Forbidden Love (5 page)

He backed from her. “I only need to get to my craft. I have other bodily coverings there.”

“Are you saying you want me to take you outside, naked?”

“I will not be seen. I know how to make myself,” he searched for the word, “—shielded.”

“You’re kidding? You mean you can camouflage and become invisible? What the hell other surprises do you have?”

He didn’t answer but instead turned toward the door. “Come,” he said. “We must not delay.”

He was right. But it was so hard to let him go, especially now. Yet she knew she must. He was a shattering discovery. The longer he stayed here the greater the chance he’d be caught, that they’d be found together.

“Just let me grab some clothes.” She dashed into her bedroom and shoved the tattered pieces into a drawer then dressed in fresh jeans and T-shirt.

“Okay, I’m ready.”

He rested near the door, his arms wrapped around his sinewy chest staring at the ceiling. He didn’t move, even when she stood inches from him.

“T’Kon?”

A few endless seconds later, he glanced down at her. “There is something on Terrain that I need to repair my craft.”

“From this planet? What could that possibly be?”

“It is a metallurgical material that is pliable but strong.” He added, “My sensors revealed that it is abundant within your planet’s core. Do you know of this?”

Exhaling hard she rubbed her forehead. “And just how do you propose we get to it? Wait, is what you want titanium?”

He scrunched his eyes and nodded. “It is called by another name where I come from.”

“And what would that be?”

“You could not pronounce it. Suffice it to say it also exists in abundance on my world as well. At one time, we used it for...” He shook his head. “You know too much already.”

He was quiet again. “You may be putting yourself in danger with those who govern your world. If they were to find me with you—” His words stopped and he appeared concerned.

For her safety?

“I need but a diminutive amount.”

“T’Kon, what you need, it can’t be easily acquired.”

He released a ragged breath. “I feared as much.”

Chapter Five

“Hold on a minute.” Maya’s eyes lit up and she retreated into her bedroom.

“What are you doing?” she heard him call as she closed the door and shut herself inside. She went to her dresser and opened her jewelry box. Her hands fished around until she pulled out a shinning, gray pendant two inches in diameter suspended from a chain and in the shape of a sphere. She ran her fingers over the inscription then clutched the pendant tight.

T’Kon stopped pacing and glanced up when she returned to the room. She stretched out a palm. “It’s pure,” she said admiring it. “Pure titanium.”

He looked from her hand to her face and back again.

“Take it.” Her eyes misted.

He lifted the object and examined it.

“It is the element I need,” he said finally. “And the weight and size is just right.”

She looked away.

“What is this I feel from you? The object—it means something to you?” He reached out and grasped her shoulders turning her to face him. “What? Tell me?”

“It’s nothing.” She left his side and moved toward the window, placing her arms around her body. “Really, I’m fine. It was a gift from my father before he died.”

T’Kon studied the sphere closely. “There are glyphs on its surface.”

“Yes,” she sighed. “The words say, ‘
To my daughter. The stars await us
.’ He would have wanted you to have it, of course.”

“This father, he liked space travel?”

“He would have loved it if it had been possible. He loved space travelers. Extra Terrestrial was not just a fantasy in his eyes.” She turned back to T’Kon and spoke quietly. “It would have excited him to no end to know you truly exist and are actually here.” She shrugged and a faraway smile crept in. “The pendant is yours. Please take it in the name of Colin Belle, my father.” She took the pendant from his hand and placed it around his neck.

Maya tingled as he scrutinized her, observing every inch of her body with his incredible ice blue eyes.

“I am honored.” He spoke low and then bowed his head before her in respect.

“We have to go,” he said.

“Yes,” she replied.

They drove over the saffron sanded dunes toward the crash site. She glanced at the seat next to her. “That’s amazing, you know, the way you can make yourself invisible like that. We have reptilian creatures here that can camouflage but it’s nothing like you’re doing. You’re still there, aren’t you?”

“Yes, Maya, I am here,” he said in his sensual, gravelly tone. “It is an evolved process,” he added, “this ability to shield.”

“It’s fantastic, that’s what it is.” She glanced his way. “I can’t even tell you’re there.” Then she said, “If I touch you, will you feel solid to me?”

He didn’t answer and she decided to find out for herself. She reached across the console and felt his leg. It was cool and solid under her touch. She squeezed his thigh and heard his throat rattle.

“Maya, you should not do that.”

“Why not,” she laughed and slid her hand further around so that her fingers grazed his penis with a light touch.

“Because it is not right,” his voice hummed low.

“Don’t you like it?” She rubbed his cock with more friction and felt it swell.

“It is not that—it is just—please stop.” He covered her hand with his, halting her strokes. “Take me to my craft,” he hissed.

“We’re here.” She supposed he hadn’t realized she’d stopped the Jeep at the crash site a few seconds earlier.

T’Kon scanned the area, recognizing his cloaked ship. It stood half buried under sand beneath a dune-like configuration. Quickly, he headed toward his spacecraft; he was never happier to see it in his life.

He sensed her following him and glanced over his shoulder. “You should go now, Maya.”

“What? No goodbyes? No nice to meet you or thanks for the sex?” She sounded a bit teary. “What about that?”

 
He halted and turned toward her. “Forgive me. I should have been more considerate. Thank you, Maya for your help. And for—” he let out a rumbled breath. “Just thank you.”

He spun from her and resumed his pace.

“Wait just a damned minute.” She was so close he could feel her breath, sense her warmth. She reached out and ran a hand through the air, searching the length of him as if to make sure he was still there.

“Maya,” he blew her name on a sigh.

“Take me with you T’Kon,” she implored. “I have no ties here. I want to be with you.” She melded her body against his invisible one.

“You know nothing of me or my world.”

“Teach me, show me everything.”

He felt her heat burning inside him, yet the absurdity of her request burned brighter. “What you ask is not possible.”

“Will you please become visible so I can look at you?” she sounded exasperated. “We need to talk about this before you go flying off into the universe.”

He unshielded his body so she could see him. “I cannot take you.”

“Why not? You can’t say it was coincidence that you happened to crash land in my back yard.”

No, an unfortunate accident.
The truthful certainty traced across his mind. Yet his arms enclosed her and he lifted her up. Her legs straddled his waist, and he held her against him, a fit so right he could not deny it.
An uncomfortable feeling wrenched his soul. Pain. He felt the pain of emotional withdrawal. From her? It was ridiculous and unnatural, this incomprehensible feeling he had for the Terrain female, and he almost cried out with the anguish of it.

Her astounding tawny eyes filled with tears, and she touched the titanium pendant around his neck. The thought of her selfless act weakened his resolve. “I wish it were not so, but it is.” He whispered in her ear, breathing in her pungent scent. “You would not survive on my world. The environment is too harsh, the inhabitants too disapproving.” He dropped his head to taste her lips before she had a chance to counter his words. “Just one last kiss.” Her mouth opened to allow his tongue entry and he explored the soft moistness, losing himself in her tang.