The Star Caster Read Free Page B

his shirt rises so that I can see the bottom of his flat stomach. His skin is tanned and I can see his defined abdominal muscles. This guy has a six pack.
    Forcefully, I blink so that I can refocus. “Aren’t you going to fall asleep?” I ask as I turn my head away. I can’t stare at his body anymore. It’s too distracting, too good.
    “Not at all,” Sterren replies. He clears his throat afterwards and I listen while he changes positions.
    I sigh before turning slowly. I’ m almost afraid to see him. A vision flashes before me, and I imagine Sterren lying on his side, positioned like one of those underwear models. I snort – an attempt to contain my laughter – and swallow. When I do turn, Sterren’s sitting up again, rubbing his elbows. “It’s uncomfortable,” I state.
    Sterren nods. “I can’t believe you’re able to contain yourself,” he says as he looks up at me. “I would be driven crazy by the noises, the atmosphere.”
    “There’s no point,” I answer.
    “You are right,” Sterren agrees.
    I blink at him, curious. It was almost as if he was a normal person, or at least it was like he was one a moment ago. I can see now, though, that he’s closing himself off. Sterren is hiding something from me, and he isn’t planning on telling me what it is. Whatever; I don’t need Sterren to get me out of this mess. Besides, why is he even here if he plans on being cryptic the whole time? He has no reason to be here. But then, why is he here? I roll my eyes. I’m being stupid. He doesn’t have to have a reason to be here.
    I lean back, wishing that I was anywhere but here. I had done well, getting myself into this mess. Now, I was stuck in this cage for who knows how long. I bit e my lip as the familiar burning sensation rushes through my throat, a flash of pain and vulnerability. I won’t let myself cry in front of Sterren. I don’t want him to think that he wins this round.
    “You have no more questions,” Sterren s ays.
    I sigh aloud but don’ t answer him.
    “There is nothing more?” he presses.
    I tighten my grip on my arms, getting annoyed with his seemingly persistent talking. “No,” I mumble, more to get him to stop talking than anything.
    “I understand,” he says honestly. What was with the honesty thing? Couldn’t he just stop it already? I didn’t really need him. It wasn’t like I asked him to be here with me.
    “Why don’t you just lie to me?” I ask finally. “Isn’t that what you criminals do, anyway? Please, just stop talking to me, because I can’t handle any more of your truth.”
    This time Sterren sighs. “I cannot lie,” he says simply.
    “What do you mean?” I ask as I lift my head again. Once again, I’m enthralled by Sterren’s grey eyes. I let myself look into them, look deep into his soul, or whatever was supposed to be within them. His light eyes sparkle with golden flecks. A light brown ring frames his pupil, and a darker brown ring frames his iris; it is mesmerizing the way his eyes do that.
    “I cannot lie,” he repeats .
    “ Okay,” I offer as I look back down at my arms. I blush slightly and sigh inwardly. What in the world am I doing?
    Sterren leans forward. He bites his sensuous lower lip and traces circles over the blanket that he’s sitting on. “Who are you?” he asks me.
    I open my eyes wide in shock. Never in my wildest dreams would I think that Sterren would ask me a question. “Well, I’m a pre-law student,” I answer. “Well, I was a pre-law student.”
    “What kind of law?” Sterren asks, avoiding my last comment. “I mean, what kind of lawyer did you want to be?”
    It doesn ’t pass me, the fact that he used the past tense. “Well, I was deciding between environmental and criminal law; however, I don’t think it matters anymore.”
    “What about your friends?”
    “I didn’t really have any friends,” I say.
    “Why didn’t you have any?”
    I shrug and turn my head away so that I can think.  I don’t really