Stark Pleasure; the Space Magnate's Mistress (The LodeStar Series)

by Cade, Cathryn

  “Kiri, I didn’t mean it—shouldn’t have said it. You’re more than that. I noticed you were gone, all right. And I’m not letting you go again.”

  She should struggle, should insist he let her go her own way. But she was so tired of fighting.

  As he strode out through the door onto the busy concourse, Kiri closed her eyes and turned her face into his neck, hiding from curious eyes. Hiding from reality.

  Stark reality.

  Opal was aboard the cruiser. She actually smiled at Kiri.

  “Here, have a warm drink,” she coaxed. “It will calm you.”

  Kiri shook her head.

  “Just tea with honey,” the other woman said. “A little brandy. No drugs. I wouldn’t do that.”

  Stark took the cup and held it to Kiri’s lips. “Drink it.”

  The habit of her time in his arms kicked in. She did as he said. Her eyes widened at the burn of the drink—it held more than a little brandy.

  Slowly the shivering locked in her muscles subsided, but she was wary of relaxing into the powerful arms that held her close, into the hand that stroked through her tousled hair.

  “You can let me go,” she muttered.

  Stark snorted. “Not a chance. Just be still.”

  He was so warm. When she sank wearily against him, his heart beat a comforting rhythm beneath her ear. It lulled her, as did his scent, his breath stirring her hair.

  Logan. Did she whisper it, or just think it? His arms tightened around her, pulling her head into the crook of his neck.

  She woke a little as she was carried into a building, then slept again, this time deeply, in a bed soft as a cloud.

  The next time she woke, she felt rested, but her stomach was growling, hollow. She squinted, turning her head to look around. She was in another strange place, but this was a room. In a building, not aboard a ship. The walls were a soft cream, with furniture of something that looked a lot like real wood she’d seen in museums and a patterned comforter on the bed in greens and yellows. When she sat up, she grimaced. She still wore her much-laundered lace undies and the top Scala had given her.

  A strange light shone around the edges of the coverings on the big windows. She slid out of the bed and padded barefoot to the window. Pulling back the shade, she peered outside. She gasped in awe.

  Outside the window lay nothing but green. A meadow. She’d seen them in the holovids. Grass waved gently in the wind, as did the trees and shrubs that edged the meadow. Many of the trees were as tall as a four-story building, with long heavy limbs, their needles a dark green. She’d known they grew to be so monolithic from the holovids, but see them in reality was amazing.

  Over it all rose a vault of sky so pure and blue she could scarcely believe it was real.

  A man and two children were walking across the meadow. They stopped to point every other step, and the smallest child bounced excitedly and then threw herself on the grass and rolled, while the boy and the man laughed. Cute kid. They must be immis, too.

  “What do you think?”

  Kiri froze. Stark’s deep voice was gentle, as if he didn’t want to alarm her. Well, so what?

  She turned away without looking at him, anger a tight ball in her chest. “I need a shower-dry. And some clothes.”

  He walked past her to open a closet. “Your things are here.”

  Her things? She stared into the closet. There were her pretty gold sweater and leggings and her slippers on the rack. And an open drawer revealed undies.

  “You brought my stuff?” Something like hope fluttered inside her.

  He was silent for a moment. “Natan had your bags put in the Orion’s hold.”

  Of course it hadn’t been Stark. He’d sailed off as if she didn’t matter at all. She walked into the closet and grabbed the gold ensemble, along with a pair of undies. Then she turned on her heel and walked into the lav, closing the door behind her with a thud.

  It felt so good to be in a real shower-dry with unlimited hot water and scented soap, she stayed there until her fingers began to wrinkle. Then at last she dried off in the jets of air and stepped out. Her lotion sat on the counter and her cosmetics were in the mirrored cabinet.

  She didn’t feel like bothering with that nonsense, so she slapped lotion on her skin and pulled her clothing on, finger combing her hair. Even clean, she looked like a ghost of herself—pale and tired, with dark shadows under her eyes. The bruise on her cheekbone from her fight with the Serps was an interesting but ugly shade of yellowish green.

  Her stomach growled again as she emerged into the bedroom. As if summoned, Stark appeared in the long doors thrown open to the outside. He was a tall silhouette, burnished by the sunlight pouring around him. She looked away Hurt her eyes to look at him, in more ways than one.

  “Come and eat,” he told her.

  She stepped warily out onto a small verandah, set with a table and two chairs. It was set with covered serving dishes and two carafes, one of bright orange juice and one that steamed—coffee she supposed.

  “It’s afternoon here, but I ordered breakfast,” Stark said, pulling out a chair for her. “Since you just woke.”

  She sat down in the other chair, scooting it in herself. She wasn’t looking at him in his fitted brown knit shirt that matched his hair, the sleeves pulled up over his powerful forearms. He might look fine enough to be the captain of all he surveyed, but he wasn’t her captain, not any more.

  “How long did I sleep?”

  She poured herself a glass of juice and then looked at him inquiringly. He nodded, and she poured him a glass of juice as well. When she looked up, he was staring at the bruise on her cheek, murder in his eyes.

  “Since yesterday. Twenty-four hours, give or take. Coffee?”

  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.