He took advantage of her surprise to make a play for the bed. She managed to keep him from taking it, but he did grab the blanket. She pulled it back. She kicked him, and he toppled onto the mattress. He sprawled, laying claim to as much of it as he could, and pushed her to the edge.
No you dont! My bed! She tried to climb over him, aiming to reconquer the corner, but his hand was on her wrist, then her shoulder and her breast, and his other gripped
the inside of her thigh. Bryce picked her up that way and would have thrown her off the bed if she hadnt squirmed her way loose. She landed straddling him and grabbed for the sheets on either side of his shoulders so when he pushed at her she had a good grip.
He was getting hard against her pubic bone and his hands were on her breasts again. Venera mashed her palm against his face and reared back but now his hands were on her hips, and he was pulling her hard against him. They rocked together and she clawed at his chest.
Grabbing him around the shoulders she kissed him, feeling her nipples tease the hairs on his chest. All their movement was making him slide against her wetness and suddenly he was inside her. Venera gasped and reared up, pushing down on him with all her weight.
She leaned forward until they were nose to nose. My bed, she hissed, grinning.
They were locked together now and each motion by one made the other respond. She had a hand behind his neck and his were behind her spreading her painfully as they kissed and the bed shook and threatened to collapse. She bucked and rode him like the Buridans must have ridden their horses, all pounding muscle under her until wave after wave of pleasure mounted up her core and she came with a loud cry. Moments later he did the same, bouncing her up and nearly off of him. She held on and rode it out, then collapsed on the bellows of his chest.
See? he said. You can share.
Well.
Venera wasnt about to dignify his statement with a response; but this was certainly going to change things. Now sleep really was coming over her, though, and she had no ability to think more about it. She nuzzled his shoulder.
Damn it .
She was aware of many eyes watching her. Word had gotten around quickly of the events last night, and Lesser Spyre was quietly but visibly tense. Shops had closed early; people hurried through the streets. The architecture of the spider did not permit large assembliesSpyre was not the sort of place to encourage mass demonstrationsbut the people were a presence here nonetheless, standing in groups of two to ten to twenty on street corners and under the shadowy canopies of bridges. It was their presence, and not memory or reason, that convinced Venera that she had today done something highly significant.
Her own appearance must confirm that. She wore a high-collared black leather coat over a scarlet blouse, with her bleached shock of hair standing straight up and silver trefoil-shaped bangles the size of her hand hanging from her ears. Her make-up was darkshed redrawn her brows as two obsessively black lines. Trailing behind her in a V-formation like a flock of grim birds were two dozen people, all similarly startling to look upon. Some appeared pale and unsteady, their faces and exposed hands bearing bruises and burn marks. Others attended these souls, and marching behind like giant tin toys were soldiers of Liris and various preservationist factions. Venera knew that Bryces people peppered the crowds, there to listen and give an alert if necessary.
Do you think Jacoby Sarto brings his gun to council meetings? she asked off-handedly. Corinne, who was walking beside her, guffawed.
Here, she said, handing Venera a large black pistol, try to take this in and see what happens. No, seriously. If they dont stop you, then hes probably got one too. You may need to get the drop on him.
I can do that. She took the pistol and slipped it into her jacket, which promptly dragged down her right collar. She transferred it to the back of her belt.
Not too obvious, said Corinne doubtfully.
A preservationist runner puffed to a stop next to her and saluted. Theyre on the move, maam. Five groups of a hundred or more each were just seen exiting the grounds of Sacrus. Theyre in no-mans land now, but they have nowhere to go except through their neighbors Of course, they own most of those estates
What have they got? she asked. Artillery? He nodded.
Were moving to secure the elevator cables, but theyre doing the same thing, he continued. Theres
been no shots fired yet
All right. She dismissed the details with a wave of her hand. Let me see what we can do in council. Well talk after that. He nodded and backed off.
The big front doors of the building were for council members only. The ceremonial guards there, with their plumed helmets and giant muskets, raised their palms solemnly to exclude the people following Venera. She turned and gestured with her chin for them to go around the side; shed been told there was a second, more traveled entrance there for diplomats, attachés, and other functionaries. She strode alone into the frescoed portico that half circled the chamber itself.