Keeper of the Stars: Part Three

by Aliyah Burke

  The heady aroma made her mouth water. She poured it into the two bowls then placed the saucepan in the sink and rinsed it out. Lian leaned against the island and held a spoon out for her as she returned to her stool. She’d long since learned that if she took care of the pot first, the pudding had cooled enough she could eat it.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “Your entire face lights up when you have this.”

  “It’s the perfect dessert in my eyes. I mean, I don’t know a lot of them but this one…it’s always perfect.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to try it with some milk on it?” He walked to the fridge and pulled out the glass bottle of milk before returning to the island.

  She scrunched up her face and shook her head. “No. It tastes better this way. You should try it without the milk one time.” Taking the spoon, she drew lines across the top, sectioning it into quarters. No real reason why, it was just how she did it—she would eat one section at a time until the entire serving was cleaned up.

  “Open,” he said.

  Dragging her gaze from her bowl of pudding, she saw he had a spoonful before her. She took the bite and groaned in pleasure as the warm pudding slid down her throat.

  Lian pushed closer and kissed her, his tongue delving into her mouth, slipping along hers. “You’re right, it does taste better that way,” he whispered.

  Tingles of need spiked along her skin and she shuddered. “Shouldn’t you be eating yours?”

  She didn’t know how it was possible for black eyes to grow darker but his did. They smouldered with simmering heat as he slowly moved back from his seat and walked around to her side of the island.

  “I should be eating mine.” He snaked out an arm and lifted her from her stool as if she didn’t weigh more than the spoon he’d recently fed her with.

  Her squeal was cut short as he slammed his mouth on hers. With frantic motions, he stripped off her pants and underwear, before tossing them on the floor. The wall at her back stopped him and he ripped his mouth from her, the gleam in his eyes pure possession.

  He hefted her higher, her thighs shoved apart by his shoulders, and she squirmed as he readjusted his hands to keep her there. His mouth was right by her pussy, his hot breath fanning over her.

  “I’m about to be eating mine,” he rasped.

  She threaded a hand into his black hair and pulled as his thick tongue took its first swipe up her lips and circled her clit. Then he stopped, murmuring something in a language she couldn’t understand. But his breath was teasing her and pushing her towards the precipice when all he’d done was touch her one time. It wasn’t fair.

  “Lian!” she cried, bracing one hand on the wall behind her as she angled her hips closer to him.

  “Tell me,” he said. “Tell me what you want.”

  “You. I want you!”

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  Interludes: Temporary Home

  Aliyah Burke

  Excerpt

  Chapter One

  “Get the hell out of here, you mangy, good-for-nothing kid! Don’t let me catch you around here again.”

  Samuel Hoch went flying through the air only to land in a partially frozen puddle. Seconds later a splash sprayed his face with icy pellets.

  “You do and you’ll wish you were dead.”

  He already did. Sam scrambled towards his bag as the heavy door slammed behind him. The wintery wind swirled around, biting into his skin with vicious tenacity. Fighting back his tears, he tried to get up only to slip and fall again, this time wetting the rest of his thin and worn clothes.

  It isn’t fair. Why am I out here?

  “Easy there, son.”

  Sam stared up in shock to find a tall black man standing there looking down at him. He took in the white hat with the black brim, the blue pants with a blood-red stripe on them—visible from beneath the dark coat—and the shiny shoes. He knew what he’d found. Or rather who had found him. A Marine.

  The man extended his hand and it seemed that even the leather of his gloves was spotless.

  “I’m fine,” he snapped, embarrassed and a bit frustrated.

  “No harm in accepting some help.” The man’s tone never changed. His deep bass rumbled, reminding him of thunder.

  Sam reached out slowly, half expecting the hand to jerk away or hit him in the face. Neither happened, and the man lifted him clear of the freezing water with ease. Sam’s teeth began to chatter as more of Minnesota’s winter wind slammed into him.

  “You have anywhere to stay tonight, son?”

  Mute, he shook his head as the large man began shrugging out of his coat. Sam was in awe of the uniform and never even moved when the heavy coat was placed on his too-thin shoulders. Immediately he warmed as the wind was blocked. The sleeves were too long and they fell to drag on the snowy ground. All he could think about was how nice it was to no longer be freezing.

  “Come on, son. Let’s get you to some shelter for the night. Going to get right cold tonight.”

  He lifted his head and stared up at the imposing figure. If the wind or cold affected him, Sam couldn’t tell. The man seemed unbothered by it all. He still hesitated—he’d seen what happened when boys went off with adult men. Those images and screams gave him nightmares.

  “I have your things, come along.”

  He walked beside the now-silent Marine. His smaller steps were weighed down by the heaviness of the wool coat. He didn’t mind the heat but he was exhausted and so hungry. At the end of the alley, the man paused and glanced down.

  “Name’s Dean Richardson.”

  “Sa…Sam Hoch.” The words were painful sliding through cracked lips.

  Dean turned left and walked again. “Nice to meet you, Sam.”

  That was it, all the man called Dean Richardson said as they walked along the snowy streets. It didn’t take too long before they were walking up the steps to a large stone church. They didn’t go in the front but headed around to the back. There Dean knocked.

  Warmth and bright yellow light spilled out when the door was opened. An older man with silvered hair stood there.

  “Dean. Good to see you.”

  “Thank you, Father. I brought someone who needs some help”—a pause—“at least for the night.”

  Kind blue eyes found him and soon Sam was welcomed inside. There were about fifteen other boys running around. They all halted in what they were doing and stared at him. He stepped closer to the tall Marine.

  “We should have some dry clothes which will fit you. I’m Father Michaels, by the way.”

  “S…Sam.” His teeth still chattered but he was not as cold as he’d been before.

  Another gentle smile. “Come along, Sam. You’ll feel better dry and with some food in you.”

  He peered up at Dean who gave an encouraging nod. “Go on, son.”

  He went and when he returned, Dean was still waiting. His coat, with its muddy and snowy hem, rested beside him on a second chair. His hat sat next to him on the table. Sam couldn’t explain his relief at seeing him there. The man spoke to Father Michaels. The light gleamed off his shaved head, creating an even more imposing figure. Still, the brown eyes, which met his were soothing.

  Dean approached, gestured him into a chair at the table then sat across from him. “You’re going to be okay, son.” He reached out his hand, a card extended from his fingers.

  Sam took it and read the printed words. Staff Sergeant, Dean Richardson, United States Marine Corps. He didn’t know what it all meant but he was glad to have it in his grip. There were also phone numbers on it.

  “Work and home. You can call me any time, Sam.”

  He didn’t know what to say and so just blurted something out. “I’m sorry about your coat.”

  Father Michaels set a plate of food in front of him before disappearing again.

  A wide, brilliant grin. “Not to worry. A little dirt never hurt a coat.” He got to his feet. “You’re safe here, son. Father
Michaels is a good man.”

  After stabbing some of the ham from his plate, he shoved it in his mouth. “Why did you—”

  “Don’t talk with your mouth full.” Dean’s reprimand was delivered in an authoritative yet calm voice.

  He swallowed and tried again. “Why did you help me?”

  “Everyone needs help at some point, Sam. Remember that.” Dean walked off, slipping on his coat and holding his hat.

  Sam watched the man speak with Father Michaels then open the door and step though, simultaneously placing his hat on his head. Then Dean Richardson was gone. And Sam again felt alone.

  For the first night in over a month, Sam crawled into a bed, which wasn’t made of collapsed cardboard boxes or on a heating grate. His bag of personal belongings was beside him as he snuggled beneath the warm blankets. In his hand he held Dean’s card. Too exhausted to remain awake, and confident he was safe, at least for the moment, he succumbed to the sandman’s irresistible lure.

  “Sam!” a voice called. “Sam!”

  Twenty-seven years later, Washington State

  “Sam!”

  He jerked and looked around. A dream, it had only been a daydream. Sam Hoch glanced down at the boy who’d fallen to the deck of the ferry. His mother—at least he assumed it was his mother—pregnant and with a harried expression on her chubby face, hastened to them as fast as she could.

  “You okay, son?” he asked, reaching out to help the child up.

  He nodded, accepting the assistance. “I was hiding from my mother. What’s your name?”

  His heart clenched at the innocence the boy had. What would a childhood like that have been like?

  “I told you not to run on this ferry, Sam.” The mother was out of breath and her expression was concerned.

  “I was bored,” the child whined.

  Sam stood so the woman could have his seat. She accepted and sank heavily beside her now-pouting child. “Thank you,” she said. “For helping him and for giving up your seat.”

  “Everyone needs help at some point.” Sam walked away as Dean’s words slid from his lips.

  Dean. His mentor. His friend. And the man he’d thought of as his father. The reason he was on the ferry from Seattle to Bremerton. Dean was in hospital. He’d been diagnosed with bone cancer and had been undergoing chemo. It hadn’t been going well lately and they’d had to stop the chemo and admit him, just to see if they could put some weight back on him and get him strong enough to endure the treatment again. It didn’t look promising, though. Nausea churned in his gut at the thought of losing him.

  Aside from the Corps, Dean Richardson and Dean’s niece had been his only family.

  “It is so like the commercial. This man is wearing the same thing.”

  Sam heard the not-so-hushed whispers behind him and continued to face forward. The boy he’d helped before. The one with the same name.

  “You talked to him once, ask him.” Another child spoke. “Or are you chicken?”

  He knew what was coming. Sure enough, the little boy and his friend popped around him, both bundled up against the winter air off the water. One boy white and one Asian.

  “Sir?”

  “Can I help you boys?”

  They shared a glance before a nudge was exchanged.

  “Do you do like the commercial?”

  He peered down, knowing that in his dress blues with blood stripes he looked the same as the Toys for Tots Marines on the television advertisement.

  “Christmas is almost here,” he said. “There’s not much time left.”

  “I know. It’s why we need to know.”

  Their expressions were so hopeful he was hard pressed not to smile. Beyond them he saw the pregnant woman again, her expression even more drawn and full of apology. He gave her a small nod before returning his attention to the boys.

  They spoke of the toys they wanted, games and clothes. When the ferry docked at Bremerton, he stared at the boys before going down on one knee. “I’ll see what I can do, but remember the most important thing is being with family and those who love you. Help your mom out.”

  He regained his feet and headed for his truck to disembark.

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  About the Author

  Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She is married to a career military man, and they have a German Shepherd, two Borzois, and a DSH cat. Her days are spent sharing her time between work, writing, and dog training.

  Email: aliyah_burke@hotmail.com

  Aliyah loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.totallybound.com.

  Also by Aliyah Burke

  Through The Fire

  Seducing Damian

  Code of Honour: A Marriage Of Convenience

  Code of Honour: The Lieutenant’s Ex-Wife

  Code of Honour: A Man Like No Other

  Code of Honour: When Stars Collide

  In Aeternum: Casanova in Training

  In Aeternum: Harbour of Refuge

  In Aeternum: Protected by Shadows

  Interludes: Temporary Home

  Interludes: Alone With You

  What’s Her Secret?: Preconception

  Keeper of the Stars: Part One

  Keeper of the Stars: Part Two

  With Taige Crenshaw

  Kemet Uncovered: Talios

  Kemet Uncovered: Devi

  Kemet Uncovered: Linc

  Kemet Uncovered: Saffron

  Kemet Uncovered: Taber

  Kemet Uncovered: Ashia

  With McKenna Jeffries

  McKingley: All the Wright Moves

  McKingley: The Best Thing Yet

  McKingley: Risky Pleasures

  McKingley: Pure Harmony

  McKingley: Irresistible Forces

  McKingley: Seduction’s Dance

  Totally Bound Publishing