TITLE: Outlaw with a Heart of Gold

CHAPTER: 1, If I didn't care

"O father, what a hell of witchcraft lies

In the small orb of one particular tear."

—Shakespeare, A Lover's Complaint

She gives a man ideas. That's what she does.

Here I stand at the bottom of this pit that's all painted up like it's nighttime with stars and aliens and fuck knows what. I mean, shit. Was this supposed to fool anyone into thinking they were flying in space? So, me'n the Overboss been scouting through Nuka World for hours. There's a shit-ton of robot debris behind us, and the stink down here is rank enough to curl my toes, but she's determined to retrieve all seven of those star cores from Nuka Galaxy before we call it quits for the day. She ain't nothin' but a slip of a girl, but she ain't tired. I reckon she don't eat either, but I'm hungry enough to eat the ass-end out of a deathclaw. Maybe some of that good whiskey in Coulter's old place. It's her place now, but she don't care if I drink the good stuff. She's a good girl like that. Generous and smart and like I was saying nothing like any girl I've ever met. Goddamn, if she ain't as pretty and fresh as she was at dawn when I watched her come down that shabby elevator dressed in the cleanest pair of leathers I ever saw. She's got curves, too. Curves like no girl in this world ever had and damned if that leather don't pour over her body like some kinda golden oil. All that brown hair of hers glinting red and gold off the morning light is something to see. Ever since I watched her walk out of that arena leavin' ol'Coulter flat on his back like a squashed radroach, I ain't been able to take my eyes off her.

Aw, hell. Listen, what I know about women wouldn't fill a shot glass. Don't get me wrong, I ain't stupid. I know there's all kinds of 'em. Between me and the fence post, I'll admit to thinking about going a few rounds with that spitfire, Cait. But that's a different story for a different campfire. Anywho, some will cut your throat soon as look at you, some might give you a nice time for a price. Hell some might be the marry 'n have kids kind. Don't meet many of them though. Not in the crowds I run with. Most of the time, 'specially here. It's a don't stick your dick in crazy kinda world.

So like I said, I'm standing next to her at the bottom of this crazy-ass building. It's full of killer robots that's she's calling a ride. I call it a shooting gallery. I guess she means folks used to jump in these little cars and ride around on this track? That's just crazy, I say. You know what she did? I tried to stop her. Don't think I didn't. She walked the entire track just because she could. What if she'd fallen off? But, she didn't and laughed the whole way. Know something else? I'm watching her dig through yet another pile of shit and then she lifts another one of those pretty colored light-boards and laughs. Only it ain't the same laugh I heard this morning. It's high and shrill and sounds kinda, I dunno, desperate. It's so different than everything else about her. Then it hits me, and I put my hands on her shoulders without thinking twice.

I lowered my voice. "Nora?" But she froze, anyway and I reckon I heard her gasp. Then she dropped the damn star core. Just like that. What if it broke? Now she's brittle as a piece of old glass under my hands, but she hasn't moved, so I kept talking. "Look, I ain't much, but I am your friend and someone I think you've learned to trust."

She nodded slowly as she's nearly standing her toes every muscle in her body tense and vibrating.

"I got something to say. I been watching you get anxious instead of tired...right now you're pulled tighter than Maggie Black's ponytail. Haven't seen you eat or sleep longer than an hour since I met you. Let's take these cores and head back to the mountain. Before we go—now I'm blushing, and Porter Gage don't blush—I see how wound up you are and I reckon I know why. Shit, Nora. I'm trusting you enough to understand what I'm saying."

I'm in it now and I'm 'fraid to let go of her 'cause of what I might do. I'd never hurt her, but a man's got needs. What I should do it head over to the ampi'theater and grab one of those Pack girls. They ain't too clean but they can suck a paint can dry if you get my meaning. Dammit, this ain't about me. I'm in it now, and I'm 'fraid to let go of her 'cause of what I might do. I'd never hurt her, but a man's got needs.

"Boss, I ain't asking to be your man, but I am saying...I'm offerin' to take care of you... Just you and me aiming to get you somewhere between the way you are now and sleep."

She shook her head hard enough to make her hair swing free. The first brush of the fine, clean strands over my fingers ignited a fire that goes straight to my dick. Now I feel like just another of those rutting heathens that stare at her like she's a piece of meat. Her next words take the fire right outta me.

"I can't. Don't you understand? I can't stop. I have to keep moving. Or, I'-I'll start crying or screaming, or I'll jump off the top of that goddamn mountain."

She shivered and the tears she fought so hard to hide put a tone in her voice that tore a protective streak out in me. Shit. Me, Porter Gage, the heartless badass of Nuka World. I swallowed hard over the lump in my throat (most likely my pride) and took a step toward her. This close I could wrap her in my arms, but I knew better. 'Cause here's a woman who took shit from no one. Not a raider, not a ghoul and not that high tone bunch of BOS bastards. For the goddamn record, I want to stay it ain't easy being a gentleman when in your whole life you've never had to learn the subtler points of comfort and seduction. So while my dick tried to span the distance between me and that hot-as-fuck ass of hers, I managed to keep my voice calm—Jesus H. Christ—How'm I supposed to do that with my head emptying faster than blood out of a shot-up settler?

"You can't keep on like this," I said straight out. "It'll break you. It'll get you killed. I wouldn't like that. Wouldn't like that one bit." And that truth shook all the bravado right out of me, causing a lot of what 'ifs" to scare the piss outta me. Suck it up, Gage. "It'll be whatever you need. But something that never goes further than that room. I know you trust me, but I don't know that I understand how to treat a lady as fine and educated as you, but I do know something about the churning gut, and hot blood 'comes from fighting and killing like we done today...fuck, like we been doin' all week. You don't need to say nothing, baby. I'll wait for you in that nice room you set up for me down to the hall from you. You come to me if you've a mind to share."

I grabbed that fallen star core and headed for the exit, not even looking back to see if she followed.

Two hours later I'm scrubbed, shaved and wearing a clean pair of blue jeans and my favorite Nuka world t-shirt. Hell, I even changed my eyepatch into something that wouldn't scratch her soft skin...in case. You all know what I'm talking about. I waited for her and resisted the urge to open the bottle of whiskey. No. I wouldn't drink unless she joined me. Just about the time I gave up waiting and decided to empty that bottle (without the use of a glass,) the door at the end of the hallway creaked open. Then like some green settlement boy, my heart exploded in a shower of nerves that set my gut churning like a mutant's cook pot.

Footsteps, then the soap clean scent of her floated to me. Smelling of sweat and burned sunlight or clean... I didn't really care. She's a stunner either way. My fingers twitched with the need to touch her hair...because it would be soft and warm. Would she allow me to stay with her...love her? Big mistake Gage. What would I expect from her? The bottle disappeared from the table and behind me, I heard the slosh of whiskey in a glass. Okay. Good a starting place as any.

"What do you want from me, Gage?" She asked in a voice that sounded nothing like a general or a knight.

"Nothing, boss. Not a damn thing you ain't ready to give. You already showed me more friendship and faith than anyone ever. Shit, baby. Truth is I'd love to kiss you, dreamed about it, but we ain't here for me."

I know she's right behind me, but she's quiet...maybe she's shy? I know'd she was married, but perhaps she ain't that experienced. That's okay, 'cause o'l Gage will take care of her. She's close enough to hand me a glass. When she reached around in front of me her hand shook, and the whiskey sloshed onto her fingers. I took our glasses and set them down. Then I took her hand and raised it to my lips. When she didn't flinch, I washed her skin with my tongue.

I ain't no good at this romance shit. Shouldn't be tryin' it. I tugged her toward me, and she covered the space between us, and now she's in my arms with those long fingers spread over my back. I couldn't stop myself from burying my face in her hair. Goddamn, it feels good for her to be holding on to me with her head resting against my chest.

"Good girl. You're something special, you know that?"

Her face twisted against my chest. "I'm nothing like that. I'm a housewife with a useless law degree, and now I'm a..."

"Hush," I whispered and turned her face up to mine, and kissed her. Didn't I make myself a promise? The hell with it. I kissed her. I tried to pull away...I'd promised her. But goddamn she's sweet. When she rose on her toes, I let her press her body against mine. My obvious desire for her pressed against her thigh. She didn't pull away. Instead, she pressed closer, wrapped her arms around my neck and chased my mouth until she caught me. And that's about the time she slipped her tongue between my lips and I realized she wasn't exactly dressed in the usual worn clothes you might expect.

I straight-armed her, and my action set her breasts bouncing in a way that made my throat close, and the room tilt. Know why? Cause the only thing covering those beauties was the white fabric...my eyes traveled downwards to the full black belt cinching her waist, and rounding those baby-hips of hers round into the stretchy fabric. Those fucking boots go nearly up to her crotch where I can see...sweet Jesus, my own personal Nuka Girl ain't wearing no underwear.

"Baby." Came out of my mouth like I dunno, not like the man I thought I was five minutes ago. And, "Where did you get that?" Fell out of my mouth next sounding like I was her father.

"Where do you think I got it?" She said and laughed her fingers curling into my shirt and just like that my nice clean Nuka World t-shirt went flying. The first touch of fingers...She's tickling me by dragging her fingertips over my stomach. Does she like what she sees? No, I'm not asking her. Not now. Not ever. Now, who the hell thought old Porter Gage would end up in the arms of such a classy broad? Not me that's for damn sure. So before I start babbling like a kid, I reached for the buttons at the rise of her breasts. Should I touch her or just tear the buttons right off? Should I let her do it herself? She answered for me when she wrapped her hands around mine, stopping me from opening the skimpy shirt.

"Is this okay?" She murmured while a blush turned the pale skin on her breasts and neck a shade of pink that turned me into a hungry wolf. Slow down, Gage. Just slow the fuck down.

"Like you have to ask." Cause here I was thinking...Never mind what I thought...Tired of thinking. "Let me take care of you."

She released my hands to answer me. So I slid one arm around her waist and hauled her close, while my other pulled the fabric until her breasts tumbled into my hand.

"You fed your son with these didn't you?" I said all breathless like a damn kid. Now you see what all these thoughts about love and taken' care of folks does to your insides. Turns 'em into a pile of ghoul goo. Then she says the one thing that completely undoes me. No, I don't know why. It just did.

"Yes."

Maybe it was because all of a sudden I wanted to be the one to put a baby in her. Shit. Shit. Shit. I'm losing it. I tugged on her earlobe with my teeth, "You pay attention, Boss. Don't let me do anything that won't make you feel good. You understand?" I slid my hands down over her ass and lifted her against me. When my knees hit the bed, I sat down with her straddling my legs. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I...Oh shit, I didn't mean...not like that. Shit. Fuck. Piss. Damn.

She arched her back when I pressed a tentative kiss to her chest. Whatever my pretty girl needs, I thought with a grin that stretched wide enough to feed on the soft flesh of her rounded breast. My right hand palmed the other breast the nipple responding to my touch by hardening against my palm. Her breath is coming hard and fast, so I fisted her breast letting my fingers slip over her wet skin twisting the nipple soaked from my kisses. Well, that lite a fire under her, and she bit my shoulder.

Then she grabbed my face, tilted my head back and crushed her lips to mine. Her kisses turned sloppy when she stuttered, "Don't stop." And dropped her ass against my thigh. I swear the wet heat of her soaked into my jeans making my dick twitch in protest of the confining fabric. I went back to work, alternating between the hard flesh and them pointy nipples. Aint it great that women come with two of these? One for each hand. Am I right? Christ, she's hot, and I'm pretty sure about to come. I bit into the heated skin allowing my teeth to scratch the hard nipple.

She jerked against my mouth sank her nails into my shoulder. The sound of my name on the exhale of her orgasm nearly had me losing my load. Honest to god I had to lift her pretty ass away from my dick. One more touch and I'll explode. I did let her hold onto me while she caught her breath. Then I laid her down against the clean sheets. My hands slid down the boots where I can feel the firm muscles. Bet she didn't have 'em before she woke up in this world. Hours, miles, days of walking turned her already healthy body into rounded muscles covered with velvet skin. Before I reached for her waistband, I glanced up for permission. Heavy-lidded eyes and a slow smile told me all I needed to know. Alright then. Off with the pants.

Wait, now I could see where she soaked right through...Then once again she made a choice for me and caught my head with her legs and dragged me down. What a way to go. Right? Protected by the fabric I could use my teeth and mouth on her. So I feasted on her alternately battering her flesh with my tongue and dragging my teeth over that sweet little mound. I kept at it until started begging me to fuck her. Well, come to Jesus, baby. I made short work of those boots and skin-tight pants. She's naked to me now and the sight of the wet curls between her legs glistening in the candlelight made me hungry for a taste of her.

"You look uncomfortable," she said as if we weren't doing more than enjoying a couple of beers at the Third Rail.

"Baby, you're sweet, but I don't dare let him out. I think you know what I mean." She pouted and said in a way that made me want to strip down and tie a bow around my dick.

"You said you would take care of me., but who takes care of you?"

"Usually my right hand," I replied truthfully and settled between her long legs. I pressed a kiss to her lips, and she licked my lower lip than damn if she didn't nip at my mouth. My hand caught her hands undoing the top button of my jeans. "Stop," I said. Then I'm reminded that the Overboss with her strong, calloused hands is also a general and a knight. My jeans opened. Hey, I obey orders. But now she's pushing me back and rising over me.

"Awe baby, what're you doin'?"

"I always wanted to try this, but my husband wouldn't ...didn't want me to."

My dick leaped into her hands she gather me up and spread her fingers around me. Well, hell. Two could play at this little game. I could take her mind off jerking me off. I swiveled around and when I kissed her curls she groaned my name and tilted her hips toward me.

"All you want." I deepened the kiss by sliding my tongue inside the swollen needy lips of her pussy. Nora parted her thighs for me, and I helped myself when her clit came out to greet me. I slid two fingers inside her and got down to work. She tasted sweet and sharp like piss and sweat and woman. Goddamn, it's been a long time since I'd been with a girl clean and pretty enough to make me want this.

While she worked her hips against my fingers, I sucked on her clit then flicked my touch across it like I did her nipples. I glanced in her direction her hands were fisted into the sheets. She was almost there. I could feel her muscles clenching at my fingers. Her breath came out in short little gasps. I pushed my tongue against her clit and sucked at her lips.

Time stood still when she gave a small cry and stopped breathing. While I'm congratulating myself on a job well done she screamed. That's my good baby, I thought to myself as she bucked her hips against my mouth.

"Ain't you something, boss."

Thinking I'd gotten her mind off my dick, I let her catch her breath and just enjoyed her allowing me to hold her. She had other ideas—I should have known right?—With a quick turn my dick found itself between her lips. Before I could pull away, she took hold of me and swallowed as much of me as she could. Just swallowed me down...Goodbye world, I'm dying.

"Sweet-fucking...Boss...There's gonna be a point...Shit. How in the hell...You don't even know...Nora!" I shouted when she licked a strip from my bunghole through my balls and up my dick. I let her play until I couldn't take it anymore and hauled her back up to face me.

"Gage?"

I knew what she wanted. "Ain't gonna do that, baby. Look, I know you been married…"

"I want you to fuck me. Now. Then I want you to pull out and let me watch you…"

Do you have any idea what it does to a man to hear that word out of the pouty lips of a badass lady like Nora? Maybe you do, I don't know. But I can tell you what it did to me and quick as I flipped her around, lifted her hips and I buried myself in her. And wasn't it just all the fuck there, too. The hot muscles clenching my dick, bathing me in her sweet juices, teasing me and kissing me, no, fucking me with her tongue covered in the taste of both of us driving me over the edge of sanity. I felt her legs wrap around my waist and that was the end of me. My body released into her. Blinding me with white light and sending into a fucking tailspin of things I ain't never felt before. Oh, damn. I forgot. She'd wanted to watch me. No problem. That won't take long. Just a few minutes. I just rested my head on those beautiful breasts of hers.

Red-eye woke me with something about "The real deal." He is so full of shit. Then I remembered, fuck-yeah my time with Nora had been the real deal. Hell, yeah. I reached for her. Took a minute...how far could she get? All I found was a yellowed piece of paper.

Gage

Thanks for last night. I...well, I don't know what to say, except you were right. I needed a mini-vacation. But now It's time I got back to the Commonwealth. Danse is waiting for me with a list of missions and Preston is, Preston and keeps me busy. There's also a list of settlements flashing on my pip-boy that need my help, so it might be a while until I circle back to Nuka World. Before I leave, I'm meeting William for breakfast. I Don't know what he wants to talk about so it's best that I stop by The Parlor. Take care.

Nora