Pale Stars in Her Eyes Read Online Free PDF Page B

instinctive step back as he came through the doorway and eyed him warily. His fair good looks were striking, and up close, he was quite young, probably not more than a few years older than herself. He wore the typical tunic, fitted trousers, and polished boots, and they suited his almost slim, tall build. Lieutenant Herad had called him brilliant, and surely it must be true if he were the designer of the engine that propelled the giant ship so efficiently from galaxy to galaxy.
    "Hello.” He smiled at her and his gaze skimmed her nearly bare body briefly before politely lifting to her face. “Did you see the food?"
    "Yes, thank you."
    "Kartel tells me your given name is Jerra."
    "Yes."
    "I hope you don't mind if I use it.” His smile was open and boyishly appealing, nothing like the wickedly attractive curve of Ran Kartel's mouth. “You must also call me Larik. We are going to be good friends, after all."
    "That's an interesting way of putting it.” Jerra couldn't help the sarcasm. Yes, the night before had been like a sinful, pleasurable dream, but she was still a prisoner.
    He caught the inflection in her voice because his brows went up a fraction, but he didn't comment. Instead, he went over to the wall and pressed a small button she hadn't even noticed. A panel slid open and revealed a galley, and more importantly, an entire section of screens. “You were asleep when I left or I would have explained to you that there are methods for your entertainment in your leisure time. Food, also, if you get hungry between the times when our meals are delivered. Would you like me to show you how it all works? You can read, or watch films from varied planets, including your own. Games are also available to play at the touch of your hand. There is no need for you to be bored."
    Well, that was something, for she thought it was less than humane to leave her trapped in a small space with nothing to do. “Yes, please show me,” she said, not trying to conceal her eagerness. “I was just wondering what to do with myself."
    He glanced over and his vivid cobalt eyes lit with laughter. “You needn't ever worry about what to do with yourself, Jerra. We'll do plenty enough with you to take care of that. But if you want a distraction now and then, I will explain."
    As heat rushed into her face, she wonder if she would blush all the way to wherever they were headed. “I would appreciate it."
    He was definitely an engineer for as he began to explain how to work the various screens, from book readers to projection, he also added so many details about how the machines themselves worked that finally, laughing, she had to stop him. “Just tell me what buttons to push,” Jerra pleaded. “My mind is beginning to spin."
    "Oh.” He looked disconcerted, and then shook his head ruefully. “I apologize. I tend to get carried away. Machines speak to me. I love them and I forget not everyone feels the same sometimes. Let me try to just go over the basics."
    "I think that would be better."
    She stood close enough to him as he took a simpler approach and began again, she could smell the spicy scent of his cologne. It was masculine and intriguing. Against her will, she found herself watching him from under the veil of her lashes.
    In turn, she saw his gaze stray more than once over the thin material that did little to conceal her breasts. He glanced down lower too, to where her bare legs were exposed by the shortness of her skirt.
    When he finished the explanations, he moved casually to a small shelf and selected a bottle of greenish liquid. “Would you like a glass of wine?"
    "My father doesn't allow alcohol, so I've never had wine."
    Armada raised his brows. “Your father no longer dictates your actions, Jerra."
    It was so bizarre to have been at home less than a week before, living her sedate, sheltered life, and now she was on a ship speeding toward another world, living with three men who were complete strangers. She was no longer on Earth.