by Sabrina York
For now? Yes, the one-night stand. Nerves attacked once again. Taking the robe, she wrapped it tightly around her body. He held out his hand to help her out of the tub, but she only stared at him. This man who’d left her waiting for hours wanted the date to go on? No apologies? Then she met his eyes, reminding her of tropical waters and captivating her very soul. She reached for him without any conscious thought.
“Why don’t we sit by the fireplace?” He led her to one of the loveseats in front of it.
She wanted to yell at him, put him in his place for disrespecting her, for stripping away more of her self-confidence, but she couldn’t form the words. Her heart pounded. He’s even better looking in person. With her hand held firmly in his, anger ebbed away with each step. Maybe the night would turn out better than she’d expected, so long as he didn’t disappoint her again. One night in the presence of this god-like man couldn’t hurt.
She wanted to see every inch of him, to burn his image in her mind for the nights she decided to satisfy herself. She might regret it in the morning, but she held no desire to let him out of her sight that evening.
She expected him to sit beside her and whisper sweet nothings before he became familiar with her body. He sat on the loveseat across from her instead. That gesture snapped her out of her trance, and made her more comfortable. Maybe her instincts held some merit. She could spend the night with the captivating man.
“You are very beautiful, exactly what I hoped for when I applied to Madame Evangeline’s service.”
“Thank you.” Blushing, she stopped herself from telling him he was drop-dead gorgeous, that she suddenly didn’t care if the date only lasted one night. But she couldn’t say anything else, her ability to speak vanishing. His eyes captivated her, their greenish-blue color blending into his pupils and she couldn’t stop staring.
“So, how long did you have to wait before Madame Evangeline found your perfect match?”
“I….”
He laughed, the sound deep yet gentle. “You know, I’m just as nervous as you. I worried that you’d leave without meeting me. I’m really sorry for being so late.”
She hadn’t wanted to go home. It would only remind her of another failed relationship.
He continued, “I had to wait six months to find my perfect match.”
Six months? She couldn’t imagine looking for a date that long. Not looking at all became much easier. She focused back on him and found her voice, too curious not to say anything. “Why so long?”
“Let’s just say I have very particular tastes. Don’t worry, it’s nothing kinky, but I require a partner who is….open-minded.”
She didn’t know how open-minded she was since the idea of a one-night stand made her panic and the thought of leather and chains made her cringe. I’m so inexperienced. Maybe I should have followed Tamara’s advice long ago and stepped outside of my comfort zone. But, she arranged the date and would try to remain as open-minded as possible.
“I read on your profile that you are divorced.” His voice sounded so soft, gentle. He didn’t make her feel like a failure. “Will you tell me what happened to your marriage?”
He caught her by surprise. She found it hard to focus on anything in his presence. “I….wow, you sure are forward.”
“I really want to know as much as I can about you.”
Does he really care that much? “It’s going to take more than one night to get to know me.”
He left the loveseat and sat down next to her, placing his hand on her thigh. “I understand, but we’re here now.” He brushed a thumb across her lips.
She could only sigh, craving his attention more than anything.
“Will you please tell me?” he asked. “My….fiancé left me for my roommate. I understand the hurt of a broken relationship.”
She looked into his eyes, wanting to tell him her entire life’s story with the compassion he showed her.
“I can’t have children. My ex-husband left me to be with someone who could. We could have adopted, but….”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Shhh, don’t tell me any more. I see this topic causes you pain, but from what I understand from your profile, you are a pediatric nurse. How are you able to cope every day, caring for children, but knowing you can’t have your own?”
“I guess it’s my way of dealing with it. With such long hours, the hospital feels less like my workplace and more like my home. But it’s always felt that way, even before I knew I couldn’t conceive a child.” She’d never really thought of her life that way, but it had become her reality. She’d go back to her apartment to sleep and shower, but could never forget about all the children she’d return to on her next shift.
“If you found a way to have your own child, would you still want to?”
With his arm around her, she wanted to lie back against his chest. It felt so intimate, so comforting, but her guard lingered. She’d only just met him. “I can’t think like that anymore. I’ve come to the conclusion I’ll never give birth to a child of my own, but I haven’t ruled out adopting in the future.”
He pulled her closer, her side pressed against his. “I appreciate you answering such personal questions. Now, ask me anything. It’s only fair you know more about me. I don’t want you to think of me as a stranger.”
Carrie pulled away. No matter how hard she tried not to think about it, Frey would never be more than a stranger, one she went there to have sex with. Asking a couple of questions about him would not change that for her. “I….I don’t think I can do this.” She stood, rushed to the bathroom and locked the door. Hoping he would fulfill all of her fantasies, she still wanted to have sex with him. But not on the first date. Her heart hadn’t fully mended. She needed more. As she sat on the toilet seat, the tears flowed. Why did she think she could handle this? She wasn’t Tamara. She needed more than just sex. Peter hurt her too much to give herself to someone so freely. She couldn’t separate sex from a relationship. Tamara should have gone on the date instead of her. Her friend could easily walk away in the morning.
He knocked on the door. “Carrie, are you okay?”
“I’m sorry Frey, but I can’t have sex with you. Your perfect match didn’t work out.”
“Sex? You think this is just about sex?”
“Yes, that’s what we signed up for.” She wiped away the tears. “That’s what this date was about, the date you showed up three hours late for.”
“I said I’m sorry. I had a meeting that ran late. When I tried to call, I couldn’t get any reception.”
“And I’m sure this meeting was in the middle of nowhere?” She only heard lame excuses from men. Her ex had given her enough when he’d presented her with divorce papers.
“The meeting took place on a private plane and we literally landed in an airport in the middle of farmland. By the time I had any reception, I was only five minutes away.”
Her eyes narrowed. She didn’t know whether to believe him. “You have meetings with your clients on private jets? What kind of construction company do you run?”
“This was a first. Now, would you please come out and ask questions on this side of the door? Besides, I really need to use the bathroom.”
She would have to leave the room eventually since her clothes were still out there. So was the door out of the hotel room.
She opened the door and rushed past him, using the short amount of time he spent in the bathroom to put on as much clothing as possible. Unfortunately, she couldn’t find her bra and only managed to get her underwear and camisole on.
He came out and grabbed the rest of her clothes and her overnight bag, a playful grin on his face. “I’ll give these back as long as you promise to spend the night here with me. We don’t have to have sex, I’ll even sleep on the floor, but I don’t want you to leave.”
She chewed on her lip. Could she truly agree to stay with this gorgeous stranger for the rest of the night and into the morning? If she’d experienced any bad vibes from
him, she wouldn’t agree to stay. She still worried about having sex. Tamara told her about so many positions and places where she’d done it, but Carrie’s ex had only known one way. That’s the only way she knew, too. But with the sex out of the way, she could enjoy herself. She’d already paid for the room. “I promise.”
He dropped her clothes and bag then reached for her hand. “Let’s sit down again. We can order room service because I’m really hungry. The meeting earlier didn’t involve any food.”
They returned to the loveseats in front of the fireplace and finished off the rest of the bottle of wine. Room service arrived twenty minutes later. For two hours, they ate, talked and laughed, getting to know each other until he no longer felt like a stranger to her. Sadness washed over her when she realized they would only spend a few more hours together before going their separate ways, never to see each other again.
“What’s the matter?” Frey asked.
“Nothing, I’m just feeling tired.” She refused to dwell on their upcoming departure. She’d signed up for the date with many opportunities to back out. She would enjoy the rest of their time together.
“If you’d like to go to sleep, feel free. I’ll just rest right here.”
“No, I can’t do that to you. The loveseat’s not big enough for you to lie comfortably.”
“Perhaps we could share the bed. I’m sure there is enough room for both of us without any pressure.”
Carrie laughed. The entire night blanketed her with pressure, pressure to sleep with the gorgeous man before her then leave him in the morning, no strings attached. Besides, she didn’t think she could rest with his body so close to hers. “I may be tired, but I don’t think I can sleep.”
“Then will you let me do something for you? Will you trust me?”
Trust him? “I….It depends what you want me to do.” All of the earlier anxiety came rushing back.
“I want you to lie down. Don’t worry, this is nothing sexual and I will not cause you any pain.”
His eyes pleaded for her to trust him. She wanted to, she really did. He’d done nothing yet to make her think he would hurt her. “And what are you going to do?”
He smiled a kind, compassionate, understanding smile, one she would enjoy seeing in the morning when she woke up. “Lie down and I’ll show you.”
She left the loveseat and stood at the side of the bed.
Frey waited for her to get settled before he approached her. “Now I want you to lower your panties.”
“Take them off? I thought you said this wasn’t sexual.” Her anxiety returned and she considered jumping off the bed and locking herself in the bathroom again.
He kept his distance from her, the only thing that kept her from freaking out. “No, don’t take them off. Just lower them further down your belly.” His voice deepened to a warm and seductive tone and suddenly, she wanted his intentions to be sexual. Lowering her panties, she considered taking them all the way off.
“Not right now.” He placed his hand on hers before she could lift her hips to follow through.
Chapter Six
Frey wanted those panties to come off. She ignited something primal inside of him that no other female from Earth or Ginnun could ever spark. But he had to perform the procedure first. It remained the key reason he’d chosen Carrie from all the profiles Madame Evangeline e-mailed him on a regular basis. Evangeline seemed magical in her communications, leading him to almost reveal his secret to her with the hopes of finding the right woman faster. Had Carrie’s profile not come his way, he might have. But with her solid frame and lusty curves, he knew she would be able to handle his true alien body. If the date went well, he would reveal his Ginnunian form to her. Seeing her lie there confirmed she wouldn’t disappear underneath him. He’d also found some of the confidence he assumed she’d let slip away after her marriage ended. He would bring it back out, make her realize her worth and provide her with a gift no one else could.
“Lie still. This won’t hurt, but you will feel warmth from my hands.”
She looked unsure, but not scared as he placed his hands below her belly button. “Just relax.”
Her eyes closed. “I can’t believe I trust you this much. I can’t believe I even agreed to this date, but your eyes….they’re just so enticing, yet they make me feel calm. Are they contacts?”
He smiled. “I assure you, my eyes are not enhanced in any way and I have no need for contacts.” Looking down at her belly, he watched the blue glow spread underneath his touch. Healing transferred through his hands and into her. He filled with immense pleasure at the ability to give her the gift. Even if he never saw her after that night, he would enjoy knowing he’d given her something to bring her happiness.
She opened her eyes and rose up on her elbows. “That feels really weird. What are you doing?”
Whipping his leg across hers, he prepared for her reaction.
Her eyes widened when she noticed the blue glow. She struggled underneath him trying to roll him off. “Get off of me!”
Her hands pounded against his chest, but he grabbed them and held her down with his body. “I’m not hurting you. I’m just trying to help. Will you let me continue?”
Her head shook wildly, her words coming out as a threat rather than in fear. “Get off!”
Her intensity excited him, but he needed to find a way to keep her calm. She refused to look into his eyes. His mouth crashed down on hers, absorbing her next words. She objected at first, but then her tongue reached out to him, a passionate gesture unheard of on Ginnun.
He matched the force of her kiss and skimmed his hands down her arms to rest on her sides near her breasts. She no longer struggled. Her arms wrapped around him, keeping him close. When she released his mouth to take a breath, he sat up. She panted underneath him.
“That was incredible. I….I felt like I was flying through space. So many colors and the brightest stars.”
He experienced something different. With that kiss, he had finally found someone who could keep him grounded on Earth and repress any regret for not returning to Ginnun. He brushed his thumb along her cheekbone. “I’d like to continue if you’ll let me.” He leaned down and placed light kisses across her face.
A sigh escaped her lips and the last of her tight muscles relaxed underneath him. He slid his body down her legs, his hands returning to her belly.
“I thought you were going to continue something else,” she whispered.
His cock pressed against his pants already. Her sudden interest in sex made it painful. “I want to, but I need to finish giving you this gift.”
Her body moved but she didn’t struggle or try to get away. “What exactly are you doing to me? What is this gift? Why was my stomach glowing?”
He took in a deep breath and released it a little faster and louder than he’d wanted. He knew the answer would lead to more questions. While prepared to answer them, he didn’t want to scare her away. His response required carefully chosen words to ensure he gave her the gift before he told her of his origins.
“I’m healing you.” The blue glow returned across her belly as his hands warmed. “You’ll be able to have a child when I am finished.”
Her eyes widened. He sensed her fear, but she didn’t move. “Your child?”
“No, I am not giving you a child. That can only be done in the usual ways. I am simply making your body able to become pregnant and carry a child.”
Carrie propped herself up on her elbows. Her eyes stared down at her belly, but she remained calm. “How? No doctor could do that for me. How can you? Are you some type of voodoo priest or something?”
“No.” He needed to continue and keep his heritage from her for as long as possible.
“A religious fanatic who thinks I’m possessed by demons?”
Frey laughed. “Nope.” He was almost finished. Just a little longer. The scarring had all returned to normal, healthy tissue. He only needed to stimulate the maturation and release of eggs in her ovaries
.
“How then? I know you’re doing something to me. I can feel it.”
“Remember how I said I needed an open-minded partner?”
She nodded, her eyes catching a quick glance from his before returning to her stomach.
Just a couple more minutes and he’d be finished. He prepared to hold her down should she freak out when he told her he came from space. “I’m not exactly like you and most of the people on Earth. I’m….different.”
“Like a demon or a guardian angel?”
He laughed. It sounded forced, but he needed to stay focused on healing Carrie rather than mating with her. “No, you’re thinking paranormal. Try science fiction.”
She began to squirm under him, but he didn’t need to restrain her. “A….clone? Artificial intelligence?”
He finished healing her and lay down beside her. His thumb ran across her lips, wanting to taste them again, but knowing he probably wouldn’t. “Try alien.”
Her mouth curved into a smile. “Alien. I don’t think so. You’re missing the big head and eyes, the green skin, the willowy limbs.”
He touched his fingertips to the side of her head. “Like this?” He flashed an image of the alien Earthlings always expected to arrive from space.
“Yeah, but how’d you do that?” Fear shone in her eyes.
Leaving the bed, he sat on one of the loveseats. The night was over. In a second, she’d dress as quickly as possible and rush out of the room. “I told you, I’m an alien from outer space.” Perhaps he shouldn’t have told her. He would spend the rest of the night alone.
Chapter Seven
Her hands flew to her stomach. It still tingled from his touch. Had he told her the truth? Was he really an alien? And could she now have a child?
She’d spent months wishing for some miracle to help her get pregnant, but nothing worked. Doctors pronounced having a child of her own impossible. And now, with the simple touch of his hands, he believed he’d made all of her dreams come true.
