"I want to do it properly. I've looked it up. I'm supposed to wear a chanoosh. I intend to be a proper Kushtian councillor's wife." That's wonderful, ...auren," Brad said."No problem," Lauren said with a giggle. "Have you any idea what some of those ladies get up to?"I headed back to the bar without bothering Brad. It was obvious that they'd be along shortly. We just had time to get Kushnati's present for Brad off of the van and stowed in the next room before Brad reappeared, leading his daughter. In the past I could barely take care of myself—either I was "property of Uncle Sam" or wasn't able to find employment in a tight job market. Now? The Diaspora permitted taking "concubines," human slaves, to the stars in limited numbers. The CAP score determined how many: I was allotted eight on my own. My dance card wasn't full—but the loop-hole was that sponsors were permitted an unlimited number of dependents. Mary Popov and Tess were taking care of the bookkeeping on that for me since our. But you might just be the right guy at the right time to adjust her priorities." You want me to seduce her?" A little more than that. I remember some of you stories you told when you visited a couple years ago about what you football guys did to the groupies. Some of that should make for an attitude adjustment." Gee, Doug. That can get a little rough" Well, I never get head or butt. As I recall, you guys trained some of those girls very well. You said that most of them came back for more." Let. Our eyes lock. She rolls over and I am lying above her face. She smiles and everything stands still. She starts to speak, and I gently shake my head and my eyes tell her just to relax and look at me. She understands and our eyes talk to each other in an unexplainable way. I slowly move my lips to hers, and ever so softly touch her lips with mine. There is little moisture and I quietly move my lips around hers. I move slowly to her cheek and rub my lips on her skin so softly, not kissing just.