“Is that a y-yes?” His voice quaked, along with every other part of him. In fact, his knees were so weak he didn’t know if they could support him.
She closed her eyes and tilted her head up.
He leaned in and pushed his lips to hers, feeling the softness compress as he pushed against her. She put her arms around his neck, and he hugged her tight. It was her tongue that sought his first, but he responded, searching for answers in their kiss.
Behind his closed eyes, he saw a million stars.
Seven
Stella pulled away, breathless. She’d kiss him again, but now she was confused. Why did she enjoy it so much, and why did she feel the need to be with Andrew? Such a strong desire, and it wasn’t only physical, though that was a part of it. Maybe he was her fated, though she’d never heard of a Gainorian having a mate that was inter-species. Plus, having a fated mate didn’t mean she had to be with him. It just meant she really had a draw to him. Did he feel anything?
He blinked. Yes. The kiss had affected him, too.
She wanted more than the physical. Never once had she felt sex was enough in a relationship, though it was definitely something that added. She needed to let him in closer to her heart and see how he reacted.
“I want to show you something.” She smiled and tugged his hand. If he liked it, she would know he was more than merely a passing crush. “Come on.” She headed for the door. “In my quarters. I know the room is small, but come on with me.”
“Okay. What is it?” Andrew grabbed his tablet and followed her.
“It’s what I love to do. I hope you like it.” Stella waited for him at the door then called a lift.
They climbed onto the lift, and Andrew hung on like he was afraid of falling off. She tried not to chuckle. He pushed up his glasses right before it took off.
“Hang on.” She grinned at him and held on with one hand. She loved the lifts. So convenient and fast.
They stopped outside her door, and she hopped off and waited for him to step down. The lights were on in the corridor, and she hoped it looked more presentable than it had the night before. He must have thought she lived in a sewer.
“W-why are we here?” Andrew looked around. His hands shook and he fiddled with his bow tie.
Poor man. He thought she brought him to her room for sex. While that wasn’t the worst idea, it wasn’t the plan. She wanted to be close to him, share something of herself, so when she asked for help, he’d trust her.
For real. After stealing his band, she’d blown that first level of trust and she knew she had to earn it back, no matter what he said. Trust was something not given lightly. She knew that.
“We’re here so I can show you what I do when I’m not dancing at the bar.” She opened the door, and they stepped into the small room.
Effie had gone back to her quarters early in the morning, but the blood-stained towels were still on the floor.
“What happened?” Andrew’s voice was overshadowed with concern and he set his tablet on the dresser.
“Effie came here hurt last night. Jhodalann and Eric both took swings at her.” She pushed the towels out of the way. “Your friend Eric is a real jerk.”
“He’s not my friend, he’s my boss. I can’t believe he would act this way.”
“Trust me, he got a few hits in, but Jhodalann is the one that cut her up. She won’t be able to work for a week. Asshole.”
“I’m sorry, Stella. Why do you keep on in these conditions? With your powers…”
She turned to him. “What are you talking about?” Maybe bringing him to her room had been a bad idea.
“You say you are Gainorian. I’ve heard the rumors, and I saw you shifting when you were dancing. Is it a secret? I don’t know if the stories are fairy tales or if there’s some truth.” He brushed her hair away from her face. “Tell me.”
Stella shivered at his touch. If she told him, she’d lose her advantage, but it sounded like he’d already figured things out. And if she hoped he would help her escape Jhodalann, she needed to tell him. Back to trust. She needed to build it and it was a good way. Letting him in was important.
“It’s a complex story.”
“I’m here. I want to know.”
He seemed so sincere. Like a mate would. The more she was around him, the more she suspected. Or maybe it was her heart’s desire overriding her doubts. His sincerity was refreshing after dealing with the men she’d met since leaving her home planet.
“I’m Gainorian. My people’s legends say that we descended from stars. All of us could manipulate matter and energy to different degrees, but when we were discovered, we were hunted and captured for our abilities. Not all the rescue ships were truly rescuers. Many were slavers, or worse.”
His face showed his shock. Eyes wide, mouth open, he truly hadn’t heard of the horrors.
“Oh my god. How many of your people escaped?” He backed against the wall. “That’s so terrible.”
“It is. It was a genocide but not by our star. Other races came to take advantage of us. I don’t know how many of us survived, but I imagine many are living incognito so they weren’t taken as lab rats.”
“Or as dancers.”
“Or as dancers, yes. I don’t really know why it’s stronger sometimes and unreachable at others. Maybe it’s because I’m traveling farther from my own star. The few people that were on the ship with me? Almost all lost their powers when we got clear of our star.”
“Does Jhodalann think he owns you? How did you end up with him?”
She pushed her hair behind her ears and tugged her T-shirt down. “That’s complicated. I’m working for my freedom. Saving up to buy myself off this ship and a new life.”
He tugged her into his arms and held her. She fell into his hug, letting him hold her. Every molecule in her body thrummed with how right it felt.
“I love having you in my arms.” He sighed.
“It feels right.”
“It does. I don’t understand. I’ve not known you long, but it feels like I have known you forever.” He laid his head on hers.
“I feel the same. I don’t really understand it but I’m not complaining.” She giggled.
“What’s so funny?” He pushed her back at arm’s length.
“Nothing. We seem to be the least likely people to be a couple, and yet here we are hugging each other.” She gazed into his eyes. “I’m sorry I took your band. I was desperate.”
“I know.” He took on a serious look. “Don’t mention it again. It’s in the past. And it brought us together in some odd way. What if you hadn’t taken it? We might not be here today. Goodness knows I wouldn’t have been brave enough to ask you for a date.”
She looked down and he tipped her chin up with one finger.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Don’t even think about it. Thank you. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. Inside and out. Don’t forget that.”
“I’m glad we met.”
“Me too. It’s fate.” He pushed his glasses up. “What are those?” he asked.
She looked where he was pointing. Her metal sculptures. She pulled away and walked over to them.
“This is what I brought you here to see. I make these!” She held up a tiny unicorn she’d made from a photo in an Earth book.
He took the sculpture from her gently and admired it. She beamed. It made her feel good to know he appreciated the work she’d put into her art.
He ran his fingers along the smooth metal, and she shivered at his soft touch. Him caressing her creation was almost like him running a finger up her bare back. Every hair on her neck stood. She raised her hand to her lips and touched them. The kiss.
She had no time for kisses. But Andrew was so careful, so gentle. Unlike Jhodalann. Unlike most men she knew.
He beamed at her. “This is really fantastic. Where did you get the materials?” He set the unicorn down and picked up a creature from Ardos V, its articulated tentacles moving as he
set it on the palm of his hand.
“I go get things from recycling. Lots of scrap metal there.”
“Amazing. Such precision. You could sell these.” He set the Ardian creature down. “People would pay well.”
“I want to have a shop when I can get off LS Quantum and can run my own life. That’s my plan.”
“What’s your plan for leaving Jhodalann? Can you leave him?” His eyebrows raised in question. “Do you need help?”
Voices outside caused them both to look. Whoever it was began banging on the door with a fist or something large. Stella swallowed hard. If Jhodalann caught her with Andrew, he’d be even angrier.
“I know you’re in there, Stella. Open up now.” Jhodalann knocked hard on the metal door. “We need to talk and it can’t wait.”
“Just a moment.” She pointed to the closet. “In there,” she whispered.
Andrew shook his head, but she pushed him toward the closet. “Please! Hurry. He’ll hurt me if he catches you in here.”
“I’m going to break the door open if you don’t let me in right now! Who are you talking to?”
“I’m coming. No one here but me.”
Andrew conceded and slipped into the closet. Stella’s heartbeat pounded in her throat. He was likely mad about several things. She closed the closet then opened the main door, smoothing her hair down around her shoulders. Calm and collected.
Jhodalann and two of his men barged in, shoving her aside.
Stella backed away. This was not good. Jhodalann was more pissed than she’d ever seen him.
“What is it? Today’s my day off, isn’t it?” she pleaded.
Jhodalann slapped her across the face, and she reeled under the burning sting. She fell against the closet door, hoping to keep Andrew from coming out. Jhodalann might kill her then.
“What’s wrong?” she cried. “What did I do?” Tears streamed down her face, and she swiped at them with her forearm. Her knees shook and threatened to buckle underneath her. What made her think she could stand up to him? He was a bully—a large one with no regard for kindness.
She’d drawn the wrong card when it came to indenture.
“You refused Eric on the observation deck. You stole from another scientist. Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you right now!” Jhodalann paced, his footsteps heavy.
“Because I can make you a lot of money?” She cowered. Jhodalann scared her.
He pushed his face close to hers, his rancid breath blasting over her. “You can and you will. This is your last warning, Stella. I will take you out if you cross me one more time. Do you understand?” He grabbed her face, his fingers crushing her cheeks.
She nodded, as much as she could with his hands on her. “Yes, sir. I mean yes, Jhodalann. Whatever you say.” Tears welled, and she fought to hold them at bay.
He backed off, clearly having expected her to put up more of a defense.
“Fine. I don’t need you today. You think about what I’ve said. The scientists haven’t made a stink about your actions, but if they do, you’re going to pay.”
“I’ll be good. I promise.”
“You better be on time tomorrow night. Ready to go. And I mean ready in every way. Is that clear? No more fucking around unless you’re paid to do it.”
“I’ll be there. Thank you.” What she wouldn’t give to blast him. If she had a weapon, she’d be tempted. She noted that one of the men did hold a scrambler. They’d expected her to put up a fight.
Jhodalann grunted and motioned his men out. They were gone as quickly as they’d arrived. The door closed and beeped, and Stella burst into tears. What now? He expected her to sleep with the men who came to the bar, but she couldn’t do that. And if she didn’t, he’d kill her.
Andrew forced the closet door open, and she ran into his arms. He held her and stroked her hair.
“What the hell was that?” He hugged her. “You can’t go back to work for him. He’s a lunatic. He doesn’t own you.”
She sniffled, embarrassed at her behavior in front of Andrew. She’d always taken care of herself, and now she was acting like a damsel in distress. She pulled away from him and grabbed a tissue to wipe her nose. “He kind of does until I pay off my indenture.”
Andrew pushed his glasses up. “We’ve got to go to security and tell them. Slavery is illegal in this quadrant. Jhodalann won’t get away with his behavior.”
She looked up at him. “I wish it were that easy. Security is in his pocket. They’d hand me over to him then turn their backs when he punished me. I’m stuck.”
“We’ll figure out something. I’m not leaving you here under his power. Are you okay?”
She nodded and blew her nose. “I’m fine.”
“And I’m angry. His behavior isn’t.”
Andrew’s band began the the long steady beeps of an alarm. He held it up and clicked it off, closing his eyes for a moment before sighing.
“What’s that for?”
Andrew paled. “I’ve got five cycles before I present my research paper to the conference attendees, and I’m not ready. I have to go.”
Eight
“I can do this.” Andrew mumbled. His current research, though boring even to himself, at least this part, was solid. One day, he’d get to the crux of his interests, but working up to it was part of the way things had to be. The foundation needed to be solid, otherwise, the newer areas of interest wouldn’t be based on sound science and that was unacceptable.
On the trail of new discoveries, he held faith he’d find his niche soon. If he was lucky, it would be at another university far from Eric. He set his tablet on the podium, touched it to power it on, and looked out over the group of people assembled.
About thirty-five men and women sat in the auditorium, arms and legs crossed and heads tilted, presumably waiting to hear the latest news from his lab. Most likely didn’t care about the area of research, but again, part of the work was supporting or at least pretending to back peers.
After silencing his band’s notifications, he straightened the podium and squared the base with the floor tiles. Eric was heading up from the rear of the room to introduce him—and take partial credit for his work.
His research and theories on the life of stars had been published in a few journals, and he was slowly gaining a name for himself in academia, though he had a long way to go before he’d be considered important in the field. Eric pushed him for new and exciting information, but so far, the data hadn’t appeared.
Andrew continued to plod along and work on the current line of study, hoping something would shake up the whole process. He knew being at the bottom of the totem pole, age-wise, would be an issue, but being the youngest in his lab had caused more issues than he could’ve imagined.
Eric hurried down the last few steps in the auditorium, his suit tailored and his hair coiffed like he’d been to a salon. He might have been—there were plenty listed in LS Quantum’s directory.
Andrew cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses. He’d not had time to worry about his own appearance—his only suit would have to do, even though it was a bit rumpled.
The lights in the room automatically lowered but not before he saw Stella sitting in the front row. She’d changed into a trim white dress, and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Her encouraging smile lit up the darkened room. Amazing how things had changed since she’d stolen his band. What he’d told her was true. He might never have had the courage to talk to her if she hadn’t taken the band. Now look at the two of them.
A couple.
She gave him a little wave and he nodded toward her. As soon as his presentation was over, he’d see if she wanted to grab a bite of dinner. She consumed almost every thought, and he’d much rather spend time with her than hang out with his colleagues. He glanced at his boss.
Eric stood in front of the crowd, and a spotlight swung over to him. Rage surged in Andrew at the smugness on Eric’s face. The asshole had tried to hurt Stella. Now wasn’t the time—he�
��d take care of him later.
Deep breath.
Eric waved the crowd to be quiet. “Thanks for being here. I know there are a lot of other things you could be doing on this massive ship, so I appreciate you coming to hear what we’ve been up to in our lab.”
Our lab. Not even close. The only time he comes into the lab is when he wants something. Andrew stared at his hands to avoid looking at Eric. Time to do service to his career. If he ever wanted to leave the University Eric all but ran, Andrew needed to impress someone in the auditorium enough that they’d remember his name when he went job hunting.
“My colleague and good friend, Dr. Andrew McMann, will now present the research from our distinguished lab at Menton State. He’ll take questions at the end, so please hold them till then.” Eric made a slight bow. “I hope you find his presentation as interesting as I do.”
Polite applause filled the room as Eric headed to sit. Andrew watched him a moment then the spotlight shifted to Andrew. He took a breath and touched his tablet menu. He knew the material well, and he could present it in his sleep. No reason for nerves.
One day, he’d present something worthy of being nervous about. Something exciting. Textbook-changing.
“Good evening,” he began. “Thank you for joining me for a short talk on the life of stars. We have a lot left to learn about our largest neighbors, but I believe that the more we know about stars, the more we know about our own origins in this vast Universe we call home.”
The next three cycles droned on, and he heard himself talking without enthusiasm. He tried to see the audience’s expressions, but the spotlight in his face made them a sea of faceless attendees. He imagined some might even be sleeping. No one would be excited to hear what he was studying.
Not yet.
He paused to take a sip of his water. “I’m about to wrap up.” He set the glass down. Being done with the presentation would feel good. No more worry about it going well or losing his data files. He’d be done and he could move on. “Hang on a few more minutes and I’ll take questions.”
Maybe Stella would join him. Even through the bright spotlight, he saw her in her white dress on the front row, sitting tall and gleaming like a bright star on a cloudy night. Had she understood anything he’d said? Did it matter?
Cosmic Cabaret Page 6
