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[ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ] leave. They d kept Carl under guard and ordered the Seconders to continue their research into the gate. But since they had Rita, and since Rita and I were clearly the most advanced of the Seconders, there was little doubt their main purpose was to have hostages ready when I returned. Only no one had expected me to return fo ur weeks after I d departed. They thought it would be months before I mastered the gates enough to return. Their lax security around the gate had given me the ch ance to find out what was happening and fight back. With the agents safety locked up, Carl and I spread through the house an d the guest houses around it, releasing the Seconders who were routinely k ept locked in their rooms when not under the watchful eye of a federal agent. Most of them already knew what had happened while I spoke worldwide on the net Rit a had been busy contacting each one mind-to-mind and bringing them up to date. We didn t really try to fight back, Carl told me, as we walked together back to the house after setting the last of the Seconders free. We knew the government would send more agents if we fought, and we knew you would be back event ually. Rita was confident you would know how to handle the situation, and it turns out she was right. I hope I handled it, I said. I wasn t quite as confident as Carl. So far, the world s reaction to the truth seemed good, but then I d thought things were under control the last time I left, too. Not for the first time, I wondered why I was so trustful. I see myself as a bit of a cynic, but Rita tells me I m the exact opposite far too trusting a nd naïve. I ve always had a live-and-let-live attitude and can t seem to grasp why everyone else Top Page No 139 doesn t feel the same. As a former newshound, I wanted to stay on Earth to keep on top of developments after my revelations. I can t recall any time in history when government officials were exposed so openly in the middle of one of their plots. Heads would roll, of course, but I would bet money that the spin machines of every government in the world were already working overtime to put the best light on what I had broadcast. Leaving Carl with a group of Seconders to start reestablishing a guard perimeter around the estate, I hurried back up to our bedroom. Rita was seated in front of a portable terminal at the desk, her back to the door. I noticed bloodstains on the rug where Hess had fallen. I applied another dose of quantum adjustment to the area and they disappeared. Hearing my steps, Rita turned to greet me with her radiant smile. The net is practically on overload, so many people are online discussing your speech. I think you may have set an all-time record for listeners. It s astounding! What s the reaction? Good. People are a little leery of Seconders, of course. They d rather we didn t have powers they don t have. But the idea that we might be able to make the gates available to everyone without fear of vanishing why, I think we d beat Santa Claus in a popularity contest right now. I gathered her in my arms. I hope we can keep my promises. She looked up at me, her beautiful dark eyes shining with faith. If you said it s possible, I know you ll find a way. You ve never failed me or anyone yet. I don t think you have the faintest idea how remarkable you are. My cheeks started to burn. Look at you, blushing like a boy. Rita s eyes sparkled. I ll show you who s a boy, I growled. Catching her head between my hands, I slanted my mouth across hers in a hungry kiss. I traced the outline of her lush lips with my tongue, then began a slow, sensual exploration of her mouth. My blush subsided as a different kind of heat began to burn under my skin. The taste of Rita s lips, the scent of her hair, and the satiny texture of her skin all combined to fan the inner fire of desire that she never Top Page No 140 failed to kindle inside me. I tugged her over to the bed and we collapsed on it in a giggling heap. As my nimble fingers worked on unfastening her clothes, memories of Russell an d Donna and Randy and Terri flashed through my mind. They were wonderful lovers, every one of them, but Rita was the best, beyond compare. I loved her in a special way, like no other. For the first time I wondered if the two of us should consider some sort of formal arrangement like marriage, especially considering that we had a baby on the way. I didn t want to limit Rita s freedom, but I did want to reassure her of my undying devotion and commitment to her and our child. At the thought, my sense of [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ] |