah," I said, fidgeting a little. "One day, after work... I was working for Luna Corp at the time. E-ranker. Just... dragging crap out of a portal world. Monster corpses, lumps of rock. Cartloads of junk that would be resold. Job was done, and she just came over, bold as day, looked me in the eyes and asked me if I fucked women."

Jane shifted to the side, invested in the story. That meant her leg pulled away from my side, leaving a void where heat had been. "And, what did you say?" she asked.

I pulled my attention away from the front of her thin camisole. "I said yes. I guess she caught me staring? She's a C-ranker."

"Oh, you bagged an elite," Jane replied.

"I guess. More like she bagged me. Dragged me to her place. This nice apartment near city centre. Not the penthouse, but not far from it. Told me to shower. I almost had a breakdown in the shower, but I came out, then she just..." I waved my hand vaguely.

"Hmm," Jane said noncommittally.

"Yeah. I don't know. I felt used at the end, but good? It's what I wanted, but not in the way I wanted it? She wasn't rough, or mean. But I think she just wanted someone warm in her bed, and I..."

"Wanted more than that," Jane said. She nodded, then gestured between us. "Is that what you're wanting here? Because I'm not really looking for a girlfriend. I mean, I wouldn't mind a date if you're paying for the grub, but if you want to keep things casual, I'm okay with that too."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"No, no, it's fine," I said.

This had felt a lot more... even. Equal. The vibes were better, even if I had a bit of guilt knowing that I'd be pulling the trigger on a Reload soon.

"Thanks," I said. "This was... nice. I needed it."

Jane shrugged. "You're very welcome. Come back anytime. Though, no discounts for fuck-buddies."

"Hmm," I said. "I... I'm a time traveller."

Jane blinked. "Huh?"

"I can loop. Back an hour or two into my own past. More, even. And, uh, I... this, what we did, it'll never have happened. I'll remember it, but it won't be real. The you that shared with me will just be back to being the normal Not-So-Plain-Jane."

She stared at me for a while, then her eyebrows rose and she took another pull from her cigarette. "No shit?" she asked.

I nodded.

"And you go back... what, body and mind? Is past me going to have a naked beanstalk in her bed?"

"Just my memories, I think."

"Oh. Well shit. Next time we fuck, I want twice as many orgasms."

I laughed, unable to hold it back. Jane was... very Jane. "Thank you," I said.

"Guess you're telling me because it doesn't matter?"

"Yeah," I said. "Not like you'll remember. Are you upset?"

"Hm, nah. Bit weird. But like, I offered first, so it's not too skeevy. Not gonna use what you learned about me against me?"

"Only to guarantee more orgasms," I promised.

Jane grinned. "Then we're good. Might not think it if I wasn't so chilled out right now, but now? Now I think we're good. Damn... hey, time shit... you ever looking for a fixer?"

"A what?" I asked.

"Someone to give you jobs, on the down-low. Not always illegal, but sometimes on that line."

"Are you a fixer?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Nah. But I could use a hand, sometimes. Might not just offer it like that, though. Hmm... ask past-me? Future me? Eh, ask other me if I have any jobs laying around."

"I'm not exactly tight on cash," I said.

"You were broke last time," she pointed out.

I shrugged. "Time manipulation and casinos work well together."

Jane blinked, then giggled. "I bet. Be careful though, they have memories."

"Yeah. I might take you up on that sorta-job offer. Not for cash, but, ah."

"Sexual favours?" she asked, eyebrows waggling.

"Would I need to do work for that or just ask?"

"Fair point."

"I meant more... gear that's hard to get? Maybe? Magical stuff? Better weapons and armour. I don't know if my 'Deadline' ID is burnt or not, but if it isn't, then it'd be nice to get better equipment. Maybe some intel."

"Not my area of expertise, the intel, but the rest I can help with. I've geared up some strange folk before. Solo delvers, some teams that were definitely one corp or another's black-ops team who needed untraced gear. Hit me up about it."

"Cool. thanks Jane."

Then, before I could hesitate myself into not doing it, I rolled over, placed a hand on her breast, gave it a squeeze, and then I planted a long, very luxurious kiss onto her lips.

I Reloaded.

"Uh," I said.

I felt the blood rushing to my face as I readjusted. Damn... I had been pent up.

"Ohh, you're really thinking about it," Jane said teasingly. This was a considerably more dressed Jane, one that didn't know me nearly as well.

"Yeah, maybe one day," I said, trying to be a bit smoother about it. "But not tonight."

Jane sighed, a little wistfully. I looked down at her lips... well, in for a penny.

I scooped in, and pressed a kiss against her. A good one, the sort she'd liked in a night that would never be.

"Mmm, just a taste," I said as I pulled away from a rather shocked Jane. That was for all the teasing. "See you around? I've got your number, I'll call you, and you tell me what that old weapon is all about, yeah?"

I grabbed my revolver on the way out, then practically skipped out of her store. A long taxi ride later, and I was back at my apartment. It felt a little lonely when I stepped in, but Mister Couchtop jumped up and reminded me that he existed (and hadn't been fed) and all was well.

Tomorrow, work. I just needed a good night's rest before that.

***