Page 30 of Stealing the Star Stone

The black-cladded men ushered them behind the chief until they reached his dais. At a flick of his hand, she sank onto a cushion, servants offering her goblets or fruit from a platter. Her stomach churned at the dark cloud hovering over them so eating was O.U.T. Damn, she’d kill for a tea.

Eli crowded her to whisper, “Is it me or is Amenkar a handsome man? I mean, his physique’s magnificent. I never thought I was a thigh girl, but have you seen his?”

She glanced at her thighs, trying to compare them to the Lethari’s. With a huff, she tugged the strip of cloth over them. “Quit fangirling,” she hissed. “There’s no fucking anyone with my body.”

“Ah, Nova-honey, tomorrow’s the day we swap back. Can’t I just have one teensy, weensy orgasm as a woman?”

She glared at him then shifted attention to the chief. “Can you defend this city from Orien?”

Amenkar grinned, blasting her with a bright smile that was devastating as it was nerve-wracking. “Of course. We improved our defenses after he killed the last chief.”

“He did what?” Eli froze, the goblet halfway to his mouth.

She smacked his arm. “I told you he killed for that stone.”

“I don’t need I-told-you-so. We’re past that,” he muttered.

“Tell me.” Amenkar ran his thumb along the side of the goblet. “Were you lovers before the shol changed you?”

She gaped, then cleared her throat. “How did you know?”

“You are not the first,” he said.

She shifted on the cushion. “No, we’re enemies.”

“Were,” Eli said, meeting her gaze. “Or do you still hate me?”

She stared at him, memorizing that hope in his eyes and his signature smirk teasing the corner of his mouth. “Not anymore.”

Amenkar hummed. “It is as I expected. Bigeeli informed me of your markings bearing his name.”

At the shock twisting Eli’s face, ice burned like hot lava in Nova’s stomach.

“My name? As in Eli Thorne?” His brow knitted. “Why would you have my name on your ass and in Lethari?” His eyes clouded with confusion.

“Bigeeli must have read it wrong,” she hurried to say, looking everywhere but at him. “I got it a decade ago. I didn’t know the writing was Lethari.”

“Nova.” Eli set his goblet aside and grasped her shoulders, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Why my name?”

“Youthful stupidity. You know this.” She tried to shrug free, but he held firm. Heat bathed her face with embarrassment, and a vise squeezed her throat shut. Breathing had become unimportant under his potent focus. “My name’s November, my maiden name was Rogers. My mother thought—”

“It funny to name you and your sisters after months of the year.” He sat there, his mouth opening and shutting without another word. “I…remember,” he finally whispered.

“We spent one night together.” She dropped her chin, hoping to hide any telltale emotions revealing how he’d broken her heart. A giggle escaped her, no doubt from sheer hysteria. “I was your biggest fan. Got the tattoo a few weeks before that night.”

He crushed her in a hug, running his hand up and down her back. “I’m so sorry, Nova-honey. I was high or drunk but that doesn’t excuse my behavior.” He leaned back. “Wait, is that why you hated me?”

“Besides the fact that you’re egotistical, entitled, spoilt, too handsome for your own good, and a sex addict? Sure, let’s just say it’s because you took my virginity and had your manager kick me to the curb.”

He slumped, horror and sadness drooping his expression. “Fuck, that’s bad.”

“I see why the shol chose you.” Amenkar waved Bigeeli over.

“I will admit to being disappointed. You are beautiful, Nova.” He caught a strand of Eli’s copper hair, letting it slide through his fingers.

“Bigeeli will escort you to your chambers for the evening. If you do not mate, you will be killed.”

Silence settled over Nova, shock stealing her voice.

“What?” she squeaked. “Say that again. I think I heard you wrong.”

He bowed his head. “A mating will fuse your souls in what Letharis call a soul tie. Without its protection, the next shol will kill one of you and leave the other in this body.”

Eli grinned, rubbing his palms together. “At last,” he whispered, gripping her by the arm and dragging her off the rug to where Bigeeli waited.

“Fuck or die?” she muttered, trailing the old woman from the hall. “And we only have Amenkar’s word on it? No, no, I refuse to believe sex will save us.”

Eli was too happy, almost skipping along. “You’ve done me before—”

“Do not think to use that as a reason—”

He kissed her, making her stumble. “Has anyone told you that you protest too much?”

The room they were ushered into had no windows. And as soon as she crossed the threshold, a stone was rolled in front of the door.

“Shit,” she gritted out, facing the room. The massive bed on the floor was covered with cushions and thick furs. A blue flame burned in a wall-mounted sconce. Beside the bed was a jug and two goblets. Next to that sat a platter piled high with fruit.

It had the look of a harem. Excitement skittered along her skin, even as nervousness tightened the knot in her stomach. “Eli, we can’t—”

He kissed her again, rising on his toes to do so.

She pulled back and bumped into the wall. “Quit doing that.”

He laughed and peeled off the cloth covering his breasts. They bounced free, nipples taut. Next went the loincloth until he stood naked before her.

“Your turn,” he rasped, slipping a finger between her stomach and the loincloth. He tugged, bringing her closer. And damn if her cock didn’t find that fucking hot. “I want Nova. I don’t care what body you’re in.”

She would’ve rolled her eyes at that bit of nonsense if her heart didn’t twang in response. Out of the men she’d met since Seth’s death, Eli tempted her the most. The cool air on her hard-on had her glancing down. How had he managed to unravel the loincloth without her noticing?

Her cock was good and ready, urges driving her to push forward, to sprawl Eli on the bed, to layer her body over his.

“This is madness,” she said as a last attempt to stop the inevitable.

“Tell me about it,” he said, wrapping his arms around her and drawing her in for a kiss.