Page 11 of Stealing the Star Stone
With her spoon in her mouth, the splashes of tart and sweet fruit coating her tongue, Nova couldn’t respond.She swallowed, coughing when she choked on a small piece of apple.“He’s an actor.He fucks anything that moves, and you think he’ll change his ways for you?”She bit her lip.“Sorry, Sharon, that was a little harsh.”
A tear slipped over the girl’s delicate cheek.“You want him for yourself, don’t you?”
Nova laughed.“I’d rather sleep with aliens.”
Sharon leaped to her feet and spat, “That’s because he wouldn’t look at an old woman like you anyway.”
Nova blinked at the girl’s disappearing back.“Uncalled for but expected,” she muttered, digging into her fruit salad.Only for wealthy guests did they offer actual fruit, and no hissy fit from a naïve girl would stop her from enjoying this.
Sharon would come around.Life had a way of teaching the hard lessons.Like self-respect, integrity, honor, and what love truly meant.Arguing with the silly girl made Nova shift in her chair.As the ‘old woman,’ she should’ve known to be gentler.
Well, the warning was conveyed however poorly.
She licked the spoon, her gaze on the pants hugging Thorne’s fine ass.Perhaps she needed to listen to her own advice.A snort escaped.The chances of her succumbing to anything sexual with Thorne were the same as a wormhole swallowing this ship in 1…2…3…
She chuckled when nothing happened.
“Slim,” she mumbled and fetched another bowl of fruit.
Chapter Four
Tarnis’ Messis Station
My plan isn’t working.
Year of 2202, May
Despitetheforescreensfilledwith images of domed farms, solar panels, and water tanks, Eli couldn’t drag his gaze from Nova’s hands caressing the lever.She flew the shuttle with such ease, her guidance delicate—grace in all her movements.As new as he was to piloting, he doubted he would do better.
Once again, she wore her uniform.He’d have liked to see her in an outfit that was more…casual.Though how he’d breach that subject, he didn’t know.Maybe a pilot’s salary wasn’t enough for such…luxuries.Or she was lazy and didn’t want to waste the daily effort of choosing something to wear.He got that when his every choice would be scrutinized or worse, taken as endorsement.Graham had a seamstress on call to remove any branding from the garments he bought.
“Tarnis Messis Station, this isHonorSierra Alpha One Tango Eleven.Requesting docking location and sequence.”She careened the shuttle toward the circular floating station gleaming white against the bold greens of Tarnis below.
Shuttles, cargo ships, and tourist cruisers littered the space around the station.Not in chaos, but with an impossible synchronicity.
“Honor, this is Messis Station.Proceed to dock at Bravo Vector Two,” a man droned.“Security has been notified for pre-disembark check and sterilization.”
“Copy that, Messis Station,” she said, so calm and professional.
Within minutes, the docking clamps budged the shuttle then thunked as they latched and sealed to the sides.
She powered down the engines then leaped out of the seat, almost colliding with Eli, who’d yet to step back.
“Ready?”she said, squeezing between the chair and him without touching either.
“Sure,” he said, trying to capture her perfume without appearing to do so.Somehow, her subtle spicy scent lured him to misbehave as if he couldn’t go for long without the company of a woman.He squared his shoulders and trailed her.“Any idea where we’re going to start?”
“Oh?”She smirked.“I thought this was your joyride.”She shrugged on a formal coat in a matching red, then with a flourish, flicked out her ponytail.“I would start with the tea emporiums since we pass those first.Then we can choose a fruit and see if they’ll allow us to pick a few.”She shrugged before punching a red button that opened the shuttle’s door to the tether.
He paused, drawing in a deep breath of the cleanest, sweetest air he’d ever tasted.
She did the same, a dreamy smile making her appear more…approachable.He’d been thinking ‘beautiful,’ but he needed to get his mind out of the gutter.Sporting a hard-on in public was a nightmare to deal with, press-wise.
“That’s it?”She gestured to his expensive denims and buttoned-up shirt made from Ganymede cotton.
He glanced down, liking how his real-leather boots held their polish.“What?”
“You stand out.Or were you planning on adding an obstacle course to the day?I’ll let you dodge your sycophants, without spending an ounce of sweat.”
