by Tasha Black
He chased her, laughing, and they exploded into her living room.
Jana stood in the center of the room, panting slightly.
“Now what?” he asked her.
But he knew what came next.
She approached him slowly, held out her arms.
Instead of embracing her he swept her up and carried her through the dining room and kitchen and into her bedroom.
He placed her gently on the floor and tilted up her chin.
“Are you ready to accept me as your mate?” he asked.
“Very ready,” she replied, tugging at the waistband of his jeans.
He laughed and grabbed her wrists. “You first,” he growled.
She helped him tear off her clothes, and watched in obvious anticipation as he peeled his shirt over his head.
“You’re so beautiful,” she murmured, running her palms down the planes of his chest, sending him nearly over the edge with her gentle touch.
“I am glad my form pleases you,” he told her earnestly. “Yours pleases me very much.”
He stopped undressing to kiss her again, slowly and thoroughly.
“Get in bed,” he groaned, pulling back at last.
She crawled into bed as he kicked off the last of his clothes.
He paused for just a moment, gazing down at her.
Jana was so beautiful, with her lush body spread out on the bed before him like a feast. Her eyes hazy with need for him.
He hoped desperately that he could please her properly before taking her. His own need coiled in him, barely restrained.
“Fletcher,” she murmured, arms out.
He climbed into bed and cupped her cheek in his hand, dipping his head down to kiss her lips lightly, a teasing brush.
Jana moaned and captured his lower lip in her teeth, nipping him gently.
The pleasure mixed with the tiny touch of pain, and he closed his eyes against an onslaught of desire.
When he opened them again Jana kissed him gently but passionately.
He could feel her trembling with need beneath him.
When they broke to take a breath, he rained kissed down on her eyelids, her cheeks, and then nuzzled her neck.
She arched her back as if craving closer contact.
He nibbled the tender flesh, wondering if she liked it as much as he did.
She rewarded him with a whimpering moan that sent shockwaves of need through him.
He kissed his way down to her breast, licking and suckling her sweet nipples until she sank her nails into his biceps.
He smiled and licked a trail down her belly. He could feel her relaxing her thighs open for him.
The first taste of her set his senses alight.
She moaned and gripped the sheets as he teased her tender sex.
With every caress of his tongue, he was torturing himself as much as her, as his own body raged to claim her.
23
Jana
Jana lay back, hands twisted in the sheets, losing track of her own sounds as Fletcher drove her closer and closer to the edge without letting her succumb to the pleasure.
“Please,” she moaned at last.
Instantly the warmth of his mouth was gone.
She nearly screamed in frustration, but he was crawling up to her, caging her head in his arms, kissing her with his glistening mouth so that she tasted her own excitement on his lips.
“Please,” she whispered.
“I love you, Jana,” he told her, his voice raw with need.
When he entered her, there was a tiny pinch of stretching pain and then a wave of pleasure so intense that she clung to him, afraid she would be swept away by it.
Fletcher groaned and fed on her mouth again.
She wiggled beneath him and he pulled back and thrust into her again, moaning out his pleasure against her lips.
He moved slowly, deliberately, shaking as if with great effort to restrain his climax.
Jana jogged her hips up, urging him on.
He let go of his restraint and thrust furiously, again and again.
The pleasure lifted her higher and higher, like a helium balloon, a rocket ship, a planet, an exploding star.
She felt the moment when their bond was truly sealed and Fletcher clicked in to his human form for good. At that instant, she knew in her heart they would be together forever.
Then it all crashed down on her and she screamed out her ecstasy just as she felt him swell and jet inside her.
For a long time, the waves of pleasure settled over them, rocking them, and then the room seemed to fade back into focus.
The air was cool on her skin and she could hear the birds outside, chirping as they made a nest in the rain gutter.
“Jana,” he murmured, rolling back and pulling her onto his chest.
“That was incredible,” she whispered, shivering in his muscular arms.
“Let’s never do anything else ever again,” he suggested.
“The thing is though, Vi and Hannibal and Spenser are coming back here soon,” she pointed out.
“Let them stay downstairs,” he suggested carelessly.
“But they’re bringing food,” she said.
“Jana Watson, are you hungry at a time like this?” he asked.
“Yes,” she admitted, her eyes twinkling.
“Well, me too, actually,” he admitted with a grin. “Let’s get ready to go see our friends. I think they’ll be happy for us.”
But instead of getting up, she pressed her lips to his, and felt the waves of need surging through her all over again.
24
Jana
Jana sat at the picnic table with her friends a few days later, watching the sun go down over the little trees that lined the walled garden.
In the yard, Maybelle scampered around with Tony, who was alternately throwing a ball for her and chasing her when she refused to bring it back.
Micah sat on his favorite lounge chair. His silk-kimono draped lap was uncharacteristically empty without Maybelle there to warm it, but he sipped a glass of lemonade and watched Tony play with her with a satisfied half-smile.
Hannibal had his arm slung loosely around Vi. They were bent over her tablet, trying to choose another case.
After the outing of the mayor’s nefarious good deeds, Vi’s services had been in great demand.
The local paper even did a small article about Locke’s small hometown detective agency. Vi was quoted saying, “I could never have done it without the help of my friends, especially Jana Watson.” Which made Jana feel a little weepy with joy.
“What about this one?” Hannibal asked. “I believe my husband has been unfaithful.”
“Let me see that,” Vi said. “Oh yes, he’s definitely been unfaithful, but we’re not taking it.”
“Why not?” Hannibal asked. “You already solved it.”
“Exactly,” Vi said. “It’s boring. Besides, I don’t like making people unhappy.”
Hannibal laughed and kissed the top of her head as Vi bent over the tablet again, sliding her finger down the screen.
“Aren’t extramarital affairs bread and butter for most PIs?” Micah asked.
“Maybe,” Vi said. “But not me. I want something interesting.”
“Don’t we all, honey,” Micah agreed.
“Really, I don’t need to bring in enough to drape Hannibal in diamonds,” Vi said. “We just need a case here and there to stay afloat.”
“He might look nice in diamonds,” Jana suggested teasingly.
“Hey, you’ve got your own guy,” Vi teased back. “Don’t think about draping mine in diamonds.”
“True,” Jana said. “But he’s more of an emerald guy.”
“Who’s more of an emerald guy?” Fletcher asked, emerging from the back door with a plate of homemade hamburgers to put on the grill.
“You are,” Jana said. “I assume.”
“I prefer salt crystals,” Fletcher said, laying out burgers on the grill. “They are att
ractive and delicious.”
“You’re a cheap date,” Jana laughed.
“Not at the diner,” he replied sadly.
“You can have all the pancakes you want,” Jana said. “I’m a big star of the stage now.”
“We’re going to eat so much pizza in New York,” he said dreamily.
“And so much Indian food and Thai food, and Ethiopian,” Jana said, feeling a little dreamy herself. “It’s like the whole culinary world, right at our doorstep.”
“Will you tell us all about it, brother?” Spenser asked.
“You can come visit us,” Fletcher said. “All of you can.”
“Our apartment might be a little small for all that,” Jana warned them.
“A little cozy,” Fletcher corrected her.
“Did anyone ever tell you that you have the makings of an excellent Manhattan real estate agent?” Jana teased.
“That would be something constructive for me to do while you’re in rehearsals,” he mused.
“What about this one?” Hannibal said suddenly, pointing at Vi’s tablet. “Macro Foods global conspiracy.”
“Interesting,” Vi said, frowning. “But most likely just another local nut job.”
“Can someone grab the rolls for me?” Fletcher asked, flipping the first set of burgers.
Spenser hopped up and grabbed them from the picnic table. But instead of bringing them over to Fletcher, he stood in place as if he were frozen.
Jana followed his line of sight to find Officer West standing just inside the back door, wearing jeans and a faded tee shirt. It was odd to see her out of uniform.
“I… knocked, out front, but no one came,” she said. “And the door was unlocked.”
“What do you want?” Vi asked without getting up.
Officer West winced and Jana’s heart went out to her. She moved to greet the woman, noticing the grateful look Spenser shot at her.
“Officer West, what can we do for you?” Jana asked.
“It’s Natalie,” she replied. “And… I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I need your help.”
“Why would a professional from the illustrious Stargazer police force need our help?” Vi asked scornfully. “I thought you guys wanted us out of the way.”
“I’m not a part of the force,” Natalie said softly. “At least not right now.”
Everyone went silent for a moment.
“Okay, sweetheart,” Micah said, rising slowly from his lounge chair like a sunrise. “This sounds like it’s going to be a doozy of a story. Let’s get some wine in you and hear it.”
Natalie smiled at him. It was a lovely smile, and made Jana realize the other woman was younger than she had first thought.
“That sounds amazing,” Natalie said.
Micah poured out wine and Tony and Maybelle joined everyone on the patio.
“Thank you,” Natalie said, taking the mason jar of white wine and sipping.
Spenser sat beside her.
Jana noticed that for once he didn’t look stiff or awkward. The gigantic alien looked like he was right at home.
“You’re all very lucky to have each other,” Natalie said, looking around at the people gathered.
Jana felt Fletcher’s arm go around her shoulder.
She turned to him and the rest of the world began to fade away. Suddenly she didn’t care about the burgers burning on the grill, or the former police woman who was suddenly looking to them for help.
The only thing in the universe that mattered was Fletcher and the way his eyes crinkled at the edges when he smiled at her.
“We’ll be right back,” Fletcher said. “I just have to ask Jana something really quickly.”
“Seriously?” Vi asked.
“We’ll ply our new friend with burgers and wine,” Tony said quickly. “Give her a little time to get to know us before she spills her secrets. Go ask Jana whatever you need to ask.”
He winked at Fletcher, and Jana swore he did it so she would see it.
So she would have a way out if she wanted one.
She didn’t. But she would be eternally grateful to Tony for caring enough to give her one.
Natalie West was right. They were all lucky to have each other.
Fletcher led her out into the yard, to the back wall of the garden.
She could still see and hear their friends, who were deliberately puttering around on the patio, not looking at them.
“Jana,” Fletcher said. “I am not asking you for babies or even for a pet.”
“You don’t want a pet?” she asked.
“I would love a pet,” he admitted. “Maybe one of those really big cats with the feathery ears?”
“A Maine Coon cat?” she suggested.
“Yes,” he said. “Do you like them?”
“Sure,” she replied.
“Well I’m not asking for one,” he told her firmly. “I’m asking for something else, something that’s just about the two of us.”
She nodded, knowing what was coming, but still feeling like she was on the edge of a precipice.
“Jana, before I knew you, I was lost,” he said. “I no longer belonged to Aerie, but I was not of this Earth either. Now I belong. I belong wherever you are. You are my home.”
He went down on one knee and held out a slender golden ring with a tiny shimmering stone.
“Jana, will you marry me?” he asked.
For one golden instant she saw her life with Fletcher spread out before her, and it was glorious.
She smiled and offered him her hand.
“Yes,” she said. “Yes, I will.”
He slid the ring onto her finger and then he was standing, wrapping his warm arms around her, lifting her up and twirling her around as their friends cheered.
There might be a lot of mysteries to solve in their future, and more than a little bit of commuting.
Life was full of uncertainties. But Jana knew she would never have to wonder about Fletcher.
His love was here to stay.
***
Thanks for reading Fletcher!
Want to see what happens when Fletcher’s brother, Spenser, suddenly finds himself a LOT closer to Officer Natalie West? Do you need to know if they will be able to keep their feelings for each other in check long enough to solve the murder that’s rocked their small town to its core?
Just keep reading to get a sample of Natalie and Spenser’s story…
Or grab your copy now!
Spenser: Stargazer Alien Mystery Brides #3
https://www.tashablack.com/samysterybrides.html
Spenser - SAMPLE
1
Natalie
In her dream, Natalie was stretched out on a fluffy towel. The warmth of the sun kissed her cheeks as the sounds and scents of gently crashing waves permeated her senses.
A gentle breeze skittered pleasantly across her skin.
She didn’t remember booking a trip to the beach, which was her first clue that she was dreaming, but now that she was there, it seemed like a great idea.
Suddenly, she was aware of a presence.
She looked up and saw a shadow spill across her body - a man’s shadow, all wide shoulders and narrow hips.
She shaded her eyes with her hand and turned to look up at the person who was interrupting her relaxation.
Her breath caught in her throat.
It was him.
Spenser.
The hunky alien was bare-chested, his muscular form glistening in the sun.
“Natalie,” he said, his deep voice playing on her senses.
She opened her mouth but couldn’t speak.
Spenser lowered his big body to hers, caging her in those huge arms. He gazed into her eyes as her body burned for him.
She swore she could see universes colliding behind those dark eyes.
When he closed them, she closed hers too, every nerve ending in her body focused on her lips, awaiting his kiss.
He pressed his mouth to hers
and she felt it to her toes, the need pouring off him hotter than the overhead sun, stoking her own desperate desire.
A seagull cried somewhere nearby, and then another.
She tried to focus on Spenser’s mouth, and ignore the rhythmic calls.
But they only grew louder as the pressure of his body on hers began to fade away.
She tried to pull him closer, but he melted under her touch.
Natalie woke up at last, squinting into the early morning light with a handful of sheets, her alarm clock blaring beside her.
“Damn, Nat,” she muttered to herself, reaching over to slap the alarm clock off. “You seriously need to get out more.”
She staggered to the bathroom, suspecting that a hot shower, followed by a cup of coffee and some breakfast would do a lot to ease her morning funk.
Filling her belly would be easy. Filling the emptiness left behind by her dream of romance might prove to be a little more difficult.
Natalie hadn’t exactly been active on the dating scene lately. She had spent so much time focused on her career, that she wasn’t sure she even remembered how to date.
“Who cares?” she muttered to herself. “Men are trouble anyway. You don’t need one.”
Which was true. She didn’t need one.
But she kind of wanted one.
Maybe she should get a dog instead. She’d been thinking about it. They were big and slobbery, just like men. She wasn’t sure how her landlord would feel about it, and paying a dog walker for when she was at work wasn’t cheap. But maybe it was worth it if a little companionship from a loyal pet would keep her out of trouble.
Or maybe she didn’t need that much help keeping her mind off men. After all, the man she was dreaming about wasn’t even technically a man at all.
He was an alien. Which had its own baggage. But the real issue was that he was the brother of the alien mated to that dreadful Violet Locke, who was always interfering in police business and generally making a nuisance of herself. That whole group over on Crescent Street was trouble, and the last thing she needed was to be head over heels in helpless lust with one of them.
