Starcrossed

Excerpt

Somehow, she had to get close enough to have a private word with him, but Cetian social conventions were strict. Unmarried female strangers simply did not demand time alone with single men. Who knew what conclusions the other Cetians would draw if she demanded a private word with him?

Mistakes compounded mistakes, creating more mistakes. Somehow she had to reach across the barriers of culture and galactic space and make Zolan understand.

Except for one small problem. Deep in her heart, she wanted the Cetian’s attention. She craved far more than his attention. She longed to feel his bronzed skin against her own and the softness of his lips against hers. If she allowed herself one moment’s truth, she had to admit this stranger from another star aroused her like no one else ever had.

“Keep thinking like that and you’ll not only lose your job, but also create an intergalactic incident,” Cassiopeia whispered to herself.

Revealing her face, she headed across the floor toward the Cetian Ambassador.

She planned to catch his eye, to discreetly request a moment to speak with him far beyond the prying eyes of the other guests. She got no further than a few steps before he caught sight of her. His eyes brightened.

“Protocol Officer Cassiopeia.” His voice washed over her, warming her with its resonant tones. Unfortunately, it also drew the attention of all the other guests at the banquet. She was underdressed for such an occasion, wearing only the bare minimum of scarf and modest gown. Fine for an office visit, but the grand dinner was far in excess of what she had expected. I should have asked to borrow one of Marinda’s long gowns, Cassie thought with regret.

Under the scrutiny of a multitude of eyes, she felt practically naked. As she turned her face to meet Zolan’s expectant gaze, she glimpsed Yandi’s disapproving frown.

Cassie bowed her head in greeting. “Ambassador Zolan.”

“Are you to join us this evening?” He bowed in deference. “I would be honored if you’d be my guest.”

The hope in his voice made her heart flutter. “I’m afraid I cannot, Ambassador, I wanted only to—”

“But you must.”

Cassiopeia cast a glance at the other delegates and found them also scowling their disapproval. “Ambassador, I’m afraid I’m not dressed for such an affair.”

“Pah!” Zolan waved her objections from the air. “You look wonderful to me.” His brilliant grin left no doubt at the innuendo in that comment. Cassiopeia cursed her fair coloring as she felt herself flushing scarlet. “Better than wonderful,” he whispered for her hearing alone. His beautiful voice, so full of emotion, moved her like an exquisitely executed symphony.

In response, Cassie blushed a deeper shade, much to the interest of the delegates, all of whom watched the interchange with acute attention.

“I wished only to have a word with you, Ambassador.” She couldn’t say privately. In Cetian that held other connotations altogether. Cassie settled on, “Confidentially.”

Zolan’s eyes narrowed. He said something in a Cetian dialect too rapidly for her to follow. Making no attempt to hide their disapproval, the rest of the Cetians moved a few discreet feet away.

“How can I be of service, Protocol Officer Cassiopeia?”

“Well, I—” Cassie began, and then noticed the prying eyes of at least ten other delegates fixed upon them. “Could we…” She glanced at a huge ice sculpture nested in a forest of flowers. “Could we talk over here?”

Zolan moved obligingly behind the sculpture. Cassie knew the situation must have looked even more incriminating from the other side. But in a moment all will be sorted out, she promised herself.

Eyes as blue as the Great Sea on her home world looked intently into hers.

“Something troubles you, Protocol Officer Cassiopeia?”

Cassie couldn’t help but be moved by the concern in his voice. Painfully aware of the seconds drifting by and the interested gazes on the other side of the ice sculpture, Cassie launched into her explanation.

“Ambassador, I fear I have misled you.” She couldn’t bear to keep looking into those soulful eyes. Cassie fixed her gaze on the tiled floor instead. “Cetian is a difficult language for me, and I am still learning.” The truth sprang from her lips. She had meant to admit nothing of the sort.

Tiny lines creased the corners of his mouth as his smile faded into a frown.

Cassie began to talk faster. “I believe I have misled you in my intentions.” Her eyes flickered upward. He caught her gaze and held it. “And I fear I may have erroneously given you the impression I was looking for a mate.”

Hurt flashed within those devastating eyes. “Am I to take it,” Zolan asked solemnly in near-perfect Standard, “that you do not wish to be my bride, Protocol Officer Cassiopeia?”

Cassie’s heart sank. She felt her stomach coil tighter with tension. She’d expected him to be relieved, perhaps even to think her gaffe humorous. Instead, he looked genuinely hurt.

“That’s not it, Ambassador. You see…” She held out her hands in a helpless gesture and found them captured by his. Even through the thin leather of his gloves, she could feel the heat of his skin. “I just didn’t want you to think I was propositioning you.” The words slid from her lips, far more blatant than she wished them to be, but she couldn’t risk another misunderstanding between them.

Zolan’s expression brightened. “Then you do wish to be my bride!”

“No, Ambassador.” It was impossible to think while his thumbs traced lazy circles on her wrists and his smile held her rooted to the spot.

The smile faded again. “You do not find me attractive?”

“No, Zolan,” she stammered. Gathering her wits, she tried again. “Yes, Ambassador, I do but—”

“But what?”

Cassie raised her head to find his face mere inches away from hers. Full lips closed the distance between them. His breath bathed her cheek.

“What is it, Cassiopeia, that you wish to tell me?”
She opened her mouth to reply and found instead her lips captured by his.