by S. E. Smith
Pulling back with a disarming smile, he said, “This facility wasn’t built to detain a cyborg. It was easy to hack.” He kissed her again. “T’ren is already here.”
Already there? Really?
Your fiancé is a real dick, the voice in her mind, L’Den, said. How had she not noticed the voice sounded like L’Den before?
Ex-fiancé, she retorted. And, yes, as big as they come.
Grabbing her hand, they ran towards the docking bay, A’rch close behind. Tessa had no idea how they were going to get out of there alive, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was that she was with L’Den at that moment—
The Korthan came to a sudden halt at Docking Pad 7, a clunky mining freighter sitting there. A cloaked figure stood at the top of the ramp.
Removing the hood, T’ren crossed his arms with a smug expression. “Finding the specifications for this freighter was tricky, but I did it.”
She was missing something—
If we have a ship’s specifications, we can make my ship look like it, L’Den’s voice in her mind again. This clunky freighter was L’Den’s ship? The humans made a big mistake in going to war with these people. So much they could have learned—
I’m not sure about how I feel about you reading my mind, Tessa thought.
Turning towards her, touching her face, soft eyes boring into hers, L’Den’s voice answered. I can’t help it. It’s the bond drawing us together.
The bond? Mesmerized by the details of his face, she leaned into him.
You are my life mate, Tessa. Grasping her left hand, placing it over his warm chest, she could feel his beating heart. I can hear you. I can feel you. I love you. But if it’s making you uncomfortable, I can block most of it.
Tessa stared at her hand, the rhythm of his heart dancing under her fingertips. His words played over and over in her mind. Hear her? Feel her? Love her? It was too much and not enough all at once. But that last part—
She didn’t want him to block out anything.
You have a choice, he said. You can walk away.
She continued to stare at her hand, the rhythm against her fingertips quickening. Somehow, someway, she caught a glimpse of L’Den’s very soul; hopeful, but afraid, scared to death she would, indeed, ‘walk away.’
She looked into his silvery eyes. I can hear you too.
You can. It isn’t one-sided. The bond goes both ways. If you want to explore it with me, it’ll get stronger—
“I have diverted every hunting party away from here,” T’ren said as sirens sounded in the distance. “But we must hurry.”
Tessa jumped, glancing at the other Korthan. She’d forgotten he was there.
“You cannot make this decision lightly,” L’Den said out loud.
Turning back towards him, Tessa caressed the side of his face. “Trust me, I’m not.” An upturn of his lips sent heat flashing over her cheeks. “There is nothing for me here. My time with the Human Colony Alliance died when my ship crashed on that planet.”
A’rch pushed her into L’Den from behind, barking a singsong tone. L’Den laughed. “Looks like someone has an opinion on the choice you should make.”
Left hand still resting against L’Den’s chest, Tessa grabbed his free hand with her right. “I know what lies ahead will be tough. But I want to spend the rest of my life getting to know you. I want to know every detail.”
She wanted to explore his body, his mind, what made him tick. She was never so sure of anything in her life.
Okay, then, L’Den’s voice sounded. You are mine. No one in Korthan space will question that.
Tessa was all at once afraid and exhilarated. She survived on a hostile world for two years. She could easily survive with a handsome alien who looked at her like she was the most important being in the universe.
A’rch’s antennae twirled and then Squeak’s tail stuck straight into the air and began twirling also.
Tessa’s jaw dropped. “I’ve never seen him do that before.”
The molk settled onto his new perch atop the mogha’s head as A’rch trotted up the ramp, light in his step, letting out a happy bark. L’Den laughed again.
“The start of a beautiful friendship,” Tessa said with a smile.
L’Den looked down at her, eyes full of hunger, promise, love, depths unfathomable. “And for us, something so much more.”
Afterword
“Interrupting Starlight” is set in the same universe as my story from Pets in Space® 3, “After The Fall.” The events of “Interrupting Starlight” occur before the events of “After The Fall,” but they both can be read as standalone stories. Both have mischievous moghas, cyborg Korthans and living ships, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.
About Kyndra Hatch
Kyndra Hatch grew up with a fascination for science fiction and a deep interest in ancient civilizations, a combination which fuels her active imagination. After twelve exciting years as an archaeologist, Kyndra pursues a passion for writing and has discovered her works have a decidedly science fiction romantic flair. She is a USA Today bestselling author and an active member of the SFR Brigade.
Kyndra also writes science fiction, horror, and dark humor short stories as L.K. Hatchett.
Also by Kyndra Hatch
After The Fall
Aliens in the Barn
Cassandra Chandler - Import Quarantine
A Department of Homeland Security Series
It was supposed to be a simple house call for a sick cat, so how'd she end up on a spaceship?
Caitlin has made some pretty weird house calls in her work as a veterinarian outside the small desert town where she lives and works. Feral burros, mischievous coyotes, dogs getting a little too close to cacti… they all seem mundane compared to the tall, gorgeous guy who shows up on her doorstep in the middle of the night, begging her to help his cat. Everything was going along fine until he started talking about aliens.
To help restore the emotions stolen from him by the Coalition of Planets, Marq was supposed to care for Meredith—the Earth cat that his brother smuggled aboard his ship. Now, Meredith has developed some kind of strange affliction that he fears will endanger her life. He'll do anything to assist his pet, even make unauthorized contact with an Earthling. The trouble is, he isn’t sure how to handle the rising desire in him when he meets the vet called Caitlin.
To get Caitlin’s assistance, he must first convince her to trust him—though with the soldiers on his ship still loyal to the Coalition, he’s not sure who he can trust. Meredith’s illness is not the only threat they will face. Can Marq save his cat and keep Caitlin safe while trying to control his unruly emotions?
Chapter One
A green blur filled Caitlin’s vision. She blinked a few times, bringing the face of her clock into focus.
“Two o’clock in the morning,” she mumbled. “Why am I awake at two o’clock in the morning?”
Someone pounded on her door, loud enough to make her bolt upright.
“That would do it,” she said.
“Caitlin? Caitlin O’Rourke?” The voice echoing through her house was loud, male, and sounded desperate.
Caitlin jumped out of bed. The clothes she’d been wearing yesterday were piled on a chair next to her dresser. She pulled on her jeans and a T-shirt so she wasn’t running around in her pajama shorts and tank top.
“Weapon. Weapon. What can I use as a weapon?” She spun around, looking for anything she could defend herself with in case he broke down the door.
“I need your help,” he shouted.
She paused her frantic search.
If someone needed help badly enough to track her down in the middle of the night, something terrible must have happened. Or maybe something terrible was about to happen, just as soon as she opened the door.
If she went and talked to him, he might at least stop pounding on her door. At this rate, he would knock it down without even meaning to.
“Please,�
� he yelled. “I need a doctor.”
“Craaaap.”
She grabbed her phone from her bedside table and ran to the door, stepping up on her tiptoes so she could see through the eyehole. The motion sensor light had tripped, and through the fish-eye lens, he looked…
Pretty cute, actually.
He had greenish-blue eyes, sandy brown hair—shorter on the sides than on the top—and a strong jaw and nose. Nice lips. Really nice lips. His arms were braced on either side of the doorframe and his shoulders were broad enough that he looked totally capable of knocking down her door.
“Wow, he is buff,” Caitlin whispered.
He lifted his fist and hammered on the door again, hard enough to make the pictures on the walls shake. She yelped and jerked back.
“Caitlin O’Rourke!”
“I’m here,” she yelled. “You can stop knocking.”
His tone hadn’t lost any of its urgency when he said, “I need your help.”
“I’m not a doctor.”
He went quiet.
She was about to look through the eyehole again when he said, “Brigid told me you were.”
“Brigid,” Caitlin murmured. “Of course.”
Brigid, the quieter twin who somehow lived the more interesting life. Brigid, surrounded by celebrities that hired her to cook for them. Brigid, the valedictorian, who could do no wrong in their parents’ eyes.
“I’m a veterinarian,” Caitlin said.
“A what?”
“An animal doctor.” Caitlin raised her voice so he could hear her clearly.
“That’s what I need. Please, my cat needs help.”
His cat?
She looked through the eyehole again.
The lens distorted his features, but she could still see the anguish in his expression. Why had Brigid sent him to Caitlin, though? Where was he even from?
He couldn’t be local. The town was too small and Caitlin would definitely have noticed him.
“I need you to come with me,” he said.
“Oh, no, no, no.” She laughed as she spoke, her nerves getting the best of her—and making her speak loud enough for him to hear. Plus she was still looking through the eyehole, so her mouth was pointing right at the door.
“Why not?” he said. “Isn’t it your job to help animals in need?”
“I have got to stop talking to myself,” she hissed. Hanging around animals all the time had firmly entrenched the bad habit.
Loudly, she said, “I’m not going somewhere in the middle of the night with some strange guy that I don’t even know.”
No matter how hot he is.
“I’ll protect you. You have nothing to fear.”
“That’s exactly what someone who wanted to kidnap me would say.”
He shook his head. “What does kidnap mean?”
“You’re not helping your case. Everybody knows what kidnap means.”
A few moments passed while he messed with his watch.
“That’s… Cygnus X, that’s awful,” he said. “I don’t want to kidnap you. I want you to come with me.”
“And I don’t want to come with you. Hence, kidnapping.”
“I’m not going to—” He pinched his eyes shut, then took a deep breath, expanding his already impressive chest. After holding his breath for a few seconds, he slowly let it out.
“Call Brigid,” he said. “She knows you can trust me.”
“Call Brigid,” Caitlin mumbled in a mocking tone, but she was already dialing the number.
She didn’t expect Brigid to answer, really. Her sister’s latest client was keeping her busy. He’d moved her from Montana to Florida along with the rest of his household after only a couple of weeks in his employ. Apparently, Brigid was already indispensable.
The client must be a big deal. Brigid wasn’t even allowed to tell Caitlin who she was working for.
“Caitlin?” Brigid answered before Caitlin had even heard the phone ring.
“Weird…” Caitlin mumbled.
“Are you okay?” Brigid said. “It’s two o’clock in the morning where you are.”
“I’m aware,” Caitlin said. “But there’s this huge guy pounding on my door. He says he knows you.”
“Wait, what?”
Caitlin looked through the eyehole again. “Six-foot something, light brown hair, chiseled jaw…soulful blue eyes.”
“Dane?”
Caitlin held the phone against her chest, and yelled, “Is your name Dane?”
“I’m Marq. With a ‘Q’.” His voice trailed off as he added, “Brigid said…people make assumptions.”
Caitlin lifted the phone and said, “He says his name is Marq. ‘With a Q’.”
“Shit,” Brigid said.
Caitlin perked up. Brigid never cursed. Never. This guy must be bad news.
Or big news. Like somehow involved with whatever secret celebrity Brigid was working for.
“Let me talk to him,” Brigid said.
“Why?” Caitlin turned to lean her back against the door as they spoke. “So you can cut me out of the conversation?”
“This isn’t the time—”
“No, it isn’t. And it hasn’t been for months now.” Caitlin hated how rough her voice sounded. She hadn’t realized how raw she was over this. “You’re my sister. My twin. We don’t have to share everything, but since you landed this new job, it’s like you’re shutting me out of your life.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Brigid said. “And I get it. I really do. But there’s more going on than you know.”
“That’s exactly my point!”
“Just, let me talk to him,” Brigid said.
“You want me to open my door to this guy in the middle of the night? Because I was considering calling the police.”
“Don’t call the police!” Brigid nearly shouted.
“I see,” Caitlin said. “So, I can trust him.”
“Of course you can, but—”
“That’s all I needed. Bye, sis.”
Caitlin disconnected the call and quickly set her phone to do not disturb. She took a deep breath, then turned and opened the door. “Okay, so you need help with your…eep!”
Her gaze slowly rose from his booted feet, up along his muscular calves and past equally sculpted thighs. His T-shirt was tucked into his cargo shorts, showcasing his perfect waist. She could see the outline of his abs through the thin fabric.
His shirt clung to his chest, accenting strong pecs and shoulders she wanted to jump up and hang from. And his face…
Dear God, his face.
The chiseled jaw was even better than she’d imagined. Straight, strong nose. Lush, sculpted lips. Pensive brow, drawn together above those soulful eyes.
He was perfect. Impossibly perfect.
“I… Are you…” He stammered, then pointed behind himself. “Are you ready to go?”
“Hmm, what? Oh. Right.” Caitlin shook herself. She had a patient who needed her help. “I need to grab a few things from my clinic.”
She started by picking up her wallet and keys, then slipping into her sneakers before stepping out onto the porch. Instead of backing away to give her space, he just stood there, staring down at her. She leaned over to close and lock the door, doing her best not to bump into him—even though she really wanted to bump into him.
She slid her wallet into her back pocket, then gestured toward the path that led to her clinic.
“After you,” she said, and not at all because she wanted to see if the back side of him was as gorgeous as the front.
He nodded curtly, then turned and headed down the path. Caitlin stood on the porch for a few moments, watching his long gait.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “It’s just as gorgeous.”
Chapter Two
“Are you coming?” Marq turned back to Caitlin, who stood just outside the door to her dwelling as if transfixed.
Too much time had passed. Meredith needed him.
He wanted to
throw Caitlin over his shoulder and run to the ship, but that would be too similar to the “kidnapping” she’d been concerned about earlier. He held his panic at bay by focusing on his mission to bring Meredith help.
If Caitlin’s sister, Brigid, was any indication of human behavior, ordering Caitlin to proceed wouldn’t work. She wasn’t like the soldiers assigned to his command—none of whom had ever seen an Earth animal before, let alone studied one.
They wouldn’t know how to help Meredith. He needed Caitlin’s cooperation.
Perhaps she was still nervous.
“I swear by the Solar Cross that I won’t hurt you,” he said.
Caitlin let out a short laugh, finally following him. “‘The Solar Cross’? What does that mean?”
“It’s what we call the star cluster that guides the way from Earth to the Gamma Cygni system.”
There was no point in trying to hide the truth from her. She would no doubt need a mindwipe after their encounter and would remember none of their interactions.
“Of course it is,” Caitlin said. “How silly of me to forget. And that’s important enough to swear by because…?”
“Sadr-4 is in Gamma Cygni.” He shook his head. It was hard for him to remember that his homeworld—the entire Sadr system—had been obliterated. “At least, it used to be.”
“Are you an astronomer or something?” she asked.
“Or something.”
Caitlin paused, one dark eyebrow arched and her arms crossed over her large breasts. The lights from the building they were heading toward glinted in her eyes, slightly washing out their deep blue color. Her hair flowed over her shoulders and down her back in chestnut waves. For a moment, Marq felt a compulsion to run his fingers through the soft-looking strands.
Strange that she should prompt such a reaction when he’d never felt anything of the sort with her twin.
