It would have been easier. But I kicked it. I don’t want to be alone tonight, Denise. Please?” I’m not sure if it was my body language, or her n...ed for some kind of human contact, or the vulnerability of our loneliness being reflected, but it felt natural for me to open up my arms and let her step into my embrace. A simple hug, or it would have been. She, however, had other ideas, tilting her head up and parting her lips. I felt her breath quickening, her breasts pressing against me, and yes, I. And we’d durther not winnow Battlefleet Calixus down to half strength to root every single damn Dominate out of this place, not while that bloody ork, Grimtoof is mustering his strength. So, we take the surrender, smile, clap hands with him and...”“And the Imperium’s memory is long,” Vynn muttered.“Aye,” Reynoldes said. “But be polite. Don’t tell the bloody traitor that you’d durther space him.”Vynn frowned. “How many Dominate assets are still intact, ma’am?”Reynoldes paused. “We’re in orbit. Sy fervently hoped that his other daughters could find the happiness and satisfaction in life that his Alana had with him.As Sy started down Alana's torso, she tensed for a moment, then relaxed. Sy realized that she was worried about Frank's leavings. Then he felt the slight tingle of teleportation, and chuckled as he figured out that Alana had 'cleansed' herself. That had been, after all, one of the first tricks she'd learned – even before she'd learned to teleport her entire body from one. "I'll talk to you later," Lynne said."Got it," I said. And then, for reasons I still can't explain to this day, I said "I love you both," and turned around and left. I got my shoes and socks and carried them to my room. What I really wanted was to take a shower, but I thought that might seem somewhat cavalier, so I turned on my reading light and got the pencil puzzle book I was currently working on. Lying on my front, I got the pillow situated under my chest and, with pencil poised, I opened.