Page 51 of Stealing the Star Stone
Everything within her rebelled at that suggestion.“No, his heart’s too big.He would’ve protected those weaker than him.”
Thorne’s smile was sweet, sincere.“You think he rescued injured birds and kittens.”
“Don’t you?”She splayed her fingers across his cleavage.“Aren’t we the kittens in this scenario?”
Thorne covered her hand with his, trapping her.The padding beneath her touch was intriguing.“We were hours away from Artivar.He could’ve left us to Orien’s devices, let me get arrested, and walked away.We wouldn’t have blamed him since he was only doing his job.”
“But he saved us,” she said, trying to move away.
“True,” he said.“And will be rewarded for that, as soon as we’re…fixed.”
“Or not.”
Into the silence, the computer said, “Destination in thirty minutes.”
Thorne released her, only to wrap his arms around her waist, and press his cheek to her chest.It was odd hugging someone shorter than her when she’d been the short person.And yet, enfolding him in an embrace felt right.
A tingle on her arm had her pulling back.Before her eyes, the blue tendrils spread to the inside of her elbow, then formed another symbol.
“Day three,” he whispered, comparing tattoos.
“Shit,” she said.“Itisa timer.”
“I wonder if I can decipher your tattoo.”He sifted through the books until he waved the one holding the alphabet.
She paled.“Now?”
He raised his gaze.“Don’t you want to know?Maybe the tattoo artist wrote something stupid instead, like ‘no regerts.’”
“It was so long ago, Thorne.Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter.I’m having it removed when I reach Artivar.”
“I’m still curious.”Then, to her shock, he unzipped his jeans and exposed his ass.“What’s the first letter?”
She tried to hide a grin.If she had to describe each symbol, then she could mislead him.“That one,” she touched the symbol for the letter ‘N.’
‘No regerts’ it is.
Chapter Fifteen
Viator IV Shuttle
On our way to a moon.
Okay, what’s the catch?
Day Three.
“No,you’reshittingme,”Eli gasped, disbelieving the words.“It doesn’t spell that.”He laughed, shaking his head.“What are the odds?”
“I should be angry, but I’ve had it for so long,” Nova said.“Good thing I’m having it removed.”
“It’s pretty, though,” he said, zipping up his jeans.
“It glows, too,” she said, sinking into the pilot seat.
A blue-green-purple moon drew closer, filling their screens.The station-sec saber-class cruiser took up the foreground.In the background was the frozen mass of Nyxara.
“Safe and sound,” station-sec said on the comms.Her face didn’t appear and wouldn’t if he judged by the ship veering away.“Good luck, and we’ll hold you to that dinner.”
