Gray Card

by Cassandra Chandler

  “I’ll have to fix that.” He grinned at her, tugging her shirt down the rest of the way.

  “Oh, I look forward to that. But in the meantime, since you’re going to be gone for a while and we’ll probably be pretty busy when you get back,” she waggled her eyebrows, “I’m going to see what I can get done at the University. Meet you here tonight?”

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I don’t know how long it will be.”

  She slid her hands up his chest. She would never get tired of feeling him, touching him, being close to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself up so that their noses were touching.

  “Then give me a little sugar to tide me over,” she said.

  “You are ridiculous.”

  “You are not kissing me.”

  “I’ll have to fix that too.”

  “They better let you stay,” she said. “You have a lot to do.”

  He kissed her then—soundly, deeply. The model planets above their heads seemed to spin as his lips caressed hers, his tongue stoking the fire in her belly yet again. Evelyn used what willpower she had left to push him away.

  “If you don’t leave now, I’m going to tie you to the bed and keep you here until I’m well and truly done with you,” she said.

  “Done with me?”

  “That was a poor choice of words. I don’t think I’ll ever be done with you.”

  “Good. Because I know I’ll never be done with you.”

  She walked him to the door, holding hands the whole way. She felt giddy, so excited at the new prospects before her that she hardly knew what to think.

  At the door, Adam said, “That thing you mentioned about tying me to the bed… Do people really do that?”

  Evelyn grinned. “Later.”

  He kissed her once more before he left. A lingering kiss, his gaze promising more. She could hardly wait until tonight. But in the meantime, there were some research journals that she could bury herself in that might help her pass the time.

  Chapter Eight

  “I’m staying.”

  Adam burst through the door to the planetary liaison office, a little gratified that his entrance made Todd jump behind the heavy wooden desk that dominated the large room. Adam planted his feet on the ground, daring Todd to object.

  Something was wrong. Instead of being cowed, Todd leaned back in his chair and smirked. He draped one of his arms across the table and kept the other out of sight beneath the desk. From the angle of his elbow, it wasn’t resting in his lap.

  Amateur. Todd was broadcasting the weapon he had strapped to the underside of the desk. Why he had a weapon pointed at his door was the mystery. Without seeing it, Adam couldn’t tell the range or dispersal pattern he was facing.

  “I’ve told you the Coalition High Council’s decision,” Todd said. “You’ll have to take it up with them. In person.”

  Adam stalked to a low table along the left wall of the room, hopefully out of the path of whatever Todd was hiding beneath his desk. Turning, Adam leaned against the table, crossing his arms.

  “Actually, you’ll be taking it up with them,” Adam said. “I’m done with the Coalition.”

  “You can’t just quit the Coalition.”

  “My latest tour is complete. My obligations are fulfilled. I’m officially releasing my citizenship so that I can stay on Earth.”

  Todd stood and smoothed the jacket of his suit. Dark fabric made of native materials of extremely high quality. He walked around the desk and leaned against it, mirroring Adam’s posture.

  “I know it’s nice here, but you can’t just stay. It was enough of a stretch that the Council let you come here in the first place. This is precisely why Earth is a preserved planet. There are too many temptations here for someone like you.”

  “What, you mean a glitch?”

  Todd’s lips flickered into a sneer for the briefest of moments, but Adam caught the expression. Todd recovered himself quickly.

  “A conqueror.”

  Adam couldn’t argue that point. “Not anymore.”

  “Really? You can guarantee to the Council that you won’t snatch up some choice technology when you get bored with all your nature hikes, cobble it together into something that actually works, and bring these primitive people to their knees?”

  An image of Evelyn before Adam on her knees sprang to mind. He had to clamp down on his body’s reaction with all his willpower to keep himself from getting hard just from the thought. When he looked back at Todd, the bastard had a smug smirk on his face.

  “I see. You’ve tasted even more of the forbidden fruits of this planet than I thought. The women here do have their charms. I have yet to find one immune to my own.”

  Adam couldn’t believe that the planetary liaison had taken such liberties with his charges, people he was supposed to be protecting from the very exploitation he described. Adam kept his expression as impassive as he could, seething inside.

  Todd shook his head and walked back to his chair, but didn’t sit. “My advice is to find a few women to teach you some tricks and then hire someone to service your new appetites when you get back.”

  Adam had made a dangerous assumption about Todd and was paying for it. Being assigned to Earth was an important role for a planetary liaison. They were supposed to be carefully screened. They were also supposed to protect the populace of the planet they were overseeing, not offer them up as entertainment.

  “I’m only interested in one woman,” Adam said. “And she’s on Earth, so that’s where I’m staying. Draw up whatever forms you need. Citizen revocation, contracts of conduct, relinquishing my assets.”

  A spark lit in Todd’s eyes at the last. Adam was hardly surprised. Apparently, Todd had been on Earth long enough to be corrupted by the vast resources of the planet. He masked his expression, most likely realizing that he wasn’t being as discreet as he needed to be.

  “You can’t just buy yourself a spot on this planet.” Todd sat again, leaning back and steepling his fingers, elbows on the arms of his chair. “If people could, the place would be overrun. Half the planets with preservation status would be.”

  “I’m not some tourist looking for a permanent vacation. I don’t make these choices lightly.”

  Todd was silent for a while, the unwholesome gleam in his eyes causing Adam’s stomach to clench. Now that Adam was listening to his body more, he received the message clearly. Battle was coming.

  “You love this Earthling?” Todd asked.

  Adam hated to admit it when his senses were warning him of danger, but he had to. “Yes.”

  “I’d like to meet her.”

  “I don’t see why that would be necessary.”

  “It is necessary,” Todd said. “I have to decide if this is some sort of ruse to allow you to stay. The Council won’t just take your word that you fell in love with an Earthling during your leave.”

  They should. Adam’s teeth started to hurt from grinding together. Adam had done so much for the Coalition—worked directly with the Council for years. If they didn’t trust him, they didn’t trust anyone. The thought didn’t sit well with him on many levels. If they didn’t understand trust, he might be better served to put his faith elsewhere, like in himself.

  And in Evelyn.

  “I’ll arrange a meeting,” Adam said.

  The first volley had been fired, but Todd didn’t understand who he was dealing with. Adam would set up the meeting in a safe location that he scouted in advance. But before he brought Evelyn anywhere near Todd, Adam needed to arm himself with information. A weapon would have been preferable, but if he was caught planet-side with one, the Council would certainly refuse his request to stay.

  Adam needed to call his crew and get them working on this. He needed to know exactly how deep of water Todd was treading.

  Chapter
Nine

  Getting engaged was not good for concentration. Neither was incredible sex. Evelyn stared blankly at the pages of the journals she was supposed to be indexing for about an hour. Her body tingled from the memory of Adam’s touch as her mind replayed vivid scenes from their morning together.

  Nope, she wasn’t getting anything done today.

  Maybe a walk in the park would be nice. She decided to go back to where it had all begun, to the very bench where she and Adam shared their first kiss. The day wasn’t getting any cooler, but the bench was still shaded from the afternoon sun. She sat and closed her eyes, smiling as she thought about their morning.

  “I don’t suppose you’d like some company?”

  Evelyn jumped at the unexpected voice—the unexpectedly close voice.

  A tall man stood before her. He was wearing a charcoal gray suit that fit his lithe frame perfectly, accenting his narrow waist and broad shoulders. His nose was straight and thin, like his lips, and his cheekbones were high and sharp. His dark hair was combed back from his face and full of enough product to be formed into a perfect helmet.

  If it wasn’t for the aura of douchery he was giving off, he might have been handsome in an avant-garde supermodel sort of way. As it was, Evelyn could only think one thing as she looked at him.

  “How are you not dying?”

  He blinked, a momentary lowering of his eyebrows and curling of his lip making her more than a little uncomfortable. He covered the expression quickly with a smile as fake as a mannequin’s. That plus the hair-helmet and she actually let out a little laugh. He didn’t look like a real person.

  “I’m afraid I don’t follow you,” he said.

  “You’re in a dark three-piece suit in hundred degree weather and you’re not even sweating. That’s weird.” She shook her head and said, “I don’t mean to be rude. I’m just having a really awesome day and my verbal filters are even lower than usual.”

  This time, he let his sneer stay a bit longer. When he pasted a smile on his face again, he accompanied it with lowered eyelids. He sat next to her, sliding his arm behind her on the bench.

  “A good mood is nothing to apologize for,” he said. “And good days should be celebrated.”

  Evelyn scooted forward on the bench and turned to face him more fully, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Heavy eyes, half-smirk on the mouth, lips a little pouty, body angled forward…

  “Oh my God. You’re hitting on me,” she said.

  The extremely strange stranger sat back quickly, scowling again. This guy was not good at hiding his emotions. His smile was a little more genuine when it returned, but there was a reptilian vibe to it that made the hair on her neck prick up in warning.

  “Maybe I am,” he said. “Would that be such a bad thing?”

  “I guess it’s true what they say about getting more attention after you’re engaged. Which, I am. As of today. Hence, the super-awesome day.”

  “Even more reason to celebrate.” He leaned forward a bit, and Evelyn scooted back further.

  She held up her hands and said, “Ho there, cowboy. Ease up on the spurs.”

  Now he looked genuinely confused. “What?”

  “I’m not sure where that came from. But I do know where I’m going. Which is away. From you. Right now. You have crazy-eyes. Seriously—you’re creeping me out.”

  She managed to get a few steps from the bench before Mr. Mannequin called out to her.

  “Is that really such a good idea, Evelyn? Making a good impression on Adam’s liaison will go a long way toward helping his paperwork through.”

  Thoughts raced through her head. Liaison? This was the lanky guy Adam had been arguing with earlier? She turned back around to gape at the man. Tall, thin, dark hair. Yeah, he could be the same guy. Same expensive suit, anyway.

  “Wait, you’re not telling me I have to have sex with you for you to put Adam’s paperwork through, right? Because if you are, I will find whatever authorities I need to report you to and—”

  “Please.” The liaison stood up, contempt practically rolling off him. Shaking out his jacket, he smoothed his hands down his lapel and then straightened his tie. “I have my pick of women. Why would I want you?”

  Evelyn felt his words ping off her ego like pebbles thrown by a wayward child. The little girl with braces and acne she had once been was now dating the quarterback of the football team—and the head of science club—all in one delicious package.

  “Is this some kind of test to see if I’m actually in love with Adam?” she asked. “Because it’s a pretty shitty test. I’m just saying.”

  “Your feelings are insignificant. Just like the wayward glitch who’s been leading you on.”

  Despite herself, a small ember of doubt lit in her mind. Adam wasn’t leading her on. He loved her. She was sure of that.

  “First of all, Adam is not a glitch. He is awesome. Second, I’m pretty sure I can find a lawyer who will be happy to turn this festival of bad manners into a case for letting Adam stay here no matter what a petty bureaucrat with delusions of grandeur has to say.”

  “You really have no idea who you’ve been fucking, do you?”

  “Language! There are kids in this park sometimes.” Evelyn was growing increasingly uncomfortable with this guy.

  It was broad daylight, and they were near the entrance to the park. She could see a few people on the other side of the pond. They were out of earshot for a regular conversation, but if she started to scream, she wouldn’t be in this alone.

  “What does he see in you?” the liaison said. “I suppose it’s impossible to understand the reasoning of a madman.”

  “I certainly am not following.” She made little gestures with her hands as she explained her joke. “See what I did there? I’m actually implying that you’re the madman.”

  The liaison slid his chin to the side, as if he was chewing on something. Evelyn had the weirdest idea that he was going to unhinge his jaw and swallow her whole. She took a step back, and he smiled.

  “That’s right, little monkey. Be afraid of me. But the person you should really be afraid of is Adam.”

  He slid his hands into his pockets, suddenly smug—which made her even more nervous. He could have anything in there. Mace. Bear mace. A teeny tiny gun. She should probably be more cautious, but he was seriously pushing her buttons.

  “You are not making any sense,” she said. “Communicate clearly, please.”

  “Let me use smaller words for your primitive mind. Adam is lying to you.”

  Evelyn didn’t buy it. She crossed her arms and jutted her chin at the liaison. “About what?”

  “Who he is. Where he’s from.”

  “Aha! He hasn’t told me where he’s from, so how is that a lie?”

  “And you say you’re going to marry him? Do you even know his full name?”

  “Adam Smith.” She’d have to ask Adam his middle name the next time she saw him. A tiny sliver of misgiving crossed her mind. Saying Adam’s name aloud… It sounded kind of fake.

  “‘Adam Smith’ is a cover identity I made for him when he decided he had to see this backwater during his shore leave. Didn’t know that, either, did you? Your love is military. A great General responsible for the deaths of billions.”

  “Okay, wackadoodle. Now I know you’re crazy. I think that would have made the news, given that there are only seven billion people on the entire planet.”

  “On this planet.”

  “Just so you know, this is the part of the conversation where I run away screaming for help.”

  The liaison pulled a small silver disk from his pocket and squeezed it with his thumb. Evelyn told her body to turn and run, but she couldn’t move. She felt suspended, as if not even gravity was pulling her down. Some other force—something she didn’t have a name for—was holding her in place.
Her stomach lurched at the bizarre weightlessness that her brain couldn’t manage to process.

  “Now you’re going to be quiet and listen to me, monkey,” the man said. “And then you can tell me if you think your precious glitch is worth all this trouble.”

  Chapter Ten

  The situation was much worse than Adam imagined. Todd had been on Earth for a decade, establishing connections both planet-side and with Coalition assessors.

  A frontal assault was counter-indicated. This battle required diplomacy and gathering more intelligence. Adam had the most trusted members of his crew looking into Earth’s liaison. Now, it was a matter of waiting for his people to do their work and report back.

  Adam could think of plenty of wonderful things to do to fill the time. He smiled as he unlocked Evelyn’s apartment with the key she’d given him. They could order pizza, curl up on the couch and watch one of her hilarious science fiction movies, and then make love until dawn. If everything went according to plan, this would be Adam’s life from now on. He felt his smile broaden at the thought.

  Evelyn’s purse was on the side table just inside her apartment. Adam locked the door behind him, then set his key and wallet next to her belongings. He took a moment to look at them jumbled together.

  His chest still felt full. He’d never been more alive. He wanted to pick Evelyn up and spin her around.

  But he had to find her first.

  Normally, she would be sitting at the computer desk in the area that was supposed to be a dining section of her apartment but that she’d turned into a study. She wasn’t on the couch, either. The kitchen was quiet—which left the bedroom.

  Perfect. Maybe they’d start off there and move to the couch later. He walked briskly down the hallway, eager to see her again.

  “Evelyn, I…”