Page 8 of Sanctuary

Or more than one.

Maybe I’ll never be tougher than him, but I sure as hell can be smarter. And I’ve got certain advantages that Aidan will never have.

The Sharpsburg mayor is a lazy man in his sixties who likes to order people around but does very little work himself. The person who actually gets things done here is the deputy mayor, James, a smart, efficient guy in his thirties.

He’s got a wife and kids at home, but that doesn’t stop him from showing interest to any available, attractive woman who crosses his path. The one decent thing I can say about James is that he doesn’t take advantage of vulnerability. He only fucks women who are willing.

The first time I came to town to offer my services, he made a move on me. I turned him down, of course. I don’t need jobs that badly anymore. He accepted my refusal without any aggression or spite, so I’ve come back a few times to take his temperature about jobs.

Every time, he has insisted that Aidan gets first dibs. Aidan stops by to check almost every Sunday, so he ends up claiming every worthwhile run.

This time, when I find James overseeing repairs on the wall, I’m ready for him. I’ve taken off the hoodie I’ve been wearing so I’m in jeans and a clingy tank top.

His eyes start crawling over me as soon as I approach.

I’ve got a pretty good body. Long legs, rounded hips, full breasts, and toned muscles. Even during the worst of the food deprivation we faced several years ago, I never got scrawny like my sister. There’s something in my genes that refuses to give up flesh. My curves simply won’t go away. I’m used to men leering at me. Usually, it evokes a kind of tired impatience, but sometimes it’s helpful.

Today, I’m counting on it.

James remembers me. Asks me how I’ve been doing and how things are going in Monument. I give him a few harmless updates and then tell him about some of the extra jobs I’ve taken on recently so he knows what I’m capable of.

His eyes rarely move higher than my breasts as we talk.

“I’m looking for another job,” I say, pitching my voice to sound soft and sultry rather than the normal no-nonsense tone I use for professional matters. “Do you have anything you need? A supply run? A message delivered?”

“Aidan’s supposed to stop by tomorrow. He’ll take care of it.”

“I’m sure he would, but why should you wait another day. I’m here now. I could have it done by tomorrow.”

“I’ve got a deal with Aidan,” he says, still staring at my cleavage.

I take a step closer to him. Maybe I should feel cheap or shallow using my physical attributes to sway his opinion, but I don’t.

Aidan has the advantage of size and strength and a longer history in this area. My only advantages here are my tits.

So I’ll use them.

“Well, maybe you can make a different sort of deal with me.”

“Like what?” he asks thickly.

I’ll never have sex with a man who is married or otherwise taken, even if I was interested. And I’m not interested in James for anything but the work he can give me. The reason I’m feeling flushed and excited is not because I’m responding to his obvious lust.

It’s because I’m getting one over on Aidan.

He won’t know the reason, however. He’ll just see the blush on my cheeks and the rising tension in my muscles.

He’s going to think I’m into him, and that’s just fine with me.

“Like you give me a job to do today to try me out, and you pay me only half what you’d pay Aidan.”

This catches his attention. He’s as practical as he is horny.

“Half?”

“Yes. Half. We can call it an experiment. This time, I’ll take half. If I manage the job to your… satisfaction, then maybe you’ll keep me in mind for the future. I’m willing to regularly take three-quarters of the payment you’d offer to Aidan.”

His eyes slide back down to my chest. “Aidan will be pissed.”

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