"Now here's the trajectory my brother and I are planning to use," he went on, drawing a complex curve with loading figures and fuel consumption and point of contact with the Beta Quadrant.
When he paused once, Margo touched the gold sunburst emblem on his arm. "That's fascinating, Bill, but making a trip like yours is all a gamble. I'm not offering you a gamble. I'm offering you a sure thing."
"Yes, I realize that." Bill got to his feet. "But just the same I want to think your proposition over, Margo."
She leaned toward him putting her hands on his lapels. "Bill, don't risk your neck out there in space. I need you desperately in the company."
Suddenly, Bill was electrically aware of cool, smooth arms sliding up and around his neck and her soft red mouth within fragrance distance.
And he was exquisitely aware of the full soft length of her pressing against him. The scent of jasmine reached him with bewitching stealth. That was when he closed the gap to her mouth in a sudden rush.
Bill came out of a whirling state of pure feeling to hear the visiphone buzzing insistently.
"The phone," he mumbled.
Margo opened her eyes dreamily, then comprehended. She walked over to the phone, picked up the receiver.
After a moment she turned around looking at him questioningly. "It's for you, Bill."