Bedtime Stories_ A Collection of Erotic Fairy Tales Part 11

His foot moved under the table, sliding partway up Nevada's calf. She raised her brows as much from suppressing the urge to s.h.i.+ver as from polite inquiry. "And that loophole is . . . ?"

"You and I marry, and then then you divorce your husbands." He turned to the husbands. "Her marriage equity can then give you all the right to maintain your current housing status and location . . . and Althinac will foot the bill in paying for the tenement for the next three years, giving Menomon plenty of time to build your desalinator and begin expanding the city's housing limits. After that," he said, spreading his hands slightly, "you're on your own." you divorce your husbands." He turned to the husbands. "Her marriage equity can then give you all the right to maintain your current housing status and location . . . and Althinac will foot the bill in paying for the tenement for the next three years, giving Menomon plenty of time to build your desalinator and begin expanding the city's housing limits. After that," he said, spreading his hands slightly, "you're on your own."

"Six years," Talladen counteroffered. "With the provision that we-the six of us-remain housed in the tenement, no more and no less. Or seven, if you care to stay, Sierran?"

"I'd have to think about that. I'm not as young as I used to be," the former Althinac stated. "My mind is fine, but relocating into a tense political situation is something for younger, swifter reflexes."

"I do owe you my life, Sierran; you'll always have a co-father's rights with me, and a warm welcome in my home. I'll have to hash out these ideas with the city council," Nevada warned Migel as she turned her attention back to him, "but I think there's a precedent for co-husbands getting to keep their upgraded housing for at least a year, and I'm sure we can extend it to three at the very least. Particularly if I point out that they'd be getting friendlier trade relations with Althinac if I'm allowed to divorce with their legal blessing toward the terms. But it may take a few days before they make up their minds, since this isn't a life-or-death crisis."

"Hopefully they won't take forever in reaching a decision. I can fake appearing to still be in Althinac only for so long," he warned her, and gave her ankle one last caress with his own before rising. "In the meantime, would you be willing to show me-us-more of this city? I'm told it's just as beautiful at night, lit up by suncrystals and bioluminous plants and animals, as it looked to be by day."

Rising, Nevada smiled. "I'd be delighted. That is, if you don't mind getting wet? It's best seen from above when swimming through the towers outside the main air dome."

"I don't mind getting wet . . . if you don't mind me making you wet," he murmured, taking her hand and tucking it into the crook of his elbow. "But as I am a mage, I'll just cast a spell to keep our clothing clothing dry." dry."

The masculine warmth in his rich blue eyes, coupled with that phrase, made her blush with pleasure. From the moment they had first met via mirror, Nevada had liked Migel. But it had just been liking until now; they lived too far apart and the political situation was too unstable for imagining anything more. But from the moment their hands had first met . . . Nevada could definitely picture more.

"I wouldn't mind at all," she promised him, smiling as she guided him out of the Aviary Hall.

"AND then the bladder wrack broke free, but instead of making things better, the long strands got all tangled up in the propellers and I still still couldn't get anywhere!" Migel confessed humorously, gesturing expressively with a hand before returning it to hers. couldn't get anywhere!" Migel confessed humorously, gesturing expressively with a hand before returning it to hers.

Nevada laughed and squeezed his fingers. "Menomonites use jets for propulsion more often than propellers, but I've been thwarted by clogged intake chutes a time or two. Which reminds me of this time when I-"

"Ohhh, for the love of Menos!" Seated off to the side, on one of the balcony's padded lounging chairs, Cotter gave the two of them a glare worthy of his lead co-husband. His demand woke up Baubin and one of the Althinac men, Lajos, who had been dozing on two of the other couches. "It's almost an hour past midnight, and the two of you won't shut up shut up! Some of us do do have to work in the morning, you know-for reefs' sake, have to work in the morning, you know-for reefs' sake, go to bed go to bed already!" already!"

Visibly reluctant, Migel sighed and lifted Nevada's fingers to his lips. He kissed them lightly and gave her a wistful smile. "I guess I'll have to hear your next story tomorrow morning . . . unless you have to work first?"

Cotter made a rude noise and hauled himself to his feet. "Not separate separate beds, beds, her her bed. Left-hand hall, first door on the left, you can't miss it. And bed. Left-hand hall, first door on the left, you can't miss it. And do do remember you'll have six of her best friends to answer to if you don't make sure she enjoys it. You are more than welcome to enjoy the hospitality of our home and anything else she wants you to enjoy." remember you'll have six of her best friends to answer to if you don't make sure she enjoys it. You are more than welcome to enjoy the hospitality of our home and anything else she wants you to enjoy."

"Lajos . . ." Pausing to yawn, Baubin scratched his short-cropped head and nodded politely at the remaining member of Migel's entourage. "It's a bit late to try and find your way back to your s.h.i.+p in a foreign city. You're welcome to stay here. The couch in the parlor is more than comfortable enough for napping, so you should be able to sleep comfortably on it. I'll get you some blankets and a pillow as soon as these two clear out."

Blus.h.i.+ng, Nevada rose from the end of the lounging chair she was sharing with Migel. Cotter snagged her around the shoulders as she started to pa.s.s him. He smacked a kiss on her cheek and murmured in her ear before she could move on.

"Just remember all that I told you about men, and you'll do fine," he encouraged her beneath his breath. "But don't use all of it at once, or you'll kill him."

Nevada laughed and hugged him back. Slipping free, she caught Migel's hand and led him to her bedchamber. Finally! Finally! My My turn to make the others roll their eyes at the noise we'll be making. I hope. turn to make the others roll their eyes at the noise we'll be making. I hope. She didn't want to get this wrong. A glance at the Guardian of Althinac showed his tanned cheeks were a little pink, but he was smiling just as much as she was. She didn't want to get this wrong. A glance at the Guardian of Althinac showed his tanned cheeks were a little pink, but he was smiling just as much as she was. Good. He's not objecting in the least. Good. He's not objecting in the least.

She couldn't remember even half of what Cotter had told her. All her senses were wrapped up in the excitement of finally getting to make love with a man she liked, respected, and found attractive. Touching the crystals just inside the door, she lit up her bedroom and moved to the side, giving Migel room to enter. As soon as he stepped inside, she shut the door and twisted the lock.

Migel lifted one of his dark brows at that, but didn't protest. Instead, he glanced around her chamber, taking in the mix of colors from the chests, bookshelves, paintings, and sc.r.a.p-quilts adorning the walls. His gaze fell upon her large bed, and he frowned in puzzlement. "Are those . . . leather leather sheets? Are all Menomonites obsessed with leather?" sheets? Are all Menomonites obsessed with leather?"

"Hardly. We just don't have the room to grow fibers for cloth, whether from plants or from animals. Fabric is too rare and costly to waste it on bedding materials, so we usually piece together long strips of eelskin," Nevada told him. "It's very soft and supple, and the sueding process helps keep it from sticking to sweaty skin. Or so I'm told. This will be my first chance to find out."

He looked at her and smiled. "Then I'm honored to help you get . . . wet."

Grinning, she lifted her hands to his face. He wasn't too much taller than her, and it didn't take much effort to tip his head just so and draw his mouth down to hers. His willingness to be drawn into a kiss helped, as did the way he slipped his arms around her waist, pulling their bodies together. With their mouths mating, she tempered her eagerness with a thorough exploration of what kissing was all about.

He detoured after a little while to the side of her throat, nibbling gently with teeth and lips. Nevada reveled in the soft texture of his fabric s.h.i.+rt as he feasted. It was warmer than leather, though not as warm as the skin of his throat. And supple; when she slid her hands to his chest, she could feel the small beads of his nipples beneath it. His own hands played with the fitted leather of her golden rayskin s.h.i.+rt, but the leather was too tough to s.h.i.+ft easily, for all that its beaded texture was soft enough to wear.

Taking her turn, Nevada nibbled on his ear, brus.h.i.+ng back the exotic, shoulder-length strands of his dark brown hair. It was very unlike hers, which had been cut short in a scale-tooth pattern, with most of her black strands no longer than the width of two fingers. At least he didn't seem to be offended by the shortness of her hair. Nevada knew that a lot of outsiders didn't care for women with short hair, but the Menomonite lifestyle demanded it.

Last year, the rage had been stripes of brightly dyed color; this year, some people were attempting to grow their hair long, following the surface-dwelling fas.h.i.+on preferred by the Pyromancer now living in their midst. The rest had gone back to pattern cuts. Since her soot black hair didn't bleach well and thus didn't dye well, Nevada had rarely bothered with coloring it. She was glad she hadn't done so this time around; she didn't want to scare off the man in her arms. Reclaiming his mouth, she kissed him as best she could.

I'll have to get used to thinking like an Althinac again, she acknowledged, helping him find the cuttlebone b.u.t.tons holding her blouse in place as their tongues meshed. I . . . Ooh. Wow. I didn't know he could make my whole body s.h.i.+ver like that, just from touching my bare skin . . . I . . . Ooh. Wow. I didn't know he could make my whole body s.h.i.+ver like that, just from touching my bare skin . . .

Migel broke off from their kiss, pulling back far enough to give her bra a bemused look. "Even your underwear underwear is leather?" is leather?"

"Salmonskin. It functions as a swim outfit, in case I have to go into the water while I'm on the job but don't want to get the rest of my clothes wet. Salmon leather doesn't stretch out of shape when wet, like other leathers usually do," she explained. "Rogen and Dar-shem wear a lot of it, since they're coral masons."

He winced a little at that. "Can we leave the subject of your husbands on the other side of that door?"

She nodded. He kissed her and drew her hands to the ties of his s.h.i.+rt. As much as she enjoyed the feel of all that cloth under her hands, Nevada wanted to touch him when he was naked and eager, too.

Somehow they managed to get from standing by the door to the side of the bed, shedding clothes and footwear with a minimum of fumbling. Nevada didn't know if he or she was the one responsible for getting them onto the bed, just that they were still kissing and touching when they lay on their sides, legs and arms and lips interlaced.

Migel finally eased back with a humming sigh, his hand caressing the curve of her hip. "You are very beautiful, both inside and out, Nevada," he murmured, rubbing his thumb gently along her hip bone, making her s.h.i.+ver. "Even if expediency didn't demand it, I'd still consider marrying you. I'm glad I thought of it . . . if you don't mind my being practical enough to combine both reasons."

Nevada smiled. "Believe me, I understand practicality. And I'd marry you, too, I think, under different circ.u.mstances. More romantic ones."

"I think I can make things romantic enough," he murmured, leaning in for another kiss. s.h.i.+fting the hand on her hip, he tickled her thighs apart. Brus.h.i.+ng against her nethercurls, he eased his way into her folds with soft, slow sweeps of his fingertips.

Her breath caught in her throat when he rubbed her peak with the pad of his index finger. It caught again when that same finger dipped into her opening. She liked it, and sucked on his tongue to show her enthusiasm, since it wasn't as if she could say anything in the midst of his kiss. He chuckled and s.h.i.+fted his thumb into play, teasing her c.l.i.toris in time with the gentle in-and-out pumping of his finger. Unable to stay still, she let her hips move with the feelings he stirred in her, rocking into his touch.

The urge to reciprocate had her brus.h.i.+ng her palms over his skin, exploring the crisp hairs on his chest and the muscles lying beneath. She discovered he was ticklish on his lower abdomen; he sucked in a breath when she teased her fingertips around the dimple of his navel. And that he really liked it when she brushed her knuckles lightly against his shaft, so she did it again, then wrapped her fingers around him and stroked slowly. He was already warm and firm, but under her touch his flesh grew hot and hard.

Migel kissed her harder and added a second finger to the first. It was a tight fit, but he didn't rush, easing his way into her depths. Thumb circling steadily, he kissed his way from her mouth down to her shoulder, then onto one breast. When his tongue flicked out and circled her nipple, matching the movement of his fingers, Nevada cried out. It wasn't a loud cry like Cotter's, and it didn't quite match the bashful wail her bard co-husband gave, but she understood the bone-deep sentiment behind both. Having her breast licked felt just as overwhelming as being shocked by a lightning eel, if one could be shocked in a deliciously pleasant way. Beyond pleasant.

s.h.i.+fting lower on her body meant s.h.i.+fting out of her grip. Nevada moaned in disappointment, her palms missing the satiny-smooth feel of her new toy. Migel soothed her with little kisses sprinkled across her stomach and nudged at her legs, making room for himself between her thighs. Catching on to what he wanted, she parted her limbs and lifted her knees a little to make the new position more comfortable for both of them.

Murmuring his approval, Migel nibbled on her thighs, licking between nips. His thumb never stopped stroking her flesh. Unable to lie still, needing an outlet, Nevada moaned again. Her fingers fisted in the soft, silvery gray leather sheets, then stroked up her ribs to cup her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. The moment he replaced his thumb with his tongue, she cried out, arching into his touch.

Her flesh stung again when he added a third finger. Distracting her with swirling, lapping flicks, Migel coaxed her into arching and moaning more. When he fluttered his fingers deep inside, she squeaked, throat locking in shock at just how good good that felt-then cried out when he fluttered and suckled at the same time. Blinded by bliss, she drowned in sensation as he did it again and again until she was weak and trembling. that felt-then cried out when he fluttered and suckled at the same time. Blinded by bliss, she drowned in sensation as he did it again and again until she was weak and trembling.

Warm flesh covered her torso. Prying open her eyes, Nevada met Migel's gaze just moments before his hair curtained her from the light and his lips blotted out further thoughts. She could smell and taste herself on him, essence of woman mingling with musk of man. Stroking his hair back from his face, she kissed him enthusiastically despite her pa.s.sion-sated state.

After a few minutes, he rested his forehead on hers while he s.h.i.+fted his weight, bracing most of it on his forearm and knees. With his free hand, he gently prodded his shaft against her flesh, rubbing it through the moisture still seeping free. Nevada smiled at him, pleased he was taking his time with her.

"Do you want me to reciprocate, first?" she asked. Most of him stilled at her question, though a certain part of him twitched twitched against her as he contemplated her offer. against her as he contemplated her offer.

"Later," Migel decided. A s.h.i.+ft of his hips, an adjustment with his hand, and he pressed the tip of himself into her. Her body resisted, making her suck in a sharp breath, but he tucked his thumb between them and gently rubbed. Pleased by his care, she tempered her own touches, soothing him with gentle strokes of her hands on his skin rather than trying to excite him.

Between his soft kisses and his gentle touches, his slow entry into her untried flesh took a while, but it didn't hurt too much. By the time he was fully inside, Nevada wanted more than this gentle consideration. Cupping his face, she angled her mouth against his and suckled his tongue. He hummed in appreciation, but didn't move. She tugged gently on his hair. He stayed still inside of her, concentrating solely on their kiss. So she stroked her nails lightly down his back in that stimulating, scratching way her first husband had said most men liked-and he bucked at that. It stung, but it felt good, too.

"G.o.ds!" Head flung back, Migel grimaced, visibly struggling for control. She did it again experimentally, and he swore, panting. "Dammit! Don't do that!"

"Why not?" Nevada asked. "Didn't you like it?"

"Too much," he rasped, s.h.i.+fting to grab her wrists one at a time.

Unable to evade his grasp-not without an actual struggle-she focused on convincing him via words instead. "Well, I liked it, too. Slow and gentle is a good way to start out, and I thank you for it, but I'm interested in something with a bit more vigor now."

"A bit more vigor?" Migel repeated. She s.h.i.+fted her knees, lifting them higher so that she could tilt her hips up into his a bit more, and nodded. So did he. "All right, a bit more vigor, then."

He pulled out partway, then sunk back in with a sigh. It stung and soothed at the same time, like scratching a persistent itch. Releasing her arms, Migel braced more of his weight on his elbows, allowing him to withdraw and thrust with a bit more control and speed. Nevada liked that. She liked the feel of their bodies joining and the sensation of his shaft stretching her flesh to accommodate him. She also liked the way he picked up his pace when she lightly scratched his back again, and really liked how a slightly higher hitch of her hips let him rub against that flutter-spot deep inside.

She liked it so much that when he paused to adjust his weight on elbows and knees, she dug in her nails in protest, not wanting the sensations to stop. Migel groaned and lifted her left leg higher, pulling it up with his hand. Weight braced on his other arm, he pistoned into her, thrusting over and over, faster and faster. Raking her nails from his shoulders to his thighs, she barely remembered to be gentle. The feelings built and built, until once more her eyes rolled up in blissful blindness.

Vaguely, she heard herself cry out; it was hard to hear when her whole body thrummed with pleasure. As she drifted down, he bucked against her raggedly, groaning and collapsing on her, though his hips still twitched a little, trying to press into her those last few times before his own climax deflated his ability to do so. As he sagged onto her, sated, she wrapped her arms around him, enjoying the sweat-sticky way their bodies clung to each other.

After a while, he kissed her softly, gently, then eased out of her and s.h.i.+fted to the side. Their skin clung a little, making the movement awkward, but it didn't matter after she twisted onto her side and cuddled against him. Holding her in the curve of his arm, Migel sighed deeply.

"That was wonderful . . . beyond wonderful. I'd figure out what word would qualify, exactly . . . but you seem to have melted my mind," he muttered.

Nevada chuckled. "Stupendous. Blissful. Definitely something to be repeated twice, and thrice, and a hundred times more, all over again. Especially since next time it won't hurt as much."

He craned his neck, peering at her. "I didn't mean mean to hurt you. I thought I was being careful." to hurt you. I thought I was being careful."

"You were, but first times are inevitably difficult, for one reason or another. I'm glad I shared this one with you," she stated simply, and got squeezed in return. "So . . . how soon do you think we can try it again? Practice makes perfect and all that."

He laughed. "I'll need at least a few minutes more. Besides, he was right . . . uh, the one, Cotter. Some Some people do have to work tomorrow. I'm presuming that 'some people' includes you, so you'll need your sleep." people do have to work tomorrow. I'm presuming that 'some people' includes you, so you'll need your sleep."

"Cotter and I work in the same guild. He can tell the others why I'm not coming into work for my next s.h.i.+ft-the diplomatic reasons," Nevada clarified quickly, "not the personal ones."

"Good. I'd rather no one cast a giant, flas.h.i.+ng illusion over the city blazing, 'Migel slept with Nevada!' 'Migel slept with Nevada!' It's bad enough I'll have to share you with six other men, even if only for as long as it takes us to get married and for you to divorce them," he said. It's bad enough I'll have to share you with six other men, even if only for as long as it takes us to get married and for you to divorce them," he said.

"I'll miss them," she murmured. "They aren't husbands in the fullest sense of the word, but they are my friends."

"Once we get Althinac fully settled down and the people accepting our joint leaders.h.i.+p, we'll be able to come back and visit them. Or they can come and visit us, which would be easier," he pointed out. "They obviously care about you, and I can't begrudge them that."

Pleased, Nevada cuddled closer. "Thank you. I know it's not your culture, and this one shouldn't have been mine, but it is a part of my life."

"I'm just sorry my relatives decided to be so brutal in their objections to your family's rulings. Your next-mother was a terrible influence on your father and his policies, and I think she got what she deserved for all the misery she caused, but they shouldn't have tried to kill you you. Not when you were innocent of all wrongdoing."

"I think we should leave discussions of politics and history outside the bedroom," Nevada decided after a moment. "It sort of ruins the mood."

He chuckled and pulled her close enough to kiss the top of her head. "You're right. My apologies. We'll be all serious and sober tomorrow. Tonight, we make love."

"Is it love?" she heard herself ask, and flushed at her temerity. it love?" she heard herself ask, and flushed at her temerity.

Migel didn't prevaricate. "I think it is. One of its stages, at any rate. You are a very lovable woman, Nevada, and I do admire you. I have for a long time. This . . . just makes it all the better."

"I feel the same way. About you," she added, just in case he thought she was being narcissistic. Squirming up onto her elbow so that she could lean over him, Nevada started exploring the fine, dark hairs on his chest with her fingertips. "I also think it's about time I reciprocated. Don't you?"

His grin was answer enough.

"NEVADA? I'm Socorro." The Althinac woman held out her hand in greeting as Nevada descended the steps of the Congregation Halls, having successfully pet.i.tioned the council for the terms of her impending divorce and relocation.

"Yes, I remember," Nevada admitted, clasping hands. "I didn't mean to ignore you yesterday. It was rather rude of me, the way Migel and I just kept talking . . ."

Socorro shook her head quickly, making her long, dark braid bounce a little. Dressed as she was in a fitted Althinac gown and corset, both made from fabric, she was drawing a lot of attention from the Menomonites pa.s.sing them on the steps up to the halls. "No, you had a lot on your mind last night. And a lot in common with my cousin, it seems."

Nevada smiled. "Thank you. We'll try not to monopolize everything again."

"Well, if I I could monopolize you for a little while," Socorro teased, "I have some gifts I promised to pa.s.s along to you. Most of them are from the loyalist faction, though a few come from the moderates among the rebels. A set of clothes in the Althinac style, some trinkets and jewelry, that sort of thing. When my cousin told me what he had planned, I didn't know what sort of culture you'd be living among, and figured you'd want some Althinac finery so you'd feel more like you'd fit in when you return with us. Men don't usually think of such things, you know." could monopolize you for a little while," Socorro teased, "I have some gifts I promised to pa.s.s along to you. Most of them are from the loyalist faction, though a few come from the moderates among the rebels. A set of clothes in the Althinac style, some trinkets and jewelry, that sort of thing. When my cousin told me what he had planned, I didn't know what sort of culture you'd be living among, and figured you'd want some Althinac finery so you'd feel more like you'd fit in when you return with us. Men don't usually think of such things, you know."

"That's very kind of you. I'd like to see what you brought," Nevada agreed. "I've missed wearing skirts. They're not very practical here in Menomon, not when the fastest way from one point to another sometimes means literally swimming to get there. Are they on your s.h.i.+p or . . . ?"

"I brought everything down to my guest room in the Flame Tower earlier this morning. I'm told you didn't have anything like a hotel until recently, just a temporary housing hostel for newly arrived citizens," Socorro said.

Nevada demurred. "Menomon has had good reason for isolating itself over the years," she said, turning and heading toward the tower in question. "Which means we don't have a lot of outside visitors pa.s.sing through."

"That's understandable. I trust you have the same sort of water-breathing spells enveloping your city environs that we do," Socorro added, gesturing at the hydrostatic dome sheltering the section of city they were in, separating the air-filled s.p.a.ces of Menomon from the water-filled ones. A second dome was vaguely visible beyond the first, sheltering the city from the sheer weight of all that water overhead.

"Of course. Our water-breathing spells are rather extensive, in fact. This general section of the Sun's Belt Reefs is easier for s.h.i.+ps to traverse than other sections, but easier isn't the same as easy. Every year, a couple of s.h.i.+ps sink as they try to ply their trade routes between the Aian and Katani continents . . . which is why housing is at such a premium right now. This way to the Flame Tower," Nevada added as Socorro started to turn the wrong way.

"That way? But the tower is visible over this way," Socorro countered, pointing at the granite edifice on the far side of the plaza from the Congregation Halls.

"If you go that way, you'll have to pa.s.s through a hydrostatic barrier and swim for about fifty lengths," Nevada told her. "If you go this way, it only adds another hundred lengths to the walk and we'll stay perfectly dry-Menomon is a bit of a maze, I'm afraid."

"A bubble-filled maze," the Althinac woman agreed. "Over half the buildings, I wouldn't even know they were were buildings, if it weren't for those silvery barriers keeping the water off the balconies. Even that new tower we docked at has coral growths on it, and I was told it was finished only a few months ago. Coral usually takes years to grow just a few finger-lengths." buildings, if it weren't for those silvery barriers keeping the water off the balconies. Even that new tower we docked at has coral growths on it, and I was told it was finished only a few months ago. Coral usually takes years to grow just a few finger-lengths."

"Normally, yes, but Menomonites have learned how to influence and enhance the growth patterns of marine life. A lot of the coral you see on the Flame Tower has actually been transplanted from elsewhere and literally cemented into place," Nevada told her. "They're having more of a problem doing so with the desalinator, since the intake tunnels have to be coral-free to allow maximum freshwater processing, yet the exterior of the building has to be merged with the appearance of the rest of the reef, as set down in the city's construction policies-Where exactly are your quarters? We'll need to pick the right turning, up ahead."

"The West b.u.t.tress," Socorro stated, pointing at one of the smaller support towers ringing the spire of the Flame Tower, visible now that they had taken the U-shaped detour of barrier-sheltered streets to get to it. "We couldn't even see the Flame Tower until we were almost on top of it, thanks to some sort of disguising spell, but now that we're here, it's quite gorgeous. Almost reminiscent of some of our Althinac towers."

"I remember them," Nevada agreed, smiling. "Just as I remember what it was like to wear a dress made of fabric. I was only a little girl when I left, but I do miss seeing the dresses."

"Then you'll definitely enjoy the clothes I brought. We'll have to gauge sizes, of course; just because you see someone in a mirror-scrying looking about your height doesn't mean the focal point of the mirror isn't magnifying the view." Catching Nevada's hand, Socorro smiled and led her into the West b.u.t.tress entrance. "We can leave the politics to the others for a few hours; for now, we're just a couple of women about to try on a bunch of clothes!"

Grinning, Nevada followed.

NEVADA politely smiled and waved to one of her tenement neighbors. The older woman was staring at her gown, a rippling concoction of light blue silk cinched by a black stomacher corset. The underbust construction emphasized her waistline, giving her figure more of an hourgla.s.s look than it usually possessed. The corset also made her look exotically foreign, compared to the other woman's sensible salmonskin vest and pants. Then again, everyone had stared at her on the way here, some people even following her a short distance, asking questions about her clothes.

"Lovely, isn't it?" Nevada asked, setting down her sack of new clothes and twirling yet again to display the gown. The sleeves were fitted down to her elbows, from where they flared out to the cuff in a fluttery, trumpetlike shape. The bodice fitted snugly to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, thanks in part to the stomacher, and the skirt flared out from her hips, slightly longer in the back than in the front, allowing it to trail a little on the ground. Her brown stingray sandals didn't quite go with the look, but she did have a pair of black ones in her quarters.

"It's not very practical," her neighbor muttered, though envy was evident in both her gaze and her tone.

"It's Althinac. Half their city's on the surface. They don't have to worry as much about swimming to every place," Nevada pointed out. Actually, it was probably only a third of the city that existed on the surface, but it wasn't necessary to be accurate at the moment. Picking up her bag, she unlocked the door of her tenement and stepped inside.

The moment she shut the door, alone for the first time in several hours, she realized the corset was starting to feel a bit tight. I guess I'm just not used to wearing the things. Not that I wore them this tight as a child, I guess I'm just not used to wearing the things. Not that I wore them this tight as a child, she reminded herself, heading toward the parlor and the hallway to her bedroom. she reminded herself, heading toward the parlor and the hallway to her bedroom. But it's definitely beginning to get to me . . . I'd better get it off soon, and let my ribs breathe. But first, I just have to show it off. A pity everyone else is still at work at this hour . . . But it's definitely beginning to get to me . . . I'd better get it off soon, and let my ribs breathe. But first, I just have to show it off. A pity everyone else is still at work at this hour . . .

"Dar-shem?" she called out, checking the glow of the nearest wall clock. The constriction of her corset was really beginning to get to her. "Are you up yet? Dar-shem?"