Simolif

RUNNER’S MOON BOOK 3: SIMOLIF by

Linda Mooney

WHISKEY CREEK PRESS www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Published by WHISKEY CREEK PRESS Whiskey Creek Press PO Box 51052 Casper , WY 82605-1052 www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Copyright  2008 by Linda Mooney

Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

ISBN 978-1- 60313-323-4

Credits Cover Artist: Editor: Jessica Darago Printed in the United States of America

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT RUNNER’S MOON BOOK 3: SIMOLIF If you enjoy your romance hot, with a heaping side of science fiction, you won't want to miss this series. Runner's Moon, Book 3: Simolif is an engaging tale that sends the reader on a wild ride of fear, love, and humor, delivered with nearly nonstop action. - Dee, ParaNormalRomance Reviews

Other Books by Author Available at Whiskey Creek Press: www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Runner’s Moon: Jebaral (Book 1) He was one of thirty-one aliens who had landed on this remote world and dispersed among the populace, unidentifiable because of their shape-shifting abilities. Jebaral had hoped for a life. But when he met Hannah Pitt, there was no way he could accept her offer of a future. After all, she was human; he was nothing remotely human. Worse, the Arra were out looking for their lost cargo. Could he risk loving this woman? Would she accept him for what he truly was? Little did he realize that all his choices would soon be taken away. Runner’s Moon: Tiron (Book 2) Nearly six years ago they landed on Earth—thirty-one aliens, fugitives from a lifetime of slavery and cruelty. Tiron had found sanctuary in Crescent City , earning her living as a common street prostitute. Lieutenant Thom DeGrassi had busted prostitutes in the past, but nothing had prepared him for what he felt when he met “Roni.” Worse, there was some sicko out there getting his jollies cutting up hookers. Now DeGrassi was faced with keeping Roni off the streets while he sorted out his feelings for her, and trying to find the man responsible for the deaths of four other women.

Dedication Thank you, Lord, for the gift you have given me.

Chapter 1 Hunk “Oooo! There he is! There he is! Oh, my God, isn’t he the hottest?” Oh, my God, they’re at it again. Sarah got up and kicked her office door. It closed with a loud rattle from the window inset in its upper half. The frosted glass would at least keep the curious and nosey from seeing what she was doing, but it was piss-poor insulation against the noise. More squealing and the sound of a dozen or more hoof beats from the herd stampeding to the far window wall in the empty office next door wasn’t just distracting. It was as irritating as hell. With a loud groan, Sarah gave up trying to concentrate on her computer screen until the oohing and ahhing was over. Well, if she couldn’t fight them, she might as well check out the guy whom over half of the department was lusting after. The windows on the east side of her office overlooked the construction on the new wing of the medical building. From there she could watch the workers, especially between nine-thirty and ten when the crew began taking their requisite fifteen-minute breaks. She gave her computer screen a searching look. What were the chances she could tune out the Hunk Herd just this once? “Oh, Gawd! He’s going to take his shirt off already? I think I’m going to faint!” “Hey, pretty baby! How’s your taste for chocolate, sugar! I could definitely use some of your cream filling on my Oreos!” Sarah winced. Sometimes the women got a bit too raunchy. But, damn it, men did the same thing when ogling women. Fair was fair. “But if I had my druthers, I wish they would do it somewhere else,” she groused. Her deadline was approaching fast, and she had at least eight more chapters to finish on her presentation, not to mention arranging the layout for the photos, scanning in her data, getting the typeface set— “Somebody catch me when I fall. I get all squidgy just looking at him!” “Do you think the man realizes how utterly delicious he looks?” “Sweet cheeks, my guess is he’s had his biscuits buttered as recently as last night.” Biscuits buttered? Oh, give me a freaking break! Throwing her ballpoint at the wall in frustration, Sarah got up from her desk and walked over to the window. The new six-story medical wing would eventually dwarf the three-storied sciences department building next to it. But right now the steel frame was no more than a skeleton, a giant rough outline in painted metal beams. The object of feminine lust was on the second floor, just below where his fan club was congregated. All he had to do was look up to see them, and Sarah wouldn’t be a bit surprised if a couple of the girls lifted their skirts just for his benefit. Sans panties, of course. “And one of those panty-less hussies would probably be Philla,” Sarah muttered as her gaze latched onto the Greek god getting a drink from the cooler. Okay. At least she had to give the women credit. They knew prime beef when they saw it. The man couldn’t be sculpted more perfectly if he’d been special ordered. And he was golden. Even plastered

down with sweat, the man’s hair was thick enough to make a woman’s fingers ache to run through it. Not to mention the thin trail of tiny golden hairs dusting his pecs, swirling around his nipples the color of newly minted pennies, and finally disappearing down inside the waistband of his jeans. Exactly above the zipper, Sarah noted. I wonder if he ever got any of those little hairs caught in the teeth of that zipper? The naughty thought blushed her to the roots of her hair. “Get a grip on yourself! Jeez, you’re getting as bad as the heifers!” But she didn’t move from her little perch. The man, whatever his name was, was too beautiful not to watch. Every muscle moved with precision, silkily and smoothly. His back and arms were unblemished by even a mole. Even his lower body left little to the imagination. Although no one she knew had seen that portion without his pants, his fitted jeans looked like they had been tailored to his specifications. Sarah blinked. Yep. Mr. Greek god dressed to his left. Noting the size, she wondered if his flag was at rest or at half mast. Because if that was at rest.... A sharp knock on the door startled her. She started to rise from where she had been half-leaning, half-sitting on the narrow sill when Philla Caldwell stuck her head inside the office and gave Sarah one of her “I knew it!” grins. “Want in on the pool?” “What pool?” “Brooke’s going over to check with some of the guys to see what Mr. G’s marital status is. I’ve got five bucks riding that he’s a homo.” Sarah felt the little lurch in her heart that left her puzzled. The palpitations had started occurring these past few weeks. Around the same time the construction started on the new wing. The incidences were nothing major, but they were enough to get her attention. At first she hadn’t been alarmed about them, believing they were due to the stress of getting her presentation ready for the board of regents. But now they were happening more often, without any warning or pattern. And it was starting to worry her. Frowning, she echoed, “Mr. G?” “Mr. Gorgeous. Hey, you have to admit any man that looks that sumptuous can’t be straight, right?” Sarah waved Philla off. “No, thank you. Just keep me out of it. I’d rather keep my fantasies to myself, all right?” Philla shrugged her expensively covered shoulders. “Suit yourself, Professor. But I still say you need to let your hair down sometimes and admit you’re a woman. With womanly needs and an eye for good real estate.” She tossed a nod in the direction of the window. “Like Mr. G.” “No, thank you,” Sarah told her again. Unfortunately Philla’s persistence was dragging a smile out of her, damn the woman. Philla caught the grin and flashed one back. “We’re meeting downstairs at the Bedrock for happy hour. Word is a bunch of the construction workers gather there, too. Wanna come? I’ll even pay for the first round.” “No, thank you,” Sarah repeated a third time. But it was too late. She giggled despite her attempt to look adult and determined. “Mr. G might be there,” Philla taunted.

“Then I’m going to have to be disappointed, aren’t I? Look, Philla, I have a ton of work to do and very little time to get it done. Let me have my fantasies, and you have yours. And if you and Mr. G meet and hit it off, be sure to send me an invitation to the wedding, okay?” “You’re sure?” She gave a determined nod. “I’m sure. Now, shoo. Go away.” She made a backhanded motion toward Philla to make her leave. There. Her heart did the little lurch thing again. Sarah clamped her jaws together and prayed it wasn’t anything serious. She promised herself that as soon as Philla left, she would call and schedule an appointment for a physical. “Okay. But it’s your loss.” Philla tossed her a wink and finally shut the door. Mouthing an expletive, Sarah went back to staring at the dark-blond hunk standing no more than a dozen yards away. If the glass weren’t there, and if she leaned out a little further and tumbled out of the window, they would meet on her way down. Mr. G’s break was over. He had had his water and a chance to wipe the sweat from his face with his shirt. Now he was pulling it back on. She could see the ripple in his abs when he tucked in the tail. Out in the hallway she could hear the Hunk Herd giving little boos and catcalls. Several times they tried tapping on the glass to get the man’s attention. Sarah was positive he heard it but chose to ignore it rather than glance up and give the ladies a smile or a little wave back like the other workers did. She breathed in deeply, letting out a muscle-relaxing sigh. A quick glance at her watch told her it was nearly ten. If she could have two hours of uninterrupted time, she was sure she could get this current chapter she’d been struggling with completed. That in itself would be a blessing. Then the next seven outlined pieces would be child’s play. She gave a final glance out the window. She only wanted to watch him leave. That was the best part, in her opinion. She had a weakness for men’s rears, and Mr. G’s was as spectacular as the rest of him. Maybe more so. But instead of seeing his departing figure, she found herself staring straight down into the man’s upturned face. The sun was slanting over him at just the right angle, giving him an almost ethereal glow. She could see right into his strangely turquoise eyes. Her heart somersaulted and landed flat on its belly. Oh, Jeez.... He wasn’t looking up at the window. He was watching her. No. Not watching. Studying. Like he was trying to get a firm idea of what she looked like but couldn’t get a clear enough view. For nearly a full minute, her gaze remained locked on his face. On the perfect, chiseled features. The full lower lip with the slightly thinner upper lip. The high cheekbones and almost almond-shaped eyes. The man was pure male. Not a thing about him screamed femininity, or even hinted of the slightest tilt toward effeminacy. If that man’s gay, I’m a lesbo . Then, as if he had read her mind, he opened his lips to reveal two dental-model rows of pearly whites. The smile left her numb. To add insult to injury, he gave her a little salute off the rim of his construction hat, turned, and strode away. Sarah watched that molded backside sway with absolute precision. She melted against the window frame. The guy had acknowledged her. He had smiled at her, and it had been like the sun coming out of hiding.

But why her? Why, of all the svelte, drop-dead stunning women working on this campus—not to mention the bosomy coeds who dressed as if partial nudity were their minor—why would he single out her? Pulling off her glasses, Sarah rubbed her eyes, taking extra care not to smudge her makeup. She had to be imagining it. She was tired. Yeah, that was it. Just jot it down to wishful thinking. She was worn out from all the ass-kissing and hobnobbing she was forced to put up with just so the board would listen to her theories and treatise, and thus grant her tenure at the college. Of course everyone thought she was a fruitcake from the get-go. A dull, drab, fruitcake of a woman with a few too many pounds on her from spending too much time sitting on her butt in front of a computer screen, typing. Or from being hunched over a table loaded with books, taking truckloads of notes. There was no way the most spectacular-looking man on the face of the earth would seek out her face in the window, then smile at her as if she were an old acquaintance. The man must have mistaken her for someone else. Either that, or he needed glasses for those bedroom eyes of his. “Hey, girl! What was that all about?” Philla burst into her office without knocking and rushed over to her desk. “Have you been holding out on me?” Okay. That did it. Now she had a certified headache, on top of everything else. “What are you babbling about, Philla?” “Mr. G. We saw him smile and wave at you!” Philla gave her a look that spoke volumes. Sarah groaned softly. “He must’ve thought I was someone else. I’ve never met the man, much less spoken to him.” “Uh-huh.” The word meant one thing. Its intention meant just the opposite. “If you don’t believe me, go downstairs and confront the man, for Pete’s sake!” Sarah gave her look that let Philla know she was treading on her very last nerve. Sarah was pissed, and now she was getting angrier. Although they were co-workers in the same department at the college, Sarah’s professorship ranked quite a bit higher than Philla’s internship. Philla raised both hands in surrender and began backing out the door. “All right! I believe you. I believe you. It’s just that the girls wanted to know if you had any juicy tidbits to share after we’d seen you two converse with each other.” “We didn’t converse!” Sarah countered a bit too forcefully. “I’ve only seen him a few times out the window, just like you have. Maybe he recognized me or something. Or, like I said, maybe he mistook me for someone else. Hell, I don’t know! But if you’re trying to pry anything out of me, you’re S. O. L. So go back to your little cubicle and let me have some peace so I can finish this presentation.” She shot the woman another dark look. “Please?” Philla paused in the doorway. Beyond her Sarah could make out one or two of the others still hanging around, trying to catch a word or two of their conversation. “You sure you don’t want to come down after work for a drink and some heavy breathing over the work crew?” “Positive. Thanks for the invitation, though.” Nodding again, Philla departed, this time for good. Leaving the window, Sarah dropped into her seat in front of her desk. The computer monitor had gone into screensaver mode during her break. Fifteen minutes. The screensaver was set to come on after fifteen minutes of non-activity. That meant

she had wasted fifteen valuable minutes she should have been using to work on her latest chapter. Her eyes involuntarily drifted over to the window. From her desk she could see the framework of the third floor, but the majority of the construction work and crew were on the second floor. Face it, Sarah. There’s no way a man like Mr. G would ever want anything to do with a plain little Jane Eyre like you. No way. Not when he could have just about any woman he wanted to butter his biscuits as nicely as he pleased, thank you. No. She would have to be content to live out her life married to her work. If she was extremely lucky, she might find someone with enough intelligence and a modicum of personality that she could marry. Maybe even tolerate him enough to have a kid or two. Maybe. That was going to be her lot in life. She had known it for a long time. A mediocre life in a mediocre town. If ever she was going to leave her mark in the world, it would have to be through her work. That was her priority, and it had been ever since she was a freshman in high school. On the computer screen the little multicolored boxes rotated and flipped and gyrated with abandon. Fifteen minutes. She had been idle for fifteen minutes. Well, screw it. It could remain idle for another fifteen minutes. She needed to get up and get a little fresh air and a cup of coffee. Then she could return to her work and hopefully get this one particularly irritating chapter put to bed. And perhaps by then it would be time to put herself to bed, as well.

Chapter 2 Confrontation A sense of calm happiness filled Sarah when she saved her last revision and made a backup copy on her portable memory card. That frustrating chapter was finally polished to near-perfection. Not only that, but she had figured out a way to combine two of her remaining chapters, thus narrowing her to-do list by a few hours’ worth of work. It was a little after eight. She had taught her three o’clock class but had given her four-thirty students a walk with an assignment. Since then she’d been parked in front of this screen. Crap. Her neck was killing her. She got up from the chair and rolled her head around on her shoulders, trying to work out the stiffness. It was already dark outside; she watched her reflection in the plate glass window. Immediately her thoughts went back to the Greek god who had taken the campus by storm ever since the medical branch broke ground three months ago, just a week before the next wave of construction crews arrived. It was a few days later when she’d gotten her first glimpse of the man. She could remember it vividly. Of course, at the time she had been more interested in watching the formation of the layout of the building, the way the architect had designed each corridor and office, integrated the classrooms with the patients’ rooms, and where the restrooms would be located. It was going to be a learning hospital, and purportedly one of the best in the nation once it was finished. She had been standing at the window, warming her hands around her coffee mug and staring down at the array of pipes sticking out of the concrete slab, when the Greek god came ambling around the corner with a load of PVC pipe in his arms. Of course, it was his back and tush that had first caught her eye. But then when he turned around, that was when she felt her heart do its little jerky lurch thing. Lurch. Damn. She forgot to call Dr. Sarey’s office and make an appointment. Grabbing a pen, she jotted a memo to herself on the desk’s calendar blotter. Sighing, she straightened and glanced at her reflection again in the window. Okay, given that she carried a little more meat on her figure than the average twenty-something, she didn’t look half-bad in a slimming skirt. Sarah frowned. And as long as she stayed away from loose-legged pants. Her frown deepened. Maybe something that emphasized her chest area and kept the attention off of her waist and hips? Aw, screw it, Drumman. Admit it. You’d make a body bag look svelte . She ran a guilty eye over the empty chip bag and candy bar wrapper from the junk she’d eaten in lieu of a decent lunch and supper. Well, maybe not supper, she told herself. There was still time to go by Kort’s Cafeteria and get some of their baked tilapia. Yeah. With some of those little slivered almonds on top. The thought of it made her mouth water. “Hey, I’m worth it.” With the chapter from hell vanquished, she deserved a little special something to celebrate. Grabbing her purse, she turned out the lights, closed and locked her office door, and hurried down the hallway toward the elevators. She noticed all the other offices she passed were dark, which wasn’t

unusual. She’d spent too many evenings by herself in this big empty building, either working on her presentation or grading papers. Besides, she rather liked the feel of the old place. It reminded her of the time she’d spent doing her post-grad work in the most remote, out-of-the-way corners of the campus library. The wheezing elevator shuddered to a stop on the first floor, finally pulling away its single door. The first floor of the sciences building was divided into four quarters: two classroom auditoriums and two labs. Classroom B was also set up as a planetarium, and it was exclusively used by Sarah. As the only doctor of astronomy on campus, she felt especially privileged to be able to preen her feathers over the state-of-the-art equipment contained inside the large-capacity auditorium. It was another reason why she loved her job and this college so much. The double doors at the entrance were already locked. There were no evening classes on Tuesday, so the custodians always locked them after five. If any students or pre-med lab techs needed to work on their experiments or studies, they could get to the lab wing on the other side of the building. Pulling her ring of keys from her purse, she fingered through them until she found the heavy master key to let herself out. Which was one of the dumber things administration has done recently, she told herself. Needing a key to get in she could understand, but why would anyone need a key to get out? She shook her head at the illogical reasoning and shoved open the door. Fortunately, if there was a plus side to the issue, it was the fact that once the door was firmly closed behind her, whether coming in or going out, it automatically locked again. No need to re-lock it the way she had to do her apartment’s front door. The humidity hit her full force when she exited the building. It was barely halfway through April, and the weather was already muggy in the evenings. Sarah could feel the sleeves of her lightweight cotton blouse starting to cling to her sweaty skin. Even the wind refused to play among the many trees surrounding the main sidewalk and building. Not a leaf stirred. Although the nearest street lamp was quite a distance away, there were enough landscaping lights planted around the edges of the flowerbeds and sidewalks to help her find her way to the staff parking lot. She was nearly there when a scruffy-looking young man with several days’ growth of beard on his face emerged from the shadows, nearly frightening her out of her skin. “Hey.” “Oh, goodness!” she half-laughed, holding a hand to her chest to catch her breath. “I didn’t see you coming.” He seemed to ignore her flustered state. “How do I get to the lab?” he asked bluntly. “Which lab in particular? There’s the biology lab and the chemistry lab.” She gestured to the building behind her. “This building houses planetary sciences and research labs.” She squinted at the man, trying to figure out if she’d seen him before. He certainly wasn’t one of her pupils. “The research lab. That one. Do I get to it through there?” He pointed behind her. “No. You’ll have to go around the back. There’s a keyed entry there, but if you swipe your student ID, it’ll let you in. No problem.” She started to go around him when he asked, “Can’t you let me in through the front? You got the keys.” His tone of voice immediately set her on edge. Something about his request wasn’t right. This entire situation had gone from incidental to downright creepy in less than two seconds. “I promise not to tell. Come on, now, miss. Don’t be such a tight-ass about it.”

Ice chips suddenly clogged her veins. Sharp fear poked painfully through her skin. The Templeton branch of Northern State University was not a large campus. But every student knew nearly every professor and teacher by sight if not by name. For this man to call her “miss” told her two very disturbing things: he wasn’t a student, but he knew she was employed by the college. And that could only mean one thing… They continued to stare eye-to-eye for a handful of heartbeats. The man shifted his stance slightly. Sarah’s gaze dropped to his hands tightening into fists, and the next moment she bolted, running back toward the building. The man was younger, and lighter, and definitely more athletic than she was. Two rough hands grabbed her by the waist, and Sarah was shoved into the grass with her attacker falling on top of her. She struggled against his greater strength. The scream she tried to force out of her throat wouldn’t come out. The air had been knocked from her lungs, and it was taking everything in her to get out from underneath. “Stop struggling!” the man hissed. He caught her arms and began pulling them behind her. The tension on her shoulders became unbearable. “Stop struggling!” he ordered her again. “Keep it up, and I’ll slice your fucking throat, you hear me?” A huge silver blade sliced the air in front of her face. Its tip was buried in the wet grass less than an inch from her nose. Sarah stared in paralyzed fascination at her distorted reflection. She could hear the man panting as he jerked her skirt above her hips. Kneeing her legs apart, he kept her arms held at the wrists against the small of her back while he ripped off her panties with his other hand. The horror of the next few minutes threatened to rob her of all sanity. She knew that if she kept her face pressed into the grass, and didn’t struggle or fight him, he wouldn’t have to hurt her any worse than he already was. If such a thing was possible. If she tried to run away, he would catch her again. There was no way she could overpower him or outrun him. Even if she tried, he would do something far more terrible to her than the rape that was coming. She had heard of people who were able to distance themselves mentally and emotionally from these kinds of violent acts. Unfortunately she would not be one of them. Terror came out of her in whimpers. Her arms felt like they were being slowly pulled out of the sockets. Behind her she could hear the man struggling with his belt, then the grate of a zipper. “You keep your mouth closed, you hear, bitch?” the man threatened as he pried her legs further apart with his knees. Her whole body was tense, waiting for the invasion, for the pain and the humiliation to utterly destroy her. Gritting her teeth until her jaws ached, Sarah kept her eyes squeezed shut and prayed it would be over soon. The roar that descended upon them sounded like nothing she had ever heard before. No man could make such a blood-freezing sound. And there were no animals nearby that could have cried out like that. She was faintly aware of the man behind her pausing. Then suddenly his weight was lifted off of her. Her wrists were released; the pain disappeared. She heard a scream, high and shrill, until it abruptly stopped with a dull, wet, cracking sound. There was thud, followed by…the complete lack of sound. Humid air blew across her skin. It caressed her bared buttocks like a lover’s touch, but she forced

herself to keep her legs parted wide, afraid that if she drew them tight against her body, her attacker would retaliate in anger. The world grew silent. Slowly the crickets resumed their chirping. She didn’t move, didn’t dare twitch a muscle to give the rapist any reason to hurt her further…but her wrists were free. The pressure on them was gone. Sarah started to flex her arms when a hand lightly touched her shoulder and a soft voice gently said, “You’re safe now. He’s gone.” For a moment she wondered if it was some sort of sadistic trick the rapist was playing when her brain gave her common sense a nudge. It wasn’t the same man standing behind her. It wasn’t the same man’s voice she was hearing. Bringing her arms down, she slowly turned over and glanced at the person bent over and offering his hand to help her up. In the shadows it was hard to make him out, but the thick accent told her he must be a foreign exchange student. “What happened to h—” The man moved toward her, closer to the light. His features glowed like golden candlelight. Oh, dearest God…not him! The Greek god gave her a worried smile. Her gaze was riveted on it and on the way his mouth moved as he spoke to her again. Sarah blinked as she tried to drag her mind back to the present. Back to the reality of what had almost happened to her. Except this man had intervened when she’d most needed it. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you?” She watched his hand descending toward her arm. Instinctively she jerked away from his touch, unaware that she whimpered again from the sudden movement. Her emotions were wrapped in a fog. She wanted to trust him. She wanted to believe him when he offered help. More than that, she hoped he wouldn’t try to do to her what the other man had attempted. Dimly she realized the Greek god was pulling down her skirt and brushing off the dirt, grass, and leaves that clung to her. She had grass stains and mud on her clothes and skin…but she was alive and unharmed, thanks to him. “Come on. Let’s get you something to drink.” “Drink?” She tried to focus with bleary eyes on the man’s beautiful face. He took her elbow and gently led her toward the parking lot. This time she let him. His touch was strangely comforting. Solid. Her heart made another little lurchy move, but she got the impression it wasn’t meant to frighten her. “We need…that man…” A glance back at where the attack had occurred revealed nothing. The landscape lights weren’t adequate enough to reveal anything. Neither could she remember exactly where it had taken place. The lawn and surrounding pseudo-forest all blended together. What happened to the knife? Mr. Gorgeous gently turned her back around as he continued to urge her toward the parking lot. “That man won’t hurt you anymore. I promise. Where are your car keys?” Keys. Purse. At least her mind could work in automatic. Pretty soon she knew she would wake up in her office and find she’d fallen asleep at her desk like she’d done in the past. Reaching inside her purse, she pulled out the small NASA keychain and handed it to him. “The silver one?” he asked.

She answered with a bob of her head. He wasn’t really here. Not this mouth-watering man whom she had been secretly ogling for the past three months. Besides, she must look like something the dog forgot to bury. Nowhere near attractive, much less the sort of woman he usually kept company with. He unlocked the passenger door and helped her into the front seat. He took the driver’s side, backing out of the slot reserved for faculty, then took the main road leading out of University Square . Within a couple of minutes they were heading toward downtown. Then he turned off onto a side street and pulled into a parking lot behind a building. No, an eatery. Sarah recognized the reflection of the blinking sign on the wet pavement. They were at Peet’s. Like the gentleman she knew he would be, Mr. G took her elbow and helped her out of the car. They walked into the popular diner and were shown a corner booth at the far end as he requested. Once they were seated, he ordered coffee for them both. Sarah glanced around. She had no idea what time it was or how late it was. The world was still too surreal for her to come to grips with the present. The arms lying on top of the table belonged to someone else. The pale hands with the long, tapered fingers were not hers…until the hunk across from her reached over and took both of them into his own hands. It was like immersing herself in a tub of warm, fragrant water. Refreshing, energizing. Soaking into her soul and lifting away every bit of grime and revulsion that strange man had tried to force upon her. Choking on a gasp, Sarah’s eyes widened, and she looked up fully into the face of her Good Samaritan. This close she could see there were a few tiny imperfections to the man’s appearance. But those imperfections only enhanced his devastating good looks, rather than detracting from them. More astounding were his eyes, eyes that were boring into hers, as if he could see inside her and tell how she was truly feeling at the moment. They weren’t turquoise, as she’d originally believed, but she could see now why she had thought they were. They were actually a light blue with the most incredible green flecks sprinkled within the irises. Could eyes really be like that? She opened her mouth to comment on them when their coffee arrived. The man released her hands, and the soothing blanket she had felt comforting her vanished. The world readjusted itself like a selffocusing camera. Staring at her hands, Sarah was dimly aware of the man pushing the little tray of sweetener toward her. Another glance up at him and she was able to breathe normally again. “Thank you.” Once the words were out of her mouth, they sounded inane. Too ridiculously simple to adequately express how she felt. How grateful she was. How so damn thankful she was. “I’m glad I was able to help.” “Who—” She bit her lip and lowered her eyes. Seeing the cup of coffee in front of her, she hastily creamed and sugared it to cover her sudden embarrassment. This man had seen her almost naked. It was all coming back to her now, including the terror. The cup shook when she lifted it to her mouth. The coffee scalded the tip of her tongue, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was the fact that the rape had not happened. She was well and whole, thanks to this man, this…stranger. “Who are you?” Sarah asked him abruptly, lifting her eyes back into the turquoise whirlpools of his. “I’m sorry. We haven’t been properly introduced. My name is Simolif Morr. People call me ‘Simon.’” The name, spoken in his dream-dark accent, fit him as perfectly as his short-sleeved polo shirt and jeans. Sarah took another sip of coffee to moisten her parched throat. “I’m Sarah Drumman. People around here call me ‘Professor.’”

Simon chuckled. The sound of it echoed in her blood, and she felt a flush rise all the way up into the roots of her hair. Damn it, how was he able to affect her like that when they’d only just met? “It’s nice to know you’re not one of those flirty secretaries.” He took a sip of his drink. Now the heat in her face intensified. “Oh. Them. I’m sorry. They just think they’re having a little harmless fun.” Well, hell. Why was she defending the members of the Hunk Herd? He nodded; the diner’s ceiling lights glinted off of his golden hair with fiery sparks. “I can imagine what they’re saying behind that glass wall. All in fun, of course.” The slightly sarcastic remark irritated her. “You postured for them on purpose!” By the grin lifting those perfect lips, she knew she had just stumbled upon his little secret. “Simon Morr! You insidious jerk!” she accused him, but not without returning the smile. “Not any more of a jerk than those women who like to bare themselves in public for my benefit. Do they really think I’m the only guy who catches a glimpse?” “You know how good looking you are, and you flaunt it in front of them!” Sarah stared at him wide-eyed. She didn’t know whether to congratulate him for turning the tables on a dozen unsuspecting man-hungry females or be appalled by his temerity. Another thought flashed through her mind, thanks to the stimulating effects of the coffee. “Do those other men, the ones you work with, do they put you up to it? Showing yourself off, I mean, just so they can reap your benefits, too?” Simon smiled, but this time she could tell she had discovered a truth he wasn’t proud to admit. “Guess it’s time for me to say ‘I’m sorry.’ They assured me it’s all done in ‘harmless fun.’” “Just how far do you take this ‘harmless fun,’ Mr. Morr?” She wasn’t angry anymore. Or even perturbed. But she was definitely curious. She saw his golden eyebrows lower in puzzlement. “What do you mean, how far?” “How many women have you managed to seduce after you’ve pranced around? Do you limit yourself to one per construction site? Or has it become some sort of contest to see how many notches you can put on your belt?” Strangely, the man honestly appeared confused by her questions. “If you’re asking me if I’ve sought out sexual conquests every time I go out on a job, the answer is no. A flat no. But I will admit that I haven’t stopped looking for the one woman I can spend the rest of my life with, if that means anything to you.” The pain in his voice shocked her with its sincerity. Sarah quickly realized this man knew how fantastic he looked, but he wasn’t using it as a tool when playing the field. If he was playing the field. His last remark had a funny ring in it, as though he wasn’t so much on a hunt to find Mrs. Right as he was on a mission. Or a quest. Seeking something he didn’t believe existed but was determined to spend his life searching for, no matter what it cost, no matter what the consequences. “I’m sorry,” she began, when he waved her off. “Don’t be. I realize the men here often have little regard for the sanctity of a true union. And while I don’t like your insinuations, I understand why you think that way.” …the men here… Of course . She took another sip before continuing. “Where are you from?” His sigh was definitely a homesick one. “A tiny country on the other side of the world. It’s been taken over. So few of us managed to escape.” She watched him play with the empty sugar packet. His

fingers were long, his hands large and strong looking. The nails, she noticed, were clean and filed. Construction workers normally didn’t have clean, blunt nails. Maybe it’s because he’s a foreigner, she mused. “So few? Like your family?” He slowly shook his head as he finished his drink and lowered his empty mug. “They were killed. But my brother and I managed to make it over here. And a very close friend we’ve sort of adopted as our sister.” “Older brother? Younger?” “Younger. His name’s Jebaral. Jeb. Our sister is Tiron. She sometimes goes by Roni.” “Where do they live? Are they here in Templeton?” “Jeb and his wife live in Tumbril Harbor. Do you know where that is?” “Sort of. I’ve heard of it, but I’ve never been there. It’s near Flatlock National Park, isn’t it?” “Yeah. Roni and her husband moved there last spring from Crescent City. Thom is with the sheriff’s department. Roni works for the park service.” “What does Jeb—Jebaral? What does he do?” “He works at the mill there. Hannah is a waitress.” He glanced over her shoulder at the people leaving the diner. His gaze was unfocused, and Sarah could see a wistfulness come over him, like a form of jealousy that wasn’t vindictive or angry. Or maybe it was wishful thinking. As if they had found the kind of true happiness he had mentioned earlier, or a peacefulness that continued to elude him. “What of the others you mentioned? Are they in Tumbril Harbor, too?” His eyes focused back on her. “They’re spread out.” He made a motion toward her cup with his head. “Want some more?” She was surprised to see her mug was also empty. “Sure.” Simon waved for a waitress, who came to refill their mugs and also inform them that the diner would be closing in twenty minutes. At the remark, Sarah glanced at her wristwatch in shock. It was getting close to ten. When had she left her office? Around eight? “Are you sure you’re okay?” Simon asked, leaning over the table as he lowered his voice. It was beginning to come back to her. Biting her lower lip, she nodded. “Are you going to take me to the police station to report it when we leave here?” Simon stirred his coffee. “Do you want to report it?” Want to? “Don’t we have to? What if he tries to do…it…again…to another woman? What if he’s already done it in the past?” He spoke cautiously, choosing his words carefully. “Sarah, I promise that man will not be able to hurt another woman for a long, long time. I give you my word. But whether you want me to take you to the police station to report it is entirely up to you.” “How can you be so sure he won’t try something like that again?” This time he flashed her that arrogant, self-assured smile. “Because I broke his legs.” The memory of an inhuman roar, and the sense of her attacker almost being lifted away from her,

drifted forward from the corner of her mind where she had hidden it. He had saved her twice now— first from the would-be rapist, and now her he was saving her sanity. It was all becoming so clear. Simon had brought her here where she could ground herself in reality within these familiar surroundings. “I still need to report it.” She toyed with her spoon before looking back at him. “I won’t mention you being there. Would that be all right?” He seemed to visibly relax at the compromise. Nodding, he said, “Yeah. You’re right. In case he’s attacked other women, they’ll need to check his DNA. Tell them he’s over by the planetarium’s sign. He’s going to need an ambulance to carry him to a hospital. Come on.” He got to his feet, tossing a large bill on the table. “Want me to take you home before you report it? Or would you rather go back to the campus and call from there?” “It would be smarter if I went back to the campus.” More aware of herself now, Sarah realized the extent of her injuries and just how roughly she’d been treated. Her shoulders and neck twinged in pain. There would be bruises on her wrists, not to mention her upper thighs and legs. Her clothes were probably ruined. Simon took her elbow and escorted her back outside. This time Sarah couldn’t help but notice that he wasn’t as tall as she’d originally thought. In fact he was barely two or three inches taller than her five-foot six-inch frame. But he was perfectly proportioned, with wide shoulders and slim hips, not to mention that air of confidence he wore that attracted women to him like flies to sugar. Once he started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, Sarah ventured to ask, “What were you doing wandering about campus after dark? I thought construction shut down after five.” “It does. But I love the layout of the college. All those big trees just off the grand mall and the quad, and the walkabout. I often run in the evenings. That or take long walks.” “You walked over to the campus? Where do you live, then?” He chuckled in that dreamy way she knew she could quickly become addicted to. “I live in an apartment over on Tranquility. I ride my bike over to the college and park it there when I want to walk the campus.” “Bike? Like a motorcycle?” “It’s not a fancy one. A black Harley.” Conversation faded as they neared the university. In the narrow confines of her little sedan, Sarah could smell a faint odor coming from him, one she hadn’t caught until now. It was a light scent, not heavy like the kind of colognes men were known to favor. In fact it was almost smelled like…mint. No…peppermint. But not sweet. Shaking her head slightly, she breathed in deeply, slowly. Yeah. Definitely minty, but not the kind that reminded her of breath mints or toothpaste. Close, but still somehow…different. It made her feel… clean. Simon slowed the car as they neared the faculty parking lot. Once he parked and turned off the ignition, he handed her the keys. She reached out to take them, and their fingers brushed. Instantly his fingers caught her hand, trapping it in his. That cold sense of trepidation that had been crawling under her skin as they neared the spot where the attack had occurred was suddenly overwhelmed with a calm warmth. It was a blanket of protectiveness, covering her from head to toe.

Unable to stop herself, she leaned over the console, seeking whatever comfort he could give her. Iron-strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her against his firm, fragrant chest. Sarah let the tears come, let the anguish and emotional hurt sob out of her until there was nothing left inside. Simon held her with a tenderness that surprised her. Or maybe it didn’t surprise her. He didn’t murmur little words to soothe her. Instead he stroked her hair and back as she clutched his shirt with both fists and gave in to the delayed stress and fear. He stayed with her until she made the 9-1-1 call to report the incident. But before he left her, he promised to contact her tomorrow to see how she was doing. And then he disappeared into the darkness. Sarah had no doubt he would make good his promise.

Chapter 3 Reassurance “I sensed you were going to call, little brother.” Simon laughed into his cell phone. “Watch who you’re calling little, little brother,” he retorted with a smile. He had taken his bike up Ridge Road, which stretched up the hillside behind the university, and parked it at one of the overlooks. From this vantage point he could see when the ambulance and police cars arrived. He watched two officers escort Sarah over to an EMS van, where a tech checked her out. Not long into their interrogation, another officer came running over. He led them back where the attacker still lay comatose near the planetarium sign, where Simon had left him. “What happened?” Jeb asked in a low voice. “A man tried to attack her tonight. He tried to rape her, but I got to him first.” “Is she all right?” “Yeah. Yeah, physically she’s fine. It messed with her head, though.” “What about the man?” Simon made a face, even though he knew his brother wouldn’t be able to see it. “He won’t be harming any more women for a very long time. I broke both his thigh bones.” There was a rustling sound in the background. Jeb murmured tenderly to his wife. After he and Hannah had bought the property and built their home next to the Beering Game Preserve, which abutted the Flatlock National Forest, they had found that getting cell phones to keep in contact with each other was a much better solution than their old method of trying to schedule a time and place to talk via pay phones. “And you are certain she is the one?” Jeb asked. “Yes. Now I know. You were right. It’s like our father said. I knew the day I walked onto that construction site that she was nearby. Of course, it took me a few days to figure out who she was. Now it’s like…” He couldn’t find the words to adequately express how he was feeling, although he knew he really didn’t have to. Not to Jeb, anyway. “You’ve touched her?” “Yes. It’s there. It’s all there. She’s my blood mate, Jeb. I’ve found my blood mate.” He couldn’t suppress the joy rising inside him, knowing he had finally been blessed. Jeb chuckled at hearing his brother’s happiness. “I remember it wasn’t too long ago when I was in your pants, Simon.” “Shoes,” a sleepy voice interrupted, more amused than annoyed. “You were in his shoes, t’kor. Not his pants.” Simon laughed softly, along with his brother. Six years on this planet wasn’t enough time to get all the colloquialisms down. “All I am sure of is that my search is over. I have found her. Now I have to tread very carefully until she is ready to accept the true me.” He watched as, below the ridge, the attacker was hoisted onto a stretcher and slid into a waiting van. Sarah was led over to make a positive identification. Simon didn’t know all the steps involved in

reporting this kind of crime, but he was proud of the way she was holding up. “What does she smell like, Simolif?” That was what had led him to her in the end. That faint, almost elusive scent he had detected the moment he’d gotten downwind from her. “Like rain. Fresh, drenching rain. Clean. Pure. Life-giving. There was a hint of lemonade, too.” A little frown was etched between his brows. “I thought you said Hannah smelled like lemonade. Can both our women smell the same?” “I thought her scent was lemonade until I took her. No. Lemonade is caring. The stronger the scent, the more they are coming to care about the one they’re growing to love. Tiron says Thom has that lemonade scent as well. I later discovered that Hannah smells like jasmine. It’s a very airy, very delicate scent.” “Same here.” Simon paused to watch the proceedings below, prompting Jeb to ask him what was going on. “They’re leaving. An officer is helping Sarah into her car. He found the knife the man tried to use on her. He’s carrying it in a plastic bag.” In spite of the darkness and poor visibility, Simon’s enhanced alien eyesight missed nothing. “Have you run tonight?” “I was about to leave when I sensed your need, so I waited. What about you?” Simon nodded into the phone, even though he knew it couldn’t be seen. It was a habit they had yet to break themselves of. “A short one. I had a feeling she would be staying late at the college, so I went over there to wait for her. It’s a good thing I did.” “You sensed the need to protect her, Simon. That’s another positive sign she is meant for you. So now that you’ve met her and touched her, what do you plan to do next?” “I’m not sure. Would I need to take her on a date?” “T’korra, Simon is unsure what to do next, now that he’s found his blood mate. What rituals would he need to follow?” Simon heard Jeb ask his wife. “Rituals?” Simon smiled. From the sound of Hannah’s voice, it was evident now that she wasn’t as sleepy as she was exhausted. Obviously Jeb was late in taking his usual night run because they had been engaged in other pleasant activities. “Does he take her on a date? What can he do now to get to know her further?” The question was asked with the hope of solving a mystery, since neither of them had approached their mates in quite that manner. Especially Jeb. Flexing his muscles, Simon knew it wouldn’t be long before he was forced to shed this outer skin and free his true self. Soon he would have to bathe his Ruinos body beneath the cool glare of the waning moon. The temptation was growing. “Uh…dinner and a movie is usually the norm,” Hannah said. “Here. Let me have the phone. Simon?” She breathed heavily into the receiver. “This woman, you’re certain she’s your life mate?” “I have no doubts. I can already sense her from a distance.” “Oh, that’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you! We’re still talking about the one at the college, right? Sarah?” “Drumman. Professor Drumman. She works in the field of astronomy.” “That's an interesting coincidence, wouldn’t you say?” Hannah laughed gently. “Okay, so you’ve

met her and talked with her, right?” “Right.” “Did you go anywhere?” “We had coffee at a diner. That was all.” He was reluctant to mention the attack, but Jeb would let his wife in on that piece of news later. “Okay. Coffee. That’s a good start. Did you make any mention you wanted to meet with her again?” “I told her I would contact her tomorrow,” he admitted. “I really didn’t want to leave her at all.” “Good! That’s good. Just follow through. That would be an excellent time to ask her out on a real date. Like dinner and a movie. Always a good combination.” “What if she doesn’t want to do either?” “Then let her decide. But whatever you do, Simon, take it one step at a time. Think of her as being wary, like a timid animal. My guess is she’s like Thom and me. She’s never had an orgasm before, which means she’s either gone through some bad relationships in the past, or she’s never had a man. She could be a virgin, Simon.” He nodded. Making love to the woman would be their ultimate test by fire. It was an occasion he was both fearful of and at the same time anticipating. “Oh, and whatever you decide, give her a flower first.” “A flower?” “It’s part of the dating ritual. Women love fresh flowers, like roses. Anything bright and colorful. A simple flower, handed to her at the start of the date. Trust me. She’ll melt.” The phone was handed back to Jeb, who was ready to end the conversation. “I need to go. So do you. Call me after your date. Tell us how it went.” “I will,” Simon promised. “F’lis comorrn, Jebaral.” “F’lis comorrn, Simolif.” Closing his phone, Simon shoved it back into his pants pocket. The police and ambulance were gone. The place was empty and quiet once more. Starting his motorcycle, he went down Ridge Road and turned at the intersection leading back into town. He cruised just below the speed limit, taking his time to give Sarah the chance to get home and settle in. The police had followed her back to her apartment to make sure she got there safely. He could see the silver sedan parked in its stall behind the tall iron gates that separated the complex from the outside world. He looked up at the thin ledge standing eighteen feet above him. The distance was negligible. He could scale the wall in two seconds flat if he needed to. But tonight there was no need. No urgency, although he could sense Sarah trying to find some inner peace so she could rest. There was a fluttering in his chest. The tickling sensation surprised him, then sent him sliding inexorably toward a darker and deeper passion. Sarah was thinking of him. He knew it as surely as if she had said his name aloud. Perhaps she had. She had no idea that once he touched her, flesh to flesh, he had sealed her permanently to him. In that brief instant, while she sat dazed and half-aware of him, he had removed his outer skin along his fingertips, so that his true self could caress her. And claim her.

But Hannah was right. He had to make sure he made no sudden moves to frighten her. He had come this far. Patience was imperative. There remained just a little more time before she would turn to him without question, without fear, and allow him to take her sexually. And then they would know the truth. But Simon already knew what the outcome would be. He already knew the first morning after making love with her that he and Jeb would find a third blood line racing in their arms. Sarah’s blood line. The ultimate, inarguable proof that Sarah and Simon were true blood mates. Already his lust was pounding like a thick-flowing river through his body. His pants had grown excruciatingly tight as his manpipe tried to find surcease. She was calling to him. Her body was aware of him being near, and in its own way it was reaching for him. “Soon, t’korra,” he called out into the night. “Soon. I promise.”

Chapter 4 Resolve She felt like crap. Every joint and muscle in her body ached, like she was coming down with the flu. Her mouth tasted like Sherman ’s army had marched through it. And to top off the whole mess, she was going to be late for her eight o’clock class. “Damndamndamndamndamn.” Slowly Sarah rolled out of bed and plodded to the bathroom, dropping her nightgown somewhere along the way. A hot shower wouldn’t hurt. If she was lucky, it might even manage to get her body moving again like a normal human being’s. Rather than blow dry her hair, she twisted it into a knot at the nape of her neck and pinned it down. After applying a touch of makeup, she threw on a pantsuit and hurried out the door, praying she wouldn’t meet too many red lights to slow her down. As she pulled into the faculty parking lot, her gaze automatically went to the spot where the attack had nearly taken place. No, it had taken place. The perp just hadn’t been able to finish what he’d started. In the next instant her mind shifted gears, and she felt her body tense at the thought of Simon. But it was a good tense. A kind of sexual tense. The kind that got her juices flowing, which surprised the hell out of her. She had never been this aroused by a man, even when she’d gone to bed with one. Hungry, yes. But the deed had never played itself out to a satisfactory end the way the experts claimed it could. She remembered reading that nearly twelve percent of women never experience an orgasm in their lifetimes, and almost seventy-five percent never achieve one during intercourse. God knew she had tried everything in the book to keep herself out of that lowly bracket. But after so many years of trying, and so many failed relationships, she had accepted the sad fact that she was one of those unlucky few. Still, the way his touch affected her burned in her memory. Her reaction had been a first for her. As she hurried toward the sciences building, she pulled her cell phone out of her purse and glanced at the little window. 1 new message. Her heart leaped at the possibility, and she dialed in for the voice mail. “Miss Drumman? This is Officer Tunney with the police department. This is simply a courtesy call to remind you that you need to come in and sign some papers before we can process Mr. Durrow.” Sighing, she punched the number to save the message and shoved the phone back into her purse. She had a four-hour window between this morning’s class and the next. She would go over there as soon as she could after she released the students and would give the police what they needed. The construction crew was already busy at work. She tried not to search through the tangle of men, but she couldn’t help herself. Unfortunately she didn’t spot him before she entered the building. A scant hour later she dismissed her eighteen students and hurried upstairs to check her email before heading over to the police station. She noticed an absence of people standing at the window in the empty office next to hers but didn’t think much of it when she entered her office and dropped into her chair. She was going through her regular mail while waiting for the computer to boot up when Brinna Martinez stuck her head in the door. “Hey! Good morning!”

“Hi, Brin! What’s up?” “Did you hear about a rapist being caught last night?” Sarah felt the blood drain from her face as she stared back at the secretary. Brin nodded, seeing her paled complexion. “It’s on the news. Some guy tried to rape a woman on campus last night, but the police got him before he could. They must’ve beaten the guy up pretty badly. The news says he’s at the hospital with two broken legs.” “Do they, uh…do they know who he attacked?” Sarah asked, feeling the tightening in her chest. “Yeah, but the police don’t release the names of the victims. Rumor says it’s probably one of the students on campus.” “A student?” Brin nodded as she narrowed her eyes. “Yeah. Hey, are you feeling okay? You look a bit pale.” Sarah waved off her concern. “My paper.” The simple explanation was enough. Everyone in the sciences building knew about the project Sarah had been working on for the past eight months. They knew about the long hours she put into it, outside of her regular work hours. “Take it easy, girl. How much longer before you have to present it?” “Five weeks.” Brin made a face. “Doesn’t give you much time, does it? And with finals coming up pretty soon.” “I’m not worried about finals. I told Rodriguez I wouldn’t be able to be on the exam boards this semester because of my project. He gave me the exemption.” Thank goodness the Dean of Sciences was willing to cut her some slack because of the paper. She motioned toward the empty office. “Where’s the Hunk Herd? Isn’t it time for them to be ogling the construction crew?” “Oh, you didn’t hear?” The secretary’s eyes widened. “Someone must’ve complained about the girls showing a little skin at the guys. Anyway, campus police phoned Mayers and put the kibosh on everything. Too bad. I hear there was one blond guy every girl couldn’t wait to get her hands on.” Brin looked over her shoulder, then back at Sarah. “I need to go. Mayers is probably looking for me. You take care of yourself, okay? Yeah, the presentation is coming up, but you’re not going to be worth spit if you don’t get enough rest, you hear?” Sarah grinned. “I hear you. Thanks, Brin.” She waited for the woman to close the door, then she turned back to her computer. The three or four emails she needed to answer were quickly taken care of. After checking her watch, she grabbed her purse and left for the police station. It didn’t take as long as she thought it would. They already had her deposition from the night before typed up and waiting for her to read over and sign. She picked out the attacker’s mug shot from a page of police photos. A little over an hour later she was free to go. It was after lunch time, and she had to admit she was famished. A quick check of her cell phone didn’t reveal any uncaught calls. Phoning in to her campus voice mail also turned up zilch. Disappointed, she drove back to the university. Simon, are you or aren’t you going to call like you promised? He won’t, and you know full well why not. If she were smart, she would grab hold of her heart and give it a good one-eighty. When was she going to learn she was not the kind of women good-looking men were interested in? At least not for any kind of permanent relationship.

Her chest felt tight, her skin dry. Her breathing became jerky. Any second now the scalding tears would damn her. And it would serve her right after getting all giddy over this man’s attention. If she was lucky, he was just someone who had helped her out when she most needed it. Nothing else. And definitely nothing more. But he did something to her insides. It wasn’t so much his looks or the sound of his delicious voice but a combination of things. Like the way he’d held her when she’d finally fallen apart. And the way she’d felt so warm and comforted. And his scent, that pepperminty smell that was refreshing and cleansing, right down to her soul. Sarah roughly shook her head as she pulled into the parking lot. Men like Simon Morr used women like her for their sexual gratification. A one-night stand, or perhaps two if she was a good cook who offered a meal in the bargain. Yeah, he was a foreigner, with some foreign-born ideas as to the difference between temporary material and wife material. But it didn’t take two long looks to see which category she belonged in. What man wanted to be seen with a dowdy, slightly overweight woman on his arm, when he could have the pick of any litter? “You wanted his attention to mean something because you’ve become desperate,” she bitterly told herself as she stomped into her office. “You wanted that moment he held you to be the start of something fantastic. A fairy-tale romance, complete with Prince Charming. Well, Prince Charming doesn’t exist!” Her purse hit the wall, bounced off, and landed on the floor with a soft thud and a rattle of keys. She bit her lip to muffle the sobs, but it was useless. Burying her face in her folded arms, Sarah leaned on her desk and cried. He hadn’t told her he was going to call to ask her out. He had said he was going to check on her to see how she was doing. There had been nothing overt or romantic about the way he had behaved toward her. In fact, he had been nothing if not a gentleman in helping her through a traumatic event. She had no one to blame but herself if she was attempting to make anything more out of it. No one to blame for umpteen years of failed relationships and the unquenchable desire to be loved so fiercely that she became the center of one man’s universe. Just as she wanted to place that one man, that nameless, faceless man, into the center of hers. Grabbing a tissue out of the box on her desk, she wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Okay. Square one. He may or may not call. Let’s give the good guys a good, wholesome “if.” He calls, wants to know how I'm doing, I say okay good, okay fine, and he ends the conversation with a “Be careful; I’ll see you around.” kind of quip. Hang up. Finis. Short, simple, and not sweet. On the bright side, I’ll have plenty of time to get my treatise finished. On the down side, I'm going to have to buy a new vibrator just to get my mind off of Mr. Simon Morr. Well, hell, like that’s really going to solve that problem! She had lunch in the Student Union building. Fortunately her next two classes were in the planetarium. The darkness inside the room helped to hide her red eyes. Once the last class was dismissed, Sarah remained inside, staring up at the array of suns and planets spread across the domed ceiling. She typed in the dates of the charts into the database, pulling up the files that had initially drawn her into what had quickly developed into a major obsession. Taking one of the aisle seats, she stared up at the anomalies, flipping from one picture to the next with the help of the little remote in her hand. They were here. She knew it so deep in her gut, it was like the stars were personally trying to point

it out to her. They were here, which meant they were out there. Out in the big cities, or small towns, or undiscovered no man’s lands. And if she couldn’t get a photo of one, then she had to use the data the telescopes and computers fed her. Given a little more time, she realized she would be able to convince anyone of her findings. Heaven knew what had taken her so long to accept the truth for herself. But now that she had the key and the knowledge, everything else fit into place more perfectly than the blocks in the Cheops pyramid. After turning off the projector and computer, she shut down the room for the night, then headed back to her office. Her movements were automatic. Her mind remained on Mr. Simon Morr. And with each individual thought, her body reacted with its own message. Deny it all you want, Sarah Drumman. You’re hot for the man. You’re in lust. “Heaven help me.” So how could a woman who had never had a serious crush in her life suddenly fall like a sack of lead bricks for a man simply because of his looks? No. She shook her head in denial as she gathered up what papers she wanted to grade and stuffed them into her shoulder bag. No. She hadn’t fallen for his looks. Then what? The sound of his voice? That toe-curling accent that was a little Latin lover and Italian gigolo all rolled into one? She locked her office door and headed for the elevator. Nope. Not the voice. It hadn’t been the voice. Okay. The eyes. Those out-of-this-world eyes. All sky blue with jade pieces shimmering in them. And that smile. Mustn’t rule out the smile that could turn any woman into a horny puddle. Sarah paused outside the doors of the sciences building. Her gaze swept the poorly lighted sidewalks, and beyond them, the parking lot. The sun had recently set but still spilled pale orange rays across the sky. The coast looked clear, and she headed for her car. No. It wasn’t the eyes or the smile. Then WHAT? When her mind clicked, and she remembered his warm hands, and the memory of the allencompassing sense of caring and protection that had slipped over her, Sarah felt her heart come to a sudden standstill. Hitting the brakes, she pulled off to the side of the road and waited for her internal organs to start working again. Heart, lungs, brain—everything had switched off. She looked down to see her hands gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles. Her body was trembling from the rush of cold that dropped down over her once the blanket was lifted. Simon’s blanket. That undeniable infusion of heat and happiness was gone but never forgotten. That’s what had made her fall for him. Fall…fall in love with him. “Ohhh, shit. Shit!” she added a second time, hitting the steering wheel in anger for good measure. Having something nearby she could beat up on without fear of retaliation was handy a thing. “Shitshitshitshitshit!” Mr. Morr had called to her in the most primal way any man could. His act of chivalry and protection had claimed her as surely as if he had clamped her in chains. Because that was what a knight in shining armor did. He rescued his lady love from all sorts of foul evildoers. He offered his heart and

his sword without any regard for his own safety. She had been searching all of her life for the one man who epitomized that unrealistic icon of heroism and ultimate lover, never believing the man would actually walk into her life. And when he did, Sarah had fallen for him hook, line, and sinker. “Shit!” Why did life have to be so fucking cruel?

Chapter 5 Date The tears that poured down her face this time were angry ones. Hot, self-loathing ones. For all she knew, the man was a two-timing narcissist. Then when things went wrong, she could place a healthy chunk of the blame on him. Or maybe he’s a philanderer. Or a bigamist. Or gay! Hell, he worked in a stud-infested field like construction. Why couldn’t he have been gay? Why did he have to reach underneath her wall of self-preservation and plug himself into her heart like an electric blanket—all soft, warm, comforting, and smelling faintly of peppermint? Whether or not he had done it intentionally, it had happened. And now she was going to need to find a way to cope. Live through it. Something. Construction on the new wing wasn’t due to be finished until next year. And there was no way she was going to manage through all those months without running into him again. Sarah eased her little sedan back onto the roadway and continued homeward. There were a hundred and one things she needed to do. Little errands that screamed for her attention and had been screaming for the past few days. For one, she needed to pick up her dry cleaning. She also needed to go to the supermarket and put something in her refrigerator other than bottled water and a package of bologna. She glanced down at the gauges. She also needed to stop for gas, unless she had a secret hankering to start weight training, beginning with pushing her car to the nearest service station. But at the moment nothing mattered but getting back to her apartment where she could soak in a hot tub, read a steamy romance, and maybe work off some of this frustration with her little electric toy. It was dusk but not dark enough to turn on her headlights. Still, when she turned the corner and pulled up next to the gate, Sarah was stunned to see the elegant figure casually leaning against the polished black motorcycle. Staring mutely at his impeccably dressed figure as he unfurled himself from where he had been waiting, she was unaware that the gate’s security system had recognized her car and begun opening for her to pass through. Simon made a gesture for her to drive in. Nodding slightly, Sarah drove into the complex and around to her parking spot. Simon followed on the big shiny Harley. There was an uncovered space two spots over from hers. Visitors were allowed to park in the uncovered spaces, but he already seemed to know that and pulled into it before she had the chance to tell him. She stood near the trunk of her car and continued to watch in mute fascination as he parked the bike and got off. He was dressed in a pair of creased khaki pants and a long-sleeved shirt. A black helmet and a black leather jacket were tied to the rear of the seat. And on top of them was a dark pink tulip. Her eyes got wider. A tulip? Before she could comment, or even give him a hello, Simon grabbed the flower and started to approach her. Whoa. A flower. The flower was for her. She couldn’t take her eyes off of the sight of the partially opened bud riding in his fingers. No one had ever brought her flowers before, least of all a strange man whom she’d just met. And the ones her father had sent her before he died didn’t count.

Sarah raised her eyes to see his nearly turquoise ones staring right at her. Every hope, every wish she had fought and argued against suddenly came back with a vengeance. He approached her slowly, moving closer and closer until she felt inexorably pulled toward him. His body was a magnet determined to dominate her. Determined to guide her toward that precipice and let her go free-falling toward...what? What does it matter if he’s right there falling with you? She had to say something, anything, no matter how bland it sounded. Her panties were getting wetter and her knees shakier with every step he took. “I thought you were going to call me,” she accused in a pissed-off tone of voice. Surprised at herself, Sarah blinked and took one mental step back. “Forgive me. Although I actually said I would contact you, not call you.” Simon stopped less than a yard away and held out the tulip. It was a lovely bud on the verge of opening. The color reminded her of freshly scrubbed lips right after a morning’s tooth brushing. Or baby toes. Blushing pink little baby toes. “What makes you smile, Sarah?” Her head jerked up at his question. “Huh?” Chuckling in that deep, dark way he had that turned her insides gooey, he held out the flower for her to take. “I’m not familiar with your dating customs here. So if I do something wrong, please don’t take it personally. In fact, you would be doing me a favor by correcting me.” Giving the tulip a little shake, he mutely urged her to take it. “I was told you might like this. I hope the smile is a result of it.” Not familiar with the dating customs? Well, crap, Sarah. He’s not from around here, remember? For that blunder you just earned yourself a place in the Idiots’ Hall of Shame. She reached out to take the flower from his fingers. His hand shifted, taking hers as she accepted the bud. Warmth poured like a deluge from his body into hers. It shot through her arm and went straight to her heart and lungs, until every breath she took afterward sent contentment and joy rushing through every vein. Her fingers involuntarily clutched his hand as these unexpected feelings closed around her. She heard a gasp, then realized it had come from her. A moment later Simon was standing so close to her she could feel the heat of his body through his clothes. He continued to hold her one hand, but his other one was now resting along her neck. She raised her eyes to find him searching her face. “Are you all right? You went pale.” The tender concern was nearly her undoing. “I’m…I’m…” Oh, damn, she couldn’t think straight! She could barely breathe, but when she did the air was infused with that light, minty aroma. Heaven help her, but the man was intoxicating! “Let’s get you inside before you faint,” he murmured and slipped an arm around her waist. The gesture pressed her hip against his, and she could feel the rhythmic flow of his thigh muscles. At that point she completely turned into gelatin. He picked her up as if she weighed nothing. Sarah found a place to nestle her face between his neck and the collar of his shirt, a patch of skin she could nuzzle without guilt. Her head felt woozy, her body weightless. She was trapped in a place between reality and dreams, where Simon epitomized every fantasy lover her imagination had ever created.

But he was totally unlike the faceless men who swooped down over her and roused her into a state of extreme sexual agitation. His voice didn’t purr from a set of double A batteries. He was real. She was hopelessly in love with him. And now there appeared to be the faint, faint hope he might fall in love with her. “Please, God. Please.” “What?” He turned his head slightly. The side of his face pressed into her hair. Sarah could swear he held her more tightly. “Three-oh-nine. Apartment three-oh-nine.” She felt her lips touch that warm, fragrant skin, and instantly a memory of snowy nights and mugs of steaming hot chocolate stirred with little peppermint sticks came to her. This really wasn’t happening to her. But in case it was, she never wanted it to end. Just let me die right now. Let this moment be the last conscious thing on my mind. This last beautiful memory. “Where are the keys?” Keys? Incredibly, they were in her other hand. Keys in right, baby-toes tulip in her left. Sarah felt him slowly release her legs and lower her feet to the ground, then pluck the key ring from her numb fingers. Once the door was opened, he lifted her back up and carried her across the threshold like a groom with his new bride. Now that’s a thought, Sarah mused as she caught herself smiling. But instead of carrying her to the bedroom, Simon lowered her onto the couch. Sarah reluctantly let her arms slide into her lap. “How do you feel? Better?” She blinked up at him as he checked her over. “You could do with a glass of water,” he announced, turning on his heel and striding into the kitchen. She could hear him opening and closing cabinet doors in his search for a glass. She was about to direct him to where the tumblers were located when she heard the distinctive clink of glassware. Before she could think, she caught the sound of him opening her refrigerator door. She was biting her lower lip when he re-entered the living room with her water. “Thank you,” she said, taking the glass from him. She was aware of him watching her like a hawk as she drank down the cold liquid. He was right. The water chased away the wooziness and cleared her head. “It’s been a rough couple of days,” he said softly. He remained standing in front of her instead of sitting down on the couch next to her. Sarah frowned to herself. “Yeah. Yeah, it has. Look, I’m sorry about my, uh…I mean, I didn’t mean to sound so grouchy back there.” She suddenly remembered what he’d said earlier. “A date? With me?” Perching his hands on his hips, Simon laughed heartily. The deep, robust sound was as mindboggling as his smile, she realized. “Why not a date with you?” “But…” “But what? Don’t tell me you’ve never been on a date before.” He was teasing her. Playing little word games with her. Yet there was nothing demeaning or hurtful about his actions. Another switch in her brain flipped on, and Sarah understood the man was completely at ease with her. She watched as he crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. “There’s that smile again. Your smile is very beautiful, do you know that?” he said.

No, she didn’t. In fact, no one else had ever told her that. Well, thank him, you goofball! A little voice nudged. “Thank you. And to answer your earlier question, I’ve been on very few dates,” she admitted truthfully. “My career and my schooling sort of kept me out of the dating pool.” Waving a hand in front of her face, Sarah tried to refocus on the reason why he was standing in the middle of her living room. “Where were you wanting to go? To take me?” Her question seemed to surprise him, which also surprised her. Surely the man had a destination in mind. Or at least an idea of where he wanted to take her. “To be honest, Sarah, I had planned to take you to a nice restaurant. Then maybe take in a late viewing of a movie somewhere. But I might have a better idea now.” Better? Better than dinner and a movie? She waited to hear the rest of it. Two strong hands reached out and clasped hers, pulling her off the couch and onto her feet. It took nearly everything in her not to take that last step that would place her against his body, or to wrap her arms around his neck and draw his face down so she could kiss him. He was from another country, she kept telling herself over and over. He might not like it if she took the initiative. Her attentions might appear overt or pushy. No. She had to play it coy. Let him lead. Let him be the gallant knight. The chivalrous gentleman. In fact, she might just enjoy the hell out of having all his attention to herself. “I noticed your cold box is empty. Let’s go to the supermarket for a few things, and let me cook you a meal reminiscent of my home w...country.” He gave her hands a little shake and turned on that solar flare smile. “Let me entertain you tonight. Will that be acceptable?” Let me entertain you? Sarah felt her heart nearly lock into position. Cook for me? Oh, sweet Jesus, woman! Do you know what this could mean? Do you know where this could possibly lead? With him here in the apartment until the late hours of the night, there was the possibility he would remain the entire night. All night. And that didn’t mean with her in her bed and him here on the sofa. Nope. No way in hell. “Okay,” she finally managed, the breath she had been holding gushing out of her. Smiling again, she added a nod for good measure. “I’ve never had a man cook for me. It sounds like fun.” “We’ll need to take your car.” “That’s fine! I need to stop for gas on the way, though. I’m riding on fumes.” The comment seemed to puzzle him, but she blew it off as another one of those terms he was unfamiliar with. After all, with his accent as thick as it was, it was obvious he hadn’t been in this country long enough to lose it. “Never mind. Do you want to drive?” Coy. That was the word of the day. Coy. Wait for him to open all the doors. Let him lead and guide and drive and do all that macho stuff men preened themselves to do for their lady friends. Who knows? She might discover she preferred to be coddled like a prized pet. Nodding, Simon took her half-empty glass and placed it on the corner table at the end of the sofa. While he held the front door open for her, Sarah dropped the baby-toes tulip into the glass to keep it fresh and left the apartment.

She felt like singing for joy the way people did in those old musicals. At least her actions would match the humming already singing through her body as she anticipated what the night might bring.

Chapter 6 Dinner About forty minutes later, Sarah found herself thumping squash and realizing she had never had so much fun grocery shopping. The supermarket was less than a mile from her apartment. It was the only one she frequented, and she must have been coming here for all of the four years she had been living in Templeton. But never would she have put the words “fun” and “vegetables” in the same sentence. Not until now. Grabbing the squash from her hands, Simon gave it a sniff before placing it in their cart. “What did you say this was?” she asked, grinning. “Spaghetti squash. You’ll love it.” He grinned back. “Ever have it before?” “Spaghetti? Sure! Who hasn’t? But spaghetti doesn’t come from a gourd.” “Just you wait.” He grabbed the handlebar and maneuvered the basket around a woman and two young children. Sarah lingered for a moment over the infant tucked in its safety seat. Two miniature feet poked out from beneath the blanket. One foot wore a striped sock, but the other was bare. Yep. Pink baby toes. Exactly that shade , she noticed with a smile. “Sarah, do you plan on us having supper tonight or tomorrow night?” A voice behind her teased. Laughing, she hurried to catch up with him. But not before she caught a brunette flaunting a diamond stud in her navel and visually undressing Simon. Oddly, the woman’s blatant interest didn’t bother her. Nor did she feel any sort of jealousy, despite the fact that the leggy brunette hadn’t been the only woman trying to get Simon’s attention. Simon’s Greek god looks drew women to him no matter what their age. Young, old, and in between—when he passed them, they had no choice but to stop and stare in appreciation. And a moment later, when they caught sight of her with him, each gave her a curious lift of an eyebrow. As if they were wondering what in the world Sarah Drumman could have that would interest a man like Simon. “Quit your dawdling,” he teased once she rejoined him. “Sorry. I was thinking.” “About me, I hope.” She stared at him, hoping he was teasing her again. “Being a bit egotistical, Mr. Morr?” He chuckled. “I have the right, don’t I? To hope the woman I’m with is with me mentally as well as physically? And isn’t daydreaming about another lover somewhere else?” Sarah let go with a raspberry. “Yeah, right. Like I would have another man in my life.” She came to a sudden halt in the middle of the dairy section and bit her tongue. Now why would she go and confess something like that to him? It made her sound like she was some old spinster who wouldn’t know what to do with a man even if she had one. Simon seemed to sense why she had hesitated, and he flashed her a warm smile. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, “So there’s hope for me?” “Hope for...what?” Her body shivered slightly, either from the cold air coming from the dairy case or from the tone of his insinuation. “Hope that I might be able to sweep you off your feet.”

And do what? Her little inner voice demanded. “Plying me with food and drink in order to seduce me, Mr. Morr?” she tossed back at him. She hoped he would sense the grain of concern in her question. Oh, dear Lord, she was flirting with him! Out-and-out seductively flirting! Sarah Anne Drumman! You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Yeah, right. In a pig’s eye! She waited for his reply as her heart pounded sluggishly inside her chest. But instead of giving her a straight yes or no answer, Simon laughed and gave their basket a little shake. “Come on, Professor. We’re wasting time standing here. If you want to find out my ulterior motives, let’s wait until we’re back at your place before you ask. He grabbed a package of butter and a couple of other items as they headed for the register, where he insisted on paying for everything. A quick stop later at the Grab ’n Go for a tank of gas, and they were heading back to her place. Sarah was unable to keep her eyes off the man who had so casually taken the reins and assumed a place in her life, filling a slot she never knew was empty until he came along. Yes, she knew she was alone in this world. But sometimes “alone” didn’t translate into “lonely.” Not until now. It had taken her a while to understand that while Simon Morr knew he was blessed with dynamite looks and dripped sex appeal, he didn’t care. Nor did he use it for gain or special favors. Good heavens! There were times Sarah wondered if he didn’t consider his appearance to be a hindrance rather than a bonus. Was it his foreign breeding that made him indifferent? Back at the apartment, Simon began cooking while Sarah unloaded the car and started putting away the groceries. Twice she stopped to watch him as he navigated through her kitchen, opening each drawer and door to see what was behind it so he would know where certain items would be when he needed them. She kept a well-stocked kitchen when it came to cookware and utensils. There were even several decent cookbooks sitting on the counter behind the coffeepot. But like most of her good intentions, she had never found the time to follow through with learning to cook. Simon, on the other hand, seemed a natural. “Who taught you to cook?” she asked as she handed him the clean dishtowel he requested. “I did. It also helped me learn how to read your language. Do you have a cookie sheet I can put the squash on?” She made a face and went in search of the cookie sheet. This was the first time she had ever heard of someone learning English by reading a cookbook. But it made sense to her. “I take it you don’t go out much to eat.” Whatever he was fixing, it was already making her stomach growl in anticipation. Simon shoved a raw carrot stick in her hand and ordered her to eat it. “Not very often,” he replied, turning his attention back to the stove. “Not even for lunch?” “I often fix a lunch to take with me to the site.” “How long have you been in the U.S?” Okay, so she wasn’t a big fan of carrots. But gnawing on the vegetable was helping to keep the hunger pains at bay. “Six, almost seven years, give or take a few months.” At the sound of something sizzling, she walked over to peer at what was in the pan on top of the burner. The chicken breast she recognized. But the white rectangular lump of something-or-other was

totally alien. Pointing a finger in its direction, she asked, “And that stuff would be…” “Tofu.” Sarah made a face. “Tofu? Eww.” “Don’t ‘eww’ what I’m cooking, Professor. Especially if you’re not the one who’s going to eat it.” He gestured at the table with a nod of his head. “Go set the table if you’re needing something to do.” She washed her hands and prepared to do just that. “Why aren’t you fixing yourself chicken, too?” “I can’t eat meat.” She snickered. “You’re kidding, right?” “Why would I kid about something like that?” She shrugged. “Suit yourself. But nothing beats a slab of prime rib that’s so tender you can cut it with a fork.” “Good. Then I’ll treat you to prime rib some other time. But tonight you’re going to suffer through my cooking.” He turned to glance back at her. “What? What’s wrong?” What was wrong? Did the man just insinuate that there would be other dates? She swallowed around the desert-dry lump in her throat, the same lump that clogged her nose and burned tears into her eyes. Seeing her expression, Simon took a step toward her. And once again his eyes reflected his concern. “What’s wrong, Sarah? Was it something I said? If so, tell me what, and I’ll apologize immediately.” “Wh-why?” she barely managed to squeak as her chest closed in. “Why what?” He moved closer to her, but he didn’t reach out to touch her. If he touched her she knew she would break into another crying jag. And no matter what country a man was from, they never liked women having crying jags. “Why are you doing this?” There. She finally was able to say what had been whirling around in her mind ever since he took her to the coffee shop, then told her he would contact her again. The man had saved her virtue and her sanity. He didn’t owe her anything. In fact, it was she who had a debt to repay. Simon moved closer and his voice dropped lower, down into that basso profundo, I’m-going-tomake-you-faint range. “Why am I doing what? Cooking dinner?” “No.” She managed a tiny shake of her head. “No. Not that. I mean me. Why are you being so nice to me, Simon? I barely know you.” He paused. “Do you believe in love at first sight?” Love at first— That tiny moan she heard was coming from her own throat. No, not a moan. More like a whine. Like the way a small puppy cries for attention. For affection. “Don’t shit with me, Simon Morr,” she whispered with trembling lips. His face was so close to hers they were almost touching noses. “I will not lie to you, Sarah. You have become more precious to me than you will ever know. And right now I’m hoping that I might have the chance to do to you what you’ve done to me.”

He took another step toward her until he filled her vision with his Adonis golden glow. Sarah felt a slight fluttering on either side of her ribcage and realized it was his hands. He was keeping his hands away from her, away from touching her for fear she was going to reject him. She trembled, unable to believe what was happening to her. Had she heard him right? Did he just admit to her that he was in love with her? And that he was attempting to make her fall in love with him? It was a trick. It had to be a trick. There was no way someone as good looking as Simon Morr could fall in love with a dumpy, unattractive, plain— “Sarah.” He kissed her. Or rather, he touched her lips with his. Sweet, light, unbelievably tender. She moaned again without realizing she’d made a sound. “Sarah.” His whisper stroked her mouth. Still his hands remained a fraction of an inch away from touching her. He was trembling as much as she was, and the discovery surprised her as much as the plaintive sound of his voice. “Sarah, I can’t lose you.” She opened her mouth to ask him why he could love someone like her when her stomach chose to intrude with a very rude noise. Snorting softly, Simon moved away. The spell was broken. And along with it went the chance for an answer. But she wasn’t about to let him get away without finding out what she needed to know. So Mr. Morr was in love with her? Then before this night was over, she was determined he would have to prove it.

Chapter 7 Consumed “Jiminy Cricket! Would you look at that!” “See, I told you spaghetti could come from squash.” Simon laughed softly as he scraped the strands into a bowl before adding a small dab of real butter on top to melt. “Go put this on the table, and I’ll bring the rest of it.” Sarah took the bowl and added it to the other bowl already sitting on her small dining room table. “Do you ever eat vegetables from a can?” “Only when I have no other choice. The fresh stuff is healthier for you, even if it takes a bit longer to fix.” He lowered a tray with the meat onto the table, then glanced at the place settings. Shooting her a slightly peeved look, he leaned down and moved her plate from where it sat opposite his, over to where she would be sitting next to him. Sarah felt a flush of heat rise into her face at his silent rebuttal. Because he wanted just water with his meal, she chose to do the same. She took her seat and let him serve her. “It smells heavenly, Simon. I’m famished.” “Good. And while we’re eating, it’s time you told me a little bit about yourself.” She dragged her eyes away from her plate. “Me?” she asked, staring at him. “You’ve done nothing but ask me questions about myself,” he told her. “It’s time I got to ask you the questions. Like, do you have any family?” Answering with a small shrug, Sarah admitted, “I have a mother somewhere, I think. I could have a half-sibling, too, I guess. She and Dad divorced when I was young. I haven’t heard from her since then. Dad said she wasn’t the mothering type.” Taking a bite of the spaghetti squash, she was surprised to discover she liked it. Well, add another check mark in the plus column for Vegetarian Man. “Where does your father live?” “Dad died a few years ago, soon after I got my Masters degree and moved here to accept the position in the astronomy department.” Laughing softly, she quickly amended, “Correction. I am the astronomy department.” “So you’re basically alone.” “Yeah…” Almost at that same instant she admitted she had no close kin, Sarah felt a coldness come over her. She had no one. No family. Which also meant that if something happened to her, no one would really care. Of course the college would be missing one of its faculty, but would anyone actually miss her? His turquoise eyes stared right back at her. The green flecks almost glittered in the light from the overhead swag lamp. Were they the eyes of a killer? A stalker who preyed on lonely, unsuspecting women? The man was in construction, for crying out loud! It wouldn’t be any problem to dump a body at the site and cover it with concrete. After all, who would suspect? Who would know where to look for her amid the rubble? Her remains could stay hidden— “I’m not going to hurt you, Sarah,” he gently told her.

She started. Geez, was the man capable of reading her mind? “I could never hurt you, t’korra,” he continued. “You mean more to me than my own life.” Sarah remained frozen in her chair. He sounded sincere. Hell, he sounded more than sincere. It was as if he had just opened his heart to let her peek inside. And that word…t’korra… Her hands spasmed. Dropping her eyes to where her wrists were resting on top of the table, she was surprised to see her fingers gripping her knife and fork like weapons. Ready to use. Ready to lash out in defense. Simon had noticed her posture as well. “Sarah.” He dropped his utensils and reached over to gently pry hers from her grasp. Slowly he uncurled her fingers until her hands were resting in his. And again that incredible feeling of warmth and security started to flow into her. She couldn’t take her eyes off of her hands clasped in his. Or his thumbs caressing her knuckles, stroking each individual finger down to the nails she kept short and unpolished. “Sarah, look at me.” She did. What she saw reflected on his face was heartbreaking. “Something terrible has happened to you in the past. That’s why you choose to remain alone,” he told her. She continued to stare at him in silent wonder. “Your past is over, t’korra.” A shy grin came over him as he softly repeated the strange word to himself, tasting it as thought it was the sweetest concoction he had ever put in his mouth. “What does that mean?” she blurted, needing to know. “What does what mean?” “That word. T’korra. Is it part of your language?” She felt a gentle squeeze on her hands. “Yes. It means ‘loved one.’” The confession drew a tiny smile from the corner of her mouth. “You act like you’re not used to saying it.” “I’m not. You’re the first and only woman I’ll ever use it on.” Heat suddenly rushed into her body. Sarah felt her skin break out in a small sweat from the reaction. “Please…please don’t tease me like that. I’m not…” “You’re not what?” It was a struggle to take a deep breath. Their dinner was growing cold. “I’m not used to falling in love with people I’ve barely met. I don’t play the field. I know practically nothing about dating or stuff like that.” The sting of tears in her eyes and nose irritated her. She didn’t want to look weak in front of him. But, damn it, the flow of calmness and serenity invading her body wasn’t something she was used to dealing with either. Disappointment, yes. Being stood up or being taken advantage of, most definitely. But honest emotion, no. Not honest devotion or love. Those were fairy tale words. They didn’t actually exist in the real world. At least not for Sarah Drumman. The smile that had been lingering on his face blossomed. In a voice soft with hope, Simon repeated, “You’re not used to falling in love with people you’ve barely met? Sarah…is that an admission?”

Oh, damn. Too late to take it back. Well, it was time she either dove in with both feet and risked it all or got up and showed him the door. The choice was simple, although her heart had already made up its mind. “Yeah.” She gave a single nod. And waited. Waited for him to make the next move, and prayed he wouldn’t take her confession and use it as a weapon against her. Would she be able to survive if he did? She was totally lost. Totally at his mercy and completely at his bidding. She desperately needed to feel his arms around her. She had to have his comforting hugs and maybe a kiss or two to reassure her she’d done the right thing. That everything was going to be all right now. And, yes, people could lead Happily Ever After lives if they’d gone through as much shit as she had. Confused and frightened, and with her emotions lying raw in the open for him to do with as he pleased, Sarah never saw him rise from his chair and reach for her. She never felt him pulling her against him until his arms and his scent wrapped tightly around her. There was a gasp, followed by a sob. Her face was even with his shoulder, and she buried her nose in his collar. Her arms circled his waist and pressed along his back. How long they clung to each other she had no idea. He didn’t speak to her, didn’t stroke her. But somehow she knew he wasn’t going to take the next step. He wasn’t going to push her or try to coerce her into doing anything she didn’t want to do. Or wasn’t ready to do. She was warm. And loved. Loved. “Tell me you love me,” she begged in a barely audible whisper. He moved slightly. The steel-strong arms wrapped further around her. “I can’t begin to tell you how long I’ve been needing you,” Simon murmured close to her ear. “Or how long I’ve been searching for you. But when I walked onto the campus that first day, I knew you were there. My love. My life mate. My t’korra. All I had to do was find you.” A kiss touched her forehead. “I know it’s difficult for you to understand right now. But trust me. It will all become clearer. Soon.” He moved again. This time a length like a piece of iron pipe pressed into her abdomen. The feel of it quivering sent hot flashes like electrical charges surging through her. Moisture slicked her inner thighs, and pain clenched inside her abdomen. Male and female, their bodies called to each other and answered each other. She wiped her hands over his back, aware of the sculpted wall of muscles—those well-toned, perfect muscles that were like armor. Another kiss brushed near her ear. “Would I be in the wrong if I admitted I want to make love to you, t’korra?” “Here? Now?” “But if you’re not ready…” he said, allowing her to make the final decision. Sarah lifted her face to look at him, to see his eyes burning with a green fire that literally wiped away any last doubts she might have had about his sincerity. Her arms came up, her hands reached for his shoulders, and she guided him closer. She met his kiss with the same amount of hesitation as he did. Tentative. Exploring. She relished the shy way he tasted her. Simon’s lips were warm and gentle, yet she got the impression he was holding back. Holding back so as not to scare her.

Still she couldn’t deny the effect he had on her. Or the way her legs could barely hold her up. Or the way her breasts mashed into his chest until she breathed in unison with him. His minty aroma filled her lungs and bubbled into her blood, reminding her of evenings curled in front of a crackling fireplace. Bringing back memories of when she had been safe and protected. The same way she felt secure and protected right now. Yet something continued to feel “off.” It was like he was holding back. Treating her like a porcelain doll that was too valuable to mishandle. But she wasn’t breakable, damn it. No. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t the way she wanted to be loved. Neither was it was the way she wanted him to love her. It was too sweet. Too hesitant. Too emotionally confining. She wanted more. More forcefulness. With more demands made of her body and more possession taken of her. Digging her nails into the wall of iron across his back, she pulled her lips away from his mouth and hoarsely demanded, “Take me, damn it. If you want to fuck me, do it now. Show me how much you love me. Make me feel it!” The last words were barely out of her mouth when he lifted her into those steel arms and began rapidly carrying her down the hallway. A moment later he lowered her legs to the floor and reached for the hem of her blouse to pull it over her head. Sarah reached behind her head to undo the knot of hair while he unhooked the clasps on her bra. Simon combed his fingers through her loosened strands, fluffing them around her shoulders. “You look younger with your hair down,” he murmured. Before she could reply, he kissed her again. This time she gently pressed her tongue into his mouth, surprised by the fact that he seemed uninitiated in French kissing. Warm hands cupped her breasts. Her body instantly pressed herself into his grasp. It seemed to focus on the way his thumbs playfully flicked her tightening nipples. Teasing. Inciting a near riot in the growing wetness between her thighs. She moaned into his mouth. He replied with a deep, loud sniff, as if he could savor the muskiness in the air. They fumbled in the near darkness. The only light came from down the hallway, from the dining room area. Once she was naked, she reached for his belt, jerking it through the loops while he undid enough buttons on his long-sleeved shirt to pull the whole thing over his head. Simon pushed away her hands when she ran into difficulty trying to slip his pants over his hips. Her eyes widened when she discovered why she was having problems. If she had thought his erection was big when it had been digging into her lower stomach, her concept of it had been grossly underrated. Even in the dank light it stood out proud and stiff, mutely inviting her touch. And the heavy breathing echoing in the room wasn’t coming just from her. Seconds ticked by. Slowly Sarah reached out and drew her fingertips across the satiny skin, watching its reaction. The flushed length of manhood quivered under her touch. Instinctively she wrapped her fingers around it and gave it a squeeze. Simon threw back his head and moaned, his hands clenching at his side. In the next breath Sarah found herself flat on her back on the bed with Simon on top of her. He took absolute possession of her, but with a tenderness that shocked her. While his arms and hands held her still, his mouth roamed free to taste and lick and nibble at his pleasure. Her neck, her shoulders, down to the ripeness of her generous breasts with their diamond-hard tips—his body remained poised above her as his heavy length burned a path over her belly. She was amazed by the dichotomy in the way it felt. Smooth, yet etched with bulging blood

vessels. Satiny to the touch, but rigid and unbending. As Simon moved freely over her, plumping her breasts and sucking on her sunset-colored nipples, Sarah kept both hands wrapped around his increasing erection, guiding it toward the juncture between her legs. It had been years since she’d had sex. Judging by Simon’s fumbling actions, he seemed to be suffering from the same duration of celibacy. But that couldn’t be right, could it? a tiny voice in the back of her mind protested. A man this beautiful being celibate? There was very little foreplay. If being with him, being touched by him, and being loved by him felt this wonderful without sex, then heaven had to be waiting for them to physically become lovers. She heard Simon’s groan, a sound more painful than pleasurable, and felt it echo all the way to the deepest part of her. Lifting her hips, she thrust upward, catching the tip of his erection and letting it slide partway in. Simon shuddered at the contact. His head went up as he planted his hands on either side of her shoulders. She thrust again, this time pushing down on his hips. Pain sparkled as rarely used muscles parted to allow all of him easier access. Simon groaned again and gasped her name. “T’korra…you’re… tight.” “Then loosen me up.” Her demand was a guttural sound filled with the agony of her need and desire. She would make no apology for the way her hunger had slipped its boundaries. Normal men weren’t built like this. Or if they were, her tiny handful of experiences had been severely malnourished. He pushed, sliding deeper into her until her nerve endings screamed at the invasion. Her body took over and began pumping lubrication into her tightly stretched channel, lessening the friction. Easing the sense of nearly being ripped apart at the seams. Pulling out until he was nearly all the way removed, Simon shoved himself back inside her with one powerful thrust. She heard him cry out as flames engulfed her, burning skin and bones. He pulled out again, then plowed into her with another unrelenting plunge. Sarah shrieked as pain and pleasure blended into one mind-numbing sensation. She lost all sense of feeling, all sense of time, and all sense of reality as her soul focused on the feeling that was whirlpooling between her thighs. Despite her wetness he dragged like sandpaper over ultra-sensitive nerves, relentlessly scraping the delicate endings. Simon continued to take her, his lunges growing more demanding and more forceful. His movements took on a rhythm as he sought deeper and deeper access to the center of her being. She no longer had any feeling left in her outer limbs. They lay weakly sprawled on the bed as Simon hammered himself into her. His breathing sounded like bellows where his face hovered above hers. There was no need to urge him on faster or harder. There was no need to call out to him. She knew he was as lost in their rutting as she was. Lost in the absolute perfection of this miracle that was overtaking her. Suddenly he dropped down on top of her, supported only on one elbow. Pausing for a second, she felt his other hand reach under her knees to lift and spread her even further. The roughened pad of his thumb slid through the soft curls at her juncture, curls now dewed with their combined juices, and dipped into her silken tunnel. Finding that part of her that would place her totally at his mercy. Before she could comprehend what he was going to do, Simon resumed his pounding into her. And at the same he lit the tinder between her thighs. The whirlpool that had threatened to drown her suddenly rose overhead. She was suffocating, whipping her head back and forth on the bed as she searched for it. Reached for it. Strained for it. Then cried out as the morass came crashing down over

them. Her orgasm ignited with impossibly hot flames. Sarah screamed, unaware of her nails digging into Simon’s flesh as he continued to shove himself into her. Her body blistered from the heat, then clamped down. Muscles tightened, stiffened, and locked, trapping Simon inside her as the heavy rolling waves continued to crash into her. She heard him cry out, felt his body shake violently with his own upheavals. Then he fell across her as exhaustion sucked the last of the energy from their bodies. They were melted into one unity; their bodies continued to tremble in the aftermath. Thought was a useless venture. There was no need to think or any reason to when her body continued to splinter like delicately shattered glass, ready to fall into thousands of pieces whenever this man chose to pull out of her. That is, when her body was ready to allow him to do so. Before she could comprehend her next action, Sarah rolled onto her side and threw an arm and a leg over the man still clutching her to him. She remembered murmuring something to him, but her memory failed to tell her what it was she said. No matter. There was no longer any doubt or fear left in her. Simon had erased it all, including her decades-old belief that no man could ever want her, or love her, or be able to satisfy her. She was twenty-nine and in love because heaven had dropped a miracle into her heart. Life couldn’t be more perfect.

Chapter 8 Trouble Don’t go. She was sound asleep, lying against him so tightly she could almost blend into his skin. Simon shifted slightly, his movements barely perceptible so as not to awaken her. He had to get out and get away, take a good long run. But he couldn’t be gone for long. So much had happened, and he needed some time to sort it out. He had to drop his outer skin and let his true Ruinos self bask in the dim moonlight. More than anything, though, he had to have the chance to shout his happiness up into the heavens. Don’t go. “I must, t’korra.” He spoke against her moist forehead in a voice she wouldn’t hear. “It’s time I celebrated our union. The miracle of our mutual release.” Mutual release. Lying on the bed with her body half covering his, he could feel his muscles languidly floating in the aftermath. If there had been the tiniest shred of doubt in his mind that this woman was not the keeper of his heart, that doubt had been blasted into nothingness with their soul-shredding orgasms. Slowly, carefully, Simon began to draw away from her. There still remained one small technicality. He had taken her in human form, not as his real self. Which meant in the morning there wouldn’t be a third blood line formed inside his left arm. And there wouldn’t be one until they consummated their love without his outer covering. When that would be seemed to be the only glitch in their relationship. Don’t go. He could sense how Sarah was deep inside her dreams. They were delicate, fragile dreams, but beautiful ones. Dreams filled with memories of love found and cemented. Stepping away from the bed, a smile came over him. In their haste to make love, neither of them had taken the time to pull back the covers. Simon felt her twitch at the loss of his warmth. Quickly he pulled up the foot of the comforter and laid it over her. Sarah never moved. He could leave, take a short run, and return before she awakened to find him gone. Closing his eyes, he centered himself. She was already inside him, breathing in rhythm with him, her heart matching pace with his for the moment. That connection would forever remain between them, as finely wrought as the most precious metal. If she started to stir, he would know. When she began to rise from the depths of slumber, he would sense it and be back in time to watch her open her eyes. Grabbing his pants, he pulled them on and left the rest of his clothing still strewn across the floor. The lock on the window was child’s play to maneuver. Even better was the fact that there was a small hedge outside the window, which gave him some concealment when he slipped over the sill. He recalled a small park adjacent to the apartment complex. It held a few trees and the odd picnic table. But on the other side of the park lay several acres of undeveloped land. Simon had no idea how much land was on that side, but it would give him adequate space to give his body a good workout. He remained human until he reached the restraining wall. Rather than try to walk through the small gate near the drive-in entrance, he kept far away from the security light. Taking a running leap, he grabbed the upper edge and easily vaulted over the eighteen-foot wall.

Sarah’s apartment was near the rear of the complex. The entrance they had taken wasn’t the main gate. Which meant there would be little traffic to contend with. Within seconds he was running through the tiny picnic park. A simple three-strand fence of barbed wire separated the landscaped park from the wild undergrowth. Simon took the fence in a single hurdle. As he sailed over it, he sloughed the last of the pale blond husk he used during the daytime. The creature that landed amid dead brush and scrub resembled nothing human. It was greenskinned and hairless and bore thick, curving claws on its hands and feet. Raising his face to the heavens, Simon opened his mouth and let out a joyous cry. He had found her! He had found his life mate! After years of torture and abuse at the hands of the Arra, after escaping to this planet and watching his brother discover his own miracle, he had finally been equally blessed. He gave another loud shout, letting it echo between the trees. Overhead he could barely see the thin sliver of moon, but he knew exactly where it hung in the sky. The air was humid, but that didn’t bother him. Their own world had been similarly humid, more closely resembling a tropical clime amid the thick vegetation. Simon ran, legs pistoning nearly four times faster than his heart rate. He watched his pacing carefully, making sure he kept it even and steady. Sarah was connected to him now, as perfectly joined to his body as she was to his soul, and vice versa. If his heart rate sped up, so would hers, and that physical disturbance would be enough to awaken her. He had to let her sleep and regain her energy, because when he returned to their bed… …their bed… He smiled with the revelation. When he returned to their bed he would make love to her again. But this time with a bit more tenderness. Their first time had been too hurried, too frenzied in their mutual need to satisfy their lust for one another. From her scent, he had known it had been a long, long time since she had allowed a man into her body and that she had never experienced an orgasm until tonight. When she awoke, her body would be as hungry for him again as it had been the first time. And he…well, that was something he never had to dwell on again. He stretched, taking the longest strides his legs would tolerate. Pulling his muscles as taut as possible. He was rewarded with the scent of her oozing through his cells. She was the smell of a summer thunderstorm that would remain with him forever. Just as she would carry his scent upon her for the rest of her life. And the more they made love, the more they would become drenched in each other. When he finally was able to have sex with her in his true form, their connection and blending would grow in ways he had only heard about. Running freed his mind to think of her and to relive every moment of their lovemaking. Running kept his body in shape and kept his muscles honed. Running, and the job in construction, kept him in peak physical condition, the same way running and his job at the lumber mill kept Jebaral toned. He is calling you, a little whisper teased inside his head. Yes, Jebaral was going to call him because he would know something had happened. The same thing had happened to Simon when his brother had found and claimed Hannah as his life mate. But back then he had been forced to wait until Jeb had phoned him from an old-fashioned telephone booth. Stopping beside a small grove of saplings, Simon reached into his pants’ pocket to extract the cell phone just as it began to vibrate with an incoming call. He didn’t need to read the viewscreen first to

know who was on the other end. “I am celebrating, Jebaral!” “My spirit is singing with yours!” his brother responded. “I sensed your joining, but there is also a strange binding or tightness to this happiness. Why? Did something happen?” “I didn’t take her in my true form,” Simon replied in a more somber tone. “What?” “I…couldn’t. There was no time to explain to her, or show her what I really am. The frenzy to have her was too great. And, besides, she begged me to take her.” He paused a second, then added, “I wouldn’t have risked consummation in my disguise if you hadn’t told me it was possible.” “Yes, but Hannah and I had already formed our permanent bonds in my true form before I took her as a human,” Jeb reminded him. “What if Sarah’s blood line doesn’t form by morning?” “It won’t,” Simon told him sadly. “It won’t. That won’t happen until we make love when I am Ruinos.” “You know, you could un-shield just your manpipe and take her—” “No,” Simon quickly cut him off. “It will have to be all of my true self. All of me. I could no more try to deceive her that way than you could Hannah.” A slow sigh answered him on the other end of the line. “But our connection was cemented, brother.” “It was? That is great news! What is your next step? Have you thought about what you’ll do next?” “Hopefully she and I will move in together.” Simon sighed deeply. He didn’t have to explain to Jeb what all that would entail, including the fact that sooner or later he would have to reveal everything to her. He had no choice, because if he didn’t she would discover it on her own. And that was one scenario he didn’t want to subject her to if he could avoid it. “Do you plan to stay in Templeton?” In the background Simon could hear the chirp of crickets framing Jeb’s words. His brother was in the middle of his run just like he was. “Her job is here. Her work and mine. Would you and Hannah, and Thom and Tiron have any objections to coming up here for our wedding?” He was answered with a hearty laugh. “Hannah would love to make the trip. I don’t think Thomas and Tiron would have any objections either. Just tell us when and where. I take it you haven’t asked her yet.” “No,” Simon chuckled. “I’m still recovering from our first time. Brother, why didn’t you warn me that human women are physically different from Ruinos women?” “And spoil your surprise?” Jeb laughed heartily. Simon could hear the sound echo in the night air. “Are you so naive to believe they would be the same? Have you already forgotten how different the males are from us?” Jeb chuckled again, yet the thread of worry that had colored his voice at the beginning of their conversation continued to weave between his words. Simon finally pinned him down about it. “You did not call just to congratulate me on my good fortune,” he stated flatly, seriously. “Something is worrying you.” “Unfortunately, yes. But it has nothing to do with you, little brother.” Simon found a comfortable tree trunk to lean against and prepared to listen. Anything that affected

his brother affected him. And if something was keeping his younger albeit steadier sibling off-centered, he needed to know about it just in case he had to go lend his aid. “Tell me.” “A little more than a week ago, a man came into town and approached Mr. Mallon about selling the lumber mill.” Simon recalled a past conversation about the incident. “You told me he wasn’t going to sell.” “He doesn’t wish to. The mill has been in his family for eight generations. But this man, Bowen Pycee, is very determined.” The last word bristled. Simon’s eyes widened. “How determined? Are you or Hannah in danger?” “No,” Jeb quickly reassured him. “No, we’re not. But ever since Mr. Mallon turned down Pycee’s two offers, the mill’s been vandalized three times. This last time was two nights ago. An order we had ready to be shipped was deliberately set on fire.” “And Pycee is behind it?” “We don’t have proof, but I know for a fact he has to be. We all do. Sheriff Klotsky agrees with me, also. Unfortunately I don’t sense Pycee on anything at the mill other than what I could glean inside Mr. Mallon’s office. Security has been doubled. Thomas has taken extra night duty to run by the mill several times an hour to keep an eye on it. Tiron’s also been helping by watching the forest around the mill.” “What could Pycee gain if he destroyed the mill?” Simon wondered aloud. “Oh, he’s not out to destroy the mill. He just wants to make it impossible for us to keep up with our orders and scare off the newer hired help. We’re already behind on several shipments. If we can’t deliver, we’ll lose business. Unless we can catch Pycee, or link him directly to the vandalism, the mill may be forced to shut its doors. And if that happens, Mr. Mallon won’t have any other choice but to take Pycee’s buyout.” “Yeah, but by then Pycee’s offer may be substantially less than his original offer.” Jeb gave a humorless chuckle. “Some things in this universe never change, no matter which species is involved.” Simon opened his mouth to comment when he felt a stretching deep within himself. It was gentle movement that was just on the verge of waking. “I need to get back,” he told his brother. “Are you sure none of you are in any danger?” “I’m certain. No individuals have been targeted. Just the mill.” “What about Thomas and Tiron, now that they’ve joined in the watch?” He could sense Jeb shaking his head. “Thomas is an experienced cop. He knows what he’s doing. He’s the one who told me how Tiron is helping with the investigation. I trust him fully that he won’t put her in any kind of danger.” “Yeah, but that doesn’t guarantee that Tiron won’t go off on her own and do something rash,” Simon said with a grin. As long as they had known the Ruinos woman, she had fought conformity and rules. And although finding her blood mate in the seasoned police detective had tamed her considerably, Thomas still sometimes found himself having to keep her on a short leash for her own good and his own piece of mind. Jeb’s hearty chuckle rang in his ear. “You are probably right about that.” “I need to head back to Sarah. I don’t want her to awaken and find me gone. Will you swear to me

that you’ll notify me if you need my assistance?” Simon demanded. “There is no way of knowing what this Pycee man will do to get what he wants. He could target the employees as well as the mill. Be careful, Jebaral. Call me if there is any way I can help.” “I will, little brother. I will. Now go back to your life mate and get what sleep you can if you cannot shed your outer skin.” There was a slight pause, then Jeb ended their conversation with a phrase in their native language. “Dand e’livian ghorst ofan. Ti’l balssat idvi.” We have been blessed. Our lives are complete. Simolif closed his cell phone knowing exactly what his sibling meant. Sarah was his. Her heart and his were now permanently entwined. But it would be some time before he could reveal himself to her as he really was—a creature from another world, another galaxy. One of thirty-one beings who had escaped slavery and torture for the chance to live free and without fear. A Ruinos male who had discovered what he had only dreamed about—his life mate. A partner whose heart beat with his and whose soul matched his own. In time he trusted she would be ready to face him without his outer skin. Sarah loved him. Tomorrow that love would be richer and deeper. And the day after that it will have grown even stronger. It wouldn’t be long before her love for him would help her face the truth. Turning toward the west, he raced back to the woman who was already reaching for him in her sleep.

Chapter 9 Loving Sarah rolled over and realized she was lying on top of her bedspread. The lower half of the spread had been draped over her. Amid her newfound consciousness, two opposing thoughts sprang into mind —Simon was gone, yet she knew Simon wasn’t gone. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and listened to the sounds coming from another part of the apartment. From the kitchen, she realized. Someone was washing dishes. Dishes? A quick glance at the clock on the night stand read 2:38 . Sliding her feet to the floor, she stood and became aware of that fact that she felt used. Well used, she admitted to herself, and a smile came to her lips. Deliciously used, right down to the moistness still coating her inner thighs. Or, as she had once overheard one of the women in the office describe it, “rode hard and put up wet.” But it felt wonderful. She padded down the carpeted hallway, giving her eyes time to grow accustomed to the light coming from the kitchen. The sound of water splashing noisily in the sink grew louder, as did the clink of dishes and utensils. Rounding the corner, she stared in mute surprise at the naked man casually cleaning up the remains of their dinner. Instead of commenting, she allowed herself the luxury of watching him move, all graceful and smooth, like seeing a dancer in motion. From the back he looked as beautiful as he did from the front. Maybe even more so with the clenching and unclenching of his buttocks. Without turning around to acknowledge her standing there, Simon calmly asked, “How do you feel?” How did she feel? In twenty-five words or less? Was he kidding? “I think you’ve spoiled me for other men for the rest of my life.” He glanced over one muscular shoulder and grinned. “What other men?” And then it struck her with the force of an explosion. There would be no other men in her life. There would be no one but Simon. Just as there would be no other woman for Simon but her. It was a certainty, as sure as summer following spring and the moon circling the earth. Sarah took a deep breath at the revelation. How did she know that? How could she be this positive about their relationship after one night together? She glanced again at the clock above the oven. Correction. The night wasn’t over yet. “How…” He tossed the dishtowel onto the counter and turned to face her. “How what?” “How is this possible?” He cocked his tousled blond head at her. The smile on his face got wider. Underneath the seventyfive-watt glare of the overhead light, his eyes looked more green than turquoise. Their green flecks nearly filled the whole iris. “How is what possible?” Without realizing it, Sarah cast a glance down at the growing protrusion between his legs.

Growing.... The man was already wanting her. Again. Immediately she felt her own body tighten in response. Her nipples went rigid, and the slow, steady pounding between her legs almost frightened her. Good God, what had this man done to her? She looked up to see his nostrils briefly flare. Crossing her arms over her bare breasts, she held her stance as he swept his gaze over her. “This is downright spooky, you know that?” “I don’t understand.” “This isn’t a one-night stand,” she tried to explain. “I mean, you and me. This is permanent between us, isn’t it? No, don’t answer that.” She threw up a hand to keep him from answering. That same hand pulled through her short brown locks. She heard a heavy sigh and realized with a start that it had come from her. “Come here.” He was holding out his arms to her, a silent invitation to be held, to be comforted in warmth. There was no way she would ever refuse that kind of promise. Powerful arms pulled around her, locking her into place against him. His length burned along her lower belly, sending more heat and wetness rushing between her legs. They were going to make love again. She would bet against the heaviest odds in Vegas on that. She loved cuddling underneath his jaw, in that sweet curve between his neck and shoulder. It was her place, made just for her, made to her specifications. “What is troubling you, t’korra?” “This is too freaky,” she admitted, thinking aloud. “In the past, after one night, the guy would be gone before I woke up. Or, if he stayed until the morning, there would be the usual uncomfortable parting, knowing I’d never hear from him again.” “In the past,” he echoed. The insinuation was crystal clear. It was in the past. It had been, but it would be no more. Sarah fit her face more closely beneath his earlobe. He smelled faintly of dish soap, but that bright scent of mint continued to wash over her. “How am I able to think…” Damn. She was tongue-tied. “Simon?” “I’m listening.” “You know you’re one gorgeous chunk of man, right? I mean, I’m not telling you something you’re not already acutely aware of, correct?” “What’s bothering you, Sarah?” His soft question melted inside her. It wasn’t a demanding question. Nor was it being inquisitive. It was more like he was opening a door for her so she could admit things to him she would otherwise have kept to herself. “Gorgeous guy like you, I normally would be thinking I was another notch on your belt. That you had taken me because you either felt sorry for someone like me, or because you thought I’d be an easy conquest. But…I don’t think that way now. I mean…oh, shit, I didn’t expect to find you washing dishes at two-thirty in the morning!” Simon chuckled, making her breasts jiggle slightly with the vibration. He lowered his face to where he could plant a quick kiss on the bridge of her nose. “You shouldn’t have those fears any longer.” “I don’t. Not with you,” she replied. “What I can’t explain is how I can be so damn sure that you’ll

be with me for the rest of my life. Or why I know you feel the same way I do. Is this love, Simon? Is that what real, honest love does to a person? Makes them know deep in their gut when their perfect match finally comes along?” “It does for my people.” Wow. She didn’t voice it, but the word seemed to open wide and bundle around her just like his embrace. They remained holding onto each other for several silent minutes until Sarah broke the perfect stillness. “What now?” “Excuse me?” “What happens now?” “What do you want to happen now?” Simon smiled against her hair. A gentle nudge near her bellybutton reminded her he was thinking of the immediate future, not the distant one. It was almost funny, she grinned. It didn’t matter where a guy was from. His mind was never too far from sex. “Are we…are we going to get married?” Odd, but it didn’t bother her to ask the question. In fact, she already knew what his answer would be. Freaky. Just too freaky. “Just tell me how you want it, and let me know what I need to do,” he murmured. Wow. “Where…where would we live?” she ventured. “I thought we would stay here in Templeton,” Simon said. “No, silly. I meant would you move in with me here? Or do you want me to move to your place? Or should we get a place of our own, like starting fresh?” Lifting her head away from his shoulder, she looked up into his amused gaze. “I don’t even know where you live.” “It’s nothing special. Eventually I want to have a home of my own. I’ve been saving up to buy some land and build a place where there’s lots of trees.” Sarah smiled. “Trees? Like in the country?” He shrugged. “Or near a forest. Barandat was heavily forested. That’s why I like this city so much. It has lots of little parks and places with trees. Even the Northern State campus is surrounded by lots of untouched land.” “Thanks to the botany department. There’s over two hundred acres set aside so the college can use it for study.” She thought for a moment. “I think there’s a subdivision being planned for the northern edge of that area.” “Yeah. I’ve heard of it.” His arms adjusted around her. “It’s something we can look into at a later date. But right now, right at this moment, I have another idea.” She recognized the low purr in his voice, and she giggled. “Oh?” Hell, it was nearly three o’clock in the morning. What else was there to do? Besides sleep, that is. Instead of taking her back to bed, as she expected him to do, Simon lifted her up, prompting her to wrap her legs around his waist. Holding her tightly, he carried her into the living room and lowered her onto the couch. All the while he placed little tickling kisses across her neck and shoulders.

“Forgive me for earlier,” he murmured as he began working his way down. His hands had released her and were now fondling her breasts with sweeping, massaging caresses. She found his short hair and ran the tips of her fingers over his scalp. The object of her attention continued to prod her rapidly juicing entrance, inciting a near riot. But what he was doing to her tightening nipples was indescribable. “Why?” It was all she could manage to say, but it seemed to be enough. “I was too rough.” His mouth caught one tight nipple and began to play with it. His fingers did the same thing to her other nipple. His teeth gently bit the rock-hard tip, his lips nibbling and tasting her. At one point he swept his nose from her throat down almost to her belly button with one lung-filling sniff. “You smell intoxicating.” Her? Intoxicating? “No more than you do,” she managed to squeak. His erection was prodding lower and lower, seeking entrance to her juncture. She wanted to reach down, grab it, and guide it to where it needed to go, but she couldn’t pull her hands away from where they were touching him. His chest, his shoulders, his heat and his sweat. “You’re as fresh as rain. You soak into my blood one drop at a time, and I can never get enough of you.” His body shifted, enough to where they both could fit on the fabric-covered sofa. The tapestry upholstery prevented them from sliding off onto the floor, and gave him enough resistance to keep a firm grip on her. “You’re like mint to me,” she finally managed to tell him. A moment later his thick shaft sank into her—slow, deep, and hard. After that not another thought filtered into her brain. Her whole body was focused on their connection between her legs, on the way he steadily dove into her, in then out, going as far inside her as he could, then withdrawing until he was nearly all the way out before repeating the action. Every nerve tingled, yet her mind was numb. The building heat inside her became excruciating. His mouth was at her neck now, licking her with those same slow, torturous motions, mimicking what he was doing to her pulsing channel. Groaning, Sarah clung to him. If this was what true love felt like, no wonder she’d felt nothing during those other encounters she’d had. No wonder they had left her empty and unfulfilled. Simon found the sensitive area under her earlobe. Teething it lightly made every inch of her body come alive. Sensations bombarded her. Her vagina clenched involuntarily, trapping him part-way inside her. A moan breathed heat over her ear. “Please. Do that again.” Again? What again? Without being aware of her own actions, Sarah clenched herself around his engorged penis. Beneath her hands she could feel him quiver as she grew tighter. “By the stars, you’re driving me insane!” His slow movements had her literally climbing the walls. But before she could plead with him to speed things up, Simon started pressing harder and faster into her in great swooping motions. His hands were tucked under her head now, holding her steady around her shoulders as his body curved downward to drive himself into her. Their movements grew more frenetic as the first tentative feelings of completion hovered over

them. In the back of her mind, Sarah realized this would be only the second orgasm of her life. And both had been because of this one man. As soon as the thought came to her, she turned away from it. She was afraid of jinxing this perfection steadily growing hotter and lifting her higher than she had ever experienced before in her life. Simon was hammering into her with increasing agitation. She knew she should be feeling some pain from the way his thickness pummeled her. From the way he kept begging her to tighten more around him, and to keep that tightness locked on him as he surged through her. She should. She should. But she didn’t. There were no words to express the way her body continued to rise above the sofa and detached itself from her mind. Rising higher, like a leaf being sucked up inside a wind tunnel. Helpless. But oh so wonderfully helpless. Simon groaned against her ear. She had lost the ability to breathe or else she would have answered him with her own throaty sound. Her fingers pressed his face into her neck as their simultaneous climaxes suddenly blasted through them. Dimly she was aware of him pushing as far into her as possible as his body shook uncontrollably. His hands were at her hips, and they held her solid and unmoving as he continued to ground himself against her, shoving himself all the way into her soul. Swept away, Sarah surrendered to wave after wave of sharp pleasure, letting it all roll over her without trying to understand it. For many seconds she remained at the peak of her orgasm and seesawed precariously. All too soon the elation lessened and brought her down from that precarious edge toward a chasm filled with the afterglow. Simon gave one last push inside her. Panting, he kissed her temple and tried to lift his body off of her. He failed miserably. A chuckle vibrated against her breasts. “I’m weak,” he panted. “Me, too.” Weak, sated, and unusually sleepy. “Can we make it back to bed?” “Who needs a bed?” She opened her mouth to ask him what he meant when he lifted away from her, dragging his slightly softened length out of her, much to her dismay. But then he gathered her into his arms and pulled her off of the couch and onto the carpet. A moment later the afghan she kept spread across the back of the sofa was draped over them both. Sarah found a comfortable pillow in the crook of his arm as he spooned up behind her. Sleep took her before he was completely settled along her back.

Chapter 10 Monster “Sarah, I think I heard your alarm go off.” Simon nuzzled her cheek, then gave her a quick peck. Sarah shifted into a more comfortable position before she remembered she was lying on the carpet in her living room. Barely opening her eyes, she watched him disappear down the narrow hallway and into the bathroom. At the sound of the shower starting up, she rolled over and sat up. Crap. She couldn’t tell if she felt wonderful or terrible. She was sore as hell, but she found she rather liked the way her thighs stuck together. Not to mention the way her breasts seemed overly sensitive. Carefully she cupped her hands around her generous globes. There were few areas on her body she was proud of, her breasts being the main ones. They were round and symmetrical, without a droop or sag anywhere. The nipples were a dark pink, almost the same shade as the baby-toes tulip he had given her. Sarah smiled at the comparison. Yeah, she knew that once she hit her later years her ample bosom would need extra support. But right now they were just about as perfect as they could be. Hell, she knew many women who had commented about them, insinuating that she might have had a little surgery done on them. Nope, they were exactly as God had made them, she proudly boasted. Although sometimes she suspected the good Lord had given her these perfect breasts to compensate for the other flaws in her appearance. “You know, I might need help washing my back.” Her head jerked up when she heard Simon calling out to her. Giggling, she scrambled to her feet and tossed the afghan back on the sofa as she rushed to join him. Fifteen minutes later, after several quick kisses and a hasty “Talk to you soon,” Simon left the apartment to rush over to his place for a change of clothes. Sarah bundled her damp hair into a chignon, dressed in a simple skirt and blouse, and hurried to her car, applying makeup along the way. The day was going to be a scorcher. The sky was already filled with puffy white clouds and a sparkling sun, but in no way could this fantastic-looking day compare to the way she felt. It was almost a shame to have to pull into the faculty parking lot and shut off the radio playing the song she’d been singing along with. Fortunately no one dared to intrude upon her private little fog until she reached her office. “Hey, girl.” Turning around, Sarah noticed Philla giving her an approving eye. “Good morning!” she smiled back. “Uh-huh.” The woman took in everything, as if seeking to find some hidden clue. “Oh, yeah. You got that look, girl. And you got it big time.” Sarah frowned and tried to bluff. “Got what big time?” “That ‘cat that ate the cream’ look, sweetheart.” A knowing smile curled up in the corners of Philla’s mouth. “Who was he, Professor? Someone we know?” Giving an I-don’t-care shake of her head, Sarah turned back to the coffee pot to add a packet of sweetener to her mug. “It’s nobody’s business but my own.” Unfortunately the put-off only increased the woman’s interest. “Yeah. Okay. Blow me off, Miss I-

Ain’t-Had-A-Date-In-Forever.” Philla’s eyes narrowed. “Girl, I have never seen you glowing like this. Never! And I do mean glowing! So, if you’re not gonna share any worthy tidbits, can you at least let me know if he has a brother.” This time Sarah couldn’t help the grin on her face. “Yeah. He has a brother, but he’s already married.” She glanced at her watch and noticed the time. “Crap. I’m late for my eight o’clock class. Sorry to leave you hanging, Philla,” she apologized without a drop of sincerity, brushing past the woman on her way to the elevators. Too late she realized she’d left her notes behind on her desk, but there was no way she was going back to get them. She could wing this class for today. Then maybe she could stroll over to the Student Union Building for a quick breakfast. The path over to the main quad would take her along the construction site, where maybe she might catch a glimpse of him. Sarah’s smile widened. Listen to her! She was acting like a giddy teenager with her first crush! No, she quickly corrected herself. This was no crush. This was the real thing. The real forever, for-the-restof-her-life thing. And life was only going to go uphill from here. No more lonely nights. No more dateless weekends. And certainly no more vacations without having someone to share her experiences with. Vaguely she wondered how far Tumbril Harbor was from Templeton. And how would Simon’s brother and adopted sister take her? She was no runway model, she had no great physical beauty, but a lot of people complimented her on her smile. Oh, well. It wasn’t important. Whether they accepted her or not, it wasn’t going to affect how she and Simon felt about each other. Nor would it affect what they had. Or how great the sex was. Sarah walked into her first class of the day knowing it was going to be too damn long before she and Simon were back in each other’s arms again. Surprisingly, the hour-long class sailed by. She ended her demonstration on an up note and was out of the lecture hall before the majority of the students had the chance to file out. Exiting the elevator on her way to retrieve her purse from her office, she was surprised when Dr. Fermont tagged her on his way over to his life sciences class. “So what does he do? Work in a nursery?” Sarah giggled. “What are you talking about?” Nursery? Babies? She stared at him in confusion as they passed each other, and the older professor took her place inside the elevator and punched the button for the first floor. Throwing her a wink, Fermont said no more as the doors closed. Sarah sighed loudly and continued heading for her office. Turning the corner to her hallway, she came to an abrupt halt to stare in shock at the profusion of plants sitting inside her tiny office. No, not just plants. Big flowering bushes and trees. Greenery in pots and plastic tubs. There had to be at least a dozen containers sitting inside her tiny office, all of them taking up what little space there was, including the top of her desk. Not to mention one fern that sat perched in her chair. Slowly she made her way over to where the message light on her phone was blinking. She punched in her code to retrieve her missed calls. “Good morning, t’korra.” Even over the phone Simon’s sensuous voice could make her knees go weak. “I was told it was customary to send flowers after a romantic evening. However, I preferred to send something that would last. Something that hadn’t already been clipped to die. Each plant I’ve sent you will bloom, and you’ll soon have all the flowers you’ll ever want. Plus you’ll have the benefit of watching them continue to bloom.” His tone shifted, dropping to a level that sent pure erotic shivers down between her legs. “You are

all I’ve ever wanted. All I have ever prayed to find. You are my forever, and these plants will die long before my love for you will. Here is my cell phone number. I forgot to give it to you earlier. Call me when you get the chance. But if I don’t hear from you, I will meet you at your car at five. Have a wonderful day, Sarah. You’ll be constantly in my thoughts.” He ended the call with his number, repeating it twice before wishing her another wonderful day and hanging up. Sarah stared at her phone in befuddlement, torn between the need to listen to the message again and the need to hang up and try and reach him on his cell phone. Screw it. She preferred live over Memorex any day. Jotting down the number on her desk calendar, she punched in the digits. He answered the call before the second ring. “We may have to rent a trailer to get your presents over to the apartment,” he said, chucking in her ear. The sound reminded her of how that same chuckle would rub against her nipples, and that thought alone was enough to get her panties wet all over again. “My office looks like Tarzan moved in. Simon, I would have been just as happy with another tulip, and you know that.” “I do know that,” he acknowledged. “But I have an account with the nursery over on Bergstrand. I called them this morning on my way to work and asked to see what they had blooming.” She glanced down at the foxtail fern still perched in her chair. “If they bill you for a fern, don’t pay it. Ferns don’t flower. I may hold a doctorate in astrological science, but even I can tell you which plants will bloom and which ones won’t.” “Actually they do, Sarah, although the buds are rather small. But I chose that fern because it looks like the ones from my country. I’m glad I was able to surprise you.” “Oh, you most certainly did.” She managed to maneuver her way between leaves and branches over to the window and look down. Somehow she knew he would be below, and she wasn’t disappointed. In fact he was staring up at her window, waiting for her to appear. Seeing him below, she beamed. “You have a smile that warms my heart. How do you feel?” The question made her giggle again. “Why do you keep asking me how I feel? Can’t you tell?” “Are you…sore?” “Damn right, I am,” she answered without hesitation. “In fact, I wouldn’t mind being sore like this for the rest of my life.” Her answer got a genuine laugh from him. “My break is over, but I’ll see you at five. Shall I rent a trailer to get your greenery home?” “Naw. This place could use a little color. I’ll leave the larger ones here and take the smaller plants home a few at a time. But don’t expect me to be able to take care of them. That’s gonna be your job. I don’t have a green thumb.” “But I do, t’korra. Until later.” He hung up and gave her a little wave before disappearing back inside the construction area. Sarah hung up feeling more contented than she could recall ever being in her life. Yeah, this was honest love. Strong, fierce, and wonderful. Really wonderful. Humming to herself, Sarah moved the fern to the wastebasket and plopped down in her chair in front of her computer, where she began to tackle the next chapter of her treatise, forgetting all about going to get breakfast. Like her classes, the day passed in a blur. Every time she stopped to take a quick break or to teach

a class, her thoughts were on Simon and on the previous night. It was strange that she felt no embarrassment or inhibitions about what they did. Being naked didn’t bother her either, despite her ultra-conservative upbringing. At least, not with Simon it didn’t. After attempting to figure out why being with him left her feeling so free, she finally shrugged her shoulders and gave up. Why look a gift horse in the mouth? Or in this case, why try to fix something that definitely wasn’t broken? The foxtail was the first plant to go home with her. At five she closed the door to her office and rushed downstairs to find Simon gunning his cycle next to her sedan. “I want to kiss you hello, but there are eyes everywhere watching me,” she commented, smiling and dropping the fern in the passenger seat. “I understand. Your people have an aversion to public displays of affection. I’ll follow you to your place.” “And then what?” That remark earned her another genuine laugh. “Then I want you to change into something more comfortable. I’m taking you out to eat, but this time we’re taking my bike. Interested?” “You betcha!” she laughed. She had never ridden on the back of a motorcycle. The thought of clinging to him as they zoomed through town was tantalizing. At the apartment she quickly slipped into a pair of jeans and a tank top. Simon handed her the spare helmet that still bore a price tag. Sarah ripped off the sticker and pulled the helmet over her head. He showed her how to fasten the chin strap, but not before giving her a loving kiss. Just as she’d expected, wrapping her legs around the big bike and pressing up against Simon’s back and buttocks made the ride much more exhilarating. Especially when she could reach down between his legs and find evidence of what she would be treated to later on that night. The restaurant they went to wasn’t fancy, but it was well known for its fare of home-cooked meals. Sarah ordered the baked chicken, conscious of her weight, while Simon got a large Waldorf salad. Once the waitress took their order and left, Sarah reached across the table to take his hand. “Thank you.” He lifted an eyebrow. “For what?” “For giving me something I’ve only dreamed of.” Surprisingly, admitting such things didn’t sound corny to her, even though she had always thought smarmy phrases like that should be stricken from everyone’s vocabulary. Simon gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I should be saying the same thing. How was your day? Busy?” “Umm, green. It was definitely green.” They both chuckled at the joke. Their drinks were delivered. Simon waited until the waitress left before saying, “I’ve been on the phone talking to Jebaral. He and Tiron are anxious to meet you.” Sarah pulled away from his grasp to wipe her sweaty palms on the thighs of her jeans. “They are?” she managed to ask. Her sudden nervousness didn’t surprise her. She’d had very little experience with a normal family life, but she had heard enough horror stories from her co-workers about in-laws and inharmonious relations with relatives. “They are thrilled for me, Sarah. Why are you nervous?” he asked softly, leaning over the table so their conversation wouldn’t be overheard.

Her eyes jerked around the restaurant to see if anyone else was observing them. So far everything appeared normal, which was exactly what was bothering her. “Sarah, what’s wrong?” His voice was gently demanding, but she could sense some fear in his question. “Maybe nothing. Maybe...maybe I’m afraid I’ll jinx this whole thing.” “Whole thing?” His eyes widened to the point where she could see the jade flecks in them dancing under the light suspended above their table. “Simon, I’m not used to having someone as wonderful as you suddenly sweep me off my feet and lavish me with the kind of love and attention you’ve given me.” “It’s what you deserve,” he began to protest, but she shook her head, cutting him off. “It’s not you, Simon. At least I believe deep in my gut it’s not you. It’s me. I’m the Doubting Thomas. I’m the person with the hang-ups.” He gave her a confused look. A hurt look. For a moment Sarah wondered if she had the strength to tell him everything. He deserved to know how she felt. He deserved the truth. And now that she’d started up that hill, she was damned and determined to finish climbing it. “I’m waiting for the other shoe to fall.” This time he appeared positively lost. Slowly shaking his head, Simon reached over the table and silently beckoned for her to take it. “What do shoes have to do with our relationship?” “Simon, do you realize how crazy this all is? That you and I can meet, and fall in love, and have absolutely perfect sex, and then make plans for a Happily Ever After? It just doesn’t happen like that!” He reared back as if she’d slapped him. “But...you’re my life mate. You sense me. Just like I can sense you. And the sex—” “Simon, you’re not listening to me!” she dropped her voice to an urgent whisper. “I’m not saying we’re not right for each other. I’m not saying that what we have isn’t what I want, because it is! It’s more than I ever dreamed of! But it’s…it’s impossible! That’s what it is! Real love just doesn’t happen like this!” “But it can! And it did! For us it did,” he argued, dropping his voice to match hers. “What do I have to do to prove to you how much you mean to me?” “It’s not that, Simon. I believe you. Can’t you…” She pressed her hands to her chest and felt how hard her heart was hammering inside. How could she explain it to him without doing any irreparable damage to their relationship? “Can’t you sense how I feel about you?” He paused, leaning back in his booth seat to take the moment to gather himself. She could tell by the paleness in his face that she was scaring him, and that alone frightened her as well. She didn’t want to scare him. She couldn’t bear to lose him. But there was a dark cloud hanging over them that she couldn’t see, couldn’t run from, and couldn’t explain. Ever since her attack, Sarah had felt a foreboding sense of…something…hovering in the background. She had gotten these feelings in the past. Not often, but whenever she did, the bad cloud never had a silver lining. The monster appeared every time. Every. Damn. Time. And now the horrible feeling was back. “Something isn’t right, Simon. I don’t know what it is or how to fix it. But it’s like there’s…shit, I can’t explain it!”

Their meal arrived, forcing them to a temporary truce as the waitress set down their dishes. Once she was gone, Sarah dove into her chicken. She was famished. Taking a cautious glance across the table, though, she could see Simon barely pecking at his salad. Several long moments passed in silence before he spoke again, this time with his gaze on his food and not upon her. “My love…tell me what I can do to ease your worry.” His voice was tight and filled with pain. Again Sarah was reminded of the fact that he was a foreigner to her country. Obviously things happened very differently where he came from. Romance was different. It was almost like being from two different worlds. Reaching across the table, she laid a hand on his wrist. “I’m not rejecting you, Simon. I’m telling you there’s something else hovering over us that I can’t explain.” He looked up. “What do you mean, ‘hovering over us’?” “That’s just it,” she shrugged. “I don’t know! I don’t doubt how you feel about me. Or how I feel about you. But something isn’t right. Something is…it feels off-kilter. Like the edges aren’t quite lining up. Or the patterns don’t match. I’m sorry.” Taking a deep sigh, she leaned back in her seat. “Forget it. Forget I brought it up. Obviously I’m the only one who feels this way, and I apologize. I must be nuts to say something that could jeopardize what we’ve found with each other. Let’s not say anything more about it, okay? Let’s try to relax and enjoy our supper.” She tried to shake off the sense of foreboding that had been steadily growing denser, and larger, and harder to ignore. But talking about it was proving to be futile. That, and the fact that she was starting to scare Simon, which was the last thing she wanted to do. She’d only mentioned it because she had hoped he might be able to come up with some sort of answer. Or maybe pinpoint some flaw in her thinking that would set things straight. Unfortunately she had just made everything worse. They continued eating. The waitress returned to freshen their drinks and inquire about dessert. They both declined, and the waitress left them their check. When the silence became unbearable, Sarah pushed away her empty plate and reached out to clutch his arm. Simon raised eyes that looked lost and fearful. “Don’t leave me, Simon,” she whispered, giving the arm a squeeze. “If I’ve worried you, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. And I certainly didn’t intend to give you the impression that I want what we have to end. Because I don’t. I never want it to end. I never want to lose you, or do anything that would send you away. You do believe me, don’t you?” He placed a cold hand over hers. “I believe you are legitimately worried about something. But I can’t help you, and that’s what bothers me. If there was any way I could understand what the problem is… Tell me what to do, t’korra. Tell me what you need me to do.” “Look…maybe it’s just the jitters. Yeah. Maybe that’s it. I mean, after all, I’ve never been close to having a semi-permanent boyfriend, much less a fiancé. And a stud at that.” She forced a smile onto her face and hoped he would reciprocate. She wanted that nice romantic fog to descend back over them and allow them to have a blissful evening that would culminate in another sweat-soaked orgy in the bedroom. Or two. After a brief interlude, Simon managed to return the smile. “All right. Let’s not worry about something we have no control over.” He glanced over the remains of their meal. “Look, are you still hungry?” She shook her head. “You?” “I’m done here.”

“Then let’s get out of here. Where to now?” She scooted out of the booth and followed him over to the register where he paid. “Actually I didn’t have anything specific in mind, other than to spend the time with you. Would you mind a stroll around the campus? You could play tour guide,” he suggested. Hooking an arm through his, she propped her chin on his shoulder and gave him one of her best smiles. “I have a better idea.”

Chapter 11 Project She took him to the planetarium. After unlocking the big double doors and letting themselves in, she reached over to the wall and flipped on the first set of lights. A dim glow permeated the immense lecture hall. “This is where I hold most of my classes,” she explained. Her voice sounded hushed and distant amid the acoustics. Much like being inside a church, she used to muse. Except this was where she worshiped the stars, the planets, and all of the creation of the universe. Simon walked down the aisle and across the thick carpet toward the dais in the center of the room. Sarah slowly followed him as she watched his reactions. She knew she had lost a part of him back at the diner, and she had been cursing herself for her stupidity all the way over to the college. If she wasn’t careful, she could lose the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to her. And there wasn’t a chance in hell she believed she’d get a second chance at the kind of love he was offering her. He tapped the lectern, then turned to face her. “Do you stand here?” “Sometimes. If I’m using the projector, I’ll sit at the computer console behind the dais.” She moved behind him and showed him where the controls were located. Leaning over the computer, she booted the system and gave him a timid smile. “I want you to be the first to see this.” They waited for the system to cycle. Once it was ready, Sarah killed the lights from where they stood. Simon took a startled step back from the sudden curtain of stars filling the room. Sarah couldn’t help but smile to herself. “This is our solar system and our galaxy.” She gave him a moment to absorb it before adding, “Kind of makes you feel rather puny when you compare yourself against it, doesn’t it?” Simon gave her a look that was completely incomprehensible to her. In the reflection of the faux stars slowly rotating overhead, his eyes took on an eerie sparkle. Clearing her throat, she brought up another file. The picture above them shifted slightly but appeared to be the same shot as the first one. “This is what I have been driving myself crazy over for the past few years.” Using the remote control, she spotlighted a tiny section directly over Simon’s head. He watched in silence as Sarah expanded that portion of the picture. “Nearly seven years ago, when I was working on my master’s thesis, a good friend of mine invited me to spend the summer with her. Delia lives in Honolulu, and her father works at the Mauna Kea Observatory for the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii. I was getting my degree in earth science, but I already knew I wanted to expand outward.” She gave a little laugh at the poor joke. Simon continued to shift back and forth between watching her and looking at the panorama above them. “She took me up to the university’s telescope and let me look through it. I was immediately hooked. Dr. Wang was very sweet to show me around. I must’ve asked him a thousand questions that week. Lord knows the poor man got very little of his own work done because of me. But the best thing he ever gave me was a file filled with shots taken of the universe. I took them home and pored over them, hoping I would find a rogue comet or unknown meteor.” She laughed softly again. “I was so determined to get my name attached to some previously unknown phenomenon. That was when I decided to get my doctorate in astronomy. Because of these photos.”

He seemed to sense that she was about to reveal something very important, and he held back making any comments until she did. Sarah gave a nod. “I found my phenomenon.” The tiny box around the nearly indistinct cluster of stars grew larger, bringing the group into sharper focus. Sarah used a digital pointer to illuminate one particular bright spot in the picture. “See that light?” “Yes,” he finally said. “Find it here.” The picture never appeared to change. It was the same close-up of the same cluster of stars. Only the light that she had been emphasizing was no longer there. “Still see the light?” “No.” “That’s because it moved.” The pointer traveled downward until it was just above the level of the back row of seats in the auditorium. “It’s there.” He was silent for several seconds. “How do you know it’s the same light?” “I ran a full spectrum analysis on it. The shape, density, everything is exact to the thousandth degree. Which means it’s the same object.” Giving her another one of those patient looks, Simon commented, “And this is important because…” “It’s not a meteor or a comet,” Sarah said. “Maybe it’s a planet or a moon.” “Can’t be,” she argued. “It’s not natural to the universe. Those two photos I showed you were taken thirty seconds apart. Which means the object was traveling at a speed unobtainable by anything created by the cosmos.” He digested that bit of information. “Then what do you think it is?” “A spaceship.” He looked back at the light before returning his gaze to her. “A space shuttle, perhaps. Or a satellite. You’re not seriously thinking it’s a flying saucer, are you?” “It’s a spaceship,” Sarah reiterated firmly. “Not one of ours. Not one from another country. But one from another world. Another solar system. Maybe from another galaxy!” “Sarah, do you know how preposterous that sounds?” He waved a hand at the picture above them. “Is this what you’ve been working on for the past several years? Is this the basis behind your treatise? That you believe a spaceship passed over Earth? Professor, you’re going to be laughed out of town!” She felt her anger bringing a flush to her face. Pressing her lips tightly together, Sarah threw another picture onto the ceiling. Another little red box framed a distant light. A fourth picture changed over, also with a little red box. She punched the remote to show him a fifth picture. And a sixth. A seventh. An eighth. A ninth. A tenth. She continued to change files, pausing long enough for him to see the markings of each dot of light that had been outlined. At the end of the sixteenth photo she finally stopped.

“Not one picture, Simon. Thirty-one pictures. I’ve tracked five separate and individual ships coming to earth, and I’ve tracked nine individual lights either circling this planet, landing, or taking off. There are aliens coming to Earth and landing here, and I’ve got the proof.” “You’ve got dots of light in a series of photographs. It’s not proof of alien life landing on this planet.” “Then explain to me what they are,” she challenged him with a flat smile. “Explain to me how they are able to hover, land, and take off like birds.” She watched as he shook his head in disbelief. “You’ve been tracking these lights for how long?” “Nearly seven years. I got my first set of photos back then. Since I’ve gotten my doctorate, I was able to cut a deal with Mauna Kea and the U of H for regular feeds. Now that I know what I’m looking for, I was able to tag the next twenty-odd shots relatively quick. Simon! Think about it! Aliens here on Earth!” “Yeah. I am thinking about it.” He ran a hand through his hair, but it was clear to her that although he was thinking about it, he wasn’t buying it. She gave an irritated little snort. “What’s more, Simon, the ships are becoming more prolific.” His head suddenly jerked up. Alarm was written all over his face. “More of them? When? Where?” “Hold on. I can give you the exact dates in a sec.” Dropping into the console seat, Sarah opened a new window on the computer and pulled up the specs. “Okay. Here’s what I got. That first set of photos I showed you? The ones I got seven years ago? That ship was a loner.” “What do you mean, it was a loner?” “Exactly what I said. It was larger, not to mention a completely different shape than the others.” He crossed his arms over his chest and continued to stare at her. He was listening, giving her the chance to prove herself. Sarah took a deep breath and plunged on. This was her first attempt to see how far her investigation would hold up. If she managed to convince him that the possibility of aliens living on their world was feasible, she knew she’d have a good case in front of a jury of her peers when it came to fighting for tenure. She poked a finger at the computer screen. “Look here. There were three ships that I can pinpoint in August almost two years ago. There may have been others between the time I got my first set of pictures and the second set, but I can’t be certain. But I do know that these kinds of ships have been coming and going since that first one seven years ago. And they’re different from that first one.” “How different?” “They’re smaller and faster. Here. Let me show you.” A series of numbers scrolled down one side of the monitor: dates, sizes, light absorption ratios, velocity, density, plus height and width. Behind her she could hear Simon mutter something and back away. “It’s nothing but a bunch of numbers and foggy photographs, Sarah. Surely you’re not seriously trying to convince me that aliens have landed on this planet, are you?” “Yes! Think about it, Simon!” “Your theory is seriously flawed. It has more holes in it than a roll of chicken wire,” he scoffed and turned away from the monitor. Sarah rose out of the chair to follow him. “How can you blow off what I have photographic evidence of? There were ships or crafts, or whatever the hell you want to call them, and they came from out there to land here.”

“Here where? How do you know what you have photos of isn’t some old satellite falling out of a decaying orbit? Or, or space debris coming back through the atmosphere?” “Because I checked. And double checked. And triple checked. And quadruple checked,” she said through gritted teeth. The man’s persistent denial was starting to test her patience, but that was a good thing. “Every time I got one of those images on my screen, I made damn sure it wasn’t one of those old satellites or a piece of space debris. I checked with every source I have at my command, and they all told me the same thing. It wasn’t one of ours. It wasn’t from Earth. Hell, I even phoned a friend of mine who’s associated with SETI, just to cover all my bases.” He leaned against the dais. “All right. All right, Sarah. Let’s pretend for a moment that I believe you. And that I believe there have been spaceships from other worlds landing here on Earth. So...what do these alien tourists do? Land, take a few snapshots to show the relatives back home, then leave?” This time she could give him an honest shrug of her shoulders. “I don’t know the answer to that one, Simon. Maybe they landed and stayed.” She pounded the lectern with a listless fist. “I wish I knew what happened to the first ship I noted. It would have been fascinating to find out if it stayed or left. And if it left, how long was it here before it took off?” “It had to have left, just like the others,” he suggested. “Possibly. But what if it didn’t? Those other ships, the smaller ones...what if they landed and left a few of their kind here on Earth?” Simon shook his head in denial. “You’re delusional. Flat out delusional.” He held out his arms to encompass the room. “Is that all you have? Is that all you’ve been working on? Trying to prove that aliens might be living here on Earth because you think you saw spaceships on a few grainy photographs?” This time his condescending tone irked her. “Basically, yeah. That’s exactly what I’m trying to prove! Although my treatise will be a lot more formal in its presentation than what I’m giving you.” “Then explain to me where these aliens are, if you’re so damn sure they’re among us,” he taunted. For a second his strange glittery eyes looked like two emerald gems beneath a strobe light. Sarah had to look away in order to concentrate. “They’re probably in hiding somewhere. You know as well as I do that there are places here on Earth that man hasn’t touched in centuries. Maybe they’re there. Or maybe they’ve found a way to disseminate themselves among the populace.” “And not be noticed?” He gave another shake of his head. “Sarah, what convinced you in the first place to get this irrational idea in your head? What persuaded you to pursue it? Have you presented this to anyone else?” “No. I told you, you were my first.” “Then…let me get this straight. You are working on this…presentation. For what purpose?” “It’s a requirement for tenure at the university,” she explained. “What’s done with the research? After you present this, what happens to it?” “Then it’s published.” He frowned. “Whether you get your tenure or not?” “No. Only if I gain tenure.” “So why is it important for you to gain this tenure? More money?”

She managed a small smile. “Sort of like that. Colleges are notorious for near-sighted budget cutting. If they need to save money, they cut teaching slots inside the departments. And right now the only thing holding the astronomy department together is this building. It was a gift from Joel Werewent’s estate. He was an ex-bigwig alumni, but the grant from the fund is going to run out in eleven years. I’m the only astronomy teacher here, and my chair is a dying breed. If the college board decides they need to cut a few teaching positions but would like to keep this department, there are plenty of students getting their degrees in this field who won’t cost half of what my salary already is.” “Then it’s a matter of permanency.” “Job security. Yes.” She knew that with this presentation she was treading on very thin professional ice. But she had hoped she might have been able to turn Simon to her way of thinking. It was a long shot that obviously missed its target. Strangely, the knowledge that he was scoffing her theories hurt more than she realized it would. Taking a shaky breath, she made one last attempt. “Simon, I’m not making up these lights. They really existed. They’re documented evidence.” “Yes, they are,” he nodded. “But they’re not spaceships. And there are no aliens living here on Earth.” “You’re wrong. I’m going to prove you wrong.” That remark got his attention. “Why do you have to prove the existence of aliens? Aren’t the spaceship sightings enough?” “Maybe. Maybe not. Either way I have to have all my evidence ready just in case the board calls for it.” Sarah winced. “Somehow I have to get proof that aliens exist. Or at the least that they’ve landed here.” One eyebrow lifted in derision. “How are you going to do that?” “I don’t know how, but I will. Give me time. If those ships keeping showing up, I’ll find a way to track them down. Eventually I’ll get my proof.” “Sarah, t’korra, give it up before you make a fool of yourself,” Simon begged. “A fool of myself?” She gave him a hard stare. “What’s the matter? Don’t want people laughing at you because they think you’re marrying a woman who’s gone mental? Don’t want your brother to think you’re bringing a nutcase into the family?” Now she was royally pissed. Angrily she strode back to the computer and began shutting it down. The lights in the auditorium came up. She hastily wiped away the tears on her cheeks before he could see them. “That’s not what I mean, and you know it,” he gently scolded her. “Yeah, it is. That’s exactly what you’re implying,” she shot back. “You don’t want to entertain the notion that maybe, maybe there’s a grain of truth in what I’m proposing. But if you loved me the way you say you do, then you would at least accept what I’m doing and support me. Regardless of whether or not you believe in what I’m doing.” The system powered down before shutting itself off. Without waiting to see if he was following her, Sarah grabbed her purse and stalked down the aisle toward the main doors. When she reached them, she wasn’t surprised to find Simon reach past her to push down the bar, opening the door and letting her exit first. They remained in silence while she unlocked the lobby doors to let them out. They were walking to the parking lot when Simon broke the silence. “Okay. For a minute let’s

assume aliens have landed here. Why haven’t we seen any? Given that some may have landed in areas where humans normally don’t go, the law of averages states that some had to have landed near populated areas.” “I’ve thought about that. Maybe they have some sort of invisibility device that keeps them from being detected. Or maybe they took over the bodies of some people and are trying to blend in that way.” They reached the lot where Simon had parked the motorcycle beside her sedan. They stood there, neither one willing to leave first, when Simon asked, “Sarah, what would you do if you were confronted by an alien?” “Do? It depends.” “On what?” “On where I was. What I was doing. If there was anyone else nearby who could help.” “So you think aliens are something to be afraid of?” His tone was wistful, almost wounded, which surprised her. She started to reply when he interrupted her. “Forget everything you’ve seen on television or in the movies. Let’s look at this from a pragmatic viewpoint.” “You know, for a man who works in construction, you have a very big vocabulary.” The remark earned her a lopsided grin. “I felt it necessary to learn the language once I got here. But back to what I want to say. You are looking for proof of an extraterrestrial life form so you can keep your job and hopefully retire in twenty or thirty years. Have I got this right?” He was tired and irritated. Put out with her, she thought. She could see it in his face, in his body language. Her eyes lingered for a moment on the shadow creasing the front of his pants. Her body responded with a heated need that made her shiver. A gentle rush of hope swooped down on her before she was aware of it. She could feel it as certainly as the smooth texture of her purse she clutched in her hands. At first the warm peacefulness was no more than a slight breeze in the air until it brushed against her skin. Sarah relaxed slightly and savored the love evoked by the feeling. It was then she saw him reach for his helmet. “What if I asked you to forget the treatise, Sarah? What if I asked you to forget this idiotic search for aliens on Earth?” The plea stunned her. “Do you realize what you’re asking me?” she managed to gasp, numb with disbelief. By his face, though, she could tell he knew exactly what he was asking of her. “I’m asking you to trust me. Stop pursuing this crazy idea. Forget the treatise. If the college pink slips you, trust that I’ll be able to provide for you until you decide when and if you want to look for another position elsewhere.” “You’re asking me to throw away years of research?” He didn’t hesitate to answer. “Yes.” “Why? For crying out loud, give me one valid reason why!” She watched him get on his bike and realized he was leaving without her. He was going back to his apartment, not with her to hers. An invisible hand grabbed her heart and squeezed it painfully. “Because I’m afraid that if you do find your aliens, I won’t be able to save you,” his deep voice answered softly.

The motorcycle roared. Sarah watched helplessly as he backed out of the parking space. One last look passed between them. Then he lowered the visor on his helmet and gunned the engine, speeding away. That wonderful sense of hope shredded, curled up, and blew away with his departure.

Chapter 12 Fears His head was pounding, and his stomach lurched uneasily. Yet neither pain could compare to the agony tearing into his heart. Less than a mile from her apartment, Simon was forced to pull over to the side of the road and stop. He needed to run. He needed to shed his outer skin and let his true self breathe in the night, hoping it would soothe his pain. But not here. He gripped the handlebars so tightly the metal rods began to bend inward. Yes. A run. Taking him as far into the undeveloped back woods as he could go. Run until his legs no longer would support him, or his lungs breathed fire. T’korra. T’korra. Why? When he closed his eyes, all he could see were the pictures she’d flashed upon the ceiling. The moment he had spotted the tiny craft, almost indistinguishable from the other stars and planets, he knew what he was looking at before she had the chance to explain. Their escape craft. The Arran ship they had escaped in to land on Earth almost seven years ago. The sight of the ovoid light had glued him where he stood, as well as shut down his thinking process and ceased his breathing. They had been seen. Their descent had been recorded for anyone to view. And then…she had shown him the other photos. The ones of the Arran crafts. The scout ships sent to search for their lost cargo—the thirty-one Ruinos who had fled and were now embedded somewhere on an insignificant little planet in a rarely traveled section of the cosmos. If Sarah was able to get the photos, that meant others had them, too. Other people. Influential people. People who would see in them the same things Sarah did. People who would believe in the presence of aliens but with the ability or means to discover the creatures who had taken refuge on this planet. People who might try to destroy them or capture them just like the Arra were trying. By all the stars, had there really been that many ships sent to search for them? Simon tore off his helmet and drew in deep gulps of air. He’d nearly lost it at the planetarium when she had told him what she was doing. It had taken every ounce of mental strength not to relay his terror to her but to send a feeling of comfort to her instead. Sarah had grown angry. She was possibly still angry with him, most likely for all the wrong reasons. But there was no way he could tell her any differently. The phone at his hip vibrated. He put it to his ear without glancing at it. “I can smell your horror down here,” Jebaral’s voice rang in his ear. “Your blood line has gone white. What’s happened? What can I do to help?” He spoke in their native tongue, which told Simon his brother was alone. “By the heavens,” Simon gasped, “Sarah has proof of our landing seven years ago.” The silence on the phone was deafening. He knew without looking at his own inner arm that his brother was drinking in his icy terror along with him.

“She also has pictures of the Arran ships sent to search for us.” “How many?” Jebaral’s voice was clipped with fear. Simon understood the question. How many ships, not how many pictures. “By her count and mine, twenty-two ships. The last one was sighted three days ago. She gets regular feeds from a telescope mounted in Hawaii.” “Any pattern to their appearance, did you notice?” “None that I noticed. But to be honest I was too numb to pay that much attention.” The phone nearly slipped out of his clammy hand. Wiping his palm on the thighs of his pants, Simon replaced the receiver to his ear. “This could be a good thing, sighting the Arra before they land. Knowing where they’re heading before they touch down.” “I know that,” Simon said. “But that isn’t what terrifies me. She’s going public with this information. She’s going to publish her findings. Jebaral, if the right person hears it and checks her facts—” “—they will discover us if they discover the Arra,” Jebaral finished for him. “Her information could be instrumental in millions of deaths on this world if humans discover the Arra.” Simon nodded, not caring whether or not his sibling could see him. “The Arra don’t care for this species. We both know that. They think this population is too weak to contain or even use. If these people find out about the Arra, they will try to stop them because this planet fears the thought of an invasion from another world. The Arra will slaughter them without a second thought if they believe these people will try to attack them.” “Have you tried to talk to Sarah? To talk her out of publishing her information?” “You know I have. It was of no use. She needs to publish her facts in order to maintain her position and her job at the university.” “Can’t she find something else to publish?” “She’s already spent years on this project,” Simon informed him. “When I tried to push the issue, she withdrew from me. Jebaral…I hurt so bad inside, it’s nearly unbearable. She’s pushed me away. How? How is it possible? She’s my life mate!” “Because you haven’t taken her in your true form, Simolif,” his brother gently reminded him. “Your connection may be there, but until you have orgasmed while Ruinos, it will remain tenuous and unstable. Of course, this is theory on my part. Neither I nor Tiron made love to our blood mates in human form first, like you did.” It was Jebaral’s theory, yes, but Simon knew his brother spoke the truth. His connection to Sarah was unmistakable, just as hers was to him. Right now, if he allowed himself to open up that fragile line between them, her sadness would reach through and wrap around him. Choking him on her tears. “She feels like I’ve deserted her,” he whispered, barely able to contain his own unhappiness. “Between her belief that I’m rejecting her, and my own horror at knowing what she’s about to do, I am caught inside the bars of my own cage. Jebaral, what can I do?” “You know what you must do,” Jebaral murmured in his ear. “Until she knows you as Ruinos, your troubles will only increase. As will your sorrow…and hers.” Simon raised a hand to his face and discovered to his horror that he had shed his human skin. A

hasty examination of his face revealed his alien features laid bare. In his agony he had inadvertently shape-shifted back to his real form. A pair of headlights were bearing down on him from behind. He was safely off the side of the road, but that didn’t prevent someone spotting him in the glare. Quickly he resumed the blond persona he had adopted as his disguise years ago. “Simon?” “Forgive me. I was thinking.” There was a heavy sigh. “You need to rest. Run and rest, Simolif. Go home and run. Let yourself open up and listen to your life mate’s needs. Perhaps they will give you an idea of which direction to go. Then rest. Tomorrow will give you a new chance to love her.” “I need her now, Jebaral. She is life to me.” “And I will defend her with my life, as well. You know that, Simolif. But until you find a way to reveal yourself to her, she will not be able to read you the same way you read her. And there will be arguments and disagreements and misunderstandings.” The man’s voice dropped to a pitch a normal human ear could not pick up. “Until her blood line forms in our arms, she will never truly be yours.” A shudder ran through his body. Along with it came a thought that almost convulsed him in pain. “What...what if I cannot show her my true self? Could this connection weaken? Could she...is it possible she would stop loving me?” This time there was no denying the fact that Jebaral was beginning to weep over his brother’s circumstances. “If she does, little brother, I will lose you. Don’t do that to us, Simolif. After all we’ve been forced to endure as slaves to the Arra, after finding our way here and finally finding our life mates…find a way and find it soon. Please. You deserve all the richness she will bring to you. The pleasure, the happiness. Hurry, Simolif, and find a way to show her.” Another car drove by. This one honked its horn at the man straddling the big Harley off on the shoulder. Overhead, above the treetops, he could see the thinning moon barely rising into view. “Soon. You have my word. Soon. You will get to meet her and rejoice at our marriage before the new moon.” “That’s six days from now,” Jebaral chuckled. “Are you sure you can do it in that amount of time?” “Yes. Or at least I think I can…maybe,” Simon admitted with a little grin. Both men laughed softly, although they each had their doubts as to what the end of the week would bring.

Chapter 13 Plea When she watched him drive away without wishing her goodnight, or even giving her a goodbye kiss, Sarah seriously believed it would be the last time she would ever see Simon Morr. At least in a dating capacity. The construction on the new wing would take several more months. So unless he transferred to a different site or job, they would inevitably see each other again until the job was finished. But as lovers, she might as well blow him a farewell kiss. The tightness of hot, biting tears squeezed her chest. A profanity-laced curse backed up behind her lips, but she refused to utter it. Okay, Sarah. Who’s the guilty party this time around, huh? Who takes the blame for this one? Both of us, she relented. Both of us. Not me. Not him. Both of us. She got into her car, clicking her seatbelt on before starting the engine. Why was he so angry at you? a little voice whispered in her head. “Because he wanted me to drop the presentation,” Sarah whispered back in a heated tone. She backed the car out of the slot and hurried out of the lot, not caring if her tires squealed. Did it ever occur to you that maybe he had a point? “What point? The man thinks I’m delusional.” Aren’t you? A humorless chuckle escaped her. “Me? Delusional? People have been trying for centuries to prove the existence of aliens on Earth. When I finally find the kind of proof people might believe in, I’m supposed to chuck it all because one man thinks I might be committing professional suicide?” No one ever said you would be committing professional suicide . She slammed on the brakes to take the slight dip in the road as she exited onto the parkway leading into town. All right. Granted, no one ever mentioned those exact words. So why had she? Sarah sniffed and tried to backhand away the tears that threatened to blur her vision, her mascara smearing. Damn stuff was supposed to be waterproof. She had tried out her little announcement on him, and the whole thing had caved. Simon wasn’t as concerned over what she had found as much as he was worried about her divulging it to a mass audience. A tiny frown puckered between her eyes. Why was that? Yeah. Come to think of it, his intent wasn’t to stop her from working on her project. In fact he never once told her to cease what she was doing. His worry was how her superiors would take it. He wanted her to hold off telling them. Why? If she didn’t tell them, she wouldn’t get her tenure. She might as well drop the whole thing cold

turkey and forget about retirement, much less holding down a teaching position she dearly loved at a university branch she aspired to remain with. The full impact of what she had lost didn’t hit her until she watched the security gates at her complex begin to open. Seconds passed as she clutched the steering wheel with trembling hands and tried to hold back the flood of tears that threatened to overwhelm her. She had lost Simon. Lost his humorous smile. His beguiling green flecked eyes. His warmth and that mint-sweet scent that reminded her of early spring. His arms. His passion. His hard, perfect body. His love. Sarah, I can’t lose you. She sobbed loudly. “Oh, God, what have I done?” The gates began to roll shut. Quickly she drove into the parking lot and pulled around to her assigned slot. Once she turned off the engine, the trembling grew worse. Pressing her forehead against the steering wheel, she tried to ride out the alternating waves of cold and heat that flowed through her. Her face felt like it was burning. Sharp knives were slicing into her heart, cutting it into shreds. No one had ever had an effect on her like this. But no one else had ever taken her to the edge of her dreams and shown her they were possible. Not until Simon. And now…Simon was gone. She screamed, beating her fists on the wheel. On the dashboard. She had lost him, and all for what? Stop and think, Professor. What did he actually want you to do? Give up. No, not give up. Not give up her attempt to make tenure. But to give up trying to prove that aliens had landed on Earth. “It’s not like people haven’t been trying to prove the same thing for the past few hundred years,” she protested aloud in a watery voice. God, it sounded so feeble. “I haven’t done anything wrong!” she screamed inside the empty car. I’m afraid that if you do find your aliens, I won’t be able to save you , his sad voice whispered in her memory. I won’t be able to save you. From what? The aliens? Or the ridicule? She hiccupped. Crap, she felt awful. Tired. The drying tears on her face made her skin feel stretched and sticky. Her nose was running. Turning off the engine, she went inside her apartment and went straight to the bathroom to draw a hot shower. Once she got underneath the spray, the tears came again. Her head hurt. Her eyes were puffy. Her body was empty, devoid of the love and gentleness that Simon’s presence had filled it with. She reached a soapy hand between her legs and touched herself. She felt empty there, too. Empty and withered. She had finally discovered the woman inside herself and the splendor meant to exist between two people. He had given that to her when no one else had. And probably no one else ever would be able to again. No more, Sarah Drumman. No more. “What did I do that was so wrong?” she whispered. “Why am I being punished? Simon…”

She was more tired than she’d realized. It was getting difficult to think. She was aching, but it wasn’t from any sort of virus or disease. She ached for Simon. For his arms to hold her and give her comfort. For his kisses. For the sound of his voice saying her name as though she was the most precious thing in the world to him. “S-Simon…” Funny, but it felt as though she could hear him answer. Distantly, but it was there. I won’t be able to save you . The pain twisted in her gut. She sobbed again, gasping for breath. “Simon…” Maybe if she adapted her presentation a bit. What if she shifted her focus? What if she used her evidence only to prove that alien spaceships had landed here? What if— She was losing it. She could no longer think clearly. Before too long her whole body would refuse to cooperate. Turning off the water, she got out of the shower and toweled dry. She ignored the cotton nightgown hanging on the hook behind the bathroom door and slowly walked back into her bedroom, crawling underneath the covers and shivering from the cold sheets. Her body curled tightly into itself to save heat. Last night she had slept dreamlessly against Simon’s strong chest. The rhythm of his heartbeat had lulled her into slumber. It was the first time in months that she had been able to rest without the need for a sleeping aid. Too late she was learning what it meant to love someone, with an honest love brimming with a diamond-bright future. And laughter. Her chest hitched against the burning heat still eating away inside her. “Simon…how am I going to get through the night without you? How am I going to get through the rest of my life without you?” In the far distance she heard her cell phone go off. She’d left her purse in the living room. Vaguely she remembered throwing it on the sofa when she headed for the back bedroom. The phone ceased its programmed ring when her feet touched the floor. For a second she hesitated getting out of bed and going to fetch the thing to see who had called her. Then, like a faint light glowing in the distance, she sensed an embrace surrounding her, followed by the gentlest of kisses on her mouth. Do you believe in love at first sight? The phone went off again, but this time she was halfway down the hallway when it did. She found her purse, snatching the phone from one of the inner pockets where she kept it. She opened it without glancing at the display. “Hello?” “Open the gates, t’korra.” Sarah sobbed aloud at the sound of his voice. She could hear echoes of her own misery in each of his words, and she ran back to the bedroom to grab a robe from the closet. Snatching her keys on her way out, she ran barefoot into the parking lot. The security gates were a little over sixty yards away from where she parked her car, but she had an unobstructed shot straight to the controls.

She could see the motorcycle’s headlight shining through the steel bars as he waited for her to open them. Aiming her clicker at the controls, she watched him drive through before they were fully retracted. He pulled into the empty slot next to her, killing the engine and dragging off his helmet just as she threw herself into his embrace. She was barely aware of the sound of his helmet falling onto the pavement. His lips were everywhere, driving her to near frenzy to taste him and hold him in return. His hands searched beneath her thin robe to touch her. Dimly she was aware of when he picked her up and carried her to the apartment, shutting the still-open door behind them with a shove of his foot. There was no time to make it back to the bedroom. He shoved her against the door, hoisting her upward until her head bent downward to keep their lips and tongues locked. Sarah wrapped her legs around his waist, unmindful of the hard panel at her back that held her pinned as he ground himself against her bare mound. The roughly covered zipper dragged dry and scorching over her nub until a high keening whine poured from her throat. Gasping, Sarah broke away from his mouth. “Simon…” She wanted to apologize. It didn’t matter if she was in the wrong or the one who was right. It didn’t matter. It never did. All that mattered was that she hadn’t lost him. She had one more chance to love him and to have him love her in return. She helped him to shed his clothing before he took her down onto the carpet, opening her robe as she opened her heart. Simon took possession of her with his first hard thrust. Sarah lifted her knees and placed her heels on his ribcage. With every stroke the cold, tight places in her body grew warmer, then hotter. He spoke to her in soft, barely audible whispers. They were words in his native language that made no sense to her mentally, yet she could tell he was talking to her heart. Reassuring it of his love. Promising he would keep it forever filled with passion. The storm overtook them unexpectedly. Searing pleasure scraped over heightened senses. This time Sarah heard Simon cry out, and a split second later she was totally overwhelmed by her own release. He continued to pound inside her like a searing hot poker, pouring himself into her. A fleeting thought struck her, but it didn’t matter. She wasn’t protected. Neither was he using anything. She knew she should be frightened out of her mind, yet a tender presence told her those fears were groundless. Before she could question it, Simon slowed his movements. Incredibly, his still-engorged length continued to stretch her, sending shivers throughout her body. Another few languid plunges, and she heard him sigh contentedly. They lay still for a few moments, then he rolled onto his side and fit her against him like a puzzle piece. “I’m sorry.” She hiccupped again from the tears she didn’t know she had been shedding. The words had come from her mouth, but she hadn’t meant to say them. He softly kissed her. “I can’t lose you, Sarah.” Lose her? “I don’t understand.” They were both sweaty from their exertions. The afterglow tingled under the skin, leaving her deliciously sated and sleepier than ever. She felt him kiss her moist forehead. “One day, perhaps you will. I pray that day will never come.” He shifted his weight. One warm hand cupped her buttocks and squeezed.

“You can’t lose me. It tore me up to be away from you,” she admitted. His arms were two posts of steel, providing complete protection within their embrace. The most tender embrace, she realized. Within them nothing could touch her, nothing could harm her. Nothing bad would happen to her while she lay here with him. It was a certainty she couldn’t explain but knew existed. Rock certain. Simon nuzzled the baby-fine hairs at her temple. “T’korra—” “You want me to give up my research.” His body stilled. She had hit upon the truth. Now she sensed his reluctance. “What if…what if I shifted my focus a bit? What if I didn’t try to prove the existence of aliens here on Earth, but just concentrated on the proof that they had landed here?” He kissed her temple again, but his silence told her even that much compromise wasn’t enough. “Simon?” “Not now, Sarah. Please. Let’s have this night together. We’re both tired and not thinking clearly.” His goodnight kiss melted the last reserves in her mind. Resting her head along that perfect spot on his shoulder, Sarah sighed. “Boy, am I glad I had the carpets shampooed last week,” she commented off-handedly. Simon’s loving laughter was the last thing she heard as she drifted into a sound sleep.

Chapter 14 Emergency Deep within sleep Simon heard the sound of his cell phone vibrating. Fewer than a half-dozen people had his number. One was his employer, who would not be calling him at this time of night. The others were people he would give his life for. He was instantly awake. A second later he tensed to realize he was no longer human. After the stress of their parting and coming back together, his body had lapsed into his Ruinos self to recuperate. Quickly, but reluctantly, Simon pulled away from Sarah’s warm body and searched for his pants. Barely any light penetrated the darkness, but his alien eyes were able to see enough to find them. The phone was clipped to his belt. He glanced at the display to read the missed number, and his alarm rose several notches. He hurried into the bathroom and shut the door so as not to awaken Sarah. His call was picked up on the first ring. “Simon! Something’s wrong!” Hannah gasped. She was distraught to the point of tears, to the point where she knew she had no other choice but to call him, and Simon felt his body tighten in response. “What’s happened to Jebaral?” “I don’t know!” She sobbed softly, fighting to regain control so she could tell him what she knew. Simon waited. “Remember him telling you about the vandals hitting the mill?” “Yes.” “The destruction is getting worse. A couple of workers were seriously injured yesterday. So Sheriff Klotsky asked Jeb and Roni to help them watch the mill tonight. Oh, Simon! Something’s happened to Jeb! I—I don’t know what. But I can feel it! A-and he doesn’t answer his cell. Thom doesn’t either! Simon, I’m so scared!” In the darkness of the bathroom, Simon stared at the two blood lines glowing on the inner side of his left arm, the two thin, iridescent threads running from his elbow to his wrist. One was Hannah’s, having appeared there after she and Jebaral had consummated their love when he was Ruinos. The other was his brother’s. Hannah’s line was spiking, jerking wildly from her fear and agitation. Jebaral’s was flowing sluggishly, nearly white in color. Razor-sharp fear sliced into him. “Keep trying to reach Thomas,” he ordered her. “I’m coming down.” She sniffed. “What do you see, Simon?” There was no way he could lie to her. The connection between blood mates was almost like a separate path of communication, letting them know and share in their mutual emotions. It was a connection that he and Sarah now shared, although theirs was fragile and tenuous at this point. Only when he finally took her in his true form would it develop further, grow, and strengthen. “He’s injured, but he’s alive. Keep me posted while I’m on the road. I’ll let you know if his status changes.” “Thank you, Simon. Be careful on the road.”

She didn’t argue his decision. In fact she knew when she called him it would be his first response. They had faced emergencies together in the past and survived. She trusted that with him there they would overcome this danger again. Simon also trusted Thomas DeGrassi, Tiron’s blood mate, and he knew Tiron would risk her own life to save Jebaral. But the addition of a third Ruinos could tip the balance in their favor. Closing the phone, he emerged from the bathroom and went back to the living room, where Sarah remained asleep. Grabbing the coverlet off the sofa, he smiled to realize this would be the second time he had covered her with it. Three times they had made love, and only once had they conventionally used the bed. He wished he could stay the remainder of the night. They had much to discuss regarding her treatise. Unfortunately Jebaral’s safety was paramount. There would be time later on to talk. Placing a soft kiss to her cheek, Simon sent her a ribbon of love through their connection. Soon, t’korra. Soon I will reveal my true self to you, and once you’re able to accept me, we’ll make love in a way you’ve never imagined. And afterwards you’ll finally understand everything I’ve been reluctant to explain to you. He quickly dressed and let himself out without making a sound. Sarah never stirred after his departure.

Chapter 15 Destination The alarm in her bedroom went off at six. Normally she would hit the snooze and not climb out of bed until six-thirty. That gave her fifteen minutes to take a quick shower and another twenty minutes to get dressed and put on makeup. It was a twelve-minute drive to the university—eighteen if she hit all the lights wrong. Twenty-five if she wanted to stop on the way for breakfast on a bun. But it still left her with plenty of time to get her thoughts and her notes together and be at the planetarium before the beginning of her eight o’clock class. In the next thought Sarah realized she was alone. She opened her eyes to see she was lying on her living room carpet, covered with the afghan from the couch. Again. She sat up and glanced back at the kitchen. There were no sounds of washing dishes. In fact, there was no sense at all that Simon was still there. “Simon?” The sound of her voice rang empty in the apartment. Getting to her feet, she did a quick search but found no note telling her goodbye. All of his clothing was gone, but her robe was lying on the floor, protecting her from carpet burns. She hadn’t imagined him being there last night. She hadn’t dreamt of him coming back to her and making love to her in the middle of the living room. Her body confirmed their frenzied passion by the traces left behind. So where was he? Maybe he had to be at the site early. Okay. That explanation she could accept. He wouldn’t want to wake her before he left, knowing how tired she was. He probably left while it was still dark. In her mind’s eye she could envision him hurrying over to his place to shower and change before reporting to work. Work. Her eight a.m. Instruction in Planetary, Galactic, and Stellar Phenomena Occurring in Outer Space class. Grumbling, she got to her feet and headed for the bathroom. Maybe he would call her when he took his break, which was right after her first class. The morning progressed as usual. She was taking the week to discuss quasars, and the eighteen students enrolled seemed genuinely interested in her discussions. The morning was overcast when she walked out of the building a little after nine, and she wondered if there was a chance for rain in the day’s forecast. Simon didn’t call during his break. Still, she didn’t feel any alarm. He had come to her last night. He had come back to her when she’d needed him the most. And because he had, this disappearance didn’t bother her. By lunchtime, however, the lack of any kind of communication was starting to worry her. It was enough to keep her distracted from working on her treatise. Finally giving in, she dialed his cell phone. It went straight to voice mail.

“Okay. Either you’ve shut it off, or your phone is dead,” she muttered. Unfortunately, neither answer would be of any help. A little after two she made her way over to the construction site and flagged down one of the workmen. He directed her to the foreman up on the second floor. The man met her at the fenced enclosure that kept the public from entering the area. “Yes, ma’am?” “I need to speak with Simon Morr, please.” She used her authoritative voice, hoping the man wouldn’t see her as one of those giddy females trying to hook up. “He’s not here,” the man replied gruffly. “Oh?” Her surprise came over her before she had the chance to squelch it. Quickly, she tried to cover up her response. “I tried to call him on his cell, but it goes straight to voice mail.” The foreman shrugged. “I’m sorry. I can’t help you.” “You mean he left early? Or he didn’t show up for work at all?” The man gave her a good once-over. Something in her prim, no-nonsense, professorial dress and demeanor must have made an impression on him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t catch your name.” “Sarah Drumman. Professor Drumman. I work in the astrology department.” The moment she gave him her name, the man’s whole body language shifted. A smile actually appeared on his sun-weathered face. “Oh, so you’re Sarah.” Her eyes widened at the remark. The foreman chuckled. “To be honest, Professor, when he spoke to me about you, you could’ve knocked me between the eyes with a baseball bat. Simon’s been working for me for nearly five years, and in all that time he’s never shown any interest in any woman. I mean he didn’t talk about having someone or brag about his dates like some of the guys do. He’s very quiet. He’s always on time for work. Always willing to put in extra hours. Never one to complain or give me any grief. A damn fine worker, but super private about his home life. I just figured he had someone on the side that he was reluctant to talk about. And then two days ago he approached me out of the blue and let me know he was planning on getting married. Told me she was a professor here at the university.” The man pointed a finger at her. “You, Miss Drumman. Congratulations.” “Thank you.” It sounded lame, but it was all she could muster at his announcement. Simon hadn’t asked her to marry him. Yes, he had insinuated it. But the subject had never actually been discussed. “To answer your question, Simon phoned me this morning to say he had a family emergency. Something about his brother, which was another shock. I never knew he had family in town.” “He doesn’t,” she quickly corrected him. “I mean, not in Templeton. His brother and adopted sister live in Tumbril Harbor.” The man nodded. “I’ve heard of the place, but I’ve never been there. Thought of taking the wife and kids there some summer for vacation. That’s a beautiful part of the coast, right next to a game preserve and at the tail end of a national forest.” “Do you have any idea when he left?” “He didn’t say. He was on his way when he called. It’s a good nine-hour drive. That much I do know.”

Sarah thanked him and turned to leave when the foreman off-handedly commented, “You know, you must be a pretty special woman to capture that man’s heart.” She glanced back at him. “As long as I’ve known him, beautiful women have been setting their traps for him. Trying to find out all they could about him. Bugging my men and me for his name, his address, or his phone number. Simon could have had any woman who threw herself at him, but he never took any interest in them, much less took advantage of the bounty he gained from his looks. That’s the true mark of a man, Professor. Would you…would you mind if I asked how you managed to accomplish what no other woman could?” Sarah pasted an honest smile on her face and gave a little shrug. “Frankly I have no idea. He said that for him it was love at first sight.” “Just like it was for you, eh?” The man’s question was sincere, not probing. “Actually, no. Oh, I’ll admit he is drop-dead gorgeous, but that’s not what drew me to him.” She paused for a second, instantly knowing the answer. “He gave me a sense of safety. But more than that, he makes me feel like I’m the most important thing in the world to him.” The foreman chewed on her reply as he nodded. “Well, good luck, Professor. Simon said he wouldn’t be back until Monday, and he’s always been a man of his word.” He tipped his brim at her. Sarah thanked him again, then nodded and walked away. She went back upstairs to her office and dropped into her chair. The chapter she had been working on was still on the computer monitor. Her eyes glanced over at the phone next to it. On an impulse she tried calling his cell again and got the voice mail. A second call to retrieve her own voice messages, on the chance he may have called back, yielded nothing. Next she checked her cell phone to see if he might have phoned while she was away. No luck there, either. Damn. It’s a good nine hour drive. The foreman’s comment made her do a quick mental calculation in her head. If he left around midnight, and knowing that traffic was light that time of night, he would easily be there by nine in the morning. He had left because of a family emergency, which could mean anything. The clock on her monitor read twelve minutes before three. She pulled up a map search on the internet, including driving directions to Tumbril Harbor. While they printed out, she phoned the office of the Dean of Sciences and got his secretary. “Deanna? This is Sarah Drumman.” “Good afternoon, Professor Drumman! Dr. Rodriguez is out for the rest of the day. Can I take a message?” “Yes, please. Let him know I have a sudden emergency, and I need to take off until Monday. Can you have someone post a notice that my classes will have a walk until then?” “I certainly can. Is there anything I can do to help?” Again Sarah heard honest sincerity in the woman’s voice. Simon wasn’t the only person who kept his private life quiet or who had been adamant about being punctual and reliable on the job. She knew her request was unusual, but she was not known for taking advantage of her position. Rodriguez would have no qualms about granting her emergency leave.

“Thank you, no. But if something comes up, I’ll call to let him know.” “All right. How can we reach you in case there’s a problem?” “On my cell,” Sarah told her. “I’ll be out of town.” “All right. I’ll tell him, and I’ll send an associate over to post a notice on the planetarium doors. Have a safe trip, Professor Drumman.” Sarah thanked her and hung up. Grabbing her purse and the directions, she hurried out of the office and went straight to her apartment to throw some clothes into a suitcase. By the time she hit the highway it was nearly three-forty-five. In nine hours, give or take a quarter to half an hour if she got lost or took the wrong road, she would be in Tumbril Harbor around one in the morning. Hopefully by then she would have reached him on his cell phone. He had mentioned wanting her to meet his brother and adopted sister. Well, no time like the present, Sarah told herself. Plus the drive would give her the chance to think and sort things out. With any luck she would be able to come up with a solution to her problem with the treatise, or at least find a reasonable compromise they could both live with. Because one thing was fast becoming damn certain. Simon had become more important to her than her long-sought-after tenure. And once she realized that, the thought of totally dropping the research like he had asked her to do no longer bothered her. Sarah blinked, amazed by how suddenly the world shifted, and a sense of absolute freedom came over her. “Okay, Simon. You win. Everything. My heart, my mind, and my job. I’m willing to sacrifice it all for you. But now you have to show me what you’re willing to sacrifice for me. Got that?” It was going to be a tedious drive crossing state lines. Sarah settled in for the long haul.

Chapter 16 Problem Hannah walked over to the kitchen table and poured Simon another cup of coffee. He glanced up in surprise and thanked her. “More eggs?” she asked. “No. I’m fine.” He raked his gaze over her, noting the slump of her shoulders and the redness around her puffy eyes. “He’s going to be all right, Hannah.” She placed the urn back on the coffee maker, sighed, and glanced out of the kitchen window at the rapidly descending sunset. “I know, Simon. It’s…” She raised a hand to her face, and Simon could see how she was trying to hold back fresh tears. Her whole body was wracked with trembling. Getting to his feet, he walked over and pulled her into his embrace. She readily wrapped her arms around his bare waist and allowed him to console her. Simon dropped his nose into her daffodil-colored hair and took a sniff. It was instinctive, the need to smell her. Her worry filled the cabin she and Jebaral had built together in this remote area at the edge of the forest with a pungent apple smell. Other than Jebaral’s scent, which marked her as his life mate, she had no personal aroma to him. That didn’t surprise him. Only his true life mate would bear a distinctive scent that only he would detect. Still, Hannah needed comforting, and other than Jeb, the only other people she would accept it from were him and Thomas. The door to the bedroom opened. Simon looked up to see Dr. Fitzhugh walking down the hallway and into the living room. He gave Hannah a little nudge and turned her around. She wiped her tears from her cheeks and hurried over to where the physician stood waiting for her. Less than a handful of people in Tumbril Harbor knew about the creatures from another galaxy who now called the tiny town home. By necessity they had been brought into confidence, invited there because Jeb and Roni could sense the honesty and trust within each candidate. Dr. Fitzhugh’s family were long-established Tumbrilites. Once he became a general practitioner, Byron Fitzhugh returned to the town to become its only local doctor. Other than the clinic, the nearest fully staffed hospital was over an hour away in Big Oak. To say that he had been floored when Sheriff Klotsky had approached him would be an understatement. The man gave Hannah a warm smile. “As far as I can tell the bullet did very little damage. It didn’t hit any blood vessels or internal organs. He was very lucky.” Dr. Fitzhugh looked up at Simon. “It’s a good thing you came down. If he had lain out there in the woods any longer, regardless of his strength, the wolves would have found him. He wouldn’t have been able to fight off a pack of them.” Simon nodded as Hannah asked, “Can I see him?” “Yeah. He’s asking for you.” They watched Hannah hurry into the bedroom. The physician turned around to stare at Simon. Simon waited for the man to finish giving him that steady look. It was expected, once humans accepted the fact that Ruinos were shape-shifters. They had to see both faces, the alien and the human, in order to obtain a comfortable working relationship. The doctor motioned toward Simon’s bare arms. “Want me to look at those scratches?” Simon glanced down at the bloody marks on his heavily muscled arms. His Ruinos arms. The doctor had seen him only briefly in his human guise. “No. I’ll be fine. We heal quickly.”

“That’s good. Look, I’m not going to prescribe any sort of medication, because frankly I have no idea what your bodies can tolerate.” “It’s all right,” Simon assured him. “If he starts to do anything that alarms you, call me. I left bandages and wrapping for you to change out that wound twice a day until it closes.” He gave the man a small smile and a bewildered shake of his head. “They never covered instances like this in med school, so forgive me if I appear hesitant.” Simon snorted softly. “Don’t worry about it. Thank you for coming.” The front door opened, interrupting them. Thom DeGrassi strode in. The presence of the tall, powerfully built man demanded respect. Once a metropolitan police detective, DeGrassi had chosen to return to his home town of Tumbril Harbor, bringing his new wife with him. His wife, Tiron, who was a Ruinos female. “How is he?” Thom inquired, scratching at his dark stubble. “A bit worse for wear. He’ll be okay after a few days, maybe less,” the doctor replied. He held up the bullet fragment now encased in a plastic sandwich bag. “Here’s your evidence.” The deputy sheriff nodded and took the bag. “Thanks, Doc. If there’s something good that can be said about this mess, it’s that once we trace this bullet to the gun that fired it, we can use that attempted murder charge against Pycee. Odds are good the man who shot Jeb works for him.” He stuffed the bag into his left breast pocket and stepped back outside where Tiron was waiting for word. Dr. Fitzhugh followed the man outside to the porch with Simon right behind him. It was growing dark. Pale pinks, rose, and blue-purple tints slashed the western side of the sky. To the east the stars were already prevalent. Simon glanced over to where Tiron was nestled in her life mate’s embrace. Like him, she was still in her Ruinos form since they were locked in their alien shapes during the day. They had risked possible exposure by remaining unchanged during the day in their hunt for their missing brother. As Ruinos they could track better than they could wearing their glove-like outer skins. The doctor quickly examined Tiron’s wounds, which weren’t as deep as Simon’s. After she turned down his offer to bandage them, the physician wished them all a good night and descended the short flight of steps from the porch to the walkway leading to the gravel-lined driveway. They watched in silence as the man drove off. “I’m taking Roni home,” DeGrassi finally said. Simon glanced over to see the big man tenderly holding the woman against him. In the fading light the deputy sheriff’s light-blue eyes almost appeared white. “Be sure to cleanse those cuts good,” he said to the couple. Tiron glanced again at the bloody scrapes on her bare arms and legs. “Are you going back to the mill?” she asked. “I have to. You know they’re not finished. They won’t stop until Pycee owns the company.” Simon frowned and turned to face the roadway. “What is it?” “What’s the matter?” Simon understood their concern. He knew he had the same look of worry on his face: worry and

anxiety. “Sarah,” was all he replied. There was no need to elaborate. Jebaral had told the couple about Simon finding his life mate. He had also explained about Simon not yet showing her his true self and that he hadn’t taken her as Ruinos. But their connection had formed nevertheless. Weak and often indistinct though it was, it had surprised everyone that the bond had appeared. “What do you sense?” Tiron whispered. Simon answered with a shake of his head. It was too fuzzy to make out, but he could sense she was up to something. He could only hope it wasn’t anything dangerous. Turning back to them, he smiled. “Go home and rest.” “No.” She pulled away from her husband, showing her stubborn side. “Roni…” She glanced up at her husband. The silver flecks in her gray eyes sparkled with pent-up anger over what had happened. “With Jebaral injured, we have less of a chance of stopping those men from causing more damage. If Simolif is going back, so am I.” “Going back? To the mill?” Hannah stepped onto the porch to confront them. She turned a frowning face to Simon, then to Tiron. “Tonight? Are you nuts?” “I don’t doubt they’ll strike again,” Thomas commented. “They could very well try tonight. It would make perfect sense after what happened yesterday.” They were interrupted by the sight of headlights approaching the cabin. Instinctively Simon and Tiron shifted into their human forms until they knew for certain who was coming. Jebaral had built the cabin in a remote part of the woods abutting the game preserve. The unpaved lane that branched off from the county road lead to nowhere but here. So either the car was someone they knew or a lost tourist. A second later Simon recognized the sheriff’s sedan. “How’s he doing?” Sheriff Klotsky asked before he’d finished climbing out of the vehicle. “He’s weak, but he’ll mend good as new,” Hannah answered. “He was very lucky the bullet didn’t cause any massive damage.” She looked over at Simon while Klotsky and DeGrassi exchanged information. “He wants to see you.” Nodding, Simon gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder and went back inside the cabin. His brother was sitting up in bed. Although usually only sunlight locked them into their forms for the day, a serious injury would also keep them from shape-shifting into their disguises. Standing at the doorway, Simon studied the pain on Jebaral’s face, noticing the grayish pallor to his otherwise mottled green skin. Jeb’s eyes were closed, his breathing shallow. The gauze covering the hole below his ribcage was already spotted with blood. Yet Simon could tell his brother was on the mend. “How is the pain?” he asked softly. Jebaral tried to take a deeper breath, only to give out a low moan. “It’s like an adjac was shoved into my side and a piece of the tip broke off.” He opened his eyes and made a tiny “come here” motion with his hand. Simon parked himself in the chair sitting next to the bed. “We haven’t spoken of Sarah,” Jebaral said. “How…are you?” “I’m terrified her treatise will be seen by the wrong people and our existence will be jeopardized because of it.” He shifted into his true form, relishing in the fact that here among his family he didn’t have to hide. It felt wonderful to be able to go about feeling the wind on his real skin without worrying about strangers seeing him.

“How soon before she presents it?” “A few weeks,” Simon answered. “She won’t accept any sort of compromise.” He grinned, adding, “She’s as strong-willed and hard-headed as any Ruinos woman.” Jebaral managed a small smile in response. “Although you have yet to consummate your union in your true form, you already bear her scent,” he informed his brother. At Simon’s surprised expression, he nodded. “It appears we are learning more and more about what is and isn’t feasible when it comes to finding our life mates here on this world. Your courtship of Sarah has gone an entirely different route than mine and Tiron’s.” “I know that. But the right time hasn’t presented itself for me to give her the truth.” Hannah appeared in the doorway. Without apologizing for interrupting, she walked over to the other side of the bed and laid down next to her husband, cuddling up against his undamaged side. Simon watched as his brother placed a tender kiss on the woman’s forehead. “I told her about the siphoning,” Jebaral said before Simon could ask. “If he needs to draw my strength to help heal more quickly, I say go for it,” Hannah said. She gave Simon a questioning stare. “Have you told him about going back tonight?” “Tonight?” Jebaral looked back at his brother. “Thom and Roni are going back to their place for a short nap, but they told me to tell you to meet them at the gas tanks around midnight. The Sheriff left to run the bullet over to Big Oak.” “Big Oak?” Simon echoed. “Thom says the police department there has a lab and a ballistics chamber. They’ll be able to examine the bullet and match it to the gun that fired it once you confiscate the guns from Pycee’s men,” she answered. Raising her face up to her life mate, she beamed. “I can already sense you’re healing.” For the second time a flash of urgency swept over him. Simon shook his head to clear it. A glance over at the bed showed the couple closely watching him. “Something’s going on with Sarah, but I can’t tell what.” “If you need to return,” Jebaral began. Simon cut him off. “I’m staying until you are well enough. She’s not in any danger. I think it’s because I haven’t tried to contact her today.” He rubbed his forehead and sighed. Their partial connection wasn’t strong enough to reveal what he needed to know. And that uncertainty was beginning to irk him. He couldn’t continue to make love to her as Simon. Sooner or later he would be forced to show his true self as Simolif. He just prayed that when that time came, she would be ready for it. “Why don’t you call her now?” “My cell is dead, and I didn’t bring the charger.” “Use my phone,” Jebaral offered, pointing to the dresser across the room. Getting to his feet, Simon walked over and grabbed the cell phone off the dresser, then went back outside on the porch. Unfortunately he got the message that the customer he was trying to reach was not available. Going back inside, he told them what happened. Hannah nodded. “That’s not unusual. Maybe she’s in a dead area. There are quite a few of them around here. We know where they are, so we avoid them when we try to make a call.”

“Yes, but Templeton is not in a dead area,” Simon observed. The truth suddenly smacked him in the face. At the same time, his brother commented, “Maybe she’s no longer in Templeton.” By the stars! It would explain the sharp sense of urgency he kept feeling. That, plus the need to be with him, the desire to be together, to be reunited. It all made sense now. Sarah was on her way to Tumbril Harbor, only she didn’t know how to find him once she got here or even how to reach him. His phone was dead, and she didn’t have Jeb’s cell phone number. “She’s coming here, isn’t she?” Jebaral asked softly. “Yeah,” Simon nodded. “Yeah. That has to be what I’m feeling.” He looked down at the couple on the bed. “What am I going to do? I can’t reach her. She doesn’t know where to find me.” “Wait a minute.” Hannah crawled off the bed and plucked the phone from his hand. She punched in a number and waited, glancing at her wristwatch to check the time. “Hello, Wendy? Hi! This is Hannah. Fine, thank you. Look, I have a favor to ask. Do you remember me telling you about Simon finding his life mate? Yeah. Yeah, that’s right. Sarah. Well, we believe she’s on her way here to the harbor, but we can’t reach her by phone. Yeah, that’s what we think, too. Damn dead spots. Well, I remembered that she’ll have to drive right by the motel before she hits town. If you spot her, could you give us a yell, please? Huh? Oh, hold on, I’ll ask him. Simon, what kind of car does she drive?” “A silver Eagle sedan.” “A silver Eagle sedan,” Hannah relayed. “Yeah. No, we don’t have any idea when she’ll be here. But I’m pretty sure she’ll stop somewhere to ask for directions to our place. Once she hits town we can call her on our phone. Yeah. Okay. Thanks so much, Wendy. ‘Bye.” She flipped the phone closed with a grin. “All right. Easy part’s done. Now what?” Simon smiled back. “Now we rest and hope Pycee orders his men back to the mill tonight.” “And hope they don’t get away from us this time,” Jebaral added. “They won’t,” Simon assured him with a harder tone of voice. “They crossed the line last night. Now they have to answer for what they did to you.” Before the couple could respond, he left the bedroom for the living room, where he could lie on the couch and hopefully catch a few hours of sleep. It was rough enough dealing with what had almost happened to his brother. Now he had the extra problem of Sarah coming to town. He could only hope one issue would be resolved before the other demanded a solution.

Chapter 17 Dilemma It was a little after one in the morning when Sarah slowly drove past the WELCOME TO TUMBRIL HARBOR. THIS COULD BE YOUR HOME, TOO! sign. Her head ached, her eyes burned, and a few times she had almost fallen asleep at the wheel. She’d stopped only three times during the trip, twice for gas and a pit stop, and once to grab something to eat, which she’d consumed on the road. That last stretch of road between Silveyton and Tumbril Harbor, a forty-eight-mile series of loopde-loops that would rival any roller coaster, almost didn’t end. It wasn’t until she found the Route 101A sign that she breathed a sigh of relief. Keeping well below the posted speed limit, she tried to spot someplace that was open this time of the night. Even a bar or a dance hall would be acceptable. But she held out little hope. Sarah admitted to herself that she would be lucky to find a motel where she could spend the night. What she really wanted was to find a place with a pay phone or a phone book. Surely there was someone who knew Jeb or Hannah or Roni or— The Sheriff’s office. Yeah, that’s right! Simon had told her Thom worked for the Sheriff’s department. And the Sheriff’s office never shut down. Someone was on duty twenty-four-seven. Sarah congratulated herself on her revelation, despite the fact that her thinking had slowed to mush. Now all she had to do was find out where the Sheriff’s office was located. How big was Tumbril Harbor anyway? As if a genie had answered her wish, she passed a city limits sign. TUMBRIL HARBOR, pop. 2133. The dense trees suddenly moved back. She passed a parking lot, another thick grove, and over to the right she spotted a motel consisting of several cute little cottages. There was a vacancy sign below the one that read Harvest Moon Motor Lodge. Unfortunately, the office was dark. Closed for the night. However, on the next block, she spotted a phone booth. Pulling up next to it, she crawled painfully out of her seat and hobbled over to the glass box. A weak light came on overhead when she closed the bifold door. The phone book couldn’t have been bigger than a TV Guide. There was no listing for Jeb Morr, as she expected, but she found the address and phone number of the Russup County Sheriff’s Office. Opening her cell phone, she paused one more time. She had tried five other times on the way up to reach Simon, always getting the same result—his voice mail box. Yet she knew deep in her heart he wasn’t in any danger. How she knew, she had no unearthly idea. But it wouldn’t hurt to try again, she told herself. “—You have reached the—” She ended the call and punched in the number to the sheriff’s office. “Russup County Sheriff’s Department. How can I help you?” The voice was female and all business. And live. After taking a deep breath, Sarah said, “Hello. My name is Sarah Drumman. I just got into town, and I’m trying to find my…my fiancé.” It was funny how the admission didn’t bother her. After all, hadn’t Simon already informed his boss he was marrying her? They just were going about the whole process a little differently than usual. Hell. Sarah grinned. Their entire courtship was a new one for the books.

“Is there a reason why you’re trying to find him?” the woman asked. In a town this small, Sarah figured the woman might also be working dispatch as well as manning the switchboard. At least it wouldn’t surprise her if she was. “Well, we’re from Templeton. He got a call from his brother who lives here. He came in this morning because of some family emergency.” She gave a weak laugh and pulled her fingers through her hair. “I know this is going to sound crazy, but I have this feeling in my gut that something’s wrong. I’ve tried calling his cell phone, but it always goes to voice mail.” “Have you tried phoning the brother?” “I don’t have his number,” Sarah told her. “It’s a cell number, too, and it’s not listed.” “You said his brother lives here in Tumbril Harbor?” “Yes. His brother’s name is Jeb Morr. He works—” “Oh, I know Jeb! Yeah, sure!” The woman’s voice instantly changed tone. Gone was the brusque, all business voice. Replacing it was a warm, neighborly quality that eased Sarah’s mind. “You’re whose fiancée again?” “His brother, Simon Morr.” “Gee, I didn’t know he had a brother. A sister, yes.” “That’s their adopted sister. Tiron. They call her Roni,” Sarah supplied. “Yeah. I know her, too. Her husband Thom DeGrassi is one of our deputy sheriffs. Hey, hold on a sec, would you?” In the background Sarah could hear the woman relaying information through the dispatch. A moment later she overheard, “Base to Six. Base to Six. Hey, Thom, can you read? What’s your twenty? Over.” There was a pause. “Base to One. Base to One. Sheriff, do you read? Over.” There was a shuffling noise as the woman returned to the phone. “They went on stand-by a little while ago. I thought maybe they would be back online by now. Guess not.” “They’re both working tonight?” “Yeah. Taking the graveyard shift. Where are you right now?” Sarah looked around. “I’m in a phone booth down the street from a motor lodge.” “The Harvest Moon. Okay, I know exactly where you are. Look, I can’t give you Jeb and Hannah’s phone number. You understand, don’t you? But I can give you directions to their place. Right now you’re on the spur. Keep heading toward town, and you’ll reach Main. Turn left. You can’t miss it. It’ll be the first light you come to.” Sarah glanced down the road. In the distance she could see a pinpoint of light. A red light. No, now a green light. It was the traffic signal on Main. “Okay. Then what?” “After about six miles you’ll come to Mill Road. Hang a right. About a quarter of a mile down Mill Road will be a little dirt cut-off to your left. Be careful or you’ll miss it. It’s not marked. That road goes straight to their cabin about another half-mile in. It should take you maybe ten minutes to get there. If you miss the cut-off, you’ll end up at the lumber mill. I’ll keep trying to reach Thom and Sheriff Klotsky to let them know you’re here.” “Thank you. I really appreciate your help,” Sarah said. One final burst of energy was seeping into her system. One final surge of strength to help her reach her destination. And then she could collapse,

hopefully in Simon’s arms, and spend the rest of the night sleeping to the rhythm of his heartbeat. “If you have any trouble, just call me back, okay?” “I got it, Miss…” “Call me Summer. Good luck, Miss Drumman.” “Call me Sarah,” she giggled. “All right, Sarah. Drive safely.” The woman hung up as Sarah ended the call. No more than ten minutes, the woman had said. Sarah glanced at her watch. It was nearly onethirty in the morning. She couldn’t remember the last time she had stayed up this late. Eleven was usually her bedtime, right after the evening news. The stretch out of the car helped to revive her enough to clear her head. Her eyes still watered from the strain of driving such a long distance, but she was so close to her goal now that the aches and pains no longer mattered. After sliding back under the steering wheel, she followed the road to the intersection and the signal light. Turning left, she began to keep an eye on her odometer, clocking off tenths of a mile. There hadn’t been any traffic other than herself for the past hour. She had begun to feel like the only person left alive on the planet until she spoke with Summer at the sheriff’s office. Just prior to the gauge reaching the third tenth of a mile, Sarah saw a green sign reading MILL ROAD, with an arrow pointing to the right. She turned onto the tarmac and began watching for a dirt path, hoping she would spot it with the headlights. It wasn’t long before she realized she had missed the cut-off, and she cursed herself. It was late, she was exhausted, the night was pitch black out here in the middle of nowhere, and she had no idea how to get where she needed to go. Furthermore, there was no way she could turn around and go back, not on this one-lane road that had no shoulders. No, she would just have to go to the mill and hope there was a place to turn around there. She debated for a moment whether to call the sheriff’s office again but decided to give herself one last chance. No sense making a total fool out of herself if she could help it. The road was pitted in places. She tried to swerve and avoid the worst postholes. The edge of the road sloped sharply down into drainage ditches. If she was to meet a logging truck bearing a full load and going toward town, she had no doubt as to who would end up in the ditch. The distance seemed to go on forever. She was just about ready to stop and see if she couldn’t swing around by taking tiny baby steps when several amber colored lights appeared up ahead. As she neared the mill she could see more lights. There were also a couple of cars and pickups parked in a lot beside a giant building. “Oh, thank goodness the mill runs twenty-four hours a day!” Sarah breathed aloud. If a second or third pass failed to find the elusive side road to Jeb’s place, surely someone who worked here could either give her better directions or maybe even lead her directly to the house. The road also widened considerably, giving her ample room to turn around right in front of the tall gate. She drove the car a little ways past the gate where the tarmac had been expanded into what appeared to be a visitor’s parking area. Putting it into reverse, she pressed down on the accelerator to back up, when the car lurched and died. “Crap. Now what?” Shifting back into neutral and holding down the brake, she tried to restart the motor. The little engine light came on, and the car growled ominously.

Just. Great . Throwing the gear into park, she turned off the motor and stared at the dark forest surrounding her. With the silence growing louder she could make out sounds nearby and in the distance that she couldn’t identify. Worse still, if she allowed her imagination to run free, the tall pines seemed to draw closer and closer to the mill, like an advancing army of evergreens moving one millimeter at a time. Wearily she got out of the car and turned to look at the lights shining from the other side of the gate. The tall, almost barricade-looking wall was too formidable for her to climb. But where the entrance was she would have no trouble walking in. Grabbing her purse and cell phone, Sarah started for the lumber mill, hoping to find someone who could help at this ungodly hour of the night. She didn’t care if it was the janitor. Just as long as she could finally find the Morr cabin so she could cuddle up next to Simon for the rest of the night. She’d worry about apologies after the sun rose. If the mill worked around the clock, Sarah couldn’t see any sign of activity. Maybe everyone was inside where it was brighter. Surely lumberjacks, or whoever worked in places like this were called, surely they didn’t chop wood or fell trees after dark. She easily managed to squeeze through the gate. Obviously the tall chain mesh wall was there more to stop vehicles than pedestrians. The closer she got to the larger building, the clearer she could see that the lights she had previously believed were on inside were actually outside flood lights. Every window was dark. The walkways and outer yard were empty. A sudden flash out of the corner of her eye got her attention. To her left was a smaller building adjacent to the larger one she had been heading for. A large multi-pane window to the right of the doorway glowed with light. Someone was inside, probably working late, which would explain at least one of the cars and trucks parked nearby. She was halfway across the short gravel yard when a feeling of icy dread crept down her spine. Sarah halted, stunned by the sickly roiling in her stomach that accompanied the bone-chilling cold. What had brought that on? She held a hand to her forehead, but she didn’t feel overly warm to the touch. There was no fever present. At least none that she could tell. It had been a helluva day— —and most of the night— —and it wasn’t over yet. Sarah squeezed her eyes shut and gave a quick shake of her head. She would be worried if she weren’t feeling queasy. Apparently the sickly feeling wasn’t going to go away anytime soon. The last thing she needed, though, was to barf all over the driveway in a strange place more than five hundred miles from home and at a time of the night when decent people were home in bed. A glance in the window revealed computers, desks, and filing cabinets. It was an office of some sort, and that perked up her hopes considerably. An office contained information like phone numbers and addresses. If she couldn’t get better directions on how to get to the Morr residence, they would definitely have a phone number where he could be reached. And if the lights were on, it meant someone was inside. Someone who was putting in some overtime or maybe worked graveyard who could help. Security. Of course! Places like this had to have guards posted after hours. Sarah gave herself a little mental slap across the temple. God, she was losing it. How stupid not to think about security. That’s what this little office had to be. It had to be where the security guards kept their pot of coffee going while they did their rounds of the yard and mill.

She strode up to the door and pounded loudly on it with the side of her fist. “Hello! Hello! Is someone there who can help me? I need help! Hello?” She banged again on the door again, then paused to listen for any sound or movement inside. Surely the guards weren’t all out on patrol. “Hello! Can someone help me?” She grabbed the latch handle and pushed. When the door wouldn’t budge, she tried to pull. The door was locked. Groaning softly, she walked over to the window and peered inside, cupping her hands around her eyes to see in more clearly. The lights might have been on, but there wasn’t a soul inside. “Well, hell.” The guard or guards must all be out on patrol. But they can’t stay out all night, a little voice told her. Sooner or later someone would have to come back to the office, if anything to turn off the lights before they went home. Besides, the cars were all parked at this end. Did guards work shift work? Did they have a “changing of the guard” at some point? Sarah frowned. With the way her luck had been going, she wouldn’t be surprised if there had been a changeover in duties and she had just missed it. Standing there, trying to figure out what her next course of action should be, she never heard the soft footfalls approaching from behind her. She heard nothing at all until an oily voice spoke up from six feet away. “My, my. Ain’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

Chapter 18 Plan “NO!” Simon screamed and tried to fend off Jebaral and Thom’s hold, but the two men together were too strong for him to break away from. “Listen, Simon! You can’t go in there and try to take them down by yourself!” DeGrassi hissed for the second time. “We have to make a plan and stick to it! If you go in all half-cocked, they’ll kill you as surely as they tried to kill Jeb!” “I have to save her,” Simon protested in a weak whisper. He was being torn apart inside. Knowing his life mate was being taken captive by Pycee’s men, the same men who had shot his brother, was a living fire wreaking devastation on his soul. “We know,” Tiron agreed. She had placed her hands on his shoulders and was pressing down to keep him still long enough so they could talk reason into him. “And you will. We promise. But first we have to find out where they’ve taken her.” She glanced up at Jebaral. “Can you draw us a diagram of the interior of that part of the mill?” Jebaral nodded, releasing Simon’s arm and collapsing into one of the kitchen chairs. Seeing his brother’s paled face, Simon stopped fighting. A fresh blossom of blood was beginning to stain the gauze bandage wrapped around Jebaral’s chest, and guilt momentarily replaced his anger and horror. “Forgive me, Jebaral.” He bowed his head as another wave of fury shuddered through his body. Barely ten minutes ago, DeGrassi had received the phone call from dispatch letting him know Sarah Drumman was in town and looking for the cut-off to the Morr cabin. Almost at the same time, Wendy had phoned to say she’d spotted a silver Eagle pulling over to use the booth on the next block. Simon had also been aware of her drawing nearer and nearer. He had focused on that tenuous thread connecting them, hoping to draw her to him. But when she passed the almost invisible dirt turnoff, his worry grew. It was when he felt her rising terror slicing through him like an invisible knife that he knew his worst fears had come true. Hannah grabbed the writing pad she kept by the refrigerator to make her grocery list and placed it and a pen on the table next to her husband. Wiping a hand over his sweaty brow, Jebaral began sketching the interior of the main part of the mill as he explained its setup. “This area is where we initially trim the trees, removing the outer bark and limbs. There’s very little space between the shredder here and the first set of saws here. Over on this end is where the logs are ripped according to the size needed.” “Where are the planks loaded?” Tiron asked. “Outside on pallets underneath the sheet-metal roof. The order has to stay clean until it’s delivered. We only fill one order at a time, which means we rip one size until we get our quota before re-sizing the saws to cut another length.” “What’s over here below the offices?” DeGrassi asked, pointing to a section ringed by boxy figures. “It’s an open area, about the size of a small room.” Jebaral paused, thinking. “From the office on the second floor you can see the whole mill. There’s a flight of stairs that lead from the office to this

open area.” “Where are the doors?” DeGrassi asked. “Here, here, and there are a set of double doors here,” he replied, quickly sketching them in. “Windows?” “Three on each side except where the office is located.” DeGrassi nodded. “All right. Perfect. We already know these men are not averse to setting things on fire. My guess is since that tactic hasn’t worked, they’re gonna start dismantling the machinery, hoping to either slow the mill down further or cause injury when the workers try to use the sabotaged machines.” “Not very smart,” Jebaral snorted. “If they don’t know what they’re doing, they could lose a hand or worse.” “Then that’ll be their problem, now, won’t it?” DeGrassi grinned. Simon glanced around and noticed someone conspicuously absent. “Is the sheriff back from Big Oak?” Crossing his muscular arms over his chest, the ex-detective shook his head. “We’re keeping him deliberately in the dark about this in case he’s dragged into court. I’ll coordinate our strategies. Jeb, are you sure you’re well enough to take part?” “I can give you backup, but that’s all.” The alien looked at his older sibling with worry. “Simolif, it’ll be up to you and Tiron to stop these men. I’ll go in to release her. Can you handle it without my help?” “What if she fights you?” Tiron brought up, knowing that Sarah had yet to find out that an alien race did live on her home world as she’d expected. Jebaral answered with a tiny shrug. “I guess we’ll cross that ocean when we come to it,” he admitted, putting his hand to the wound. “Bridge,” both Hannah and DeGrassi corrected simultaneously. Then they broke out in laughter when they realized what they’d done. However, the laughter would prove to be short-lived.

Chapter 19 Prisoner Sarah ran for the front gate, pounding the gravel as fast as she could. Unfortunately, the oilyvoiced man had expected her to make a run for it. She felt him snatch at the back of her blouse as he snarled in anger. The thin material ripped, and she gave a little shake to dislodge his tenuous hold as she put on one last burst of speed and energy. The narrow gate where she had squeezed through was looming closer and closer, when a hand grabbed her hair and jerked downward. The sudden stop nearly separated her skull from her spine. Sarah’s feet went forward, out from under her; her legs swung up as tearing pain ripped through her skull. Before she could scream, she landed heavily on her back on the gravel roadway, knocking the air out of her lungs. In the next instant the man landed on top of her and was reaching for her breasts, tearing away the last of the cotton blouse and shoving a hand down her bra in his eagerness to have her. “Thought you could get away from me, huh? Thought you could run faster than me, huh?” She fought him, scratching at anything she could reach, but she kept her nails too blunt to do much damage. The man casually batted away her attempts to stop him as he sat on top of her hips. His breath was foul and his hands were cruel as they pinched and bruised her flesh. “Sweet bitch, you are. Got some titties on you, don’t’cha? Gonna let me have at those titties now, ain’t’cha?” She couldn’t yell, couldn’t scream, couldn’t do anything except punch futilely at the man roughhanding her. She managed to get one good slap to the side of his face, which only made him angrier. He snarled again and landed a heavy back-handed punch to her cheek. Fresh pain momentarily stunned her, eliciting a weak yelp from her raw throat. “Teach you to fight me, bitch!” He was holding her wrists together now in one large hand. The other continued to mash and squeeze her bared breasts, as if he had sole and exclusive rights to them. Sarah struggled against the lingering pain and his manhandling, when she heard an inhuman roar echo through the darkness. The virulent anger evident in its sound was enough to make them both pause and listen. In the back of her mind Sarah realized she’d heard that sound before. That same scream promising violence. But her terror-stricken mind couldn’t place the when or where. Not just yet. The roar came again, sounding as horrific as it did the first time, only this time it was closer. It was also too much for the man pinning her down. He muttered something she couldn’t catch as he scrambled to his feet and hoisted her to hers. Sarah swayed slightly. The jerk on the back of her skull and the blow to her face still fogged her ability to think or see clearly. The man gave her a little shake, irritated by her difficulty standing on her own. “Let’s get you inside and let Raynes decide what to do with you.” He shook her again, a bit rougher, and new waves of pain flashed throughout her body, making her nauseous. Sarah gritted her teeth. Even if she could throw up on the man, it had been a long time since she’d eaten anything. There wouldn’t be anything left to regurgitate. He half-dragged, half-carried her toward the large building, keeping both of her wrists trapped in one hand. Her breasts felt the cold night air, as they remained bare for anyone to see. But the throbbing in her head and along the side of her face prevented her from feeling any embarrassment. There was more at stake here than just her modesty.

The oily-voiced man slid back a door and pushed her ahead of him. Sarah stumbled over the threshold but managed to keep her footing. Once inside he continued guiding her through the huge building, past rows of machinery she couldn’t identify but knew were used in the lumber-making process. Up ahead someone must have heard them enter. “Dreese?” “Yeah,” the oily-voiced man yelled back. “Find anything?” “Oh, yeah,” Sarah’s captor chuckled. “A sweet little cherry just landed in our laps!” “What?” They suddenly emerged from the jungle of bands, belts, and conveyors to an open area, where another man stood at the top of a flight of stairs. Sarah’s eyes widened at the sight of the gun the man was holding. It wasn’t a shotgun. It looked more like one of those illegal weapons used by the military. An Uzi, or something like it. The man’s expression also revealed his astonishment to see Sarah being hustled forward. Dreese laughed, delighted. “This little lady is the driver of that vehicle we saw pulling in. Where’s Raynes?” “Him and Longmanger are over in the manager’s offices. They said they’d be back shortly. Are you sure she’s alone? What happened to her shirt?” Dreese ignored his questions. “I need a chair. Throw one down here!” The armed man disappeared into an office-like area at the top of the stairs, reappearing a moment later with a wooden chair, which he dropped over the railing. The sound of the heavy chair landing on the concrete floor echoed through the empty building. Dreese pulled her over to where it lay, uprighted it, and shoved her into the seat, releasing her wrists. Then, lifting one of his muddy boots, he shoved it into her lap and began undoing his belt. Sarah stared at the sight of the man’s hands pulling the strap from the loops. There was no mistaking the thick bulge in the man’s jeans, and immediately her mind flashed back to that night at the college when she had nearly been raped. Dreese saw her consternation and grinned, reveling crooked, yellow teeth. “Soon enough, sweet cherry pie. Soon enough. Let’s first get you settled in so we can get our business done.” He tied the belt around her arms and wrists before looping it around the slats in the back of the chair. When he was finished, he tugged on the makeshift binding to check it. “Hey, Prowski! Gimme some duct tape!” “What’cha gonna do with her?” the man asked, tossing down a roll. Again Dreese ignored him and tore off a strip of tape before swiping it over Sarah’s mouth. She struggled against his abuse, to no avail. Then, to further humiliate her, once the tape was firmly squelching her cries, he reached down and squeezed a breast. The act was not missed by the armed man watching from overhead. “Oh, shit, Dreese! We ain’t got time for that!” “Maybe not now. But later.” “Later for what?” a third voice chimed in. The sound of it caused Dreese to stop what he was doing and whirl around. Sarah stared up at the

men entering the building from one of the side doors. Two of them were carrying the same kind of gun the man on the stairs was holding. She assumed the others were also armed, but less conspicuously. The man in front wore a pair of coveralls like the others, except for the fact that his were spotless. And practically new looking, as if he never bothered to dirty his hands, much less get any sort of filth or stain on him. That man gave her a look of disdain, then turned to Dreese, who clearly appeared to be enjoying the whole scenario. “What’s she doing here?” he bluntly asked. “She was driving that car we seen pull in a few minutes ago.” “Who is she?” The man glanced back at her, taking in her half-dressed state and the redness along one cheek. “What the fuck are you doing here this time of night?” “This says her name is Sarah Drumman,” another man broke in. Sarah couldn’t turn to see where he was. It hurt too damn much to try to turn her head, but it was evident Dreese had brought along her purse and dropped it nearby. She could hear the man rifling through her wallet. “She’s got an employee ID from Northern State University at Templeton. What is she doing here?” “Clearly she’s not connected with the law,” the lead man commented in a sarcastic tone. He leveled his eyes back on her and asked her directly, “Do you have any business here at the mill?” Sarah tried to answer him, but the tape effectively sealed her lips shut. Finally managing a decent breath, she slowly shook her head. “Then why are you here? Do you have family nearby? Do you have family who works here?” Family? No, they weren’t family. Not yet. Maybe never. She shook her head again. “Are you lost?” Bingo. Tears suddenly sprung into her eyes. Closing them, she slowly nodded, although the pain continued to race around the inside of her skull like little electrical currents randomly zapping her. The admission seemed to ease the tension a tiny bit. “Great. Just fucking great. And I’m holding you totally responsible, Dreese!” “Me?” The man appeared genuinely surprised. “You should never have approached her,” the lead man accused. “You should’ve just let her look around, then let her be on her way. No harm, no foul.” He gave an irritated growl. “Now we have to worry about what to do with her, on top of everything else.” “Don’t worry about her,” Dreese quickly cut in. “I’ll take good care of her. Once I’ve had my fun, no one will ever be the wiser.” ‘No one will ever be the wiser?’ Sarah blinked against the second influx of tears and gave a silent prayer of thanks that she had contacted the sheriff’s office when she’d arrived. Summer knew she was in town and where she was heading. Once they found her car they would come looking for her at the mill. Unless these men do something with my car. The unbidden thought struck her like a lash of fear. In the next heartbeat the lead man voiced that same fear. “Goodling, go see if you can’t do something with her car. If the loggers show up in the morning and see it, they’ll know a stranger has been here.”

One of the men in the small group gave an affirmative and dashed out. Sarah wondered how soon it would be before he was back to let them know the car couldn’t be moved. A crackling noise got everyone’s attention. The lead man pulled a walkie-talkie from the pocket of his coveralls. “This is Raynes. What’cha got, Priller?” “Work’s been completed here at the main hoist,” the tinny voice replied. “Next time they try to retrieve logs from the river, it’ll totally collapse.” “Good, good,” Raynes smiled. “We’re almost finished here. Come on in.” He glanced up at his man overhead. “Come down. As soon as Goodling gets in, we’re leaving. And this one is all yours, Dreese, got that?” he added, pointing a finger at the man. “No problem here, I promise,” Dreese repeated. Raynes gathered his other men around him. Dreese joined them, which left her temporarily alone. Whatever good that did her. The belt around her wrists was tight and secure. Even if she managed to get to her feet and try to make a run for the door, she would have to drag the heavy wooden chair along with her, which would impede her to the point where they’d catch her before she could take a dozen steps. Worse, her head was killing her. She desperately wanted to cry but restrained herself as best she could. The last thing she needed to add to her misery and degradation was to have her nose running down the front of her taped mouth. Her situation wasn’t bad; it was critical. Yes, the sheriff’s office knew she was here and looking for Simon… Simon. Sarah felt that lurchy twist inside her heart at the thought of him. She’d totally forgotten about her possible heart problem since that first time. That first day. That day she’d met Simon. Funny how her heart problem hadn’t resurfaced since that day. Until now. Was there some kind of connection? Or was it trying to tell her something? Was it trying to predict how he would totally capture that part of her, then go on to claim her mind and her body, as well as her soul? Simon. Simon. Oh, God, how I wish you were here now. How I pray you could come sweeping into the room just in the nick of time to save me like you did that other night. Her face grew hotter as the tears she fought to contain rose in her eyes. At that moment she realized that if she should die, the only thing in life that she would miss would be the feel of his arms around her, and that dark, lilting voice whispering in her ear. The agony of missing him grew steadily worse. Simon…I never got the chance to tell you how much I love you. Simon… The tears wouldn’t stop. Neither would the horrible pounding in her chest that made her bow her head and try to ride out the ache that only got worse. Like a blossom slowly unfolding, she first felt it in the pit of her stomach. It was a warmth. A shining spirit of calmness. It gradually grew larger, spreading out fingers that stroked and caressed her as it began to fill her. Stunned, Sarah could sense that someone was doing this to her. Someone was sending her this unspoken message of hope that continued to branch out leafy green vines like spring promising a renewal. How this was happening to her was incomprehensible. Who could be sending it to her was even more of a mystery. But the feeling of being protected was undeniable.

The warmth dried up her tears. Her pounding headache eased—not totally, but enough to allow her to think and see with more clarity. Sarah sat up in the chair and glanced over where the men were still talking. Their leader, Raynes, glanced at his watch in irritation. “Where the hell are you, Priller? What’s taking you so fucking long to get back here?” he hissed into the walkie-talkie. Static answered him. “Want me to go look for him?” one of the men volunteered. “No. If he’s not back in five, we go ahead and set those charges. Follow the plan as we discussed. Goodling!” Again dead air answered his call to the man who had gone to remove Sarah’s car. “What the fuck is going on?” Raynes grumbled. “I would lay even odds that you’ve been busted,” a loud voice called out from the far end of the mill, followed by the distinctive sound of a shotgun being pumped. All eyes went instantly to the big man in uniform standing inside the doorway. The huge rifle resting on his shoulder was aimed directly at them. Before any of them could make a move or a sound, the officer called out, “Don’t anybody move. You’re under arrest.” Sarah didn’t see Raynes make any kind of gesture, but two of his men split up and slowly began to walk the perimeter on either side of the building. She could immediately see what they were intending to do. So did the officer. “Nice try, Raynes, but did you honestly think I would come here by myself? This building is surrounded. We already have your accomplices tied up outside and waiting for you to join them.” The officer nodded at the man approaching closest to him. “Keep coming, jerkwad, and see what happens.” The man froze. Then, to Sarah’s astonishment, the officer directed his attention to her. “Sarah, which one of these cretins hurt you?” Unable to think or act, or even to wonder how he would know who she was, Sarah raised her face toward Dreese, giving a tiny nod in his direction. The officer seemed to understand. “One last warning, Raynes. Call back your dogs before they come any closer. You’ll be escorted over to Big Oak to face charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, and extortion, on top of the page full of other niceties you’ve managed to rack up.” Raynes, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke. “Nice try, Deputy. Keep going, men. Can’t you tell when he’s bluffing? If we really were surrounded, they would have stepped in by now. No…he’s called for the cavalry all right. It just hasn’t gotten here yet.” Oddly, a big grin split the deputy’s face. “Think I’m bluffing? That’s good. That’s good. Then go ahead and come after me, gentlemen, and you’ll see how much I’m bluffing. Only let me warn you guys about one very important thing. That little lady sitting over there? The one you’ve been smacking around and humiliating? The next man who touches her is going to be sorry he did.” His last words echoed in the big room, an apocalyptic voice fading into the darkness. Sarah could tell by the man’s stance that he was totally aware of where the men who were sneaking up on him were located. But he also seemed to be waiting for some sort of signal. “Aw, fuck this!” Dreese sneered, and he pulled out a massive handgun from the back of his pants. As if on cue, the others raised their machine guns to aim at the officer, and Sarah felt the scream rise

into her throat. That inhuman roar she had heard only two other times in her life suddenly tore through the building, chilling the blood in her veins. There was the sound of glass breaking, and with an immense explosion three of the upper windows detonated from the outside in, spraying glass over everyone below. Three creatures came flying through the windows, shrieking that inhuman sound that terrified her like nothing ever had before in her life. Sarah blinked against the sight of their horrific features as they landed amid the men with the guns and began swiping at them with immense claws. A scream gurgled in the back of her throat. She struggled helplessly as the monstrous aberrations continued to fight. And although there were twice as many of Raynes’s men as there were of them, it was clear the creatures had the advantage. Blood flew. The carnage intensified. A man screamed as one of the creatures with hands like blades sliced one arm into ribbons. Another man got off a short round of bullets before another monster grabbed him and shoved him against one of the mill’s machines. There was a soggy crunch, and the man slid unconscious to the concrete floor. More shots went off. She heard more of that unearthly growling, followed by more screams. Sarah tried to find where the deputy had gone, but it was too chaotic to see anything but the press and confusion of bodies. Or to hear anything but the grunts and cries from the men as they wrestled against the beasts who were overtaking them. What seemed at first to be a lopsided confrontation quickly turned in the other direction. Despite their weaponry, Raynes’s men were no match for the sheer strength and savagery of the terrifying monsters. Something cold pressed hard against Sarah’s temple, and she froze. “Back off if you want her alive!” It was Raynes. She couldn’t see where he was standing behind her, but she could see the side of the Magnum that was leaving a welt on her forehead. The fighting ceased, stopped as suddenly as if someone had thrown a switch. “I mean it! Let me go, or this little lady you’re so anxious to save will be just another unlucky victim tonight,” Raynes threatened. Every word he spoke was the absolute truth, and they all knew it. She raised her eyes to see the creatures standing a little more than a dozen yards away, and her eyes widened. Two of them were male. They had on what looked like camouflage-printed briefs. One wore a wide, blood-soaked bandage around his waist. The other monster, the third one, was female, if the slimmer figure and what looked like breasts were the real things. Although Sarah wasn’t quite sure, there also appeared to be wing-like membranes attached between the creature’s arms and outer thighs. The female’s unusual one-piece bathing suit was dark green. The realization made Sarah take a mental step back. Since when did monsters wear bathing suits and briefs? “Not a smart move, Raynes,” the deputy commented. He had come up the aisles and was now standing behind the three creatures who remained at a half-crouch, ready to spring at them at the slightest opening. They were all breathing heavily from their exertions, but Sarah got the distinct impression that they were more concerned about keeping her safe than taking these men apart. Raynes pulled back the hammer. Sarah felt her heart leap into her throat. “I have a one-pound pull

on this trigger. A good sneeze will make it go off. Do you really want to test it, Deputy? Call off your monster squad!” “If you kill her, I will personally rip your entrails from your body and make you watch,” the creature on the far left hissed. Ohmygod! She blinked. It sounded like…Simon’s voice! But that was impossible. Behind her, Raynes chuckled. “Then I guess you could say we’re at an impasse. If I kill her, I’m dead. But if I let her go, I’m dead. In my book that’s a lose-lose situation.” “You don’t have to die, Raynes,” the deputy said, although his shotgun never wavered from where it was aimed at the man standing behind her. “Put the gun down and step away from her.” “And then what’ll happen to me?” “You’ll testify against Pycee for the trouble you and your men have been paid to make at the mill,” another one of the monsters said. He snarled, revealing rows of thin, needle-like teeth. Befuddled, Sarah could only stare at the blood-covered, human-looking creatures. The one to her left, the one with Simon’s voice, continued to stare more closely at her than at the man behind her. She stared back, aware of the gore splattered across his chest and arms. Blood dripped from the tips of his huge claws at the ends of his hands. His mouth moved, a thin slit in his green mottled face, and that warmth that continued to keep her sane and focused grew warmer, reaching all the way to the tips of her fingers and toes. She sniffed, and the unmistakable scent of mint carried over to her. Sarah took another breath. Mint. Ohmygod! Her eyes were riveted on his, on the creature’s eyes. On pale blue eyes filled with glittering jade fragments. Oh, dear God, no! Sarah had no idea what these murderous creatures might do next, but by the tone of Raynes’s voice, and the hesitancy of the people in front of her, it wasn’t promising. Neither was this a High Noon scenario, waiting for who would back down first. Or who would draw first. Too bad Mr. Dreese neglected to tie down her feet. Sarah kicked herself backwards as hard as she could. The chair plowed into Raynes’s stomach, throwing him off-guard and off-center. The Magnum went off. Somewhere the bullet ricocheted off a piece of machinery, but not before the creature to her left leaped forward to snag Raynes in his grasp. Sarah fell onto the floor, gasping at the painful jarring from her tailbone to the top of her skull. She opened her eyes in time to see the greenish creature lifting its bloody claws to rip out the man’s throat when the deputy grabbed it by the wrist and hissed, “Not here. Not in front of her.” They both glanced down at where Sarah lay helpless, watching them in return. “Go help Jeb,” the officer ordered in a low voice, so low she almost didn’t catch it. The creature gave Raynes one final glare that was hot enough to melt steel, then released him to the deputy. Raynes grimaced at the cuffs tightening around his wrists. “All you got is circumstantial evidence,” he muttered. “On the contrary,” the officer commented. “I think we can prove a pretty good case of kidnapping,

assault, and battery, not to mention possession of illegal firearms. Come on.” He gave the man a shove toward the door. Glancing over his shoulder, he spoke to the female creature who stood nearby. “Tir fiondor?” “Migar gohonna dirindiris,” she responded. Sarah could swear a tender look passed between the two, then the three creatures turned to exit out the back. But before they did, the one male that reminded her so much of Simon paused and glanced back at her. He started to say something when the wounded male stopped him with a shake of his head. The trio left, leaving Sarah alone, half-naked, and lying helpless on the concrete floor, surrounded by a half-dozen broken, bloodied, and some seriously injured men amid the shattered glass. She gave a shaky sigh. She couldn’t think, couldn’t move. There wasn’t a damn thing she could do except wait for someone to come release her. Whenever that would be. Physically exhausted beyond normal limits, and mentally drained, she had no recollection of slipping into unconsciousness.

Chapter 20 Revelation “Sarah?” The word came from far away, as though it was being spoken from the end of a long, long tunnel. At first she wasn’t sure she’d heard it, until it was repeated. “Sarah?” Slowly she managed to open her eyes. She was sitting upright in the chair again, not lying on the floor where she’d pushed herself. “Sarah, can you see me? Can you understand me?” Somehow she was able to focus on the man bending over her. To her surprise it was the deputy. Frantically she tried to scan the area around him, but he was adamant about her keeping her eyes directly on him. “Shh, shh. Don’t try to talk. Just nod. Are you in any pain?” Pain? It was then she realized her hands had been freed, but her arms lay down by her sides. Sarah looked down to see that the officer had draped his shirt over her nakedness. Her hands involuntarily reached up to clutch it. “I c-can talk.” She forced herself to swallow around a parched throat and took a deep breath. Faintly she remembered to test it for the fragrance of mint, but the scent eluded her. Sarah frowned. “No. No pain.” “Let’s try to get you up on your feet, then. Careful now.” The man took her elbow with one hand and drew the other arm around her waist to support her. Gradually she got to her feet and managed to keep her balance. “Would you rather I carry you?” “I…I need to go…” “I’m taking you there,” the man told her. “Don’t worry.” Sarah gave him a confused look. Did Summer tell him about her? It would make sense then how he knew her name. “Who are you?” The man grinned. “Thomas DeGrassi. Now, let’s see if you can make it out to the car.” “My car is dead.” “We figured as much. There’s probably a short somewhere in the system ’cause it’s got enough gas. Come on. Let’s get you out of here and over to the cabin.” “S-Simon.” She stopped and put a hand on his arm. “I have to see Simon.” The tears were rising again. There was no way she could adequately explain to Simon what had happened to her once she saw him again. All she could do was pray he would let her rest until she was finally able to put two coherent words together. DeGrassi nodded. “He’s waiting for you at the cabin. Come on.” At the cabin? Taking a deep breath, Sarah took another couple of steps, when her eyes flew open and she looked around at the mess surrounding them. The blood remained as proof she hadn’t imagined

the whole horrifying scene. But the bodies were gone. She threw a questioning glance at the deputy. “They’re already taken care of. My job is to get you safely home.” “Are they…dead?” “No, but I’ll bet a couple of them wished they were. Let’s go, Sarah. It’s nearly time for the first shift to arrive.” “If Simon knows I’m here, why didn’t he come for me?” DeGrassi gave her a look that she couldn’t interpret. But she would bet everything she owned that he was hiding something from her. Something he didn’t want her to know for some reason. She couldn’t begin to guess. Until it struck her full in the face. The green creature whose voice sounded like Simon’s. The blood-smeared monster with Simon’s light blue eyes filled with green flecks. The frightening beast that tried to protect her. Ohmygod. Ohgodohgodohgodohgodohgod… “Th-that was him…wasn’t it? That…thing…it was Simon, wasn’t it? Somehow…it’s him.” DeGrassi dropped his eyes and stared for a moment at his feet. “Come on,” he finally said, giving her a little nudge. “We’ll talk on the way.” “Wait.” She took a moment to turn the shirt around and slip her arms through the sleeves, buttoning it up before rejoining him. Outside the world looked a little more normal. There were a few ambulances and one black hearse. There were also three vehicles sporting the Russup County logo on the doors. One older gentleman dislodged himself from the knot of men gathered by one of the cars and walked over to where she and the deputy stood waiting. He tipped the brim of his hat at her. “Miss Drumman, I’m Sheriff George Klotsky. I’m happy to see you survived this ordeal.” “Your Welcome Wagon leaves a bit to be desired,” Sarah quipped, adding a smile. The sheriff grinned, relieved, in return. “It’s nice to see you’ve managed to retain your sense of humor. Thom, you might want to take her over to the ambulance and have those head wounds looked at.” “No,” Sarah protested. “No. I want to see my fiancé first. I want to see Simon.” “I understand that, Miss Drumman, but we’re going to need to take some pictures. Get evidence of your injuries. You understand, don’t you?” “It’s okay, Sarah. As soon as we’re done here, I’ll take you home. You have my word,” DeGrassi told her. Nodding slightly, she allowed the deputy to lead her over to one of the emergency vehicles, where a tech quickly took her vitals and noted details of her injuries, including the shredded blouse and bruises to her upper torso. While the man went to fetch a camera, Sarah tried to ask DeGrassi about what she had seen inside, but the man motioned for her to remain silent. She obeyed. Not much later the tech put a small bandage on the cut above her cheek and declared her fit to be released. DeGrassi helped her over to his car and placed her in the passenger seat. Sarah waited quietly

for them to get past the gates before speaking. But by then she had had time to fit a few more pieces of the puzzle together. “What are they? Are they human?” “No,” the deputy replied softly. “They’re aliens from another planet.” She glanced at him to see if he was serious, but she already knew he was by the tenseness evident in his body language and by the set of his face, which she could discern in the dashboard light. “Tell me.” DeGrassi took a deep breath and let it out noisily. “Imagine a world where another species came down and began taking people away. Just siphoning them off like goldfish out of a tank. Simon...Simolif, and Jebaral, and Tiron, they were the goldfish. The species that took them away are the Arra. Following me so far?” Sarah nodded. “The Arra are known throughout the galaxy for enslaving whole races. They have no qualms about exterminating entire species on a planet. But when they took the Ruinos, they realized they’d struck gold.” “Ruin-os?” The deputy nodded. “Barandat Vor was their home planet. It’s a lush, tropical planet much like our Amazonian rainforest. The men there are extremely strong. They have these huge claws on their hands and feet because they use them to till the ground.” The man glanced over at her to see how she was taking it all in. “Ruinos are a peace-loving species. They’re farmers, not killers.” “But they tore into those men like they were made of paper.” “The Arra taught them to fight. The Arra made them fighters because the Ruinos had no other choice if they wanted to survive.” DeGrassi swallowed loudly. “Sarah, the Arra sold them to other worlds, to the highest bidders. And the Ruinos that were too old or sickly to be sold were…eaten.” “What?” Sarah gasped. He nodded again. “I know it’s difficult to absorb it all at first, but I’m telling you the truth.” Sarah crossed her arms over her chest and stared out at the stars lining the heavens. She knew all the constellations. She knew all the names for all the phenomena out there in outer space. The clusters, the gas clouds, the nebulae, comets, meteors—the list was endless, and she knew every minute detail for memory. It was ingrained into her cells as though the information had been born with her. She also knew DeGrassi was telling her the truth. She didn’t doubt anything he was telling her. After all he was— “Oh, God.” She jerked around in her seat, hand to her mouth. “You…you’re married…to—” “To Tiron. Yes.” “The female creature? That was her?” Again the man nodded. He was slowing the car down. They left the rutted main road and turned onto what seemed to Sarah to be nothing more than a path that wove through the edge of the forest. “Good heavens, no wonder I couldn’t find the road!” She glanced over her shoulder. “You’d think that the mill would keep its main road in better condition than that one is.” She got a snort of amusement from the man. “That’s not the main road. The trucks use the main

road that comes out on the other end of town. It’s wider and in much better condition. But townsfolk like to use the one we were on because it’s shorter and closer to town.” In the distance Sarah could see a light steadily growing closer and brighter. The nagging in her stomach that had appeared when she finally accepted the truth about what she had seen was becoming more and more persistent. And nauseating. “Where’s…is Simon here?” She looked over to see DeGrassi shaking his head. “They’re on their way back to the cabin. They should arrive shortly.” He glanced over at her. “Hannah and I need to talk with you first.” He pulled around the makeshift circular drive, stopping in front of the cabin made of hand-hewn logs. It was rustic but appeared to blend right into the woods, as if it were meant to be there. Sarah helped herself out of the car as she stared at the house. “Ohmygosh, this place is awesome!” “Thank you,” responded the woman who had come out onto the porch to greet them. She was young, and blonde, and very beautiful. Almost the perfect match to Simon’s good looks, a little voice niggled in the back of Sarah’s mind. Sarah sighed. “Hi. I’m Hannah. I’m so sorry we had to meet this way,” the woman said, holding out her arms. Sarah walked into them and immediately felt welcomed. “It’s been a rough day,” Hannah continued. “Has anyone told you that you have a gift for understatement?” Sarah commented dryly. The woman laughed brightly. “Come in. Thom?” She glanced at the big man standing on the steps. “I’m right behind you.” Hannah led her into the cabin, where a profusion of potted plants also lined the walls and hallway. At the sight of all the greenery, Sarah couldn’t help but smile. “I know it’s an ungodly time of the morning, but would you like some coffee?” “Decaf?” “No, but I have some wonderful herbal tea, and I like it even though I’m not much of a tea drinker myself.” “Sure. That would be nice. Thank you.” “Thom?” The deputy held up a hand. “No, thanks. I’ve had all the caffeine I can take for the night. Sarah’s been roughly handled by Pycee’s men. She’ll need a lot of extra attention tonight.” At the tone in his voice, Sarah looked up to see the two of them exchanging looks. She’d taken a seat in one of the kitchen chairs. It was wooden with a tall back, and a little plush pillow was tied to the seat. DeGrassi dropped into a similar chair on the other side of the table. “Do we need to make an appointment to see Dr. Fitzhugh?” Hannah asked. “No. One of the Med Techs examined her and gave her a clean bill of health. But a couple of aspirin might be a good idea to make sure she rests comfortably.” Sarah ran a hand through her hair. At the back of her scalp she felt the crusted bits of blood left from when Dreese had torn out some of her locks. “Please…quit stalling and tell me what’s going on. Tell me about these Ruinos. Tell me I’m dreaming. Please tell me the man I’m in love with isn’t some horrible, grotesque looking creature from the black lagoon.” The microwave dinged. Hannah withdrew the mug of hot water and placed it and the packet of tea

in front of her. Then she took her own seat and waited for Sarah to finish adding sweetener. “What does he smell like to you?” she began softly. “Huh?” “Simon. What does he smell like to you?” Sarah's smile came and went. The vision of a green face kept floating around, just beyond her view. “Mint. Warm, fragrant mint. Not peppermint, exactly. Or wintergreen. Or spearmint. Just…mint.” She glared at the woman. “What does that have to do with anything? Especially what happened tonight?” “Because only true mates can smell each other’s special scents. His marks you, and yours marks him.” Hannah gave her a wistful smile. “He told us you smell like rain. Sarah, listen. I’m going to tell you some flat facts about Ruinos. Whether or not you want to believe me is up to you. But in the end, if you believe me, you will accept Simolif.” “But if I don’t?” “Then…you don’t. Either way, you’re welcome to stay the night here. Alone. Or with Simon. It’s totally up to you. In the morning, if you wish, you can leave and go back to Templeton. No one will try to stop you.” “What about what happened tonight at the mill? Won’t they need my statement or anything?” “We’ll try to work around it,” DeGrassi assured her. “If your testimony is needed, we’ll let you know. But right now we might be able to get a conviction on what evidence we already have.” Sarah nodded to acknowledge his promise. The two people exchanged another look. Hannah cleared her throat before starting. “Thom’s told you about how they got here?” “Hadn’t gotten that far,” DeGrassi informed her. “They were kidnapped from their home world and sold to other species. Or eaten,” Sarah supplied. “Yeah. That’s the PG version. Want to hear the full truth?” Sarah stared at the pert blonde who had suddenly turned hard, as if what she was about to tell her was more difficult for her to voice than it would be for Sarah to hear. “They were beaten and tortured. The women who were unmated were raped repeatedly. Their numbers were decimated to the point that within a few years their entire species was nearly eradicated. The Arra realized this and tried to force the Ruinos women to mate with unmated Ruinos men, hoping they would find their life mates. Unless there is a true joining, Sarah, Ruinos cannot reproduce. The Arra tried to force the Ruinos into reproduction. And when that didn’t work, they tried to mate them to other species.” The venom in Hannah’s voice was disarming. More so was the look of disgust in the woman’s crystal blue eyes. Sarah realized that the tale was more horrifying than she was being told. Hannah continued. “Mated couples were beaten and tortured, forced to bear more children so the Arra could feast on them, or sell them. Many of the couples refused and were tortured to death. One of those couples were Jeb and Simon’s parents, Gitall and Morr. If there’s anything good to be said at this point, it’s the fact that Jeb and Simon had already been sold to a mining planet, and they didn’t witness their parents’ death. But Tiron was there. She saw it all, but there was nothing she could do. The few surviving

Ruinos were kept in tiny cages. She was one of those who were forced to mate with a different species almost every day of her life, from the time she reached puberty, until the time of the revolt.” The last comment drew a frown on Sarah’s face. “How long were they captives?” “Sixteen years,” DeGrassi supplied. “Oh, dear God!” The exclamation escaped her before she was aware of it. Sarah turned stricken eyes to Hannah. “Revolt?” The woman nodded. “There were just two hundred of them left, scattered about on a few of the Arran ships. Jeb and Simon heard about a deal the Arra had made with one species for a dozen of their strongest males. They knew it would mean the end of their race, because that dozen were the last of the unmated males from the remaining population. So they took the chance and rebelled. Thirty-one of them managed to escape the ship before it exploded. And for two years after that they floated around looking for a place to land. A place to call home. Anyplace where they could be free again.” Hannah bit her lower lip. “Would you like more tea?” Sarah stared down in surprise at her empty mug. “No. No, thanks. Go on. They landed here, didn’t they?” “Not here in Tumbril Harbor,” DeGrassi said. “Further west, from what I can gather. They spread out, hoping that if they separated, the Arra couldn’t find them.” “Which only lasted for about five years,” Hannah said. “It’s been nip and tuck. Twice they’ve managed to find us, once here and once in Crescent City where Thom and Roni came from.” Sarah turned to the deputy. “You managed to escape?” “No. I blasted them into a gooey mess. Before they managed to find Roni, she and I had become blood mates, so I was aware of when they took her.” “Blood mates?” The feel of Hannah taking one of her hands and clasping it between hers drew Sarah’s attention back to the young woman. “Okay. More truthfulness. Sarah…when you think of Simon, do you get a feeling of warmth in return? Like the most peaceful and serene feeling of love you’ve ever felt in your life?” Stunned, Sarah forced herself to continue staring at the woman’s face instead of at their hands, which lay on top of the table. “That was Simon?” she whispered. “That was Simon.” “How?” Hannah paused for a moment. “The same way he was able to give you your first and only orgasms when you made love.” Sarah jerked her hand away, her gaze bouncing from the woman to the deputy whose faces proved they were speaking the truth. She stopped to stare at the big man who was slowly nodding his head. “Me, too,” he admitted. “That’s nuts,” Sarah snapped. “Are you telling me you’d never had an orgasm until you made love to Tiron?” “I had an erectile dysfunction. Suffered with it since puberty. Oh, I tried,” DeGrassi chuckled. “Believe me, I tried doctors, and remedies, and all sorts of mechanical aides, but none of them worked. Not until I met Roni. Not until I realized I was in love with her, and made love to her that first time.”

“And Simon? He’s…he’s never had an orgasm before?” she persisted. Hannah shrugged. “I know he was forced on board the Arran ship to copulate with other females, but a Ruinos male can only mate with the female who is destined to be his life mate.” She reached out and took Sarah’s hand once more. “Like I said, for a Ruinos, only true mated couples can bear offspring. Without that true mating, a Ruinos woman cannot ovulate. And without a true mating, neither the male or the female can achieve an orgasm.” “But you, me, we’re not Ruinos.” Sarah looked back at DeGrassi. “None of us are.” “Which is why our mating is so miraculous,” Hannah told her with a warm smile. “When they landed here, all they hoped for was to be able to live out the rest of their lives as free people. They have this incredible ability to shape-shift, to look like any humanoid species, which is one of the biggest reasons why the Arra prize them so highly. They took on human form so they could blend in with us. Sarah, they had literally given up all hope of ever finding that one true soul who would complete them. The one who would make them happy for the rest of their lives.” Several seconds ticked by on the clock on the wall, seconds that Sarah used to absorb what this woman was telling her. “A moment ago you called them blood mates. Now you said life mate.” “You and Simon have done something that Hannah and I experienced later. You two have only made love while he was human. Not when he was Ruinos.” She wrinkled her forehead in thought. “What are you saying? That you made love before he was human?” “Not quite,” Hannah said. “I knew I was in love with Jeb before I discovered the truth. When he explained to me how much our connection would grow once we made love in his true form, I knew I would never regret spending the next eighty years or so with him.” On the other side of the table, DeGrassi was nodding as well. “Hannah and I both came upon their real selves by accident. We both had to think about what it meant to love them. The dangers that might occur. But deep in our hearts we couldn’t deny how we felt. I have never felt more blessed or grateful than the night I accepted Tiron into my life. Yeah, I know that sounds corny, but it’s the God’s truth. And Hannah will tell you the same thing. You were meant to be Simon’s life mate. His sole reason for living. And he for you.” Leaning over the table, DeGrassi pointed a finger at her. “That’s why you followed him here to Tumbril Harbor. Because you could no more spend another night away from him than you could stop breathing.” “But he’s not human,” Sarah protested, feeble though it was. “No, he’s not,” DeGrassi answered. “He’s better than human. He’s stronger. He’ll give his life to protect yours…just like he tried to tonight.” Sarah buried her face in her hands. It was true. It was all true. Every word, every emotion, every instance rang with sincerity. “What…what if I can’t face him? I mean…stop and think. He was standing there, dripping blood and gore. Covered in it. Those claws. How can I even entertain the thought of letting him make love to me looking like that?” The look on both of their faces turned to sadness. It was like watching someone throw a switch. After another wordless glance passed between them, Hannah spoke up. “He knew you were in trouble. It took all four of us to hold him down and keep him from charging out of here to save you.” Sniffing, Sarah wiped the wetness from her cheeks. “Four of you?”

“Me, Roni, Jeb, and Thom. He’s connected to you already. Just as you are to him. That connection is weak. It’s very weak. But once you make love to him as Ruinos, that connection will become a lifeline between you. You’ve felt it, Sarah,” Hannah said. “Maybe you were thinking of him, and then this big blanket of sunshine came over you. Listen. Back at the mill when you were in trouble, at any time did you feel an overwhelming sense of hope come over you?” Sarah sniffed again. “Simon?” Hannah smiled. “Simon. But think of it as a dime’s worth. Now…imagine what it would be like to have a million dollars’ worth.” She suddenly broke off and sat up. Sarah looked over to see the same far-away stare in DeGrassi’s eyes. In the next instant they were back with her, watching her. “They’re out there, aren’t they?” “Yeah,” DeGrassi admitted. “Thom?” Hannah whispered. The man nodded. A moment later the front door opened. Sarah glanced up, gasping, expecting to see the green-skinned monster from the lumber mill. Instead a woman of ethereal beauty and jet black hair ambled into the cabin. She was wearing jeans and a sleeveless blouse worn outside of her pants. Casually she walked over and slipped her arms around the deputy’s neck, dropping a kiss on top of the man’s head in the process. Sarah stared at the young woman and tried to see the creature in the green one-piece who had membrane-like wings running from her arms to her ankles. The female who had sliced one man’s arm to shreds with wicked, knife-like fingers. “Sarah, I’d like for you to meet my wife, Tiron. Or Roni, as she’s sometimes called. T’korra, this is Sarah.” “I am very happy to meet you,” Tiron greeted her with a little smile. Her accent was identical to Simon’s. Sarah gave her a nod. “How did you know to come in?” “I asked her to,” DeGrassi explained. The black haired woman continued to stare unafraid and unashamed at Sarah. Sarah noticed the woman had pale gray eyes with little silvery flecks in them that sparkled like minute mirrors in the light. “You’re a shape-shifter?” “At night. Once the sun rises we’re locked into whatever shape we’ve taken for the whole day. Only at night can we revert back to our true selves.” Tiron looked up at Hannah. “He needs his bandage changed.” Hannah nodded and got up from the table to go over to a kitchen cabinet. While she pulled out what she needed, the front door opened again. This time a tall, dark-haired man entered the cabin. Sarah stared in shock at the heart-stopping features that smiled at her before her eyes caught sight of the blood-stained bandage around his waist. And she remembered the creature at the mill who had also worn the same bloodied bandage. The camouflage briefs had been replaced with a pair of jeans, but he remained shirtless and barefoot. Gingerly he took the chair Hannah had vacated. Sarah watched as Hannah tended to her husband’s wound. “What happened?” she managed to ask.

“One of Pycee’s men shot him,” Tiron spat. “But don’t worry. I made sure he won’t be using that arm to shoot anyone again.” “Roni!” DeGrassi reached up and grabbed one of her hands, giving it a squeeze. Tiron immediately apologized, but Sarah already knew who she was talking about. The wound looked ugly from where Sarah was sitting. Still, Hannah cleaned it with a rag before reapplying a fresh sterile gauze pad and re-wrapping it. The man watched Sarah throughout the whole ordeal. “You’re Jeb. Jebaral,” Sarah said. The man nodded. “Simon said you were brave. He forgot to tell us how brave. What you did back there at the mill took gas.” “Guts, t’kor,” Hannah giggled, giving her husband a pat on the shoulder. “It took guts.” “Thank you, but it was more fear than guts, I assure you.” “No. We are drawn to people with exceptional inner strength,” Jebaral told her. “You are also resourceful and trustworthy, as well as beautiful.” Her? Beautiful? Sarah managed a small grin. “Are your people also great liars?” “We don’t lie,” Tiron broke in irritably, earning her a pat on the arm and a reproachful word from DeGrassi. Jebaral gave an amused snort. “Well, we can be colorful elaborators if the moment arises. Why do you ask?” “Because you called me beautiful, which we all know isn’t true. I’m very plain,” Sarah shot back. “Oh…you mean your outward appearance?” Tiron countered. The truth was like running into a concrete wall at a high rate of speed. These people didn’t judge by outward appearances. In fact, it would be the last thing they would ever consider. “Sarah, whether by Ruinos standards, or human ones, you are one of the most intriguing, brave, beautiful, intelligent, and resourceful women we have ever encountered. Aside from the fact that you have managed to trap my brother’s heart like no one in this universe ever has.” Jebaral leaned over, close enough to where Sarah could see every line and pore on his amazingly handsome face. If she looked up the term “tall, dark, and handsome,” surely she would find his photo next to the description. “Close your eyes, Sarah. Please. You know you’re safe with us, in spite of what we are. And in spite of what you’ve seen us do, which was showing us off at our worst. And I apologize for that. But right now, close your eyes. I want to show you something.” He was right. She knew she was safe. In fact, she was probably safer among them than she would be inside a police station filled with armed cops. She closed her eyes and smiled. “You can’t show me anything if my eyes are shut.” A warm chuckle answered her. It sounded so much like Simon that for a split-second her heart gave another one of those lurchy jumps. “He’s outside. Waiting for you,” Jeb whispered, as if he had heard her thoughts. Her heart lurched again. The face of a blood-covered green creature rose to confront her, and the sight of it erased the smile from her face. “You have that connection between you, Sarah,” Jebaral continued gently. “You can call to him the

same way Hannah calls to me. Except yours is very weak.” “I know. I know. And it won’t get stronger until we make love in his real form. I got it,” she protested softly. “No. I don’t think you got it. You see, Sarah, if that final connection is not made, Simon is afraid your link with him will eventually fade away or break. But his heart, his soul, is already committed. You’re human. You might be able to walk away and not look back. You might have a few days or weeks of missing him, but in the end you’ll be able to pick up your life where you left off and go on.” She heard him take a deep breath. “But he can’t. We’re Ruinos. We mate once. Forever. For the rest of our lives. If my brother loses you, I will lose the only person left in my family.” Sarah frowned, her eyes still closed. “What do you mean? He’ll…die?” “Yes, Sarah. Simolif will die.” “No.” The sound came out of her mouth before she was aware of it. Her eyes flew open to find Jebaral’s staring directly at her. They were a dark brown, the color of melted chocolate. And tiny gold flecks sparkled in them. She raised a hand to point it out. “Your eyes. The flecks. Is that part of being Ruinos?” “It’s the only part of us we cannot change,” Jebaral admitted, sitting back. A flash of pain crossed his face, and he looked over to where Hannah sat nearby. “I need to rest. I need your help. Sarah, I’m sorry.” “Oh, gosh! I’m sorry! Forgive me,” she hurried to say, rising to her feet. Hannah muttered an, “Excuse us, please,” and helped her husband to rise. Slowly they made their way out of the kitchen and down the short hallway, disappearing into one of the bedrooms. Sarah remained standing, watching them go, aware of the way they touched each other, the obvious love that was present in every gesture and every look. “Sarah.” She turned back to where Tiron was nestled in her husband’s lap. “Close your eyes,” the Ruinos woman whispered. She obeyed. “Think of him. Think of how much you love him, and why you love him, and how you came to love him. Then send that thought to him.” Send it to him. I have to make love to him in his Ruinos form, or that connection could be lost. Simon could die. He could die. Die. No. No! Simon, no! The pain in her heart was incredible. Tight, choking, squeezing everything out of her…until a gentle sweetness touched her. Caressed her. His answer, soothing her fears. Reassuring her that it didn’t have to be that way. Loving her even though he understood she might never completely accept him. Sarah took a ragged breath. “How?” “Don’t ask. Just do it.”

Think of him? What was it about him that had made her fall in love with him? Was it the moment in the car when he held her while she wept? Or during the afterglow when they’d made love for the first time? No. Sarah opened her eyes. It was that morning when she looked out her office window and found him looking up, searching for her. He had known she was there. He just didn’t know what she looked like. Not until that moment. And he had smiled when he finally spotted her. Smiled. At her. His life mate. His blood mate. The only woman in the universe who would ever complete his life and bring him joy. Just as he would bring her indescribable happiness for the rest of hers. Her. Sarah Anne Drumman. “Think of him. Think of how much you love him, and why you love him, and how you came to love him. Then send that thought to him.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. Turning toward the door, she called out to him with her heart as well as her mind. Hannah called Jeb t’kor. Is that what I would call you? My t’kor? “Yes. You would call me t’kor.” He was standing in the open doorway, looking fearful and hesitant, yet hopeful for that one chance. Like his brother, he wore jeans and nothing else. More tears rushed into her eyes, but they couldn’t hide the beauty of his human face. Or the one beneath it. Sarah rushed into his embrace, feeling his strength flow into her exhausted body as his arms wrapped around her. His beloved minty scent was everywhere, filling all the dark places inside her with its calming fragrance. She kissed him and noticed how he still held back. “I’ve missed you,” she murmured against his mouth. “No more than I’ve missed you.” “We gotta talk. You know that, don’t you?” “Yeah.” She started to say more when the sound of a door closing interrupted them. Behind her the chairs around the kitchen table were empty. DeGrassi and Tiron had left out the back door to give them privacy. Sarah turned back around and cupped Simon’s face in her hands. She gazed into his eyes and at the perfection of his human self that had captivated so many women. “A true beauty and the beast,” she giggled. “A what?” He tried to smile back but failed. He was trembling with worry and trepidation, she realized. “Come.” Taking his hand, she started to lead him toward the hallway, to the other bedroom she knew had to be in that direction. He balked, holding back. Sarah gave him an exasperated look. “Simolif Morr, do you or don’t you want to make love to me tonight?” “Uh…I…”

“Do you have a tail?” He frowned. “A tail? No.” “Good. Then get that delicious butt over here. Because if you take much longer making up your mind, I’m afraid I’ll fall asleep on you.” To prove her point, Sarah pulled the deputy’s shirt over her head, baring her breasts for him to see. Then she turned her back on him and continued down the hallway, searching for the second bedroom. He met her at the doorway and rushed her inside before she had the chance to giggle with delight.

Chapter 21 Blood Line There was no overhead light switch, but there was a lamp on the nightstand near the door. Sarah switched it on. The simple room contained a queen-sized bed and a wardrobe. Another door at the opposite end of the bed probably led to a closet. But more prevalent was the enormous window that nearly encompassed the entire wall. In its reflection she could see herself, dirty and half-naked. A shadow came up behind her, and she turned around to see Simon by the bed. He remained watching her, once again hesitant, waiting and terrified. Sadly, a smile from her did little to assuage his fear. “Are you all right?” she whispered, suddenly just as shy as he was. “I mean, those men didn’t hurt you or anything, did they?” “No. I’m fine.” “What about Jeb-Jebaral?” This time he gave her a small grin. “We use our human names when we’re in human form, but you can call him Jeb anytime. The doctor says he needs bed rest, but otherwise he’ll be his old self again before long. And now that we know you’re safe, he knows he can relax and mend.” “That was pretty stupid of him, coming with you to try and save me,” she commented, but she was silenced from any further remarks with a wave of his hand. “Ruinos value family above everything else, even our own survival. Both Jeb and Tiron, as well as Hannah and Thom, would risk their lives to save yours. And vice versa…I hope.” The last words trailed off in a whisper. He glanced around the plain room, sighing. Sarah cocked her head at him. “What took you so long getting back to the cabin? Isn’t it closer on foot than by car?” “Yeah, but we stopped at the river to…wash up. And Tiron and I didn’t want to push Jeb.” She nodded, understanding. Silently she climbed out of the rest of her clothing until she stood before him in the nude. “I would really like a hot shower to get this dirt and crap off of me. But I’m afraid that if I do, it’ll relax me into an sleepy puddle. And then we won’t be able to…uhh…I mean, we won’t discover...it.” This was ridiculous, she told herself. The two of them had made love three times already, and yet here she stood in front of him like a virgin waiting to be taken. Yes , a little voice answered her. But the rules have changed. And the stakes have increased proportionally. “Sarah, if you would rather we wait—” Simon started to offer. A sliver of pain slipped into her heart. Sarah immediately identified it as coming from him, but not intentionally. Simon would never hurt her or in any way cause her to be hurt. The pain she felt was an echo of what he was feeling, and knowing that sent a fresh, hot wave of tears to her eyes. “T’kor.” She walked over to him, giving the door a shove to close it. Simon continued to stare at her. The green flecks in his eyes literally swirled with his anxiety. Her hands went to the waist of his jeans and slowly unbuttoned them. Almost immediately she could see his erection swelling against the soft denim, rising with anticipation and hunger. His hands remained by his sides, the fingers balled into fists. His breathing had escalated, and Sarah knew there

was no turning back from what they were about to do. He was going to let her set the pace, and for that she was grateful. Lowering the zipper, she let the pants slide over his thighs and perfect buttocks. His penis sprang clear, literally quivering in the night air. Sarah gently wrapped her fingers around it, and her touch made him gasp aloud. “It’s more intense, isn’t it?” she whispered. “Yes.” She glanced up, still holding him. Shocked, she saw tears on his cheeks. “Ruinos can cry?” “And love. And hope. And suffer. Just like humans,” he replied in a voice gravelly with emotion. Releasing him, she moved close enough so that his member nudged her abdomen like a silken length of iron. “When you change, is it all at once? Or is it a little at a time?” “We, umm, we can change a little at a time.” “What I mean is, can you change just your head? For starters?” “Yes. Slow or fast?” “Slow. I need to adjust to that first, I think.” Simon nodded, adding, “Want to step back a bit?” His own fear made her smile. The man was deathly afraid of losing her, but it would take more than just words from her to convince him there was no longer anything to be afraid of. Seeing his tears, it was as if her heart opened like a new spring blossom. This man had endured things no normal man would never witness. What no normal man would have survived. Yet throughout every horror, he had continued to cling to the hope of finding the one woman he could love for the rest of his life. Do you believe in love at first sight? “Oh, sweetest heavens, do I ever,” she breathed, giving him the warmest smile she could muster. He gave her a frown. “What?” “Change for me, Simolif Morr. Change for me. Please. Now.” The features didn’t move so much as melt. The corn silk-colored hair receded into the skull. The skin darkened. The straight nose flattened slightly. The full lips thinned. The ears became transparent and fan-shaped, wing-like. But the eyes, those incredible eyes that appeared turquoise from a distance, never changed. Blinking, Sarah reached up to touch the green, mottled cheek. It was unbelievably smooth. Hairless. “Soft as a baby’s bottom,” she murmured. “You don’t have a beard?” “No. No facial hair,” the creature spoke. But it was Simolif speaking, not some fearsome monster from unspoken nightmares. The eyes were his. The voice was his. And the heart that beat furiously inside his strong chest was still Simon’s. Sarah sniffed. The minty smell was his, too, and growing more distinct. “Do I really smell like rain to you?” “Yes. Gentle rain. Life-giving rain. Like a refreshing shower,” he told her.

Like a refreshing shower. She liked the way that sounded, rather than being told she smelled like ozone. “Okay. Now your shoulders and arms.” The difference in his upper torso was not as pronounced. But there were some hard, almost leathery portions of skin capping his shoulders. “It’s part of you?” she asked, touching it. Simon nodded. “We have them on several areas of our bodies. They act as a kind of armor.” She lifted one of his hands to gingerly examine it. He had four digits, which surprised her. But rather than fingernails, each extension ended in a huge curved claw. Sarah touched one experimentally. “Don’t worry. It won’t accidentally cut you,” Simon assured her. “Why are yours different from Tiron’s?” “Because she’s female and I’m male,” he answered, amused. Involuntarily, Sarah’s eyes dropped to the still ramrod-stiff erection waiting for her attention. “Oh, yeah. You’re definitely all male.” The comment finally got a chuckle out of him, and she smiled up into his face. “And that’s why she’s also got those cute little wings and you don’t?” He nodded. “Exactly.” “Simon…that night that man tried to rape me, and tonight when Dreese was brutalizing me, I heard a roar. It sounded like an animal roar, but throatier. Inhuman. That was you, wasn’t it?” “Yes. Forgive me. My anger overcame me. Did I frighten you?” “At first. I guess deep down I knew it wasn’t meant for me, so don’t apologize. All right, let’s go with the rest of you.” This time she did step back to take in the full effect. Like his arms and shoulders, the difference wasn’t as drastic as it had been with his face. Sarah could see where his shape-shifting wasn’t so much about changing his body as it was covering his body with an outer disguise. It reminded her of putting on a costume and mask. The human body Simon Morr wore was pretty much a replica of his Ruinos body, only in a different color. Once the transformation was complete, Sarah looked up at him and smiled, and walked into his embrace. This time there was no sense of holding back in his kisses, nor in the warmth which flooded her. They fell onto the bed, disregarding the blanket cover and the sheets. Dawn was a few short hours away, and they both were exhausted beyond words. It would be morning before Sarah knew she could spare the luxury of checking him out more closely. She was looking forward to it. Afterwards, she knew she had the rest of her life to discover all the little differences and nuances in her lover’s makeup. But for now, at this moment, they only needed to do one thing before they could succumb to sleep. Rolling onto her back, Sarah watched as Simon got up on his knees and positioned himself between her thighs. His eyes never left her face even while his hands never stopped caressing her, gliding tenderly over the darkening bruises on her breasts and arms. The wide palms were calloused, but his touch was soothing. The thick claws teased her nipples into aching points. Love warmed her with every stroke. “For a while there,” she confessed softly, “back at the mill, I thought I’d never get to see you again. I was so afraid I’d never get to tell you I love you.”

Simolif smiled. The gesture showed two rows of needle-sharp teeth, but the sight of them didn’t faze her. “Don’t worry. You just did.” Carefully he drew his body over hers, and at the same time he sunk his thick erection deep inside her. Sarah gasped, arching her back as her body swallowed him one slow, penetrating inch at a time. Somewhere in the back of her mind, her irritating little voice kept trying to remind her that this man wasn’t a man, but an alien from another world. A fearsome creature with incredible strength and the ability to tear a person apart with a simple swipe of his hands. Simon withdrew and pressed into her again, this time with a little more force and intensity. The little voice was quieted. Forever. And Sarah sighed with happiness. Lifting her arms, she wrapped them around his neck, leading his face down to where she could cradle it next to hers. One winged ear batted her temple, tickling. Smiling, Sarah brushed a kiss across it. His hips were moving faster now, rocking into hers, pressing her harder into the mattress with every thrust. She was being impaled, and she wanted more. Needed more. Deeper. Harder. The unspoken wish was granted. Simon planted his hands on either side of her body and adjusted himself. Before she could grasp the change, she felt his member thicken even further, stretching her to her limits. And then he claimed her as his blood mate. Sarah cried out. The sensation tossed her head-first into space where her body was being scorched from the inside out. Raw nerve endings screamed, yet Simon continued to pump her, fill her, and drive her totally insane with the power of his lust. Here and now no longer existed. Sarah went blind and deaf under her lover’s assault. Every molecule in her body was attuned to him—to the sound of their bodies blending, to the sound of his ragged breath in her ear, to the low growl in his chest that ignited more heat and more flames inside her. His scent was everywhere, both covering her and pouring into her blood at the same time. There was no longer any ability to think. Her entire soul was reaching for his and finding him ready to take her. His body demanded her absolute subservience; she was more than willing to give it to him. Scenes—places and people, pictures and faces she didn’t know, yet knew intimately and lovingly —swirled inside her mind. Words she couldn’t comprehend but understood filtered into her brain. And phrases of passion and promise in his alien language were there on her tongue, ready to be spoken. Ready to be heard by this unique being taking total possession of her. Her body was lifting higher and higher with every breath-robbing lunge he made into her. Deep within herself, Sarah could feel that bright spark of orgasm ignite. It wove tightly through her abdomen and into her womb, sending more heat to her very heart, where she and Simon were made one. She could feel how the first waves of her peak began to tighten her muscles, literally grabbing him and entrapping him within her shrinking channel, squeezing until she heard him groan with the first throbbing rush of release. Her body sizzled for a fraction of a second before it exploded skyward. Every cell froze against the onrush of her orgasm. The world splintered. Simon jerked, no longer in control of himself. Sarah knew nothing but the heavy lap, lap, lapping of sensations roaring through her blood. There was no longer any need to think or feel as his body filled hers. Gradually, instinctively, their rhythms slowed. Completely lost within him, Sarah curled herself

around Simon. They were both asleep before the sweat on their skin had a chance to cool.

Chapter 22 Family Hannah rolled over, knowing her husband was not beside her before she was fully awake. “Jeb?” “Over here.” He was sitting in his favorite chair by the bay window, looking out at the night filled with stars. She had no idea how long he had been sitting there. She knew he missed being able to go on his nightly run, but in another day or two he would be well enough to resume his evening ritual. “What time is it?” “Almost dawn.” “Almost dawn?” A yawn caught her. “Are you going into work?” She sensed he shook his head. “I’ll phone in sick. Besides, operations will be slowed again today after last night.” “Then what are you doing up? Come keep me warm,” she invited drowsily. He slowly got up and rejoined her in bed, pulling her into his arms as they got comfortable. “What is it you’re not telling me?” she accused softly, smiling. Tentatively she licked the silky skin above his collarbone and got a chuckle in response. “Please, t’korra. I haven’t the energy to make love you to if you keep that up. Look. This is why I’m up. This is what we must rejoice.” He lifted his left arm. In the pale light coming through the window, she could see the sparkle of the thin, thread-like blood lines running from his inner wrist to his elbow. Silently she stared at them. One, two, three— Hannah gasped, and Jeb pressed a kiss to her hair. “Three?” “Yes. Three,” he breathed. Already the tug of healing sleep was calling to him. “We have been blessed.” She started to answer him, but he was already unconscious. Smiling, Hannah snuggled along her husband’s long warmth and let herself drift with him. Tomorrow would be a great day to rejoice.

Chapter 23 Pre-Dawn Sarah resumed consciousness one moment at a time, like snowflakes slowly drifting downward until they covered the ground in a delicate patch of white. It took several more seconds for her brain to shift into gear so she could pinpoint where she was. Or how. Or why. Bed. Warm. Mint. Okay! Three out of three were great odds. Her right arm was protesting quietly. She tried to roll onto her back to relieve the cramp. The slight movement awakened a thousand little demons, each one shrilly reminding her that her body had been abused and used in ways it had never been subjected to before. Sarah started to groan when another body shifted against hers, and an arm slid around her waist. Carefully she peeled open her eyes. The lamp had been turned off. It was dark. Which meant it was either the same night, or twentyfour hours had passed and it was tomorrow night tonight. You’re losing it, Drumman. Flat out losing it. Yeah. So what? It didn’t stop the fact that she finally figured out why she was awake. She had to use the bathroom. Bad. Simon was lying on his side, facing her. Gently, Sarah began scooting backwards and hoped she didn’t awaken him. Little by little, she worked herself out of his loose embrace, until she found the other side of the bed. She got to her feet, swaying slightly. Where would the guest bathroom be located? She hated the thought of putting stained and torn clothing back on, but there was no way she was going to traipse down the hallway in the buff. If Hannah caught her, that would be one thing. But Jeb… On the bed, Simon adjusted his position, drawing her attention back to him. She could see him clearly in the pool of starlight reflected on the covers. His lean, muscular body was beautifully proportioned, sculpted like the finest jade statue. One hand was curled up beside his face. He looked serene. Content. Sarah peered closer, smiling. He had what looked like plates or large scales running down the middle of his back, above his spine. She was tempted to touch them, to see if they were warm or cool, but she resisted. Instead she peered closer, amazed by the perfect contour of his leg and thighs. There wasn’t a single hair on the man’s entire body. Yet, in spite of his green skin and somewhat intimidating features, the man was gorgeous. Hey! No fair being that good-looking whether you’re human or alien! A scrape. Sarah jerked around at the unexpected sound. When it didn’t repeat itself, she wondered if she had imagined it. Then she reminded herself she was in the middle of a forest, right next to a game preserve. There was bound to be all kinds of noises going on at night from the wind and the trees, not to mention the odd little beastie that managed to find its way to the cabin. A twinge from her bladder reminded her why she was awake and not sound asleep within Simon’s embrace. Her eyes caught sight of the door near the foot of the bed. It was most likely a closet. With any luck there might be something inside she could slip on long enough to get her business done and

still retain a bit of modesty in case she bumped into someone on the way to or from the bathroom. The door had a latch handle instead of the usual turn knob. It swung open without a sound, revealing a pitch-black interior. Okay. If this is a closet, it’s the deepest damn closet I’ve ever seen. Blind, she fumbled along the wall for a light switch. No luck. Well, hell. Common sense told her there had to be some kind of lighting. After all, Hannah was human, and she couldn’t see in this kind of darkness any better than Sarah could. Cautiously she inched forward, holding out her arms in the hope she wouldn’t knock her head against anything harder than her skull. The back of her knuckles suddenly struck something smooth and cold. Her fingers closed over it, and Sarah recognized a depression. A sink. In a counter. A bathroom! All right, then! If there’s a sink, there has to be a toilet. With patience and luck, Sarah finally found her target. She hurried to finish while she made a mental note to search out where to turn on the light in the morning. The sound of the flush was barely audible, but in the stillness it stood out like a clanging fire alarm. Back at the sink she washed her hands and drank several cool swallows of the icy water with relief. Turning off the faucet, she started to reach for the door leading back to the bedroom when she heard that scratching sound again. Only this time it was louder. And nearer. The hairs on her head literally stood on end. Gooseflesh pimpled her arms. Jeez, girl! Get a grip on yourself. Since when has a little noise spooked you like this? But something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong. She could taste the fear, as though someone had sprayed something smoky and metallic into the air. “Quit freaking out, Sarah Anne Drumman,” she muttered to herself. Her fingers had finally found the door latch when a wall of absolute terror fell on top of her. Shit! Shitshitshitshitshitshit! Sarah stumbled backward until her hips struck the edge of the cabinet. Her heart was thundering in her ears, and she gasped for air. Her skin was on fire. The darkness no longer held comfort or safety. What the hell was going on? She reached for the door latch again when a new little voice screamed at her. Don’t go in there! Why not? Why? What’s happening? What’s wrong with me, and why am I feeling this way? Another door. Sarah turned around. There had to be another door to the bathroom. One that led out into the hallway. Shuffling in the other direction, she quickly found the other door latch. Very slowly she opened the door, pulling it inward, and eased her head around the door jamb. There was a glow coming from down the hallway. Something greenish-white in color was moving

around the big living room and kitchen area. Sarah frowned, trying to figure out what could be causing it. At first she couldn’t tell if it was from a flashlight, or maybe a car’s headlights were reflecting off of a mirror or other shiny surface. The color reminded her of a giant glow-in-the-dark toy. Regardless, all she was certain about was that it was moving. In the house. Toward the bedrooms. She jerked back the instant the light turned the corner to start down the hallway. The fingernail scraping down her spine sent her warning meter from Danger! to GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE! She started to close the door when a hand suddenly closed around her mouth, and an arm encircled her waist. A scream rose into her throat until a powerful presence filled her head, a presence that promised to protect her with his life, and at the same time tried to quell her terror. There was no chance to ask questions as Simon pulled her away from the door. She could tell he was as terrified as she was, that the soothing calmness he continued to give her was solely for her benefit. Sarah understood his need to protect her, which included sending her signals within their connection that everything would be all right. Twisting slightly in his arms, she whispered into one ear, “What?” Her answer was not spoken. Instead a picture flashed into her mind. Then another, and another. And with them came echoes of past atrocities perpetrated by the beings. Arra. She could feel her skin shrivel with a horror she couldn’t describe. The scenes continued to flash through her mind like vague memories, as if she had been the one to witness each act of degradation. Each moment of torture. Every drop of spilt blood. The Arra had found them, and they wouldn’t leave until they had captured every Ruinos they could find. Including their human life mates. Sarah didn’t need to ask why the humans were crucial enough to be included in their hunt. Hannah had explained it earlier to her. “You see, for a Ruinos, only true mated couples can bear offspring.” “Mated couples were beaten and tortured, forced to bear more children so the Arra could feast on them, or sell them.” The next word was barely spoken. “Come.” Simon started to lead her back into the bedroom when she stopped him, frantically shaking her head. Somehow she had to let him know the Arra were in there. They were in the bedroom she and Simon had occupied, or in the hallway and able to spot them if they went back there. “How many?” Again Sarah shook her head. She held up one, then two fingers, then added a shrug. The inky darkness was impenetrable to her human eyes, except she could see faintly luminescent green sparkles coming from Simon’s eyes. It was then she realized he could still see despite the complete absence of light. They had to get out of there, and quickly. Before she could ask if there was a window somewhere she couldn’t see, Simon moved away from the bedroom door, toward the opposite wall. She heard a faint click, and he pulled her through a third door. Once she was through, he closed it behind her. “Stay.” “Why?” she whispered back. “I’m coming with you.”

“Sarah—” “Damn it, Simon, you’re not leaving me in this house with those things in here!” she hissed. “Let me make sure it’s safe.” She felt his warmth departing from her. There was another barely audible click, and when the door swung open she could see scraps of the night sky between the trees. The diffused light reflected dully off the white enamel surfaces of the washer and dryer beside her. Once he was certain the coast was clear, he turned and motioned for her. Sarah grabbed his hand, and he led her outside. They emerged at the rear of the house where the cars were parked. She spotted Simon’s motorcycle, plus an old pickup and a little sporty model whose type she didn’t recognize off-hand, but she assumed it was Hannah’s. Simon led her further into the woods until they were behind a small barrier of trees. Pulling her into his arms, he could finally speak. “You saved me, t’korra. Thank you.” “Saved you? How?” “Your fear. When you sensed the Arra in the house, your fear woke me. Our connection saved me from being taken prisoner again.” An icy chill numbed her for a split second. In the next instant, Sarah had another frightening thought. “Hannah and Jeb!” “I’ve got to go after them, Sarah. I have to save them from the Arra.” “How?” “I don’t know how. But I have to find where they took them. You said you only saw one or two of them?” “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be more!” she protested. “Simon, you have to call for help! You have to call Thom and Tiron!” “My cell phone is dead,” he told her. The comment reminded her of all her futile attempts to reach him on her trip down. “What about one of theirs?” He answered her with a shake of his head and a heavy sigh. Lips kissed her forehead, reminding her that they were standing out in the woods in the middle of the night without a stitch on. If the situation weren’t so grave, it would have been a wonderfully erotic moment for seduction. Oh, Jeez, Sarah! How can you be thinking about sex at a time like this? “Stay here, t’korra.” “No, wait! You can’t leave me alone out here!” “I have no choice. Stay hidden. Trust your instincts. But above all, don’t try to come with me. Do everything you can to keep from being captured. It’s too dangerous.” A hand tenderly caressed her cheek. “Dio m’silat. In my language it means ‘go with my self.’ Wherever you are, I will be with you, Sarah. We are connected now. Trust whatever you feel.” He pulled away from her, leaving Sarah alone in the chill. No sound gave away his departure, but

she could sense the distance growing between them. Don’t try to come with him? Did he honestly expect her to stay in this one spot while those creatures out there were making off with her brother- and sister-in-law? “Fuck staying here,” she muttered to herself. She had to do something. She couldn’t let Simon go out there and try to fight them alone. She was his mate. She should be beside him, fighting with him, damn it! If there were only two of those things, then they already had their hands full. She’d seen Jeb fighting at the mill, injured though he was. Even when he wasn’t in top form, the man was a powerhouse. She had no doubt Hannah would be equally contentious. Sarah knew she certainly would be if the tables were turned. Simon was going to try and get his family out of the Arra’s clutches. That placed the burden of calling for help on her shoulders. If his cell phone was dead… “Where the hell is mine?” She screwed up her nose and tried to remember the last time she’d seen her purse. Last she could recall, one of Pycee’s men had been going through it. Never mind. She knew Hannah and Jeb had phones. Better yet, the DeGrassis would already be programmed in. All she had to do was go back into the house and find one of them. But was it safe? “Has to be, Drumman. But there’s only one sure fire way to find out.” The only other door leading into the cabin led to the kitchen. Sarah didn’t want to risk going through the laundry room again, just in case an Arra had tried to follow them out. Keeping her eyes on the house, she made her way through the brush. She wasn’t used to running around barefoot. And the forest floor wasn’t littered with soft pieces of foam. Still, she managed to make her way to the back door without too much difficulty, and without spotting any of those glowing piles of Silly Putty. She thumbed the latch and pushed. The door was locked. Sarah blinked in surprise at her hand still resting on the handle. Well, hell. Then how did those— The front door, Drumman. Remember? They came through the living room first. Giving a little irritated growl, she hurried around the side of the house to the front. The earth remained dark and silent. Eerily silent. She stopped for a moment. Freaky silent. Not an insect or a creature was stirring. Not even the wind in the trees. She kept moving. Once she reached the front steps, it was evident the Arra creatures had come this way. The entire front door, including most of the door frame, and some of the logs of the house were gone. Vaporized, or whatever they had done to remove their impediment. Sarah was able to step directly from the porch into the house. Her first instinct was to look for one of the cell phones in the kitchen where she vaguely recalled seeing one. The interior of the house was too dark, but she didn’t dare risk turning on a light. She was reduced to searching by feel. Countertops, stove, sinks… “We all sat around the table,” she muttered, turning around and leaning over to reach the table where she thought it would be. Her fingers struck something that skittered out of the way. Sarah lunged for the cell phone with both hands. “Gotcha.” It wasn’t hers, which didn’t surprise her. She started to lift the ear piece when the feeling of Very

Wrong was back, as strong and odorous as the first time. She dropped to the floor and crawled into the small space behind the refrigerator, next to the kitchen door. Beyond her tiny hiding area another greenish-white glow began to brighten the room. Those damn things moved like wraiths, she realized. If it weren’t for the light their bodies gave off, she would have no way of knowing of their approach until she felt them. And that wasn’t enough to give her any indication as to their specific location. It would have been too easy to accidentally run pell-mell into the middle of them. There was no way to tell if there was one or two of them, and she wasn’t about to stick her head around the refrigerator and risk being seen to find out. Her heart thudded so loudly, she was afraid they would hear it. Eventually, though, the light moved toward the living room and eventually vanished altogether. Sarah flipped open the cell and went straight to the directory. The single word DEGRASSI was on speed dial number three. One ring. Two rings. “DeGrassi,” a sleepy voice answered. “Thom! It’s Sarah! The Arra are here! They’ve taken Jeb and Hannah! Help us! Oh, God, please come help us!” She was blubbering, the tears suddenly surging forth as she tried to speak, tried to make some kind of sense out of what was happening. “We’re on our way, Sarah. Where’s Simon?” Thom’s voice was all business. It radiated confidence and strength to her, even over the phone. She could hear them moving. Things were being slammed. The background roared with the sound of an engine firing up. “He went after them. Oh, Thom, they’re still here! Be careful. Please be careful!” “Sarah. Listen carefully.” It was Tiron who had taken the phone from her husband so he could concentrate on driving. “We’re less than five minutes away. Where are you?” “In the kitchen,” she started to explain when Tiron interrupted. “Get out of there. Go to the forest.” “Out in the plain open?” “The Arra aren’t fast on their feet. The woods slow them down. Trust me, Sarah. Where’s Simon?” “He-he went after them. He said he had to save Jeb and Hannah.” Her stomach caved in, threatening to regurgitate its contents where she stood. She shivered in the chilly air. “Sarah…listen carefully,” Tiron repeated. Her voice had dropped to a more soothing tone. “Please listen and answer me truthfully. Did you and Simon make love while he was Ruinos?” Her teeth were chattering from fright or cold. She couldn’t tell which. Still, she managed to reply, “Y-yes.” There was a huge sigh on the other end of the line. Sarah heard Tiron tell her husband, “They have been blessed.” To which Thom replied, “Thank God.” “Sarah, go to the woods. We’ll find you.” “Okay.” The phone went silent. The call was ended. The loss of their connection almost left her feeling like

she had been deserted. But Sarah knew she had to get out of the house. Tiron was right. The house would entrap her, making her easy for the Arra to capture. Lifting to a crouch, she peered out the window in the back door. For once the darkness was a blessing. Quickly she unlocked the door and slipped back out into the open. In the terrible stillness she heard the sound of a car approaching. Its headlights lit up the night like spotlights. Sarah listened as it careened to a stop in front of the house, and two doors slammed. A few moments later she felt the phone vibrate in her hand. It surprised her to where she almost dropped it, but Sarah caught herself in time and opened it. A deep voice spoke before she could answer. “Wait for Roni. Don’t be frightened, Sarah, when she gets there.” Which meant she would be Ruinos. Sarah started to reply when a voice hissed from nearby, “Sarah!” She closed the phone. “I want to help,” she stated flatly, searching the dark. “Please, let me help.” “We’re needing your help,” Tiron admitted. Sarah whirled around from where she was crouching. At the sight of the green-skinned woman, she got to her feet, rushing to her and throwing her arms around her. They hugged. The feel of Tiron’s velvety skin against hers reminded Sarah they were both as naked as the day they were born. “Thank you for coming.” Tiron pulled away, placing her hands on Sarah’s shoulders. “It is I who should be thanking you,” the Ruinos woman whispered. “You’ve accepted Simolif as his true self.” She gave a sniff, then giggled. “You smell like him now.” “I what?” It was too dark to make out all of Tiron’s features, but Sarah could see her silvery eyes sparkling the same way Simon’s had. “Never mind the chit-chat. Let’s go find them,” a dark voice semi-growled. DeGrassi had come up behind them. The sound of something heavy and mechanical clacked into place. “Show us the way, Sarah.” “Me? I haven’t the foggiest idea where they are!” “Yes, you do,” Tiron said, releasing her shoulders. “Look inside yourself.” “Look—” Sarah paused and took a deep, calming breath. She closed her eyes, opening her heart and her mind to whatever these strange forces were that would forever be a part of her life. Now that she and Simon had bonded in his true form, she knew her life had been transformed. Just as she was transformed. The caterpillar had wrapped itself into its chrysalis made from their love. Now it was time the butterfly emerged in all her glory. We are connected now. Trust whatever you feel. Over the distance she could tell Simon was trying to stop her, but their connection was too strong. Too complete. Opening her eyes, Sarah turned and began trudging through the brush with the others in tow. Soon they were running, rushing toward the spot where the Arra had landed their ship.

Chapter 24 Fight She knew he knew she was coming to be with him. But what she couldn’t relay to him was the fact that she was bringing reinforcements. His emotional call to her, pleading with her not to put herself in danger, slid underneath her skin like warm oil. Coaxing, almost tearful. Sarah tried to let him know all would be okay, but it was difficult. Nobody had given her a manual on how to do this Ruinos love mate stuff. This was the best she could manage under the circumstances, especially since she was having to learn it on the fly. There was the sound of movement coming from above. It was Tiron, leaping from tree limb to tree limb with incredible agility. Every now and then the distance between trees would be farther than she could navigate with a simple jump. That was when she would unfold those wing-like membranes running from her wrists to her ankles and literally sail overhead until she reached the next landing. DeGrassi was right behind her and making very little noise for such a big man. Compared to Simon he was Mr. Universe, with enough muscles to outfit an entire team of Marines. Sarah hadn’t been aware of the man’s physique when she’d first met him. To her he was taller than Simon but shorter than Jeb. He had an appealing face, but it was his pale blue eyes with their thick black lashes that drew a woman’s attention. The tan uniform had effectively curtained off all that nice bulky mass. Tonight, though, the man was wearing jeans and boots, and nothing else. On a mission like this, Sarah mused, clothing was optional. She hoped the Arra didn’t have a well-developed sense of smell, because she knew she had to reek atrociously. After the escapade at the lumber mill, a lusty dose of sex, and now this frantic run through the forest, Sarah bet she could use a good scrubbing. In addition, her skin was getting a good thrashing from the limbs and branches she stumbled through. Her feet, though, were taking the worst of it. Only by sheer adrenaline was she able to keep pushing toward that area where she knew Simon was fighting to protect and free his brother and sister-in-law. She had to be with him, to help him. She had no other choice. Either her eyes had adjusted to the lack of light, or the plants around her were glowing. Not a lot, but faintly. It was as though those phosphorescent monsters had left behind a trail. Sarah wondered if the occurrence was accidental or intentional. Stopping, she took a moment to catch her breath. DeGrassi came up behind her and paused. “How much further?” he whispered. “Not much. We’re so damn close, I could almost swear I see movement ahead.” She glanced back at him and realized he was studying her, but his scrutiny didn’t bother her. Okay, so the man was getting a real good look at what she had. And she had plenty, especially with her Grade A-approved rack. But for some strange reason she knew the gleam in his eye wasn’t sexual. Hell, as chiseled and buff as the man was, she wasn’t the least bit interested in him! Maybe it’s because our hearts already belong to another , she mused. Maybe it’s because our bodies have already recognized and accepted who owns them. “Give me your pistol,” she hissed, holding out a hand. DeGrassi started, staring at her in surprise. Silently and without asking any questions, he reached behind his back and pulled out the Glock from where it was tucked in the waistband of his jeans. Sarah took the warmed weapon and firmly wrapped her fingers around the butt. It felt good and

solid, like it had been made to fit her hand. Holding it up parallel to her ear, she pressed on. Overhead she could sense Tiron keeping even with them. They encountered a hedge of brambles. A greenish-white glow was coming from the other side. Sarah hunched down and maneuvered her way around the hedge until she could see around it. DeGrassi moved away from her, going in the opposite direction to get a view for himself. Tiron remained aloft and invisible. Suddenly there was a low hum. The bush in front of her exploded, and a split second later she was slammed to the ground. Her screech of surprise was muffled amid dirt and debris. A loud curse growled in her ear. Before she could respond or ask DeGrassi why he had tackled her, he rolled off of her and was on his feet, running back the way they had come. Sarah got up on her elbows, spitting out dead leaves and grass, and winced at the pain shooting through her knees and shins. DeGrassi had left to draw their fire away from her, but she knew she still had to get out of there now. Picking up the gun from where she’d dropped it, she stumbled forward as two shots rang out. At the same time a scream came from above. She sensed something falling from overhead, and another hum sounded. Another explosion, and a deep roar made the night shudder. Sarah felt her skin tingle at the sound. It was Simon. Had she not known deep inside herself that it was him, his cry of outrage would have been enough to freeze the blood in her veins. There was another hum, but this one was punctuated by another shotgun blast. Between the leaves Sarah could see anamorphic shapes like glowing globs of meringue moving back and forth. It was impossible to see what was going on, which meant she had to keep moving and hope she didn’t run right into one of those creatures. A shriek of anger vibrated in the air again, and Sarah took the second of confusion to make a dash for the opposite side of the bushes. This time she found cover behind a small grove of saplings. Peering between the thin trunks, she could see Simon facing down one of those greenish blobs. It was holding some sort of pointed device that looked like a large stick. Or a stake. It reminded her of the weapon used in vampire movies to kill the undead with a thrust through the heart. The creature aiming it at her mate was not a slayer, but without being told she knew that this thing was responsible for Simon and his kind being here. Cold anger filled her as she remained silent and watched, waiting to see if he would need her help. The blob swayed from side to side. It tried to advance toward Simon, but it was slow. Sarah could see how it flowed over the uneven terrain, and she remember how Tiron had told her the things couldn’t easily travel through the forest. It tried to lunge at Simon with the pointed stick. He nimbly leaped back and hissed at it. Then, to her astonishment, DeGrassi stepped into the clearing and raised the shotgun, pointing it directly at the blob. The weapon fired, spitting lightning. There was a flat, wet sound, and a large portion of thick, white ooze dripped onto the forest floor like melted ice cream. By the time Sarah could comprehend what was happening, she heard the cock of the rifle. Glancing up, she noticed DeGrassi aiming again for the creature. Behind him was a glowing halo of light. Her heart jumped into her throat, clogging it and preventing her from crying out a warning. Another one of those things was sneaking up on him from behind. And he was too engrossed in shooting the blob menacing Simon to be aware of it. Where the hell was Tiron? Lifting the heavy Glock, Sarah rested the barrel on a slender branch and checked the sight. The glow was steadily growing wider, if not brighter. But from the direction the creature was advancing,

there would be no way DeGrassi could see it without turning his whole body. Licking dry lips, Sarah aimed and tried to ignore the cramp developing in her right leg. The darkness was hindering her ability to see clearly. Except for the pale light coming off of the creatures, there was barely any clarity. She said a prayer and aimed. And waited. A cry of pain distracted her. She jerked her eyes back to see Simon wrestling with the creature with the stick, but it appeared he was at the disadvantage. The thing was enveloping him within its mass like a fly being trapped in wet glue. Her first, immediate thought was to fire at the thing holding him, but something stopped her. Some sense told her she could easily hit Simon and injure or kill him. The sound of the bolt-action rifle sliding another bullet into place snapped the air. She looked back to see DeGrassi readying, looking for an opening, when the thing behind him suddenly loomed. She fired. There was a hollow, punching noise, followed immediately by a squelching gurgle. The creature dropped a disk-like object and reached up to where its tentacles met open air. Her shot had neatly carved a large portion of the blob away from its main body. Sarah stared in shock at the gun. There had to be some mean mother bullets in it to cause that kind of damage. Sighting down her arm, she centered her next shot smack dab in the middle of the blob’s bread basket. She was vaguely aware of DeGrassi diving for the dirt, leaving her with an open target. She fired again. This time she got to watch the creature splatter like it had swallowed a live grenade. Another cry rang out, but this time it was female, and Sarah’s first reaction was that it was Tiron’s. Struggling to her feet, she pushed her way into the small clearing and immediately stumbled over an object lying directly in her path. It took her a second to recognize the unconscious figure sprawled at her feet. “Tiron!” “She was hit with an immobilization ray,” DeGrassi called out from where he was kneeling. He was reloading the rifle with quick, smooth precision. “She’s okay. She’ll be able to move in a moment. Go after the one that took Simon,” he ordered, giving a nod in the direction behind her. Sarah whirled around to see an oblong opening in the woods. Without questioning his order, she started for the door that was too symmetrical to be natural. The second she stepped beyond the threshold, she knew she was inside an alien craft. The place was dark and carried an oppressive, almost forbidding smell. Her fertile imagination equated it to misery. The smell of lost hopes and agony. Oh, geez, girl. That’s a new one for the books! If it was dark outside, the interior of the craft was only slightly brighter. It was harder to make out the glowing tracks made by the creatures, but she could tell they led further into the ship. Mentally wrapping her courage tightly around her, Sarah started to move forward; then a hiss came from behind her. She didn’t turn her head, but she paused. “By the book, Sarah.” “We have to hurry. They have Simon.” “And Hannah and Jeb,” DeGrassi whispered, “but if we watch each other’s backs, we’ll be able to free them.” “How?” The man was close enough to where she could feel his body heat. His mouth was at her ear.

“Watch for anything they carry. If they point something at you, seek cover.” A pause. “Thanks for what you did out there. I’ll ask you later how you got to be such a crack shot.” The remark made her smile. Giving a nod, she stayed against the cold black wall and inched forward. DeGrassi stayed right behind her. For a second she wondered why he didn’t take the lead; then it occurred to her. She was following Simon through their link. Tiron was outside recovering from being taken down by the Arra’s weapon. DeGrassi had no idea where to go and was relying on her to get them where they would find their missing family members. Again Sarah felt the tug on her psyche, but this time it wasn’t to warn her away. It was to give her a clear idea of which way to maneuver through the tunnel-like corridors of the ship. At one point she paused briefly to get her bearings, and a thread of loving warmth curled around her like a living presence. It was Simon giving her hope. Giving her courage. And urging her to hurry. Sarah adjusted her grip on the Glock and pushed forward. Before long she came to a junction in the corridors. She took the left one without hesitation. DeGrassi followed without commenting. Less than a dozen steps later they ran into another fork, and Sarah took the right branch. At that point she noticed a growing brightness in the distance. DeGrassi placed a hand on her arm to keep her from moving on. “Stay behind me,” he ordered in a barely audible voice. She nodded and let him take the lead. The odor was gradually becoming thicker and more intolerable. Sarah noticed it wasn’t enough to make her nauseous, but she was feeling squeamish and increasingly uncomfortable. Wrapping both hands around the butt of her pistol made her feel better, but it did nothing to make the sense of helplessness go away. DeGrassi reached behind him and waved at her, motioning toward the opposite wall. Sarah scooted over and pressed her back against the glassy surface. Now she could see what looked like cages ringing the interior of the room. Her eyes widened to see Hannah lying unconscious in the nearest one. Beyond her in the next cage lay Jeb. The bandage around his waist was soaked in blood to the point where there was no whiteness left in the gauze. He was also panting heavily, although he was completely out of it. A motion from the corner of her eye caused her to glance over at DeGrassi, who was thumbing back to his left. Sarah dropped her gaze to the tiny cage lying on the floor a dozen feet away. Simon was on his side, legs drawn up, and facing away from her. Without having to check, she knew he had also been knocked out. There was one green-white blob in the room. It was over against the far wall, and it appeared to be messing with something. DeGrassi wasted no time trying to get its attention. He raised and fired the rifle in one move. White ichor splattered the wall, floor, and part of the ceiling. The creature tried to turn, but the deputy buried another round into its abdominal area. Sarah felt bits of matter pelt her skin. They were icy cold and stung. Hastily she tried to wipe it off with her bare hands. “Let’s get them out of here,” DeGrassi growled, reaching for the cage containing Simon. Sarah ran to the closest one to her, the one containing Hannah. The enclosures were beautiful to look at. Thin rods no bigger than her finger looked like they were made of pearl or wrought crystal, etched with designs and symbols. Unfortunately there didn’t appear to be any sort of lock or door. “How are we going to get them out?” DeGrassi must have realized the same problem at the same time. Reaching through the bars, he

shoved against Simon’s shoulder. “Simon. Hey, Simon. Wake up. You need to tell Sarah how to help us get you guys out of these cages. Simon? Hey, friend. Simon!” There was a slight movement. DeGrassi turned to look at Sarah. “You’re going to need to wake him. He’s attuned to you.” He glanced over his shoulder, adding with a hiss, “Hurry! Before more of those things arrive!” Sarah hurried over to the cage and knelt on the glassy floor. She handed the gun to DeGrassi, then reached through the bars with both arms and placed them on her life mate. His skin was warm. His breathing felt regular. But she knew he wasn’t asleep. Neither was he awake. It was like he was caught somewhere between reality and unconsciousness. “Simon? Simon, you gotta wake up.” She gave him a shove. His body rolled listlessly. “Simon! Tell me how to get you out of there! Give me a sign or-or a mental image. Something! Help me to get you and Jeb and Hannah out of here! Simon!” There was a low moan. Beneath her hands she felt his muscles tense for a second. She gave him another push. “Simon, please! Show me how to get you out of here!” DeGrassi suddenly jumped to his feet, sliding the bolt on the rifle at the same time. “Hurry, Sarah!” he said again, then stepped back into the corridor. She turned back to her mate lying too still and too quietly inside his beautiful pearly cage. A surge of heat rushed into her face and chest, taking her by surprise. This is what his life had been before he landed on Earth, locked inside a cage just like this one. Alone. Facing each new day with terror and uncertainty. Choking back fresh tears, Sarah dug her nails into his skin and gave him another hard shake. “Damn it, Simon! Let me help you! You need me, and I need you! Please! Simon! Don’t leave me alone! After all you’ve been through, we can’t be taken away from each other like this!” She gasped for air. Her arms ached. Her whole body was one massive sore. She had put it through too much these past twenty-four hours, and now it was starting to refuse to work anymore. She managed to crawl around to the other side of the cage, where she could see Simon’s face. His Ruinos face. A face that had not too long ago ceased being frightening. In the dim light coming from the ship’s interior, she could see the shadows of the contours of his nose and cheek, his forehead and chin that was Simon when he wore his human persona. What she couldn’t see were those incredible blue eyes with their greenish flecks. Flecks which trembled whenever he was overcome with emotion. Or when they were making love. She bent low to where only a few inches separated them. Taking a deep, shaky breath, she tried again. “I love you, Simon. Can you hear me? I came all the way down here because I had to talk to you. But you have to wake up and help me! I have to get you and Jeb and Hannah out of these cages, but I can’t do it without your help!” She had reached inside the cage to shake him again when her attention was drawn to the far wall, where white remnants of the creature DeGrassi had killed speckled that side of the room. It wasn’t a memory that made her look that way. Nor was it a tiny voice speaking to her inside her head. But she knew it was Simon. Guiding her. Answering her plea in the only way he could while his body remained rigid, trapped in stasis by whatever weapon the Arra had used on him. Getting to her feet, she carefully made her way over to the wall, where she could see tiny lights embedded in portions of it. Green lights, blue lights, white lights, red lights, and yellow lights. A veritable rainbow of lights. Some were blinking; some were not.

“I found the lights, Simon. Now what do I do?” She raised her hands as she opened herself up to him, allowing him to use her as an extra appendage. Right above her head was a set of seven pale blue lights set into the wall in a straight row. Four lights were blinking, but three burned steady. Sarah glanced back, mentally counting the cages in the room. Three were occupied. Four were not. Seven cages. Seven lights. The cages couldn’t be more than four feet tall, if that. Just enough to where a prisoner could sit upright but not stand. The controls were set at a distance too far up the wall for any of the prisoners to reach if they were inside one of the cages. But not for a person standing on her own two feet. Without needing to think about what she had to do, Sarah stood on tiptoe and reached up to touch the three steady blue lights. They began blinking, and behind her she could hear audible snapping sounds. When she turned around, however, the cages looked exactly the same as before. “Shit! What now?” Frustration swept over her, and she angrily stamped one foot. Lift . “Huh?” Walking back over to Simon, she stared down at the thin bars. “Lift? Lift what?” Think, Drumman! These cages are dinky. What would be the easiest way for the Arra to get a prisoner into one of them? Bend over and shove them through a door? Or… Wrapping her fingers around the bars on top of the cage, she pulled upward. The top easily swung upward on its rear hinges. Reaching down into the cage, she grabbed a muscled arm and tugged. Simon’s dead weight was impossible for her to lift alone. So would Jeb’s and Hannah’s be. She couldn’t do this by herself. She needed help getting them out. A sudden shotgun blast startled her, and she squeaked with surprise. Near the doorway lay the Glock. Rushing over, Sarah snatched it up and backed against Simon’s cage, prepared for another one of those things to come into the room. Sooner or later one would. Either that, or DeGrassi. No matter. She was prepared for whatever happened next. She was with Simon now and nothing was going to separate them again. It wouldn’t be long before he woke up. She could feel it, sense it. And if it was the last thing she would ever do, Sarah was determined that once he regained consciousness, she was going to tell him to his beautiful inhuman face how much she loved him. Firmly setting her sights on the doorway, she prepared herself for the worst.

Chapter 25 Freedom Chills wracked her body, but Sarah kept her grip on the heavy Glock. Her arms burned with the agony of keeping them parallel to the floor, but she gritted her teeth and refused to drop her aim. Another shotgun blast had roared outside. She estimated that despite the two odd turns in the ship, they really weren’t more than a few dozen yards from the entrance. A shuffling noise. Adrenaline shot through her, making her go stiff with apprehension, until she remembered that those globby Arra didn’t shuffle. Or scoot, or make any kind of noise other than the squelchy sounds that came from them when they were being blasted by a loaded shotgun. Before she could grasp the significance of that, she heard a voice call out. “Miss Drumman?” Miss Drumman? Who the hell… “In here! We’re in here! I need help getting them out of these cages!” White light played along the wall leading into the corridor. The beam of a flashlight grew closer, and presently two men stepped into the room. Sarah recognized Sheriff Klotsky from the lumber mill. She saw his eyes take in her naked body. In the next second he holstered his gun and handed his light to the officer behind him before unbuttoning his shirt and handing it to her. She gratefully accepted it, needing its warmth as much as its covering. “How are they?” he asked her. “Alive. They got knocked out somehow.” “How do we get them out of these things?” the other officer questioned. “Raise the top. I already unlocked them, but Simon’s too heavy for me to lift out by myself.” Klotsky gave her a surprised look but handed her his flashlight. Sarah held the lid open as he managed to drag Simon out and lay him on the floor. Sarah dropped to her knees to touch his face, placing little kisses on his lips and cheek. “Buetell, go get DeGrassi. It’s going to take all of us to get them out of here. But first let me have your shirt.” The deputy nodded, quickly stripped, and hurried out. Sarah glanced over her shoulder and saw Klotsky helping Hannah into the other shirt. The woman was coming around, but her movements were sluggish. Jeb, on the other hand, was still out, and that was beginning to worry her. She felt Simon shift beneath her hands. She glanced down to see the wonderful green glitter of his eyes staring up at her. At the sight of them she smiled affectionately. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?” she whispered, not caring if the sheriff heard or not. “Not for the last fifteen minutes,” he managed to respond. His voice was husky and desert dry. “You heard me?” “From the time you met up with Tiron and Thomas,” he admitted. She nodded. She knew he had been with her all the way, guiding her and somehow managing to keep her unafraid regardless of the danger.

Their attention was drawn back to the doorway where Buetell and DeGrassi re-entered the room. Seeing Simon coming round, DeGrassi gave him a smile and a nod. “Think you can manage on your own?” he asked. “With Sarah’s help, yes.” Slowly, he got to his feet and draped an arm around Sarah’s shoulders. Hannah was led out by Sheriff Klotsky, and the two deputies carried Jeb between them. Sarah and Simon started to follow at the rear when Simon pulled back and stopped. “We have to destroy this ship.” DeGrassi nodded. “Give us a couple of minutes to get clear.” Sarah stared at her mate. “Can we make it out in time?” “Not a problem. Let me rest here while you set the timer.” “Me? Set the timer? How…” Her words trailed off as an explanation settled into her mind as clearly as if she’d been trained to perform that specific action. Simon gave her a grin. Turning back to the wall, Sarah went directly to the two golden-yellow lights flanked by the green ones. Punching each one in order, she stepped back to make sure the timer had begun ticking off the seconds. Overhead a small orange strobe started flashing. They hurried out of the ship and into the small clearing where everyone was waiting for them to emerge. Backing off several more yards until the trees were between them and the ship, everyone watched as dark clouds erupted from the doorway. In the next instant the ship seemed to glow internally. They heard several crackling sounds, loud pops, and sizzling noises that reminded Sarah of fireworks going off on the Fourth of July. The light intensified briefly, then faded away. She turned to Simon, who was now able to stand on his own without using her as a crutch. “That’s it?” “Yeah. That’s it.” “What about debris?” “It’ll continue to implode for another hour, until there’s nothing left.” “What about the Arra?” “All dead,” DeGrassi announced flatly. “We’d better hurry and get Jeb back to the cabin,” Klotsky commented. “Dr. Fitzhugh should be there by now.” The trudge back to the house didn’t seem to take as long as it did going in. A pale light was already beginning to spread through the sky, and Sarah glanced over at her Ruinos lover. He answered her unspoken question with a shake of his head. “We’re not turning today. We need this time to heal, and we can’t do it properly if we’ve shifted.” He kept his arm around her shoulders, and he added a squeeze to her upper arm. To their left DeGrassi held Tiron, who was beginning to come out of her paralysis. Hannah walked beside the sheriff and the deputy, who were carrying Jeb between them. “How many people know about you?” Simon gave a slight shrug. “In Tumbril Harbor? No more than a dozen, if that many. But each person who knows can be trusted to guard our secret.”

“We know the Ruinos are not here by choice,” Sheriff Klotsky spoke up. “We also understand their need to remain in hiding. And their desire to live a peaceful life. Personally, Miss Drumman, I would rather place my life in the hands of a Ruinos than in any other man’s.” He glanced over at DeGrassi. “How’s the little lady?” “Fine, thank you,” a weak voice answered, slightly muffled from where Tiron was nuzzling the underside of her husband’s chin. Sarah sighed loudly. “Boy. Well, all I can say is it’s been one helluva day and night. All I want to do is climb into bed and sleep for the next ten to twelve hours straight,” she announced. She got another squeeze on the shoulder. “Just sleep?” Simon whispered in her ear in a teasing voice. “You’re insatiable,” she grumbled, but she was unable to keep the smile from coming over her face. Neither could she stop the reaction rushing over her body as it tingled with expectation. A furtive glance down at his nude body revealed he was becoming as excited as she was. Thank goodness it wasn’t full-on daylight. Vaguely Sarah wondered how soundproof the cabin was.

Chapter 26 Discovery Sarah gave an irritated little growl and pushed the folder containing papers and photographs away from her. “Well, fuck.” “Unless that’s a request,” a voice teasingly called from across the room. Hannah poured her a fresh cup of coffee. “You’ve been studying those notes all day, Sarah. Why not give it a break?” Sarah nodded, reaching back behind her head to knead tense neck muscles. However, a large pair of warm hands beat her to it. She closed her eyes and allowed Simon to massage away the stiffness. “If only I could figure out a way to get my tenure without risking giving away the presence of the Ruinos on Earth.” “I have every faith in you that you’ll find it,” Jeb commented. His sincerity was like a pat on the back. Sarah glanced up and flashed him a grin. The man was reclining on the couch in the living room, but he was able to see right into the open kitchen, where the rest of them were sitting around the table. “I hate the thought of having to go back to work tomorrow.” “Think of it this way,” Simon said as his hands continued to perform magic on her scalp. “We have a wedding to plan.” She giggled. “Okay. That does make me feel better. But if I don’t get this tenure, that’s going to put me in the unemployment line by June.” Simon shrugged. He was still in his Ruinos skin, a pair of cutoff jeans his only attire. Dropping a kiss onto her hair, he went into the kitchen to get his own refill. “Don’t let it bother you, Sarah. I can support us both until you find another position.” “Like what? My life is the stars. All I’ve ever wanted to do was to study them and to teach others how to love them like I do.” She lifted one of the printouts of the shots she’d received from Hawaii and looked over it again for the hundredth time. “Besides, if I can keep my job at NSU, then I’ll be able to keep my direct access to the ‘scope. That way I’ll be able to foresee any Arran spacecraft entering our atmosphere, and you guys can send out a warning to the other Ruinos.” It was a damn good thing she kept her laptop in the trunk of her car whenever she traveled. Ditto for the fact that she always carried a backup of her work on the little portable memory card she stored in her purse. After a day of bed rest—or at least bed, she smiled to herself—everyone was spending Sunday eating and relaxing. She had no classes on Monday, thank goodness, which would allow her the whole day to return to Templeton. As a plus, Simon would be motoring along right behind her. It was early evening, and Hannah was washing the supper dishes. Having had her offer of help turned down, Sarah had retrieved her work from her car, which Deputy Buetell had delivered around noon. She was hoping that the few days away from the project would have given her a fresh eye on the work. And she might be able to find a way to save her years’ worth of study. Unfortunately it didn’t appear too promising at this point. Adding sweetener and creamer to her coffee, she sipped her drink as quiet descended over the cabin. A moment later Jeb remarked, “Car’s coming.” Hannah snorted and threw a dishtowel onto the counter. “Get used to that, Sarah. Our Ruinos

mates have ears that could hear a rabbit fart a mile away.” “It’s DeGrassi,” Jeb continued, smiling. He was still too weak to return to work on Monday, but Sheriff Klotsky had already phoned the mill and explained to Jeb’s boss. Simon took the seat next to Sarah and pulled the folder around to look through its contents. Sarah watched him as the sound of the car engine steadily grew louder, then ceased. Presently there was a quick knock at the door, and Tiron and Thomas entered the house. Tiron was in her human guise, but as she walked through the door she changed into her true self. Sarah slowly shook her head, amazed at how natural it all seemed now. It was like belonging to an extended family, something she had never experienced in her life, yet had always dreamed of. A loving family, albeit slightly dysfunctional in its own alien way. “How are you doing?” DeGrassi immediately asked Jeb as they shook hands. “Better. Another day or two, and I’ll be able to go back to work. Only Dr. Fitzhugh says no heavy lifting for a week.” DeGrassi gave a bark of laugher. “For me that would be no lifting anything heavier than five pounds. For you it means nothing heavier than five hundred.” His eyes found Sarah sitting at the table in front of the laptop. “Roni and I came to thank you again for your help,” he told her. Tiron walked over, and Sarah stood to accept her hug. “I watched you protecting my Thomas. I wanted to say thank you, as well.” “You are welcome. In fact, it should be me thanking you.” Sarah felt the familiar sting of tears in her nose and rising into her eyes. “Had you not sat me down and explained to me about Ruinos, I don’t think I would have accepted Simon as quickly as I did. I mean, I know that deep in my heart I would have eventually taken him in his Ruinos form. But if I hadn’t done so the other night, I would never have been able to find out where the Arra were. Or where they had taken you. Or how to release the cages. Or all that other stuff.” She swiped at the wetness in her eyes with the back of her hand and gave a little wave of her arms. “Oh, hell. You know what I mean.” She and Tiron laughed softly and hugged again before the Ruinos woman went to join her husband on the other side of the table. Hannah went to pour them coffee. “There’s another reason why we came by,” DeGrassi announced, thanking Hannah for the mug she placed in front of him. He stared directly at Sarah. “How did you know I carried another weapon? And how did you get to be such a good shot? Are you holding out on us, woman?” Sarah noticed the grin creasing the corners of his lips, and she chuckled. “It’s no big deal, really. I had to take on a lot of odd jobs to put myself through college. One of them was working at a firing range. I gathered up spent cartridges and sorted them. Even learned how to fill them. Got to spend a lot of time practicing my shot.” She shrugged. “As for the Glock, I just had a feeling you had an extra weapon hidden somewhere on you. I mean, you being a cop.” She glared right back at him. “What did you have in that damn thing? Hollow point?” “Armor piercing,” he replied. Sarah started. “Aren’t those things illegal?” DeGrassi raised his mug to his lips. “Yeah.” He took a drink. “T’korra, what’s this picture of?” Simon broke in, holding up a photograph. Sarah glanced at it. “Oh, that’s one of the first rogue ships I spotted.” She pointed out a trajectory arc to him. “It was taken September sixteenth, six years ago. See? All pictures are time stamped right

there in the corner.” “September sixteenth?” Hannah echoed. She looked over at her husband. “That’s when we first came to Tumbril Harbor.” “It’s the night Carl tried to kidnap you, and the Arra almost managed to steal me away,” Jeb elaborated. Sarah froze in her chair. Her mind was churning, spinning, sorting and dissecting a million pieces of information like a computer. Something was nibbling at the back of her mind, but she couldn’t piece it together. Not yet, anyway. But given another morsel to chew on, or another bit of the puzzle to fit, and it would come to her. She took another sip of her drink. “You wouldn’t happen to have one of those pictures dated for May, would you?” DeGrassi asked. Simon answered for her. “Yeah. In fact, it’s right here. Is this also a picture of one of the Arran craft, Sarah?” “A small one,” Sarah said. “Just like the one in September.” She frowned at DeGrassi. “Why May?” “Because that’s the time one of those ships landed almost in Roni’s backyard and tried to make off with her,” the man said. The wheels continued to spin. She felt herself getting closer and closer to…something. It was dangling just out of reach and irritating the hell out of her. But she had faith in herself. Sooner or later Sarah trusted that whatever was annoying her would eventually come to the surface. “Isn’t it odd that they managed to land almost right next door to us?” Hannah commented offhandedly. Sarah sat up. “Right next door?” A warm hand closed over hers where it lay on the table. “What are you thinking?” Simon asked in a low voice. She screwed up her face in thought. “Coincidence?” The remark made DeGrassi sit up straight in his chair. “Not quite. At least, we don’t think so.” “Why not?” “Because we already know what brought the Arra straight to us,” Hannah said. “Whenever a Ruinos doesn’t change by daylight, the Arra are able to track them. Then, after dark, they land and take them captive.” Shifting her eyes from one to the other, Sarah slowly shook her head. “I don’t believe it,” she finally said. “Are you telling me that the Arra can track you down because you don’t take on your human form during the day?” Making a rude noise, she added, “That theory has more holes in it than the Titanic.” DeGrassi planted his elbows on the table and leaned over. “Explain.” “If the Arra can track you by day, then they can track you by night. You all resume your true selves at night, right? So why haven’t they been able to take all of you back by now?” She was on a roll, and they knew it. Her observations were more of a thinking-aloud process than an explanation. It wouldn’t be long until she was able to find the answer they had been seeking for six years.

“No. There has to be a reason why the Arra landed when they did. Something...something led them to you. Because if they could track you by day in your Ruinos form, like you claim they can, then what’s to stop them from landing during the day to come after you?” She looked to Simon. “Are they allergic to sunlight?” Simon shook his head. “No. I’ve seen many times when the Arra have been exposed to direct sunlight. And ultraviolet light. Radiation. No, direct sunlight doesn’t affect them that we know of.” “So they landed at night, and practically right on top of your house. Which can only mean something else brought them here.” She chewed on her lower lip as she thought. The photographs shuffled in her hands like a deck of cards. “Jeb? That night you said they came for you...was that the first time you encountered them after your initial landing on Earth?” “Yeah.” She looked up a Tiron, who nodded. “Simon?” “Other than that time they tried to make off with Jeb, and I went to help him fight them off, the other night was my only other encounter,” her mate replied. “Hmm. Don’t you find that odd?” “How so?” DeGrassi rumbled. She waved a hand around the table. “That all of you could go for years without detection. And then, boom! There they are, right at your doorstep. Something alerted them. Something you did or—” Her inner light bulb began to brighten. “Hannah! Jeb! You said the Arra showed up at your cabin here?” “Not this cabin,” Hannah corrected her. “Our cabin at the motel. Wendy’s place.” Sarah smiled. “Anything earth-shattering happen right before they appeared?” “Yeah.” They all turned to see Jebaral sitting up on the sofa. His face was flushed, but not from illness. “Hannah and I had made love for the first time in my Ruinos form. Her blood line formed in my arm that next morning. I phoned Simon, but of course he already knew because her line had formed in his arm as well.” He raised his face. “The Arra appeared that night.” “Fuck! Same here!” DeGrassi exclaimed. “I went to Roni’s place, and we made love with her in her true form. The next day my blood line was in her arm, and it was that evening when all hell broke loose.” Sarah turned to Simon, who was nodding. “Then we made love when you were Ruinos,” she whispered. “We saw my blood line in your arm…” “And they were here that night,” Simon finished, his eyes widening. Sarah swiveled around in her seat to look at Hannah. “You told me the Arra couldn’t force the Ruinos to reproduce because only true mated couples can have babies. Right?” “Yeah,” both Hannah and Simon answered. “So how do the Arra know when true mated couples have found each other?” That question had everyone staring at each other. Tiron finally shrugged. “We assumed it was because they were aware of when we had an orgasm.” “On the ship,” Sarah pointed out. “But what about here on Earth? How in the hell did they know?

If they’re so hot to get you back, how come they’ve left you alone until now?” She leaned further over the table. “How come they didn’t come after any of us until after we’d found our blood mates?” Tiron glanced down at the single iridescent thread running down the inner side of her left arm. Sarah turned to see Simon also looking at his. Reaching over, she placed a fingertip on one of the lines. “I will bet you any amount of money that these blood lines are the answer. Somehow the Arra found a way to keep track of these lines, no matter where you are. On the ship, or here on Earth. When one of them formed, they were alerted to the fact that a true mating had occurred. Then all they had to do was come down and snatch the both of you up and take you away.” “But they didn’t come after me that first time,” Hannah protested. Jeb broke in. “We don’t know that for sure. Remember, Carl was after you, too. When the Arra made their move, Simon showed up to fight them. Then Sheriff Klotsky got caught up in it, too. The Arra never had the chance to take you because we fought back first.” “Same here,” DeGrassi mentioned. “I was away from Roni, off in search of a serial killer when the Arra struck. But I’m willing to bet, too, that they figured I would come after her to save her. That our connection would lead me right to them, which it did.” He grinned broadly. “They just weren’t expecting me to be armed or to put up a fight.” “They were coming after us, t’kor,” Sarah told Simon. “They had homed in on my blood line forming in your arm, which is why they landed here.” “Except they found Jeb and me first,” Hannah broke in. “Our bedroom was the first door down the hallway, which was why they took us first. And because we were both asleep, we weren’t able to fight them or warn you ahead of time.” DeGrassi pulled his cell phone from his pants pocket and punched in a number. “Hello. This is Deputy Thomas DeGrassi with the Russup County Sheriff’s Department. Please let Dr. Fitzhugh know that I called. No, this isn’t an emergency, but it’s imperative that he gets back with me as soon as possible. Yeah. Thanks.” He closed the phone and slipped it back into his jeans. “I’m betting there’s some kind of homing device in your arms. Something that doesn’t signal until you either consummate with your blood mate, or the line is formed in your arm. If that’s the case, the doc might be able to find it with an x-ray or some sort of scope.” “Let’s hope that’s the case,” Simon agreed. “If it is, then maybe he can find a way to nullify it.” “And we can let the others know of it, in case they also are blessed,” Jeb said. “Do you know where the rest of you are located?” Sarah asked. “A few,” Simon responded. “For safety’s sake, some of us know of some, but not all. But we’re able to get out important information simply by letting it trickle through the ranks.” Sarah grimaced. “Well, this one won’t be trickling. You’d better designate it as five-star, redflagged urgent.” The photos were still lying underneath her hands. Dejectedly she straightened them into a neat stack and reached for the envelope. Seeing the slump in Sarah’s shoulders, Hannah said, “One problem solved, but not yours.” Sarah shrugged half-heartedly. “It was a good idea while it lasted. Oh, well. I would rather lose my job than to risk exposing any of you.” “Is it too late to come up with another idea for your project?” Tiron asked. “My deadline is a month away. Unless it’s a really good idea....” Sarah shook her head. “Forget it.

Wouldn’t matter if I did. Just gathering all the proof and data alone would take nearly a year, not to mention culling out the stuff I can’t use and having enough of the good stuff left to back my proposal.” Simon picked up the top photo and stared at it. “You’ve got a lot of evidence gathered already. Maybe you can use what you have.” “I’m open to suggestions,” Sarah admitted, watching him look back over what she’d laid out. “Are these all your pictures?” Hannah asked. “Not all. There’s at least a couple dozen more on my laptop.” “Can we look at them?” Tiron asked. “Sure. Go ahead. Knock yourself out.” Sarah turned her laptop around and opened the folder marked “SCANS” before sliding the computer over to Tiron. “What in particular had you been looking for before you discovered the evidence of alien craft landing?” DeGrassi questioned. He was peering over Tiron’s shoulder at the screen. “Oh, anything.” Hannah gave an exasperated little sound. “We’re not as brainy as you, Sarah. Give us a hint. What does an astronomer look for when he’s peering through a telescope?” “Like I said. Anything. A new planet. A previously undiscovered star. A rogue comet or meteor. Any entity no one’s ever tagged.” “Tagged?” Tiron queried. “Named. Identified before anyone has, and thus gets to name it first. Usually after themselves.” Very casually, Simon asked, “Would a black hole work?” Sarah turned to him. “Yeah, of course it would. But the only known black hole in this part of the galaxy is near Sagittarius A, right in the middle of the Milky Way. That’s the one you’re probably talking about.” Simon wrinkled his nose at her. The effect was so human-like, she almost laughed. “T’korra, this planet is on the outer fringes of the...what did you call this galaxy?” “The Milky Way. And, yes, our solar system is pretty much on the outskirts. You could almost say we’re way past the interstate and out in the country.” Her mate tapped one particular photograph with a thick claw. “This hole is on the other side of your sun. Further away from the outer edge. It’s not in the center of your galaxy.” Sarah froze. “That’s impossible.” “Not impossible. Picture your solar system at eye level. The black hole is almost at waist level, underneath your sun star.” He shoved the pictures toward her. “See for yourself.” “The hole is there, Sarah,” Jeb spoke up from the couch. “We passed it on our way here.” “Then why haven’t our scientists seen it before now?” She grabbed the pictures and stared at the spot where Simon pointed out a barely discernable distortion. “There’s a high magnetic field in that area caused by the hole,” Jeb explained. “It played havoc with our controls on the escape ship. It gives off a mirror reflection, bouncing back anything you throw at it. If your scientists were looking for it, they’d never detect it. To them they’d be getting back unreadable debris.”

“Plus its position would explain why we haven’t seen it. You’d have to be sitting at the South Pole to view it. But even then, the brightness of the sun would also prevent you from getting a good look at it.” Sarah murmured to herself. “Any scientist studying what they see through a telescope would more than likely chalk it up to space gas or bent light.” Simon grinned. “And isn’t that what a black hole does? Bend light?” Sarah uttered another expletive and hurried into the bedroom to retrieve her cell phone. She walked back into the kitchen with the phone glued to her ear. “Yeah, hi! This is Professor Sarah Drumman at Northern State University in Templeton. I know Professor Tillotson isn’t working today, but I need a copy of the latest scan of these coordinates sent to this number. Can you accommodate me, please? Yes, I’ll hold.” She placed her fingers over the receiver. “If this is the real thing, you’ve just got me my tenure! Yes, I’m still here,” she quickly returned to the cell and turned her back on them. **** Across the table, DeGrassi gave Simon a thumbs-up signal. Simon smiled, feeling pleased with himself. More so, he was relieved to have been able to help his life mate out of her dilemma. Although he knew that the loss of her position at the university would not have created a financial burden on them, it was the emotional and psychological loss that would have disheartened her. He watched Sarah’s face light up, and the way her hands worked the air as she animatedly described to whoever was on the other end what she needed. No doubt the next four weeks would be strenuous as she dumped everything and started anew. But he had every confidence in her that she would be able to meet her deadline and perhaps earn herself some well-deserved praise at the same time. Simon’s grin grew wider. His t’korra was quickly becoming as indispensable to the rest of the family as she was to him. And for that reason he couldn’t be any prouder.

Epilogue Sarah hurried into the Student Union Building, late as usual. She checked her watch. Well, ten minutes late, but what the hell. The envelope she carried would more than make up for her tardiness. And then some. She caught sight of him sitting at a table at the far corner, near the big potted plants. It was his favorite spot and hers, too. The greenery gave them a little privacy whenever they met for lunch. Already she could see he was on his phone. The salad in front of him was untouched. She smiled. He wouldn’t start eating until she’d joined him, and that bit of knowledge was enough to make her heart beat faster. She quickly got in line, behind a group of co-eds wearing ragged jeans that all but showed off their butt cheeks, and thin tops that proved they weren’t wearing any bras. Sarah ignored them, but it was difficult not to listen in on their conversation. “Look! There he is! Is that him?” “Oh, gawd, isn’t he the most finger-licking delicious thing?” The dyed blonde flipped her hair back over her shoulder. “I heard a rumor that he’s married.” The only brunette in the group snorted. “Since when did that matter? Look at him! All hot and sweaty. Bet you could bounce quarters off those abs.” Sarah’s eyes flew over to where Simon was still immersed in his phone call. It was definitely hot out today, and the t-shirt he was wearing was clinging to his sweaty skin. Every sculpted muscle was every bit defined through the light-gray cotton. Oh, yeah. She could definitely bounce quarters off his abs. “Do you think he likes ’em tall or short?” the blonde queried. The faded redhead smacked her lips as she reached for a plate of meat loaf. “Short. No doubt, short. Men like to tower over their women. Can I have some gravy on that?” The blonde wriggled her hips and set a bowl of sliced fruit on her tray. “Think he’s a boob man? Or an ass man?” Her companions swiveled as one to stare at Simon. “I’ll say leg man,” the redhead finally declared. “Boob. My guess is boob,” the brunette announced. “What do you think, Stacey?” The blonde nodded. “He looks like a boob man to me, too,” she agreed, and proceeded to tug on the hem of her cross-strap tee until the upper portions of her own breasts were well defined. Her actions were not lost on her friends. The brunette giggled. “Do you really think you have a chance at him?” The blonde grinned. “Sweetie, there isn’t a man alive, married or not, who I can’t have if I wanted.” “Excuse me.” The girls turned to stare at Sarah, who motioned toward the drink dispenser. “Tea?” The redhead moved aside to let her get a clean glass. Sarah thanked her, then conversationally asked, “Are you really thinking about trying to get a date with that guy?” Woman to woman. Female versus the males. It worked every time. The blonde shook her hips. “We all know a man’s eye never stops roaming. Given the right opportunity and a good excuse, and there isn’t a man out there who’ll stay faithful. We all know that, right, girls?”

The others agreed wholeheartedly. “And that goes double for the really hot-looking guys,” the blonde added. “They know they got killer looks. They know all they gotta do is crook their finger at a girl, and she’ll go running to him in a flash.” The blonde tossed her head again. “That guy? As long as he keeps his looks he’ll have women fawning all over him. You take my word for it.” “So you don’t think that any man can remain faithful to his wife, especially if he’s got movie-star looks?” Sarah tried to clarify. She chanced another glance in Simon’s direction, but he remained engrossed in conversation. A little lock of hair had fallen over his forehead in one of those irresistible temptations women dreamed of. She could feel her own fingers itch to brush it out of his eyes. The girls paid for their food. The blonde grinned. “Especially if he’s got those kinds of looks.” “And especially if his wife lets herself go. Know what we mean?” the brunette added. Sarah watched the girls proceed toward the back-corner table. By the time she paid for her lunch, the trio had settled down where they could all get a nice close-up view of Simon still talking on the phone. For that matter, there were three other tables near his that afforded an equally good view. And each one of them contained more long-legged and busty young women eager for a chance to make his acquaintance. Casually, Sarah sauntered past the trio and set her tray down on the table next to him. She didn’t dare turn around to see the expressions on their faces, but she was thankful for the fact that the term “if looks could kill” was merely a phrase and not reality. “Hey.” “Hey!” Simon closed his phone and rose to give her a gentle kiss. “Was that Dr. Fitzhugh?” “No. Jeb. But I talked to Dr. Fitzhugh right before I came here to meet you,” he smiled. Sarah’s eyes widened. “Well?” “You were right. Those tiny slivers he found and removed from our wrists are some sort of biological tracking device. He still hasn’t been able to figure out exactly how they work, but he’s certain they remained dormant until the formation of our blood lines triggered them.” Simon made a motion toward his phone resting on the table. “Jeb’s sent out word to let the others know so they can have theirs removed, too.” “That’s great! It’s going to make the Arra’s job to keep tabs on you nearly impossible, now that those things are gone.” “Not really, Sarah,” Simon disagreed. “They know the general vicinity now. It’s just a matter of time before they’re able to pinpoint our location again. That last ship wasn’t a scout like it was the time the Arra went after Jeb and Hannah, or Tiron and Thomas. This last ship was a hostage ship. We were damn lucky it was only manned by a crew of four.” Sarah shrugged and dug into her chicken and dumplings. They ate in silence for a minute before Simon grinned. She could feel his amusement curling all the way down to her toes. “Well? How about you? Heard anything yet?” She smiled into her food. “You know damn well I have. You knew the moment I got the letter.” “Well?” he persisted. “Well, what? You already know the answer!”

“Sarah!” She burst out laughing. “I got tenure!” She threw out her arms and stood, leaning around the table to accept his hug of congratulations. From the corner of her eye she could see the trio of buxom beauties staring slack-jawed at them. Once they were re-seated, she continued. “I also got a phone call from the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge. They want me to present a lecture there next month. And Professor Tillotson at Mauna Kea is getting ready to go national with the news!” “That’s great!” Simon praised her. “What happens next?” “Oh, lots of things. Lots of educational things. Maybe a publishing contract. But you know what?” She laid her hand over his and leaned closer to him. “It really doesn’t matter anymore,” she confessed in her low, silky voice she knew could turn him on in a flash. And from the sudden sparkle of those green flecks in his eyes, she could tell it was working. No, her man wasn’t a boob man or a leg man, or even an ass man. He was one-hundred percent a heart man. “It doesn’t?” he murmured, drawing closer. “Mm-mm,” she answered with a shake of her head. “And you know why?” “Why?” he breathed across her lips. “Because black holes are passé, t’kor. I have you, and you are more important to me than anything this whole universe has to offer. Now…what do you have to say about that?” They brushed lips, and the simple act sent shivers through both of them. Pulling back, Simon gave her a smoldering look. “I say…maybe we need a little physical exercise to burn off these calories we just consumed. How about spending the rest of our lunch hour over at my place, Mrs. Morr?” She smiled seductively. Reaching up, she tenderly pushed back the errant lock of hair. “Just the lunch hour?” she purred. “Or two.” “Won’t the boss be angry if you’re late getting back to work?” Simon chuckled. “We’re still newlyweds. I think he’ll understand.” “Where are you parked?” “In Lot Five. Your car’s closer.” Quickly, they rose from their table and hurried to dump their trays in the waste receptacle. Simon grabbed her hand and led her to the nearest exit, but not before Sarah got the chance to glance back at the trio still sitting in shock at what they’d witnessed. She barely managed to give them a little mock salute before her husband rushed her out the door and into the bright June sunlight. But she knew they could hear her delighted laughter as her heart anticipated the joy his body would bring to hers. Finally, her life and her life’s work were meshed. And from here on out the universe would forever lie snugly in the palms of her hands.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Linda Mooney lives in a South Texas town, about thirty minutes from the Gulf of Mexico. When she’s not writing, she’s a kindergarten teacher, wife, and mother of two (human boys, not aliens, although there are times that could be debatable).

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