by CJ CADE
The great God beyond only knew what those horrid spines could do to Van if it slammed into him. He’d be impaled.
Van turned, bringing his weapon up as he did so, and fired, red laser streaking through the night. The plant—or whatever it was—rocked back, but then recovered and barreled on toward him. It even turned to follow as he dashed back toward the porch, and though he continued to fire at its base, smoke puffing outward from the thing's flesh, it came on.
Grabbing the first weapon she could find, Reva grasped the furled umbrella on its tall pole, drew it back and struck outward with all her might. She hit the cactus full on, the blow jarring up her arms and rattling her teeth. The cactus reeled back, but stayed upright.
"Get back!" Van roared.
He ripped the pole from her grasp, reared back and stabbed the pole at the huge plant. The end of the pole sank into the plant with a wet, smacking sound.
Slowly, the cactus toppled backward, and fell to the ground. Leaping off the porch after it, Van seized the pole and drove it with all his might into the ground.
The cactus shuddered like a live thing, and went still, the pole impaling it, pinning it to the lawn.
The umbrella clicked, and then unfurled, rising to its full width, a jaunty, striped dome over the dead monster. The tiny, multi-colored party lights around the edges flickered on.
Reva couldn't help it, she snickered. Van looked around, surprised. Then he shook his head, and began to chuckle with her.
"It looks so—so festive," Reva managed, still laughing. She was so relieved, she wanted to whoop and dance in circles. Even though her heart was still pounding as if she’d been in a real fight, and she felt shaky in the aftermath of adrenaline.
"Like no other battle spear I've seen," he agreed. “Only an Aurelian female would think to make a weapon from a sun-shade.”
Reva wasn’t so sure that was true. Any woman faced with a monster after her man would do the same.
He vaulted up on the porch with her, his arm around her, and looked back at the cactus. "They could have warned us these things can come to life."
"They can't come to life." Reva sobered, turning to cling to him, her face against his chest. He was warm and alive, his heart beating under her ear. "Van, I've seen cacti on the history vids. They are just plants. They can live for hundreds of years, but they cannot move. They do not even sway in the wind like the trees." She shuddered, and hugged him more tightly as she remembered the massive thing moving across the lawn, brandishing its spikes at him.
"I was afraid of that," Van muttered. He patted her back as he scanned the now quiet night scene. "None of the neighbors appear to have heard our battle. Come inside. We must alert Frost and Lacey."
Reva hurried inside, and waited as he closed the door after them. She followed him into the bedroom, where he picked up the phone Frost had given them.
"What do you think it was?" she asked, wrapping her arms around her middle.
He clicked a button on the phone and looked up at her, his handsome face grim. "If the plant cannot move on its own, it was animated by other means. Given the weirdness of this place... I have no idea. But it appears not everyone is pleased to have us here."
"Frost here," said a voice from the phone. "Van?"
"Yes," Van replied. "We have a problem. One of your decorative plants came to life, in a deadly way."
They heard Lacey's voice in the background, soft and urgent. Frost spoke over her. "We are on our way. We are alerting the sheriff, so do not be alarmed by a vehicle flashing colored lights."
"Be wary when you arrive," Van said. "There is still one cacti standing out there."
"We will be alert for spines." The other man said, and broke the link.
Van clicked the phone off. “Was he... serious?” Reva asked.
“I have no idea.”
Frost and Lacey arrived in moments. Just behind them came another SUV. It did indeed have a bar of colored lights on the top, although they were not lit.
A large, uniformed male with weapons stalked into the yard. He was followed by a slim woman in a like uniform, although with fewer badges. She held a device in her hands with lights twinkling on and off.
"Our Sheriff, Theo, and Deputy Lea," Frost said. "Theo, Lea, these are guests who arrived today."
He explained Van and Reva's arrival, while the sheriff listened, watching Van and Reva with his eery, smoky gaze.
The deputy waited to one side, looking from the cactus to Van and back. To Reva's critical eye, she seemed much more interested in Van than the criminal cactus.
"And you say the cactus came out of its place and attacked you?" the sheriff asked Van.
"Yes," Van said. Reva eyed the man for signs of skepticism. The situation was unbelievable, even though she'd been involved.
But instead of demanding to know how much the Aurelians had had to drink of the local ale, the sheriff sighed and shook his head.
"Looks like we got us another one," he said to Frost.
"Yes," Frost agreed.
They all gazed down at the cactus with its festive, yet deadly spear.
"Shame about that cactus," the deputy said. "It was a big one, around eighty years old. Don't reckon it can be replanted with that big hole in the middle."
"No," Lacey agreed. "Still, Van had no choice."
"Don't blame me," Van said, giving Reva a sidelong look. "She hit it first."
The deputy frowned at her.
Reva wrinkled her nose at Van. "Hilarious. It was about to impale you on those spines."
Van sidestepped closer, and slid his arm around her waist. "I know. You saved my life."
"And you saved mine." She flushed as she realized they were the cynosure of several interested gazes. "We're very sorry we had to destroy your, uh, fascinating cactus."
"That's all right," the sheriff drawled. "Last time we had travelers drop in, they started a fire behind the Kokopelli Bar. But, I'm gonna suggest you folks stay in for the rest of the night. And if there's any little cacti in the house, say in a dish garden, keep your distance, hmm?"
"That is it?" Van demanded, stiffening. "Are you not going to investigate why the cactus was able to commit an act of violence?"
"Oh, yes. But whatever caused this is long gone for now," the big man said. "Isn't that right, Lea?"
The deputy nodded, brandishing the handheld device, no longer flashing. "Yes, sir. My readings show there was indeed unusual paranormal activity—I say unusual because there's always some p.a. here in Magic," she told Van. "But whatever it was, it's gone now. You're safe. Although, if you like, I could park my cruiser out here, keep an eye out for the rest of the night."
Reva stiffened this time. What did this puny human think Van would do, come out and cavort with her while Reva stayed meekly in the dwelling?
Frost eyed the eastern sky over the mountains, which showed a rim of light. "That won't be necessary, thank you, Deputy Lea. Lacey and I will stay."
"Yes," Lacey agreed. "We may as well put the coffee on. It's nearly morning, and we have a lot to talk about."
Reva just hoped the talk involved how to get them home, before they died here in some bizarre fashion.
Who knew what might attack next—the furniture, or perhaps the window blinds?
CHAPTER NINE
Reva woke with her lover leaning over her in the bed, his arms braced on both sides, flattening the covers over her. He was smiling down at her, his gaze alight with something that her body recognized even when her mind was slow to catch up—desire.
She smiled sleepily up at him, drinking in his nearness like cool water.
His gaze changed, sharpened, and he leaned down, so close she could feel his warm breath on her face, and smell the warm, clean scent of his body. Hers reacted helplessly, yearning arching her up to him, her hips tilting, her breasts tightening as heat and need twined through her.
And now, her need was very specific, because finally, she knew how it felt to find pleasure in his arms, in
stead of at her own hand.
Van leaned closer, brushing his nose and lips over hers in a teasing caress. "Time to get up, sleepy."
Reva lifted her head, the only part of her she could move with the covers trapping her, and kissed him back eagerly. He tasted of coffee and himself, an irresistible combination. Of course, she suspected that the equation of Van plus any ingestible substance would be irresistible.
For one breathless moment he kissed her back, and the only sound in the quiet room was her own uneven breath and the creak of the bed under her as she strained up to him. His warm mouth was everything she needed, craved.
But all too soon, he drew back again. He drew his lower lip into his teeth and shook his head regretfully, his gaze flicking from her mouth to her eyes and back. "Oh, little Reva, when you look at me like that..."
She opened her mouth to tell him to shut up and kiss her, but he shook his head and then stood abruptly, backing away from the bed, his big hands in fists as if to resist reaching for her. "Nope. We have things to do. It's nearly eight o'clock by Earth time. Lacey and Frost promised to return by nine.
Memory flooded back, and Reva bolted upright in the bed, shoving her tousled hair from her face. Right—they were on a strange planet, they'd nearly died at the hands of a giant plant, and now they were going to confer with Lacey and Frost about what to do next.
The other couple had returned to their home to, as they put it, get ready for the day. Waiting, she'd dozed off at the galley counter, so Van had sent her back to bed to rest.
"And Lacey will help us," she remembered. "She's a witch, and she said there are others like her here. They can help us get back to Hamor!"
"Or at least somewhere," Van answered.
But before she could ask what he meant by that, he gave her a last, regretful look and turned his back. "I'll be in the other room. Come out when you're ready."
Reva pouted. She'd been ready a sec ago. His bad luck he hadn't kissed her again.
She hopped out of bed, wincing as her head swam at the sudden motion. Was the jump still affecting her?
Wait... last night she'd had two, or possibly three of the local ales. That must be it. And then... oh, my! She put both hands to her head as hot, graphic memories assailed her.
No wonder Van had behaved so strangely this morning.
Last night, under the influence of the ale, she'd thrown herself at him. And he'd been sweet and tender, and then they'd done a lot more.
They'd had the sex. The real thing, with his thick, hard penis inside her, and his mouth and hands all over her... she shivered, remembering. The first time had been good, except for the painful part.
But the second time... oh, my. The sex manuals were correct, that disappeared after the first time, especially with gesics. And he'd been so sweet, reminding her to use that.
But... had it all been only because they were trapped here together?
Reva lowered her hands and scowled at the doorway through which he'd just disappeared.
Van had ignored all her overtures back on Hamor. Only now did he want her. Was it because the witch Lacey had toyed with him, using her powers on him to make a point?
His attraction to her was probably no more real than one of T'Bele's smiles. Sure, he said he finally saw that T’Bele was not for him, but would this new attitude last, or would his ambition get in the way once again?
In a thoroughly bad humor, Reva stomped over to the room's lone bureau and yanked open the top drawer.
Lacey had left her another ensemble to wear.
Reva pulled the clothing out and examined it with consternation. The top was gauzy, cream with tiny green flowers. The neckline was loosely gathered with a string, the waist with a stretchy band. The sleeves were nearly non-existent, merely intersecting loops of fabric meant to show off the arms, ending in deep ruffles at the elbow. The lower half was a skirt—a very short skirt of green that matched the flowers on the top.
There was also a bra and panty set, the like of which Reva had seen only on the holovids. They hung from her hands in wisps of cream lace. Clearly meant to entice, not protect.
She looked to the doorway through which Van had disappeared, then back at the clothing. Did the local females appear in public dressed this briefly? They must.
Then she shook her head at herself. Why in the universe was she worrying about whether an ensemble displayed more skin than she was accustomed to?
She'd dared to jump, hadn't she, following trained warriors into the great unknown of space.
And now, she and Van were either going to be stuck on this planet in this time forever, or they might die trying to get home.
So, seven hells yes, she would enjoy the friendly witch's gift! And if she gave Van a bit of his own back... well, he wasn't the only one who could tease.
When she walked into the dwelling's galley a short time later, Van's response made every bit of self-consciousness worthwhile. He stood leaning against the counter, drinking a mug of what smelled like coffee. The brew must truly be universal.
When he saw her, he paused with the mug to his lips and stared at her over the top. Then with a curse, he jerked the mug away from his mouth, splashing hot liquid over his fingers.
"Quark it," he groaned, setting the mug down with a thump and wiping his hand on his shirt to dry it. He was still staring at her, his gaze tracing her body through the gauzy top.
Reva smiled to herself as she walked him, choosing another mug and lifting the carafe out to pour her own coffee. "Having trouble with these archaic tools, commander?"
He grunted, and when she turned, his gaze was on her legs. Hiding the way this made them tremble, she leaned against the counter opposite him and took a sip of the coffee. She grimaced at its bitterness. "Ugh. I think this requires more water to make it palatable."
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. There's creamer in the refrigeration unit there. It looks about the same the universe over." He jerked his head toward a tall metallic box with handles on the front.
The creamer helped. Reva sighed as she took another, larger drink of the coffee.
It almost quelled her urge to preen herself before his gaze. She wasn't used to being the cynosure of his frank, lusty appreciation.
On Hamor, even dressed in cast-offs and surplus military garb, she'd been approached by plenty of warriors hoping for a dalliance, and rebuffed them all, because none of them were Van. She regretted that now—if she was as experienced as he was, she'd know exactly how to torment him, how far she could draw him in before she pushed him away.
As it was, she'd best keep a wary distance at least for now.
Her stomach growled, reminding her of a more pressing need. "Do you think it is all right if we eat the food?" she asked.
The refrigeration unit held a few containers of foods, and there was a bowl of curving, yellow fruits on the counter that smelled tasty. Beside them stood a rectangular container brightly decorated with a funny creature holding a spoon.
"They left the food here," Van said. "And I was hungry, so I ate some of this." He held out the open box to her.
She sniffed the contents, which appeared to be small crispy balls of something. “Is it breakfast, or a sweet?”
“It tastes like a sweet,” he admitted, grinning crookedly. “But the box says it is a breakfast food. And it is delicious.”
Reva shook her head. Setting her mug down, she reached for the yellow fruit, pulling one from the bunch. She examined it curiously. It smelled delicious, but the outside was leathery. She took an experimental bite of the end, and recoiled in disgust at the tough skin and pithy flavor.
Van chuckled at the face she made. "I think you peel them first." He pulled a folding tool from his pocket and flipped out a blade. Slicing the peel of his fruit from one end to the other, he held it out to Reva.
"I can do it." His knife had sunk through the peeling easily, so she used her thumbnails to score hers, and found soft, creamy flesh inside. She pulled the peel open further to reveal the rounde
d end. Putting it tentatively in her mouth, she licked it and then drew back to consider the taste. "Mm-mm." She put the fruit back in her mouth.
Van made a low noise, and she looked up to see him watching her raptly, his own fruit forgotten in his hand. His eyes had that sleepy look again, and his nostrils were flared. Glancing down, she saw a long, hard shape pushing against the confines of his long knit shorts.
She gave him a look of disgust. Really, it took so little to rev him up? She chose to ignore her own body's instinctive response to his arousal.
Van smirked. "What? I can't help it. You, dressed like that, looking like you're sucking on a man's... you know."
Reva bared her teeth at him, and snapped a large bite off the end of her fruit.
He winced. "Whoa." But his eyes laughed at her as he took large bites and chewed his own fruit.
"Good," he mumbled, his mouth full.
She nodded. It was good, sweet and creamy. It reminded her of fruit chews she'd had, but those had been dark brown. "I think these are called ba-na-na-bas," she said. "Or something like that. They also grow on Pangaea."
He chewed, eying her with interest. "How'd you know that?"
She shrugged, self-conscious under his gaze. "I like to know things about other planets. I study... well, I mean I watch the travel and history vids."
"That's great. You know how many of my warriors aren't even sure which way Aurellon is from Hamor?" he asked.
He straightened, and tossed his fruit peel into the sink.
"I like that you're curious," he said, taking the few steps to stand close before her. His eyes had that look again, intensified, and he was smiling down at her, his big hands on the counter on either side of her. "I'm curious too."
She'd just taken a bite of fruit. Now it sat on her tongue, a gooey mass too big to swallow. Yet chewing seemed beyond her capabilities, with him looming over her this way. "'bout what?" she mumbled.
He bent his head, his nose grazing hers, his warmth reaching out to her tangle her senses and rezz her nerve endings. "About how you'll taste with the bana-whatever on your tongue."
