" And then he jumped in the cold clear water.James was completely surprised as he surfaced to see Jessica doing exactly what he'd suggested. She was a...bit overweight—that would change quickly in their current situation—and as he'd thought, closer to forty than the thirtyish age she looked most of the time. Probably because though she was slightly chubby, she still ate healthy and was active. She probably just ate a bit more than she should and didn't exercise. He'd never seen her amongst the. “I agree with Ensign Lapin that his loyalty score is probably undervalued. He may just end up as a sponsor. If not, the colony is big enough; we’ll find a way to keep his kids with him or his former wife, hopefully both.”“Alonzo is in a med tube as is his Ellie. They’ll go in the available pool along with his former wife and her mother,” she added before they could ask. “Not your worry, either.”“Boy, Naomi was right when she said you don’t run extractions like anything I’ve ever heard of!”. Our tongues passing our lips and tangling around each other. Rayne’s other hand came up to cup the side of my head as she kissed me deeper. There was a deeper feeling than just desire as we kissed. My free hand cupped the small of her back as we kissed more. Barely coming up for breath. After what felt like a lifetime we finally broke our kiss. Our lips moved a little further apart but our faces were still close and our hands none moving. “Rayne I think...” I was silenced by her finger. “No. All it took was that single word, the distinctly Liverpudlian drawl in the way she pronounced wonderin’. I was just taking in that fact when her face came up from the critical appraisal of her own legs, those eyes fixing on me, huge and blue and captivating. She blinked twice, flawless brow furrowing when she pouted, ‘I was just wonderin’ if this skirt isn’t a bit too short. You’re a bloke — what do you think?’ Several impressions tumbled in my head, a tombola of thoughts, a lottery draw of.