The Lasaran

Amiriska continued to gently comb her brother’s hair back from his face as she met Seth’s gaze. A muscle twitched in her cheek. “I want to kill the bastards who did this.” “We already did,” Seth said. “Then bring them back so I can kill them again.” “Would that I could,” he muttered.

You are far too tempting, my little Earthling.

Are you bonded to another for life?” Her brow furrowed. “Do you mean romantically? Are you asking if I’m married?” “Yes.” “No.” She returned her attention to the road. “Are you?” “No.” A hint of humor entered her expressive features. “Then I don’t have to worry about some alien woman coming down and beating the crap out of me for seeing her man naked?” He laughed. Again agony shot through him. “No.” “Good.

There are two babies being held captive here, or rather toddlers. A red-haired little girl and a dark-haired boy. They were brought in with the vampires. I don’t know what those kids are—they don’t appear to be vampires—but they are not normal.

Seth sheathed one of his swords and drew a cell phone from his back pocket. “Chris. It’s Seth. . . . . Some of your contacts in the military and intelligence agencies have access to satellite data, correct, including that scrutinized by NORAD? . . . I want you to put them on alert. Tell them to keep an eye out for anything that may show up in David’s vicinity and quash it as soon as it arises if it does.” He listened for a moment. “An alien transport vessel just landed in his backyard. . . . No, I’m not sh*tting you. . . . That won’t be necessary. . . . Thank you.” Pocketing the phone, he glanced at David. “Well, that’s a call I never thought I’d have to make.

She broke the kiss and stared up into emerald green. Taelon affected her in ways no other man had. “What are we doing?” she whispered. A twinkle of mischief entered his eyes. “Breaking a number of Lasaran laws.

He strode out of the bathroom naked. Lisa’s eyes widened when she saw him, then swiftly shut. He grinned as pink once more filled her cheeks. The mattress dipped beneath his weight as he sat on it. Her eyes flew open as her side of the mattress tilted up and rolled her toward him. Taelon rested a hand on her shoulder to steady her, then slipped beneath the covers and lay down. Silence fell. “Would you tell me about your planet?” she asked softly as she studied him in the dim light. He rolled onto his side to face her and eased forward until their heads shared the same pillow. “Of course.” He hoped one day to show it to her. If he succeeded in contacting Ari’k… Well, he wouldn’t leave Lisa here on this barbaric planet where more men and women like those at the base would hunt her. He just needed to convince her to take a leap of faith and join him when he departed. To that end, he began to describe the beauty of his world. Lasara, the moons that orbited it, his people, the other populated planets in his solar system. He kept his voice low, his words carefully modulated. And soon her long lashes lowered until they rested upon her cheeks. Her breathing changed, deepening as sleep claimed her. He gently brushed her soft hair back from her face, tucking it behind one delicate ear. Even her ears were cute. But the dark circles beneath her eyes were not. She needed this rest. Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Sleep, Lisa.

He shook his head. “You’re making me revisit my opinion of Earthlings,” he admitted, Her lips turned up in a faint smile. “Then we’re even. Because you’re making me see aliens in a whole new light.

She grinned. He shook his head. “You’re so beautiful, Lisa.” Her eyes lowered, betraying her disbelief. That and fear. He urged her closer until she rested against his chest, her head tucked beneath his chin. “Don’t be afraid,” he murmured. “I vow I will protect you and keep you safe.” She curled a hand around his neck, her fingers stroking him and sending little tingles down his back. “Now vow you’ll keep YOU safe. THAT will ease my fear.” He couldn’t do that. If he had to die to protect her, he would.

Sliding her fingers into his hair, she drew his head down and claimed his lips in a longer, deeper kiss. His arms tightened around her. His tongue delved inside to stroke her own. Desire swept through her, heating her blood and driving her to fist his hair. He groaned. And Lisa knew it wasn’t from pain this time, but need. He buried a hand in her hair and tilted her head so he could deepen the kiss even more. His other hand caressed her back and pressed her closer, reminding her that they were both naked. What the hell was she doing? She broke the kiss, stunned to realize she was practically panting with need, and stared up into emerald green. Taelon affected her in ways no other man had. “What are we doing?” she whispered. A twinkle of mischief entered his eyes. “Breaking a number of Lasaran laws.” Her lips twitched. “Aside from that.” He shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m so drawn to you, Lisa.

Her lips twitched, then she laughed. “You are so freaking likable.” He smiled. “I feel the same about you.” “Okay then. We’re both adults. And neither one of us is physically up to engaging in anything amorous anyway, so—” “Well,” he said with a grin, “that isn’t precisely true.” Her cheeks pinkened. “Stop making me blush!” He laughed.

Reaching out, Lisa tentatively rested a trembling hand on his shoulder. His skin was cool and bore a light coating of perspiration. She drew her hand down over his biceps. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and something she couldn’t identify flickered in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice hushed while the alarm continued to blare. “Did I hurt you?” “No. It’s . . . You’re the first person who has touched me—not with intent to harm, but with kindness—in a very long time.” His words broke her heart.

What?” “I am so attracted to you.” Her eyebrows rose and the corners of her full lips turned up. “What?” “It appears you’ve thought of everything.” He shook his head. “And I find your intelligence as immensely appealing as your beauty.” Pink flooded her cheeks. “Flatterer.” He grinned.

The bathroom door opened. He turned as Lisa stepped out. Leaving the light on, she pulled the door almost closed so a little light would illuminate the room for them. Taelon turned off the overhead light and crossed to the bed. Lisa faced him on the other side of it and fiddled with the edge of her towel. “My clothes are still wet.” “Mine are, too.” “I’m thinking there’s no way this towel is going to stay around me while I sleep.” “Do you wish to sleep without it?” he asked, willing his body not to respond to just the idea of it. “Um . . .” “I can sleep on the floor.” “Hell no. Not with those wounds. You’ll sleep in the bed with me. I’m just . . . not exactly an exhibitionist.” He hesitated. “I don’t think my translator is giving me an accurate definition of that word.” Her eyebrows rose. “You have a translator?” “Yes. All members of the Aldebarian Alliance do.” She studied him curiously. “Where is it?” He pointed to his head, just behind his ear. “Embedded in my brain.” “I’m surprised the doctors at the base didn’t remove it.” “Their scans failed to detect it because it isn’t metal and appears to be part of my skull when viewed with your more primitive scanning devices.” “That’s trippy.” “That word isn’t translating at all.” She tilted her head to one side. “What did it tell you an exhibitionist is?” “A street performer.” She laughed. “When I said I’m not an exhibitionist, I meant I’m not comfortable flaunting my naked body.” She glanced down and wrinkled her nose. “Especially when it looks like this.” “You’re shy?” “More self-conscious than shy,” she admitted. “I don’t know. I guess, despite my actions earlier, I just don’t want you to see me naked.” Surprise coursed through him. “You don’t want ME to see YOU naked?” Her brow furrowed. “Yeah.” Taelon shook his head. “Lisa, you’re beautiful.” When she started to speak, he held up a hand. “I’m not saying that to put you at ease. I think you’re lovely. So much so that I’ve honestly been having a hard time keeping myself from staring at you too long.” Her lips parted in surprise. “Really?” “Yes.” He motioned to the towel at his hips. “This doesn’t exactly hide my body’s response to you, so I’ve been trying to keep my focus from drifting lower than your pretty face. You’re beautiful, Lisa. If anyone should wish to hide his body, it’s me. I’m quite a bit thinner than I used to be.” Her eyes widened. “Seriously?” She motioned to his form. “You have all that muscle.” “I used to have more. And I’m covered with all these ghastly wounds and scars because I’m too weak to regenerate. I don’t know how you can stand to look at me or manage not to grimace when you touch me. So again, I will offer to sleep on the floor.” She stared at him, unspeaking. “I won’t be offended if you don’t wish to sleep with me,” he assured her. Assuming an exaggeratedly somber expression, he rested a hand over his heart and spoke in dejected tones. “I will just be deeply, deeply hurt.” Her lips twitched, then she laughed. “You are so freaking likable.” He smiled. “I feel the same about you.” “Okay then. We’re both adults. And neither one of us is physically up to engaging in anything amorous anyway, so—” “Well,” he said with a grin, “that isn’t precisely true.” Her cheeks pinkened. “Stop making me blush!” He laughed.

When she opened her eyes, moisture glimmered in them. “I’m sorry.” “Don’t apologize. On my planet, tears are not viewed as a weakness but as a natural expression of one’s emotions and an ordinary response to pain or stress.” “Your planet sounds pretty awesome.” “It is.” He flashed her a grin. “Except for the no-touching part.” She laughed. “Yeah. That would suck.

Her lips turned up in a wry smile. “I’m not that innocent.” He smiled. “And not so sweet? At least not to the soldier you threatened to shoot.” She laughed. “Apparently outright terror can make me ballsy.” Familiar with the Earth term, he laughed.

She drew her hand down over his biceps. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and something she couldn’t identify flickered in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice hushed while the alarm continued to blare. “Did I hurt you?” “No. It’s . . . You’re the first person who has touched me—not with intent to harm, but with kindness—in a very long time.” His words broke her heart.