Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
EPILOGUE
OUT OF THE STARS
An INTO THE STARS Novella
By Gwendolyn Field
Copyright © 2018 Gwendolyn Field
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without prior written permission of the author except where permitted by law.
Published by
Gwendolyn Field
Image licenses from: depositphotos.com “Happy fit male posing over black background” by ©dashek and iStockphoto.com “Sad young fashion woman in tank top sitting on the sidewalk” by ©a-wrangler
Graphic Design by Kalen O’Donnell of Bookable Covers.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.
WORKS OF GWENDOLYN FIELD
Escape from Paradise (Romantic/Erotic Suspense)
Into the Stars (Space Opera Romance/Erotica)
Out of the Stars (companion novella for Into the Stars)
DEDICATION
To our veterans, and to those who love them.
CHAPTER ONE
I’m convinced all the normal, good men are taken. I’m only twenty-three but some days I feel…old. All of my high school girlfriends are in serious relationships, getting engaged, some even having babies. My sister-in-law from Mars, Reesa, is my best friend, but sometimes watching her with my brother Russ is depressing. They can literally look at each other and forget anyone else is in the room. It’s gross and wonderful all at once.
I try to focus on what’s good about my life. I’m a southern girl, which means hot summers and permission to be both sassy and cute. Mama and Daddy let me live in their basement for free, and it’s like my own apartment. They also gave me their hand-me-down Nissan when I graduated high school and I’m still driving it. I never went to college, but I started as a bank teller when I was eighteen and worked my way up to a loan officer position. Now I’m making as much, if not more than, many of my college graduate friends, and I’m able to save most of it. Okay, I know it’s not exactly an exciting dream job but I like it.
And not to brag, but my savings account is pretty impressive. Someday when I’m ready to move out and start a family or whatever, I’ll have a nice down payment. Now all I need is a guy. I know I don’t need a man—independent woman and all that—but God do I want one. It’s freaking lonely in my parents’ basement and I’m tired of buying batteries for my stupid vibrator all the time. I guess I shouldn’t call it stupid. At least it’s been loyal.
I finish brushing and straightening my blond highlights. My hairstylist calls it a lob—a long bob—shorter in the back, swooping longer in the front. When I’m satisfied I head upstairs for Sunday supper. Every Sunday Reesa and Russ come over along with our aunt and uncle from across town and our three cousins.
I ruffle my youngest cousin’s hair as I pass him in the hall but he never even looks up from the game he’s playing on his device. Freaking tweens. I will not be ignored so I turn and grasp his chin, making him look up at the goofy face I’m making.
“Hi Tucker!”
He sighs and rolls his eyes. “Hey Lanna.” He tries to look down again but I cover the screen with my hand.
“How’s your girlfriend?” Last week his older brother told everyone he had a girlfriend and Tucker turned three shades of red.
“I don’t have a girlfriend,” he grumbles. “She’s just a girl on my soccer team and Ricky saw us talking.”
I smile and pat his round cheek. “I hope you give her as much attention as you give that phone.” And before he can escape I kiss the top of his hair then head for the kitchen to help.
Supper is good, as always. It’s warm outside. We’re in that blissful period between winter and spring when the mosquitos haven’t taken over yet, so we can eat outside. My parents have the best plot of land in South Carolina. If we’re still sitting out here talking and laughing at seven-thirty the lightening bugs will come out and put on a show.
During a lull around the long picnic table, Russ clears his throat and everyone looks at him. Reesa squeezes his hand and gives him a nod.
“I’ve been given my next assignment.”
The table goes silent. My gut twists and I see Mama glance with worry at Daddy. He puts an arm around her. Nobody asks Russ where he’s going. He’s never allowed to say. It’s been nine months since he came back from the last one. The new law in the military is that soldiers get a year between war missions. They still have to work and train during that year, but now they’re required to attend therapy sessions and given meds if they show signs of PTSD, anxiety, or depression. All three mental illnesses are highly common among the military and suicide rates among service people are at an all-time high. We’re all thankful for Reesa’s love because this is the healthiest Russ has seemed since joining the military fifteen years ago. His migraines are down to a minimum.
“We leave in a week,” Russ adds.
“A week?” Mama practically yells. “But it hasn’t been a year yet.”
“I know.” He looks at his wife’s supportive face again. “Rees and I have been talking a lot. We’d like to start a family next year—” I smile as everyone at the table awws, claps, or lets out masculine grunts of acknowledgment. “—and we think it’s important for Reesa to have one last visit to Mars before then. She never got to say a proper good-bye to her mother. It’s a two-fold trip. My next mission leaves from Mars. Reesa will accompany me there, and we’ll meet back on Earth when I’m done.”
My stomach sinks and my smile disappears. Reesa’s been hinting at change but I had no idea she was planning a huge trip. It takes over three months to get to Mars. I know it’s selfish of me to think of myself, but I can’t help but blurt, “How long will you be gone?”
Reesa’s eyes have a hint of guilt as she finally looks at me. “One year.” When I can’t bring myself to smile, she reaches across the table and takes my hand, squeezing. “I’ll miss you.”
I look down and let go of her hand to quickly swipe my eyes. I’ve always hated when Russell leaves, never knowing if he’ll make it home again or what shape his mind or body will be in. Now my best friend will be gone too.
Russ, oblivious of the meltdown I’m on the verge of, continues talking. “One of my men isn’t doing so well. He’s of Earth but the Army kept him on Mars for his year of training. That last mission was hard on him.” My brother rubs his rough chin as my mind rapid fires with thoughts. He lost two men on the last mission. One of them was Devlar, best friend of Hans Rawko. My stomach flutters hard enough that I have to place a hand over it.
“Is Hans okay?”
Again, Reesa’s sad eyes find me. She shakes her head. He’s not okay. I have to swallow back the urge to cry again. I knew he’d have it rough when I heard about Dev. Mom tsks and grabs her forehead.
“It’s not acceptable that they keep sending y’all on one deadly mission after another.”
“This is what they train us for, Ma.” Russ’s voice is deep.
“And if all goes well, this’ll be my last one.”
Mom stands up with one hand on her hip and one wagging a finger at him. “Well, you’d better just do your job well and get your ass home so you can give me a grandbaby!” Her voice cracks on the last part and she stomps away from the picnic table to the house. Aunt Rach jumps up to follow her.
None of this is shocking. It’s par for the course. Every time Russell announces it’s time to go again there are tears and the government gets cussed out for needing him in the first place. It’s not easy having a Hornet in the family. Russ is an elite intergalactic fighter. A spaceship captain. We’re scared to death of losing him. Even Daddy, who’s a tough old war vet himself, has wet eyes right now.
I can’t bring myself to stand as everyone gets up with their plates and glasses, leaving me sitting with Reesa and Russ. The three of us are quiet. My brother stares out at their crazy black Labrador pup chasing a squirrel. One bird high up in a tree keeps calling out, the same tune over and over. Deep in the nearby woods the frogs are starting their evening chirrups. When you’re sitting in the midst of such peace it’s hard to imagine there are wars and other dangers going on in the galaxy that could change everything if they’re not kept in check.
I can’t help but think of Hans, AKA the hottest fucking man I’ve ever laid eyes on. I would have happily given him my virginity back when I met him at sixteen. Obviously, he wasn’t having that, and I still giggle sometimes when I remember the disgusted look on Russ’s face when he caught me ogling a shirtless Hans the first time we’d met. They’d been playing basketball on base. Daddy took me to pick up Russ since his car was in the shop. I hopped out and ran over to tell Russell we were there and I skidded to a halt, staring.
My eyes first landed on the strong V at his hips. Then moved up to his sculpted abdomen that led up to a set of strong shoulders. He was wiping his sweaty face with an arm and when he lowered it all I saw was bright blue. Good lord, those eyes. That chiseled jaw and a perfect, wide, smiling mouth. He had one of those young, cute faces as he grinned at me under a pile of short, wet, blond hair.
“Aw, hey, Lexon, is this your baby sis?”
Russ had looked back and forth between us, scowling. “Yes. Put a fucking shirt on.”
“It’s okay,” I’d said, which only made Russ glare harder and Hans chuckle as he swiped a shirt on over his head. It hadn’t mattered, though, because it was soaked through and tight enough that I could still make out his contours. That was the first time I’d ever been truly turned on by a guy.
For my seventeenth birthday we had a pool party, and Russ surprised me by making it home in time, but he had Hans, Devlar, and Tripoli with him. I unabashedly flirted with Hans, and I clearly remember him saying, “Girl, you are too cute, and way too dangerous for your own good.” He’d never lay a hand on me. Not even for a hug. Needless to say, I was very popular among my friends after that.
Every time I’d seen Hans over the years, he became bolder, catching my eye, flirting. He knew I wanted him. I was never good at hiding it. When I had the absolute pleasure of laying eyes on him, I could never look away, and Hans seemed to think my blatant crush was amusing. If Russ wasn’t nearby he’d say things like, “Look at you growin’ up,” or “Are you legal yet? ‘Cause damn.”
But never, ever had he touched me or taken it beyond teasing words. Pretty sure he was afraid of my brother in a huge way. Respect. Fear. Whatever. Russ was a total cock block.
I’d had boyfriends over the years. I’d been laid. Sex was…okay. Sometimes pretty good. But nobody, nobody, had ever been able to sear my core with a single glance from across the room like Hans Rawko.
Having a crush on a Hornet—the most unavailable type of man on Earth—is hopeless. It’s a miracle that Reesa and Russ are together. As a general rule, Hornets don’t settle down. At least not unless they can survive to retirement age, and even then their minds and bodies are often sadly broken.
But it had been hard to picture Hans as a Hornet all these years. He was literally smiling and looking mischievous every single time I’d ever seen him, as if nothing could touch him or dampen his spirits. I knew he had to be a deadly fighter, though I’d never seen it for myself. The thought of Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky being in a dark place was like a stab to the chest. I knew when I’d heard about Devlar’s passing it would kill part of Hans. To hear Reesa verify this hurt my heart.
I want to see him.
“That went well,” Russell grumbles. “As always.” He and Reesa share a glance, and she takes his arm, leaning her head on his shoulder.
“I want to go with you guys.” My heart gives a huge pound as the words come out.
Russ shakes his head and Reesa gives me a smile. “I wish you could. I would love for you to experience Mars.” My brother gives her a disapproving side-eye and she shakes her head, looking amused. I’m sure he’s not thrilled to imagine his baby sister on the sexually liberated planet. But the more I think about it, the more the impossible idea begins to take shape.
“I’m not a kid anymore, Russ. I have money saved.”
“No,” he says. At the same time Reesa asks, “How much?”
They share a hard glance and he grits his teeth as Reesa smiles. “Oh, come on, love. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Mars is completely safe, and she’d be with me. Wouldn’t you feel better knowing I had a travel companion after you have to leave?”
“Yeah, a travel companion who could actually keep you safe.”
“Oh, please,” I say. “You never want me to have any fun. You act like I’m so irresponsible. And women are safer in pairs than alone. That’s a fact.”
“Lanna, I know you’ve earmarked your money for your own home and land someday. Mars is not a cheap trip. You’ll spend every penny you’ve saved. Are you telling me you really want to live in Mom and Dad’s basement the rest of your life?”
There is that. I chew the inside of my lip. I’ve worked so hard to save this money. But like Reesa said, this is a priceless opportunity. Now that I have the idea in my head, the thought of not going makes me incredibly anxious, like I’ll be missing a bus that’s about to take me to the rest of my life or something. I can’t explain the desperate need I have to see Hans again. It’s almost as if I won’t be able to move on with my life if I don’t see him one last time. Maybe try to make him smile again. I think I’ll always regret it if I don’t do this.
“I’m going. Seriously. How do I get a ticket?”
Reesa squeals and jumps to her feet, running over and throwing her arms around me.
Russell’s head shake is small and knowing. “I don’t want to be there when you tell Mama.”
CHAPTER TWO
I did it. I really did it.
My poor mother cried as if all three of us were going to war when we left, but she knew as well as we did how safe space travel has become. I think it was the year apart that really upset her. But she’ll be okay. When we get back, Reesa and Russ will be ready to have a baby and I’ll be…what? What will I be? Broke? Ha. Definitely broke. But also more mature. Probably ready to get a mortgage or something. We’re nearly to Mars and already these past months have been sort of soul cleansing.
Over a hundred people are on this vessel. More than half are military. The rest are adventurous people with more money than they know what to do with. Some of the soldiers aboard are really hot, but stupid Russell has scared them all away from me. If it weren’t for the fact that I’m on my way to see Hans, I’d have punched my brother in the throat by now.
When Reesa gave him a hard time at dinner one night about his death-ray glare at any soldier who spoke to me, he’d grumbled, “They’re only interested in one thing.” As if I’m not interested in that, too! Or as if no guy could possibly want something more from me than just sex.
By the time we near Mars I am so ready to get off this ship. It’s a very nice ship as far as traveling goes, but after three months of being closed in, I’m ready to run.
Reesa pulls me from my room to the front of the vessel with its massive glass panes so we can observe as we near the planet. I hold my breath as I stare out, feeling very small and insignificant. It’s hard to make out the exact features of Mars because it’s cocooned inside of a manmade bubble that maintains livable temperatures and breathable air. But the outside of the bubble seems to glow red.
“It’s so crazy looking,” I say in wonder, squeezing Reesa’s hand. She’s wearing a small smile. “Have you missed it?”
She glances at me in thought, then back at the window. “I’ve missed some things. Mostly my mom and my friend Sheralyn, but it’s not home anymore. I could never live there again.”
I’ve heard all about her best friend Sheralyn, a Nevesta, and she sounds nice even though the whole “Nevesta/Nevesto” system of Mars freaks me out a little. It’s basically legal prostitution. Nobody wants for anything on Mars. Sex. Pills. Parties. They’re open to everything. But Mars, in all of its seemingly immoral ways, has almost zero crime and they produce more positive medical research per capita than all of Earth. Whatever they’re doing, it’s working for them and the rest of the universe benefits too, so I’m not judging.
Reesa has never been very forthcoming about her time on Mars. Maybe it’s my imagination but she always seems to clam up and change the subject when I ask questions. I once asked if she’d ever visited a Nevesto, because I’m super curious and nosy like that, but she told me no and started rambling about the puppy’s potty-training progress.
Mom had pulled me aside the day before I left and begged me to stay far away from the “pleasure houses.” She’d never say that in front of Reesa, of course. I was quick to swear I had no interest in Nevestos because the last thing I wanted was my mother imagining me paying for sex from some Mars dude. I don’t think I’d have the lady balls to do it anyway. I’d end up laughing like an immature hyena the whole time. I almost told Mom, “Don’t worry, I’ll stick to free sex.” But she wouldn’t have found that amusing.
Out of the Stars (Into the Stars Book 2) Page 1
