“My Sydney? Tall, gorgeous, skinny, dark-skinned black woman with short hair?”
“That’s the one. She hasn’t stopped asking for you since she arrived at the compound.”
Holly narrowed her eyes and sat up, folding her arms across her chest. “If you knew my friend was at your base, why didn’t you tell me in the first place?”
“Because I wanted your reunion to be a surprise, but when I just saw the worry on your face, I couldn’t keep you in suspense much longer.” She wanted to be angry with him, but judging from the anxious expression on his face, she knew he had meant well. Holly sighed in relief. “Thank you for telling me.
Surprises are nice, but I’ll be able to sleep a whole lot better tonight knowing she’s somewhere safe.” Something suddenly occurred to her and she frowned.
“Why the long face?”
“Did you rescue me only because Sydney asked you to?”
“You can ask that after what we just shared? Even if Sydney never mentioned you, I would have eventually ventured into the city to see you again. As luck would have it, you needed me and I’m glad I came in time to help.” Many doubts assailed her. Holly didn’t know why, but she felt safe in Chase’s presence. There was something about his easy nature that put her at ease. Never one to participate in one-night stands, it shocked Holly that she had fallen so easily into bed with him on so short an acquaintance. Yet, it felt right. What was he after? A man like Chase could probably have any woman he wanted. Why her?
50
“I don’t understand what’s happening between us. When we first met and we almost… well, you stopped when things were getting hot and heavy.”
“Because you weren’t ready for it yet. At the time I didn’t think it was fair to get involved with you. Maybe it still isn’t, but this time around we’ll see each other on almost a daily basis. There’ll be time for you to sort out your feelings for me.” She furrowed her brows. “Don’t you mean, time for us?” He shook his head with that crooked smile of his. “No. I meant what I said. I already know how I feel.”
Holly moistened her suddenly dry lips. “Are you going to enlighten me about those feelings?”
“Not tonight. But at the appropriate time I will.”
“What better time is there to talk about it than now?”
“If I thought you were ready to hear it, I’d tell you, but I don’t think you are.” She was fast losing her temper. “You keep telling me that you don’t think I’m ready but I’m an adult. I can deal with whatever you have to tell me,” she snapped.
Chase chuckled. “Has anyone ever told you how pretty you are when you’re angry?”
“You --”
He silenced her by pressing his mouth against hers.
Sydney dragged Bella into the bedroom with her and closed the door behind them, thrilled to finally have the chance to catch up. Though this was Bella’s third day here, they’d scarcely had the opportunity to speak at length privately, with all the meetings and the fact that Dar didn’t seem to like having Bella out of his sight for even a minute.
The two women sat on the bed, and Sydney took her friend’s hand. “I can’t believe you’re here. I’ve missed you so much.” Her eyes misted with unshed tears of happiness.
“I know. You’ve only told me a hundred times.” Bella laughed.
Sydney giggled. “One hundred and one but who’s counting? Did you see that dirty look Dar sent my way when I told him I wanted to talk to you alone? I swear he was going to throttle me before you intervened.”
Bella grinned. “He’s not as intimidating as he looks; in fact, he’s one of the gentlest men you’ll ever meet. Dar’s protective of me is all, and he’s a little out of his element since he doesn’t speak the language. Where he’s from his people have their own language but in that particular galaxy all the inhabitants have a universal language which makes it easy for all species to communicate. Although I’ve taught him some of our language, he feels more comfortable speaking in his own tongue.”
“That’s understandable. I guess I’d feel uncomfortable as well if I were in his shoes. But I think protectiveness isn’t the only thing he feels toward you.” Bella blushed. “I know. He’s probably the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Are you sorry things didn’t work out in regards to that operation on your ears?”
52
“No. While it would be a dream come true to be able to hear again, it’s no longer as important to me as it was before. My goal now is to save as many of our people as possible from the same fate I’ve suffered. I know many of them weren’t as lucky as David and I were to have someone like Dar stand up for us. If it weren’t for him, we’d most definitely be back at that zoo with the rest of the animals.” She shuddered, wrapping her arms around her slender body. “When I think of spending the rest of my life behind those bars, having people stare at me, pointing, and taking pictures…” Sydney squeezed her friend’s hands, realizing how difficult it must be for her to relive the ordeal. “It’s okay, hon, you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
“But that’s just it. I do. I don’t think I’ll get over it completely until I do talk about it. For the few weeks I was there, they kept me locked up away from the rest of the animals so I had no idea what kind of place I was in. I didn’t know where I was at first, just that the people who came with food were a different type of alien. Some of the keepers were friendly, or as friendly as one would be to a creature they thought inferior. And others were scary. One of them tried to rape me.”
“Oh, Bella.” Sydney could tell by the troubled expression on her friend’s face how harrowing the ordeal had been. “Dar was the only one who showed me any real kindness. He recognized David and I were sentient and able to communicate.”
“I still don’t understand why they couldn’t tell from the start. Dar could pass for human if it weren’t for his coloring. Why didn’t his people question this?”
“Mainly because the Cyrellians had presented us as animals, and partially because the head zookeeper on Flamryl was greedy. I think when he saw David he realized he had an opportunity to bring more money to the zoo. We looked so like them that people would come far and wide to see us. At least that’s what Dar thinks. Having encountered the man myself, I would have to agree. I wish I could have seen the look on his face when the Intergalactic Council confronted him about the information Dar sent their way. The Cyrellians had been banished from their galaxy years ago, and the fact that he had dealings with them is considered treason.”
“He sounds like a nasty piece of work.”
53
Bella nodded. “He was. I’m just glad to be home… well, sort of.”
“Yeah, life as we knew it has ceased to be for us,” Sydney said softly.
“But what kind of life was it? I mean I’d rather live like this knowing what’s really going on than that oblivious state we’d been in.” She had a point. Sydney had a great life before coming here. Before taking a position at Cryo Cor, she’d had a good job, a home, and two really good friends. She had had an active social life and for the most part she was happy. But once she’d learned of the Cyrellians’ duplicity, Sydney knew she could never go along pretending there wasn’t something terribly wrong going on.
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m wondering if there are people out there who know what’s going on but remain quiet. When I started working at Cryo Cor I couldn’t figure out why people seemed to be so jumpy. They probably had their suspicions about the Cyrellians.”
“If you weren’t found out and were able to put the file back with everyone being none the wiser, would you have feigned ignorance?” Sydney considered this for a moment. “I’d like to say no, but I guess I really don’t know what I would have done. I may not have done anything right away, but eventually I’d get tired of the hypocrisy and do something about it.”
“Holly warned us, didn’t she?”
A wave of anxiety shot through Sydney’s heart. What was taking Chase so long?
Shouldn’t he have been back with Holly by now? “Yes, she did. I was too stubborn to listen, but I had no reason to think the Cyrellians were anything but kind benefactors.”
“That’s what a lot of people believed. You shouldn’t get yourself down about it.
I’ve had my what-if moments, but I think everything happens for a reason. For instance, if I hadn’t been shipped off by the Cyrellians I never would have met Dar and I love him so much, I can’t imagine being without him. If you hadn’t found that file, you wouldn’t be here either… or with Jack.”
Sydney groaned, rolling her eyes. “Don’t mention that man.”
54
Bella raised a brow. “Aren’t things going well with you two? I think you two make a great couple. He’s so tall, with all that long dark hair, and the eye patch gives him an air of mystery. How can you not melt whenever he’s around?”
“Easily,” Sydney drawled. “But we’re not a couple.”
“Oh.” Bella frowned. “I thought you were together. The way he looks at you…”
“Is only because he wants to fuck. It’s nothing more than that.” Bella folded her arms over her chest and gave her one of those you’re-full-of-shit looks. “I may have been born at night, but it wasn’t last night. Come on, Syd, whenever you’re in a room together, the room practically sizzles. I felt it and I’m sure everyone else does. Even Dar asked me if you two were together.”
“Really? It’s that obvious?”
“Why not admit you like it?”
“Because it’s just sex.”
“Only sex?”
Sydney threw her hands up in defeat. “Okay! Mind-blowing, want-to-scream-to-the-world sex. It’s so good it makes me want to do back flips. There. Are you satisfied?” Bella laughed. “Wow. That good, huh?”
Sydney sighed. “Yes.”
“Do you want it to be more than physical?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been good at the relationship thing and Jack is so forceful. He’s clearly the type of guy who’s been around. How do I know he won’t get tired of me eventually, or I him? Besides, when we’re not fucking, we’re arguing. That’s not the basis for a stable relationship.”
“Maybe you two argue so much because you’re both too stubborn to admit you like the other. And don’t bother denying it. I’ve seen the way you look at him. It’s that same possessive way he gazes at you when he thinks no one is watching.”
“I know you mean well, Bella, but Jack and I are a complicated issue.”
“What’s so difficult about it?”
55
“First of all, there’s so much going on with the Cyrellian situation. He’s the leader and I can’t expect him to drop his responsibilities just to sort out what’s going on between us.”
Bella rubbed Sydney’s knee. “I’m sure he could find the time. What’s your other reason?”
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Anna, the quiet blonde, hates me.
Apparently, she and Jack had a thing before I arrived and she still cares for him even though he’s moved on. I don’t want to cause any further dissention in the house.” Bella nodded. “Yes, I’ve noticed her. I was wondering why she was giving you dirty looks. But I know you’re not one to bite your tongue, so it could have been due to anything. Still, it’s obvious to me he doesn’t return her feelings. Don’t let her get to you, hon. And if she continues to cause trouble for you, I’ll kick that bitch’s ass.” Sydney threw back her head and laughed. Bella was five foot nothing and was barely a hundred pounds. The thought of her taking Anna on was comical. “Um, I don’t think it will get that far. It’s not that she’s been outright nasty to me, but she looks at me as though she’d sooner see me gone. I can handle her. As long as I have you here, everything will be okay. Well, as soon as Chase gets back with Holly. I hope they haven’t run into any kind of trouble.”
“We’ll have to stay positive. Remember when you thought I might have been done for? I’m here and I know Holly will be all right too. She fights dirty if she has to.”
“You’re right.”
A loud thumping on the door made Sydney jump.
“Who is it?”
“Jack. Open the door.”
“I’m busy right now.”
“Your help is needed downstairs and if Bella is in there with you, Dar is looking for her.”
She rolled her eyes. “Can you give me ten minutes?”
56
“Five,” he grunted. He stomped away from the door, his footsteps making a booming sound at his retreat.
“What’s going on?”
“It was Jack. He says I’m needed downstairs and I have five minutes.” Bella giggled. “I bet that was an excuse to get you alone. The man is crazy for you.”
Sydney poked her tongue out, looking around for an object to throw at Bella. She settled for a pillow, but her friend ducked. “Hey! I only spoke the truth.”
“I wish he’d leave me alone.”
“No, you don’t. If he stopped coming around, you’d be upset. Why are you trying so hard to fight it?”
“Like I said, it’s just great sex between us. You wouldn’t understand.” Bella’s lips tilted into a mischievous grin. “Oh, I know a little something about Earth shattering sex. Dar has two cocks.”
“What?” Sydney wasn’t sure she’d heard her friend correctly.
“He has two dicks.”
“You’re kidding.” Sydney laughed.
Bella shook her head. “I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. It surprised the heck out of me when I discovered it, but let’s just say I got over it really quick. I’ve had many a night and day of pleasure because of those things.” Sydney’s mouth gaped open. Part of her still didn’t believe Bella’s claim, but her friend wasn’t prone to exaggeration, especially about something so strange.
“Sweetie, if you don’t close your mouth, something is going to fly into it.”
“But… how does that work?”
Bella gave her a look as if it were a stupid question. “How do you think? One in my pussy and the other in my ass.”
“Wow. And you like that?”
“Love it. And I can never be with a human man after Dar, not that I would anyway, but he’s completely ruined me for anyone else.”
57
Sydney gulped at the thought. She’d never particularly been fond of anal sex, and it surprised her Bella seemed to like it so much. What would it feel like to have Jack’s large member stuffed into her rear? A shiver coursed through her body. She quickly attempted to dispel the image with a shake of her head. The last thing she wanted to do was think about that man.
He confused, infuriated, and turned her on. There were times when she wanted to kill him, while other moments, she couldn’t wait to be in his arms. Sydney didn’t like feeling this way about a man, especially one as unpredictable as Jack.
“I never would have thought --”
Something or someone pounded against the door yet again. “Okay, your five minutes are up. Open the door before I kick it in.” Sydney mouthed the words “I’m sorry” to Bella before sliding off the bed and walking reluctantly to the door. When she opened it, Jack pushed his way past her.
He made sure Bella was looking at him before he spoke. “Dar is waiting downstairs for you. If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a few words alone with Sydney.” Bella, instead of telling him she’d leave whenever she was good and ready, gave him a knowing smile and then nodded. “Sure. Thanks for relaying the message. Have a nice… talk.”
It took every single drop of Sydney’s willpower not to give the petite woman a swift kick in the rear for her implication. Once they were alone, she rounded on Jack.
“Couldn’t you have given me a little more time? I haven’t seen Bella in months and we still haven’t had a chance to have a proper chat.”
“A half hour wasn’t enough for you?”
She narrowed her eyes. “How do you know how long we were? Did you time us?”
“What if I did?”
“Then you had no right to do it. I’ve been busting ass in the kitchen all morning and helping wherever else I could around here. I think I should be allowed some time with my friend.”
58
“I didn’t say you weren’t.”
“Am I really needed downstairs?”
“Yes, we’re going to have another strategy meeting. The group is getting restless, and looking for some action. In light of some of the things we’ve learned regarding Cyrellian activity, it looks like they’re getting bolder in their actions. Almost as if they don’t care if they’re discovered anymore.”
“That’s a good thing, right? If they get too careless, more people will realize what they’re up to.”
“Either that or they may feel they’re too powerful to be opposed.” Sydney frowned. “What about the other groups you were telling me about?”
“I’ve been in talks with some of the other leaders and they’re looking to band our forces together and invade the city soon.”