FreedomofThree by Liberty Stafford

satisfaction. I suggest you don’t go back on our little contract. I have very powerful lawyers.”
    Devon opened the door for her to leave. “I’m sorry.”
    Soon after Pippa had hastily dressed and dragged her fluffy duster of a dog along the slippery floor, Devon knew that his boss would be visiting with an incredibly angry face and stinging words. All happened as he foresaw. Devon was ordered by Margo to pack his belongings and leave Botanica. Of course, his boss had been well aware of his extra special services, they had indeed made her quite rich this season. What she was most unhappy about was Devon’s withdrawal of the services, particularly before she herself had the chance to sample them as they did come very highly recommended.
    Although obviously upset that he no longer had a job or a place to live, Devon felt happy deep down. For the second time in a short space, he had stood up for what he believed in, his own dignity. For the second time, his decision had caused him immense difficulties but neither of these decisions would he take back or regret. With only a small cloth bag containing his worldly possessions; toothbrush, paste, hairbrush and two clean sarongs, Devon walked down the impressive entrance to Botanica and out towards the sea.
    The shore offered him safety, the sea offered him peace, and the gulls offered him companionship. Devon kicked off his sandals and, as soon as his feet sunk into the powdery granules of hot sand, he felt at peace. What the future held, where he would go now, was all a mystery. However, for the meantime, Devon was content to sit on the sand just watching the eternal ebb and flow of the crashing spume of clear blue waves, listening to their simple song, watching for dolphins, entranced by the hypnotic silver sparkles, all alone.
     
    After an hour, a single memory made Devon feel too much alone. Under the clouds, on a quiet beach, he felt quite forgotten by the rest of the universe. In his fist, he let a slow train of sand fall away and relived the memory of what had been up to now, his most beautiful experience; Brandana writhing on top of him, her white hair spilling onto his bare thighs with an erotic tickle, the tightness of her, the closeness of their breath.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Twenty
    Setting Sail
     
     
    Brandana joined Hans in the cock pit. He was busy running diagnostics and keeping a check that they were not about to be boarded by any unwanted Ratt Pirates. He looked at her bandaged wrist and winced.
    “How’re you feeling?”
    “Getting better. Anything on the radar?”
    “No,” Hans said. “Looks like we’re safe. That was some explosion.”
    “Yeah, I added some extra explosives without telling you. Sorry.”
    Hans grinned widely. “My little sister.”
    “Look at the stars,” Brandana mused, her gaze wandering far from the ship and out into the deep navy blackness, an expanse peppered now and again with golden stretches of dust or small, fiery detonations.
    “Oh no,” Hans shook his head. “You’re in love, aren’t you?”
    “Me?”
    “Listen to yourself, all dreamy and pathetic. Who is it? Anyone I know?”
    “Don’t tease but it’s that bipene. Devon.”
    “The pretty boy?”
    Brandana smiled, “He is, isn’t he?”
    “You’d eat him alive, Brandy. Come on! Surely you can’t be serious?”
    “I know, it’s ridiculous, Hans, but I can’t get him out of my head. I’m thinking about him all the time. I really miss him.”
    “This is going to cause me problems, I can feel it.”
    “Hans, can we go back to Kirslar?” she asked in her most persuasive tone.
    “To fetch the bipene?”
    “Yes,” she batted her eyelashes. “I think I might be in love with him. Unless I see him again, I won’t ever know. I have to find out.”
    “What about the rebellion, Brandy? You’re a major player. Don’t you want to make a difference?”
    “What have I just done? Of course I want to make a difference, Hans, and it’s