men and women carrying metal panels for the wall.
Nessie tightened her grip around her waist and muffled a scream. The temptation too much, Joy steered the bike around imaginary people just to feel Nessie clench at her body and hear her scream.
Joy drove to the back of the arena.
"You move well with the bike," said Joy. She choked the engine, kicked down the stand down with her boot and slipped off the goggles. A line of dirt marked the shape of the goggles on her face.
Nessie let out a sigh, her breath caressing Joy's skin, resulting in fresh shivers slipping down her spine. Joy paused, enjoying the sensation. Get a grip . She swung her leg over the front of the bike to avoid hitting Nessie and stood up.
"I want to do that again," said Nessie, her words breathless as if she'd been exhilarated by the motion of the bike and had tipped over the edge into orgasmic bliss.
"That can be arranged."
"Excellent." Nessie somehow gracefully swung her leg over the bike without revealing her undergarments and went to stand, but stumbled, pleasantly dizzy from the ride.
Joy caught Nessie. "Here, lean on me." She put her arm around Nessie's slender waist. "Take it slow."
"I don't know what's come over me." Nessie leaned on Joy.
Joy felt static electricity spark between them as it travelled through her body, down her back, then down her legs, pooling at her feet.
"I think I'm alright now," said Nessie. But she didn't push away.
Joy held Nessie. "Take your time." Joy inhaled and captured a hint of Nessie's scent: pomegranates. I could hold you like this all night.
"Well," Nessie breathed out hard as if trying to gain composure. "I believe you have something to show me."
Joy let go. Nessie brushed down her skirt and patted her blonde hair, making sure that everything was in perfect alignment. Joy didn't bother with how she looked. She was used to being covered in dirt, oil and grease. She wouldn't have it any other way.
"Do you think you are ready?" teased Joy.
Nessie muffled a squeal of delight and nodded her head.
"This way." Joy walked towards the garage.
"Oi! Where's that flour?" yelled an oversized man. His large belly stretched the yellow, greasy fabric of the t-shirt he wore.
Joy turned around. "On my bike, right here."
"Well bring it ov'r 'ere if ya want to be fed." He spat in the ground, and then walked off. "Be quick about it."
Joy groaned and walked back to the steambike. "I'd better deliver the flour first."
"You don't have to," said Nessie. "He can wait."
"Yeah, but he's the cook and do ya know how difficult he can make life for me around here?" Joy untied the ropes around the bag of flour. "He could refuse to cook tonight, blame me, and then everyone here will want to skin me alive."
"I can help," offered Nessie.
"I'm fine. Go inside the garage, out of the sun, and wait for me there. I won't be long." Joy slung the bag on her shoulder and walked off. Her job always seemed to get in the way of her efforts to connect with people, at least the sort of people she wanted to connect with. Joy hurried. She wanted to get back to Nessie before she had to start preparing for the fight.
*~*~*
Nessie watched Joy walk away, disappearing into the crowd of workers. She is amazing . Nessie turned and looked at the oversized garage. The dark, hundred meter high opening looked like it could swallow her. She shaded her eyes with her hand. A rusty-looking sign above read: "Sally Spider."
A shiver went down Nessie's spine as she entered the spider's lair. Her insides were a rolling mess of excitement and anticipation.
Nessie slowed her pace as her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. There were spanners, containers of oil, dirty rags, nuts and bolts, screws and gears lying around on a side bench. Nessie resisted the urge to clean up and kept walking, her heart dictating a fast beat that she used all her self-control not to walk in time to.
Nessie ducked under some hanging chains that disappeared up into the dark
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