Chapter 10
Jo was greeted the next morning by bright blue skies and fluffy white clouds. As if nothing at all had happened the night before. As if nothing had changed.
That was some bullshit. Everything had changed. Jo didn’t fully realize it until now, but her dreams had made it pretty damn clear. She wanted Felix. Not just to ogle or to play MnM with or to have a moon-eyed crush on. She wanted to be with him.
She had dreamt of it—the two of them entangled together on the floor of the library basement. Instead of letting go of each other and staring awkwardly into the dark, in her mind they’d looked up at each other slowly. Felix had dipped his head closer to hers. She had kissed him, tasted cloves and coffee, and then he’d pulled her into his lap. Dream logic had kicked in and they were suddenly naked, Jo riding Felix’s cock until he screamed her name, and she came so hard she woke up panting.
She’d gotten a glass of water and gone back to sleep, and this time she had dreamt of him holding her, soothing her fears with calm words, calling her something sweet in Spanish. She couldn’t remember the word he’d used, but she knew it had an ? sound that her unconscious mind had repeated back to her over and over in his accented baritone. His solid warmth and his strong arms had surrounded her. His tender words had known exactly what she needed to hear. His dark eyes had gazed down at her protectively. And she had felt at home.
So when the morning came, and Merry yowled in her face for breakfast, Jo knew.
Felix.
She wanted Felix.
The knowing thrummed through her entire body and settled as a throb between her legs. Jo rolled onto her back, sending Merry leaping to the floor. Her hand snaked its way down her stomach and tucked under her pajama pants. She bent one knee out to the side and let her eyes fall closed as she skimmed her fingers over her panties. She gasped from that light touch and urgently needed more, more, more.
Her vibrator was in easy reach on the nightstand next to her, but she used her fingers today, imagining that they were Felix’s. What would a boxer’s hand feel like? Would he be quick and dexterous? Or slow and gentle but strong? Would he pound into her with a roughness and ferocity that left her whimpering and weak?
Oh God, oh Christ, how she wanted to find out.
Jo circled her fingers on her clit faster and faster, arching her back off the bed. She ran her other hand over the tattoo on her chest just below her shoulder, trailed it lower, and played with her nipple over her tank top until it was a firm peak. She cried out Felix’s name as she pinched it between her thumb and forefinger. His large hand would engulf her entire breast, wouldn’t it? All her curves were in her hips, so he could probably palm her tits and enclose them completely.
“Yes, Felix,” she whispered to no one. “Touch me.”
She slipped her ring finger alongside the other two and within seconds she was coming, harder than she had in her sleep, harder than Jeremy had ever made her come. Jo buried that thought as soon as it surfaced, refusing to let her ex intrude on this moment. She said Felix’s name again to solidify him in her mind. Behind her closed eyes, she saw him smile down at her, reveling in her pleasure. She smiled back.
Trailing Warren and his contractor friend, Jimmy, Felix tramped over the plastic sheeting that now covered the entire children’s area of the library. That had been Jimmy’s idea; he’d had the sheeting in his truck and suggested they protect the area from the elements until a new skylight could be installed. As they made their way to the lobby, Warren ribbed Jimmy about the price of the quote. Jimmy quipped back, “That’s what insurance is for.” Over the two old friends bickering, Felix caught the sound of another voice, one he would know anywhere.
“You didn’t tell me that it was a total space opera,” said Jo.
“I didn’t know that was a selling point with you!” came Leni’s reply.
From the front desk, they both glanced toward the men entering the lobby. Leni smiled crookedly and turned back to Jo, who was holding a hardcover in her hands, her gaze locked on Felix’s.
“Thanks again, Jimmy,” Warren said. “We’ll see you and your guys next weekend. Really appreciate you comin’ out over the holiday.”
“You bet, Warren. Happy to do our part.”
They shook hands, and Felix forced himself to look away from Jo to do the same. With a polite nod toward the women, Jimmy took his leave.
“Please tell me this author has more books,” Jo said to Leni.
“Oh, totally,” Leni said, typing on her computer. “You’re cool with gay stuff, then, right? She’s got this whole sapphic series set on Jupiter. Red Storm is the first one. Let me see if it’s in right now.”
Jo replied, “I can check. I was going to browse a bit anyway.”
“We’re only open for hold pickups right now, ma’am,” said Warren. “We had an incident in the storm.”
“Warren, this is Jo Rainier,” Felix cut in. “She’s the volunteer who was with me last night when it happened. Jo, our director R—-Warren Riggs.”
She stifled a laugh and waved. “Nice to meet you. Sorry, I should have guessed browsing would be off limits.”
“It’s here,” Leni interjected before Warren could respond. Her blue-tipped hair bounced in its ponytail as she popped up onto her toes. “Put it on hold online so I can go get it for you.”
Jo laughed and got out her phone.
Warren gestured for Felix to follow him around the desk, where the books that had been knocked off the shelves and smashed by the tree branch were piled into a returns bin. Most were salvageable, but some were beyond repair. Since Emma was holed up in her office, furiously rescheduling the week’s children’s events, Warren directed Felix to catalog the damaged books in a spreadsheet so that replacements could be purchased.
Warren returned to his office, then, and Leni headed off to retrieve Jo’s book, leaving the two of them alone in the lobby. As Felix got to work, Jo sidled over to his end of the desk.
“Hi.”
His heart skipped a beat. “Hi there.”
She smiled, shyly ducking her head, and his heart stopped skipping and did a full-on cartwheel.
“What happened after I left last night?” she asked.
Felix explained the whole story—from Warren’s arrival to the firefighters clearing the debris to the three hours spent emptying the children’s area bookshelves in case of rain. Somewhere in the middle of all that, Leni returned and checked Red Storm out to Jo.
“Next weekend, over Memorial Day,” Felix concluded, “the contractor who was just here is going to do the repairs so we can be fully open in time for summer events to start.”
Jo tilted her head. “Does that mean the library will be closed next weekend?”
“We’d be closed Sunday and Monday anyway, but yes. We’ll close Saturday too.”
She opened her mouth and took a breath in, then hesitated. Felix gave her a questioning look over a bent copy of Charlotte’s Web.
“So… you’re free?” she said cautiously, tapping her fingers on the plastic covering her book. “Are you working Friday?”
Damn, she was cute when she got flustered. Her cheeks turned the most delicious shade of pink, like a juicy summer peach. He wanted to bite them.
“Out with it, Jo,” he said with a grin.
The words tumbled out of her. “There’s a convention next weekend for MnM, and I thought you might want to come and see what it’s like to play a real game. If you’re free. But if you have plans for the long weekend already that’s okay. I was going to ask you last night, but, well. Tornado.”
“MnM has conventions?”
“That’s your takeaway from this?” Leni muttered, not looking up from her computer screen.
Felix ignored her. “That sounds fun. Is it in Wichita?”
“Um, no, that’s the thing,” Jo said, gripping her book tightly. “It’s in Indianapolis.”
Felix’s body got very warm. Was she inviting him to a weekend away? He liked the sound of that. No. No, of course not. This was a work event. She was probably nervous because of whatever it was in her past that made her a little shy about putting herself out there. Like the way she shrank back at Stan’s after getting “too” silly or “too” nerdy. A convention for Monsters and Mythology certainly sounded supremely nerdy.
Jo was still talking. “I know it’s far, but it’s drivable in a day. I’m already going and meeting up with my friends from California, so I can drive us. It’s no problem. I looked it up, and there are still tickets and hotel rooms available. I’m going up Friday and coming back Monday.”
A road trip. Convention tickets. A hotel room over a holiday weekend. None of that sounded cheap. Ever since he’d learned about the possibility of budget cuts, Felix had been as frugal as possible. His only indulgence in the last two-plus weeks was that drink with Jo. But he had some savings that weren’t reserved for Tito in case of medical emergencies. And the library did have a modest budget for travel. Might as well use it while they had it, if he could get Warren to sign off on it. He could manage.
Besides, how could he say no, with Jo looking at him like that, her eyes round and expectant?
“Okay,” he said.
“Really?”
“Yes, it would be good to see how MnM works on a larger scale. Maybe get some ideas for events here.”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking,” Jo said, nodding and -breaking into a smile. “Okay, great. Um. Okay. I’ll text you to figure out the details.”
“Perfect,” Felix said, fighting a dopey grin that kept trying to make itself known. “Will you also send me links to book the hotel and ticket?”
“Sure, absolutely.” Jo started to back away. “Okay. This is great. But you’re busy. I’ll leave you alone. Bye, Felix. Bye, Leni!” She vanished out the door.
Leni craned her neck toward the hall leading to Warren’s office. She tapped her toes rapidly on the floor, using them to spin her chair to face Felix. She dropped her chin and raised her eyebrows. “What the hell was that?”
“What was what?” Felix asked, more high-pitched than he’d intended.
“Did your voice just crack?” Leni cried. “Oh my gods, you’re so into her.”
“Leni, please stop,” he said, darting his eyes toward Warren’s office.
“Sorry, that’s fair,” she said quietly. She rolled her chair closer and leaned in to whisper, “But just in case you’re really dense, hun? She’s obviously into you too.”
Felix shook his head and focused on his spreadsheet, trying and failing to ignore the way his pulse pounded through his body.
Jo
So I’m dumb and forgot about this when I saw you this morning, but I still want to do a sample game with you. Especially if you’re sure about coming to Indi-Con. Aida says it’s like drinking from the firehose of MnM and she’s not wrong! Maybe we could do that this week? Before we leave on Friday?
Felix
How about Tuesday at 6:30pm?
Jo
Works for me.
Can we use the library?
Felix
It’s a bit cold on the main floor at night, but if you’re comfortable in one of the meeting rooms downstairs, we can do that.
Jo
I’ll be there. Here are the links for tickets and hotel. Get a Sat/Sun pass, since we’re driving all day Fri and Mon.
Felix
Thanks. Can’t wait.
Jo
And here’s Merry being a dingus. Par for the course for him, really.
Felix
His tummy looks very soft.
Jo
It’s the softest
That Tuesday, Felix watched Jo unpack books and papers from her tote bag, his leg bouncing beneath the table. He was anxious to learn and do well at this sample game. She would be bringing him to a convention with all her friends from home, and he didn’t want to embarrass himself, or her, in front of them.
He’d never been the kind of person, even as a kid, who imagined himself fighting dragons or being a superhero. He never wished to visit the Shire or travel through time and space. Not that he didn’t have an imagination—he was very good at imagining certain things, particularly where Jo was involved. He simply didn’t feel the need to escape into a fantasy world when the real world was more deserving of his attention.
But he was going to try. For Jo, for his job, for Tito, and for himself. Maybe he would fall in love with MnM; he’d never know if he didn’t try.
Jo handed him a small bag of bright yellow dice and a piece of paper. The paper looked something like a blank spreadsheet, a log with many rows and several columns labeled along the top.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“That’s your logsheet for SWOP.”
“Swap?”
“S-W-O-P. Sibylline Wastes Organized Play,” she explained. “It’s the official ruleset for public MnM events. Cons always follow SWOP rules and use SWOP adventures to keep things standardized. The logsheet is for tracking your level, gold, and magical equipment.” With a flourish of her hand, she continued, “And since I happen to be a SWOP-certified GM, we can use this game to make Graxalos level two before Indi-Con. That way I can show you how leveling up works, and you’ll have more game mechanics to try out at the con.”
“I think I got all of that,” he said.
“I’m also going to play my warlock, Veena, in addition to GMing. That’s technically not allowed, but I wanted to give you another character to interact with and let you see how spellcasting works. Don’t tell the SWOP police.”
Felix watched her rearrange her papers, muttering to herself, and felt a sense of awe wash over him. “Thank you, Jo. You originally only gave me an hour a week, and this has become a lot more. I hope you know that I appreciate it.”
She scoffed, barely glancing up. “I’m pretty sure Friday doesn’t count. Because, you know. There was a tornado.”
He shook his head but let a bemused smile settle on his lips. Someday. Someday she’d accept a compliment from him at face value.
“Ready?” The glee in her voice was the cutest thing Felix had ever heard.
“As I’ll ever be.”
With a deep breath, she began. “Graxalos, you and your friend Veena are walking down the street. You two have been friends for a while. She’s a merfolk warlock devoted to a powerful fey creature of the Undersea. The two of you have been doing odd jobs around town. The townsfolk know you to be reliable and strong, with abilities well above the average person. You’re the muscle, and she’s the magic.”
Felix grinned. Not totally swept up in the story yet, but he could picture the scene Jo painted with words. A small town, not unlike Ashville. A main thoroughfare with small shops on either side. A reptilian biped like the dragonkin illustrated in Core Rules walking alongside a creature that resembled Ariel from The Little Mermaid (the version with legs).
“As you two are walking,” she continued, “you see someone up ahead. You recognize him as Chauncey. He owns the cattle farm at the edge of town.”
An image of Tito, the cattle rancher that Felix knew best, came to mind.
“He spots the two of you,” Jo continued, “and runs over. ‘Grax! Veena! You gotta help me!’”
He burst out laughing. Jo had suddenly become a completely different person, flailing her arms and speaking in a horrible Southern accent. She gave Felix a smile and kept going. In Chauncey’s voice, she told a melodramatic story of a cattle theft the night before. Speaking as Grax but using own voice, Felix offered to help find the thieves. Jo’s demeanor changed again as Veena agreed. Her voice went high and girlish, and her eyes widened like an ingenue from a classic Hollywood movie.
Felix was floored by how quickly she could switch from narrator to Chauncey to Veena and back again. How the fuck was he supposed to be a GM? He couldn’t do character voices. He wasn’t an actor. Hell, he could barely imagine the story without relying on things from real life.
Despite his doubts, he found himself relaxing into the game the longer they played. Jo made it easy, cracking jokes and teasing him as Veena as if she and Graxalos were old friends. Together, the two characters tracked the stolen herd to a hideout in the woods. Grax kicked in the back door on a room full of cattle rustlers, and a fight immediately broke out.
They rolled for initiative to determine the turn order. On Felix’s turn, he had Grax punch one of the thieves who had attacked first and injured Veena. He rolled his yellow d20, and Jo declared it was high enough to hit.
“Go ahead and roll damage,” she said. “That’s a d6 plus your strength bonus.”
Felix rolled and did some quick mental math. “Nine.”
“Awesome!” Jo crossed out a line in a notebook where she was tracking combat. “That’s a solid hit—enough to take him down. Do you want to describe the attack?”
Fuck it.He was invested now. Might as well go all out.
He got to his feet, describing and acting out a one-two punch: left jab into right cross. He watched Jo’s eyes travel down and back up his body. She bit her lip.
Let her look,came an urge from deep in his gut. Let her like what she sees.