by Chloe Joel
“Yeah I’m coming, just give me a sec!” I called while leaning over the second floor balcony. I caught sight of Cassandra’s fiery red hair flaring out behind her as she pranced into the kitchen. I would never know how anyone could be so damn chipper in the morning, especially without coffee in their system. Shaking my head, I walked into my room barefoot while running fingers through my hair with some anti-frizz serum.
People gave me compliments all the time about my tousled curls and how it looked sexy on me, but they didn’t know the amount of upkeep it required to achieve such a look. Some mornings I hated being that girl who took an hour to get ready. Finally finished with my hair, I took a seat at the edge of my bed and quickly pulled on a pair of autumn boots. The weather was perfect this time of year out in Saranac. Fall would be here in less than a week and the temperatures were quickly cooling.
I left my room in a whirlwind, grabbing my keys, purse and the sweater I borrowed from Cass the night before when we hit that cool hipster bar.
“Finally! I was beginning to think you didn’t want coffee this morning.” Cass teased as I hurried down the stairs and towards the front door.
“Yeah okay, like that would ever happen.” I scoffed and we headed out to the coffee house just up the street. We opted to walk rather than take my truck since the weather was so nice. This gave Cass time to chatter excitedly about the phone call she received from the cute ‘man-bun’ guy she met at the bar.
Ever since Cass and I decided to move from busy New York City to Saranac Lake, it had been her personal mission to make sure we put ourselves out there and snatch a couple of ‘small town guys’ who, in her mind at least, would be good listeners, loyal, and have great potential for settling down and growing a family. After watching all of my three siblings finally tie the knot and settle down, I agreed with Cass that moving to a smaller city and starting on our own would be a good idea.
Although Cass seemed to be getting everything she envisioned out of Saranac, I was only getting the upside of cheaper rent. I had to admit; living in a house was pretty fantastic. I’d lived with Cass in the city ever since we started college and even though we found rental properties right next door to each other, here we were finally off living on our own outside the coddling of our families.
“—But anyways, I totally thought that guy with the cute t-shirt was going to come up to you, he’d been staring at you all night.” I snorted and glanced at Cass with a sarcastic grin.
“You know what it was a shame that the guy with the cute t-shirt lost his nerve. He seemed oh so interesting.” I lifted my eyebrows at Cass and she shoved my shoulder playfully, a giggle escaping her lips.
“Whatever, you never know he could have lost a bet or something, he was cute.” I marveled at how Cass never lost her optimism, we had been friends since the ninth grade and no matter what she’d been through, Cass always had a smile and something positive to mention.
“Yeah well meanwhile you seem to be making wedding plans with…what was his name again?” I asked her and Cass’s big blue eyes went all dreamy. Sometimes, I swear Cassandra fell out of a movie. She had the perfect long flowing red hair, flawless peach complexion and heart shaped face with the big eyes and full eyelashes any woman would kill for. On top of that, she had the body of a super model, all legs and svelte shape.
Her mother, along with mine, owned a clothing line and Cass could have easily made a modeling career through that, but she fell in love with teaching kindergarten and here she was in a small town, it was the perfect fit for her.
Cass and I reached the coffee house and as per our usual routine, I found a table while she sat in line to order two Americano’s and a banana nut muffin. I found a good spot near the storefront window and as I sat down, I spotted a man standing on the sidewalk across the street, he stood out, to say the least.
He wasn’t walking with the flow of foot traffic, he was staring directly at me…and he was gorgeous. Not to mention big. He must be near seven feet tall with all the muscle to fill out his impressive frame. Though his height didn’t make him seem bulky at all.
He wore a black turtleneck sweater and dark jeans. His brown hair was curly and hung to his shoulders. Though it was pushed back and out of his eyes, the curls still framed his face artfully…and his face—it was flawless.
He had a chiseled jawline with just the perfect hint of a cleft chin. His lips were full and looked incredibly inviting. He had a straight, almost hawkish nose and his eyes…framed by long lashes, his eyes were the most unusual swirl of gold and green. If he were a normal guy, I’d say his eyes were hazel, but I could distinctly make out the green of his irises and the sunburst of gold around his pupils. Even from this distance, his gaze was striking, it seemed to shine like a beacon directly into mine.
I felt marked by his intense stare and the shiver that worked its way up my spine was neither one of repulsion or fear. I felt the heat of his gaze as if it was a caress and I couldn’t deny that I wanted to see him up close. The man almost smirked as the corner of his mouth twitched upwards and then he turned away and melted into the foot traffic around him. My eyes scanned the sidewalk but he had seemingly disappeared.
“What are you looking over there so hard for?” Cass asked me as she came up to the table with our coffee and muffins.
“I—I thought I saw…something.” Was my lame reply and Cass quirked an eyebrow at me as she sat in the chair across from mine.
“Are you sure you’re not hung-over?” Cass asked me with a teasing lilt to her voice.
“No, I’m fine, I just thought I saw something was all.” I brushed off her concern and Cass sat back in the chair to pull out her cell from her pocket. She checked a text message while I lifted my cup of coffee, eager for a sip.
“Oooh, guess what?” I lifted an eyebrow curiously, waiting for her to go on. I took a sip of the hot coffee and closed my eyes in contentment. Oh yes, this was exactly what I needed. Now I could start my Saturday. “Mark, the guy I met last night is having a party at his place next Friday night and we’re invited!” Cass said excitedly, a huge grin plastered onto her face.
“That sounds cool, we’ve got nothing better to do, why not?” I agreed to go with Cass to the party and she practically bounced in her seat while messaging her Mark guy back.
“Wait, so are we still going to that bar tonight, the one you found online?” I asked Cass and she nodded while taking a sip of her coffee.
“Yeah, definitely, I’m determined to get you a date for Mark’s party now.” Thinking back to the guy with the cute t-shirt, I wondered if that was a good idea. It didn’t seem like Saranac had much else to offer as far as available men my age were concerned.
“Oh no, don’t you give me that look now. You promised to have an open mind and not be picky when we go out and you have to stick to that promise. You have to learn to give guys a chance.” Cass lectured me on how to attract a good guy and I had to keep telling myself not to roll my eyes. There was more to starting fresh and beginning a life on your own than finding a man to settle down with.
I mean I was only twenty-four, that’s still young and I was allowed to be unattached still. Plus, I wasn’t completely hideous, I attracted guys and who would I be to turn them down? I couldn’t play the field if I was attached to one person.
“Are you even listening to me Vanessa?” Cass waved her hand in my face and I sighed.
“Yes, yes, I know Cass. You have given me this lecture plenty of times. Fine, I’ll keep an open mind.” Though it was safe to say that I didn’t see myself settling down with any cute t-shirt wearing guy from Saranac Lake.
Kota
Kota materialized just inside the small beverage shop, in a secluded corner near the emergency exit doorway. He leaned against the wall and watched over Vanessa Bradley. Her silver moonlight colored eyes were pointed in the direction of her friend, but she was clearly preoccupied with her own thoughts. Kota wondered if she thought about him.
She had stared at Kota
long enough that he was able to sense the spark of attraction she felt for him ignite within her. That was all he needed, she was his even then and she scarcely knew it.
Kota took his time studying her in today’s new set of clothing. Her oversized sweater was a soft grey color, almost matching the hue of her eyes; it hung off of one delicately smooth looking shoulder, displaying her creamy lightly tanned skin, and when she stood, the sweater fell nearly to her knees. She wore the form clinging pants that day, Kota was sure they were called tights. They were maroon colored and played off of the grey of her sweater well. Her calf length boots were tan and somehow completed the outfit.
Kota’s eyes noticed how her golden tousled hair fell over her enticingly bared shoulder. In the sunlight peeking through the occasional autumn cloud, he noticed the lighter shades of blonde in her hair. Her face was a study in beauty, he thought. Perfectly formed there was no flaw about her.
She had high, well-formed cheekbones, perfect plump pink lips, a delicate chin and graceful jawline. Her nose was a gentle slope and her silver eyes were framed by thick lashes and topped with beautifully arched eyebrows. She even had one dimple in her right cheek that was only noticeable whenever she spoke or laughed.
If the perfection of her beauty was not enough, the draw of her supple curves, yet slender form enticed Kota to no end. The sway of her hips when she walked and the bounce of her full breasts when she laughed was what initially drew Kota to Vanessa and this planet.
Upon first sight through the Omni Glass on Titus, Kota was immediately ensnared. He was supposed to be checking on Titus’s neighboring planets that day.
The Zodiac Galaxy had finally achieved a measure of peace from near constant warfare over the past five millennia and frequent patrols were needed to keep mischievous intergalactic pirates and mercenaries at bay who would only stir up trouble. Well the patrol was dull that day and Kota was curious about planet Earth.
Another High General in Titus’s war core, Katz, had been waxing positively poetic about the beauty he witnessed on Earth during patrol, and how blessed he was that generals would be allowed to take wives from Earth since Titan women were bearing less and less female offspring. So during the last few minutes of Kota’s patrol, he decided to have a look for himself, all he had in mind was to spot the beauty of Earth’s women and there she was.
At that time, Vanessa was listening to music that played loudly in her home while she appeared to be cleaning up after herself. The sway of her hips locked Kota’s gaze and the curve of her waist kept his attention, it was the bounce of her breasts that heated his blood and he decided in that moment that she would be his. So when the king gave the first set of High Generals his permission to find wives on Earth, Kota began to mark Vanessa, watching her and making sure she would be his.
Now that the spark of attraction was made, all he needed to do was bring her home. Then he would have his way with her and settle the need that only grew in its intensity every passing day. Yes, she would be frightened and out of sorts when Kota brought her to Titus, but she would get past it and settle into her role as Kota’s wife.
The wife of a High General was treated as a queen no less. Kota was sure Vanessa would grow to like Titus, but most importantly, she would be his wife and he could finally revel in in her supple beauty as much as their bodies demanded.
Kota was brought out of his plans for the future by the musical sound of Vanessa’s laughter. Her companion, Cassandra, had mirth in her eyes and Kota wished he had paid attention enough to know what made Vanessa laugh.
Kota noticed the interested glances and heated gazes of the men surrounding Vanessa and growled in annoyance. Soon he would take her away from all of these human beings and every inch of Vanessa would belong to him. No one would dare lust after what was his lest they suffered death because of it.
One lanky male sitting alone at the table beside Vanessa and her friend dared to get up, his eyes fixed on Vanessa. Kota easily read his intentions; he would attempt to woo her.
Kota pushed off of the wall and made himself visible to those in the small shop. As if the male sensed Kota’s looming approach, he turned his attention towards Kota, his dark eyes growing wide with unease. Kota continued his unhurried pace towards the man and, nervous; the worthless male stood up and quickly left the shop.
Kota almost smiled; he would miss the amusement of making grown human men run scared. Kota took the man’s seat and Vanessa glanced at him absently before she did a double take, her eyes widening a fraction. Kota reveled in the heat he could feel ignite within her and he had to practice restraint over his instinct to act on her attraction to him. He wanted nothing more than to take her from this place and taste every inch of her body before making love to her, plunging his desire deep and staking his ownership of her.
Kota’s senses tuned in to Vanessa and he was acutely aware of her small, sudden, intake of breath. He could see the pulse in her neck quicken and watched her pupils begin to dilate. Abruptly, she recovered herself with a deep breath and turned her attention back towards her friend who was quietly calling her attention from Kota.
It was probably best Vanessa got as much time, as Kota would allow, with her friend before he took her to Titus. Kota watched her long enough to know that she had no family in this quaint lake town and that the Cassandra girl was Vanessa’s closest thing to it. All Kota had to do was make Vanessa’s disappearance look like an accident of fate, soon whomever Vanessa had on this planet to hold her dear would forget her and there would be no lasting effects on Earth’s history.
Kota listened to Vanessa’s conversation and stood to leave the beverage shop just before they did. He would have to return to Titus anyhow so that he could check in with the High Generals and inform the court that he would soon be bringing home a wife.
Kota walked a ways down the moderately busy street and rounded a corner into an empty alleyway. There, he pulled his transference device from his pocket and placed the small silver pedal on the ground. Kota stepped on it, closed his eyes, and felt the familiar sucking sensation of being pulled through the artificial wormhole that the device created.
Upon opening his eyes, Kota recognized the grand entryway of the king’s palace. The High Generals would be convening in the Great Room just off the west wing of the main palace grounds. Kota picked up his device, returned it to his pocket and willed himself to the Great Room. He was the last of the five High Generals to appear.
“There you are Kota, we were beginning to think that the entrapments of Earth had gotten to you.” Jaramye, Kota’s cousin, welcomed him in his usual boisterous manner and they grasped forearms in a traditional Titan gesture of greeting before Kota took his seat at the Circle of High Thrones.
“Well then, seeing as you are last to arrive Kota, tell us, will you be taking a human wife?” King Cronus casually called the attention of the generals and Kota nodded once before speaking, as was customary in High Council.
“Yes my lord, I have found my human mate and will be bringing her to Titus in the coming span of six Earth days.” Was Kota’s concise reply and the king inclined his head in acknowledgement, his expression pleased. Kota sat back in his seat and silently observed the rest of the king’s polling, while his thoughts wandered back to those silver eyes and musical laugh.
Chapter Two
Vanessa
I was fairly certain that I was being stalked. Everywhere I went, even when I was at work, I could swear I saw that guy from the coffee shop! Sure, he was gorgeous and every time I caught a glimpse of him my heart skipped a beat, but all he did was follow me around.
Even as I sat at home waiting for Cass to pick me up, I could feel his gaze. It was dark outside, but I just knew he was standing somewhere across the street, ever watching. The thing was, even if I wanted to call the cops, I wouldn’t have any hard evidence or facts. He was always just in my peripheral. Never made a move against me…well unless you called scaring guys away from me a form of aggression.
La
st weekend when Cass and I went out, he was there, sitting at the bar. He actually had a beer in his hand, and of course he was watching me. I knew I wasn’t hallucinating because Cass saw him at the coffee house too and recognized him again as we sat at our table.
Cass had just told me that another really hot guy was staring at me from the bar and looked like he was going to come over. When I glanced up, I was relieved he wasn’t wearing that cute t-shirt. He was hot in a traditional way. We made eye contact and he smiled. The hottie got up from his stool to walk over to us that was when he cut in, intercepting my hot guy. He said a few words to the guy and just like that my hot guy changed directions, walking away as if I didn’t even exist.
Then again it happened, at my job. Working in a hospital as a nurse was hectic and fast paced and there was no time for finding dates. I had been blessed with my full lunch period that day and there was the cutest surgical resident sitting at the table across from mine in the cafeteria.
I smiled at him invitingly and he smiled back, he clearly got up from his seat so that he could walk over to me, but then he appeared out of nowhere, intercepted my chances of having a doctor for a husband and sent the poor man away.
He showed up just to drive away men and then never said a word to me. Sometimes, he didn’t even look at me afterwards! He was infuriating and that night, I wanted to make sure I came face to face with him. I’d find a guy and make out with him if I had to just so my stalker could show up again and I could finally confront him.
Cass came skipping up my porch steps and knocked on the door twice. I moved away from the window to let her in. She had a huge excited grin on her face and I could feel the waves of energy emanating from her.
“You ready? Are you excited? I’m excited, this party is going to be so much fun!” I laughed at Cass and gripped her shoulders firmly so she wouldn’t bounce through the roof.
