Starseed Read Free Page A

pulsed underneath her skin and across her heated face. Elle enjoyed the new sensations he stirred within her as much as they frightened her. She was glad he couldn’t see her blush in the moonlight.
    He gave a slight inclination of his head toward her, a courtly gesture, as if to say yes, I feel it too . Then he said, “Even if I could get your car started, you can't drive it in its present condition. I’m going into Sweetwater if you’d like a lift into town.”  Kole motioned toward his jeep. “Come on.” His voice was low and soothing, a steadying presence as he moved silently and gracefully away.
    “ Should we? Is this a good idea?” Sara whispered as they headed to the passenger side of Elle’s car to retrieve their things. “We don’t know anything about this man.”
    “ What choice do we have?” Elle asked and glanced back toward him as disjointed thoughts flooded her mind. They might return and take us. She shivered. “I don't want to spend the night out here. Do you?”
    “ No. Absolutely not.”  Sara shook her head and followed Elle.
    “ Besides,” Elle glanced toward Kole. “I have a good feeling about him.”  She watched the man a little taller than her own five-foot six inches get into the Jeep.
    Sara visibly relaxed . “That’s all you had to say.”
    Moments later, Elle was in the passenger side of the Jeep, Sara in the back, and they were on their way home . Kole glanced both ways and pulled onto the road.
    Elle let out a deep breath . No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had seen him before, but when she tried to explore the idea further it was as if she’d hit a brick wall.
    “ Kole, you have a lot of equipment in here,” Sarah said from her perch in the back seat. “What do you do?” 
    “ I'm a photojournalist.”  He peeked in the rearview mirror. “Do you have enough room back there?”
    “ Yeah, it's fine,” Sara replied.
    Elle glanced at him sideways, admiring his dark waist-length hair pulled back with a rawhide tie . Wow, that’s long healthy hair. I’d like to get my scissors into that hair . His glacier blue eyes flickered to Sara in the rearview mirror from time to time. Elle tried to read his aura, only able to see a swirl of color. Greens, reds, blue, gold and lavender danced around in her head. He was different from anyone she'd ever met, yet she was immediately drawn to him.
    “ I work for New Frontier Magazine. My editors are interested in this area.”  He hesitated then glanced in the rear view mirror at Sara. “Would you know of any special places around here that I could include photos of for the magazine?”  
    Elle quietly listened to Kole and Sara’s exchange while a familiar, yet, unwanted sensation crept over her . Her heart lurched. Not now. All I want to do is go home . She could put it off, but if she did, it would only be worse. She grabbed the armrest and tried to fight off the feelings assaulting her, all the while knowing it was best just to let them come. A weird night was about to get weirder. She’d learned she couldn’t fight this. What was to be would be. Taking a deep breath, she leaned her head back against the headrest, closed her eyes and let the vision overtake her.
    An image of Kole and herself standing in the marble entryway of an enormous white palace flashed behind her closed eyelids. He was dressed in some kind of military uniform and she in a beautiful, flowing, golden gown. She could smell the ocean as a warm salty breeze blew gently against her skin. Three yellow moons lit the starry sky and two tall wooden doors with ancient carvings stood before them. A sense of comfort and unconditional love filled her heart, making her want to go through the doors to meet the unexpected. Something on the other side called to her. Destiny awaited her beyond those huge doors.
    Then, as quickly as the feelings surrounded her with loving warmth, it vanished . She had seen three moons. It wasn’t