A couple of days later Petrash called out to Ghost who just passed by the office. She saw him scribbling on the list of deliveries and the calendar on the pin-board.
'What's up?' she asked.
'Well, we got a priority delivery to make, a new truck and supplies for Tarrok station, but no two people to take it there.'
She walked up behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head on his left shoulder. 'Tarrok, hmm?'
He felt his heart beating faster with the warmth of her embrace but tried to remain cool. 'Yeah, Dusk is assisting Gambi station with their trip to their temporary station up north and Rusty and Dice are on a big delivery to T494. So, there's only you left and I can't let you go alone on a 3 day drive there.'
She hummed in agreement.
'The only way we can do it is if I go with you.'
Her silence made him a little nervous.
'Okay then.' she said eventually
'Really? No protesting about it being me?'
'Nope. Not much choice really.'
He felt relieved.
'I didn't know that would make you so happy.'
'Huh? What makes you think that?'
She let him go while whispering in his ear 'Your tail is wagging like crazy.'.
He looked back at his wagging tail as she giggled on her way out the door.
The new truck came the same day with their cargo. The driver reported no problems so all they had to do was fill it up again, and soon after Ghost and Petrash were under way after notifying Tarrok station.
'Good thing Dusk took Dawn with her.' he said. 'I'd hate to leave her alone.'
Ghost nodded.
Depending on the weather it would take two to three days to reach the station, there they would unload the truck and be driven back to Zero by the local people who would pick up more supplies and tools.
Petrash felt a little nervous about the first long trip he'd be on out here. To take his mind off things he took out one of the books from the bag behind him and started reading, occasionally checking the clock and the view outside.
When it became lunchtime he took out the food and drinks. 'Shall I drive for a while so you can eat?'
'You think you can?'
'I've been getting lessons from Dice.'
She stopped the truck. 'Alright then, take the wheel.'
She moved into the back of the cabin so he could get behind the wheel. Looking at the dashboard to find all the right dials he quickly became familiar with it.
'Here we go.' he said and drove off.
'But your ass is mine if you make me spill my lunch.'
'Tempting offer.'
She almost snorted out her drink. 'You would like that, you pervert?' she said wiping her nose.
He snickered. 'Gomen, I couldn't resist.'
'You just keep driving until I've thought of how to make that ass suffer for the rest of the trip.'
'Now don't go making me nervous, or I might make a mistake driving,'
'I'm sure you'll do fine. It's flat country all the way so I can safely take a short nap.' she said as she made herself comfortable in the back of the cabin.
'Sweet dreams then.'
'Thanks.'
The trip had been uneventful all the time until she woke up again. Stretching and turning she asked 'What time is it?'
'It's almost evening.'
'You've been driving the whole afternoon? Why didn't you wake me?'
He smiled softly. 'Ah, you were sleeping so peacefully, I just couldn't.'
'Hmpf. You had better kept your eyes on the compass all the time and not on me, pervert.'
He snickered. 'No worries. I don't perve and drive.'
She hit him playfully on the shoulder. 'Well, don't you dare do it while I drive either. We're switching.'
He brought the truck to a halt and moved to the passenger seat. She sat back down behind the wheel and started on the last bit before night break.
Not soon after they were up to speed the lights in the cabin began to flicker and dim.
'What's that?' Petrash asked.
'No idea.' Ghost said as she felt the truck stall for a second.
He looked out the window for a clue and saw smoke coming out of the battery box through the mirror. 'Stop! The batteries!'
The truck started to stutter and Ghost quickly stopped it. They went outside and Petrash opened the cover to the batteries. Wiring was damaged by a loose screwdriver accidentally left behind on top of the batteries. It had caused a short-circuit between the plus pole and the chassis.
'Shit!' Ghost said.
The stuttering engine ceased completely now.
'Dammit!' Petrash cursed.
Ghost kicked the truck. 'Great. We're stuck.'
'Wait, I saw truck batteries on the supplies list.' he remembered. 'Let me check.' he said as he crawled back into the cabin.
Ghost joined him as he went through the list.
'Shit!. They're packed for the second trip, not this one.'
Disappointed he tossed the list on the dashboard before him. Both sighed and slumped back in their seats.
'So now what?' he asked.
'Can't radio for help so we'll have to wait for the station to notice we haven't arrived in time and send help.'
'Say two days for them to miss us, two days before they find us.'
'Looks like I'm stuck with you for the next couple of days.'
'Heh, gomen.'
Ghost sighed again.
'At least there's food and drinks with the supplies, so we won't starve to death.' he said as he checked the list a second time.
Ghost nodded. 'Yeah.'
They sat for a while when Petrash gave a shudder. 'Damn, getting cold already.'
'Of course.' Ghost said as she sat up. 'The heater's out and you don't have your own fur coat.'
'At least not that much. I don't expect you would have a spare one on you?' he said grinning a little.
'You'd like that, wouldn't you?'
'I saw there were storm lamps on the list. I'll just grab one or two.' he said and went out to grab the lamps from the supplies.
He returned a while later with two lamps and extra food and drinks.
'That should last us enough time for them to come. Now we don't have to go out into the cold again.'
'Didn't you forget something?'
He looked at the stuff he brought. 'Like what?'
'Where does all the food go?'
He thought for a few moments, then it became clear. 'Ah shit.'
She snickered. 'Looks like you'll still have to go out there a couple of times a day.'
He sighed. 'Let's eat, I'm hungry and cold.'
He turned on one lamp to provide light and some warmth and they ate the cold meat and pie he had prepared for dinner. After several rounds of liquor they stared at the snow coming down slowly and covering the windows.
'Even though we're stuck, I still think it's pretty.' he said softly.
'Yeah.'
'Heh, falling snow, night, and man and woman together under the cosy light. It's just not the romantic scene I always thought of.'
'Excuse me for not being the right woman.' Ghost muttered.
Petrash smiled. 'Ghost, I think you're a real fine young woman and I'm just unlucky that I'm not some stud you could fall for.'
She blushed. 'You're drunk.'
He nodded. 'Yeah, think I'd dare to tell the truth otherwise?'
'You..' she started as she turned to look at him, then saw him shivering. 'You're cold.'
'It's okay, the booze will keep me warm.'
She crawled over to him. 'Idiot. That won't help. Come here.'
She pulled him out of his seat and into the back, took off her clothes and his and wrapped themselves up in several thick blankets. Petrash was too cold and drunk to really notice what happened but soon he warmed up and sleepily snuggled up tight to Ghost.
'Be glad you're not some stupid stud, otherwise I'd never done this.' she whispered and tried to fall asleep as well.
Petrash had never felt so comfortable when he woke up before, so he kept his eyes closed in case he was still dreaming. The warmth was perfect, the feeling against his skin so soft it was like he was wrapped up in expensive fur coats. And that thought started him thinking. He tried to piece together what happened from the bits he could remember but was almost afraid of the conclusion.
Carefully he opened one eye, then the next and found himself in an intimate embrace with Ghost.
'Good morning sleeping beauty.' she whispered.
'Ah, ehh.'
'Got nothing to say for yourself?'
'I'm sorry for making you save me from the cold, but thank you.' he said softly.
'Better.'
After a minute of silence Ghost asked if he was asleep again.
'No. I'm too nervous to sleep now.' he said meekly.
'Nervous?'
'Being this close to you I'm afraid to move and end this happiness.'
Ghost blushed and snickered. 'You really are a virgin.'
He turned red from embarrassment. 'Don't make fun of me. Not everyone has been close to someone at this age. I just never met the right girl.'
She smiled softly and sighed. 'I know. Truth is none of us have ever met the right guy either.'
'But you're all really pretty girls. Any guy would be interested.'
'We each got fed up early in life seeing girls being shown off by their macho boyfriends. We happen to get together one day and our friendship started. Later on Rusty found a job opening driving supplies in this area and we found it perfect to get away from it all.' She snickered. 'We've been acting so butch to all the men that the boss eventually started sending the people he wanted to get rid off here. That's how the tradition for the company started. And they didn't mind because we're also good at what we do here.'
'So,' he started after a moment of silence. 'when will you get rid of me?'
Now she stayed silent for a while.
'We figured you were just like the others, so we treated you the same. But even though we were horrible you gave your best to us. None before did what you did, let alone risked their life to save one of us.' She stroked his back gently. 'I guess we'll let you stay for now.'
He smiled softly. 'Thanks.'
The wind picked up speed and blew just right to clear most of the snow from the windows and daylight started to fill the cabin.
'Heh, we're the ones who should say thank you.'
'You don't have to. This great feeling is more than I could ever repay you for.'
'Again with the sweet words. You just don't stop, do you? We might even fall for you if you keep this up.' she said poking his nose.
He grinned. 'Maybe I'm just a genius pervert pulling you beautiful girls into my trap so I can kiss you all the time.'
'Oh, you'd think we wouldn't find out what you're up to?' she grinned back.
'I'll be so smooth you'll never find out until it's too late and your touch is imprinted in my memory.' he whispered.
'You wouldn't know where to start.' she whispered back.
He stroked gently down the tip of her nose with his fingertip, 'Right here.' then caressed her lips. 'Then here.'
She smiled a little deviously. 'And then what?'
'Then,' he continued caressing the side and top of her muzzle. 'I'd kiss your muzzle all over.'
She closed her eyes and moved her muzzle along with his fingertip. 'That all?' she whispered.
'Well, I couldn't stop at that of course so I'd kiss your cheek,' he whispered as he caressed her exactly where he wanted to kiss her. 'your brow, back down your cheek and in your neck, along your throat,' she pulled up her head so he could stroke her there 'and to your other side.'
She opened her eyes and looked deep into his, then she kissed him just when he knew he couldn't hold back either. He wouldn't kiss her the way he described because she interlocked her tongue with his from the start and they didn't let go until both ran out of breath.
Petrash wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. Ghost smiled softly and nuzzled his neck, holding him tight and this is how they soon fell asleep again.
This time Ghost woke up to a smiling Petrash.
'You're happy.' she whispered.
'Thanks to you.' he whispered back.
'You just got lucky this time.' she said as she poked his nose.
'Yeah, I know. But it'll keep me happy for a long time.'
'Then make me happy by providing food. Or do you want me to start eating you?'
He snickered and carefully rolled out of the blankets. 'Your wish is my command, even if it means leaving your warmth.'
She hit his back playfully. 'If you do good I just might let you back in.'
He looked back at her. 'For that I'd even walk all the way to civilisation and a steak restaurant if you wanted me to.'
She squeezed his hand. 'Just some decent food will do for now.'
'Coming up after the break though.' he said and quickly dressed into his suit to go outside. 'Brrr, damned cold.' he muttered as he opened the door.
Ghost crawled deeper under the blankets as he closed the door and sniffed his scent. "Can't believe we just did that." she thought but felt happy. "And what will the others say when they find out?" She sighed and looked out the window. "And what will happen in the next days alone here?"
She didn't dare to think about it and buried her head in the blankets just as he came back in.
'Bloody hell.' he said as he quickly closed the door behind him. 'That is no way to take a bath.'
She looked up to see what he meant and saw his red hands and face. 'What did you do?'
'I read how to wash yourself with snow, but I never realised just how cold that would feel.' he said as he warmed his hands at the lamp.
'Then why did you?'
'I can't dirty your beautiful fur now can I?'
'Eh?' she looked surprised. 'Is that?'
He nodded and looked through the cans to see what he'd make for early lunch.
She smiled. 'You really are a gentleman, aren't you?'
He looked at her. 'Huh? Why?'
She crawled closer to him and kissed him quickly before getting out of the cabin herself. 'When we're stranded it's okay to dirty my fur a little if it keeps you warmer.'
He hummed happily as he warmed up soup and thick bread. When she returned her fur was covered with snow and he pulled out a towel to wipe her body while she dried her hair. Without thinking he wiped down her front but stopped the moment he saw her nipples poking out between her fur.
'Ah.' he said and looked into Ghost's embarrassed face.
Quickly he covered her and looked away. 'Gomen! I did it without thinking!'
She leaned closer to him and growled in his ear. 'Ah, don't bite my head off, I didn't mean to!'
She laughed and he looked surprised at her.
'You didn't forget that you've already seen my body, did you?'
He scratched the back of his head. 'No, but then I didn't touch your breasts or nipples.'
She continued to wipe the snow from her legs and turned around. 'Do my tail.'
He took the towel and dried her tail.
'I know it was an accident. And as long as you live with us I expect the occasional accident.' She turned around and put her nose against his. 'Just make sure it's accidents.'
'I promise.' he said holding up his hands. 'I don't want to make a stupid mistake and make you hate me.'
'Good boy, now let's eat.'
They ate their fill, checked the time and wrote it in the driver's log.
'What books did you take with you?' Ghost asked.
Petrash pulled four books out of his bag. 'Fantasy and science fiction, a spy novel and a mystery. Always have some choice of genre I like to read at the time.'
She pointed at the mystery novel. 'Can I have that one?'
'You like to read?'
She shrugged. 'On occasion. Nothing much to do for the next days anyway.'
'True that.'
She crawled into the back with the book and held open the blankets. 'Well? What are you waiting for?'
He looked at her invitation. 'Can I really?'
'Unless you don't want to..'
'No, I want to.' he said and unzipped his suit halfway. 'Ehm, like before?' he asked blushing hard.
She smiled. 'Only if you behave yourself.'
'I promise.' he said, undressed and took the fantasy novel with him, crawling against her under the blankets and both laid on their backs reading until hunger struck again or they snuggled up to sleep.
The books were thick enough to keep them busy until three days later the distant sounds of an engine and tracks caught Ghost's attention.
'It must be them.' she said.
Quickly they dressed and opened the doors to look as the windows had been covered by snow again.
'There they are!' Petrash pointed to a truck heading their way.
Soon two men from the station helped in repairing the damaged wires and replaced the batteries with a spare one, enough to start the truck and enable it to get underway again.
Ghost followed their truck and they drove non-stop all the way to the station, switching drivers ever so often. The supplies were taken care of and the trip back to Zero proceeded without trouble.
The other girls were back by the time Ghost and Petrash reached Zero.
Together they loaded the station's truck and after it had left they all sank down into the couches.
'So what happened?' Dusk asked.
'The truck broke down halfway so we had to stay put for a few days. Plenty of food and drinks so not a major problem.' Ghost explained.
'I take it nothing else happened?' Dice asked.
Both Ghost and Petrash glanced at each other, then looked away trying not to smile.
'Not really.' he said.
'Then why do I smell her scent on you?' Dice asked while sniffing him.
'And his smell on you?' Dusk asked as she sniffed at Ghost.
'We just kept close to preserve heat.' he said.
'I'd say very close to still smell that strong.'
Ghost sighed. 'Okay, I kept him warm by staying under a stack of blankets together. That's all.'
'Okay, now we know the reason. Just wanted to make sure.' Dusk said.
Rusty yawned. 'Can we go to bed now? It has been a tiresome week.'
The others agreed and the girls left while Petrash brought the paperwork to the office. He looked at the schedule with Ghost's and his name circled next to their last job. He sighed, then looked back as he felt a hand on his shoulder.
'Ghost.' he said.
'I've noticed you looking down occasionally in the last days. You okay?'
He shook his head. 'Honestly, I don't know. I miss the time I got to be close to you. Now I don't know if it'll ever happen again.'
She turned him towards her and kissed him for a few moments.
'I don't know either, but somehow I got a good feeling about the future.
He watched her leave the office and stroked his lips. 'I think I do too.'
Ghost entered the bedroom and the other girls sat on the bed waiting for her.
'What?' she asked seeing them.
'How was it?' Rusty asked.
'How was what?'
'Come on, we saw you looking at each other. Something more happened than just keeping warm together. We can smell it, you know.'
Ghost sighed and crawled onto bed. 'Okay, we kissed.'
Dice raised her eyebrows. 'Really?'
Ghost nodded. 'After the first night. I pulled him under the blankets with me because he was freezing. The next morning I teased him when he was being shy and taunted him about not knowing where to start with me, but then he used his finger to show me where he'd kiss and then one thing led to another and then I kissed him.'
'Wow.' Dice said. 'I didn't think he had it in him.'
Ghost hid her face in her hands. 'Neither did I when I teased him.'
'Must be good if you just did it again.'
'What?'
'I can see it on your lips. You kissed him again just now, right?'
Ghost nodded.
Rusty sighed and lied down on her back. 'How the mighty have fallen.. Are we all going to fall for him?'
'What? You too?' Dusk asked.
'Ever since our little competition, whenever I see him looking tired or sad I want to be his beloved plushie for him.'
'Heh, I've seen the look on your face when he's grooming Dawn. I think you'd like to be groomed by your personal hero as well Dusk.'
'I..' she started saying, then plucked on Dawn's tail silently.
'And even you, Dice. You keep perking up as he checks up on you.'
'He saved my life, how much more caring can you get from a guy?'
'So what are we to do?'
After a while Rusty spoke up. 'I don't like the idea of letting go of this good guy. I want to keep him.'
The others agreed.
'Let nature take its course and just go with the flow. We'll all get to kiss him when the time is right and whatever comes next, comes next.' Dice said.
With that said they crawled together to sleep.
'Why are you all clinging really close to me now?' Ghost asked.
'Simple,' Dusk explained. 'you still carry his scent.'
Ghost looked up at the dark ceiling. 'Right. Tomorrow I'm going to steal his pillows for you to cling to.'