Like a Fox on the Run, стр. 19

Tiger’s suspicions were confirmed when her eyes lit up like afterburners when she saw the flight jacket and the Guild shield he flashed on his PDC screen to get the union discount. Have a soft spot for worn out ol’ rocket jockeys, do you?

Of course, she would. Whatever her history, it was a certainty her original master had been a spacer. If he’d been a kind one, she would have developed strong affection for anyone like him in the formative stages of her personality programming. She looked up at him with hungry, needful eyes. Obviously, he had. It was almost certain she missed his companionship and the environment she grew to know as home: space and the people in it … people like her owner.

People like Tiger.

She was pretty enough, her lavender hair streaked with purple hues that accented the brilliant, violet eyes. A few years ago, smugglers would have had to spend a lot of points to have those eyes replaced and that hair perma-dyed. But with the latest fashions on Earth beginning to look more synthetic than human, she now fit in perfectly. At least, until the next fashion trend.

She had a cute figure, probably a lot of guys would consider her a bit thick, but she still had some sweet curves. Back in the day, an Andi could be built to a buyer’s custom specifications. So, they had come in all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately for this little darling, the more wealthy and discerning buyers probably wanted the more svelte models. This would probably explain her working in a worn-out, old hotel.

Tiger, on the other hand, well, he’d inherited his Uncle Mud’s taste in women. “Skinny girls ain’t worth a shit in bed!” the old fart would scoff. “They think ‘cause they got ‘em a pretty face and a body like a twelve-year old boy that automatically gets them any man they want … so they think they ain’t gotta be good at nothin’! They just lay there and moan and whimper a bit like a coonhound pup.” He’d snort derisively and spit a stream of tobacco juice before continuing. “Now a girl with a little extra … she’s probably got passed over by all the jocks and the pretty boys back in high school who were stupid ‘nuff to be chasing those skinny-ass bitches around. In the meantime, these curvy girls were learning what it took to please a man. Y’see, they might not have got it as much as those skinny girls, but when they did, by God, they made it count! I had one I dated when I was nineteen, twenty or so … she’d put it on me like I’d never seen before … Hell, I wouldn’t walk right for two or three days afterwards. Swear to God!”

She was interested, and she let him know, as she blatantly offered the invitation with a flirty smile and a slight, slow caress of his hand as she handed him his PDC back, the room code now scanned into it. He felt a twinge in his groin, as she continued to look at him like a dog would stare at a T-bone steak.

It’s been a loooong time!

Picking up his flight bag, he gave the girl a smile and a wink, letting her know he’d gotten her invitation and would RSVP … one way or another.

***

Tiger walked into his room, dropped his bag on the bed, and headed straight for the shower. He ran the water as hot as he could bear it, standing under it for a full five minutes or more, just letting it run down his body. It felt good to take one without having to worry about rationing or the hot water running out right in the middle of soaping up.

As he toweled off his freshly scrubbed, pink skin in the steamed-up bathroom, Tiger was already planning his sabbatical. Next on the agenda was a decent meal; some real food. After six months of synthetic, pre-packaged meals, he now craved something chewable and actually digestible. Flavorful would definitely be a bonus. Maybe a nice, juicy steak, cooked medium, with a loaded baked potato. Of course, he knew there was no way his system could handle that dramatic of a change this quick. He’d have to start slow, maybe some sliced turkey breast with a little gravy and a salad on the side for tonight. But before he headed back to the Belt, he would scarf down some red meat like real men were bred to do. Why live if you couldn’t enjoy those primal urges occasionally?

Until then, some drinks would start things off quite nicely. Not the off-brand or homemade swill found out on the Rocks, but the good stuff, with names you actually recognized. Along with imbibing in some quality spirits, a few other recreational activities might be in order. Of course, he had a little business to tend to, so he figured he’d kill two birds with one stone. There would be only one place to do that.

Even after all that, there was still one more thing he needed to do, if he did nothing else this entire trip. He commanded his PDC to dial a certain number in his contacts. After a few rings, the connection was made, and a three-dimensional holographic image of a woman appeared in mid-air directly in front of him.

“Hello, gorgeous!” God, it’s good to see that face again! He couldn’t help but smile. Seeing it after being away so long always made him smile instantly. She was the tonic for whatever ailed.

“Well, I’ll be damned!” Those blue eyes made his knees quiver, as she smiled that patented beautiful smile. “The prodigal son calls.”

“Roger that, girl. In the wicked flesh.” It was always this first glimpse of that familiar face after being away for long periods of time that reminded him of just how much he missed