“I can’t believe it’s come to this,” said Anna.
The room went silent. Malcolm ran a hand through his hair, knowing that he had to tell them.
“Rain Dancer made a threat,” he said. “Not against me, but against all of you, if I didn’t show up to face him personally.”
Tapestry was already shaking her head, before he’d even finished speaking.
“It’s a just a ploy,” she said. “A way of drawing you out. Malcolm, he wants you dead as much as Savior. You can’t trust his words.”
“Wax,” said Malcolm. “What do you think?”
Wax shrugged.
“I don’t know Rain Dancer well enough to guess at what he’d do,” he said. “But I know… Multi. Well, I know myself.”
“And?”
Wax glanced toward the shaded window.
“He’ll spread himself out through the city,” said Wax. “They’ll be enough Multis to watch all of the roads out. Probably your apartment and Tapestry’s house, too. Zero doubt in my mind that he’ll use the same tactics to hunt us that he did to hunt sprytes and demons as a champion.”
“Well, that’s just fantastic,” said Malcolm, with a sigh.
“He’ll do it either way, Malcolm,” said Tapestry. “You have to realize that.”
“Maybe,” said Malcolm. “But maybe not. I have to face him, I don’t have a choice here.”
“The choice is simple!” snapped Tapestry. “Don’t throw your life away!”
“There is a chance…” Malcolm said. “I could beat him. I’m not sure how yet, but if I managed that… it would make things better for everyone. It would give us a chance.”
Nobody in the hotel room disagreed with that, or at least, nobody said anything. A few silent seconds went by, and then Wax cleared his throat.
“Regardless,” he said. “There’s nothing more that we can do tonight. Let’s get a few hours of sleep, and reconvene in the morning.”
“Are we safe here?” asked Anna.
Wax chuckled.
“We aren’t safe anywhere in Vanderbrook,” he said. “But, unless they quite literally start going door to door, chances are that we’ll escape notice. At least for tonight.”
CHAPTER 37
Malcolm retired to his own motel room. Wax had rented enough rooms for only Tapestry and Melanie to have to double up. He washed his face in the bathroom sink, and spent a minute staring at himself in the mirror.
Could I really take on Rain Dancer? Or am I just adopting kamikaze tactics?
He’d left the door unlocked, and it opened without a knock. Malcolm walked out into the main room to find Tapestry standing with her arms crossed, glowering at him.
“I’m not letting this drop until you promise me that you won’t do this,” she said. Her voice carried a bit of authority with it, and it made Malcolm aware of just how much more mature she was than him.
“Why do you have such a strong reaction to the idea of me going to face him?” asked Malcolm. “Is this an issue of trust? Are you worried that I might turn traitor, and give the rest of you up?”
Tapestry licked her lips, an odd gleam entering her eyes.
“I’ll admit,” she said. “I did consider that. But no, I don’t think Rain Dancer would let you join his side. Not now, with what you did to his eye, and what he did to Savior.”
“Then what do you have a problem with?” snapped Malcolm. “Tapestry, this makes sense. And it isn’t just a suicide run. If I go in with your power, and then try to get close enough to steal Rain Dancer’s like I did last time, I’ll have a chance at beating him.”
“Do you honestly think he won’t see that coming?”
“He might,” said Malcolm. “But he might not. And… if I do die, there’s a chance that it will be a sacrifice that keeps the rest of you alive. You guys will go on and on for years about how heroic I was.”
“You wish,” said Tapestry.
“I’m serious, though.” He met her gaze. “If I have to die, I don’t see a better way to go out than risking my life for my friends.”
Tapestry closed the distance between them. She’d taken off her jacket, and only had on her blouse, jeans, and socks.
“You’re more than just a friend,” she said, a touch bitterly. “Whether I want you to be or not.”
She reached her hand up, letting it caress Malcolm’s cheek. He felt his heart pounding in his chest, more it than it usually would have, under the circumstances. He felt scared, both of what was to come, and of what would happen to the people in his life.
Maybe I’m just looking for a way out, where I don’t have to worry about so many people.
“Aubrey…” whispered Malcolm.
She leaned forward and kissed him, surprising him a little. Malcolm felt her body pushing against his, her arms wrapping around his neck. She cared about him, though it was hard for her to admit it. And he cared about her too, enough to make a final stand on her behalf.
Tapestry kissed him again, comfortably taking the lead in the encounter and pushing him down onto the bed. Malcolm was a little taken aback. Tapestry was confident, but normally hesitant when it came to sex.
She straddled him, pulling his shirt up and over his head. Malcolm started to lean up, but she pushed him flat and planted a kiss on his chest. Her fingers traced lines over his abdominal muscles, and she slowly undid the zipper and button of his jeans.
“Promise me,” she whispered.
Malcolm shook his head.
“I can’t make that promise,” he said.
Tapestry pulled his jeans down, tossing them to the floor. Her fingers teased at the waistband of Malcolm’s boxers, and she kissed the spot on his stomach just below his belly button.
“Promise…” she said, again. She pulled his boxers down and Malcolm’s erection popped into view.
“Tapestry…” he said. “You know that I have to…”
He trailed off, the pleasure hitting him like a train as Tapestry wrapped one of her soft hands around his shaft. She breathed on it, sending erotic tingles through his crotch and into the rest of his body.
“Malcolm,” whispered Tapestry. “I’m afraid I’ll have to go back to my room if you don’t make that promise.”
Malcolm rolled his eyes.
Blowjob blackmail. As though that would work on me…
Tapestry cleared her throat, and then pressed her lips against the tip of his erection. She started to suck softly, and then pulled back.
“I promise,” said Malcolm, equal parts horny and defeated. “Fine.”
Tapestry flashed a smug smile at him. She licked her lips, and shyly returned to what she’d been doing. She only used her lips, barely taking the tip into her mouth as though his erection were a massive straw.
Her hand ran up and down his length, creating a contrast of sensation. Malcolm leaned his head back against the pillow, savoring the intensity of the sensation. He’d spent so much time fighting a battle he couldn’t win. To be there with Tapestry, to give her the promise that he’d stay, and then to receive this in return, felt incredible.
Tapestry took a break from the sucking and started licking instead. She worked slowly, with a little bit of hesitance that made Malcolm think that she wasn’t very experienced at giving head. Somehow, it only made it hotter to watch her. She would blush each time they made eye contact, as though even she couldn’t believe what she as doing.
Tapestry slowly began to let her lips slide slower, bobbing her head along his length. Malcolm set a hand on her head to encourage her. He let his fingers take hold of her pony tail, and Tapestry let out a slightly annoyed noise.
“Oh…” he moaned. He pulled the pony tail down, firmly guiding her to take more of him into her mouth. Tapestry let out a tiny squeal through her nose when she reached her limit, and Malcolm relaxed his hold to let her come up for air.