There was a long pause. “You can’t get to Boongate,” the Admiral said. “This is classified, but the wormholes to the Second48 will not be reopened. The War Cabinet decided we cannot risk a stampede back into the Commonwealth. Those populations must go into the future.”
“You have the authority, sir. You can get CST to open the Boongate wormhole for us. My team and I will stay on Boongate afterward and go into the future with the rest of the population. But we must get there before the evacuation. We must establish the Starflyer’s intent. The navy needs to know. Surely you must see that?”
“You really believe it, don’t you?”
“We all do, sir.”
“Very well, Hogan, if this is to happen it doesn’t get put in the files until there’s a successful conclusion. Nonnegotiable.”
“I understand, sir.”
“Good. Put your arrest team together and get over to Wessex. I’ll see what I can do at this end.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“And, Hogan, if you’re wrong, stay on Boongate. There will be no future for you, not anywhere at any time. Understand?”
“Understood, sir.”
***
Mellanie walked down the mansion’s broad corridor with her black lacy robe flowing out behind her. The sculpted swan wall lights were turned down to a rouge glimmer, deepening the shadows between the arches. It was two o’clock in the morning, and no one else was about.
Guilt at what she was doing only made it more exciting. Morton hadn’t stirred when she left their room. Randtown had left him more tired than he was willing to admit.
The door opened before she even tapped on it. Nigel was standing there, dressed in a loosely tied emerald bathrobe. The greedy smile on his face was one she’d seen on men countless times before—she’d thought it might be different with him. He took her hand, and hurriedly pulled her into the bedroom.
“What—” she began.
“I wouldn’t want my wives to get jealous,” he murmured as he gave the corridor a theatrical check before closing the door.
“They’re not, so don’t pretend they are.”
“Okay.” He was pressed up against her, hands removing her gown. His mouth moved to hers.
Mellanie planted a hand on his chest and pushed them apart. “Are you going to say hello, first?”
“Don’t play the Victorian bride. You came to me.” He grinned, and walked over to the huge bed. “Now come here.” He patted the furry mattress, which rippled sluggishly.
“What is this, your main orgy room?” she asked archly.
“It would be your room.”
She gave the classic white and purple décor an appreciative glance as she went over to sit beside him. “Nice, I guess.”
“Course, we’d have orgies in it. Seriously.”
She had to laugh, he was so outrageous, and honest. “Yes, I know. I met Aurelie earlier. Talk about making a girl feel inferior. And she didn’t even need reprofiling to look like that.”
“You see, you even like my other wives. What more of an incentive do you need?” His hand slipped off one of her negligée’s shoulder straps and moved down to the exposed breast.
“This is very flattering, Nigel.”
“I want it to be pleasurable, not flattering.”
Mellanie moaned hungrily. He’d got her other shoulder strap off; the negligée crumpled around her waist. His hands knew exactly how to move over her skin, the way she had to spend forever teaching other men. “It already is,” she confessed.
“So say yes.”
“No. Ahha.” She actually felt her body shake from the gentle pressure his fingers applied. It wasn’t a response she could control.
Nigel lowered her down on the mattress, then unfastened his toweling gown.
Mellanie giggled. “Nigel!”
“What did you expect?” he asked modestly. “I am the ruler of the galaxy, after all.”
“God, a man who altered his cock to match his ego.”
He grinned. “What makes you think I had it altered?”
Mellanie’s giggles returned big time. “I take it back, your ego is bigger.”
“Turn over.”
“Why?”
“Massage. To start with.”
“Oh.” She rolled onto her front. Oil that was body-warm was dripped onto her spine. He began to rub it in. “How did you know about the Cypress Island?” she asked.
“If I told you that you’ll just be cross with me. I want to have sex with you too much for that.”
“I won’t be cross.”
“You will. Why won’t you marry me?”
“Honestly?”
“Yes.”
“I wouldn’t want to share you with anyone. I like this, this is fun. And I’d even enjoy joining in with your other wives. But as a permanent thing…That’s not me. Sorry.”
“Hey, I love it. Jealousy.”
“I’m not jealous.” Mellanie tried to twist around to protest, but his hands reached her buttocks. She had to clamp her teeth to stop squealing.
“What does the SI get out of your arrangement?” Nigel asked.
“God, is there anything you don’t know?”
“I don’t know that for a start.”
“It says it just wants to know what’s going on, that’s all. I can get into places where there’s no unisphere coverage.”
“Figures. So it knew about the nature of the Primes?”
“It found out at Randtown. It hacked into their communications through my inserts.”
“Goddamn thing never told us. Bastard.” Nigel moved down to her thighs.
“Do you think it’s hostile as well?”
