The whole world fell into soft focus for him as he tenderly nipped at his wife’s neck. Vincent Carmino, for the first time, in a long time, was in love. The tan wolven scientist and his slender gray lady, Luna, were all over each other in a way they hadn’t the chance. Between the newly-sentient A.C.E.S. and the new zeniths she reached, not to mention Old World history coming into vogue, Carmino’s work in system maintenance and Luna’s four-wheeled cab service had left little time for themselves or their children. But that was all over, at least for one, blissful summer’s day.
The family day out was one of carefree delight. Visiting Haven’s rich green parks, playing catch against that silvery skyline. They also managed to try some peculiar new flavors of ice cream A.C.E.S. was concocting in her infinite prowess. Vincent, after burying his snout in a dish of “lemon passion fruit,” had found one of the security camera’s patched into the White Coat main office. He knew VB-32 by the lens shape, which created a slight fisheye. With this in mind, he had the whole family wave “hello,” lips still lined with the colorful concoctions. He knew everyone in the office could do with the laugh, and in reply came a gentle flush of warmth; a “hello” from the Artificially Controlled Eco-System herself.
Their day out had been such a success, that little Thomas and Brooke Carmino had to be carried back to Luna’s cab by their doting parents. After bringing them around long enough for dinner, the children were put to bed, and the grownups returned to their side of the apartment.
Luna had done some tweaks to the bedroom’s theming. The tiles’ glow was softened and warm. She had placed some more of glass spheres up on the bureau and the shelf beneath the massive telescreen. The silver box that was their bedroom had become an inviting oasis from all the week’s stresses. Best of all for a work-weary Vinnie, Luna had brought every ounce of her womanly charms to the evening’s itinerary. There were no clever lines, no cat-and-mouse games; both husband and wife fell over themselves to get to the other.
Passion spilled from the tan wolf’s lips to his gray wife’s ears, piercing the veil of her curled brunette hair. “Dear God in heaven, why can’t this be every night? And every damn day. What good is it if I can’t be with you every minute of every hour? To be with you, the kids, the damn family, all of it!”
Luna snapped him away from her, and put on a steely-eyed smirk. “Look at me, sweetie.” she soothed, thumbing the tufts of his cheeks. “You know why. And I know why. ‘Cuz if you don’t, everyone grows up and grows old a helluva lot faster in this town. You got something beautiful to build up. Just be glad for nights like these. Try and sort it so you can get a few more, they’ll understand. Don’t burn yourself out. They need you. We need you.”
He snapped her right back into his arms, burying himself in her soft neck, before looking back into those playful eyes. “Even if there wasn’t a soul in the city, it’d be all for you, gorgeous.”
“That’s why you’re the family man, Vinnie.” Luna smiled. “You say just the right words, and make the right moves.”
And there were plenty more to be made while the night was young.