Decisions IV

Demeter’s was rumored to be the best restaurant for your money in Caprica City. It catered to the middle and upper classes of the inner city, focused on conversational dining and served signature dishes that came in ample portions — not the sparse ones that so many gourmet eateries served and charged outlandish prices for — with native foods from each of the Colonies.

Bill had never eaten there, had never even read a review, but he had overheard Laura’s staff talking about it while she was in meetings and he continued to peruse the Galactica files in her office.

Since they were staying in town tonight, he’d asked her secretary to get the number and make reservations for two, and learned then that there were two locations in the same building, one on the top two floors, and one on the lower two. He requested the top, figuring Laura might enjoy the view.

Once that was done and assured she’d be in meetings for several more hours, he’d informed her security team of their plans for the evening then drove to her house. There, he’d packed some things for them — toiletries, a change of clothes for him, a suit for her, and clean undergarments for both of them for in the morning. Then, for tonight, he’d picked her out a black dinner dress, a pair of black shoes, and the necessary underthings, all the while hoping he was getting everything she’d needed. He thought he was remembering properly the things he’d removed from her in the past, but he couldn’t be certain.

With everything set out on the bed ready to go, he’d gone into the bathroom and taken a quick shower, shaved, then dressed for the evening in a pair of black slacks, his black boots, a dark-blue shirt and a dark-gray jacket, before heading back to her office to pick her up.

As he waited for her in the office, the garment bag laying over the chair she’d occupied earlier in the day when they’d talked about Galactica, he found himself hoping he hadn’t overreached, that she wasn’t too tired to enjoy herself.

He distracted himself from that worry by listening to the girls in the front office, smiling when he heard one of them say, “Wish my boyfriend would do something that nice for me.”

Bill thought men should nice things for the women in their lives. He’d tried with Carolanne. He’d really tried, but nothing had ever been good enough, ever been exactly what she wanted — and she’d wanted exactly what she’d wanted.

Laura was so different from that, and he was glad of it. She made it a joy instead of a chore to do things for her. He knew that no matter how she felt — tired, frustrated or even mad — before she walked through the door of her office, once she knew what he’d had planned, saw what he’d done, she’d be touched and happy. Even if she’d preferred a different dress or shoes, she wouldn’t complain, and she sure as hell wouldn’t yell or throw something at him. Instead, she’d appreciate the effort, the fact he’d thought about those things at all, especially the practical part of her. At least he hoped so.

Taking off his jacket, he laid it with her garment bag then wandered into the outer office where the girls were. They all looked at him, their eyes falling on the gun he wore on his left hip, making him regret having removed the jacket.

Contrary to what some people might think about soldiers, or him in particular, he didn’t care to carry a firearm all the time. He was comfortable with them, knew how to use them, but he had never wanted it to be a part of the life he spent off his ship. But he would do it to keep Laura safe, would do anything with that goal in mind.

She meant too much to him to leave her safety to chance when he might make a difference. For that reason, he ignored their furtive glances and gawking stares and walked to stand in the doorway of her outer office and watch down the hall for sign of her and her security agents.

The corridor was empty since the building had been officially closed to the public some hours ago. There were a few other office doors open, though, indicating other government officials and personnel were still working, probably on budget issues similar to Laura’s.

Gazing at an alabaster statue of Aphrodite, he thought about her from this afternoon, her skin glistening with a sheen of hard-won sweat, and the damp, curling, red tendrils of her hair clinging to and standing out in sharp relief against her pale flesh as he took her from behind.

Slow and deep, he’d pushed into her still-quivery pussy and rode her until he’d found his own end, her encouraging him every thrust of the way. She’d begged him to not stop, to never stop as he took her mind off everything but them, the lust, the need, the love.

Under him, she’d forgotten about work. She’d let him take her first with his fingers, then his cock. She’d given herself over to her desire and then to his. Then she’d slept, napped with her body half-draped over his, until he’d had to bring her back for a meeting.

Neither of them had wanted to leave that bed. It had been difficult to rise and dress then to part ways once they were back here in her office. But they’d done it because she had an important job to do, and she was doing it now while he waited.

If he didn’t understand her responsibilities, he might be impatient. But he did understand them, very well, and he admired her professionalism. Admittedly, though, he was eager to see her reaction to his surprise.

He loved surprising her, loved spoiling her. It made him happy to make her happy. It made him happy that she let him do things for her.

Glancing at his watch, something he rarely wore but had put on tonight, he noted the time was nearing eighteen-thirty hours. The watch was one he’d had since his viper-flying days. It was heavy, kept good time, and surprisingly bore only a couple scuffs. He liked the weight of it on his wrist.

“She shouldn’t be too much longer, Commander,” her secretary Kate said quietly, apparently thinking him anxious or impatient. He was neither, prompting him to throw a smile her direction and then to thank her when she offered to get him some coffee.

He was on his third swallow when he heard the door down the hallway open and footsteps as people filed out into the yawning corridor. He caught sight of her fiery-red hair amongst those emerging and eased back inside the office, to her inner office door to wait for her.

Her eyes brightened when she saw him, then she did a double-take when she saw how he was dressed, but she didn’t say anything before turning to her staff and announcing that they’d secured the necessary votes, but they needed to stay on top of things until the final vote on the budget, which would be in two days.

A shout of excitement went up from the young women, their enthusiasm reminding him of the young men and women who’d served under his command over the years. It was inspiring to see that passion and idealism still ran strong in the future of humanity.

While they celebrated, Laura eased over to him, smiling, curiosity dancing in her eyes as she pitched her voice to his ears, “You changed?”

Smiling and feeling happy for her success and incredibly good about what he had planned for the evening, he said simply, “There’s something waiting for you in your office.”

She arched her eyebrow, curiosity mounting, and slipped passed him. He followed her, watching her as she looked around and spotted the garment bag and shoes, winking at her when she cut her eyes to him, and asked, “We going somewhere?”

He nodded, walked over, picked up his jacket and slipped it on. Leaning in, he kissed her cheek gently, murmuring, “I’m taking you to dinner,” then eased out of her office, shutting the door behind him.

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