{"id":993,"date":"2020-10-14T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-14T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/starlaarts.com\/?p=993"},"modified":"2022-01-11T07:48:01","modified_gmt":"2022-01-10T21:18:01","slug":"the-dark-matter-between-our-hearts-episode-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/2020\/10\/14\/the-dark-matter-between-our-hearts-episode-1\/","title":{"rendered":"“The Dark Matter Between Our Hearts” Episode 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Season 1 Collection for this serial is moving to Kindle on the 1st February 2022. You can\u00a0<\/span>order your copy<\/a><\/span>\u00a0for the low price of $0.99 USD or\u00a0<\/span>read it for FREE<\/a><\/span>\u00a0on Kindle Unlimited. Check out Episode 1 below for a sample.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Episode 1<\/u><\/b><\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Searing heat radiated from the asphalt, smacking Danika in the face within seconds of alighting in her hometown. Perspiration oozed from every pore as she ambled toward the airport lounge where the automatic doors welcomed her into the arctic air-conditioning. Once inside, she took a moment to relish the climate control before scanning the crowd. She spotted her parents waving excitedly and picked up the pace.<\/p>

Her father, Sterling, pulled her in for a fierce hug. \u2018Hey there, Twinkle Toes. How\u2019s our UCL graduate?\u2019<\/p>

Danika laughed. \u2018Hey, Dad. I\u2019m okay. A bit tired from the flight.\u2019<\/p>

\u2018I bet you are.\u2019 He squeezed her tighter. \u2018I\u2019m so damn proud of you! Your thesis on Ultra-High Energy Neutrinos was incredible. I can\u2019t wait to pick your brain on this stuff.\u2019<\/p>

\u2018I look forward to sharing theories, after a nice long shower.\u2019 She glanced at her beaming mother and moved into the woman\u2019s arms.<\/p>

\u2018Welcome home, sweetie.\u2019 Estelle\u2019s lavender scent enveloped Danika, soothing the last of her landing jitters.<\/p>

Stepping back, Danika tugged at the t-shirt that clung to her sweat-soaked stomach, catching a whiff of her own foul odour. \u2018I sure don\u2019t miss these Australian summers.\u2019<\/p>

Sterling, chuckled. \u2018You\u2019ve been spoiled by four years of London life.\u2019<\/p>

Estelle sighed. \u2018I think we all have. I\u2019ll miss having an excuse for another white Christmas this year.\u2019<\/p>

Sterling grabbed Danika\u2019s suitcase from the luggage carousel. \u2018Come on. Let\u2019s get out of here.\u2019 After loading up the Astra, he peered into the sky and smiled. \u2018Looks like we\u2019ll have a clear night.\u2019 He looked at Danika. \u2018Wanna take the telescope out tonight?\u2019<\/p>

\u2018For the love of God, sweetheart, can\u2019t you see the girl\u2019s exhausted?\u2019 Estelle chided.<\/p>

He cast pleading eyes in Danika\u2019s direction.<\/p>

Danika shrugged. \u2018I should be fine after a shower and afternoon nap. Why don\u2019t we have a picnic dinner under the stars?\u2019<\/p>

Sterling clapped his hands together. \u2018That\u2019s a stellar idea.\u2019<\/p>

Groaning at the pun, Danika sank into the backseat of her dad\u2019s sedan.<\/p>

\u2018Ah shoot!\u2019 Sterling slapped the steering wheel. \u2018I just remembered the bung headlight. Better get it fixed on the way home if we are going out tonight.\u2019<\/p>

\u2018Good point,\u2019 agreed Estelle. Pivoting in her seat, she glanced back at Danika. \u2018Sorry hun, but we need to make a pit stop first.\u2019<\/p>

She offered her mother half a smile. \u2018It\u2019s okay.\u2019 Familiar landmarks interspersed with new sights whizzed by as she stared out the window. So much had changed in four years. Thinking of her old school friends, she wondered who remained. Will I get to see any of them soon?<\/em><\/p>

As the car pulled into the mechanic\u2019s lot, Danika\u2019s eyes locked with a pair of dark, deadly orbs. Malik.<\/em> She sucked in a breath while giving him the once over. Where Danika had been the queen of her own private college, Malik ruled over their rivals at the neighbouring public school. Slouching against a Monaro, he wiped his hands on an old rag while maintaining eye contact. Lifting his black singlet, he broke their stare to wipe his brow, revealing toned, toffee-coloured abs. Try as she might, Danika could not resist ogling his rock-hard muscles. Dropping the garment, Malik caught her gawking and his lips curled into sly grin. She jerked her gaze away with a huff. I am so not going there!<\/em> Malik was everything she despised in a man: cruel, crooked, arrogant, and domineering. Instead, she focussed intently on the park across the road, suddenly fascinated by the birds fighting over scraps of food on the lawn.<\/p>

A loud thud jolted Danika out of her reverie. Turning back, she found Malik leaning against the car, glaring at her, while her parents were in the office. Ignoring him, she returned her attention to the sparrows for all of two seconds before he tapped on the glass. The knocking persisted until she lowered the window. \u2018What?<\/em>\u2019<\/p>

\u2018Welcome back, Princess Brainiac. I see four years of university didn\u2019t mellow that temper of yours.\u2019<\/p>

She glowered. \u2018Well it looks like you haven\u2019t changed at all either.\u2019 Except that he had. Malik had grown into a man, looking hotter and tougher than ever.<\/p>

\u2018You\u2019d be surprised.\u2019 He ran a greasy hand along the window frame. \u2018Your folks will be a while, so you might want to get out of the car before the heat fries some of those precious brain cells.\u2019<\/p>

Frowning, she glanced at her parents. \u2018I thought they were just replacing a headlight?\u2019<\/p>

\u2018Chris noticed a nasty noise coming from the engine when you guys rocked up. He wants to check it out before letting you go.\u2019 Malik nodded toward the middle-aged man who had just popped the Astra\u2019s hood.<\/p>

\u2018Fine! Whatever<\/em>.\u2019 Danika leaped out of the car, bringing her face-to-chest with Malik who was leering at her breasts. Horrified, she realised that her light-pink t-shirt had become transparent with her body\u2019s moisture.<\/p>

\u2018Cute bra.\u2019 Malik smirked; eyes still glued to her pink, strawberry patterned brassiere.<\/p>

\u2018Ugh. You\u2019re such a disgusting pervert!\u2019<\/p>

His heated gaze shifted back up to her own and he leaned in close to her ear. \u2018Like you can talk.\u2019 Hot breath struck her neck as he spoke\u2014like the air of a blast furnace\u2014eliciting goosebumps along every inch of her flesh.<\/p>

She tried to step around him, but he blocked her path. Shifting to the left, she made another attempt to escape his unwanted company, but the stubborn mule continued to thwart her. \u2018Do you<\/em> mind?\u2019<\/p>

\u2018Do I mind what? Taunting you? Not at all.\u2019 Crossing his arms, he gave her a smug grin.<\/p>

\u2018Move!<\/em>\u2019 she demanded.<\/p>

\u2018Ask nicely.\u2019<\/p>

A low growl travelled up from her diaphragm and escaped her lips. \u2018Move, please!\u2019<\/p>

\u2018Hmm, no. That sounded more like a command than a plea.\u2019<\/p>

Her jaw stiffened and her fists clenched. \u2018I\u2019m too tired for this shit. Just get out of my way before I make you regret messing with my jetlagged arse.\u2019<\/p>

\u2018How, pray tell, are you gonna do that? Your crew has scattered to the far corners of the Earth, while my gang has grown bigger and stronger. You gave up your throne, so I rule this town now. You\u2019d be wise to remember that.\u2019<\/p>

With hands on her hips, Danika puffed her chest out, no longer caring that her bra was on display. \u2018I still have some loyal subjects and that crown you\u2019re wearing was on loan in my absence. I\u2019ll be taking it back now because the Queen has returned.\u2019 Pushing past him, she strode off toward the office with a confident sway in her hips.<\/p>

\u2018See you \u2019round, then, Strawberry Shortcake,\u2019 Malik called out after her.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u00a9<\/span>\u00a02020 L. STARLA<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

Stay tuned for Season 2, coming July 2022.<\/p>

Want to read more of Season 1? Grab the whole collection on Kindle…<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Dark Matter Between Our Hearts Season 1 Collection<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Season 1 Collection for this serial is moving to Kindle on the 1st February 2022. You can\u00a0order your copy\u00a0for the low price of $0.99 USD or\u00a0read it for FREE\u00a0on …<\/p>\n

“The Dark Matter Between Our Hearts” Episode 1<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":994,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13,16],"tags":[17],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/993"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=993"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4508,"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/993\/revisions\/4508"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starlaarts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}