Page 34 of Double Bind


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“I heard about that.” Darmaine nodded. “Food for one is toxic to another.”

“What kind of work did he do at the last village?” Marshall asked.

“I don’t know.” Chartreuse shrugged.

“Lucento said he started out as a horniger wrangler,” Darmaine said.

“Uh-oh.” Marshall shook his head.

“Uh-oh is right. He got trampled twice and gored once. Then he drove a conveyance until he crashed several vehicles. That’s when Haven Ranch transferred him here.”

“Repeated accidents are no accident,” Bragg said.

“He needs a less dangerous assignment,” Chartreuse said. “I can’t in good conscience allow him to work here—he’s a danger to himself and to others.”

“I always need help in the loom studio, but he’d need two hands. Maybe after he gets better. I just hope he doesn’t break the spindles and looms. Or himself. But I guess assigning him is Lucento’s problem,” she said.

“Mine, too,” Chartreuse said. “Removing him from the shop leaves me a worker short, and we have big orders to fill. We’re going to have to produce more, faster. Maybe put in some overtime. We can’t keep the other villages waiting on furniture forever.”

Shit. Now I won’t get a chance to work on the sofa.Thanks a lot, Fat Fingers!

Amity would think his attitude was mean, but Tailless’ carelessness burdened them all. They’d all have more work to do and less time in which to do it. Who knew when Chartreuse would get more help in the shop?

He had a day off coming soon.Maybe I could sneak away for a few hours to work on sofa design?He’d planned to spend the unrushed, unconstructed time with his wife. Either he could spend a little less time with Amity or forget making her a sofa for a while.

Chapter Twelve

Marshall awakened to gray light and morning wood, the significance of the day bringing a smile to his face. They wereoff—and their friends weren’t, so they had a whole day to themselves—including dinnertime. Work had been crazy busy since Tailless hurt himself a few days ago. He, Bragg, and Zhara had been reporting in early and staying late to compensate.

Pending reassignment to a position where he couldn’t injure himself or others, Tailless was back in the shop, but on clean-up duty, putting away tools and sweeping up sawdust—as best he could with two smashed fingers in a splint. He was more of a hindrance than a help, getting in the way when they were trying to work. The woodshop had been a poor occupational fit for the accident-prone male.

At least the overtime would ease up soon—twoworkers, new arrivals to Refuge, would be joining them. It couldn’t happen soon enough to suit him, but for now, he was grateful he and Amity at least had a respite day. When possible, Artisan’s Loft put spouses on the same work schedule so they were off on the same day.

Careful not to disturb her, he stretched.

“I thought you were never going to wake up.”

He turned his head to see her watching him.

“You should have woken me up,” he said.

“On our first day to sleep in?” She shook her head.

He reached for her, and she curled up next to him, pillowing her head on his shoulder. “Mm…” she hummed with pleasure.

“I’ll second that,” he said. There was nothing more satisfying than having his wife’s soft, warm, naked body snuggled up against him. They’d taken to sleeping nude since they now had atoasty horniger fur blanket. Her contribution made him anxious to get started on the sofa and provide for their household.

But later. He forgot about the sofa when she caressed his chest and then circled down to grasp his erection. “Did you make this just for me?” she purred.

“I did,” he said.

She lifted her face, and he kissed her, groaning in satisfaction.Desire and tenderness entwined to fill him with gratitude at his good fortune. A morning in bed with one’s wife might be something other people took for granted, but he never would. He’d always yearned for freedom, but it would have been cold comfort without Amity.

She scooted downward and took his cock in her mouth, and it felt like the top of his head would blow off. He clenched his hands into fists as lightning pleasure crackled through his body. It didn’t take long before he squeezed his eyes shut and gasped his release.

He opened his eyes to find her smiling at him. “Proud of yourself, are you?” he asked.

“A little bit. But that was too easy. You don’t present much of a challenge.” She giggled.