Friction by Samantha Hunter Page A

up at the stars, a whimsical smile on her face. She was the most gorgeous thing he’d ever laid eyes on, and his throat constricted.
    “I wish I knew constellations. I can see shapes, but I don’t know what they are. Or if I’m even seeing the right ones.”
    “Never took astronomy in school? I figured all kids learned the basics in science class.”
    She shook her head, a shadow crossing her features.
    “I was home-schooled, then sent to a private school. My parents were against the standard scientific curriculum used in the public school system. As an adult, it’s just not something I’ve pursued. Though maybe I will when I get back home.”
    “Ah.” He paused, unsure how to respond. He didn’t want to offend her religious beliefs, but he never understood why people couldn’t be both devout and educated. His parents had had them all in church every Sunday, but it had never interfered with his broader education. They’d always encouraged him and his sister to know everything they could about the world, to have a thirsty mind.
    After all, even the most religious people of ancient times knew how to use the stars for navigational purposes, if nothing else. Then again, Galileo had died while under permanent house arrest during the Inquisition after maintaining that the earth revolved around the sun, not the sun around the earth. Logan remained silent rather than voice his opinions—the night wasn’tmade for political arguments. But Sarah had already intuited his thoughts.
    “It’s okay. My family and I don’t see eye to eye on…a lot of things anymore.”
    “So you don’t share their religious beliefs?”
    She shook her head, looking suddenly sad, and he didn’t press. Not just yet.
    “Well, I can point out some of the constellations for you, if you want to know.”
    Her face brightened again, and she smiled. It took his breath away.
    “Please.” She poked her finger up into the air, indicating a pattern she saw. “Is that something?”
    “Yes. Here, see. You’ll know this one.” He pulled her over in front of him, snuggling her close and grasping her extended arm by the wrist, helping her make a connection from one star to another until she inhaled sharply.
    “The Big Dipper?”
    Logan smiled, loving the soft warmth of her up against him and the surprised pleasure in her voice. His head was clearing from the beer, but his blood was still buzzing.
    “Right. I knew you would know that one. Everyone has to have heard of it, if not seen it.”
    “Show me another one.”
    He lifted her hand again, and drew her arm down, then across, in the shape of a cross.
    “The Southern Cross?” she guessed hesitantly, and he dissented.
    “The Southern Cross can’t be seen from here. Thisone is Cygnus, the Swan. But it is also known as the Northern Cross.”
    “It looks like a cross, not a swan.”
    He chuckled, inhaling the scent of her hair, the clean scent of her shampoo mixing headily with the ocean breeze.
    “True. But see, the bird is in flight…this star is Deneb, Arabic for tail, as in the tail feathers of the bird. He’s diving through the sky…”
    She stared, silent, and he risked the moment to bend his face into her neck, losing himself in the softness he found there. Her voice hitched a little, though she didn’t move away or discourage him.
    “I guess I can see that.”
    Logan lost all interest in the sky as he turned her to face him and made it clear he didn’t want to discuss stars any further as his lips found hers. They were alone on the beach, and it was dark all around them. Private.
    There was no preliminary kissing, no get-to-know-you nibble, just hot, carnal plundering of each other’s mouths, and he felt his knees shake and his body go rock-hard all over. She was softer than he’d imagined, and she moved against him in an invitation he wanted to accept, that his body insisted he accept. Unable to stop kissing her, he slid his hand up under her tank top, massaging her breasts