Stars of Gems

Sky Gold Stars of Gems A spicy starlit romance First published by Eden Publishing 2023 Copyright © 2023 by Sky Gold All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting Sky Gold at [email protected]. Thank you for supporting the author’s rights. First edition This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy Find out more at reedsy.com Contents Epigraph Prologue - ‘Moon Dreams’ I. PART ONE 1. Put a spell on you 2. Fly me to the moon 3. Cry me a river 4. Equinox 5. Dirty no gooder blues 6. Moon river 7. ‘Round midnight 8. In a sentimental mood 9. Ain’t misbehavin’ 10. Fly me to the moon II. PART TWO 11. Can’t Get Out Of This Mood 12. What A Little Moonlight Can Do 13. Fever 14. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars 15. Unforgettable 16. How high the moon 17. Let’s call the whole thing off 18. Solitude 19. Good Morning Heartache 20. Embraceable You 21. I can’t give you anything but love Epilogue I’d love to hear from you! About the Author Also by Sky Gold Epigraph Star eyes, When if ever, will my lips know If it’s me for whom those eyes glow? Makes no diff’rence where you are, Your eyes still hold my wishing star, Oh, star eyes, how lovely you are. Star Eyes - Miles Davis, John Coltrane Prologue - ‘Moon Dreams’ Zane ‘I’m out.’ The tall, lean Edenite rose to his feet abruptly and left the table. He ducked under the trailing gossamer lights, the cascade of mirror balls and dripping flower arrangements. Heading towards freedom, escaping the cloying expectations and the sticky web of endless celebrations he had no more patience for. A woman gave chase, gripping his arm. ‘Why are you leaving? The reception has barely begun.’ ‘Need some air,’ Zane Sable murmured, gazing at his stunning, perfectly coutured girlfriend. He disengaged her long fingernails from his arm. ‘I’ll be back, Ava. Soon.’ Only time and circumstance would judge whether he’d keep that promise, but he’d give it a red hot go. He turned on his heel, away from her soft curse and disapproving glare. But he could sense it and gave a wry smile. Ava was nothing, if not predictable. He nodded to a few faces he recognised, glanced at the miserable-looking groom slumped beside the wedding table, swung past the bar where he nabbed a bottle of water, and kept powering on. Through the bejewelled doors, down the ornate staircase and out of the exclusive hotel, a luxury property floating above one of Eden II’s most valuable and oldest archaeological Paladian sites. Underneath the hotel, visible through the transparent plexiglass floors penned off around the hotel by intricate barriers, was the lunar rock’s most extensive ongoing and systemic archaeological excavation. The suspended floor and the hotel above had been designed to protect and display the extensive ancient ruins. Hundreds of people teemed on the rock faces below Zane’s feet, including archaeologists, restorers, and historians from all over the System. Since they’d begun over three years ago, they’d unearthed million-year-old mosaics, still-intact Paladian statues of ancient gods, and hundreds of artefacts designed by the mysterious civilisation of beings, long gone. Hordes of tourists circled the hotel, peering through the see-through floor into the depths of the dig. Many were fascinated by legends of the old gods. Some were drawn by religious fervour, and others by the promise of being the first to spot an ancient treasure being unearthed for the first time. Zane gave the excavation, and the crowds thronged around it a cursory glance and wide berth. While the hotel structure and ruins below were an architectural marvel, he was more drawn to the view above him. What he’d give right now to be on his Corvette, winging by Alphetraz. The binary stars were currently in complete alignment, a rare phenomenon he’d wanted to see in person, offering a celestial sight unlike anywhere else. He’d only glimpsed the eclipsing binary once before, and the ethereal dimming of light in space as the stars passed in front of each other intrigued him. There was perfection and symmetry to the age-old starlit dance that Zane’s love for the precise leaned towards. Where he wanted to be right now was flying over the wide open sands beyond the metro, winging over the regolith plains that always seemed to call out to him while the most beautiful, incandescent and almost gem-filled light from the rock’s twin stars danced overhead. Zane pushed through the barriers and crowds and left the hotel’s steel, plex and gold gleaming structure, suddenly feeling lighter, unburdened as if a weight had lifted. He took a deep breath and prowled on, unencumbered, through the streets of Eden II’s old quarter, not quite knowing where he was headed. He needed to clear his mind. He had too many thoughts tripping him up and shadows inside him that never entirely lifted. Especially lately, as he dealt with the immense pressure of his workload, which he was using as a dragnet away from dealing with the growing questions about his future. He needed to decide what to do about Ava and whether he’d be making a lifelong commitment to her any time soon. The thought triggered a memory of the moment he’d first seen her. On the side of The Nirvana racecourse after he’d won The Endurance Meet, Eden II’s illustrious pinnace racing event, early the year prior. She’d been icy cool, blonde and totally in control of her image, from her designer gown and diamonds to her killer silver heels. She’d flicked her calculating