We complete the contract.

You and Delilah have to fight the urge to sleep. After expending so much energy in your last “interaction” with each other, it was easy to lay on your back, buck naked in your tent and just cuddle with each other. Delilah almost drifted off twice, but you shook yourself awake and got cleaned up after about 10 minutes of recovering.

Delilah got up next, though with notable ****. Then, when you were both ready to go back outside, Delilah pulled you back into the tent and kissed you. It was a different kiss than the sloppy ones you were laying on top of her from earlier.

She stared at you and smiled. It was small, but it was endearing and serious. You blinked and asked her if anything was wrong.

“I love you, Warren.” Delilah says. Her eyes are fixed on yours. “I couldn’t live without you now that you’ve shown, like…real love to me.”

A lump the size of an acorn forms at the base of your throat. Suddenly, you find it hard to breathe, so you swallow and let out an awkward chuckle. You had feelings for Delilah, but you hadn’t changed your style around people that much. You had slept with countless strangers since you took Delilah’s virginity, and you continued to forget about her even after expanding your relationship with her. As you looked at her, you realized that if she found out what you’ve done with the sub-humans, it would destroy her.

You rub the back of your neck and then clear your throat. “Jeez, Delilah. You don’t need to tell me that. I love you too.”

When you try to leave the tent, she grabs you again. She’s shaking her head. “Warren, I’m serious. I love you.” She’s on the verge of crying. Delilah is giving you a serious vibe check, and so far, you’re failing every level.

“I don’t know what to say,” you feel embarrassed. Delilah has invested a lot of emotions in you. You have done the same with Delilah, but nowhere near the same league. “I care about you too.”

Delilah looks down like she was hoping you’d say something else. “I- Warren- I’m in love with you. I think maybe we should talk a little bit more about what we should do with each other. I know you’re leaving when the weather gets better, and I don’t want to be known as a fling to you.”

“You’re much more than a fling, Delilah. I can promise you that.” You gesture around and then look at her. “I even took you out to one of my contracts because I trust you.”

“No, there’s more to it than just all of this,” Delilah counters. “I’m scared to bring this up to you because I don’t want you to think I’m clingy or weird, or-or anything else. I just… I just want to be with you.”

“I don’t think you’re either weird or clingy or anything else. Where is all of this coming from right now? Maybe we should talk about this some other time when we’re not in hunting for a wild animal.”

Delilah looks down and nods. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,” you manage. “We’ll talk about us when we’re in a better place to talk.”

Something is mumbled under her breath, probably the irony of not being able to talk after doing everything you just did.

…

…

The following two days are spent outside at your campsite. The results of your contract are precisely what you’re hoping for. A dead animal that was far more mutated than you expected. It was a black bear with three eyes and claws the size of full-grown grizzly’s.

To be honest, it might have been the **** of you if you were alone. Delilah’s help was vital to your success. She even spotted the monster while you were plucking the mud off the sides of your boots.

When you cash in the contract, your client attempt to underpay you, saying that if it was just for a legged animal, he might have been able to do it himself. You perked your chin up and started to say something, but Delilah butted in before you could tell what was on your mind.

To your amazement, Delilah actually got reasonably vocal about her opinion. She managed not to insult your client directly, but once she was done, he did seem a little embarrassed by trying to undermine your payment.

You spend one more night at the Sage Lodge, letting the week filter inside your head in chapters that you thoroughly review as the white noise of the room envelops you.

There’s too much **** material to be used against you if you continue your relationship with Delilah. Have it be that waitress or that store clerk from Highlight. You also consider the fox girls. You wouldn’t suspect them of doing anything they weren’t supposed to, but at the same time, if they made a slip-up or somehow mentioned your sexual interactions with them while Delilah was within earshot, it’d do more than upset her…

You flip and turn, sighing with a sober mind that weighs as much as a brick. You could seriously hurt Delilah if any of your unfaithful acts came to light. It had been a long time since you’ve felt anything like this for anyone you knew, especially this intimately.

You look at the window of your room where you laid; the sky outside is bright, indicating snowy weather has taken place now. Delilah is gently snoring behind you, keeping your mind grounded on the day's main subject… “What now?”