Jupiter's Halo Book One: The Lies

Chapter Two "The Focus Of Affection"

The light of the rising sun through the viewing pane painted the room in shades of burning yellow and searing white. Aitkin groaned at the bright intrusion and raised an arm to cover his eyes.

“Do you have to do that?” He asked with mock complaint.

Beside the pane Itona turned to look at him.

“No,” She said with a smile, “But I like the light.”

Aitkin peered at her from below his arm.

“I’ve nothing against the light,” he replied as his eyes wandered over her naked body. “I just don’t see why we have to let it inside.”

“You don’t like what it shows?” She purred, running a finger across her stomach and up her pale skin.

Aitkin pushed himself to a sitting position, shuffling to the end of the bed so his feet could touch the floor.

Her quarters were a step up from his. Not that his new suite as a commissioned officer wasn’t a welcome promotion from the main barracks, but it was no captain’s chamber.

Her rooms were easily twice the size of his, complete with bedroom, living area, well-proportioned bathing facilities and a private office. He’d been excited to see his new rank of Lieutenant afforded him a room with its own private shower facilities, but that was where his perks ended.

He worked his feet into the thick carpet, thinking of the cold, hard flooring in his own quarters and reached out his arms to her.

She was beautiful. Not beautiful like the fresh-faced girls who played out fictions in the wavecasts or made of falsity like the women who found their living only in the desire of others.

She was a beauty made of strength, confidence and style. She was unapologetic for who she was. Charismatic and filled with an energy that infected those around her. Standing in the light of the sun, even dimmed as it was by the filters of the viewing pane, she shone.

“I like it very much,” he said, beckoning to her with his fingers. “It’s the best sight on the ship.”

She stayed where she was, refusing his summons with raised eyebrows and a tilt of her head.

“The best sight on the ship? So there’s plenty better, just not within such easy reach. Is that what you’re saying?”

Aitkin laughed off her false indignation with a shake of his head and rose from the bed, the coverlet slipping from him as he stepped toward her.

She brought her arms up protectively hugging her chest as he embraced her and she turned her face away from his kisses.

“So I’m only good enough while you’re stuck out here in space?” She continued.

Aitkin kissed her neck where it met her shoulder, running his hand up her naked back. He loved the feel of her skin, smooth and stretched taut over the muscles of her body.

She leaned away, still playing her role.

“You think you can win me over with kisses?” She said as he placed his lips high on her chest.

She pushed his face up with her forearm, so he placed his lips on her chin and began to work back down her neck.

“You think I’m just some gun-chasing floozy who’s impressed by your big muscles?”

The words were still complaints, but he could feel her body relaxing against his. She was letting her arms part, leaning into his kisses. She let out a little sigh and ran the fingers of one hand through his hair.

“Never,” he mumbled into the nape of her neck.

She grasped a handful of his hair and pulled his head back sharply to look into his eyes.

“Never, what?”

“Never, Captain.” Aitkin replied with a smile.

“And don’t you forget it,” she said as she leaned forward.

He felt her lips on his, the hunger there matching his own as he pressed against her and felt the heat of her flesh.

The passion was strong, urgent, un-sated and he loved every moment. She truly was spectacular.

Aitkin stepped back as she pushed against him, letting her guide him to the bed. She broke off and shoved him hard, flinging him into the soft embrace of the mattress. Another perk of her rank.

She looked down on him for a moment. Her lips creased into a wicked smile and he imagined her thinking of what they would do to one another. She caught his eyes and he saw how his look affected her.

“Why do you look at me like that?”

“Because I can,” he replied.

It was all the reason he needed.

Her expression softened from the hunger of desire to something deeper, purer. Something rare and beautiful. Her lips parted in a broad, almost girlish smile and he saw another layer of beauty beneath the surface. One so special and secretive he was sure only he knew it existed.

Aitkin pulled himself onto his elbows and reached out a hand to her. She lifted her own in response, their fingertips meeting with the gentlest of touches.

Behind her a buzzer sounded loud and insistent. She turned, the light from the sun rising over the planet that dominated Luna’s sky catching in her eyes, making the brown of her irises shine like gold.

Aitkin felt her fingers leave his as she stepped away. His hand tingled as if she were still touching him and he ran his thumb gently across the tips. The feeling ebbed away until it was nothing but a memory.

“Lanad,” she said brusquely into the wall mounted comm unit.

“Captain Lanad, your comm-link was unresponsive.” The voice that issued from the speaker was light, but the tone of rebuke was clear.

Aitkin didn’t recognise the owner of the voice, but he assumed whoever it was, they were either confident in their authority to speak to his Captain in such a way, or they were about to receive a stark reminder of the proper respect the Captain of the First demanded.

From her lack of explosive response it was clear Itona knew exactly who she conversed with.

“I was engaged in some… private study.” She replied calmly.

Aitkin was impressed. It wasn’t quite the response he’d been expecting. Evidently her elevation to captain had inspired her to consider the repercussions of her actions.

Despite being more than a little proud, Aitkin felt just a sliver of disappointment. Her fiery nature was one of the things he found so intoxicating.

“The Admiral requires your presence immediately.” The speaker continued. “Report to his private office without delay.”

It was the Admiral’s aide, that explained why Aitkin had no idea who she was and why Itona had held her tongue.

The comm unit clicked indicating the connection was closed and Itona's fist hit the wall beside it with a deep thud. That was the woman he knew.

She muttered something hateful at the speaker and then turned. Aitkin’s eyes roamed over her form without conscious effort. As his wandering gaze reached her eyes he saw a look that told him plainly their play time was over.

“So I’m private study am I?” He teased, unable to stop himself.

Her face broke into a grudging smile and she reached down to retrieve his discarded fatigues from the floor. She tossed them at him and he caught the bundle of clothing clumsily.

“I’ll study you more later,” she said with a wink. “Right now I have duties to attend.”

“So you’re just kicking me out?” Aitkin pulled the crumpled clothes from his face and dropped them back onto the floor. “You’re sure you can’t manage just a quick study?”

Itona gave him a sideways look.

“It’s the Admiral.” She said simply.

“So that’s a maybe?” Aitkin said hopefully.

She laughed and shook her head.

“I need to get dressed and you need to get out.”

Aitkin shook his head with mock sadness and reached down for his trousers. He pulled them over his ankles and stood to drag them up to his waist.

She was still standing naked beside the closed door. She watched him pull on his jacket and start buttoning it up, then arched her back and stretched her arms out slowly.

“Now you’re just teasing me.” Aitkin complained, crossing the room.

“Yep.” She replied with a smile.

He wrapped his arms around her, feeling the heat of her skin through his clothes and wishing she would allow him to strip them off again.

He kissed her, pressing his body close, but felt the softness of her embrace had disappeared with the Admiral’s demand for her presence. She was back on duty and he knew she’d have no more time for him now.

It hurt to be cast aside so quickly, but her devotion to the Company was part of what he loved about her. He hadn’t told her; she was open with her physicality, but any conversation he’d tried along such lines always met with patient, stony silence.

Aitkin knew their relationship was lopsided; one chaser and one chased. He knew what he felt for her was not reciprocated. Maybe it would be, given time, but if he pushed he knew she’d just pull back further.

So he put aside his disappointment, bundled up his hurt and released her from his embrace. He could see her impatience for him to leave in her stance, in her eyes.

“I’ll see you later, Captain.” His tone was questioning.

“Perhaps,” she replied slightly distantly. “It depends what the Admiral wants.”

Aitkin knew she was no longer focused on him. He could feel it inside, as if he had could see her thoughts. No, not thoughts, but maybe her emotions.

“I’ll see myself out.”

He finished buttoning up his jacket and turned to look for his boots. Finding them discarded near the door to Itona’s living area, he pulled them on and stood to leave. Opening the door Aitkin looked back to say a final goodbye. Itona had already disappeared into her bathing area, the sound of rushing water masking her ears to anything more he had to say.

 “Maybe later then, Captain.” He said quietly as he opened the door and slipped out.