Chapter Text
“It’s good to see the sky,” Booker said, when they got outside. There wasn’t much to see; it was overcast again, and there was a huge amount of light pollution around the port as ships came and went at all hours, but he still gazed up into the hazy darkness with a look of deep appreciation.
They walked in silence for a while, Nile remembering just how easy he was to be with. He didn’t hurry her.
“I’ve been okay,” Nile said eventually. “My family’s okay too, according to Copely. Most of the time I forget that I won’t see them again. It’s just like I’m away for a while, and I’m used to that. I had to delete all my stuff though, like apps, cause um,” She swallowed hard. “My brother, after he heard I was dead he like, started sending me stuff, messages.”
She cuffed her eyes. “Birthdays were bad too. Christmas. I remember what it was like with Dad. God.” She looked up at the sky, but didn’t see Him. “No one’s even dead or anything.”
“It’s still loss,” Booker said. “It’s still your right to grieve.”
Nile took a deep breath and let it recede again. It would come over her like a wave, and then drain away. Just like it had when her father died. It got easier, she knew. The tide would go out. Someday her mother and brother would die and it would be horrible, but it would get easier again even then. Until then, she’d do what she could from afar.
“I’m okay.” She nodded to herself. “I’ll be their guardian angel.” Something about that made him smile, and she gave into the urge to touch him and nudged his elbow. “What?”
“I think you’re well qualified, that’s all.”
“That’s because someone keeps getting himself in trouble,” she said lightly.
Booker frowned, and they walked on for a while. He didn’t want to discuss it, and Nile had plenty of other things to tell him. So she talked. Occasionally he’d ask or answer a question, but mostly he listened, as Nile unburdened herself of everything she’d been keeping to herself about her new life and the people in it. Almost everything; there was a big, Booker-shaped gap in her story that she wanted to fill with I missed you and I thought about you and would it be so bad if I decided I was a bit in love with you.
She didn’t. Every time she thought she’d try it was like a stone would materialise in her throat. By unspoken agreement they started to loop back to the apartment. When it came into view again, Booker stopped. Nile walked on a half-step and waited.
“I do owe you an apology, Nile,” he said finally. “For what I did, what I tried to do with Merrick and Copely. I was selfish, and self-indulgent. I told myself I was giving Andy what she wanted, and you too, once you showed up. I had no right to make that choice for you.
“I heard what you said,” he continued. “About being a good man.” He shook his head. “I can’t say I acted like one after London. I was grieving for Andy, but mostly I was angry it was her and not me who would finally get to die. It made no sense. Even after all of that I couldn’t see past the end of my own nose. Just wallowing, wasting time. To my shame I’d learned nothing.
“I think it was for the best Quynh found me. Until I met her she was just a nightmare I had. I’d never thought about her as a person, but we had both been hurt by the ones we loved the most in the world, even if they were unable to help it. We were clinging to our pain and anger. I hope she can forgive Andy. She has to, for her own sake.”
Nile was silent, watching him wrestle with what he had to say, his eyes glistening.
“So I forgive my children. I forgive my boys.”
Now it was his turn to swipe at his eyes and Nile couldn’t hold herself back any longer. She stepped up and hugged him for around twenty fast, painful heartbeats, and then she had disentangle herself or she didn’t think she’d ever be able to. On a scale of one to therapy, Quynh was probably minus a thousand, but somehow he’d survived with his heart intact.
“Apology accepted,” she said. “I forgive you.”
“I think you might be the easiest to convince,” he said with a tiny smile.
“They don’t hate you, you know. In fact,” she laughed a little. “I couldn’t believe it when I learned Sebastien le Livre was your real name. Joe wanted to know why I’d reacted ‘like a scalded cat’ when I heard him mention it, so I had to pretend I thought the pun on Booker was hilarious, and they all thought that was so weird I started to find it genuinely funny, which made them worse, and for the next little while I kept saying ‘le Livre’ to myself and laughing.” She shrugged. “I guess you had to be there.”
She glanced at him and her breath caught. He was looking at her with such soft, affectionate eyes, like she could tell silly stories forever and he’d never tire of listening. It occurred to her she’d got it all wrong, that he might be the one in too deep here, and whether or not he’d only kissed her in a professional capacity was beside the point now.
She couldn’t hold his gaze, needed to think, and they continued walking back in near silence, each alone with their thoughts, but at last, at least, together.
The light under Joe and Nicky’s door was out when they returned, and they communicated in whispers as Nile retrieved her bag from Booker’s room. They’d anticipated both Quynh and Booker potentially joining them, and either or both wanting privacy so Nile could have the luxury of a room to herself if she wanted it.
She wished Booker goodnight, and he responded with “Thank you for everything. I’ll see you tomorrow, Nile,” so earnestly, like it was all he’d ever hoped for, like he still couldn’t quite believe it would happen.
Nile dumped her stuff on the couch while she went to shower and then stood under the spray wondering what to do with it when she came back out.
Fuck it.
Fuck it, fuck it, fuck it. If she didn’t do something he was going to loom in the background being sweet and stupid sexy and adoring her in silence with those pretty eyes forever, and she was only human.
She towelled off and strode out of the bathroom stark naked, and the living room was absolutely freezing, so before she could change her mind she scooped up her bag and practically ran back to Booker’s room, shivering and turning off the light as she went.
He wasn’t asleep. She heard him inhale sharply and sit up as she eased the door open and snuck in.
“Hey,” she said softly, putting her bag by the door and feeling her way towards his bed, hands outstretched.
Their hands brushed first in the dark, and as soon as they located each other they held on, fingers over hands over arms. As she crawled up onto his bed he pulled her in like he was rescuing her from the ocean, reaching to embrace her, kicking the covers down to welcome her into the warmth. She flopped on top of him and heard his gasp of surprise when he realised she was naked.
“Oh, Nile,” he breathed reverently, and as soon as he could reach he found her face and kissed it, holding her against his chest as he sank back down into the bed, taking her with him, pulling the blankets up around them.
They embraced each other, legs tangled. She could feel he was hard against her thigh through his boxers but he barely seemed to notice, intent on kissing and caressing her with thoroughness that was almost frantic. Sebastien the professional had needed and wanted nothing; in perfect control of himself for her benefit. Booker by contrast overflowed with feelings to the point where she was starting to feel it was more than she deserved.
“I missed you too,” she said finally, and his arms tightened around her. He’d rolled them so she was on her back, so he could press his mouth to her face and neck and collarbones.
“What do you want from me, Nile?” he asked, his lips against the pulse under her jaw. “Anything. It’s yours. Whatever you want.”
That sounded familiar, but anything she wanted wasn’t what she was there for. She reached up and put her hands on either side of his head, lifting it so she could look him in the eye, even if she could barely see in the near-darkness.
“I want the truth,” she said. “Not what you think I want to hear.”
He was silent for a few moments, and she felt him sigh in resignation.
“I love you, Nile.” He spoke like he was asking permission that he didn’t expect to get. Yeah, it was a lot and he had to know it, but on the other hand she had asked.
“Haa, I guess I should have expected that.” She was feeling all wobbly even though she was lying down. “I don’t want to break your heart.”
“It was broken when you stole it,” he said. “But if you just want to fuck I don’t mind-”
“No, Sebastien. I like you a lot. A lot more than that,” she said.
“So let’s start there. I love you, you like me.”
“A lot.”
“Even better.”
She could feel rather than see him smiling between her hands, and she knew he really would be whatever she wanted him to be: friend, fuckbuddy, or lover, and there wasn’t much she could do about it. If she sent him away he’d go, and if she told him to wait he’d wait, but she couldn’t really see what they’d be waiting for, and so she craned her neck and kissed him like he’d kissed her once, what felt like lifetimes ago. Like he was the most precious thing in the whole world.
She let go of his head, running her fingers though his hair and wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders as he melted into her embrace. She loved the weight of him on her, muscle and bone and years alike. They exchanged long, lazy kisses and Nile slid her leg up over his hip and they parted long enough for her to help him off with his clothes. Nile reached between them and wrapped her fingers around his cock, weighing it in her hand, and she sighed against his mouth as she slid him into her. They were both tired, and they barely disturbed the blankets, twined beneath them just holding each other for a while.
Booker was gentle when he started to move, and Nile let him take the lead, returning his leisurely affection. She was sure he’d be happy to bring her off ten times in a row some other night, but for now she was glad he wasn’t trying to impress her, that it almost felt unfamiliar, like it was their first time together. She hadn’t thought being treated like glass was really her thing until she was coming to pieces in his arms, trembling and crying out softly. How she’d missed this.
He told her she was beautiful and then lapsed into French, which was cute and would probably be hotter if she was more awake, and she felt a brief spike of panic as he started to come in her before remembering she didn’t have to worry about that anymore.
She had to get up before she fell asleep, and somehow he was still awake to welcome her when she came back from the bathroom with her hair wrapped and wearing the nightclothes she’d completely forgotten she’d left in there. The apartment was for short-stay workers, not tourists, and the beds were all singles, but Nile didn’t mind; the way they fitted together, there was enough space.
What felt like two minutes later, Nile woke up to her phone ringing. Light was shining through the curtains as she fumbled it to her ear, Booker stirring as she dislodged him; he was still lying half on top of her and she didn’t think he’d moved the entire night he’d been so exhausted. She had the pleasure of watching him look absolutely bewildered for a few moments, and then he remembered where he was and gave her a smile like the sunrise. Unfortunately, she still had to answer her phone rather than kiss it off his face.
“Andy?” She sat up and rubbed her face. “How are things?”
“We’re still en route. I’ll keep her sleeping until we get there. I’ve got some coordinates for you.”
“Don’t you have an address like a normal person?” Nile asked.
“Not this time.” She heard the smile in Andy’s voice, although she sounded very tired.
Nile recited the numbers back to fix them in her mind and share them with Booker, who merely shrugged.
“How’s Booker?” Andy asked. “Is he doing okay?”
Booker leaned over and spoke into the phone with a mischievous smile, “I’m in love, boss.”
“Jesus, Seb!” Nile pulled the phone away from him.
“She’s been my best friend for two hundred years. She was going to notice.” He didn’t appear contrite, and his shit-eating grin only broadened as she glared at him.
“I think I’ll leave you to it.” Andy’s voice floated out of the phone, amused.
“Call us back,” Nile told her in a rush as she disconnected. “Argh. Booker!” She put the phone down and flopped back on the pillow. She sighed. “You’re probably right though. Nicky caught me staring at your ass yesterday.”
“He has no room to talk; I’ve caught him doing the same many times,” Booker said.
“Can’t blame him, it’s very nice,” she mused.
Their eyes met and they smiled. There really was no hiding it, was there, she thought.
“They’re going to think I move really fast,” Nile said.
“They have no idea how fast you are.” He grinned.
“I’ll have you know it took me weeks to work up the nerve to contact you, and I had to book a whole holiday first,” she retorted.
“Really?” he looked genuinely curious.
“Well, yeah,” she admitted. “I just couldn’t stop thinking about you and your stupid sexy pictures. How I could tell you to be whatever I wanted you to be.”
He was looking at her thoughtfully, propped up on one elbow. “You still can, you know.”
“I don’t want you to pretend-”
“It’s called roleplay,” he interrupted her.
“I know what roleplay is.”
“And I like it. If I didn’t enjoy it, I would have found some other line of work,” he pointed out. “We don’t have to stop just because you’re not paying me.” He lowered his voice a little, “We can even dress up, or dress down.” He put his hand on her stomach. “We can go out,” he continued. “To some fancy restaurant, or some disgusting dive.” He was slowly leaning over her, sliding his fingertips under the waistband of her shorts. Nile felt hypnotised, her breathing shallow. “We can have a meal, or a drink, and you can pay.” He carded his fingers through the curls between her legs and rested his hand over her overheated cunt, unmoving, applying just the slightest pressure. “And we’ll leave, and find somewhere in an alley out the back, and I will put your back to the wall and my mouth right here.” Then he moved, a single finger, pressing into her slowly.
“Christ,” Nile said weakly, licking her lips because her mouth had gone dry. Her clit was actually aching. “Then what?”
“You tell me,” he said, merely raising his eyebrows a little, waiting. Her turn. That’s not fair, she thought; he’s a professional. She discarded half a dozen obvious answers as she pictured it; the alleyway, Booker on his knees from the perspective of someone walking past, almost like he was-
“Then you,” she began. “S-suck me off like I have a cock.”
The sound she wrenched out of him would play in her head for weeks, as his eyes nearly went black. She didn’t have much time to feel smug about it as he sat up and pulled her shorts down, and she’d barely kicked them off her feet when he put his arms under her thighs and simply heaved her hips up so he could bury his face in her cunt, like she weighed hardly anything, leaving her braced on her shoulders and upper back, her legs over his shoulders, feet dangling.
Nile flung one arm out across the bed to brace herself and crushed her other hand to her mouth as she cried out, stifling herself as best she could. He worked his tongue and lips on her desperately, and she felt the wet end of his clothed cock brush her spine. This wasn’t a position she could comfortably maintain for long, but that didn’t fucking matter cause she was coming like right now and she bucked against his face, whining through gritted teeth.
He lowered her back onto the bed, panting, and she urged him to climb over her, grabbing at his thighs and ass until his knees were under her arms and he was straddling her chest. She dragged his cock out of his boxers and lifted her head and swallowed down as much of it as she could reach. He braced a hand on the wall above her head and rolled his hips forward, and Nile sucked him down further.
He groaned, his other hand gently caressing her cheek.
“Do you want to swallow?” he asked raggedly.
“Mmm.” She nodded, keeping her lips sealed around his cock, breathing hard and sharp though her nose. She didn’t want to clean up a faceful of come under these circumstances.
He didn’t last much longer than she had, and she braced herself as she felt him harden and swell one last time in her mouth. Not her favourite flavour if she was honest, but it was worth it for the look on his face as she sucked him through a copious orgasm and then let her head fall back, her incipient neck ache fading already as he dismounted and settled in next to her again, his arm around her as he nuzzled the side of her face.
“I want to stay in bed with you for like, the next three weeks,” Nile murmured.
“Look at you, big spender,” he said.
“Hush you,” she said, pressing her hand to his mouth and they were laughing again. “That’s our secret,” she insisted. “They already have so many.”
Booker rolled his eyes. “Not as many as I wish they did.” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles and added more seriously, “My lips are sealed, I promise. We’ll have California until it sinks into the sea.”
This is what it’s going be like from now on, Nile thought: sex at a professional level, poetic declarations of romance, and light trolling in between. Oh yeah, she was gonna love this man.
“What’s that smile for?” he asked.
“I’ll tell you someday,” she said, with the rueful suspicion someday wasn’t far off at all.