Page 29 of Stealing the Star Stone
While the shower activated, he released her ponytail then stepped into the hot spray, moaning when it coated her tired body.Ah, yes, the hard bench in station-sec’s cell.A container read ‘bodywash,’ it’s wet outside proving she’d used it.The fragrances of vanilla and jasmine surrounded him as he soaped and rinsed, trying not to register the silkiness of her skin and the fullness of her curves.
“What’s taking so damn long?”she called through the door.
“I’m washing your hair.”He flipped open the shampoo to do so, pouring a healthy amount onto his palm.
“Hurry,” he thought he heard her say.“I don’t want to be alone when they arrive.”
He worked as fast as he could, used to long hair.It was minutes later when he finally switched off the water, wrung the last of it from her hair, then got out, drawing a towel around him.It was such a good thing he knew women well.He spent a little time drying her hair before patting the rest of her body with the thick towel.Naked, he marched out, only to halt.
She’d changed the T-shirt he’d wanted to slip into for a complete outfit, right down to the boots.
“I was going to get comfortable,” he said, waving a bra at her.
“Hell no when they’re coming to ‘assess’ us.For all you know, it’s full body.No need to help them do whatever that idiot has planned.”
“You’re acting like silk’s made out of chainmail.”He sighed and clipped on the bra.
Shimmying into a fresh pair of panties was done with way too much wiggle.For shit’s sake, he wasn’t a woman, but he couldn’t help moving like one.Why couldn’t she do the same?Why had she brought her feminine ways with her into his…masculine body?
He’d scolded her, but no way would she understand the panic behind his words.At the restaurant, she’d raised the tea cup in a far-too-delicate manner.A scan of the tables around them confirmed they were at the center of everyone’s attention.Some were even filming.If he could survive this without damaging his reputation, he’d be grateful.As much as he loved being in her body, he hated not being in his for the consequences alone.
He almost rubbed his palms together in glee.At last, he’d see her in an outfit other than her uniform.Had he left the shopping to her, she’d live in pants and shirts; the proof was the selection sprawled on the bed.
Summer dresses, evening gowns… Lingerie.He grinned, having packed away the latter before she noticed.
“Just…” Her eyes had a suspicious sheen to them.“Take care of me.”
“Listen, if I die in your body, there’s no guarantee I’ll return to mine.You’ll probably be stuck as Eli Thorne forever.”He caught her wrist and gave it a gentle squeeze.“Besides, I know how to fight.”
She winced.“Well, that’s comforting.No punches to my face.I like my nose unbroken, thank you very much.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he drawled.
“This isn’t funny, Thorne.”
“Don’t I know it.”But if he was going to be honest, he preferred switching with her.Any other woman would have been inconsolable.Dealing with that and this situation would’ve been utter torture.Nova had already set aside blame, wanting a solution and teamwork.There was something to be said about a mature woman.
The door swished open.
“How dare you?”she snapped at Frederik.“Can’t you wait five minutes?”She gestured to Eli standing there in underwear.
Taking that as his cue, he yanked on the pants and zipped them shut.
“Maybe buttons weren’t a good idea.”She held out the blouse to him.
“We didn’t know,” he said, slipping into it.
She swatted his hands away and worked the buttons shut.“We were fools,” she hissed.
“Agreed.”He sank onto the bed and pulled the boots closer.Socks went on first, then while he did up one boot, she did the other.
“And to think I offered you a job.”She glared at the hulking bodyguard.
“Why?”Eli asked, then narrowed his eyes at her.“What happened?”
“Just a few fanatical fans.”She shrugged.“Mountain over there,” she hitched her thumb at Frederik, “saved my ass.Little did I know what he and his sick boss had planned.I think I prefer the fans to kidnapping and experimentation.”
The silence ticked on in which said mountain didn’t defend himself.When he did move, it was to step aside, sweeping out his arm as if to say, ‘after you.’
