"Well, look at you prettying up that porch and everything else in the immediate vicinity," Tasìa said to Beauregard as she sauntered up the walkway.

He raised his head to the sky in response.

"Oh, my Lord, how did I go thirty-seven years of my life without coming across this little pistol?"

Tasìa came in for the hug and then she clutched him tight.

She cackled as she spoke.

"I hope you don't mind that I am trying to get my scent all over you though I smell like I fought some critters in a swamp."

His left brow drew up, curious.

"Did'ja?"

"Yup, and then I killed even more critters in a field of wild rye."

His head nodded towards Annebél's Jeep.

"Did you bring back any of them that I can skin for you? I did quite a bit of trapping and hunting in Missouri in my teens. Those were the years of the Incivility, back then you kind of had to hunt to survive even if you were a boy from the 'burbs."

Tasìa shook her head. Damn. She thought. Lémur hide would make for excellent leather.

"Nah. At the first chance that came our way, we got the hell out of there."

From the corner of her eye, Tasìa noticed Alisha was now leaning against the porch rails. Politely, she watched as Beauregard and Tasìa spoke.

He raised his chin and nodded, as Annebél's boots hit the steps.

"I gather we all could use some proper introduction. Avellana, this is the ex-girlfriend I mentioned, Alisha."

Tasìa chuckled.

"We've met. Right, Alisha?"

"Most correct."

Beauregard covered one hand over the other in a balled-up fist. Evidently, he felt some explanation was needed.

"So. It's like this. I'm working the bar, and Alisha walks in looking for me. She's in a fix, and needs me to help cover for her to allay the suspicions of the rest of the spooks.

"When she sees them, so went her plan, she'll tell them she got the itch for the old familiar so she stepped out for the evening."

Tasìa met Alisha's gaze.

"I'm sorry we are so late. Things got out of hand for us."

Alisha nodded.

"I was angry at first but Heloïste told me what occurred. Just glad that you made it out in one piece."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Tasìa shivered.

"A helluva way to put it. At one point, I most likely wasn't intact in one piece. I really don't know what happened."

"Damn," Alisha responded. And her anger grew. "Nanospore intervention, huh? Reality bending motherfuckers. Most fucked-up shit our species has ever devised."

Tasìa nodded to that and turned to Annebél.

"This is my best friend, -"

"A living legend," Beauregard interrupted, "La Asesina Duarte."

Annebél nodded her head, graciously.

"You have returned, as it has been prophesied."

Annebél chuckled at Beauregard's hyperbole.

"I'm not allowed to ever come back to the octagon."

"Three against one," Beauregard protested. "They jumped you!"

Annebél winced as she shook her head.

"And they all wound up dead. That's considered excessive. Even here in the Mean Sweet, you are allowed at most one kill a sport's season, and even at that, the business side doesn't want anyone to make a habit of it."

Beauregard grimaced.

"Fucking corporate."

Annebél shrugged.

"Kinda sucks, but it is what it is."

Beauregard lightened his mood as he remembered his host duties.

"Well, you are welcome in my home, anytime, Asesina."

Annebél shook his hand as she chortled.

"Killer is just my stage name, of course. Call me Annebél. I'm an absolute Angel of a Most Merciful God once you get to know me."

Beauregard wrapped his arms around Tasìa. She noticed Alisha looked away.

To what extent were their feelings mutual?

Tasìa shook it off. She once made a vow to not ever be the jealous type.

"Alisha, Annebél, make yourself at home. I've been busy sweatin' my tail off for the last twelve hours at both the bar and my sister's restaurant, so if its alright with Tasìa, I would like to request her assistance in helping me freshen up in the shower."

Pleasant butterflies stirred in her stomach. She liked the sound of that!

Alisha lowered her eyes and smiled. She sat down beside Annebél who had already slumped down and curled up on the couch for a nap.

"I'm truly happy for the both of you," Alisha began, "but we are kind of on the clock here. Thirty minutes, okay?"

Beauregard grinned as he lead Tasìa to the shower room. He whispered in her ear:

"We're taking forty-five whether she likes it or not!"

Her skin was still flushed red with excitement as Beauregard held her in his lap.

They sat on a fold out bench with the shower drizzling misty over them.

"Thank you," she whispered, breathlessly.

"What?"

She leaned her shoulders into his chest, coyly rubbing against his flesh.

"I've never quite done that before. I've always been curious how that felt. Thank you for making it feel so incredibly fulfilling."

He rested his chin against her neck.

"You said it yourself that you haven't measured your sync-up this month. Pretty much that leaves one alternative. Of course, we were not so careful, last night ..."

Tasìa grabbed his neck, playfully scratching it with her long nails.

"Hey," she started, "I hope it doesn't sound like I don't wanna have your kids or anything like that. To be honest, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if last night I turned out to be ripe. I'm almost thirty-three, of course, its always in the back of my mind. I'm not getting any younger."

He held her tightly. Tasìa leaned her head into his chest.

"That's the sexiest thing any woman has ever told me."

Tasìa's eyes perked up.

"Really? You okay with what I said?"

"If it happens it happens. And we get hitched, right?"

Maybe. Just maybe, he's the one!

After a minute of silent purring together, Beauregard spoke again.

"By the way. That loot sack of yours. It's in the guest's bedroom closet."

Tasìa shrugged. "I haven't thought about it since I mugged those dumbasses. Man, my priorities are really starting to change on me.

"Hey, the loot is yours if you want it. But don't be tempted to return the goods to any of them."

"All right, I'll get it all cashed out and have it put away in Junior's savings account."

Tasìa laughed as she turned to kiss him. As they smooched, their faces bumped.

"Hey," Beauregard began. "I have been meaning to ask you. Why do you have those AR riding goggles on?"

Tasìa looked towards the spot where Demona Heloïste's sat nude and self-engaged.

Demona smiled back.

"So my friend can watch. It creates a reference point for her with subsonic pulses that interpolate a sensory outflow for maximum realism."

Beauregard laughter chortled at full throttle.

"I stand corrected. Now, that is the sexiest thing a woman has ever said to me."