Collide

by Shelly Crane

  It was freedom.

  The tingling was a full force assault. Electricity was everywhere and I felt it all the way to my toes and back. He let go of all inhibitions and so did I. There was no holding back, no sparing the other with our cautiousness and no guilt. We were set free and ready for the next chapter in our lives, together.

  He placed a finger under the strap of my tank top, sliding it down my arm to kiss my bare shoulder and my breath came out in harsh bursts. Then he removed my shirt completely for the very first time, gently pulling it over my head and gazing down at me with awe and love.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said and ran his fingers down my cheek and neck.

  I smiled and bit my lip in a moment of silly self consciousness. I had no doubt that Merrick enjoyed the view but I couldn’t help it. I’d never been naked in front of anyone before. It was nothing like what I thought it would be like. I thought I’d be hyperventilating with embarrassment, covering myself with shaking hands but, no, I felt the little twinge but as I saw the look he was giving me I felt grateful beyond words that I saved myself for this moment. Saved myself for this man.

  I pulled up to remove his shirt and he let me do it without his help.

  “I’m so glad I waited for you,” I said with conviction.

  “Me too,” he chuckled huskily. “I adore you for it.”

  His breath caught when I reached for his jean snap. My heart pounded loudly and out of sync, my breathing was out of control. He laid me down against the pillow and twined his fingers with mine on our pallet over my head.

  For someone who claimed to not know what he was doing he seemed to know exactly what he was doing. I’d never been so wonderfully frustrated in all my life. He knew me so entirely and was exactly where I needed him to be with just the right amount of teasing affection and attention.

  He practically was reading my mind and he seemed to rather enjoy himself as well. His lips softly kissed my ribs and I could only hope those doors were as sound proof as I wanted them to be. I heard a moan and gasped as I realized I was making that noise. Merrick echoed me with his own.

  We finally fell asleep last night completely exhausted and wonderfully satisfied. It was morning and Merrick had started keeping a candle in the corner for me since I couldn’t see in the dark like him. I looked up to his face from where I laid on his chest and saw the most handsome, incandescent, rested husband. There was no awkwardness or shyness, just happiness.

  “Morning, you,” I said.

  “Good morning,” he greeted huskily.

  I couldn’t think as I enjoyed the warm glow and thrill of what was going on between us. Merrick had been so right. Everything was perfect last night because we did things the right way, our way. I loved him even more for that. It was worth every minute of the wait.

  Then. Oh no!

  I was dragged kicking and screaming from my peaceful thought by another one. The Keepers would see this in Merrick’s mind. Oh no! They would all see. Embarrassing! Why had I not thought of this before? It wasn’t like it really mattered or would have changed anything, but still, it would be strange. Maybe he can block them for...oh say, forever?

  Well, I just wouldn’t be embarrassed. They shouldn’t be in his head anymore anyway. It was their own fault and they would get a peep show assault in their mind when we walked out of here and I would wear a smug smile. I couldn’t help but ask though.

  “Merrick. What about the other Keepers?”

  He knew what I meant right away.

  “I talked to them already. They agreed that we would all try to stay our of each other’s heads from now on unless it’s an emergency. Don’t worry about it.”

  “Mmmm,” I crooned, satisfied with the answer and Merrick’s thoughtfulness. “I’m not worried. I’m not worried about anything right now.” I sighed and snuggled closer. “Thank you.”

  “I can’t guarantee that they won’t ever see but, I’ll try my best. I really think most of them would really rather not see that anyway. We don’t have anything to worry about.” He chuckled slightly but then turned serious. “By the way, last night was...amazing.”

  “It was perfect. Thank you. I couldn’t imagine it being any other way than that. You were so...”

  “No...you...you were so...” We both laughed out loud at our inability to form coherent speech. “I didn’t hurt you did I? I was trying to be...” he said bashfully and wrinkled his nose, making me giggle at his frustration.

  “No, you couldn’t hurt me, Merrick. I loved it.”

  He kissed me softly and pulled me more tighter into his arms. I felt his breath on my face as he traced circles into the small of my back with his thumb. I didn’t want to move. I’d starve first and I just might.

  I could already hear my body betraying me with it’s incessant need for things, food in particular. Forcing me to leave this perfect moment. I felt if I got up that this would all go away some how. It was too good to be true. The growling continued and I can heard Merrick’s soft laughter.

  “Honey, we’re married now. You are absolutely stuck with me, so, we can get up and go eat so we don’t starve and I’ll still be here. Always together. I promise.”

  Merrick - Heavens Gates

  Chapter 28

  I remembered wishing she’d hurry up in there. Trying to think about other things so I wouldn’t freak out. Think about things like Danny. My conscience had been buzzing slightly lately. It wasn’t as strong on earth but I could still feel it. When I asked Danny if anything was wrong yesterday he said it was nothing, he was just a little down in the dumps. I didn’t really believe him but I’d been so wrapped up in Sherry lately to really focus on anything else.

  We had a brief Keeper meeting yesterday because it seemed mine wasn’t the only conscience that was buzzing. Our Specials seemed to be fine, if not a little tired and withdrawn. That went along with what Danny told me. Maybe everyone was just tired of being cooped up. We concluded that was the cause and left it at that since none of our Specials said anything different.

  Sherry was in there, handing out flyers and posting them. I thought something was wrong. Maybe someone was harassing her about the flyers but no, she was fine. I just couldn’t stand sitting out there waiting helplessly. She was doing well though. No problems all day and we made good time.

  I needed to make sure I told her that. She thought I thought she was weak but, I didn’t. I knew how strong she was.

  I didn’t doubt her bravery, I doubted her right hook.

  “You may kiss your beautiful bride.”

  I’m married, kissing her as my wife. The perfect girl. Most guys would be sweating bullets but Sherry was not like most girls.

  She wasn’t argumentative unless is was really important to her and then you could just forget about winning. She didn’t nag me, she doesn’t raise her voice, she was a helpmate without complaint and not because of duty but because she wanted to be. She was so giving and unselfish. She was sexy but modest. She was gorgeous yet not arrogant. She was fragile yet strong...in spirit.

  It didn’t seem fair that I should get such a girl. I’d seen some hideous things in my Keeper time. Some women were vicious and uncaring, nagging, spiteful creatures wrapped in pretty packages. Men were too. I’d seen that first hand with this body in fact but, it just seemed so against a women’s nature to be so vicious.

  She actually went through with it and said the words that she would marry me. Somehow, I still thought there was a chance she’d wake up and see that she was better than me. All that worry was for nothing.

  Look at her, eyeing me, wanting me. I always looked away at these parts of the human life to give them privacy, though they never knew I was there to begin with.

  How do you make love? I knew the technicalities but, that wasn’t what I wanted for her. I wanted it to be the best night ever for her. But how can I if...

  I knew she was getting upset. I could see it on her face. She thought I was stalling and I was. She’d never understand why. S
he’d think I was stupid.

  It wasn’t just my insecurities but also my inhuman strength. I’d never had a problem with it unless I get angry but what if I did get out of control? Would I hurt her?

  I couldn’t ruin it for her though. I promised her we’d wait until now and now had come. If I wanted to be a man, then I needed to act like one.

  I looked into her, pulling her face up with my finger under her chin. I wanted her to see that I was ready and was done being a coward. I picked up her hand in mine and gently tugged her, leading her to our honeymoon suite of a closet.

  I tried to be attentive. I just wouldn’t stop moving. I kissed her lips, her neck, that hideous scar on her shoulder though she pulled it off and made it look gorgeously fierce somehow. I nipped and kissed at her throat and ear lobes, trying fervently to remember any notions of human affection I’d caught a glimpse of over the years. I tried to playback all the things I’d ever done to her to make her breath catch and give her shivers.

  Her hands tugged at my hair and oh...wow. It was a good thing I didn’t know it would feel like this before because there was no way I could have stopped her.

  I hoped I was doing everything right. I hoped she wasn’t just playing it up for my satisfaction and ego. She would tell me if I was doing something wrong or hurting her, wouldn’t she?

  Fool, just let go! She married me, she loves me so I should just give in and be with her. That beautiful women wanted me. Me! No longer would I tell her to behave, I would beg her to misbehave from then on.

  I kissed her belly and ribs and she arched her back. It would seem that she was putty in my hands. I felt a sprig of self satisfaction as I must have been doing it right. I heard her appreciative moans and couldn’t help it myself as I gave in completely over to this beautiful sexy dangerous little woman.

  My wife.

  In the morning I woke up and glanced over. There she was. It hadn’t been a dream after all. She was laying on my chest asleep with her arm across my stomach and her brown curls splayed out across her arm and back. I swore I could even see a smile on those perfect pink pouted lips.

  I moved her hair out of her face with my fingers. She was so soft and warm. Last night...ahhh...she was so amazing. How could someone so small and cute be so sexy?

  I was glad that I thought to tell the others to stay out of my head. I hoped they listened to me. I knew they would. Well, they better.

  Sleeping On The Job

  Chapter 28

  Breakfast started out quiet. I was trying to keep my mind from running wild wondering what people were thinking. Of course the ones who knew about the elopement knew exactly what we were doing last night but the fact that they could literally see it in Merrick’s head anytime they wanted was making me nervous.

  I tried to push that aside and focus on the scrambled eggs I was cooking for everyone. Jeff had been by twice to check on the eggs and flash a huge I-know-what-you-did grin at me.

  The more I looked at Kay, Ryan, Max, Jeff and Merrick around the kitchen table, the more I saw how much they were beginning to enjoy human food. Most of them were only here for a few hours at a time before with their trips here to salvage a Special in trouble. For the most part they never even ate food until now.

  I tried to keep that in mind when it was my turn to cook. I wanted to cook things for them that they would love and want more of. I wanted them to think ‘how did I survive without this’. Like cheesecake, which I was making for desert tonight. On the last run they heeded my request for the ingredients.

  Trudy, Marissa, and I began a cooking rotation last week with the other ladies who were not fond of cooking. They would do a dish rotation. Perfect setup for me because dishes weren’t fun to begin with but, in this kitchen the memory of dishes gave me chills.

  It was a good thing I loved to cook. Trudy had been a little down lately and less perky and active. I wondered if her Leukemia was to blame or the heartbreak. Either way there was nothing to do for her but let her rest. The Leukemia was past the chemo stage and what could you do for a broken heart?

  After Merrick filled up on three plates full of scrambled eggs, I cut him off. He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind while I stirred the eggs and whispered a joke in my ear about needing his strength for later. I giggled and we got the usual grinning glances but, nothing out of the ordinary. He left to go take a shower.

  We pulled it off. We eloped and got away with it. Wow. I was married.

  Jeff and Ryan finished a couple plates each and were suffering.

  “Sherry, those were the best eggs I’ve ever had. I’ve only had eggs once before but I’m being serious, they were great,” Ryan told me, placing his plate in the sink, then returning to his chair.

  “Thanks, Ryan. It was my moms eco friendly version.”

  He raised his eyebrow in question and I just laughed.

  “Well, whatever it was, they were awesome. Thank you.”

  “Your welcome. I can’t believe we’ve been down here this long and I haven’t cooked scrambled eggs for everyone yet. Merrick is the only one I’ve ever cooked them for.”

  “Well, Merrick gets a lot of special treatment around here.”

  Ryan could barely finish before he was laughing which made Jeff laugh too.

  “Hey!” I swatted him with the dish towel on his arm as I tried not to laugh. “Watch it.”

  They both burst out laughing again as I finished up the last pan of eggs for myself and Trudy.

  Celeste came into the kitchen.

  “What’s all the commotion about!” she chimed, honestly hoping for some drama to be going on.

  She was so bored lately.

  “Nothing, just some Keepers being silly.”

  I mock glared at them and they chuckled under their breath. Jeff’s eyes were laughing over the rim of his coffee cup.

  “Dang. I need something to do up in here people! Something to talk about. I’m dying here! I’m even out of nail polish,” she whined.

  I chuckled and turned so she wouldn’t see me laughing. She dramatically plopped down at the table with Ryan and Jeff, throwing her arms on the table and laying her head down on them. I could hear her continue to sulk in a muffle.

  “Bored. Bored. Bored. Why does it have to be the end of the world, huh? I’m too young to be so depressed and sullen.”

  “Well, you could learn to knit from Trudy. She’d probably love the distraction,” Ryan told her.

  She even surprised me with her answer and following enthusiasm.

  “Really! Wow. I’d never thought I’d ever be excited about something like knitting. I’m gonna go talk to her right now!”

  Just like that she ran off to find Trudy. I wondered what Danny was doing for Celeste to be so bored. Come to think of it, Celeste seemed to be the only Special up and running around lately. Even Calvin seemed pretty mellow. Hmmm.

  I ate my eggs quickly standing at the counter, putting a lid over the leftovers for Trudy and the rest of the lazy bones who weren’t up yet.

  I wiped my hands on the towel hanging by the fridge and playfully pushed Jeff’s shoulder as I walked by. I heard them laughing as I walked out, making my way to the bathroom. I was just about to shut the door when Celeste held it open with her hand.

  “Hold it. Let me grab my- Sherry! What’s that on your neck? Oh my-” She lunged for me, pulling back the strap of my tank top and swiping at my hair. “Sherry! Is that a hickey? Oh. My. Goodness.”

  She just stood there staring at it so I pushed her fingers off and turned to look in the mirror. When I shifted the tank top strap and my hair around to the back there were quite a few hickeys and raspberries around my neck and collarbone, in fact.

  I felt the blush coming but then I realized I was a married women and had no reason to be ashamed but...she didn’t know we went through with it yet, so I turned back and smiled sheepishly while shrugging.

  “Ah! Bad!” she said winking and laughing like we were in some secret club together now.

&n
bsp; I hoped we were not in the same club. I fervently blocked that thought as she walked out giggling loudly. I fixed my hair to hang around my shoulders to hide the marks and then take care of business. Then I decided to go see Danny.

  In the commons room, Marissa and Jeff were on the couch with lots of space between them but they were turned toward each other. Marissa was laughing and they looked pretty cozy in their conversation. Hmm. I cocked my head. It would be nice to not be the minority on alien courtship around here.

  I knocked on Danny’s door and peeked in a little when I didn’t hear him say anything. He was asleep still which was not unusual for him.

  I sat next to him and shook his arm. He woke right up, even looking around alert. That wasn’t like Danny. Danny was the king of grump in the morning.

  “Hey. You ok?” I asked startled by his actions.

  “Yeah, why? Something happen?” he said, rubbing his palms into his eyes.

  “No, I just wanted to check on you. You’ve been sleeping a lot. Is everything ok?”

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” he muttered and slumped back down in his sleeping bag, turning away from me.

  That sent a shiver down my spine. Danny always told me everything. Whatever was on his mind, it couldn’t be good.

  “Yes, I would. What is it?”

  “Sis. Something’s going on with me. Something’s not right.”

  “Ok, Danny. Please, you’re scaring me. What are you talking about? I won’t laugh.”

  “I don’t think you’ll laugh. I think you’ll think I’m crazy.”

  “I won’t. Please,” I pleaded as he turned back over to look at me, hesitation on his face.

  “I can...make other people think things or do things. I can control them with my mind.”

  “What?” I tried to sound the least threatening as possible.