Stars Across Time Read Online Free PDF Page B

guard’s flat tone made it seem like it wasn’t a question. His eyes narrowed, and he searched Theron’s face.
    Hell, maybe one of Optimus’s minions would be the one who recognized Theron. This one must be trusted, if he had been given one of the bracers to wear.
    Theron turned toward the center of the cave, as if he cared what Optimus was doing next. In truth, he only wanted to keep the guard from having a long look at him. His face should be less recognizable in profile. He pulled out his knife, hoping to further distract the guard, though he made it clear right away that he was simply flipping it in his hand, not intending to use it as a weapon.
    As he had hoped, the guard’s gaze was drawn to the blade. A testament to all the years he had spent in the field with nothing better to do, Theron could juggle knives and do all manner of tricks even with just one. He tossed this one in the air, bouncing the hilt off the back of his hand and catching it. Whatever entertained the guard. It was the sort of handling he could do in his sleep, so he watched Optimus while he did it and contemplated how he was going to light the gasoline on fire. He had matches in his pack, but not in a pocket or anywhere he could reach without digging around. The jug itself shouldn’t present much of a problem; the plastic had to be sturdy, but he was fairly certain he could throw the knife and pierce it.
    Optimus had finished separating his group of captives, and he strode across the cave to Min-ji and Andie. Andie was still framed by men on either side of her and wasn’t likely to make it to the exit if she tried to run, but her shoulders seemed looser than they had before. Her hands were still behind her back, but she might have freed them and was pretending they were still bound. Or maybe her friend had freed them somehow. Min-ji stood in front of her, her own hands still bound, but they might have used their bodies to block the views of those around them.
    Optimus checked Min-ji first. “Not a virgin. That group.” He waved her away.
    She gave Andie a long look, then took a circuitous route toward the smaller collection of women, one that caused her to walk near the cache of supplies. With her no longer blocking his line of sight, Theron had an open view of Andie. She had an intriguing collection of tattoos that ran across her shoulders and met in the middle of her chest, above the valley between her breasts. Whether that had been the original intention of the tattoos or not, Theron caught himself admiring the curve of her flesh, the peaks of her nipples tight in the chilly cave. Neither small nor large, her breasts were just the right size for a man to cup and fondle before letting his hand roam lower, down the smooth muscles of her abdomen to her belly button, where a small gold bar pierced the flesh. He imagined playing with that with his tongue and then tracing her inviting, tan skin lower, brushing past the black curls of her pelvis to dip into—
    He jerked his gaze up, his cheeks heating with shame. Of all the inappropriate times to think of sex. Was he truly as much of an animal as the thugs around him? His embarrassment deepened when he realized Andie was looking at him, her jaw tight, her eyes hard as Optimus pressed his device against her abdomen. The fresh bruise blossoming on her cheek only made him feel guiltier for ogling her. Had she seen him staring at her? She must have.
    “Why don’t you put away the blade, new blood?” the guard beside Theron asked, nudging him with the muzzle of his rifle. Theron had forgotten he was still flipping the knife, it being such a habit that he could do it without paying attention. “You’re making me nervous, and my trigger finger gets twitchy when I’m nervous. Go stand over there, eh?”
    “Not a virgin,” Optimus announced. “Imagine my shock.” He tweaked Andie’s nipple and waved her in the same direction that her friend had gone.
    Min-ji had stopped to wait. No, she had