The Product Tester - Chapter 9

And here we go!

Ethan tapped his fingers on the arm rest of the couch, glancing at the door for the hundredth time in an hour. 

Where is she? 

The evening had been full of panic. Mary had vanished, and she hadn’t been responding to her phone even when it came time for her diaper change. He’d started to worry that she had gotten in over her head and was in a hospital room somewhere. 

Those worries were unrealistic, of course. If anything had gone wrong with her cover, or even her vital signs, the GPS would have kicked in and told Ethan where she was. Mary was fine. He just didn’t know where she was. 

He’d been about to call Kat and ask her for emergency access to the GPS when he’d gotten a text from Mary, explaining that she’d been held up at work. 

What could she possibly be doing? 

Glancing at his phone, he moved to the reporting app, checking to ensure he hadn’t misread anything. 

Mary’s diaper was at 37% moisture capacity, which was all well and good, but it had also been soiled more than an hour prior. Ethan couldn’t imagine what Mary could possibly be working on that would compel her to stay out past her changing time in a messy diaper, and she was playing coy about what it was that was keeping her.

The door handle rattle, and he all but jumped out of the couch. “Mary?” 

The lock clicked and the door opened and Mary stepped inside, setting down her backpack. “I’m ho-mmph!” 

Ethan smothered her in a hug, his relief palpable. “I was so worried about you!” 

She returned the embrace, but Ethan could almost feel her eyes rolling. “I’m fine, you big softie. I was just following up on a lead to get this cover off, and I couldn’t tell you about it.”

“You could have told me the general stuff!” Ethan protested, sniffing and wrinkling his nose a little. “You could have been getting shipped off to Canada in the back of a panel van somewhere.” 

Mary pulled back, shrugging. “Well, I- Wait, why Canada?” 

“They’ve got the second highest kidnappings per capita in the world. I dunno. Have you had dinner? I can make you something.”

“Something light would be nice, I’m, uh, not really hungry,” Mary said, moving her bag over to the couch. “I don’t think you were really that worried, though.”

That made Ethan feel a streak of indignation as he walked towards the open kitchen. “Yeah? Why not?” 

“If you really wanted to know where I was, why didn’t you just check the GPS on the collar?” 

“I can’t just check it whenever I want, there has to be some sort of-” Ethan frowned, scratching his head. “Hey, wait, how did you know about the GPS?” 

“Hah!” Mary grinned, pulling out her laptop. “I knew it!” 

…

They shared a dinner of leftovers while the TV chattered in the background, displaying a show that neither of them were really watching. 

“So…” Ethan said, unsure exactly how to broach the topic. “I’ve got some… not great news.” 

“Wha’s that?” Mary asked, in the middle of chewing. 

“I have to go into work super early tomorrow. Like… before your morning change, early.” 

Mary blinked, but she didn’t seem as surprised as he’d expected. “Okay. That’s not great.” 

“You’ll have to ride with me to work, and then I can change you in the office bathroom,” Ethan said. “Or… I guess you could take the bus later if you wanted to sleep in?” 

“Screw that,” Mary said. “I’m not going back to those offices just for Katherine to gloat over me. Did I tell you how she behaved while I was getting my measurements taken for the cover?” 

“I… yeah,” Ethan said. “A couple times. But I can’t not go in. Kat would have my ass.” 

“Well, we can’t have that,” Mary mused, smirking. “I like your ass. She can’t have it.” 

“Well… fine, but I don’t know how long you’ll go without getting a rash. Our creams are the best in the industry, but it really just depends on how sensitive your skin is.” He frowned, setting his plate on the coffee table. 

“I’ll deal, if it happens,” Mary said, finishing her own food. “I don’t know how sleepy you are, but I probably won’t be coming to bed for a while, by the way. It’s still hard to sleep, uh… like this.” 

“I can’t blame you,” Ethan replied, scooting up next to her. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep well either. Do you want me to put on some coffee?” 

“If I wanted bad coffee, sure,” Mary rolled her eyes. “I’ll put some on in a minute.” 

“Sure thing, baby,” he leaned in, pecking a kiss on her cheek. “Want me to… eh… light some candles or anything?” 

She rolled her eyes. “It’s fine. Like I said, I’ll deal. You have to get up early for work, go get some rest.” 

“You’re my first priority.” Ethan sat up a little. “Once I’m sure you’re okay, I’ll go to bed.” 

“I’m fine, I swear. Annoyed with your boss for making you go in early, but I’ll just get back at Kat by beating her cover.” 

“Yeah,” Ethan said, nodding, unable to keep his patronizing tone completely hidden. The odds of Mary finding a way around his security systems were about equal to her winning the lottery. The design was perfect. “Sure.” 

“You still don’t think I’ll do it, do you?” she asked, eyebrows raising. 

Ethan rubbed at the back of his neck, trying to think of the charitable way to explain things. “It’s been, what, a week? And you’re no closer than when you started. I mean, don’t get me wrong - I support you, and you should keep trying - but I made this thing impervious. The only way you’re getting out is if someone lets you out, and I’m not going to do that.” 

“If you say so,” Mary rolled her eyes. “Go to bed. I’m fine.” 

“Yes ma’am,” he chuckled. “Have a good night.” 

…

Kat opened the door without knocking, stepping into Ethan’s office. 

“I’m upset with you,” Ethan said, without looking up from his computer. 

“Is that any way to talk to your boss?” she said, walking over to look at his monitors. “You know I can fire you.” 

“You can’t fire me, I’m too valuable to the company. Besides, you need me until Project Impound gets released, I built it from the ground up.” He tabbed over to a menu, showing Kat his progress. “I’ve updated all my passwords, as you requested.” 

“Unique keys for every login?” she asked, leaning in. 

Ethan nodded. “Just like you asked for. Nobody’s getting into my account again. Do you know what the hacker was after?” 

Kat shrugged and stood. “We’re looking into that. It’s probably someone from another R&D corp, looking to poach our projects before we go to market.”

Ethan frowned, glancing up at Kat. “Do you have access to the notifications from Mary’s cover?” 

“No.” She tilted her head, apparently confused. “Why?” 

“It just seems like a massive coincidence,” Ethan said. “The first time Mary misses a change, and then you suddenly decide I need to come in early.”

Kat continued looking at the new passwords and security checks he’d been meticulously re-entering all morning. “And why would I do that?”

“Don’t give me that baloney,” Ethan said. “You know darned well that I didn’t want Mary anywhere near this project, and you pulled her in anyways. You’ve got no business messing with my home life like this.”

“And how’s it going at home, anyways?” Kat asked. “Is Mary getting used to things?” 

“I’m not answering that.” Ethan looked back at his computer, saving the row of passwords. “Did you need anything else? I was about to go home for lunch.” 

He heard Kat’s smirk more than he saw it, in the tone of her response. “Joe-Jack had to stay home sick, and Donna’s out on vacation today. I’m going to need someone here to cover things until the afternoon crew gets here, so you’ll need to push back your lunch break a couple hours.” 

Ethan gaped. “You’re- you’re freaking kidding-”

She was already opening the door. “Sorry for the inconvenience! Make sure to mark it on your timesheet.” 

He stared at the door as it closed. He had half a mind to go after Kat and give her a piece of his mind. 

Instead, he slumped in his chair and pulled out his phone. 

“Hey, babe? I’ve got some bad news,” he said, once Mary picked up. “Kat’s being a B-word again.” 

Mary didn’t need to ask what he was talking about. “You’re fucking kidding me.” 

“I know. It’s asinine,” Ethan grumbled. “She ambushed me just a minute ago. I’ll have a late break, but... if you want a change, you’ll have to come in.”

“Fuck that. I’m waiting.” 

He leaned his elbow on the desk, rubbing his forehead. “Babe, you-”

“Nope. Not gonna hear it. I’ll see you after work.” 

…

Ethan took care with the change, applying an extra-thick layer of the rash cream once Mary was all wiped up. “I’m sorry she was such a jerk,” he said, taping the new diaper in place. “At least you didn’t rash.” 

“Eh, I’m not mad anymore,” Mary said, shrugging. It was a surprise reversal from her stance around lunchtime, but Ethan was happy that she wasn’t pissed anymore. Given that she’d been in a messy diaper for twenty four hours straight, he had expected her to be a lot more mad. 

As he latched the cover into place, he even noticed her gaze drift towards the bed. “So, uh… once we’ve had dinner, how are you feeling about…” 

“You say the word,” Ethan’s blushed, thoughts wandering a little. “Uh… Can I call you Starbuck again?” 

“Sure, babe.” 

He checked the sensors on her cover, then pulled out his phone and made sure the app was working. 

‘Subject’s diaper is at 0% capacity. Moisture and PH balance indicates arousal.’ 

Blush deepening, Ethan put his phone away and began undoing her arm and leg cuffs. “So, uh, what sounds good for dinner?” 

“Something easy?” Mary sat up, stretching her arms and yawning. Ethan would never say it out loud, but it was incredibly cute. “Pizza?” 

“Sure. I’ll go get the oven preheated.” He stood up, shuffling to the kitchen and getting started on dinner. 

About thirty seconds later, his phone beeped, and at the same time he heard Mary shout from the bedroom. “You’re fucking kidding me!” 

It didn’t take a detective to guess what had happened. Ethan checked his phone to be sure, and just like he’d suspected:

‘Subject has soiled her diaper.’ 

“Babe? Are you okay?” 

She stepped out of the bedroom, dressed in her day clothes and balling her hands into tight, angry fists. “I’ve got the worst goddamned luck.” 

“Hey, it’s fine,” Ethan said, moving to comfort her. “If Kat tried to tell me to come in early again, I’ll tell her to shove it. We’ll at least get you clean in the morning.” 

“Yeah, but…” Mary pursed her lips, tried to work up a little anger, then deflated. “Okay, I’m honestly having trouble getting worked up. I can barely even smell it anymore. It’s not ideal, but… whatever.”

“Are you sure?” Ethan asked. “It’s okay to be upset. I’m here for you.”

Mary nodded. “I’m sure. I’m sorry you have to smell me, but that’s whatever.” 

He shrugged noncommittally. “I don’t really mind either. Comes with the job. Dinner, and then maybe we’ll watch a movie?” 

Stepping up on tip-toe, she kissed him on the cheek. “That sounds nice.” 

…

As it turned out, Mary had other plans. While Ethan washed their plates from dinner, Mary retreated to the bedroom. 

As he set the last plate in the drying rack, his phone beeped. Wiping off his hands, he pulled it out, checking the notifications. 

‘Subject has wet her diaper. Current capacity 6.9%. Additionally, moisture levels indicate arousal.’ 

He frowned. That has to be a mistake. Unless… 

Pocketing his phone, he walked over to the bedroom door. Mary beat him to it, opening the door and leaning in the frame. 

She’d changed her clothes. Pants and shirt were gone, replaced with only a thin, revealing top and the diaper cover itself. Ethan could hear low music playing behind her, and glancing into the bedroom, some candles were burning. 

“So, um…” Mary said, biting her lip in an attempt to look sultry. It was hard to go for a traditional sexy look while she was in a puffy, smelly diaper, but she at least looked adorable. 

Ethan almost blurted out something stupid, but he didn’t want to make any assumptions. “Yeah? What’s up, baby?” 

Her cheeks were pink, but she persisted with maintaining a sensual pose. “I… If you’re still interested, that is… I’d still like to…” 

“Are you sure?” Ethan asked. “I mean, I’m fine with it, but… even with, uh… your current state?” 

That broke the spell. Mary dropped her pose, standing up straighter. “Just get in here and take off your pants already.”