------------- The Longstriders – Randal Bourne

Miri leaned forward, making sure she curved her back just right and brought her elbows together to push her breasts up. Randy’s tongue slid slowly up her back, stopping at her neck. She shook her head, throwing her hair over the left side of her face. Randy worked up her neck to her ear, ending at the tip of their long points. She smiled slyly and cast her gaze down, a look of innocent joy that some would think inappropriate on her.

“You’re pretty good.”

Randal stopped and chuckled. There was an unspoken, smart-assed remark he no doubt considered but decided not to speak aloud. Miri knew what it was.

“And I should know, right?”

“I didn’t say a word.”

She turned her head and kissed him. His taste was telling. She should know alright. As an Erotic, she could gather as much information from a kiss as most spellcasters could from a half dozen spells. His taste told her many things. He liked her, and not just a little. He was randy in more than name. He had nearly boundless energy. He was healthy, fond of liquor, didn’t smoke. And he had a dark side that he hid very, very well, but managed to let lose whenever he was required to slit some poor guard’s throat. All this she could get from one kiss.

She narrowed her eyes and used her wiles, though it probably wasn’t necessary. She’d thought of using her magic, binding him to her, but that would spoil it. Here was someone who might or might not have followed her career, who might or might know any more than what he saw right now with his own eyes, but who didn’t seem to care that much. Sayed had made mention of her crystal vids, but not since the two companies had rejoined in the Shrine. Did Randy even know she was an actress famous across the continent for her pornographic vids? If he did, he certainly didn’t act like it.

“So how did you get so good, Mister Bourne?”

Randy turned and sat down beside her. She shifted and nestled her head against his chest.

“I don’t know. I grew up on the streets of Dient. Wasn’t long after the Foxmoor Sedition, or so they called it. The Carellonians weren’t exactly friendly to the locals back them, but I learned how to make my own way. When Rillivan took the thrown, everyone thought things would get better. They did for some families. Not so much for orphans like me. I did what I had to, to survive. I guess you know something about that.”

Miri reflected to her own rough days as a streetwalker in Hobmarz. Randy continued.

“I worked my way up through the Syndicate. Eventually ended up running a place on the southside, girls, booze, gambling. But it didn’t suit me. Don’t get me wrong. I am a city elf. I ain’t no simpleton country elf. I just couldn’t stay put. Like being an acrobat, I just can’t seem to stay still. I'm the one the guys always send in to charm the duchess. Maybe I should have considered your line of work?”

Miri shook her head. “Nah. You’ll do just like you are.”

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