Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Vesper
Vesper was at the pickup station promptly five minutes before their trolley was due to arrive.
She was grateful the Embunuh organization-owned station was just a minute away from her apartment building since their bags were heavier than normal owing to the longer than average trip.
She set the bags at her feet beside her while she stood just a few feet off the track.
She’d often lamented the need to pack all of their supplies rather than only hers, but she’d made the mistake once of letting Bel fend for herself—their first overnight assignment.
It had resulted in Bellamy stealing half of Vesper’s food and complaining about her clothes the entire time.
That was the first and last time Bellamy was in charge of packing her own stuff.
Bel always brought a little bit extra of whatever she wanted, but Vesper didn’t care as long as she kept to her own.
“You’re in some shit with Claric, you know that?” Vesper greeted Bellamy as she dragged her ass over a few minutes later. She threw her own tiny pack on the ground, no doubt full of shit she didn’t need.
“I didn’t even do anything this time!”
Vesper scoffed. “They claim you did. Wanted me to break your hand.”
“Tell them to stop flirting with me,” Bellamy rolled her eyes dramatically, and despite herself, Vesper couldn’t stop the surprised laugh. She tried to cover it up with a cough, but she knew Bellamy caught it from the slight uptick in her lips.
“Besides,” Bellamy drawled, sidling up to Vesper much closer than she needed to be, “they know the only dick I’ll ride is a fake one.”
Vesper glared down at Bellamy. “Please, everyone knows the only fake dick you’re riding is mine.”
Bellamy’s shitty little smile grew. Vesper was immediately pissed off. “Have I ever told you how good jealousy looks on you?” Bellamy asked, her hand trailing down Vesper’s arm. She was not fucking jealous.
Vesper snatched Bellamy’s wrist. “So, about that broken hand.”
“You wouldn’t,” Bellamy yanked her hand away, cradling it into her chest.
Now it was Vesper’s turn to smirk. “Of course not. Might actually need you on this assignment. Would settle for a punch though.”
Bellamy sighed. “Go on then.”
“Well, I’m not gonna do it when you’re ready. Gonna wait till you piss me off next.”
“Oh good, so about five minutes.”
“Bel,” Vesper warned. “What did you do?”
Bellamy shrugged, “Nothing. Yet.” She turned away from Vesper just as their trolley pulled up to a stop in front of them. Vesper pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.
“You’re right, I do already want to hit you.”
Fortunately for Bellamy, Vesper was not going to start a fight before their trolley was boarded. She was not about to lug all their shit inside just because Bellamy was being annoying. Vesper grabbed her bag and pulled the small door open. She groaned as she scanned over the small interior.
One bed, one tiny little table with a chair against the far side, and one long, plush bench seat pushed against the bed.
They couldn’t even have bothered with a door for the bathroom, there was just a black curtain hung up to separate the toilet and shower from the rest. And of course the bed was fucking tiny.
“Well, what did you expect?” Bellamy asked as she shouldered past Vesper.
“Our contract doesn’t have much left, you know they’re gonna make us suffer until we renew.
Be thankful there’s a bed at all,” she grumbled and threw her bags onto the table, claiming the far end of the trolley while Vesper set up by the door as they started to roll away from the station.
They were officially trapped together now.
“They know we’re gonna renew. They could just stop the bullshit and treat us well until we’re actually allowed to,” Vesper complained. She wedged herself into the corner on the bench, as far as possible from Bellamy.
“I’m going to do it,” Bellamy announced. She leveled Vesper with a challenging look.
Vesper scoffed. “Fat chance. You got the bonus last time, it’s my turn.”
“You don’t need the money. I do.”
“What, your little side hustle of fucking us over isn’t making enough to get you out of debt?
” Vesper snapped. “Or, maybe if you weren’t shit at stacking the deck, you wouldn’t need it so bad.
” She crossed her arms over her chest and sat back, watching Bellamy carefully.
It was a bad idea to pick a fight this early into their trip, but honestly, Bel started it.
Bellamy leaned against the tiny windowsill on her side of the bench, shoulders slumped. She rested her head on her arm, refusing to look at Vesper.
“So, that’s what has Claric bitching about breaking my hand?” Of course she wouldn’t apologize for the fucking assignment.
“Found some of your cards in their deck.”
Bellamy laughed, a hollow, dry sound. “They cheat. I should be able to too.” Vesper rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, well, they don’t get caught. Also, don’t they own the damn place?”
“Anyway,” Bellamy huffed. She straightened and looked back at Vesper again with a determined look in her eye. Pity party over, apparently. “I still need it more, so I should get it.”
“You’re just gonna waste it all on games you’re apparently too shit at to even cheat properly. Fuck that. You’re not getting it this time.”
“Oh yeah, because spending all your money on whores is a much better use for it.”
Vesper grinned. “At least I’m getting something from the exchange. You’re just acquiring more debt.”
“You know what?” Bellamy scooted over to Vesper’s side.
She was on her knees on the cushioned bench so they were eye level.
She was way too close. Vesper raised an eyebrow, determined not to let Bellamy affect her.
Bellamy didn’t sound angry, so she assumed she was safe and wouldn’t have to dodge a blow.
“Let’s make this more interesting. A bet. ”
Vesper swallowed. A bet with Bellamy was never a good idea. But she had to admit, she was curious. “Go on…”
“We both give up our vices. Whoever can go longest gets the renewal. I’ll drop gambling, you drop sex.” Bellamy gave her a wicked smile, but Vesper knew the second they were finished with this assignment, Bel would be back at the cards house. This was a bet Vesper could easily win.
She pretended to think about it, her lips pursed. She tilted her head while she watched Bellamy. “Should be easy since, as you so kindly pointed out, I can’t afford the whores in Soveba anyway.”
“It’s not limited to whores, Ves.”
“Don’t worry, there won’t be anyone else I’d want to fuck anyway.”
Bellamy narrowed her eyes. “And it doesn’t stop when we finish the assignment.”
“You won’t make it that long,” Vesper claimed confidently. Deciding that was the best end to the conversation, she dug around in her bag until she found the book she’d packed. She leaned back against the bench and spread her legs, knocking into Bellamy’s still too close knee in clear dismissal.
Bellamy did not move, still feeling petulant, apparently. The heat on her skin where they touched was searing, and Vesper tried not to let her annoyance grow. Just when she was about to yell at Bellamy to get away from her, Bellamy spoke.
“Seriously?” she asked, squinting at the cover of Vesper’s book.
Vesper swallowed her frustration and let out an exaggerated sigh before she set the book on her lap. “What?”
“The History of Magic in Trolleys? That cannot seriously be what you’re reading,” Bellamy said right before reaching out to snatch the book from Vesper’s lap. Vesper slapped her hand away.
“Just because I like to educate myself instead of being a dumbass like you?”
“You’re a liar!” Bellamy cried then lunged for the book, which Vesper quickly held out of her reach.
“Cut it out.” Vesper tried to get away, but she was trapped in the corner she’d chosen to be away from Bellamy. Before she could even try to move, Bellamy had somehow managed to crawl onto her lap and shoved her tits into Vesper’s face while straddling her lap.
Vesper was suddenly very aware that Bellamy didn’t give a single fuck about the book. She just wanted to make Vesper lose the bet immediately after posing the challenge. This was going to be a long two days.
Vesper tangled her hand in Bellamy’s loose curls and yanked her back, hard. Bellamy cried out, falling into Vesper’s lap.
“Stop being a fucking brat,” Vesper snarled, glaring at her. “Yes, that is what I brought to read. Now fuck off to your own corner and entertain yourself.”
“You’re hiding something.”
“Even if I was, it doesn’t concern you!” Vesper hissed. Her hand tightened in Bellamy’s hair, and she yanked her head back a second time. Bellamy arched her back and steadied herself by clutching Vesper’s thighs behind her.
Bellamy dug her nails in, her chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. Then, she let out a breathy moan. It caught Vesper entirely off guard, even though she fucking knew Bellamy would pull some shit like this.
Vesper immediately dropped her hold on Bellamy’s hair and tried to shove her off instead, her grip tight on Bellamy’s hips as she pushed. Bellamy squeezed her legs, holding firm around Vesper and ground into her.
Bellamy tipped her head back and let out another moan, her eyes fluttering closed.
Vesper swallowed, failing to ignore the building desire.
It was infuriating how desperately her body reacted to this.
Bellamy’s moans were so fucking fake, too, and they were still affecting her so strongly. It was insulting.
“Bel. That’s not going to work. Get off me.”
Bellamy released her hold on Vesper’s legs and glared at her. She leaned forward, propping her forearms against Vesper's chest, bringing their faces painfully close together. Vesper could smell the fresh mint on her breath.
“Bet it would work for Cedar,” Bellamy challenged, watching Vesper with intensity.
The corner of Vesper’s mouth twitched up and she said, “That’s because I actually like Cedar.”