Evan chuckled. The action made his throat tingle. Using his actual voice was like trying to talk with a mouth full of gravel. He rubbed his throat then pointed. “Ursa minor. Ursa major. See the two stars there? They form part of the Big Dipper’s cup. Follow them to the North Star and the handle of the Little Dipper.”
“I see it now.” She sighed softly. “They’re out there somewhere, the aliens who abducted us.”
A clump of grass was tangled in her hair. Evan pulled it free. “Forget them. We’re home now and together.”
Savannah stared at the sky. He hated seeing her in fear, knowing she was wondering if one day they’d come back for them. Sometimes he’d look up, half expecting to see a spaceship swooping down. There was no guarantee the aliens wouldn’t return, but he’d do everything in his power to keep them from taking her again. He’d protect her from losing more of her life.
“It’s still beautiful,” she murmured.
“Yeah,” he agreed.
Red crawled across her face when she noticed he was staring at her. She rolled over so she half lay on him. His heart rate picked up pace. Blood rushed south. A smile spread across her face. Of course, she could hear his pulse. It rang like thunder in his ears.
He sat up and turned away. Deep breaths cooled the heat surging through him. Bitterness burned his throat, and he scoffed. “I sure can show a girl a good time, eh? Take her to an abandoned dump.”
“Evan.”
Her chiding tone grated against his nerves. Her sad expression made him bite back the dark thoughts. He told himself he should appreciate the time he spent with her. It was a gift he thought he’d never have.
“You believed you’d spend your life watching me from the shadows.”
He cringed. She heard that.
Once he “spoke” to someone, it was easier for him to make the person hear him. But he had to work twice as hard to keep internal feelings private. It was as though his emotions broadcasted on all channels, and he had to keep them scrambled. The constant restraint was exhausting. He had to improve his ability to shield his thoughts around her.
“You do, but I’m glad you suck at it.” She sat next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. “I can see you struggling. What happened wasn’t fair, especially since I can pass as normal.”
“I’d rather have it that way.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s right.” She glared up at the sky.
He turned her face back to his. “I know, but what can I do?”
She sighed. “I don’t know, but we have a second chance to be together. It won’t be easy. In fact, it’s going to downright suck at times. I’m lying to people I care about. Sneaking around. I hate deceiving them, but I’ll gladly do it because I want to be with you.”
He stilled when she touched the scarf. His heartbeat accelerated, and he couldn’t stop the surge of panic. He wanted to be comfortable with her, to not care that he was a monster. He didn’t want to betray her love for him.
She trailed her fingers across the fabric, but she didn’t remove it. He wondered if he had been thinking out loud and she heard. If she did, she didn’t let on. She rubbed her nose against his. “I love you. Unconditionally.”
Chapter: Savannah
Savannah crept from the woods. The sky was dark, but pink and orange streaked the horizon. Streetlights buzzed ominously, as if their light provided harm instead of protection. She glanced over her shoulder as she trotted up the steps. Something solid collided with her. A tenor voice grunted. She stumbled back, then leapt forward and grabbed the guy’s elbow before he fell.
“Uh thanks,” he muttered, adjusting his glasses. He motioned to her. “Pretty quick on your feet.”
Savannah shrugged. “Cheerleading builds good reflexes.”
“I guess so, if you’re going to throw and catch someone.” He shifted his weight and stared at his feet. “Thanks for the save. See you around.”
“Yup.” Savannah rushed to her apartment and collapsed on her bed. Sleep caught her before she knew it.
“Savannah?” Mandy’s knock and her blaring alarm woke her. She groaned. There was a kink in her neck as she sat up. Her clothing felt grimy and heavy. Dragging her feet, she opened her bedroom door.
Mandy grinned at Savannah’s rumpled clothing. “Out for another late night with your mystery man?”
Savannah rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Seeing no harm in the truth, she muttered, “Yeah. Went star gazing.”
“Oh,” Mandy crooned. “How romantic.”
“Yeah, if you don’t mind being in a dump.” Savannah froze. “I-I mean he doesn’t live in a dump. He has a nice place. Off campus and out of town. I’ve lived in a hay field my entire life. Being stuck in the middle of nowhere isn’t my first pick. I had a great time, though.”
“Okay, stop rambling. You’re acting weird.”
“Sorry. I didn’t want you to think… I was dating a loser.”
Mandy stuck out her lower lip. “No, I’m the one who dates losers.”
Savannah’s jaw dropped. “No.” She pulled Mandy to the bed and sat. “What did Todd do? I can kick him where it matters if you need me to. I kick hard.”
A smile cracked Mandy’s sad face. She wiped away tears. “It’s fine. I dumped him. I thought he was serious, but I guess I was wrong. He only wanted sex, sex, sex. I don’t mind that, but come on, my life is slipping by. I want a career. Why else attend college? But I also want a family. A little boy and girl. They’d be the cutest.”
“Adorable.” Savannah toyed with the edge of her shirt. A pang pierced her heart, deepening the cracks carved into it like the marks on her stomach. Evan was back in her life, though. So, what about Mandy’s words triggered her sadness? Maybe it was her missing memories. As long as she couldn’t remember, they would haunt her. Pushing the emotion away, she smiled. “You got a cute button nose and light mocha skin. People would be jealous of your kids.”
“And I love children. I have six siblings, and I always helped take care of them. I didn’t like changing diapers, but I’m sure I’d have no problem with my own child.” The pout returned. “Why is it hard to find a guy who wants something more? Why are they all total losers who just want sex?”
What did Evan want with Savannah?
They were teenagers when she and Evan hooked up. Marriage and kids was something in the future. Was a family even possible now? Did his equipment work? His pulse raced when he held her, but maybe he was incapable, and that was why he pushed her away.
But if he couldn’t have sex, would that change their relationship? She wanted to say no. She would still love him, but she had to admit it would disappoint her. They would never share the level of intimacy that sex offered. There would always be a barrier between them.
“Savannah?”
She focused on Mandy. “Sorry. You got me thinking, too, but this isn’t about me.” She took her friend’s hand. “Forget Todd. If he doesn’t want to be serious, then he’s not worth another thought. Tonight, you and I are hitting the town. No guys. We’ll show the male race what they’re missing.”
Mandy threw her arms around Savannah. “Girls’ night out! That’s perfect!” She jumped up. “I’m gonna go figure out what to wear.”
****
The music vibrated through Savannah, and her head throbbed in time with the beat. She raised her hands and let the music flow through her. Tonight, she wouldn’t let her heighten senses stop her. Mandy was more important.
Dozens of people surrounded them, undulating like a wave. Red, blue, and purple lights flashed. A siren wailed, and people cheered. The tune shifted to a faster pace. The bass shook the room. The crowd soaked the energy in and danced faster.
“I love this song,” Mandy yelled.
“Me, too,” Savanna replied as loudly.
The two women danced together, shaking their hips and twirling. Guys tried to join them, but they expertly maneuvered out of reach. When a slower song came on, they retreated to the bar. Mandy dabbed
her forehead with a napkin.
“It’s a sauna in here,” Mandy said.
“I know.” Savannah nodded.
Mandy wrinkled her nose. “But you’re barely sweating!”
“I’m hot,” she insisted.
“You sure are.” A man flashed a smile at them. He was dressed in black dress pants and shirt. Cufflinks shone on his wrists. He had the air of confidence of a man who expected to get what he wanted. “A little too hot.” He tapped Savannah’s shoulder and shook his hand. “A guy could get burned with you.”
“It’s a good thing she’s with me,” Mandy retorted.
“Mmm. I’d be down with a threesome.”
Savannah wrapped her arm around Mandy. “I don’t think you understand what she’s saying. I’m with her.”
Realization dawned in his blue eyes. “Too bad.” He pulled out a card with a flick of his wrist. “If you want your mind changed, call me. Either of you.”
“Lesbianism doesn’t work like that,” Mandy called after him. She gaped at Savannah. “Can you believe him?”
“He’s either desperate or a really big womanizer.”
“Both.” Mandy flagged down the bartender. She ordered the girliest beverage possible for them, a pink concoction with sprinkles and an umbrella.
Savannah took a deep drink. “This is dangerous. You can’t tell you’re drinking alcohol.”
“I know.” Mandy lifted her drink up and hooted. A chorus of people echoed her. The song switched, and she gasped. “Come on. I love this song.”
“You’ve said that about every song,” Savannah pointed out as she was dragged back to the dance floor. She caught a glimpse of the player. He had moved on to his next target, a petite woman with curly ebony hair. Bending low, he kissed the back of her hand, and she laughed, covering her mouth with her free hand. Savannah elbowed Mandy. “I guess he’s someone else’s problem.”
“I hope she knows what she’s getting into.”
Savannah grinned. “We should warn her. I bet he’d appreciate our help.”
“You’re bad.” Mandy looked at the guy then smiled evilly. “Let’s do it.”
They danced their way through the crowd using the rhythm to twist and turn around people. The player swayed the woman slowly, ignoring the song’s tempo. Savannah tapped his shoulder. He turned around and froze.
“Hey, we thought we’d reconsider your proposition,” Mandy said.
The woman stopped dancing. “You know them?”
“What? No.” He laughed nervously. His shoulders jerked as if he was having trouble shrugging.
“You mean he didn’t ask one of your friends to join you for a threesome as he did us?” Savannah said.
The woman’s mouth dropped open. “You said I was the only woman worth looking at and everyone else paled in comparison.”
“You are, you are,” he insisted. “They’re jealous of you. You are an angel.” He placed his hands on her hips and tried to steer her away from Savannah and Mandy.
They followed.
“I bet you said the same to the other three women you’ve been with tonight.” Savannah smirked at the horror twisting his face.
“H-how?”
Her smile faltered. There was no lipstick on his collar or signs he had been with other women. Scents were invisible. Mandy was looking at her, too. Her eyebrows were raised, and her mouth was open in surprise.
Fortunately, the woman didn’t question Savannah’s knowledge. She shoved the man, sending him stumbling into another group. They backed up with hands up to say they weren’t interested in the drama unfolding. The woman’s lip curled. “Pig.” She stormed away.
The player glared at Savannah and Mandy. He tugged at his shirt to smooth out wrinkles and disappeared into the crowd.
“Hope he’s learned his lesson,” Mandy snorted. She cocked her head. “How did you know he was with three other women tonight?”
“Lucky guess. Come on.” Savannah shrugged. She led Mandy back to the center of the floor and returned the focus back to girls’ night out. They danced until the club closed. Then they strolled arm in arm to Savannah’s car while singing the last song that had played. The air was cold and crisp, quickly chilling their sweat-dampened skin. Savannah drank the quiet in, purging the mass of scents she had endured inside. She was ready to take some painkillers for her throbbing headache and crawl into bed.
Mandy paused, staring into the shadows behind the club.
“Mandy?”
“Thought I saw something, but my eyes are probably playing tricks on me.”
Savannah peered into the same direction. Half turning so Mandy wouldn’t see, she sniffed the air and caught a scent. A smile quirked her lips. “Come on. Let’s get going.”
She bent lower than necessary to unlock the door then straightened up and stretched, arching her back.
Hot damn.
****
Grinning, Savannah strutted into the apartment. The smile fell when she found her bedroom empty. After her little performance at the club parking lot, she expected Evan to be waiting for her. She was prepared to ignore her headache a while longer for his sake. The window was unlocked, so he would have been able to get inside.
With a sigh, she stripped down and dressed for bed. Mandy was in the bathroom, so she waited to take her shower. She kept looking at her bedroom window, hoping Evan would appear.
After what felt like hours, it was Savannah’s turn to use the bathroom. She showered quickly and hurried back to her bedroom. Still no Evan, though.
Savannah sank onto her bed. Why wasn’t he here? He had seen her at the club. His thought had been clear as day. Did he not want to be with her intimately? Had his love for her changed? She gnawed on the inside of her cheek. Hers hadn’t.
Or maybe he had been taken again.
An invisible hand gripped her throat. She rose, but the sound of Mandy moving around the kitchen paused her. Turning the light off, she hurried to the window and opened it. The coast was clear, so she jumped and raced into the trees.
The dump was silent when she reached it. She scoured every inch for him, but she knew he wasn’t there. His scent was fading in the night air.
“Where are you?” she whispered.
Having no choice, she returned to her dorm. Quickly, she scaled the side of the building and slipped through the window. The only thing she could do was hope Evan was okay and maybe he hadn’t understood her intent. He wasn’t the best at picking up her cues. More than once, she had to flat out say what she wanted when hints hadn’t worked. She crawled into bed and tucked her hand under her cheek. “Good night, Evan. I love you.”
Chapter: Evan
Water lapped at the sandy shore. Evan stood at the edge with his eyes closed as he listened to the gentle lullaby. He stripped down and waded in. A hiss burst from his mouth, and goose bumps exploded across his skin. The quills pressed flat against his back, trapping body heat. The lake was ice cold. He needed the shock after what he had witnessed at the club.
Savannah flashed through his mind. Her hair fell in waves and framed her face. Black and gold makeup rimmed her eyes. The ruby-red dress clinging to her curves matched her lips.
He dove into the icy water and broke the surface a few minutes later. He floated on his back. Too bad the gills only breathed air. That hadn’t been a pleasant discovery. One day, he had decided to test his limits. He went for a midnight swim, dragged in a lungful of water, and almost drowned.
The moon above grew fuller.
Savannah had a full figure.
He groaned and plunged deeper. Everything made him think of her and how beautiful and sexy she was. He was supposed to be cooling his emotions, not making himself want to rip her tiny dress off with his teeth. And the display in the parking lot. She had to know he was hiding in the shadows, watching her like a creep.
It wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen her naked before. They had fooled around as teenagers. He had wanted to go further but held back. The moment had to be sp
ecial. He didn’t want to be cliché and do it after prom. No, he had crafted an unforgettable night. Unfortunately, they were abducted before he could put the plan into motion.
Now he didn’t stand a chance of being with her intimately.
So sure?
There was no way she could be physically attracted to him anymore. His lips didn’t work, and his mouth was full of lethal teeth. Even if she did want to have sex with him, he couldn’t risk accidentally ripping out her throat.
He surfaced and drew a deep breath. Wading back to shore, he sprawled on the grass and let the wind dry him. No, as much as he wanted it, sex was off the table.
Chapter: Savannah
Thump-thump. Thump-thump. The beats overlapped, falling in and out of sync. Savannah squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath. Half hour until class let out. She just needed to survive it, get to her bedroom, and hide until the full moon waned. She exhaled and dreaded the next inhale. The air was ripe with scents, each one smothering her and chipping away at her will power.
“Miss Janowitz?”
Savannah’s head snapped up. “Yeah?”
Her heart thundering in her ears drowned out the professor’s words. She imagined getting up and walking to him, straddling him. He’d strip off her clothing and lay her on his desk where he’d plunge into her, claiming her as his mate. A whimper threatened to break free, but she swallowed it.
Get it together. The man was in his seventies. That kept her in her seat.
“I don’t know,” she replied to whatever he had asked.
The professor shook his head in disappointment and turned back to the board. “Everyone write this down. It will be on the exam. Or the quiz you now have to take since you’re not listening.”
Her classmates groaned and glared, but she ignored them.
Twenty minutes left.
The quiz was handed out. Savannah flew through the answers. It didn’t matter if she failed it. She had to escape the room and the scent of men.
Ten minutes to go.
Slapping the paper down on the professor’s desk, and ignoring the erotic images playing through her head, she asked, “Can I go?”
Abducted Life Page 6
