Page 60 of Stars At Dusk

Riv laughed out loud. ‘And another one bites the regolith!’

Harlow was oblivious to the teasing. She was lost in a long shared gaze with Kage. Finally, she thumped his broad shoulder with her fist.

‘I’ve got questions. Like when you got the time? More importantly, why? But we’ll talk about it later.’

‘Naam,’ he yielded. ‘How ‘bout you finish your chow, and we’ll talk about it while I take you on that tour I promised.’

‘And which tour would that be?’ Selene called out from the confines of her lover’s arms.

‘A tour around your gorgeous rock,’ Harlow replied with a shrug. ‘Honestly, though, I’ve no idea where he plans to take me.’

‘You can trust Kage,’ Kainan called out quietly. ‘He’s street-wise and can brawl with the best of them.’

Harlow knew that Kainan was strongly endorsing his brother to her. Using language that spoke to her heart.

‘I’m looking forward to it,’ she replied, letting her inhibitions fall further away.

Kage gave her a penetrating look. ‘You’ve seen the stars,kara,’ he said softly, leaning into her. ‘Now let me show you the moon.’

Harlow

An hour later, Kage guided Harlow outside the lobby of The Sable Group’s 498 building.

She waited until they were outside the building before whirling around to face him.

‘Before we take one step further, you must explain the food, Kage.’

The man sighed. ‘Can’t you give it a rest, babe?’

‘No,’ she said firmly. ‘I need to know why you’ve been cooking all week for me.’

He sighed, pausing for a beat. ‘Remember when we met on Axuma months ago?’

‘Yes, when I first encountered the hangry beast version of Kage,’ she teased.

He grinned. ‘That I was. Well, your care for me that night touched me. You had no clue who I was, yet you selflessly took care of my needs. Meant a lot then and still means a lot when I think about it. So I’m only returning the favour.’

‘Is it sustainable though?’ she asked softly.

‘Fokk no, woman, it was a welcome week-only service,’ he laughed. ‘Seriously though,kara, I love cooking and eating the very best, given I ate like shit as a kid. Not a stretch to cook for one more person.’

‘So you’ll keep doing it?’

‘Do you like my food, woman?’

‘I love it.’

‘Then I’ll keep feeding you. Though not every night. Need my sleep some nights.’

Harlow laughed. ‘Maybe I’ll cook for you instead.’

Kage’s eyes softened. ‘That’d be sweet.’

The metaphysical pull between them ratcheted up, and they swayed into each other.

‘Aren’t we meant to be going somewhere?’ Harlow finally interjected just before their bodies touched.

‘Indeed,’ Kage smiled. He gestured to his waiting flyer at the foot of the steps. ‘Welcome to my magical mystery lunar tour.’

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