Ascendant Sun: A New Novel in the Saga of the Skolian Empire by Catherine Asaro Read Free Book Online Page B

muscled frame. "I can believe that."

Kelric waited. The cargo master waited.

When the silence stretched thin, she set down her papers. "All right. Eighteen."

He gave the customary nod, sealing the bargain. But he didn't relax. Something else was coming, the price of her willingness to hire him despite his lack of legal ID. Would she expect him to smuggle? Look the other way for illegal landings?

"One other thing, Kelli-boy," she said.

"What?" If she called him Kelli-boy again, he was going to strangle her.

She stood up, coming to her full height, at least six feet five inches, nearly two meters, almost as tall as he. Then she set down her papers and walked to a door in the wall near her console. When she pressed a panel, the door slid open, revealing Spartan living quarters with a bed against one wall.

She tilted her head toward the bed. "After you."

He stared at her. "What? No."

"You want the job, you do the work." She smiled, showing teeth stained brown from chewing carqual leaves. "I'm sure you can do a good job, hmmm?"

He wanted to walk out. But his chances of finding someone else willing to hire him without proper documents were nil— unless he agreed to "extra" work. At least this didn't require he break the law.

The cargo master leaned against the doorframe and crossed her arms. "You staying or leaving?"

He walked over and regarded her quarters. They looked as spare up close as from across the room. He forced out his answer. "Staying."

"Smart." She lifted her hand, inviting him to enter. So he went into her bedroom. Following him, she closed the door. Then she looked him over again, this time her gaze lingering on his body with an appreciative cast she hadn't let show before.

Kelric wasn't sure what to do next, but he felt stupid just standing there. For lack of a better idea, he lifted his hand to her face and cupped her cheek. She turned her head, pressing her lips against his palm.

As he lowered his arm, she rubbed the collar of his shirt. "This is real silk." She slid her hand down his arm to his scorched sleeve. "How'd you get burned?"

"Battle."

"That had to be on another planet. No fighting here." Taking his hand, she ran her thumb over his wrist guard. "And this, beautiful man, is genuine gold."

He said nothing.

She regarded him with curiosity. "Where did you get those guards? They look ancient. Like marriage guards, the kind men wore in the Ruby Empire."

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes."

She smiled. "You always this talkative?"

"No."

The cargo master chuckled. "Yes, what? Yes, you got a wife from five thousand years in the past?"

"No." Self-conscious, he rubbed his hand over the guard. "Yes, these are marriage guards."

"Oh." Her grin faded. "Your wife going to beat the holy shit out of me for fucking you?"

Kelric flushed. "You know," he said, "if this is your idea of getting a man in a romantic mood, it leaves a lot to be desired."

Unexpectedly, she looked embarrassed. "Pretty bad, hmmm? I never have figured out how men like to be romanced." She touched his guard. "But I still want to know about this wife of yours. I don't want any jealous lovers coming around."

"She's on another planet."

"She coming here?"

"No." He had forced himself to accept he would never see Ixpar again. As the citizen of a Restricted planet, she was forbidden to leave Coba. He could never return, not unless the interstellar situation stabilized and he established himself with enough power to ensure the safety of his wife and children. That could take decades, if the situation was as bad as it looked. If he lived that long. As much as he knew it was better to let them remain safe in anonymity, it left him with a deep sense of loss.

"I'm sorry about your wife." The cargo master looked more relieved than sorry. She kissed the back of his hand, then bit at his knuckles, her tongue pressing his skin. Although many Skolians expressed affection with such gestures, no one on Coba had ever touched him that way. It felt odd. For