Window Shades in LA
How could I leave it all up to you?
“Window Shades” - U.S. Girls
Judy and I explored each other with an eager desperation. We both knew that our time together could be cut short at any moment. Although that pressing fate caused us both deep grief and anxiety, goddamn the feverish need to connect physically amplified. Our mutual desire and desperation to savor each moment made each sexual encounter that much more intense. In these moments, I never wanted each kiss, touch, or noise to end.
Glowing, dewey, and satisfied, Judy’s body relaxed from beneath me. I had decided to return the favor of tasting her heat, after she had so generously satisfied me our night at Laguna Bend.
I crawled off of her and laid myself down, wrapping my arm across her waist. Judy turned into me and nuzzled her face into the crook of my neck. Her hot breaths coated my skin as she slowly came down from her climax.
“Wow, V.” She breathed, letting a small chuckle escape her lips.
Judy gently kissed my neck and wrapped her arm and leg over my torso, cuddling closer to me.
I laughed a bit and pressed my lips into a kiss on the top of her head, bringing my hand up to stroke her hair.
“Need more?” I asked mischievously, pulling her body closer.
Judy laughed and gently shook her head.
“I think that would just send me straight into cyberpsychosis.” She replied through giggles.
I kissed her head again and ran my fingers up and down her back.
“Fair enough.” I murmured in response.
“V, I-” Judy choked out after a few moments of blissful silence.
“Hm?” I hummed into her head.
Judy pulled away from me, tilting her head so that she could look deeply into my eyes. She lightly grasped the side of my head and gingerly stroked my cheek with her thumb.
“I don’t remember the last time I was this happy.” She cooed.
I smiled dumbly at her words, butterflies exploding in my stomach made me lose any control over my facial expression. Judy returned the smile and placed a soft kiss on my lips.
“You sure that ain’t the sex talkin’?” I joked.
Judy rolled her eyes and smiled some more, shaking her head.
“Fuckin’ gonk.” She muttered.
I chuckled and pecked her on the lips again, a silent apology for my “gonkness”.
“You make me so fuckin’ happy, Jude.” I whispered, burying my face into her neck.
Judy hummed with satisfaction and began playing with my hair.
Never would I have thought that the braindance technician I met at Lizzie’s would end up meaning this much to me. Sure, I had a fat crush on her as soon as I saw her, but with my inevitable fate I didn’t think I would ever find romance, let alone love.
Love… I thought to myself.
Goddammit, I love her.
***
Morning rays gleamed in through the window shades. My eyes fluttered open, abruptly remembering where I was. Judy’s lips suddenly kissed my cheek, causing me to smile goofily.
“Mornin’” She cooed, stroking her fingers along my abdomen.
“Mm, mornin’ to you” I hummed, softly kissing her lips.
Judy kissed back and pulled away, smiling at me with a childish giddiness. I bit my lip and leaned up a bit, resting my weight on my forearms. I brought my face closer to hers, meeting her lips to mine with a sudden hunger. Judy resisted, letting our lips graze before she pulled her face away, looking at me with a mischievous smirk smeared across her lips. She giggled and rested her hand on the side of my hip, squeezing it.
“Makin’ me work for it, huh?” I hissed playfully as I sat up more.
Judy giggled and scooted away, keeping her seductive eye contact. She bit her lip and suddenly straddled her legs around my waist, resting in my lap. Judy wrapped her arms around my neck and leaned in for a kiss. I brought my face closer, brushing my lips against hers before she pulled away at the last moment. My face must have looked real stupid, because she burst into a maniacal fit of laughter.
“You’re so cute.” She murmured, bringing her face back to mine.
Finally, she allowed our lips to meet. I desired a hot, passionate kiss, but Judy was in control. She kissed me softly, parting her lips slowly and gently dragging her tongue along the length of my bottom lip.
I had enough with the teasing, and slid my fingers through her hair. I gently tugged the strands in my grasp, while pressing my face harder against her. The action forced the kiss to become hotter, more desperate and longing. Just as Judy was about to return the hunger, a loud knock stormed on our door.
“Shit,” I hissed.
Judy cackled in amusement, knowing fully that my plan to take her to climax was foiled. I released my hands from her hair and sneered in the direction of the door.
“V, hurry up, we’re making breakfast out here!” Panam’s voice boomed from behind the metal door.
“Just a minute!” I shouted back.
After my response was met with silence, I fixated my attention back to Judy who was still resting in my lap. I pulled my arms around her waist and brought her body close to me, pressing a hot kiss into her collarbone. I hungrily bit her skin, silently telling her my desires. Judy laughed and rubbed her hands along the length of my back, pressing her face into my neck. She playfully nibbled at my earlobe, causing a soft moan to escape my lips.
“Calabacita…” She murmured, “We gotta get ready.”
I groaned with disappointment before Judy pressed a soft kiss to my lips. She sat herself up and removed herself from the bed. I looked over at her, eyeing her naked body as she stood before me. I subconsciously bit my lip as I took every inch of her in.
Judy chuckled and reached her hand out, gesturing for me to take it.
“C’mon V, they’ll know somethin’s up.” She smiled and shook her head.
I reluctantly took her hand and sat myself up. Judy guided me in the direction of the bathroom, releasing my hand as she entered the shower and turned it on. I leaned against the sink, nonchalantly looking her up and down. Judy stood under the shower water, letting it run over her head, back facing me. She glanced seductively over her shoulder at me and smirked.
“You just gonna stand there and watch, or do ya wanna join me in here?” She cooed.
I sauntered over to Judy and joined her in the shower. The warm water felt amazing on my sun-worn skin.
“Let’s kill two birds with one stone… Catch my drift?” Judy murmured, wrapping her arms around my waist.
“Oh, I catch it completely.”
***
After our shower, I put on the clothes I had put into the overnight bag. A loose black muscle tank and some baggy cargo shorts. The heat around SoCal is no joke. I laced up my boots and grabbed Judy’s hand as we exited the motel room. Judy had decided to wear one of my baggy t-shirts and some lowrise jeans. Her abdomen peekaboo’d out from under the shirt, causing me to instinctively wrap my arm around her exposed skin. I playfully squeezed her hip, causing her to erupt in giggles.
“Ticklish, hm?” I whispered in her ear.
She nudged my shoulder and jokingly scowled at me.
“Do not take advantage of that information.” She hissed, kissing me on the cheek.
“Can you two knock it off, some of us are lonely out here.” Panam shouted from behind her truck.
The Aldecaldos had created a tailgate type situation, grills hissing from the beds of their trucks. Many were seated on the edges of their truck beds, laughing, eating, and talking amongst themselves. I smirked cockily in response to Panam’s comment.
Jealous, much?
Panam strolled over to us, two plates in hand. She smiled warmly at me and handed Judy and I the tableware.
“Made some grub for you both, hope you like synthbacon and eggs!” Panam exclaimed happily.
Judy smiled and took the plate, reaching out with her other hand to gently squeeze the Aldecaldo leader’s shoulder.
“Thank you, that sounds amazing.” Judy said, smiling some more.
“Thanks, Pan. Too kind of you.” I chimed in, taking the plate and walking over to her Thorton.
There was a small, portable grill laying on a foldout table in front of Panam’s truck. A large, lightweight skillet lay on top of the grill. Two healthy portions of food steamed from the pan. Panam smirked and reached down into a small cooler, pulling out two cans of iced coffee. She handed Judy and I one and we happily cracked them open. I took a long swig, burped, and then started helping myself to the food in front of me.
“V, you’re seriously going to burp like a wildebeest in front of your output?” Panam joked, chuckling.
Judy giggled and brought herself next to me, gently placing some food on her plate. I had already begun stuffing my face, satisfying the hunger that was triggered by Judy and my “activities”.
Between chews, “She’s heard it all by now.” I remarked, shoveling more food into my mouth.
“Someone’s hungry…” Judy mused jokingly as she began to eat.
I smirked and knocked my hip into Judy’s, teasingly.
“Ahem, um- feel free to take a seat.” Panam said, rolling her eyes at our exchange.
Judy and I snickered to ourselves like schoolkids as we leaned ourselves against the bed of Panam’s truck.
“I wanted to talk to you both about our next steps. Is that alright?” Panam declared, resting her body against the side of the Thorton.
I nodded and continued eating.
“Yeah, ‘course.” Judy replied, placing her finished plate to the side.
“Alright, so, V? ‘Member what I told you about the guy’s guy?” Panam asked.
I nodded, still chewing. Didn’t want to speak with my mouth full, so as to avoid another remark on how I’m “disgusting”.
“Preem. So, I contacted the guy, name’s Nate. Good kid, ran into him some years back doing a cargo smuggle. We had spent some time camping out and shit, and he told me about Pablo, the ex-neurosurgeon. ‘Parently they did some work together back in the day, yadayadayada. Anywho, he agreed to meet with us in New Vegas. Him and his clan have been camping out there for a couple months now. I guess it’s one of the major smuggling ports in the southwest.” Panam drawled, looking over at us.
“So, I’m thinking we pay Nate a visit. Gather some intel, maybe do a few gigs for him while we’re there. I know, I know, we shouldn’t waste any time getting to Pablo… But we’re gonna need the money and supplies.” Panam muttered, anxiety suddenly clouding her words.
I nodded, taking in the information she was spewing at us. Seems reasonable enough, I thought.
I smirked, “Sounds like a plan.”
“Sweet. So you’re not worried about the possibility of spending a week or so in Vegas?” Panam asked, eyebrow raised.
I glanced over at Judy to see if she had any input. She looked at me and shrugged, and then glanced over at Panam.
“As long as V’s okay with it, I am too. Who knows, maybe there’s some biz out there for me too.” Judy remarked.
I grinned and looked over at Panam, who was now smiling with satisfaction.
I nodded and placed a hand on Panam’s shoulder, “Thanks… For this… For everything.”
“Don’t you worry your sweet head, we’re gonna take care of you, V.” Panam mused.
She suddenly fixed her gaze over to Judy, who looked up at her and tilted her head to the side.
“Judy, have you been looking into that stuff we talked about at all?” Panam asked.
Judy looked at me briefly and then back over to the Aldecaldo.
“Yeah, it seems pretty doable so far. If I’m bein’ honest, some down time in Vegas might just buy me enough time to feel more comfy ‘bout it.” Judy replied.
“Huh?” I remarked, confused about the interaction.
Are they planning something behind my back? Why haven’t they filled me in on anything?
Judy rested her hand on my thigh, giving it a tender squeeze. She looked up at me and smiled, a sudden reassurance that soothed my anxiety.
“Panam and I have been discussin’ some ways I can help, with uh-” She poked my head, “That.”
I furrowed my brows. I looked between the two girls back and forth, desperately wanting to hear more.
“Judy knows some things about implants, as you already know, V. She has been tinkering with some cognitive implants, sort of like the doll chips they use at Clouds. She thinks if she’s able to fully master and test the tech, she might be able to give you an implant that is, well, you.” Panam went on.
Judy held her hand up and sighed, “Basically, V, I’m thinking I could activate a ‘doll chip’ that would allow you to be yourself at all times. Hopefully with some time, the information on the chip will be enough for your body to begin recognizing itself again, ya know, slowing the decaying process. It sounds insane, I know, but I’m thinking it can work. If this doc, Pablo, can remove the engram, this chip might be able to replace it and begin rewiring your brain again… But this time, rewiring it back to yourself.”
I cocked my head to the side, taking in the information.
“V, I really think it could work. You and I… We gotta start spending some time together, perfecting this. I’ve done extensive research on this tech. It’s still in early development, but the studies I’ve read say that despite the brain having experienced major damage, its plasticity remains. There’s still a lot of you in there. You just gotta exercise those parts, and then the ‘doll chip’ will allow it to grow fully.” Judy went on.
Damn, she’s hot as fuck when she talks tech, I thought to myself.
I grinned and placed my hand over Judy’s. I gave it a firm squeeze and nodded at her, then shifted my gaze over to Panam.
“We’re goin’ to Vegas, baby!”