Hunting grounds, p.2
Hunting Grounds, page 2
“Huh. What you’re saying is you don’t like the one you have, so you’re going to trade it in for a newer model? Seems like your speed.” Kara was fixed in place, showing no sign of heading for the computers to pull up his file.
She had fired the first shot. Tyson had to answer. He strode up to the counter and flopped the bag on the top in emphasis. “It wasn’t like that. You aren’t broken and I sure as hell wasn’t trying to replace you.”
Her eyes were as hard as flint. “Tell me I didn’t see what I saw.”
That was impossible, Tyson knew, because she had seen exactly what was going on that night. “That isn’t…” He wanted to say fair, but none of this was fair.
“Tell me …” Glancing behind her, worried that her voice would carry, Kara stepped up to the other side of the counter so she could hiss, “… that I didn’t see you balls deep in my sister in my own house!”
He scrubbed at his face, then threw up his hands. “What do you want me to say? I didn’t know she was your sister, okay? I’ve got a type. I’ll be the first to admit it. I’m sorry you had to see that. But I don’t know why you’re so pissed.”
“You don’t know…?” Kara blinked as her mental train reset. “You slept with my sister!”
He gripped the counter’s edge, his knuckles going white with frustration. He tried again. “You and I weren’t a thing. Tell me if I’m mis-remembering anything here. We got drunk shooting pool. Gus was dumb enough to let us lock up. We got freaky on one of the tables. It was fucking great. I seem to recall asking you out the next day. You dumped me. Wouldn’t even give me your number.”
“I don’t date fly-boys. And you’re worse than most.”
“How’s that?” Usually, the fighter jocks got the worst reputations.
She read his mind. “The jet rangers are arrogant and chew right through women, but didn’t you say you are strategic air lift?”
“Yeah. C-5Ms are my equipment.”
“Which means you’re gone halfway around the world most of the time.” Kara shook her head. “Not dating material.”
He put his hands up in surrender. “Sure. One good night. I can live with that. And instead of mooning over you, creeping around, and driving you nuts, I got on with my life. Went out. Picked up this hot blonde in the park. Didn’t even mean to do it. Playing frisbee with the guys and I tripped right over her. Might as well have been fate. She was sunbathing. Gorgeous.”
“That’s my sister,” Kara cut him off.
Dipping his chin to accept her redirection, he said, “Doesn’t make her any less wonderful. We had a great afternoon. Laughed over supper. Then went back to her place. How could I know that it was your place, too?”
Kara’s jaw clenched. She didn’t argue that he should have somehow known she split rent with her sibling, but she didn’t look inclined to be charitable or forgiving, either. “You won’t see her again, right?”
Tyson smothered a groan. I knew that was coming. Doesn’t mean I didn’t hope she would see it differently. He didn’t have much hope, but he had to try. He owed Amber that much. “Not sure she’d see me. When our first night gets interrupted like that, it isn’t easy to recover. But I don’t think she sees us fly-boys the same way, and I like her. A lot.”
“Because she doesn’t work around you. Hasn’t had to live with you flying off and leaving her alone.” She stalked back into the supply shelves and grabbed a canteen off the rack. Returning to the counter, she slammed it down. “Take it. I’ll change your docs. You want to do right by me? Don’t call her. Leave her alone.”
That soured Tyson’s soul. “That’s going to hurt her. You know it. Maybe she’d never let me take her out again, but at least she should know I didn’t walk away after one night of sex.”
“I’ll tell her,” Kara said.
It was his turn to blink in disbelief.
Kara huffed. “I’m not evil.” Her expression softened as she folded her arms under her breasts. “I won’t let her think you’re some bastard. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let her make this mistake.”
Tyson wanted to say something convincing. Something to turn the tide. Nothing came to him. She’d built up a resistance to charm from a life spent around slick Air Force officers that would have killed to get in her pants. She’d let him in once in a moment of weakness. Pushing harder was only going to prove that she was right and that his kind didn’t know when to quit.
“Alright. I’ll stay away. Guess I won’t know it, but I really do hope you’ll keep your side of the bargain. Tell her I’m sorry it turned out this way.” He decided the rest of his kit would make it through the training. Grabbing the new canteen and his bag, Tyson retreated out the door before he managed to make the situation even worse.
Chapter 2
The graphics in ‘Motorcycle Mayhem’ were amazing and ridiculous at the same time. Not realistic at all. Everything was garishly stylish. But by leaving reality behind, the game was able to put the player through insane jumps and force them to dip through perilous turns with deadly obstacles and even otherworldly monsters jumping out to slash at you.
What really sold the game in the arcade was the life-sized super-bikes that functioned as the game control interface. The clutch, acceleration, and gear shift inputs were all vastly simplified to where a child could do it, but it was satisfying to go through the motions of pumping the bike to crazy speeds to hit ramps which flung him into the virtual air.
Jamming the bike into high gear, he howled across the finish line. The screen flashed with signs of victory to signify he’d nabbed first place in the virtual contest. A starburst symbol proclaimed his run had conquered the leader board, setting a new ‘High Score!’ for him to gloat about.
Tyson leaned back on the fake bike, chuckling at how silly it was to feel this good about blowing away a record on a video game. But he did. There was no denying it. He didn’t get to feel this way all that often. He didn’t go in for many games these days. There was just no time. But on every Wednesday when he was in town, it was a ritual for him to carve out a night off-base to see a movie. The free theatre at Travis AFB was nice enough, but it certainly wasn’t a super-IMAX with mind-melting sound systems and an immersive screen that made you live the movie instead of watch it.
Part of that habitual night out included rolling into the mall attached to the theatre where he could wander through various stores and then spend a few twenties on video games. Normally he stuck to the nostalgic stuff along the back wall that reminded him of his younger years. But the ‘Mayhem’ game was new and it had drawn him in. He was sure it was going to become a staple in his diet.
The display prompted him to enter his initials. He used his real set: TEC.
“Does that stand for Technical or Teach how it’s done?” The flirty voice was right at his shoulder.
Tyson glanced back at the young woman who had inserted herself into his life. He wasn’t a stranger to ladies playing fast and loose with his personal space. His jawline wasn’t the stuff of movie stars, but his wavy dark hair, well-muscled frame, and silver-grey eyes tended to draw out his fair share of positive reactions. When he added his carefully-cultivated, charming smile, hearts tended to melt a little easier.
He flashed that smile now and asked, “What’s it to you?”
“I’m SWN.” The woman stepped into view and tapped a stylishly lacquered nail against the screen on the initials right below his newly entered high score.
Tyson’s smile went from charming to one of sincere appreciation. Her blonde hair was cut to a playful length which bobbed about her shoulders. More stunning were her purple eyes, which nigh on glowed in the arcade’s neon lights. He’d read somewhere that people with paler skin might have a mutant gene that bordered on albinism. It granted this rare color to less than 1% of the population, making this beauty stand out all the more. “Ah, I see. You’re here to fight for your honor.”
“Don’t you think I deserve a chance to put you back in your place?” SWN asked.
“Maybe I’m right where I should be,” Tyson said, gesturing at his spot on the leader board.
“On top?” she challenged.
He grinned at the way she delivered the line. Oh, I like her. He rolled his shoulders in a shrug, as if inviting her opinion on the matter.
SWN patted the faux gas tank that Tyson was gripping with his knees to keep his balance. “Thighs straddling a fine machine like this? Isn’t that how I’d be more comfortable? Sounds like being on top is in my wheelhouse.” She left her palm on the game-bike, suggestively stroking the enameled plastic wedged between his legs.
His left eyebrow climbed. “Are we going to make this interesting?”
“Mm. I should think so. It would be boring if it was only LED letters at stake.”
“I was headed over to the cineplex after this. Care to join me? If you win, I’ll treat you.” He was sure she would see through the flirtatious game, turning himself into a prize to be won. If she accepted, he’d know she was into him and not simply toying with him.
It was SWN’s turn to shrug, as if none of their words really mattered. “Hm. Not a bad idea. On the off-chance you win, I’ll pick up the tab. The winner also gets to pick the film.”
His anticipation grew. Win or lose, they’d be spending a few hours together. Plenty of time to pull her phone number and secure a second date. She was a breath of fresh air, light and breezy and apparently ready for anything. Her blonde hair was pulling all the right strings, and she had a habit of routinely moistening her kissable lips so that they shone in the dim, neon-soaked game room. “Done.”
“Hope you like rom-coms,” she smirked.
“First you need the win.” He presented his arcade card for her viewing, then swiped it twice to load up enough credits for them both to play.
SWN kicked her leg over the second bike, making a show of it so his eyes followed. She rode her hips forward, subtly grinding herself into the tank to provoke his imagination and dull his wits. Rocking the bike to select the purple crotch rocket, she tapped the ‘Ready’ key. “Gonna quit stalling?”
“Who’s stalling?” He stayed with the orange-and-black super bike he’d been using all along. He selected the ‘Sand Mountain’ course that he’d just topped. His hand paused over his own ‘Ready’ switch.
She stretched over the top of her bike, arching her back and laying herself out for his approval. Her tank top struggled to keep her modesty intact, flashing a side view of tempting skin just out of sight. “Scaredy cat.”
His mouth twitched toward a smile. Damn, this girl. She knows how to push a man’s buttons. Tapping his key, he told the machine he was prepared for the race. He revved his engine a couple times, trading looks with the ferociously beautiful woman at his side.
The game gave them the countdown. Three. Two. One.
Tyson had learned there was a sweet spot to roll on the juice. Too fast and the game assumed you had jumped the gun. Your rear tire would spin out. Too late and you’d lag behind the pack as they powered away. He had the timing nailed to the microsecond. His bike went up on one tire as he thundered down the opening strip. He left all the computer-generated competition behind. Out of the corner of his eye, Tyson could see SWN’s screen, including a close view of his bike just ahead of her.
Cutting left to take the inner track around the first turn, he downshifted to catch the best acceleration in the bike’s power band, then roared toward the first of the jumps. The pace was insane, mimicking over 400 mph. When he hit the ramp, he was sent flying over an ice cliff that dropped away beneath him to a frozen ocean.
What might have been disconcerting to some was like coming home for him. It was only simulated air time, and it was more akin to controlled falling, but controlling one’s attitude in the air and readying for landing was a skill he’d cultivated very well. He came down with his engine already spiraling up to catch his tires and maximize his acceleration away. Perfect.
Except SWN shot right past him. Fire spewed from her tail pipe and her tires smoked as she carved into the next sweeping turn. She let out a whoop of delight on the bike-controller next to him. Her shorts were cut off high on her thighs, and he glimpsed her legs flexing and muscles shifting under her white-pearl skin.
That left him distracted for a few seconds, giving her time to open a small gap. They launched over the next ramp, sailing over a clogged harbor with a dozen fishing boats locked in an ice floe. It was a stunning panoramic with incredibly detailed graphics. Even the sea gulls scattered as the pack of bikes soared into their midst.
Ahead of him, SWN’s bike and CGI character wasn’t flying through a simple arc. She flipped twice, then came off her pegs as she put herself through a chain of stunts. When she landed, her tail pipe belched flame and she blasted forward as if she had found another gear.
Tyson clenched his jaw, having forgotten this game had a coded ‘Rule of Cool’ as part of its make-up. Speed could be boosted by carrying out awesome tricks that increased a player’s points. He was already mid-flight, too late to start a series himself. Once back on his wheels, he decided he couldn’t wait until the next leap to close the distance. Rather than moderate his velocity going into the next bank, he kept the power rolled on and pushed himself into a guided skid. On a real bike, he probably would have wiped out. The game mechanics gave him latitude. He used all of it, finishing a far cooler turn that should have been physically impossible, then punched out of it down the next straightaway. The maneuver earned him the game’s approval. An extra surge of power kicked him forward.
It wasn’t enough to overtake her. She was keeping a good hundred meters ahead. In a game like this, at these speeds, that was nothing. A matter of seconds. He needed her to make a mistake. For that, he needed to distract her like she was doing to him.
“S-W-N, huh? Those your initials?” When he thought he saw her eyes instinctively slant his way, he flexed his bicep to make his t-shirt tighten. He timed that with a cute smile that she’d see from the side.
“It’s my name.” A grimace snagged on her lips as she drifted a bit in the next turn. She corrected her line, but lost twenty yards of her lead.
“Did your parents hate you?”
She stuck her tongue out without looking at him. “It’s Suann.”
“Sue Ann?” Tyson deliberately got it wrong, but close enough to make her doubt who had messed up.
Another glance at him, testing to see if he was teasing. She lost another part of her lead. “Sounds kinda like swan. Hear it?” She lurched her game-bike at him, nearly bumping their legs together. It made Tyson veer to the side, but she got the worst of the wobble.
“Oh, I hear it.” He screeched into the next turn on the inside, using his power skid to push her wider out. It knocked her off a clean arc, and she lost any chance at her own speed boost. He came out scorching, back up on his hind wheel. The added stunt gave him an extended velocity increase. When it finished, he was well into the lead. “Boo yah!”
“Fighting dirty, huh?” Suann downshifted and twisted her accelerator handle right to the pegs.
“All’s fair in love and war,” he quoted.
“Oh yeah? Want to know a secret?”
Tyson smirked, not about to let anything she said distract him. “Sure.”
“Not wearing a bra.”
His smirk became a snicker. “Uh huh.” He nearly peeked. The only reason he resisted was because she’d already flashed him the side of her petite breasts once, concealed by that tank top by the barest of margins. “Tell me something I didn’t know.”
Her lips twitched into an evil smile. “No panties either.”
Tyson lost his grip on his male reflexes. It was stupid. He wasn’t going to see her panty-line through the denim shorts she had on. But he still looked, as if he could follow her bare thigh all the way up to her supposedly bare behind.
“Don’t miss the ramp!” Suann giggled, careening her digital bike into his, using the bounce off him to line up for her final jump.
Pushed off the main track, Tyson cursed. He tried to take the secondary ramp as well as he could, but it was far shallower and less impressive. He wobbled his handlebars and did a superman maneuver to score a few extra cool points, but he simply didn’t have the height to pull off anything spectacular.
Suann did, and she used it to the max. Roaring onto the final stretch, she stormed back into the lead and right over the finish line a good two hundred meters ahead of him. Throwing up her hands in elation, Suann pumped a fist in the air as the game took over coasting her bike and began to tally up her final points. “Oh yeah. Kicked your ass!”
Racing over the finish line in a solid but definitive second, the computer began to calculate his score as well. Considering her style, he suspected the gap between them would only grow. Knowing it was hopeless, he ignored his own tally and focused on hers. When the numbers rolled to a stop, Tyson banged a fist on his faux fuel tank. “Hah!”
“Hah?” Suann turned up her palms. “You can see the big ‘1st’ next to my name, right? That’s what they call a win.”
“By the skin of your teeth. And the whole point was to put you back at the top of the leader board.” He pointed at her screen as the computer slotted her latest effort into 6th place. That wasn’t shabby, but it wasn’t at the top. “That means I lost the race, but I won the bet.”
She scowled. “Are you trying to renege on our deal?”
Tyson scoffed. “No. Of course, not! I’m just saying I’ve got a different way of looking at the terms of the deal.”
“Are we going to arm wrestle over it?” she joked back.
He raised one leg over his bike-controller so he could lean against the side of it facing her. It put him close to her side. He liked that she didn’t object to how close he was to her bare shoulder. She was clearly joking. Suann was slender without being gaunt. She was petite. He wouldn’t call her delicate, but there wasn’t much brute force in her. Any kind of wrestling would be much of a contest between them. “Hm. How about we split it.”
