Widow looks good, sprawled out among the pillows on the bed. Her cool grey skin is a contrast to their brilliant red. It makes her look like a morsel – perhaps of fish, just flapping around waiting to be swallowed down whole. “It's so<span style="font-style: italic">soft</span>,” she purrs, just like your mouth would be, wrapped around her.<br/><br/>Then she tells us what she wants.<br/><br/>The: 'Can I have an<span style="font-style: italic">inside</span>tummy rub?' Ploy has never worked for me with any woman but my wife... and she's the<span style="font-style: italic">only</span>woman I'd have let out, after they'd agreed to it. I glanced sideways, at Xarces, and saw that he, too, would agree. Or wanted to.<br/><br/>I was perculiarly jealous. I didn't want Xarces eaten. Or at least... I didn't want anyone<span style="font-style: italic">else</span>eating Xarces. I definitely – and, I realised with some surprise, genuinely – didn't want Xarces digested. I felt a little guilty, too. In many way, I'd gotten him into this.<br/><br/>“And you will order Nyrwa not to digest him?” I asked, “and she'll be able to let him out later if you order it, and you will order that, too?” I continued. “Don't think I didn't notice that you didn't actually say you'd order her not to digest him and to let him go, just because you're so gorgeous like that I can barely think.”<br/><br/>I paused.<br/><br/>“What do you want to do with<span style="font-style: italic">me</span>whilst<span style="font-style: italic">she's</span>getting her tummy rubbed?” I asked. “I... ought to warn you. Watching someone<span style="font-style: italic">else</span>eat a good meal isn't going to make me<span style="font-style: italic">less</span>hungry. You might have to give<span style="font-style: italic">two</span>tummyrubs today,” I teased Xarces, leaning close as I did so. “Can you resist digestion and escape, if she lies?” I whispered in the quietest possible voice.<br/><br/><br/>Ooc: I've assumed Xarces cooperation. But then, I do know him