Page 11 of Stealing the Star Stone

Chapter Seven

Tarnis’ Messis Station

Never go to sleep angry.

Day One.

The caress of a hand across Nova’s ass snapped her eyes open.

What the fuck? She blinked, staring at the lush carpet.

The scent of fresh linen dominated her senses when mint was what she last remembered.

Furriness covered her tongue, and a headache pinged behind her right eye.

She’d almost swear she was hungover. Which was bullshit when she’d been in a cell—

The hand traveled up her back. She flipped over and gaped at the naked blonde in her bed.

“Who are you?” she asked, then gawked at the room. Hotel came to mind. “Where am I?” When the woman reached out to Nova’s chest, she scrambled away.

And hit the floor hard.

She splayed her fingers on the bed to rise but stared at a hand not her own. Long fingers, a wide palm, into a masculine forearm? She screamed, lunged backward, and sprawled onto her back. No! No, no no no no, this cannot be happening. Maybe there were drugs in the minty sanitizer?

Her ears finally came to the party, replaying what she’d said in a deep baritone she knew all too well. “Speak. Now,” she croaked, confirming her worst fears.

Crawling across the floor and onto her feet, she bolted for the full-length gilded mirror mounted on a wall. Standing tall was Eli Thorne, all his muscled handsomeness, those deep green eyes. Hell, even his gaping shirt snagged her attention, right down to his bare toes.

“Thorne?” she whispered. His lips formed his name. She flicked his hair off his temple, straightened his wrinkled clothes, and scrubbed a hand over his face. All copied by the reflection.

“Lord Orien said you’d be interested in a little…fun.” The blonde woman stepped naked off the bed.

Why would Orien provide Thorne with entertainment?

And judging by his fully dressed body, he hadn’t done anything with her.

Nova didn’t swing that way, not anymore, but this beauty would have tempted a monk.

She was stunning, perfect, and everything Nova expected Thorne to fuck.

Facing the mirror, she arched a brow at the man in the mirror then snorted.

“This is fucking insane,” she said, snatching up his boots.

She’d head to station security and bail herself out with Thorne’s credits. Then with her body ‘in hand,’ she’d figure out how to fix this. And there had to be a way. Spending a lifetime like this was out of the question.

When the blonde ran her fingers over his shoulders, Nova shrugged her off and flashed her a glare. “Not interested. See yourself out.”

Without a backward glance at the beauty, Nova marched out of the room, hesitated, then headed to the pod.

Thorne’s long legs covered the distance smoothly, and damn if she didn’t wiggle his ass in his signature swagger.

Here she’d thought it was part of his act.

Seems like he was physically stuck doing that.

Waiting for the pod gave her a few quiet moments to process her new reality.

First, she pinched her hairy forearm. A yelp escaped.

She’d done it too hard, not used to this much strength.

Okay, so not dreaming. She rubbed the offended spot, her thoughts whizzing.

When she’d touched the rock, that spark must have been the catalyst. And because Thorne had been on the other side…

She stared at his blue-stained fingers and palm.

Would this have happened if he’d been someone else?

She groaned, stamped her foot, then glared at the ceiling. Why him? Argh.

He was better than Orien, though. Well, to be fair, it might have been entertaining had those two arrogant asses swapped bodies. She drew in a shuddering breath. Now? No, it wasn’t amusing at all.

She frowned when the pod’s occupant gaped at her. At him . Shit. His face was exposed. His sunglasses were…in the hotel room. And the coat. Double shit. Captain was going to be upset . Sort of. Under these surreal circumstances, he’d understand.

She hurried across the foyer and onto the wide, well-lit walkway. So far so good.

A squeal snapped her head up.

What now?

“Eli Thorne!”

Like the spreading of an infectious disease, his name turned into a chant amid a group of young women.

One broke away, inching nearer to ‘Thorne.’ Nova wasn’t going to wait around to see if they wanted a cup of tea.

She bolted, sprinting toward safety with the station-sec signs guiding her.

A miasma of perfumes tickled her nose as they closed the distance, driving her on when capture was imminent.

Inside station-sec, she skidded to a halt, almost slamming into an officer.

Throwing peeks over her shoulder at the many faces of eager women at the entrance, she inched around the desk, placing it between her and Thorne’s fans.

“Morning,” she said to the desk officer. “I’d like to see Nova Blake.”

“Too late,” he snapped, not even bothering to meet her gaze.

“What—” she gasped. “What do you mean?”

“Lord Orien dropped the charges and took the woman for breakfast.”

“He did what?” Shit. This is bad. Orien’s got my body . “Why?”

The officer blinked at Nova, then without a word, moved onto the next person in the queue. She eyed the crowds being shooed from the door. Leaving wouldn’t happen anytime soon.

“Mr. Thorne?” A muscular man cresting seven feet paused beside her. “I do recall Lord Orien inviting you to join him this morning.”

For breakfast, too? Act the part, woman, or else finding your body is a hell-no . “Yes. Yes, he did. But as you can see, I’m trapped.”

The man frowned, studied the gathering masses, then said, “Follow me.”

Nova almost latched onto his ass as he led the way out of the station, cutting a wide path through the women.

“Touch Mr. Thorne and you will be shot,” he boomed.

Just like that, they dispersed with a few lingering glances. Nova would have done the same. The man was impressive. He hadn’t even drawn the blaster strapped to his side. But his deep voice, his sheer size, his confidence…

“You’re hired,” she said. “That is, if you ever get tired of working for Orien.”

She almost laughed. Not even in Thorne’s shoes for ten minutes and she was making life-altering decisions.

“My thanks,” he said, guiding her toward the domed balcony.

There at its center was the five-star Skycrop Café—too expensive for Nova to ever afford. But as Thorne… She grinned and increased her pace, eager for something warm and delicious to fill the hollowness in her belly. In Thorne’s… Argh . That was going to get tiresome fast.

Eli watched through her eyes as she approached. Dark circles under her eyes had to be from having slept on that hard bench. A quick scan proved Thorne hadn’t done anything to her body…yet.

“Lord Orien,” she greeted the distinguished man, her memory flicking through yesterday’s memories of his mottled face and tantrum.

“Call me Vex,” he said, flashing a smile. “How was last night?”

She almost fumbled with the chair when she pulled it out. What happened between Thorne and Orien? “Entertaining?” she hazarded.

He beamed. “Excellent. Beth showed such an interest in you; I had to ensure she fulfilled her dreams.”

Beth? The blonde? What dreams? Oh, yes, getting a chance to sleep with Thorne.

Nova smirked. Yeah, when that was all the beauty had gotten.

Compared to Sharon in looks, Beth was in the stratosphere.

Then again, having done the actual deed with Thorne, Nova could say, without a doubt, the woman hadn’t missed out on much.

“Lady Grey tea,” she said the instant a server appeared. “How was your night…Vex?” she asked, finding it awkward not to.

“Excellent, as usual.” Orien gestured to Thorne nursing a damn bottle of water. “Ms. Blake has agreed to discuss traveling with me to Leratha.”

“Good,” Nova said. “That is if the Valiance can spare you.” She fixed her gaze on Thorne squirming her body in the seat.

“I’m certain Captain is more than capable of getting me—you to Artivar for the premiere.” He winced. “You have piloted as well, have you not?”

She blinked at him. Who spoke like that? Someone who swallowed a digital dictionary? And the thought of him being in control of her ship—

“Why don’t you go with Vex?” she asked, mostly because she had to keep her body close.

Hying off into outer space while creepy Thorne did who knew what to her…

She swallowed hard. An image flashed of her hands cupping her breasts and venturing lower— No.

No way was she leaving him alone with, well, her body.

Orien flicked his attention between them, confusion in his eyes. “I thought you said she was a fan.”

“I said she was a nobody.” Nova beamed at the server who slid a cast iron teapot onto the table. Her stomach gurgled, but tea had to come first. “She’s also the pilot who hates my guts.” She added emphasis to the latter.

“Mm, interesting.” Orien smiled at her. “Yes, perhaps you should come, too.”

She cradled her cup of tea and savored the aroma. “I can’t. The premiere, remember.” Surely by then they’d swap back. She had to hope because pretending to be Thorne in the spotlights would be a struggle.

“We can stop at Artivar for that. What’s a night along the way?” Orien sipped his orange juice then smacked his lips in delight. Although, she couldn’t tell if it was from the ideas she was throwing out there or the sheer luxury of fresh oranges.

“I haven’t even said I’ll go,” Thorne snapped, cracking open another bottle of water and taking a long drink. “He’s an ass, and a pain in my butt.”

She nodded, taking another gulp of delicious tea. “You agreed to be my date. So if I go with Vex, so do you.”

“I can meet you there.”

She grinned at Thorne, playing her so well. “No, we stay together. In fact,” she laughed, loving what she was about to suggest, “how about we share a suite?” That way, he wouldn’t get a chance to fondle the goods. She planned to never leave him alone, not until they switched back.

“With you?” Thorne squeaked. “I would rather roll around in a pit of vipers than—”

“Then it’s settled,” she said, flicking through the menu on the table’s tablet. “The Farmer’s Choice,” she said, “with extra whipped cream.” A selection of fruits, cheeses, and home baked breads? Sounded heavenly.

Thorne’s eyes narrowed. He pinched his lips. “Shouldn’t you be watching what you eat?”

She chuckled, leaned back, and rubbed his rock hard stomach. “No need.”

He dipped his head, but when he raised it to meet her gaze, his expression was one of glee. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“I see what you mean.” Orien waved his fork at her. “She treats you like a child.”

Nova whipped her gaze away from Thorne. “Y’know, you’re right, Vex.”

Thorne huffed and flicked her ponytail.

Nova chuckled. “I do believe I’m going to enjoy this trip. I’ll just get my things transferred from the Valiance .”

She could have insisted they stay with the Valiance , but she didn’t want Thorne to play the role of Nova Blake amid people who knew her. They were like family, and deceiving them didn’t sit well with her. And since he’d gotten her into this situation, a little payback was in order.

“While we’re here, let’s upgrade your wardrobe,” she said to Thorne. “After all, you’ll be dining with Lord Orien and myself. I’m sure your current…” She gestured to the uniform she loved so much.

“Fine,” Thorne snapped. “But I’m paying for it.”

She choked on her tea, then endured Orien giving her back a thump. “No,” she managed past the tears. “I cover all expenses, as agreed.”

“I get to choose,” he said, digging into the fruit platter the server placed before him.

She glared at him.

“I do have business to attend to.” Orien flicked a finger at the mountain of a bodyguard behind him.

“Frederik will escort you around the center, but do not take longer than an hour. We need to depart as soon as possible. And don’t forget.

You promised to make a few calls for a little extra funding. ”

She bowed her head at Orien, then winked at the server when she slid the food onto the table. “I have to admit, I’m looking forward to this adventure.”

And a chance to be alone with Thorne, because damn, they needed to strategize.

As sweet and accommodating as Orien was being, she didn’t trust him one bit.