Chapter 22 - Friendly Company

Emilee lay on the bed in her private room, her face buried in the softness of the pillow. Restlessness had settled over her, tugging at her thoughts. What had triggered this sudden distraction? It couldn't have been Elena's touch; so what was it? She eventually tried to convince herself that it was simply because Elena had invaded her personal space, but the argument felt weak, even to her own ears.

With no entertainment or company to occupy her and about half a dozen hours before she could even consider going to bed, Emilee pondered how to fill the void. She could continue reading through the immense library of articles that was the information tab, but she had stayed up way too late the night before studying its contents. Besides, after a morning of combat, she was feeling lethargic and not up to reading. Similarly, the videos available on the information tab had thus far proven to be mere interviews, lacking the captivating content she sought.

Taking a nap was not Emilee's usual inclination; she knew all too well that daytime slumber would inevitably disrupt her sleep pattern, leaving her wide awake come nightfall. Thus, she made a decision. Rising from her bed, she resolved to return to Trev and Elena's room. Yet, as she approached their door, a sense of unease crept over her. It felt awkward to retreat back to them so soon after declaring her intention to have her own space.

Leaving the confines of the hotel wing, Emilee ventured into the lively marketplace. To her surprise, a previously inaccessible door now stood open in one of the far corners. Curiosity piqued, she approached the entrance, peering through the crack into the dimly lit room beyond. It revealed a cosy space adorned with chairs, tables, and a prominent counter at the front. A moderate number of patrons occupied the room, but it was far from crowded. She approached the counter, and beyond it, on an assortment of shelves were all kinds of bottles with logos and lettering she didn't recognise. What she did recognise, though, was that this was a bar.

Realising that Trevor held their shared funds, Emilee acknowledged that she was unable to purchase a drink for herself. Nevertheless, she settled onto a barstool, captivated by the display of bottles. Lost in her contemplation, Emilee's musings were interrupted by a voice emanating from beside her.

"Hey, are you alone? Can I buy you a drink?"

Startled, she turned her attention to the individual who had spoken, finding herself face-to-face with a friendly stranger.

~~~~

Trev found himself in a state of uncertainty, unsure of how to handle the situation. Was he supposed to look away? Elena didn't appear to be bothered by his observation, nor was she making any movement to suggest this was a seduction ploy. She just sat on the bed, naked from the waist down, barely covering herself. Although highly arousing, he didn't want to jump to conclusions. In an effort to quell his internal conflict, Trev retreated to the other side of the bed and settled himself down. Curiosity eventually got the better of him, and he couldn't help but ask.

"Why are you naked?" His tone was casual, masking his intrigue.

"My only underwear is being washed and my bodysuit is being repaired," she replied, in a relaxed manner.

Surveying the room, Trev noticed two chutes on the far wall labelled "laundry" and "clothing repair," each equipped with timers indicating the remaining time. The laundry was set to finish in two minutes, while the clothing repair process still had half an hour to go. Pondering the situation, Trev ventured.

"So, you aren't upset that I looked at you while you were naked?"

"No, why would I be? It's just my body. Everyone has one. Besides, for your sake, I am covering all the important parts," Elena replied nonchalantly.

As the next two minutes ticked by until the laundry cycle completed, they sat in silence. Those were the longest two minutes of Trev's life, filled with an overwhelming sense of awkwardness and conflict. What did Elena mean by "for his sake"? Did she imply that she would be comfortable being naked if it didn't bother him? Or was he over analysing her words?

Once the laundry time had elapsed, a hatch opened and out slipped a pair of black panties. Elena stood up from the bed, walked over to the hatch and picked up the panties. Trev swivelled slightly so he wasn't looking straight at her, but could still see her in his peripheral vision. She casually put on the panties, bending over slightly, allowing Trev to get a good view of her shapely ass. She must have known he was watching, but it did not seem to bother her. Trev felt his arousal increase, but did his best to fight it. From when they fought the mantis creature and it had cut her bodysuit, it was evident she was not wearing a bra. The bodysuit must have a built-in bra, making the panties her only underwear. Once she was done, she walked back over to the bed and sat next to Trev, the timer on the clothing repair still at twenty-seven minutes. Trev shoved his hands into his lap, doing his best to hide his bulge.

Unexpectedly, Elena broke the silence, catching Trev off guard. "Do you find me attractive?" she inquired.

Stunned by the question's suddenness, Trev scrambled for an answer. Could it be a trick question? Of course, he found her attractive. She was an exquisite woman—her flawless figure, her fitness and toning, her perfectly maintained long brown hair, and her captivating blue eyes. What man wouldn't find her attractive. He dismissed the possibility of mind games, as Elena had always been direct and straightforward. Making a split-second decision, he chose to respond truthfully.

"Of course I do, you are beautiful," replied Trev.

Elena's face illuminated with a beautiful smile, confirming that Trev had chosen the right approach.

"I am glad to hear that." she replied warmly.

Trev, now uncertain of what would follow, chose to remain still and quiet, allowing Elena to take the lead. He didn't want to get the wrong idea, as if she took offence, he would be dead in an instant. However, Elena surprised him by taking his hands and inspecting his forearms, which bore bruises from the relentless punches of the Dark Figure.

"I am sorry you got hurt again," she expressed genuine empathy.

"It's alright. It will heal. I'm just a bit tender," Trev reassured her, appreciating her concern. "Did you get hit too?"

"Yes, but only once. If you can't endure a single blow as an assassin, you won't last one job," she chuckled.

"Where did it hit you? I was trying to reposition at the time, so I didn't see it," asked Trev, curiosity piqued.

Elena lifted her jacket, revealing a sizable round bruise on her stomach. Inadvertently, this action also provided Trev with a close-up view of her lacy, expensive-looking underwear, followed by a slight under-boob reveal. Maintaining her casual demeanour, she remarked.

"Just on my stomach. It got me good, wouldn't you agree?"

"Definitely," Trev replied awkwardly, slightly taken aback by the unexpected exposure.

Elena yawned and looked around the room. She then crawled up onto the bed and nestled her head on the pillow, tapping the spot beside her, beckoning Trev to lay down next to her. Not wanting to let the opportunity slip away, he joined her, positioning himself to face her. Without delay, Elena turned over, pushed herself against Trev and pulled his arm over her, promptly drifting off to sleep.