A Merry Life (Pirates of New Earth Book 1) by Branson Sarah

Author:Branson, Sarah
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sooner Started Press
Published: 2022-04-08T00:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

Choices

FA KINGFISHER, EDO, AND BOSCH: LATE SPRING TO MID-AUGUST 2354

I wake and kick my leg out from the soft sheets of the bed. I lift myself up on my elbow and brush the hair back from Takai’s sleeping face. He is so handsome: his slightly bronze skin, that black hair that matches his now-closed deep, dark eyes with the long lashes. I trace his eyebrows that arch attractively over his eyes. My finger moves along the arc of one of his cheekbones, then outlines the curve of his jaw. I move my hand to his strong chest and then a bit lower as I kiss him and whisper, “Good morning.”

He opens his eyes, smiles, and pulls me close. “Mmmm. I like waking up with you in my bed.”

I smile as I rest my head on his chest. Then I frown. Only three more weeks, and then my year abroad is up, and I will be returning to Bosch. Takai plans to return to Edo to become a diplomat and continue his research on the countries and cultures of the Old Earth Days.

As if reading my mind, I feel Takai’s arms hug me tighter. “Come with me to Edo, Kat. I want you there. I love you.”

I look up at him. We have had variations on this conversation daily for the past month. I look at him lovingly, my face pleading. “And I love you. It’s not that I don’t want to be with you, Takai. I do. So much. But I can’t live in Edo. Bosch is my home, and I was only assigned out of the country for a year. I’m due back June 1.”

He quiets and looks dejected. I hate this. But then I see his face light up. “Wait, what if you just came for a little while? A couple of months? You must be owed leave time after this year. And then I could come to Bosch with you.”

I hadn’t thought about that. I do have leave time. And we are so close to Edo. I want to see it in all its beauty, and I want to meet Takai’s family, who sound worldly and experienced. “You’d really come to Bosch with me?”

“Absolutely! I can do research anywhere.” He scrambles to sit up. “We can make this work, Kat! As long as we are together, we can make it work!”

His enthusiasm is contagious, and I sit up laughing. “Okay! Okay. I’ll call Papa today and tell him I am taking two months’ leave. And going to Edo!” I reach out and kiss him, and we tumble back to the bed, the plans for the day put on hold for the moment.

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