Chapter 8

A couple months flew by extremely quickly.

Working for Regina was extremely dangerous, but also extremely lucrative. As it happened, I didn't buy a vehicle, but instead arranged for Panam to be my driver for twenty percent of the expected reward. And now Panam and I were on our way back from our next assignment.

"Damn, I'll probably never get used to how easy you make it look..."

I grinned sadly.

"Easy? Panam, I plowed for it easy as hell, and frankly I'd trade all that easy, reasonably well-off life for the quiet life of a technician.

"And what's stopping you?"

"Just because it's not possible in Knight City."

I sighed.

"City of Dreams. It's ironic, because for some reason Militeha and Arasaki's interests have converged on this city and they're fighting over it as if it's the only city in the world. And people are suffering. And if I forget about my solo career and become a technician, I'll either fall victim to a gang shootout or run into an inadequate client who won't be satisfied with the cost of my work. Both of which result in dead bodies..."

I shrugged.

"So what's the point of walking away from life solo if nothing will change?"

"What about moving to another city?"

Panam looked at me interestedly.

"Well, it should certainly be better there, but is it much better?"

"You don't think it's a lot?"

"Pretty sure..."

I shrugged.

"...there won't be Arasaki and Militeh, there will be others. Other gangs. And I won't know who I can trust and who I can't. Well, there's another reason."

"Another one?"

"Uh-huh. I won't have two wonderful friends there, Panam and Judy.

"Bastard..."

Panam pulled away from the steering wheel and tapped me on the shoulder.

"You could have left that friend out of it. You ruined the moment!"

"Come on..."

I grinned.

"Judy's not interested in me. So you don't have to be jealous."

"Well, well, well, well, well. Stop! I'm not jealous!"

"Panam, who are you trying to fool? I'm well aware that I'm sympathetic to you..."

I put my hand on her thigh and lightly stroked it, however, not leading my hand to the inside of her thigh or just upward.

"Tz..."

She followed my hand.

"...don't push it."

"Panam.. I know you're not ready and that's why I don't allow myself too much, but a light caress like this shouldn't bother you."

She sighed.

"David..."

"Come on, Panam, I was actually planning on having you over to my place... I've got homemade pizza and good mead."

The girl's eyes sparkled, and she cast an extremely interested glance at me.

"There's also a kebab marinating in the fridge that you can grill on the electric brazier..."

All these appliances, including a small refrigerator, I built myself. I took all the parts from the city dump with the help of Panam.

"Shish kebab?"

"Yeah, through Regina got the real meat..."

She licked her lips.

"You're not gonna hit on me, are you?"

"Who do you think I am?!"

I was exasperated in the extreme by her question.

"Of course I will!"

"Pfft..."

"You've tasted my mead and you know it's not very alcoholic. It has less alcohol than beer. So if you think I'm going to go any farther than that."

Panam sighed.

"Okay. But I'll punch you in the eye."

"No problem..."

I shrugged and touched her shoulder.

"...turn here, we're going to the parking lot of the megatower."

Panam nodded, licking her lips, since I had brought her something I had personally cooked for her a couple of times in the morning and she knew I was a very good cook. We pulled into the parking lot and went up to the right floor and left the car. I paid for parking for the whole night.

"Well, let's go..."

I waved at her and she followed me out of the parkway and into my apartment.

"Hey, Quiet!"

I silently waved goodbye to the little girl next door. I didn't have a good relationship with her or her team. To be exact, it was more or less with her, I crossed paths with the blonde a couple times, but the rest...

They turn their noses up at the sight of me. I don't care, though.

"You're ignoring me again?"

She looked at me intently, but I just walked past and opening the door let Panam go ahead.

"Eh..."

"Hey, Becca, I'm doing okay, as you can see, so I made a friend. I hope you're doing well, too."

"Yeah, uh. а..."

But I had already gone inside and slammed the apartment door shut.

"And what was that?"

"My neighbor, Rebecca, is solo, working with Maine."

"Uh..."

"Not the most famous solo, but his team is efficient and has its own reputation. But the man is very obsessed with chrome and may soon fall off if he doesn't stop."

"Hmm... а..."

Panam nodded at the door and took a seat on the couch I pointed out to her.

"And Becca's too active. If I'd started answering before I got to the door, you and I wouldn't be sitting here right now."

"I see..."

Panam nodded, and I went to a small nook I had converted into a kitchen, and I took the pizza out of the freezer and put it in the oven. The shish kebab went into the electric shish kebab machine, and I had mead in my hands, a small bottle of a couple of liters, which I put on the table along with some sandwiches.

"Well..."

Pouring the mead into tall glasses I clinked glasses with Panam.

"...to my best partner!"

"Don't suck up..."

But despite her words, Panam grinned and took the first sip of the drink, closing her eyes with pleasure. I took the remote control and turned on the slightly dimmed lights and classical music.

"De-evi-id.

"Yeah, yeah?"

I poured her some mead and sat closer to her while picking up one of the sandwiches from the plate and bringing it to her mouth.

"I'm not about... Uh."

She took a bite of the sandwich with a grateful nod, after which I threw the rest of that mini sandwich into my mouth.

"...that's what you do, huh?"

"I am courting a beautiful girl than slightly pressurize her understanding of the situation and perception of the world."

"And will you even tell me what you're counting on?"

"I'll say..."

I nodded my head.

"...I'm counting on a couple of hot kisses tonight and a sleepover."

She frowned slightly and I put my finger on her lips stopping her from speaking her thoughts on what I had said.

"To be clear, she didn't sleep with me, although I wouldn't mind sleeping in the same bed, she stayed here for the night. Just a nap, no sex, maybe a couple, three, ten, hot kisses."

She sighed.

"I'm too sober for this shit yet..."

For a while we were just enjoying the mead, Panam was eating the sandwiches I was feeding her, until the buzzer sounded and I went to the oven where I took out the pizza.

"It smells wonderful..."

Panam sniffed and when I brought the pizza on the table and cut it she didn't wait and grabbed the first slice and greedily took a bite.

"Mh..."

She covered her eyes and chewed it happily and swallowed it down.

"...divine!"

"I'm glad you liked it."

"You know, if you feed me like this, I could live here."

Panam grinned cheekily.

"I don't mind..."

I smiled softly at her, but Panam's eyes went wide with shock.

"...So if it's just a question of good food, then stay here to live."

"I was actually joking..."

"I don't."

I shrugged.

"I'd really appreciate it if you'd stay here."

"I... let's just take our time."

"Come on."

We ate the pizza very quickly, and then the kebab was ready, and after it Panam couldn't stand it and grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and kissed me. She was about to pull away from me, but instead I caught her in my arms and slipped my tongue into her mouth and started a tongue wrestle.

"Bastard..."

That was her first word after a long kiss, but I didn't give her much time to think and kissed her again, but this time Panam herself gave into the process with as much enthusiasm as I did.

"What are you doing to me?"

"I?"

Picking up a piece of meat I quickly brought it to Panami and she took a bite of half of it and I ate the other half myself.

"I'm trying to show you that staying here overnight is a very good and proper idea..."

"I don't know, I don't know..."

She shook her head and happily responded to the next kiss, moving onto my lap in the process. And the next time she took a piece of meat from the table, half of which I took a bite, and she finished it.

"Am I doing it?"

"While I'm inclined to think that staying overnight at your place isn't the worst idea..."

The new kiss was much longer and I let my hands travel lightly down the girl's back and shoulders.

"Keep your hands to yourself."

This Panam told me when I took another bite of meat.

"What about me? Me, nothing."

I shook my head...

The evening was beautiful and when we had finished eating I gave the Pans my bed and after putting away the plates I lay down on the sofa.

"Hey, David."

"Uh-huh?

"Are you still awake?"

"No, beautiful..."

"Are you comfortable there?"

"Not so much..."

She sighed.

"Okay. let's sleep together, but keep your hands to yourself!"

I got up from the couch and walked over to the bed, which I immediately climbed onto.

"Come here..."

I opened my arms slightly and Panam frowned at me.

"Panam, you called me, the bed is not the biggest and we can't expect to sleep comfortably if we don't cuddle. So come here, my prickle, I'll cuddle you and we'll sleep."

She sighed and moved slightly toward me and snuggled into my arms, the night was not going to be easy because of the need for stamina and very pleasant because of the girl who would be sleeping next to me.