I have nothing to talk about here.  I can tell you that we're almost done with Chapter 1 and I thank everyone who has hung around and enjoyed the ride with me.  I guess this is a fair enough time to point out that while this story is an ephemeral work in progress, I do have a couple of other--COMPLETED--written stories.  Check out the books link above, or just hop on over to my lulu.com page for direct access.

1.8 is after the break!

There was something about this woman--besides the indifference, the lack of an immediate attraction to me, and the less than rosy opinion of Ferris wheels--there was something deliciously unsettling about her that had me mesmerized.

"What are you in for?" she asked dryly, not bothering to even glance at me.

I had to proceed carefully and be wise with my choice of words. This woman was nothing like the other surface-dwellers (for all I knew, she wasn't one) and my usual strategies for this game didn't apply. So I chose, for lack of a better alternative, honesty.

"The only reason any sane person would ride the Ferris wheel," I said, hoping to achieve a tone of lightness that would masquerade the deep concentration I felt myself slipping into. "I'm on a date."

My companion finally looked at me for longer than a quick glance. I rewarded this display of attention with a smile that practically oozed charm from my gum-line.

"She brought a friend that couldn't bear the thought of being separated for the duration of the ride," I explained.

"If you're telling the truth," my companion replied, "then you must be quite the little bitch, huh?"

I didn't blink nor did I miss a beat. "Either that or I must not really care too much about the girl in the first place."

Her eyebrow twitched as did my erection. "A girl? I was sure it'd be a guy. You just strike me as the kind of person only too eager to take a load or three in the mouth."

She wouldn't have been able to turn me on any more if she ripped off her clothes and started sucking me off right there. I tried another variation of one of my dazzling smiles. I needed to make some headway fast or or this opportunity would be gone forever.

"If that were the case, I'd never have the pleasure of suffering the surely delightful wrath of someone such as yourself," I said smoothly. And then, "I can only begin to imagine what a shame that would be."

And that was it. For the first time, my dark companion actually looked into my eyes. Our gazes locked and I injected as much charm and charisma into my eyes as I could muster. Seconds ticked by and she didn't look away. I watched as she searched my eyes--I could feel her acknowledge those surface qualities I had so carefully manufactured and then simply brush them aside as though she had glimpsed something else and it was that which she now sought, not the fake charm and charisma.