Page 24 of Stealing the Star Stone
“Excellent, as usual.”Orien gestured to Thorne nursing a damn bottle of water.“Ms.Blake has agreed to discuss traveling with me to Leratha.”
“Good,” Nova said.“That is if theValiancecan spare you.”She fixed her gaze on Thorne squirming her body in the seat.
“I’m certain Captain is more than capable of getting me—you to Artivar for the premiere.”He winced.“You have piloted as well, have you not?”
She blinked at him.Who spoke like that?Someone who swallowed a digital dictionary?And the thought of him being in control ofhership—
“Why don’t you go with Vex?”she asked, mostly because she had to keep her body close.Hying off into outer space while creepy Thorne did who knew what to her… She swallowed hard.An image flashed of her hands cupping her breasts and venturing lower— No.No way was she leaving him alone with, well, her body.
Orien flicked his attention between them, confusion in his eyes.“I thought you said she was a fan.”
“I said she was a nobody.”Nova beamed at the server who slid a cast iron teapot onto the table.Her stomach gurgled, but tea had to come first.“She’s also the pilot who hates my guts.”She added emphasis to the latter.
“Mm, interesting.”Orien smiled at her.“Yes, perhaps you should come, too.”
She cradled her cup of tea and savored the aroma.“I can’t.The premiere, remember.”Surely by then they’d swap back.She had to hope because pretending to be Thorne in the spotlights would be a struggle.
“We can stop at Artivar for that.What’s a night along the way?”Orien sipped his orange juice then smacked his lips in delight.Although, she couldn’t tell if it was from the ideas she was throwing out there or the sheer luxury of fresh oranges.
“I haven’t even said I’ll go,” Thorne snapped, cracking open another bottle of water and taking a long drink.“He’s an ass, and a pain in my butt.”
She nodded, taking another gulp of delicious tea.“You agreed to be my date.So if I go with Vex, so do you.”
“I can meet you there.”
She grinned at Thorne, playing her so well.“No, we stay together.In fact,” she laughed, loving what she was about to suggest, “how about we share a suite?”That way, he wouldn’t get a chance to fondle the goods.She planned to never leave him alone, not until they switched back.
“With you?”Thorne squeaked.“I would rather roll around in a pit of vipers than—”
“Then it’s settled,” she said, flicking through the menu on the table’s tablet.“The Farmer’s Choice,” she said, “with extra whipped cream.”A selection of fruits, cheeses, and home baked breads?Sounded heavenly.
Thorne’s eyes narrowed.He pinched his lips.“Shouldn’t you be watching what you eat?”
She chuckled, leaned back, and rubbed his rock hard stomach.“No need.”
He dipped his head, but when he raised it to meet her gaze, his expression was one of glee.“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“I see what you mean.”Orien waved his fork at her.“She treats you like a child.”
Nova whipped her gaze away from Thorne.“Y’know, you’re right, Vex.”
Thorne huffed and flicked her ponytail.
Nova chuckled.“I do believe I’m going to enjoy this trip.I’ll just get my things transferred from theValiance.”
She could have insisted they stay with theValiance, but she didn’t want Thorne to play the role of Nova Blake amid people who knew her.They were like family, and deceiving them didn’t sit well with her.And since he’d gotten her into this situation, a little payback was in order.
“While we’re here, let’s upgrade your wardrobe,” she said to Thorne.“After all, you’ll be dining with Lord Orien and myself.I’m sure your current…” She gestured to the uniform she loved so much.
“Fine,” Thorne snapped.“But I’m paying for it.”
She choked on her tea, then endured Orien giving her back a thump.“No,” she managed past the tears.“I cover all expenses, as agreed.”
“I get to choose,” he said, digging into the fruit platter the server placed before him.
She glared at him.
“I do have business to attend to.”Orien flicked a finger at the mountain of a bodyguard behind him.“Frederik will escort you around the center, but do not take longer than an hour.We need to depart as soon as possible.And don’t forget.You promised to make a few calls for a little extra funding.”
