Stark Pleasure; the Space Magnate's Mistress (The LodeStar Series) by Cathryn Cade

“—why did they question me like that?”  
      His hand stroked up and down her back, warm and soothing. “Because if I’d simply given you an alibi, you’d have remained a suspect. I may be a well-known businessman, but I wouldn’t be the first man fooled by a beautiful woman, and the police know that. Now that you’ve been questioned under the lie detector, they know for certain you had nothing to do with the Vulpean’s death—or at least that you didn’t kill him.”
    His words shocked her out of the warmth of knowing he’d supported her. “What do you mean, at least I didn’t kill him? You think I hired someone?”
    “It’s common enough.”
    She shoved at him and this time he let her go. She gave him a scathing glare. “Oh, of course you’d think that. Because I’m such a femme fatale, I have galaxies of males vying to do my dirty deeds, even though I can’t pay them.”
    He gave her a wry look. “Look, we both know you could talk most men—or women—into doing what you want them to. And don’t tell me you don’t know just how charming you are, because I won’t believe you. You’re an operator, Kiri te Nawa.”
    Kiri’s face flamed, and she fought his grip. “Let me go. I don’t have to stay here and listen to your sleazy insults.”
    His eyes narrowed, and as his grip tightened, Kiri froze. In his own, urbane way, he was as forceful as that Freyan, his gaze nearly as penetrating as the Indigon’s.” And where will you go?”  
    She lowered her gaze to his broad chest. “I’ll go back to my coffee stand. If they want to ask me questions, they can buy my coffee first.”  
    “I believe you’d try it. But you’ve no credit, no coffee and nowhere to sleep,” he said. “And from the look of you, you’ve used up most of your emotional reserve. Kiri, look at me.”
    When she finally did, her hands resting on his broad chest, his gaze was waiting, steady and certain. “Let me help you. I wasn’t insulting you when I called you an operator. I know it isn’t easy for a woman to make it alone in this city.”
    Her knees were trembling. She locked them, and let go of him deliberately. “All right, but just—just until I get things settled.”
    He exhaled, pulling her against his side. “Good enough for now. Come on.”
    His arm around her, Stark walked her along the corridor and out into the front hall, where they found Maury waiting, perched in a chair with her hovie-cart close at her side. She hurried to hug Kiri, her lined face worried.  
    “Oh my dear child, are you all right? You look ... well, they didn’t use interrogation methods on you, did they?” She pulled a disposable tissue from the depths of her capes and offered it to Kiri.
    Kiri took it, wiping her wet face. “Not too bad. Just some questioning—an Indigon and a Freyan.”
    Maury straightened to exchange a look with Stark. “I see. Well, I think you should go somewhere those news cameras can’t find you.”
    “She will,” Stark promised.
    Kiri found she didn’t want to let Maury go. “Thank you.” She hugged Maury, thin under all her shawls. “Thank you for sticking by me.”
    “Well, of course,” Maury patted her back. “You’ve stood by me, my dear. I’m only returning the favor. But all’s well that ends well, if you know what I mean.” She cast a significant look at the man behind Kiri.
    Kiri grimaced. “It’s not quite like that.”
    “Perhaps,” Maury said. “In any case, I must get on my rounds. Goodbye.”
    She hurried away, hovie-cart following. Leaving Kiri alone with Stark, who slid his arm around her again, as if she were his now. “She’s your friend?”
    “I sell her souvenirs at my kiosk. We look after each other.”  
    “Good. Ready to go?”
    She shrugged. Then, because he waited, she nodded.
    “There,” he said, steering her back toward the hoverway. “That wasn’t so hard, was it? Accepting my help.”
    “Oh, I’ve no doubt you’ll think of a way for me to