The Great Escape Chapter 12, Part 4 of 10

The Great Escape
Chapter 12, Part 4 of 10

"The settler company couldn't attract more settlers or investment to support the colony, so it began to decline. It then became attractive to drifters, hucksters, carpetbaggers: all those who feed off other people's bad luck."

"One of these was a demagogue called Alexander Marazon, who claimed to represent the settlers who'd sunk their fortunes into the colony and couldn't now leave. He said the settler company was exploiting them and persuaded the colony to declare independence, electing him as President - a modern-day George Washington, or so he pretended."

"He unilaterally canceled all the debts and nationalized the settler company's property. For a few years, things seemed to go well. They felt rich, spending all the money they'd otherwise pay in rent. Of course, the settler company fought back in the courts, and though it took ten years, it finally won the case. Another few years before the government applied the judgment by imposing sanctions."

"Marazon tried to resist. He renamed the colony 'Marazonia' and ruled it as a tyrant, but the colony was isolated, and the stolen money ran out, so the economy began to collapse.

Marazon tried to give the planet to the Chinese, but diplomatic pressure prevented it.

Eventually, he fled, and after negotiation, the colony rejoined the Anglosphere. Though more heavily indebted now than before, trade picked up, new investors were found, and the economy began to recover; it was too late for the settler company, which had debts from another venture that had previously gone awry. Can you guess which one?"

"Samothea, for sure."

"Dead right. The two failures pushed the company into bankruptcy, and its assets were bought by Outworld Ventures, for whom your brother has done prospecting work."

"Interesting," she noted. "So, how does it fit into your project? Surely the message to other colonies thinking of achieving independence in such a dishonest way is obvious."

"Yes, one would think so, but it all ended fifty years ago, and the temptation of canceling debts by declaring independence is ever-present. However, The real problem is that it makes colonization more risky and expensive, so settler companies are not as adventurous as before."

"I think I saw some proof of that in the difficulty Ezra had getting backers for his latest venture," Danielle volunteered. "So, what can be done about it?"

"Not a lot. The Anglosphere government reformed the Planetary Homesteading Law to make it more attractive for settler companies to risk their capital. Still, the government cannot intervene directly in the economy - thank God for that. History shows it's much better to have a free market, even if some big companies fail."

"I've never seen you so passionate about politics," Danielle said. "You have to make the video.

You should talk to my dad."

"Already done so, last week."

"You did? You never said."

"Rather misses the point of a surprise. Anyway, your dad gave me useful information and agreed to be interviewed if the video goes ahead. He has led negotiations with colonies threatening to break away."

Danielle was silent again, thinking.

"If you're coming with me to Celetaris," she said, "then I know exactly what you should do."

"What should I do?"

"Make a sequel to your book looking at how the colonies who unilaterally declared independence have fared. I know this is all recent history, but it's still history. And we can visit some of them on the way to Celetaris."

"Yes, a fourth film in the series!" He was impressed. "It's an excellent idea. Even a fifth film is possible, based on those colonies planning to break away. Your dad gave me some names to watch out for. Thanks, Darling. You always have good ideas."

"I do, don't I?" she agreed. "Here's another good idea. Let's get married!"

"Well, that's romantic! I'm glad you put so much effort into your proposal."

"It's not a proposal, idiot. I suppose it is a proposal. But I didn't plan it."

"Not. You know, a man likes to be wooed, brought somewhere special, made a fuss of."

"Yes, hilarious, Roger. Roger? What are you doing?"

He was kneeling, fishing in his pocket for something. He took her hand.

"What's this?"

He held the ring, a brilliant diamond glistening in the afternoon sun, clasped in a white gold band.

"Danielle Goldrick. I love and adore you. You are my ideal woman. You are everything I ever wished for, every joy I dreamed of, everything good and beautiful I ever wanted. Will you marry me?"

She couldn't speak. Tears were unexpected, unbidden in her eyes. She cursed herself for being so wet.

"It's customary to answer a polite one," he suggested, " so a poor fellow can get up."

"Get up, get up! Of course, I'll marry you." She was crying now." I'd hate to disappoint Gladys."

They kissed. It was a sweet, beautiful moment as they stood silently, holding each other, savoring the feeling. He held her tightly, using his arm muscles to relieve the tension from his chest. She couldn't breathe, but she didn't care.

"I didn't expect to be this happy, Darling," he said, releasing her. "I was in love with you a minute ago, and I'm in love with you now, but it feels different somehow."

"I know exactly. It's because it's real, though it still feels like a dream."

"You're my dream and my reality."

They kissed again and were silent. When they spoke, it was at the same time.

"Sorry, you first," he said.

"I said: Mum will want a huge party, with all our families, friends, and two hundred notable guests, celebrities, and ambassadors, you name it - all at a swanky hotel or probably an island in the Seychelles. I don't want that."

"Neither do I, though my folks will expect something spectacular too."

"So, let's get married soon, just our families and a few close friends. In a year, when you've done your film, we can have a big party, for our parents' sake."

"When do you suggest?"

"First June, so it'll be easy to remember."

"That's in about six weeks. Is that long enough?"

"You know Mum, that's plenty for her, and it'll keep her busy. Oh, Darling, I'm so happy I could burst!"

She hugged him.

"Me too. Shall we go home, or do you want to give Gladys the good news?"

They left via the reception so Gladys could fuss over the ring while Danielle gloated. Back in the car, Roger said:

"Aston, take us home, please - the scenic route."

"Please specify 'scenic route,' Sir?"

"Country lanes with high hedges, a pretty village with thatched cottages, a cricket pitch, and a duck-pond."

He had planned to find a spot in one of those quaint little villages to propose, probably by the duck pond.

"I understand, Sir. Route selected. Estimated time of travel: one hour, fifteen minutes."

"Scratch that, Aston," Danielle countermanded. "Get us home as quickly as possible."

"Excellent, Madam. Route selected. Estimated time of travel: forty-nine minutes."

"What's wrong, Darling?"

"Nothing. I want to go home and have sex."

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why?"

"I approve, of course, but why must we rush?"

"Because we're getting married in six weeks, and I want our wedding night to be special, so I'm making this rule: no sex while we're engaged."

"Six weeks?"

"Oh, yes."

"All right, but aren't we engaged right now?"

"I think you'll find our official engagement begins one-minute past midnight tonight."

"Well, technically, Darling."

"Technically? You mean, 'Technically, I don't want sex with my horny girlfriend for six hours straight, though I've not seen her in a fortnight.'"

"Hmm, quite so, Darling; I spoke stupidly."

"I forgive you, Roger," she was very gracious," depending on your performance tonight."

They held hands all the way home, and after a minor squabble about whose apartment they would spend the night in, he was prepared, but hers was more comfortable; they agreed to pick up the food and wine from his place. They were at hers by 6 p.m. and in bed five minutes later.

Celebrating their engagement

Naked, warm, and exceptionally randy, they lay together kissing, side-by-side, his left hand in her hair, his right hand massaging a large firm tit, the pink nipples erect and aching for his lips.

Sure enough, he pushed her onto her back and worked his mouth sensuously down her pale neck and shoulders to the inviting nipple, loving the leap of her response to his hard suction.

He licked, kissed, and sucked her nipples to his heart's content and almost to hers as well, and then he worked his way further down her smooth curvy body. She had a thin waist, a nicely smooth belly, wide hips, and a bottom precisely big enough to give him something to hold onto or slap as the fancy took him.

She loved when he kissed her ribs, so he gave lots of attention to those ticklish articles, but the thing to get her going was to kiss slowly down the inside of her thighs on the way to visiting her pussy. Here, he lavished his attention.

With a loving tongue and a gently probing finger, she gave her a series of teasing climaxes.

Sensuous flicks of his tongue over her clitoris, an aching stretch from an elongated finger pressing down in her snatch, then short come-hither rubs with a fingertip on her g-spot, took her many times to the edge, but each time he stopped short.

Danielle couldn't help sighing. Her joyful moans were, at the same time, disappointed complaints.

She told herself not to beg for it, though she was more than ready. They knew they had to go slowly to make it last. With six hours to have enough sex to satisfy them until the wedding night, they had to pace themselves. But what her conscious mind said, her erotic body contradicted. She bucked automatically, her hands in his hair, holding his head to her pussy.

Eventually, he pulled away.

"You taste lovely, Darling," he said.

It was always lovely to hear it, but she could only say "Mumm" in reply. Moaning deep in her throat, her eyes shut and back arched; she was hot, wet, and aching to be filled, but she couldn't trust herself to speak in case she wantonly begged for it.

Trying to hold off the pleasure was worse than succumbing to it. All her responses provoked and invited him. Roger knew the sounds of her begging moans and finally decided it was time.

He lay on her again, mouth to mouth, her legs spread wide. He pushed his hot hard cock deep inside. Despite her urgent need, he went slowly, gently, more patiently than she wanted, fucking her to a lento rhythm, each stroke a small step in the long path to her peak. She bucked in rhythm and held his waist. His tongue was in her mouth, and she sucked on it, urging him on with a hum in her throat.

About five minutes later, he shifted position. She sighed as he withdrew. He stretched her left leg up her body, holding it by the ankle. She turned her bottom to give him better access and then sighed as he entered her again, enjoying the stretch and the different feeling of pressure on her vagina.

Again, he went slowly. Her moans filled the bedroom, and in a couple of minutes, she was nicely aroused again, climbing onto the plateau.

After another few minutes, however, he again shifted position, pushing her right leg up so her ankles were by her ears, her knees squashing her tits. Her bottom was wantonly raised off the bed, making a highlight of her soaking pink pussy, its damp eagerness craving his cock.

"Now he's got to finish me off," Danielle thought. "I can't stay in this position all night," but when he laid on her and stuffed his cock into her vagina, he still went slowly, giving her just enough friction to get achingly aroused but not enough to take her over the edge. It was frustrating in the best possible way, and she was too nicely trapped under him to squirm or buck.

Yet another five minutes or so, and he withdrew again and pulled her to the edge of the bed, turning her onto her left side, legs together, knees brought up to her chest, her bottom hanging over the edge, the red-cushioned edges of her pussy an irresistible target between the pink globes of her lovely round buttocks.

Standing by the bed, he held her waist with one hand, his other hand on her upper thigh, and began fucking her again. Here was another pleasant position for her. She relaxed and let the sensual rhythm flow over her, starting her once more on the slow rise to a heavenly peak. She moaned with a breathy urgent whine, the ache in her pussy spreading along her thighs and up her belly to her throat. She felt the tightening, the bunching muscles before a big release - and then he stopped again, pulling out, leaving her vacant and unfulfilled.

As he lifted her left leg along his body, she found her voice and protested, saying, "Darling, please! Every time I get comfortably aroused, and near to coming, you stop. What are you doing?"

"Everything," he replied.

"What do you mean, 'everything'?"

"I mean, this is our last chance for sex in six weeks, so I am doing every position I can think of."

She smiled and relaxed.

"Ah! Now I understand. All right, carry on."

She arched her back to stick her bum out more, inviting his penetration again.

"Just let me finish when I ask."

"Will do."

He pushed his cock in and began thrusting.

Now she knew what he was up to; she enjoyed it even more. It may take her a couple of minutes to get into it after each change of position, but he was making it last, and the slower the build-up, the bigger she finished at the end. She was soon back on the plateau, whining and moaning with arousal, egging him on.


To be continued