Free Starshine: Aurora Rising Book One by G. S. Jennsen Page A

whiskey. Will had been right; it was helping. “It’s the game we play with our adversary. Both sides pretend to be upstanding, sincere and earnest. Both sides secretly try to undermine the other at every opportunity. The status quo continues.”
    “ Or you could simply say ‘to Hell with the whole damn thing’ and go have a drink together.” At Richard’s incredulous glance, he shrugged. “Look. Earth controls sixty-seven worlds, already more than they can manage. The Senecan Federation wanted independence and they got it. They’re thriving and successful and have a lot to offer. I for one would jump at the chance to work on several of the projects they’re pursuing. But I can’t, because I’m from Earth—”
    “—and because you’re married to me.”
    “Which is a price I’ll gladly pay every day for the rest of my life.” He squeezed Richard’s hand to emphasize the point, then leaned forward to rest his forearms on his knees. “I’m merely saying we don’t need to keep carrying around all this animosity. The war ended twenty-two years ago.”
    “Twenty-two years is the blink of an eye for the people involved. Some wounds don’t heal so quickly.”
    “You’re talking about Miriam, and Alex.”
    He cast his gaze to the ceiling. “Without a doubt. And thousands, Hell, millions of others…I don’t know, maybe I’m talking about me, too. I mean, I lost my best friend, and several damn good ones. I don’t consider myself as walking around bearing a grudge, but if faced with the option, I’m not sure I’m ready to be friends with the Senecans.”
    Will’s nod bore conviction. “I get that, I do . My uncle died in the war. He was a good man, and my aunt has never gotten over it. And I hate I never had the chance to know David.” He paused, the telltale twitch of his mouth a hint he was pondering whether to continue. “But I still think everyone might benefit if we found a way to put aside the past and move on.”
    Richard closed his eyes, but there was a smile on his lips. Will would have made an even better diplomat than he did a construction project manager…but it was only a sign of how much he cared. He laughed and finished off the glass of whiskey. “Except me—I’d be out of a job.”
    Will grinned and leaned in closer. “That’s fine. I’ll support you, and you can be my manservant.”
     

6
    NEW BABEL
    I NDEPENDENT C OLONY
----
    O LIVIA M ONTEGREU WOKE TO the sensation of calloused fingertips dancing along her hip.
    She stretched and rolled over, to be greeted with the smiling face of…she had never asked his name. Not as if it mattered. He was handsome and well-packaged and enthusiastic and couldn’t be older than twenty-five.
    He leaned over to kiss her, but she wound a hand into his hair and urged him lower instead. “Be a good boy and finish what you started.”
    He grinned as he kissed down her lean, smooth stomach, wasting little time in reaching his destination.
    She closed her eyes and let her head fall to the pillow. What a fabulous way to start the day….
    When she had finished, she nudged him off the bed with her toes. “That was lovely. You’ll find your clothes laundered and folded in the entryway. The receptionist in the lobby will call you a cab if you need one.”
    He stood, nonchalantly wiping the excess moisture from his lips. “Can I see you again?”
    She was already on the way to the shower and didn’t bother to turn around. “Oh, I doubt it.”
    Forty minutes later she was seated at her desk, legs crossed elegantly beneath the burnished copper surface. A black silk sarong contrasted against her pale blond hair combed straight to drape down her back. It was all meticulously crafted to project the desired image.
    She regarded the nondescript man standing across the desk from her with the slightest tilt of her head.
    “Kill her.”
    He nodded, unsurprised. “Yes, ma’am. Should I pin the blame on anyone in particular? Maybe Trenton’s