The Orion Assignment by Austin S. Camacho

want you as me gamekeeper.’ How’s that for a wild piece of luck, eh?”
    â€œWhat more could you ask for?” Felicity said. She smiled, but a quick look around told her there was a lot more a loyal employee could ask for. Max’s room was about twelve by eighteen feet, furnished with the simplest appointments. The floor was bare boards. There was a basic wooden bed, a dresser, a tall wooden wardrobe, a desk and a coat rack by the door. She walked in, looked around, and faced Max with a big smile.
    â€œMaxie, is there a place where a girl could, eh, freshen up?”
    â€œBy gosh, I didn’t think,” Grogan said, blushing. “There’s a W.C. two doors down on this side. You go on and I’ll ring for tea.” He reached for the simple phone on his simple desk.

    Max’s description proved to be most inadequate. This was no “water closet.” It was bigger than the “slave’s quarters” Grogan lived in. The toilet and bidet occupiedtheir own little alcove to one side. The marble counter held two large sinks. The mirror above them was at least three feet high and six feet long. She felt no need to explore the sunken tub at the far end.
    The real reason for the trip, aside from “freshening up”, was for Felicity to unstrap the tiny camera from her inner thigh. The camera, no bigger than a pack of chewing gum, traveled in a black leather case about the size of a checkbook. Two Velcro bands held the case to her long leg, just below her crotch.
    The case also held a tiny set of lock picks and a length of piano wire. With the picks she could enter any door. She would use the wire if she went upstairs. She always strung a wire across the stairs when she went up them during a burglary. If a residence guard surprised her, she could flee down the stairs, remembering her trip wire’s location. She could count on her pursuer to fall, giving her time to escape.
    She concealed the small case in a cabinet under the sink. Then she prepared herself to go back to the small room and enjoy the evening.
    She opened Grogan’s door ten minutes after she left. The lights were out, but three candles glowed on the desk. They surrounded a silver tea service and a small vase of wild flowers. Max, sitting on the bed, motioned her toward the chair. Her heart went out to him, seeing that he was trying his best, and she had no desire to make it difficult for him.
    â€œOh Max, it’s so pretty,” she said, in a low, seductive tone. “And so formal. I’m flattered, I really am, but I’m a big girl. We both know I didn’t come all the way out here for tea. You look as if you don’t know what to do next. You big lug, don’t try to tell me I’m the first lass you’ve had in here.”
    Max looked down at his hands hanging between his knees. “Oh, I’ve had lasses here. Lasses. Women. Dollies. But never a lady before. I mean, you’re not even drunk.”
    She knew this was a time to stifle the laughter trying to burst out of her. She stepped forward, stood over him and said, “Maybe I can help.” When Max looked up, Felicity had finished unbuttoning her dress and slipped the sleeves off. She stood naked to the waist, her body offering clear evidence that a bra was indeed unnecessary equipment. He stood up, wrapping one arm around her waist, cupping one erect breast in his other hand. As that rough palm slid across her left nipple, Felicity felt herself melting. When Max lifted her to his bed with hardly an effort, she knew she would enjoy bringing this big country man pleasure in a way he had never known before.

- 10 -
    â€œIt’s the world’s greatest arms bazaar, and I can’t think of a nicer pirate to be here with.”
    The lady’s name was Claudette Christophe and she wore Morgan on her arm like an expensive fur as they strolled along a short row of hedges. On their right was a row of Paris chateaus,