Star Crossed by Trista Ann Michaels Page B

bread,” he said as he lifted the cloth cover. “As well as chocolate cake.”
    “Lord, if I eat all this I’ll gain twenty pounds.” He shrugged as his eyes roamed over her. “You could afford a couple of pounds here or there.”
    She set her spoon down and eyed him. “Like your women a little chunky, do you?” He chuckled as he reached for a piece of bread. “I wouldn’t say chunky, since I don’t have a clue what that is. But I definitely don’t like overly skinny.”
    “So you think I’m overly skinny?”
    She tried her best to look offended without grinning but it was hard. Especially when she saw him redden slightly before tripping over himself trying to explain.
    “You’re by no means overly skinny.”
    “So you think I’m fat?” She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped a finger.
    Leaning his forearms against the table, he leered. “I don’t know. Perhaps you should take off the robe and let me check for myself.” She rolled her eyes. Uncrossing her arms, she reached for a roll.
    “Stefan one, Kris zip,” he said.
    He was rewarded with a roll in the face, which caused them both to laugh.
    “See, you’re laughing. And to think, earlier you wanted to shoot me. Now what would your life be like without me?” he asked.
    “Peaceful?” She raised her eyebrow.
    “Boring.”

    “Maybe I like boring.” She took another spoonful of her soup.
    Stefan snorted. “Yeah and maybe I like men.”
    “Really? I would have never guessed,” she replied seriously and then giggled at the expression on his face.
    Pointing his finger at her, he started to say something but shook his head with a grin. “You are something else.”
    “And you are a very good cook.” She smiled as she took another sip.
    “It doesn’t take a whole lot of talent to push a button.”
    “Have you ever cooked real food?”
    “I cook whenever I’m at my home on Tilarus. When I’m on Rhenari I usually don’t have the time and just use a replicator. I enjoy cooking. Does that surprise you?”
    “Actually, yes.”
    “Why?”
    Krista shrugged. “Things are so advanced in your world it’s just hard to imagine anyone doing something as mundane as cooking.”
    “My mother was from a farming community called Ricktoric. They had never even heard of replicators until she married my father. She was the one who taught me.” For a second she stared at him. “Your mother wasn’t a monarch like your father?” Stefan shook his head. “You didn’t know that?”
    “No, I just assumed… I thought your royalty system worked like ours, royalty marries royalty.”
    “In most cases, yes. But leave it to my father to do the unusual.” She watched him dip his bread in the soup. “You don’t approve of what your father did?”
    Stefan drank some of his wine and gazed at her over the rim. Shaking his head, he set his glass back down on the table. “I don’t agree with arranged marriages—never

    have.” Lifting the bottle, he filled her glass. “I think you should marry who you love, not who will enrich the family name.”
    “That’s an unusual sentiment.”
    “True, and I might have felt differently had my father not married a farmer’s daughter. I think the way you see things has to do with the way you were raised. I come from a very close family and I grew up seeing how happy and in love my parents were.
    I want the same thing they have.” Krista couldn’t seem to move her gaze from his as he stared into her eyes. “I want my wife to love me for me, not what I can do for her.” Clearing her throat, she studied the bowl in front of her. They were alone in this incredible place, they were attracted to each other. It would be very easy for one thing to lead to another. Again.
    “How did your father meet your mother?” Krista asked as she scooped some pineapple onto a small plate.
    “He crashed his ship on their planet. On my grandfather’s property actually. My mother found him and they took care of him. When he