Free Thrill-Kinky by Teresa Noelle Roberts Page B

be an amazing stunt. Especially if Drax then flew to the roof and joined her…
    “Both skylights are minimally alarmed,” Drax continued, with a hitch in his voice that Rita noticed, even if no one else seemed to, “since the roof is too high and sloped for a San’balese to get up there without a flyer. They’re not good climbers and don’t care for heights. I’m usually good for a short flight even in this gravity, but not now. I flew a very short distance this morning and I’m still feeling it. I’d never make it that far.”
    “The skylight’s not a problem,” Rita said. “Xia’s serious about loving in-through-the-roof jobs.” She looked from one crew member to the other, then shrugged when no one told her to shut up. “Usually she does it because it’s funny, but sometimes for other reasons.”
    Mik confirmed with examples. “We’ve been hired to get back family valuables someone’s ex took when he left, and we’ve helped folks get off some awful backwater planet where they still persecute queerbent people. And we have a sideline in getting kids in trouble to safety. That’s all on a volunteer basis, though.”
    “Once we got to rescue a baby whose grandfather had kidnapped it for some stupid reason that was actually legal on that planet, so the police couldn’t help. She was so cute,” Xia squealed, “and she giggled when I was taking her out through the skylight. Her mama and daddy were so glad to have her back they paid us lots and lots, but we’d have done it anyway. It’s not right to steal babies from parents who love them.”
    “And sometimes we don’t get paid for honest work even though we’ve filled the contract, so we collect payment in what you might call involuntary trade,” Mik admitted. “Small but valuable items that young Xia can stuff into a backpack, sometimes while she’s dangling from a line through the skylight.”
    Drax blew a kiss to Rita and then, feeling generous, to Xia and Mik. He included Gan, who was glowering, because Drax had been beaten up enough for one day. While it would be funny in retrospect to get into a fistfight with a jealous partner who didn’t get his sense of humor, it would simply hurt now, and he could do without any more pain today. Well, ever, but certainly today. “I knew you were my kind of people. Buck, I’d include you in the round of kisses, but I get the feeling you wouldn’t appreciate it.”
    Buck gestured expansively at the crew. “Takes all kinds.” Drax blew a kiss, grinning as best he could. “You’re all right,” Buck slurred. “I wouldn’t mind raising a glass with you once you’re not on blockers. Even I know drinking when you’re medded up is a poor idea.”
    Drax nodded, thinking he wouldn’t mind a drink when it was over, but he planned to have that drink with Rita, preferably something champagne-like while between the sheets of a comfortable bed, in a high-end hotel with grav-control.
    “All right, we send Xia in through the skylight,” Mik said. “No need to worry about getting her up there and having someone spot the flyer. I saw the National Museum today. They obviously weren’t thinking about keeping felinoids off the roof when they built it. A kitten could climb that thing, let alone our girl.”
    “Once you’re in, Xia, you can open this side door”—Drax pointed to a fire exit marked on the floor plan—“for the rest of us.” Xia nodded, bouncing slightly in place.
    “Buck,” Mik asked, “up for fighting on the ground or do you want to be ready with the flyer?”
    Drax was relieved when the ex-soldier stretched a few times, then said, “I’m slow as usual, but if there’s butts to be kicked, I want in.” He’d seen how much Buck was drinking. Fighting drunk could be effective. Flying drunk, not so much.
    “Fine, then. Gan, the flyer is yours.” Mik turned and kissed his lover with a passion and thoroughness that Drax couldn’t help enjoying. Drax didn’t have queerbent