Chapter 11
His returning kiss was passionate, fierce. His beard was scratchy, his mouth slightly sour under the taste of bourbon. He wasn't Danse. This felt so wrong.
I had loved taking parts in plays in school and loved acting. This was the time to be the Oscar winner of faking it.
So, I gave a moan of delight.
He responded by gripping me hard by my hair and pulling me even closer. Ouch!
I felt his arousal pressing against my stomach, hard and urgent.
"Arthur, wait..." I said trying to pull away. He still had me by the hair.
His eyes, pupils dilated so much his eyes looked black, were out of focus.
I gently took his hands from their deathgrip in my hair.
I stepped back from him,
"I took the opportunity today to write up simple agreement and a treaty. I need us to sign them together before a witness, before we proceed further," I said rather breathlessly.
He looked at me blankly. Slowly, his eyes came back into focus, "You want me to read these now? Right now? Tonight?"
I glanced down, my eye drawn helplessly to the pronounced bulge in his BDUs.
"I'm sorry, but yes."
Here, sit, I will bring them." I semi- guided him to his own chair and produced the two documents. I refilled his shot glass and stood behind him, my breasts touching him.
"I can give you a recap, if you wish. I give you my word I won't leave something out."
He downed his shot glass in one gulp and said, "please do."
The first is our personal agreement. It simply says, and here, I'll fill in the amount of time, there..." I wrote, "three months, from January 14 to April 14th midnight, that we will abide by the treaty and that I will act as your faithful consort in all ways,and that I will then be released on aforesaid date in good standing with the Brotherhood. An honorable discharge. It also states that Danse has the same status as well." I rushed on, hoping the next statement would take the focus off Danse, "It also states that if a child comes from this union, I will raise the child, but I will bring him or her to meet you when he or she is born and then when he or she reaches the age of reason, the child can determine if he or she wishes to become a squire at that time or spend more time with you."
He growled, "I did not agree to that. You are a wretched, wily female! You ply me with good food and alcohol and your body, then bring this up?"
"Arthur, as to Danse, he is under the protection of the Minutemen. You have already given your word that those under their protection are to be honored by the Brotherhood and protected, and as to the child, I will not give up my baby. These are non-negotiable."
"Go on," he said, sighing a huge sigh. I rubbed his shoulders a bit and then put the treaty in front of him. I poured him another shot of bourbon and one for myself. I downed mine in one swallow too this time.
"The treaty simply states that those under the Minutemen's banner are considered as friends of the Brotherhood and if they come upon under attack the Brotherhood will aid them if they are in the area. It does not require that any troops be stationed at these places. In return for this aid, all farming settlements will offer 5 percent of their crops to the Brotherhood to make the support mutual. This will in time include products such as brahmin raised for meat and paper and other products we are beginning to produce.
Those under the Minutemen's protection will fly both a Minutemen flag and a Brotherhood of Steel flag, so as to make who receives these benefits obvious. If raiders or gunners or other groups begin to fly our colors, we will inform each other and quickly put an end to the imposters.
In support, any Brotherhood of Steel member in need of aid or rest will be welcomed at any of our settlements. Safe havens for your men, Arthur."
I massaged his tight shoulders until I could feel the knots loosen. He hung his head for a moment. He took another shot glass full of the bourbon and drank it down.
"I will call Quinlan to witness this. Then, we can get back to business, yes?" He was looking at me like a man in the desert seeing an oasis in the distance.
He was more than a little drunk. Actually, I was too. My alcohol tolerance had lowered since I drank so little. I always had to stay as sharp as possible in the field, so alcohol was a limited luxury.
He stood, wobbled a bit before he straightened his carriage to his usual regal posture. he went to the door and roared over the intercom for Quinlan to come to his quarters, double time.
Quinlan, who looked like he had been alseep, came in looking alarmed and bewildered, "Elder?" he asked, "What's amiss?"
"Nothing is amiss, Quinlan. I just need you to witness a treaty and an agreement."
"I need to peruse these dcouments, first, sir..."
Just sign the damn things, Quinlan, you can peruse them all you want later. I have already done so and am satisfied with them."
"Sir, I must protest..." but his words froze in his throat as Arthur bore down on him and fixed him with those steel eyes.
"You are questioning my judgment?" Arthur growled in a threatening voice.
"No, sir. Where do I sign?"
So I affixed my signature, then Arthur did and Quinlan with his I just bit into a lemon look signed on the witness line and dated it.
"Sir, if I could just..."
"Take them, then, damn it, and just get out!"
I poured myself another shot and drank it. I think I needed to be drunk for this.
