The Date (to end all dates?)

After ending your research session, you start getting ready for your Big Date. Best suit, slate grey shirt, no tie, dark slacks, black shoes - very understated, very sexy. Ellen, however, finds all this to be quite amussing.

"Ooh, you're looking very tasty, my darling! You're not going to pop the question, are you, baby? While I adore Neha, it's way too early for you to be thinking about marriage! At least wait until you've graduated college! And also, what about the ring? Every girl _deserves _a nice rock! And wear a tie, you reprobate!"

Just... ugh.

Batting away Ellen's final attempts at fussing, you leave the house and grab an autocab to Neha's house. After briefly exchanging small talk with her parents, you wait anxiously for her to descend from her room. And when she does, she doesn't disappoint.

She's wearing a maroon halter dress, very low cut. There is a long slit on one side from which you get flashes of her long legs. As you reach out to her, you find that the dress is backless to boot. Your mouth is dry and heart is pounding. This is so much better, so much more beautiful, so much sexier than anything you saw in Selene's demented simulations.

"Well, I have to say that I like that reaction, darling," she says, voice sultry, as she gently closes your open mouth. "Shall we?"

The ride to Niobe's is a blur, and you are lost in her eyes, her cleavage, in the little flashes of leg, in her flirting and soft touches. The dinner itself is exquisite- Niobe is something of a local hero for a reason, it seems. The food is delicious and innovative. You both delight in the experience. The cost was worth it, especially given the company.

When you get to the grand, you can't help but share a grin with the receptionist, who knows exactly what's going to happen. Through the elevator ride, you gently run your hand up and down her bare back, delighting in the goosebumps you cause her. And when you get to your room...

You and Neha attack each other even before the door slammed shut, tongues battling desperately. You've already shucked your shoes and jacket, and her quick, clever hands are making short work of your belt and slacks. You quickly undo the knot holding the dress together, and she steps out of it... In the dim light of the hotel room, her supple body looks incredible. You kiss her again, urgently but more softly than before - this is a night to savor, after all. You sit side by side on the bed, lips teasing each other, before you start kissing down her body. First her neck, then each breast, then her stomach... she spreads her legs in anticipation, and you get on your knees and begin to kiss her vulva. She gasps and digs her fingers into your back whenever she especially likes what you're doing. As she gets closer, she holds your head between her thighs, and comes, arching her back, one hand clenching your hair like her life depended on it. You push yourself up on her thighs, grinning at her through her juices. Her eyes are fiery, and she grabs you for another heated kiss, before swapping places with you.

She looks up at you from between your knees, one hand gently stroking your cock, eyes adoring. She starts by gently kissing the tip, and running gentle kisses up and down the shaft... you close your eyes, and clutch the bedsheets... this is her show, and doesn't need your help. You open your eyes when the kisses turn to licks, and she runs her tongue down your shaft. Then, finally, she takes you fully in her mouth, starting slowly, then speeding up, then slowing down again... it's exquisite, and its torturous. Finally, you've had enough, and gently disengage her mouth. You pull her onto the bed and kiss her again, before entering her. Your rhythm is slow and sensual, each movement to be savored. As you grow closer, you pick up the pace, and you're rewarded with her hips bucking back against you, hard. She clenches around you, and digs her nails into your back as she comes, and with a few **** thrusts, you join her, before slumping down against her. She kisses you, intertwining her legs with yours, enjoying your weight on top of her. Finally, you disengage, and lie down on your back. Neha eagerly joins you, plastering herself to you, tucking her head into the crook of your neck. You wait until you regain your breath, now enjoying her warm body pressed against yours, and you whisper soft words of love to one another.

You'll regain your strength three more times this night. The first time, you'll take her from behind, hard and fast and ****, hand grasping her hair, her arm braced against the headboard... the second time is also ****, but this time, she rides you, her hands clasping yours above your head, as your reach up to suck her nipples. The last time, you're both tired, and it's slow, and talkative, and fun, and you fall asleep soon after...

***

When you wake up, you find she's already awake, naked and puttering about in the bathroom. You join her, and the two of you enjoy the lavish shower together, making love one last time. You gently towel each other down, before returning to the bedroom itself. You have around an hour until you have to check out.

Naked, but now clean, you grab a blanket and curl up together on the divan.

"What did you find out?" Neha asks softly, her head on your shoulder.

"Something interesting - the bridge from Zygmus to Selene. See, Zygmus has a guy called Orlov on the board. That same Orlov is on the boards of Bastion Financial, and an AI firm called Intelligentsia, which gave a ton of money to Selene when she was at the Slim Institute. Intelligentsia had nebulous ethics complaints against it, and those complaints caused Selene to lose her job there... and then she basically vanishes until she shows up here."

"Wow", she says, looking up at you. "Very good!"

You preen for a moment, basking in her admiration. "But there's still a problem. It still doesn't tell us a damn thing about why she and whoever 'they' are were following you and my dad. What's the connection?"

A troubled look crosses Neha's face. "I don't know... and the fact that Bastion's involved... they're one of the largest financial firms in history. What did I do to them? Or your dad?"

You have no answers, and can only offer hollow comfort. Eventually, you get dressed and check out. Neha looks on the verge of tears, and you make the autocab stop early so you can enjoy a longer walk back together. Together, arms wrapped around each other, you walk her home, her heels clutched in he hand.

When you draw close to her house, you take a deep breath.

"So this is it."

"This is it." she sighs, drawing out the words. "We are going to be 'separated'."

"Separated. I think I hate that word," you say, earning a snort.

"Do you have the codeword?" you ask.

"Silkworm. Yours?"

"Damn, that's a good one. Mine's drainage."

"Mind in the sewer, as per usual I see," she quips, and you share a watery laugh.

"The chat program is here," and you pull a small flashdrive out of your coat pocket. "Keep this safe."

"I will, " she says, taking it from you. "We can test it out tonight. Say at midnight."

She stops. You've reached her front yard. She turns to you.

"One last kiss for the road?"

"Let's make this count."

The kiss you share is long, and almost chaste, but in the end, you can feel wetness on your cheeks - whether the tears are yours or hers, you cannot say. She pats your chest, and you watch her walk away.