Sex by Francine Pascal Page B

front of her. She just seemed to have more balls than the average female. Who did that remind her of? She reminded Gaia of someone. Someone besides herself, that is.
    â€œYou’re
sure
you’re all right?” Gen asked again. “You look a little messed up.”
    â€œOh, yeah,” she replied, lying through her teeth as her vision began to dim. “I’m fine. But, uh… if it’s cool with you… I’m just going to pass out for a minute.”
    â€œCool.” Gen nodded, taking another puff on her cigarette.
    Who did Gen remind her of? Well, no time to figure it out now. Gaia nodded her thanks and then watched as Gen’s face turned an ugly shade of brown. And then there was just blackness.

 
    â€œPLEASE TRY TO REFRAIN FROM YOUR inane questions tonight,” Loki warned as he sat down in his chair with his laptop. “We have a great deal to cover, and I’ve only got a few minutes for this briefing.”
----
    Imperfection
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    Josh handed Loki his coffee and then walked across the wide bare floor to the leather couch. “Understood,” he said with a whimsical smile as he plopped down on the couch.
    His childlike demeanor made Loki pause with annoyance before sipping his coffee. He waited impatiently for Josh to appear more attentive, but the Cheshire-cat grin wouldn’t leave his face. It was as if Josh had told himself a joke that he simply couldn’t get over. Not only was it unprofessional, but it was also rather offensive, given the seriousness of all the various matters at hand.
    â€œWould you like to wipe that childish grin off your face?” Loki finally requested.
    Josh widened his eyes as if he’d been unaware that he was smiling and quickly shifted his expression to something more appropriate. “I’m sorry,” he murmured with compensatory seriousness.
    Loki made sure to glare at him for another few seconds just to be sure Josh would rid himself of any further distractions. “Can we proceed?” he asked,disgusted by the need to act as Josh’s kindergarten teacher.
    â€œYes, of course,” Josh assured him. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware I was smiling.”
    â€œFine” Loki said, sipping his coffee and turning one of the few lamps in his sparsely furnished loft closer to his laptop to examine his notes. “Now… the matter of the Fargo boy seems to have been handled.”
    â€œYes,” Josh agreed. “I understand she hasn’t made contact once since early this morning.”
    â€œYes, well, after your debacle with Sam Moon, I thought it better to nip this in the bud.”
    Josh lowered his head in shame and gulped his coffee. “I’m sure you’re right,” he mumbled, still much too childishly as far as Loki was concerned.
    â€œBesides,” Loki added, “there’s no reason Gaia should have to suffer through another painful situation like the mess with Moon. This separation is going to be far better for all parties involved. Excessive attachments would only complicate matters.”
    â€œI agree,” Josh said.
    Loki froze again before sipping his coffee, flashing Josh another disapproving glance. “I didn’t ask for your opinion,” he said flatly. He kept his eyes locked with Josh’s until he was confident that his point had been received. Josh let out a brief, uncomfortable sigh and scratched the back of his head.
    â€œI’m sorry,” he said, not so convincingly.
    Loki eyed Josh for another moment, trying toassess what might have gotten into him this evening. His lack of decorum was disheartening, to say the least. And his smiles could be described as nothing other than “goofy.” Loki had spent just about all of Josh’s life training him and his “brothers,” and while he understood that one must always leave room for error, Josh had been chalking up more than his usual share lately. Particularly