Star Kissed (In the Darkness Book 2) Read online

  While I’m caught up in my own orgasm, I feel Blake come inside of me in one final thrust. He fills me deeply.

  “Blake,” I whisper, running my hands through his hair. “Fuck, yes…Blake,” my words are a whisper. Somehow, I’m scared of breaking the spell that has us both so entranced. He kisses me once more, softly running his hands through my own hair, and then he lies next to me.

  “Sarah,” he whispers, pulling me into his arms. “That was…”

  “Fantastic,” I finish for him.

  “Unforgettable,” he says.

  Then Blake just holds me. For a very long time, I lay in his arms, and I think about the recent events. I’m not so naïve that I think everything is going to be fine after this. I’m not so innocent or sweet that I think we’re going to have an easy time or that things are going to be simple between us.

  They’ll never be simple.

  Not for the two of us.

  Soon Blake begins to sing me a song: a tune from Orchid, the land of our childhood. He sings to me, and as I listen to the song he sings in our native tongue, I wonder how I could have ever thought I’d be able to live without him.

  Blake and me are forever.

  No matter where life takes us and no matter what challenges we face, it’s going to be the two of us, shining bright.

  Epilogue

  Sarah

  A few weeks later

  “Good morning, beautiful,” I roll over and run my hands over Blake’s chest.

  He grunts something in response.

  “I think you just grunted a real, legitimate sentence, baby, but I just couldn’t understand what it was.”

  He grunts again.

  “Hmm, you’re hungry?” I ask.

  Grunt.

  “You’re thirsty?”

  Grunt.

  “You’re not going to get out of bed until I slide your cock down my throat and make you come?”

  At this, Blake is instantly awake and kissing me. His hands are in my hair and on my breasts and everywhere at once, and I’m swept up in this whirlwind of happiness I never dreamed was truly possible.

  Who would have thought that just a couple of months ago, Blake and I were just friends?

  And then we were friends at all.

  And now?

  Now we’re forever.

  It’s been a few weeks since my world was turned upside down, but after Lizzie’s recovery from her viruses, she was safely deposited back on Orchid and Blake tells me she won’t be getting out of prison for a very, very long time. Apparently, the Orchidian police take sabotaging a rescue mission for their own citizens to be pretty serious.

  She never apologized for how she treated me or for attacking me, but it’s okay. I don’t need an apology. Besides, I walked away from the experience with the best reward of all: Blake Ryder.

  Now he makes love to me in the early morning hours before he has to report for duty, before I have to be in the medical unit, before our days become busy and rushed and stressful. He kisses me like I’m a princess and then he makes me come apart beneath his tongue.

  By the time the alarm goes off, we’ve both gotten off and are just about to start round two.

  “Pity,” he says, looking down at me. He bites my neck and then whispers, “I was looking forward to eating your pussy a second time.”

  Now I’m wet, again, and I have to go to work.

  “You did that on purpose,” I groan, reaching for my clothes.

  “What?” He asks innocently, getting out of bed.

  “You turned me on right before I have to go to work,” I complain.

  “That’s a good thing, love,” he smiles. “This just means you’re going to be thinking of me all day.”

  “But I have some really terrible exams to give today,” I try not to think about all of the tests I’m going to have to run on bodily fluids and cranky patients, but it’s too late. Already, I’m thinking of them, but then Blake appears at my side and whispers to me again.

  “Baby, when you get home tonight, I promise I’m going to make you come so many times you’ll forget what planet you’re from.”

  “Promise?” I whisper, wondering how I’m going to make it through the day.

  “Promise,” he says, and I know he means it.

  We aren’t going to have an easy road. Blake and I are both flawed and we both make mistakes, but knowing that we’re going through this life together, as one?

  Well, that makes all the difference in the world.

  He’s my mate: now and forevermore.

  THE END

  Star Darling

  Want to read more about the Extrinsic team? Star Darling is coming soon. Follow me on Facebook and join my mailing list for updates on release day!

  About the Author

  Sophie Stern writes paranormal romance about dragons, bears, wolves, and princesses. Her work ranges from adult fairytales to cowboy adventures to dragon shifters who live on their own private island. Visit her at www.sexysophiestern.com to learn more.

  Make sure you join my mailing list to receive updates on release days, receive freebie books, and learn all about what I’ve been up to!

  Alien Dragon

  I'm on the last ship out.

  I don't think I'm going to make it, but I do. Earth is dying and there's only one way I can possibly survive: fight for a spot on the dragon planet of Taneyemm.

  They don't want humans there.

  They don't like us.

  They don't know us.

  But when I step foot on the ship bound for Taneyemm, I know it's my last hope. I'll do anything I have to survive.

  I'll do whatever it takes.

  When I finally reach my destination and I see the alien dragons for the first time, I realize I'm in way over my head.

  And I don't know if my heart is ready for this.

  Want to read more? Get your copy on Amazon or keep reading for a sneak peek!

  Chapter 1

  What’s that old Earth saying?

  Karma’s a bitch?

  Well, I must have done something super fucked up in a former life because right now sucks.

  The worst part is that there’s nothing I can do about it.

  As I make my way slowly through the crowds of people to the herbalist’s shop, I search my brain for one more idea, one more method I could employ to make my life just a little bit better. I just need one more way to try to make my dad more comfortable. I just need one more way to give him a little bit of hope before everything vanishes.

  My home planet is dying. The grass is gone and the air is thick. It’s always hard to breathe. Always. When I was a child, we had green, rich grass. That was before the wars. That was long ago. Now things are damaged and it’s all I can do to get through the day.

  I just need to make it through each day.

  My world has always been broken. There are legends of times past when humans were happy, but to me, those stories are just myths. They’re happy bedtime stories to help children fall asleep, but they don’t fix the reality I live in.

  Tonight I have to hurry home to my father, but my mind is focused on the pain, the exhaustion. No matter how hard I fight, the world keeps closing in on me, on all of us. Will there ever come a day when the grass turns green again? Will there ever be a time when the air is clean?

  A woman bumps me and I glare at her, tired and angry. I’m frustrated. I’m worn out. I have to fight through a crowd of sick and dying people to get herbs for my father who is also sick and dying. We all just want to survive another day, but the grim reality is that it probably won’t happen. We’re all running on borrowed time and it’s only a matter of when it runs out.

  My father is very sick. He’s in constant pain, but when he finally passes, I don’t know what I’m going to do. He’s the only one I have. He’s the only one who cares about me.

  The herbalist gives me the jar and I throw my coins at him before leaving. It’s a long walk home and it’s already dark. We’re not supposed
to be outside at night, but I don’t have much of a choice. It’s a three mile walk back to our hut and if I don’t make it, my father’s pain will be so strong he’ll pass out.

  Things weren’t always so bad. Despite the world dying, falling apart, resting in ruins, my father and I were happy once, at least a little. He wasn’t always sick. When I was a girl, he would tell me stories of times when Earth was full and lively and fun. He used to make me laugh. We’d make plans for the future that always included escaping Earth, but we never had the money.

  And then he got sick.

  It’s not that there weren’t options. There were. For nearly 10 years, there were ships bringing people to other planets. Oh, you had to see your soul and maybe a few body parts to afford passage, but there were ways to escape.

  Not anymore.

  The last ship sailed this morning for Taneyemm, and I wasn’t on it. I couldn’t afford what they were asking. The price for simply getting on the ship is more money than I’ve seen in my lifetime.

  And the ticket price didn’t even guarantee you’d get to stay on the planet.

  Interplanetary relations are a tricky thing. Not every planet wants humans, even rich ones. Some planets super want humans, or so I’ve heard. It really just depends on where you go, and what you can afford, and which ship you can get on.

  The rich people evacuated Earth first, heading to planets full of humans. They basically had their choice of planets to run to. The Martians were especially friendly toward Earthlings and took in more refugees than any other planet. Most of the others were a bit more standoffish, though.

  Most of the others didn’t quite know what to do with us.

  Taneyemm is one of the worst, but I’d still go there in a heartbeat if it meant getting off Earth. Even if the world doesn’t implode like some predict it will, we’re all going to starve to death pretty soon. There’s no food left.

  Reslenoau delivered food for years to Earth, but even with Earthlings fleeing to other planets, there was never enough. Soon they couldn’t keep up with the demand and they quit bringing food altogether.

  I try not to think about that.

  Right now I have to get home. I move as quickly as my feet will carry me. My leather slippers are old and worn and they don’t do much to protect my feet. No, my skin won’t be torn up from the rocky terrain, but I feel every rock pressing against the soles of my feet.

  I feel every sting.

  It’s well past midnight when I arrive home and slip inside the tiny hut I share with my father. We built it years ago, long after Mama died, and it’s tiny, but it keeps us warm. It keeps us dry.

  “Father,” I say, kneeling beside his bed. It’s only a pallet on top of some crates, but for the most part, it’s fine. His poor body is wracked with fatigue, pain, and sickness. I know sometimes he wishes it would just be over. He’s been sick for a long time and unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do.

  There was a doctor in our town, but he left long ago.

  I reach for my father, ready to wake him and give him his herbs, but when I touch him, his body is cold and stiff. He rolls as I touch him and I see that I’m too late.

  I took too long and he’s gone.

  He’s dead.

  My father is gone.

  For a long time, I just sit next to his bed. I don’t react. I don’t cry. I don’t do anything. I can’t. He was all I had left in the world and he’s gone. He’s gone.

  When the tears finally come, the sobs are loud and painful. I cry until I have nothing left, and then I sit there. If only our lives had gone differently. If only he’d been able to make it on a ship. Any ship. Anywhere.

  Maybe he would have had a chance.

  I don’t know much about medical care on other planets, but I know anything would have been better than this. The pain of losing him is only soothed by the realization that he’s no longer hurting. For months, my father has struggled with even the most basic tasks. The last few weeks have been the hardest.

  We both knew there wasn’t much time left.

  And now?

  Now I’m stuck on a dying planet with no hope for a future. What am I supposed to do? Wait around until I die, too?

  “Fuck you, death,” I whisper, and grab my father’s hand one last time. I hold it for a moment, then kiss him on the forehead. “Goodbye, Father,” I murmur, and smooth back his hair. He’s covered with a soft quilt and I pull it over his head before I stand.

  There’s nothing left for me here.

  It’s the middle of the night, but I don’t care. I ignore the fears that rush through me as I step back outside. There are wild creatures roaming about. They’re just as hungry as me, but they’re more vicious.

  It’s not like I have anything left to live for, so I just start running.

  ***

  After about ten minutes, I slow down to a walk. My crying has stopped, but I still feel like I’m dreaming. I’m living this nightmare that never ends, reminding me once again that not all dreams are good. I know this better than most Earthlings.

  That’s why I hate when people make those weird wishes about their dreams coming true. Who really wants that? Some dreams are nightmares. Even if you think you know what you’re asking for, you don’t. Not always. Not even usually.

  My running has brought me close to town, near to where I brought the herbs. I haven’t seen any animals yet, which is unusual. Usually there are at least a few stray dogs running around. Sometimes there are even cats. Despite my tears, I manage to calm down long enough to wonder where the animals have gone.

  Why aren’t there any around?

  Instead of heading to the city center, I veer around the outside of the village. I notice the lights coming from just beyond the edges of the dilapidated buildings.

  There used to be a school and some other things in this area. Maybe even a government office. I’m not sure. Now it’s just used as a landing area when aliens come to Earth. Still, we aren’t getting any of those again, so why is it lit? There shouldn’t be any lights over here.

  There shouldn’t be any people.

  Curiosity starts to overtake my emotions. Instead of feeling extreme pain my heart, I’m feeling something else. I’m calming down and now, instead of heading for the village, I’m walking toward the light. I duck under the barbed wire fence that goes around the old school building. It’s falling down and wouldn’t keep a mouse out, let alone an intruder.

  Around the back of the building, I have a clear view of a large, hovering spaceship. Lights are shining all around it, although less than there usually are.

  What the hell?

  Slowly, cautiously, I approach the ship. Why is it here? Is this the Taneyemm ship? Surely it can’t be. I know all about that ship and I know that more than anything else, the Taneyemm ship was supposed to leave yesterday. We all thought it did, so why is it here? All thoughts of my father vanish as I wonder – stupidly, perhaps – whether there’s any chance I could get on board.

  If I stay on Earth, I’ll wander around until I kill myself or starve to death. There is no one here to look after me, no one here to care for me. There’s no one here to make sure I’m eating or drinking water or staying alive. Everyone is so busy looking after their own that the best damn thing I can do for my village is to die.

  There are people moving between the ship and the ground, loading large boxes and cargo. I peek from around a boulder, my eyes prying into the darkness. There are 10 or 15 humans walking around. One has a clipboard and appears to be checking items off a list as the others move around, taking and giving orders.

  I’m about 30 yards from the entrance to the ship. Right now, there’s no chance I’d be able to sneak onboard undetected. Without a plan, without money, without hope, how am I going to get on?

  Earth is dying and I don’t want to die with it. My father is dead. Gone. Even if I’d been willing to leave him before, there was no chance we could afford it, but now? Now I’m a desperate woman and freedom is within my grasp
.

  I watch for about half an hour. Suddenly, the man with the clipboard says something in a language I don’t understand, and most of the group heads on board. Two of the men don’t. They walk over to where I’m standing, and I scurry back behind the boulder. They stand on the other side, facing the ship, and start speaking.

  This time, I can understand them. I think they’re eating something or smoking something because a sweet scent wafts in the air, but I don’t recognize it.

  “I’ll be damn glad to leave this planet,” one man says. The other one makes a noise that sounds like agreement. “Two weeks is long enough. I can’t believe Hal shorted us a girl.”

  “Fucking Hal,” the other man agrees, and my ears perk up. They’re missing a girl?

  “I mean, I know it’s sad and all. Don’t get me wrong, but uh, in case she didn’t notice, her planet is sort of trash.”

  “What did Hal say the problem was?”

  “She decided to stay. Didn’t want to leave her family. Now we’re one short and we were already running behind. He needs another girl, a young one, within the next four hours or that signing bonus he promised? Gone.”

  The second man makes another noise and I get the distinct impression he’s a man of few words. What did he say, though? They need a girl. I glance down at myself, realizing I’m nothing to look at. My faded leather slippers are worn and dirty. My dress is really just a plain brown shift that’s quite ordinary and nothing special, but my father always told me that my eyes are nice. Maybe they’ll think the same thing.

  Maybe I could be the girl they need.

  I don’t know what it is they need females for and to be honest, I don’t care. If it means getting off Earth, isn’t that enough?