Nebula Nights: Love Among The Stars

by Melisse Aires

  She nodded, and he filled her cup. Well, wasn't this a cozy domestic scene? She drained her juice and sat the glass down.

  He was already sliding back the covers on the serving dishes. Savory smells filled the air. She licked her lips, surveying the array of food. She'd eat, since he'd ordered all this food, and then she was out of here. Mmm, sausages, and eggs and gremel fruit, and muffins that appeared to be bursting with whole grains and dark bits of something.

  "There's a bakery here now," Stark said, making conversation as she filled her plate. "Owned by an immigrant, Rose Masterson. She trained at a school on Earth II and then moved here to be with her brother. She's quite good."

  Good at what? He'd probably fucked her too. Kiri bit viciously into the muffin. It was delicious, moist and tender. As she chewed, she discovered the dark bits were some kind of small berry bursting with flavor. Well, whatever, his floozy could bake. She forked up a bite of eggs and then paused as his words registered.

  "Here? Where are we?" she asked suspiciously.

  Stark continued to spread soft white cheese on his muffin. "We are in New Haven, at the Yolovana Inn."

  She was hungry, so she finished her muffin, even if panic was taking flight in her middle. She was somewhere new on this strange planet, away from where she'd landed. "How far from Frontiera City, and why?"

  He gave her one of those looks that said he had a purpose, that he was manipulating events and people to suit him. "Just a few hours in a fast cruiser. Because this town is in a lovely area, and because I've friends here I'd like you to meet."

  Kiri set down her fork, and looked him in the eye. "I don't want to meet your friends. I just need a ticket back home." Although the thought of setting off again into deep space again made her shudder. So maybe she'd take Scala up on that loan to get her started here.

  He handed her another muffin, and she bit into it without thinking. They were really good. "Why?" he asked.

  "Why? Because I have a business to run." And a home to make … somewhere. So when Kai was found, he'd have somewhere to live.

  He smiled, wry amusement chasing the shadows for a moment. "I thought it might be that."

  "Ha, ha. Some of us only have one." She picked up her fork again.

  "Some of us need to broaden our horizons."

  "Mine have been broadened plenty of late." She glared at him, but he was looking out at the sunny meadow. Kiri followed his gaze. Wonder edged out the strain of being so near him. She was actually on another planet—a verdant, clean and beautiful one. That's if she didn't step off this verandah and discover it was all a giant holovid. After the week she'd endured, she wouldn't be surprised.

  "This is a beautiful planet," he said persuasively. "And a wild one. Since you're here, you might as well see some of it. I'll be here on business for two weeks, plenty of time to tour a bit."

  "I don't exactly have time to take a vacation," she pointed out. "Gotta get back."

  He set his cup down. "I spoke with Darkrunner," he said. "He told me he sent you away from Earth II because you were in danger. I don't trust the man, or understand his reasoning, but until I understand the situation, I don't want you going back there."

  She stared at him. "He's the one who put me in danger."

  "Yes, his rescue was dubious at best, and he'll answer to me for that. But he does believe you were in danger. I want you here where it's safe."

  She opened her mouth. He held up his hand. "I know, I know. You can link Maury every five secs if you wish. Hell, I'll hire three more employees to run your stand, if that's what it takes. But you're here, and you're staying. Are. We. Clear?"

  "Crystal." He cared this much about her safety? Why? For that matter, why had he brought her here?

  "Excellent." He relaxed visibly. "I mentioned friends. Rose and Stone Masterson live north of here, in Adamant. Rose would very much enjoy meeting you."

  So the baker wasn't one of his women. Well, neither was she, not anymore. She looked at him over her coffee cup. Why was he smiling like that at her now, a kind of bittersweet look?

  "Just so you know," she said brutally. "We're not … fucking anymore."

  Chapter 39

  Stark's eyes narrowed, a dangerous look in them, before his lashes shielded them as he looked down at the cup in his hand. "Just so you know, I received a holovid the day we were to fly out," he said. "Of you and Darkrunner, in an extremely passionate encounter."

  She slammed her cup down so fast the hot liquid sloshed out onto the table, stinging her thumb. She wiped it on her napkin, scowling at Stark. "What? I haven't been with him since—well. That one time nearly a year ago."

  His gaze pinned her. "Really? You were wearing the leather outfit. When you were clothed, that is."

  Her face burned, but she held his gaze. "Yeah, I went to meet him, so what? I told you, he had something of mine. The ... sex had to be from that other time." She gave a disgusted hiss. "Should have known he'd think it was hot to vid it."

  Stark nodded. "I know now that someone doctored the holovid. It was sent to me through a friend. Whoever it was wanted me to think you were with him voluntarily. At the time … it worked. I was too angry to consider that it might have been faked. I still don't know who did it—Darkrunner perhaps. He's not a gracious loser."

  He'd been upset by the video? Enough to lose his cool? Kiri felt a surge of mean satisfaction, as Stark steepled his fingers and pressed them against his mouth.

  When he spoke, it was if the words were being dragged out of him.

  "I thought ... that you'd decided I wasn't what or who you wanted. That's why ... the woman on the ship. She meant nothing, just a casual encounter."

  Kiri shook her head, forcing that out of her mind. She'd deal with that later, she couldn't bear to think about it now. "Who sent you the holovid?"

  "Haassea. She was very perturbed."

  Kiri snorted. "Yeah, I'll bet. Logan, the woman still wants you. I'll bet she made up that holovid."

  Stark looked startled. "No, I'm sure you're wrong. It had to be someone else. God knows I've as many enemies as I have friends, probably more."

  He rose in a swift motion and walked restlessly off the porch, a tall man with tension and anger in his broad shoulders, in the clench of his fists on his hips. "Perhaps this all happened because of me. I may be the one who put you in danger. Cause and effect."

  Unable to sit still any longer, Kiri dropped her fork and rose from the table, stepping off the stone verandah and onto the flagstone path that led off around the building.

  "Tal Darkrunner put me in danger. We may not know why he did it, but he didn't have to drug me and throw me on that ship."

  "I'll find out who it was," he swore. "And I'll destroy them. Just as I'll destroy whoever did this." He turned to her, cupped her face in his hand—so warm, and tipped her head so he could see the bruise.

  "You don't need to take care of them—a friend did that. Someone who used to work for you, matter of fact."

  His grip tightened. "What's his name?'

  She eyed him wonderingly. Was he jealous of whoever had been there to rescue her?

  "Not him—her. A Serpentian, named Scala. She said to tell you maybe this would even the score between you."

  He scowled, and she pulled his hand from her face but held onto it, squeezing it to keep his attention. "What did she mean, Logan?"

  "That woman is no good," he said. "She's a thief and a deceiver."

  "Hey. She helped me," Kiri reminded him indignantly. "When none of the men would. She stopped two other Serps from raping me. Then she let me stay with her. She even advised me to—well, never mind that." He didn't need to hear Scala's comment about the relative worth of males.

  A low sound rumbled from his chest, and he yanked her against him, his arms like bands of iron, one hand cupping her head. Kiri let him hold her, astonished. Was he growling?

  "You should never have had to endure all that ugliness," he said into her hair. "You've been through enough." />
  "Logan, I'm fine. Except I can't breathe."

  He let her push him away but held onto her shoulders. "Little cat, I swear to you I'll keep you safe from now on, if you'll let me."

  "I don't need you to keep me safe," she said stubbornly. "I just made it through a pretty tough spot, with the help of some good people."

  He gave her a strange look. "You don't need me?"

  She stiffened her spine against the urge to melt against him, take that haunted look from his gaze. "I can stand on my own feet, Logan. Anyway, beings are pretty thin on the ground on this planet, so I guess danger should be pretty easy to spot," she said, trying for a joke. "Maybe going home I can ride on your fancy ship, though."

  He smiled, but it was a poor effort. "Yes, that I can guarantee. You won't be riding on any ships but mine from now on." He squeezed her shoulders and then let her go. For an instant she wished he hadn't.

  "I know someone who'll be glad to know you're all right," he said. "Rak has been linking me all week, asking for news. So has Natan. I've never seen either of them do that before."

  Kiri's heart swelled. "They're both good guys. I need to link Maury, too. And Taara."

  "In a moment," he said. "Right now, come for a walk." He stepped off the verandah and gestured at the sylvan scene as if offering it to her.

  Kiri forgot her sorrow as she followed him. The grass covered earth was soft and lumpy under her feet. She laughed, turning to Stark to share her delight. "It's like walking on thick carpet, only ... better."

  He took her hand, and she walked out into the grass, watching her feet move through the long strands of tender green, knowing he would keep her from losing her balance. The scent of the bruised grass rose up around her, mingling with a sweet, spicy scent that was somehow familiar.

  "What's that wonderful smell?"

  "The trees." He waved his arm at the tall evergreens. "They've oil in their needles and pungent sap under their bark. The sun brings out the scent."

  Heat draped across the top of Kiri's head and shoulders, as if someone had dropped a hot blanket over her. She flinched and then turned back to squint at the fiery ball of the sun shining in the sky over the ridgeline of the building.

  "That's the sun," she said wonderingly. "It's really warm. Even hot."

  "Don't stare at it," Stark warned, shading her eyes with his free hand. "The rays will damage your eyes. Quick glances only."

  Kiri closed her eyes and saw bright spots against her eye lids. She staggered, dizzy. A powerful arm slid around her waist, steadying her against Stark's hard body. She stood for a moment, her eyes closed, absorbing the wonderful heat of both the sun and the man.

  Then she remembered and stepped away, pushing his hand off her waist. The meadow slid into a wash of green and blue as her eyes filled with tears.

  "I don't want you touching me." Not yet.

  He made no move to do so again, but she felt him close behind her.

  "I'm not going away, Kiri." His voice held pure cerametal. Stark, the magnate, creating his own reality.

  She wrapped her own arms around herself, looking out at the verdant scene before her, blinking away the hot tears that insisted on welling up again and again. It was comforting to know he wanted her that badly, but still …

  "Well, I hope you're good at waiting, then. Really good."

  Because she didn't know how long it would take for the image to fade of that woman giving him the intimate smile that said he'd fucked her and done a really fine job of it. Kiri's breakfast roiled in her stomach.

  Stark grasped her arm and turned her to him. Cupping her face in his hands, he tipped it up toward his. His eyes held absolute determination, though his grip on her was gentle.

  "I'm a very patient man, Kiri te Nawa. And you will be mine again. No matter how long it takes."

  Chapter 40

  Kiri glared at Stark. "You can't know that, Logan. No one can but me, and I don't even know that yet.

  He stared down at her for a long moment. Then something moved behind his eyes, something raw and deep.

  "Come and walk with me. I think it's time to tell you a story."

  "Okay." She muttered, but she was responding more to that look than to his words. What kind of story?

  He took her hand in his and they walked on through the meadow.

  "Once there was a boy," he began. "He was born in New Seattle—not in the wealthy part, but not the worst part, either. He had a mother that loved him, when she thought about him. She took care of him, fed him and sent him to school. But most of the time, her attention was caught up in his father. His father, who was rarely there—flew in once a month or so, ruffled his son's hair, took his wife to bed and hung around for a day or so, then disappeared again, off to wheel and deal.

  "Until the boy was fourteen and the father disappeared for good. Things had been getting worse for a while, there wasn't quite enough food to eat and the boy's mother sank deeper into depression. Didn't pay attention to the boy, just sat and pined for the man. Starving herself, getting sick and not caring. The boy tried to take care of her, tried to fix what was broken, but he wasn't enough."

  Kiri was listening now with every iota fixed on Stark, her heart pounding with dread for whatever was coming. She knew it was going to be bad.

  "Then one evening another woman appeared at their little apartment. She had a boy by the hand. A dirty, skinny kid, about eleven, with dark red hair and eyes … just like the older boy's. She told them he was another son of the father, the credit he'd given her was gone and she wasn't feeding him anymore."

  Kiri gasped and Stark's hand tightened on hers.

  "The mother would have turned her away but the boy—"

  "You," Kiri whispered. "Say it.You're the boy, aren't you?"

  He gave her a veiled look, but it was poor shield for the soul-deep turmoil she saw behind it. Kiri held his gaze, gave him hers back.

  "Yes. I said no, we had to keep him. He was—it was obvious he was my brother."

  "Which one?" she breathed.

  "Joran." Ah, the one who looked like Stark.

  "And … your other brother?"

  His hand tightened again, his grip hurting her, but she didn't protest.

  "Creed. We … found him, Joran and I."

  They had passed into the shadows of the tall evergreens. The earth was soft under their feet, layered with the dry needles. The air was cool, and filled with that magical scent, so strong it was like perfume.

  "How did you find him?"

  Stark gazed out at the meadow, his eyes squinted slightly against the sunlight, but Kiri had the sense he saw none of the beauty before them.

  "Turned out my father hadn't been traveling far, just to his different women and gambling establishments, where he was a dealer. He hooked up with whores and any woman foolish enough to believe his lies."

  "That's why you were worried I was a gambler," she breathed.

  He nodded. "He died in a crooked gambling house, lasered in some drunken argument. My mother died not long after. Walked in front of an airbus at the stop nearest our house. Never figured out if it was an accident, or she just couldn't live with the knowledge he'd been fucking around on her. Though why in the seven hells it should have surprised her, I've never understood. Even I knew he didn't think of us when he was gone. He never … brought me anything from his travels. Never had stories to tell of where he'd been."

  Kiri clasped his arm with her free hand, her heart swelling with pain for the boy he'd been.

  She'd lost her family, but at least she knew she'd been loved. She took a deep breath, willed her voice to remain steady. "So then what did you do?"

  "Lost the apartment," he said, almost absently. "They were going to put Joran in a crèche, me in a labor school. But I didn't like the looks of the men who came to pick him up. He was … a handsome boy. And he fought when they tried to take him, so we didn't let them."

  Kiri stared up at him. Twelve- and fourteen-year-old boys against two grown me
n and they hadn't 'let them' do something? She nodded. "Ah, that's—that's good. So then?"

  "We were on the streets. Joran had grown up in the slums, knew some hidey holes, some places to get food, so that's where we went. And where we found Creed."

  He looked at her for the first time. "Creed's not our blood brother. He's ours because we took him from a pimp."

  "Oh, Logan."

  Stark nodded grimly. "Intended to whore him to pedophiles. I'm not altogether sure he hadn't already. He's never said. Didn't speak for months, didn't do anything but stay close to us like a skinny little shadow with huge eyes. They're blue, like that sky."

  Kiri wrested her hand from his and threw her arms around him, pressing her face against his chest. "Oh, Logan. Thank God you found him."

  His arm closed around her and he curled his other hand around the side of her throat, his thumb tipping her head up so he could look into her eyes. "Kiri. I'm not telling you this so you'll feel pity for me, or for Joran or Creed. I'm telling you so you'll understand me and so you'll know—everything you went through on that ship, every fear, every discomfort, every threat—I've been there. I've lived it, slept it, breathed it. I may be wealthy now, but I didn't come from wealth."

  Slowly, she nodded. This was the past Scala had alluded to. Stark might not be a woman, but he'd known the fear of being smaller, weaker as a youth, and yet he'd appointed himself guardian of two younger boys and refused to part with them.

  His face softened, and she watched him come back to her, his gaze focused on her, not the cold and bitter past. His hand worked, caressing her cheek.

  "I got through it, little cat, and I triumphed. The places we hid out? I own most of them. They're viable businesses now, with food kitchens and crèches attached for those who need them."

  "So there won't be boys like Joran and Creed," she whispered.

  He shrugged. "We can't save them all. But LodeStar can help by giving jobs to their parents, those who are willing to work."

  His hand tightened, framing her cheek. "And you—I'll keep you safe if you'll let me. Protect you so you're never vulnerable again to slime like Darkrunner and his kind. And I'll prove myself worthy of your trust, as well."