“I don’t know. I can’t even right now.” He shuddered as she sucked on his earlobe. Don’t stop. She moved down his neck, tracing her tongue along the topmost gill. I’m gonna cum. Now.
“I may like your lack of thought control.”
She resumed nibbling his throat.
“I should try…shit…a little. At least…right there… I really don’t…oh God...to broadcast to everyone accidentally.”
She pulled him to the bed. He ripped his shirt off. His chest heaved as he crawled on top of her. His fingers trailed down her stomach, pausing at the stretch marks before moving to her inner thigh. The quills trembled, and she rubbed them.
I like that but not in the right way currently.
“How about this?” She gently squeezed his balls.
He grunted. His thoughts became incoherent. She stroked him through his jeans, drawing growls and groans from him.
Do you want this to be over quickly?
She released him. “No, but I love your reaction. The way your face looks.” Her hands went to the scarf. He froze. His eyes widened with fear.
I can do this.
Using her fingers, he pulled it free and threw it aside. She leaned up, kissing his mouth. His lips twitched against hers. He sat back, avoiding her.
“Sorry, Savvy, but I can’t—”
“What did I say about kissing?” She brought his face back to hers and rubbed their noses.
“That it was overrated.”
“So overrated,” she murmured.
He nuzzled her neck. The bra joined the scarf and coat on the floor. Tension stiffened his shoulders when he leaned down. His tongue darted out, caressing her nipple. She gasped.
“More?”
“Yes.” She guided his mouth back to her breast.
He licked one nipple then the other, rubbing his chin against the hard buds. She resumed stroking him. The fire between them grew hotter. She unzipped his jeans, and he hastily tossed them aside. Looping his thumbs in her thong, he pulled it off.
You said you had condoms?
She dug in the stand next to the bed. They rolled over so he lay under her, and she wrapped her fingers around him. He dropped his head back on the pillow.
Hurry, Savvy. Fuck that’s good.
“What do you want me to do?” She teased.
He took the condom from her and rolled it on. Flipping her over, he nudged her legs apart with his knee. His fingers found her clit and rubbed. She moaned and writhed beneath him, pleading with him for more.
“Now who’s in a hurry?”
With some maneuvering, he was inside her. She arched her back, sucking in a breath as he filled her. Slowly, he pulled out then pushed back in. She lifted her hips to meet him. He thrust faster. Staring into his eyes, she clasped his face with both hands. Her orgasm burst through her, and she cried out.
They were both panting when they fell still. His arm muscles flexed as he propped himself over her. The sharp teeth filling his mouth glinted in the light from her bedside lamp. He didn’t try to hide them from her. Instead, his lips twitched, trying to form a smile.
“You were quicker.”
She smacked him. “Shut up. It’s been a long time since I’ve had sex not induced by the moon’s phases.”
The cheer died, and he looked away. “But you’ve done it more than I have in the past four years.”
“No Rosy Palms?”
He snorted. Whenever I thought of you.
“I heard that.”
He winced. “Pretend you didn’t.”
“Hmmm… no.” She gave him a sly smile.
They curled up and pulled a blanket over them. He traced the tips of his fingers along her shoulder and along a thin scar. His thoughts were hidden from her.
“What are you thinking?”
“That I didn’t make you mac and cheese.”
She pressed a kiss to his mouth. “You can make it for me next time.”
He squeezed her. “It’s a date.”
Chapter: Evan
A burst of water hit Evan in the face. He sputtered as it ran over his gills. Stepping out from under the spray of the shower, he focused on where he was. Which wasn’t in Savannah’s bedroom with her standing before him in a sky-blue lingerie set. The way the fabric hugged her curves, accenting her creamy skin…
A cold shower might be needed at this rate. He was aroused again. His body thrummed with desire for Savannah. Last night wasn’t enough.
But he hadn’t taken a real shower since before they were taken. He was hesitant to end it. Who knew when he’d get another chance?
Savannah promised him he’d be safe in her apartment. Mandy was away for the day at a family function. He should have left before the sun rose but leaving felt low and cheap, as if he was using Savannah.
They had watched the sun rise then made love again. He felt normal for the first time since they returned to Earth.
Shutting the water off, he wrapped a towel around his waist and returned to her room. He wandered around, pausing at the dresser to look at the photographs. Many of them had been folded in half, showing only hints of another person—him. It was probably because the daily reminder hurt. He knew what it felt like seeing her but unable to touch. She might as well have been a picture.
He dressed but paused on the scarf. Did he need it? Being intimate with Savannah while his face was naked had been freeing. Now the fabric felt shameful. He secured it anyway.
As if on cue, the front door opened. He stepped back toward the window. He had the instinct to flee, but jumping out of a three-story building in broad daylight wasn’t an option. Footsteps padded through the living room. They were too light to be Savannah. Besides, she had classes until noon. Evan darted to the closet and pulled the door closed, leaving only a sliver to see. His breathing sounded like a roar as he waited.
Mandy came into view. She stopped in the doorway and glanced over her shoulder before slowly entering the bedroom. Her gaze roamed around. Evan froze when she paused on the closet door. She turned to the dresser and picked up a picture frame. Carefully, she removed the back and smoothed the picture out. Long seconds crawled by. Evan couldn’t see Mandy’s face from his hiding spot, but he watched her fingers glide over the image. Muscles in his back twitched as he waited.
Finally, Mandy put the picture back and placed the frame on the dresser. She looked around the room once more then hurried out. Evan listened to the sounds of her moving in her own room. Something beeped multiple times. Keys jingled, and Mandy passed by Savannah’s room once more. The front door opened and closed. Silence fell back over the dorm.
Evan crept out. He wiped the sweat off his forehead, walked to the dresser, and picked up the frame Mandy had taken apart. Removing the back, he unfolded the image to reveal himself. In the image his eyes were bright, and his mouth was stretched into a smile. A lump formed in his throat. Trying to erase the memory of himself as a normal human, he closed his eyes. But no matter how much he wished to forget, he couldn’t. Reminders of what he no longer was were everywhere. Every time he looked in the mirror, he saw it—a ghost he couldn’t banish.
With the image in his hands, he trudged to the bed. Springs creaked under his weight. He stared at the doorway then the photograph. Why had Mandy been snooping? How had she known someone was hidden in the picture?
Evan ran a hand through his damp hair. What am I going to tell Savvy?
Should he?
Chapter: Savannah
Students chattered and laughed as they walked to and from class or lounged in the sunlight. Savannah smiled as she walked among them. Her thoughts were back in her apartment where Evan was safely hidden. Mandy would be gone all day, so there was no risk of her stumbling upon him. Once darkness fell, he’d sneak out.
Or stay the night again.
Heat simmered through her. If not for a test, she would have skipped and spent the day with him. Preferably naked. She couldn’t help but giggle and blush. The last time she felt this ha
ppy was before the abduction. It was as if the clouds had finally allowed the sun to shine.
She headed into the library. The smell of ink and paper mixed with the scents of hundreds of people. She caught a whiff of James, but she told herself there was nothing unusual about that. He was probably there for research, as she was.
Finding an empty table, she unloaded her backpack and powered up her laptop. The silence was soothing as she worked.
Laughter a few bookshelves over broke her concentration. Tempted to scold the noisemakers like an angry librarian, she scowled. But the conversation moved away, and she resumed her homework.
She hadn’t been working long when her roommate interrupted her. Mandy collapsed into the chair across from her and buried her face in her arms. “Oh my god, this assignment is killing me.”
Savannah blinked. “I thought you were visiting family today.”
Mandy straightened up. “Oh, yeah, I was, but I came back early because of this stupid paper. I swear I need a clone so I can make them do the work instead. Then I can just sit back and relax.”
Savannah rolled her eyes at her roommate.
“But I guess that’s impossible.” Mandy sighed. “So I better head to Victory Hall and get to work. I probably will be there late too.” She stood. “See you later.”
“Yup.” Savannah nodded and went back to work.
“Hey, kit—Savannah, I thought that was you.” James grinned as he dragged a chair to her table. “Need a study buddy?”
Savannah couldn’t catch a break. Why was everyone determined to interrupt her?
“No, I’m good.” She kept writing, hoping her detached answer implied to James she wanted him to beat it.
But it didn’t surprise her much when James ignored the hint. He was good at being oblivious. She considered kicking him in the nuts. Maybe then he’d get the message.
James pulled out his own books, but he slouched back in his chair and tapped his pencil against the paper instead. Savannah felt him watching her. She bit back a growl and continued to ignore him.
“You know, I don’t get you,” James declared, pausing to give her time to reply. When she didn’t, he plowed on. “You invite me to your place but say it doesn’t mean anything. We run into each other all the time. You kiss me.”
Savannah clenched her pencil. The wood cracked. “What’s your point?”
The smile turned into a scowl. Darkness flashed through his eyes. “I guess I’m saying girls who fuck around always get what’s coming to them.”
“Are you threatening me?” Savannah was torn between laughing in his face and shaking in fear.
James gathered his books and rose. His voice was casual, but underneath the light tone was her answer. “I’m just saying, be careful. See you, kitty cat.”
She didn’t move as he walked away, staring at him. A thud behind her made her flinch and her pulse jumped.
He was just bluffing and trying to soothe his ego, she assured herself.
Hands trembling, she shut her textbooks and packed her backpack. She glanced around nervously for James as she left the library, but didn’t see him. The drone of voices of the students outside was a steady hum. Clearing her thoughts, she inhaled and exhaled slowly. Her nerves felt steadier after a few more deep breaths.
James was full of shit. He wouldn’t try anything, and even if he did, he’d have an unpleasant surprise when she turned alien werewolf on his ass.
Uplifted by that thought, Savannah headed for her next class and did her best to put James out of her mind.
****
Watching for Evan, Savannah perched on her windowsill. The night sky was choked with clouds, and the shadows were deep and dark. She scanned the trees, but the bushes were motionless. Tucking her hair behind her ears, she listened. Voices talked from the other dorms. In the distance, she heard cars driving down the highway. Feet clomped on pavement. She couldn’t tell if any of the footsteps belonged to Evan.
Was he waiting for her at the dump? She thought he was coming to her, but maybe she mixed it up, and she was going to him.
Grabbing her keys and coat, she headed down the stairs. People said “hi” as she passed, and she returned their smiles. In the courtyard, she stopped and looked around. Evan was still nowhere in sight, but she caught his scent on the breeze.
Strangely, the freshest trail led her into campus, to the gymnasium. She wandered past the weightlifting room and the pool. Sneakers squeaked on the basketball court.
Her stomach twisted into knots when she caught the smell of James. His scent mingled with Evan’s, leading her through the building to the bathrooms. She snuck to the men’s door and pressed her ear to it. Two pulses and heavy breathing were audible in the bathroom. Something scuffled.
“Okay, man, back off,” James pleaded. He was silent for a moment. “You’re fucking nuts. I’m not—” He whimpered. “Okay, whatever, I’ll leave her alone. Honestly, she’s a bit craz—” A dull thud cut him off, and he grunted.
A person moved toward Savannah, and she ducked into the women’s room. She cracked the door and watched James rush away from the bathroom. He clutched his stomach.
He gave the bathrooms a wary look. “Guy’s as nuts as she is.”
Savannah remained hidden until James left through the exit at the end of the hallway. Checking no one else was around, she stepped out, marched to the men’s room, and knocked. The door creaked open, and an amber eye looked at her.
“Being my knight in shining armor?”
“I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
Savannah stormed into the bathroom. She locked the door and whirled to Evan. Her fists shook at her sides. Red clouded her vision. A growl worked up her throat, and she didn’t hold it back. “You don’t see a problem with being reckless?”
Evan stood by the sinks, avoiding looking at her. “You said he threatened you at the library! And he followed you.”
“You follow me.”
“Not the same. I won’t hurt you. How do you know that loser won’t?”
Savannah sighed. “I don’t know, but I said I’d handle it. You didn’t have to risk yourself by coming to my rescue.” She raked her hands through her hair, checking her reflection as she did. “What if he had fought you and pulled off your scarf? He would have seen you and then what? What happens if people find out that aliens experimented on us? They’ll lock us up.”
“Sounds a little farfetched.”
“Is it?” She whirled to face him. “We are proof ET is up there and isn’t friendly. The human race isn’t going to react well to that, and we both know it. You can’t put yourself in danger for my sake.”
“Savvy…” He reached for her, but she stopped him.
“I’ll go make sure the coast is clear.”
She waited for someone to pass before leading the way. They crept through the gymnasium and stuck to the shadows outside. Evan didn’t try to speak, but she heard bits of his thoughts.
I was worried…scared. Can’t…her…again. I’ll do…thing…protect her.
Savannah’s anger melted, and she stopped to tightly hug him. Tears stung her eyes. “I’m sorry, but I can’t bear the thought of losing you again.”
“I kept thinking, what if he was bad and you disappear again, but this time it’s your corpse that’s found.” A shudder rolled through him.
“I guess we are both crazy.”
He laughed. “Crazy in love.”
She shoved him. “You’re so cheesy.”
****
The white wrappings unraveled to reveal a blond man in a tight pair of golden shorts. He sang and danced, running around the laboratory and dodging people as Tim Curry chased him.
Do women really like that much muscle?
Savannah paused the movie. They were curled on up her bed. Evan’s arms were around her. She twisted in his embrace. “Do you want an answer or was that an accident?”
He shrugged. “Both, I guess.”
Getting more comfortabl
e, Savannah trailed her fingers up his arm, tracing the dark green markings. “I like muscles but would rather have a nice balance. Nothing too over the top. No gun show.”
Evan flexed, making a bicep bulge. “Like this.”
A grin quirked her lips. “I don’t recall you being this buff before.” She poked him playfully. In high school, Evan had been on the track team. His events were long distance and the high jump. “In fact, you were a little on the skinny side.”
Evan sat up and turned his back to her. His voice was soft, a whisper in her head. “I did a lot of physical labor for them. Had to be in shape to do what they wanted.” You did, too.
Savannah looked down at herself. When she returned, she was stronger and more muscular. Her stamina had surpassed what it used to be. Before, she had been able to run about a mile before getting winded. Now, she could go at least five miles and not be out of breath.
“Evan, tell me, what did they do to me?”
You sure you want to know?
“…Yes.”
He threw his legs over the side of the bed and rested his elbows on his knees. Her heart pounded, and she almost changed her mind. The way Evan spoke about her missing memories frightened her. He gave her the impression that what the aliens had done to her was more horrible than what they did to him. She couldn’t imagine that was possible. What could be worse than needle teeth and gills? Not any scars. Her hand touched her stomach.
“I can’t say how much light I’ll be able to shed. I couldn’t communicate with them. I could make them hear my thoughts, but I couldn’t make them understand our language. There were others, though. Humans, but they were changed. Some acted as if they had forgotten they were human, but not all of them.” He hesitated before plowing on. “I believe you were picked because you’re beautiful.”
Savannah glowered. “This is serious. Don’t get poetic.”
“I am serious.” He met her gaze. “They didn’t mess with you physically because you had the look they wanted. You were like a pet that they put in competitions. You were groomed and judged on how you held yourself. They put you through an obstacle course, like you see with dog shows. If you beat the other girls competing, they collected a trophy.”
Abducted Life Page 8
