“I already have.”
“Thank you.”
“I need to tell you something.” She looked down.
“I’m a captive audience.”
Despite her aches and pains, she laughed. “I think you’re my mate.”
“What? That sounds so formal.”
“Gainorians have fated mates. I think you’re mine. It would explain a lot.”
Suddenly, a shaft of light pierced the room, and Stella ducked her gaze at the brightness.
Ten
Andrew squinted to see who was at the doorway. The men entered and closed the door behind them. Jhodalann, Eric, and some beefy security guard or bouncer-type punk.
“Well, well. We have the scientist and the science experiment.” Jhodalann stepped in front of Andrew. “Bet you wish you’d never gotten involved with this one. She’s caused you a lot of trouble.”
“Leave Stella alone, you bastard.” Andrew winced. His eye was already throbbing, and his shoulders felt like they were strained to the maximum.
The goon stepped toward Andrew but Jhodalann waved him away.
“Not yet. I want everything out in the open before we dispose of this one.”
Eric laughed. “As long as Stella is mine, I don’t care what you do with this second-rate researcher. He’s not making my lab famous, but she certainly will.”
“Asshole.” Gods, it felt good to say how he really felt about Eric.
“Shut up, you nerd.” Eric sneered. “I only hired you because I thought you’d bring me fame.”
“And I did.” Andrew kept his voice calm. “You never did anything. You don’t even know how to use a telescope.”
“Why you—” Eric rushed at Andrew and the goon pulled him back.
“You pay the price, you get the prize.” Jhodalann paced.
“I want him gone.” Eric huffed and puffed, out of breath.
“I’d not planned to have another body to dispose of, but since he saw Effie’s body, he’s got to go.” Jhodalann stopped and nodded his head toward Andrew.
“No!” Stella pushed against her bindings.
“Stella, no. Don’t risk them hurting you.” Andrew tried to slip his hands out of the ties, but they were secured too tightly. He was at Jhodalann’s mercy, and he doubted the creep knew the meaning of merciful.
Andrew was as good as dead.
“Stella, you wanted to quit dancing, so here’s your chance.” Jhodalann grinned. “You’ll leave with Eric, and he’ll take care of all your needs in return for you giving him access to study you. If you don’t, well…you’ll be the one to pay the price.”
Stella spit toward Jhodalann and he stepped back.
“Damn frichter. I’ll be glad to be rid of you. You aren’t worth what I paid.”
Things were going south, and Andrew had to buy some time. “Eric, this isn’t you. You’d kill to get ahead?” He paused, his mind racing through scenarios. Jhodalann wouldn’t hesitate to hurt him. “We can work together. She’ll work with me but she doesn’t like you. Together, we can find more of her race. It’s going to take many scientists to figure this out, so let’s get started together. We can do this and you can take all the credit. You’ll be the most famous astrophysicist in the Universe.” He had no intention of working with the murderer but had to figure out something to keep him and Stella alive till they could alert security.
“Academia is a bitch, Andrew.” Eric leaned against the wall. “I have to get ahead however I can. You were never cut out for it. You’re too weak, admit it.”
Jhodalann turned as if he heard something outside. “We can’t wait any longer. We have to get this situation taken care of and get our alibis in place.” He nodded to the bouncer with him. “Take care of the nerd guy now.”
The large man stepped toward Andrew and pulled out a weapon. Would the leer on his face be the last thing he ever saw? Andrew turned to Stella. “I don’t know what you meant about being mates, but I think I love you!”
Stella screamed, a long and piercing yell that cut through the room. The air around her shimmered and shook as she shifted. A tornado of black shards appeared where she’d sat and her bindings dropped, empty. Within seconds, both Jhodalann and his goon were on the floor.
Eric backed away, shielding his face. “Please don’t kill me. Please. I’m sorry!” He dropped to his knees.
Andrew swallowed hard. What had just happened? “Stella, no! Don’t!” He heard himself yell, his arms up in front of his face.
The tornado spun in front of Eric for a moment then slowed. Stella reappeared, her hair a tangled mess and her face drawn into a scowl. So beautiful.
“I wanted to kill him, too.” She pushed her hair away, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“We’ll call the authorities. A life in prison will be a better punishment.” Andrew sighed, his shoulders relaxing a moment. “Can you untie me?”
She moved to stand behind him, then started untying the knotted line that bound him to the chair. Eric cowered on the floor. Jhodalann and his man didn’t move.
They were dead.
“Eric, I’m really disappointed in you.” Andrew stood. He rubbed his wrists where the bindings had cut into his flesh. “I knew you had issues, but this is too much. Murder? I would never have believed it. How could you? You’re supposed to be a scientist! Working for the good of mankind.”
Eric whimpered but didn’t meet his gaze.
“Don’t move, or I’ll kill you faster than you can think of your own name.” Stella growled the words out. “I don’t need much of an excuse to add you to the body count.”
Eric froze.
Andrew pulled Stella into his arms and held her tight. “Shhh. He;s not going to do anything. Calm down. It’s going to be okay.”
“I was so upset! I’ve never been so angry, and I don’t know why I could suddenly burst through the bindings. It’s like my strength grew immensely in the last few minutes. I still feel it growing.”
Andrew kissed her forehead. “I think I know why. We’re getting close to the red giant.”
“I’m drawing power from it? But I’m scared. What if they charge me with the murders? What if they don’t believe it was self-defense?”
He squeezed her. “Let’s call security and get this mess reported. I don’t think Jhodalann had true friends onboard, and I bet many people feel like you did them a service. This was obviously self-defense, so don’t worry.”
“If you say so.” A tear dripped down her cheek, and he wiped it away with his thumb.
“I say so. Repeatedly.” Andrew sighed. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I’m here now and I’ll do my best to protect you. I promise.”
“Thank you. Let’s call security.”
Eleven
Stella slid her band over the entry lock and it beeped. How would she explain the mate comment? Well, he’d said he thought he loved her, so they both had awkward things to explain, didn’t they? Something about being on death’s door made people confess.
The door to the observation deck slid open with barely a hiss. Andrew had told her to meet him on the deck when security was done with her, and she’d gladly agreed. Security had questioned him first and kept them separate so they couldn’t feed each other any information. At least they hadn’t acted like there was some conspiracy in the works.
She stepped into the darkened room, the universe sparkling out one whole wall and ceiling. Andrew stood at the view panel, silhouetted against the bright red star in the distance.
Her mate.
“Hello.” Stella locked the door behind her. Tonight, the observation deck belonged to her and Andrew. No intrusions.
“Hello, beautiful.” Andrew held his hands out to her.
She rushed to meet him. “Wow, look at that star. It’s breathtaking.”
“It is. I wish we could get closer, but that wouldn’t be safe.” He wrapped his arms around her, and she snuggled against his chest.
Being with Andrew was like being home
. He was as comfortable as the sandy beaches and warm waves of her home world.
She trusted him.
“I’m glad we get a chance to see it. Earlier today, I wouldn’t have thought we’d be alive tonight, much less standing here together.” She peeked at the red giant again. “Do you really think I get power from it?”
“I do.”
“I feel tired tonight.”
“It’s been a very long day.” He stroked her hair. “What did security tell you? Are they pressing charges?”
She shook her head. “No. They seemed almost happy to be rid of Jhodalann. Sounds like it was pretty clear to them how things went down, and Eric must be cooperating because it felt like things were checking off a list, not really an investigation.”
“About time he did the right thing.”
“I’m sure it’s purely out of self-interest. I hope they lock him up for a long time.” She peered at the red star, feeling it pull her at a soul-deep level. Energy surged through her, and she relaxed into the flow. “How did you know I’d respond to the red giant? I mean, respond like I did.”
“Purely an educated guess.” He kissed the top of her head. “It made sense that you needed some way to power your abilities. It just happened to line up with when we needed it. Stars are always losing energy and you are soaking it up. You pulled in all that flow and it filled you up. Then, when you needed it, it was there for you to push back out and break your bonds.”
“Well, that’s the truth. I felt quite a surge when I reached inside for my ability. I guess you have a starting place for your research.”
“We don’t need to talk about that now. And you don’t have to even do anything. I don’t even know where I’ll be working now that Eric is gone. Maybe we’ll get a little beach house somewhere on Earth and spend our days making babies and collecting shells and you sculpting. How’s that sound? I can get my own telescope and look at the stars from our house.”
She pulled from him and moved closer to the view panel. Millions upon millions of stars glittered in the deep, dark sky. Each one a family member. A friend. They all reached to her with tendrils of starlight.
“Sounds like the most magical life ever. I’m not leaving you, ever.” She turned to Andrew and smiled. “You’re stuck with me.”
“There’s no place I’d rather be. No matter where we are or what we’re doing.”
He pulled her into a kiss, lingering with lips touching until she thought she would burst. She finally deepened the kiss herself, pushing into his mouth and showing him her desire. As she tilted her head she bumped his glasses and they both laughed. He pushed the glasses up on his nose.
The kiss dizzied her. She wanted this man. All of him. When he pulled away, she reached for him, but he took her by the hand and led her to where he’d spread a soft blanket on the floor in front of the other viewing window.
“Are you sure you want this?” His voice was low, filled with a resonance she’d not heard in it before. Husky. Raw.
“Yes.” She peeled off her clothing, piece by piece, dropping it to the side. “I’ve had my STD inoculations, by the way. Just so you know.”
“As have I. Required by the university, not by choice.” His face flamed.
He watched for a moment, eyes dilated, before following suit in a geeky rush. She waited till they were both naked before she embraced him, his erection against her leg and hip and her bare breasts pressing into his chest. He took a sharp breath.
“Oh my god. You feel so good.” He ran his hands over her back and down to her ass. “So soft and warm, just like I knew you’d be.” He tugged her against him then lowered her to the ground.
She lay on her back on the soft comforter, Andrew holding himself up over her. Behind him, the red giant loomed. Far away, yet comfortably close and bright enough to light the scene in a rosy glow.
Andrew kissed her, his hardness pressing against her inner thigh. He caressed each breast, and she took his glasses from him and set them aside.
“I can’t see you as well.” He laughed.
“Then feel your way around.”
“I can do that.” He dipped his head and nipped her stomach. She shuddered as electrical shocks skittered over her skin.
“Please don’t make me wait any longer, Andrew.”
“I won’t. I’ve been waiting to become one with a star, Stella, for my whole life.”
She giggled. He was sweet. “You’ve only known me a little while. How could you be waiting on me?”
He leaned in close. “Because I’ve always loved the stars, Stella. I never realized that one day, I’d have my very own. Every time starlight touched me, I knew my own was out there, somewhere.”
She sighed as he pushed into her with deep, thick thrusts. Controlled yet precise. She met him with eagerness, pushing against him and savoring the moment. The red giant flared brighter, and she gazed at it for a moment as Andrew made love to her. His movements quickened, and pleasure rose like a great wave inside her. He climaxed, stiffening and groaning as they moved.
Then she peaked, and in that moment, she almost shifted to pure energy as every atom in her body exploded.
“Stella, you’re mine forever,” he whispered. “As long as the Universe exists, I’ll never leave you.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. Her legs quivered as he rolled to lay beside her. LS Quantum was moving away from the red giant, but Stella felt more powerful than she ever had before.
“And you’ll always be my astronomer. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Starlight.”
THE END
The Adventure Continues at…
www.KerryAdrienne.com
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About Kerry Adrienne
Repped by Marisa Corvisiero, Kerry writes in many genres including science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, m/m, contemporary, historical, erotic romance, and more.
In her spare time, she homeschools, is a part-time college instructor, editor, and dabbler in most things creative. You can usually find her posting cat and concert photos on social media when she’s not working.
Read More from Kerry Adrienne at
www.KerryAdrienne.com
Stars Shining Bright Above
Jayne Fury
They’re just hanging around until someone gets killed.
Life’s full of strange twists of the silks for circus performer, Astra Faraday, but none as strange as the twist of fate that brought her to Le Mouche Cabaret as an aerial artist. Compared to a life of piracy as a hacker for a band of pirates? It’s the safest gig. Ever.
Lazy happy forensic Medical Examiner, Dr. Zane Jones, is tomcatting about LS Quantum with the occasional dead body to catalog and shove in the cold berth. Compared to a life of corporate servitude putting broken bodies back together assembly line style? It’s the shwishest gig. Ever.
One night. One death. Their lives are thrown into chaos. Zane and Astra must unknot a mess of mystery when her mentor is murdered. A hidden truth must be revealed to catch the killer and if they’re not careful, they’ll expose a vast galactic network of the Freedom Road… and fall head over heel in love.
Prologue
Beginnings
Life was over.
And over.
And over.
Reassignment? Not again. This was supposed to be his last tour of duty. This place was worse than the last. And the next was sure to rip another piece of what was left of his humanity from him. If there was anything left.
Not another stint of stinking war, please. Doctor Zane Jones pleaded with the universe that this latest news was a clerical mistake. Maybe it was another Doctor Jones. Please?
Every day in this battlefield hospital was the same. Nameless young soldiers, unconscious and nearly dead, lay on his surgical table. Assembly line style, the corporate children of war passed under his surgical knife. He sliced, snipped, cut, stitched,
and moved on. The ceaseless combat that Cordoba Conglomerate’s war was waging with the universe was taking on collateral damage: Zane’s humanity.
Ravaging it.
Fracturing it.
Each new day the spider web of shatterment became more impossible to leave. Zane knew that struggling only woke the beast.
With each swipe of his bloody hands on the gore stained surgical gown, another splintered sliver stabbed his soul. The caring and love of every human he’d ever touched leaked through the slits of his sanity.
Zane swiped the memorandum off his handheld screen and poured another glass of forget-the-pain elixir. In the reflection within the cut glass cylinder, he saw his blond hair like a limp rag on his head. Dark rings beneath his blue eyes made him look twenty years older. Instead of a bright young face, an aging war-weary one stared back at him. Hating himself in a self-loathing that was multiplied by the faceted reflections.
Tomorrow, with enough of the booze in him, the day would end like today—like always—with the walls turning and the floor rushing up to meet him. He would be drunk and falling into bed alone. Then, in a few hours, the cycle would repeat itself. The next shift would come, and he’d be stitching people back together to return to a fruitless fight. And Zane would be back in his shabby bunk in more shattered pieces than all the young bodies he’d mended that day.
Because life was over.
And over.
And over.
Again.
Zane slipped his hand into his pocket and let his finger slide along the surface of a flat key. It wasn’t the first time that he had come into the possession of the medical dispensary key. A careless co-worker sometimes left one behind in the locker room when changing. It hadn’t taken much to palm it, having practiced slight-of-hand along with the surgical knots that made his fingers nimble.
Cosmic Cabaret Page 8
