Touched by an Alien (54 page)

He sighed. “Confirming attendance for both Martini and Katt, oh-nine-hundred tomorrow. Good night, Gladys.”

“Good night Commanders. Those of us who are light sleepers thank you both profusely for moving to the fifteenth floor.” Gladys signed off.

“God, I need a vacation.”

“I know how to fix that.” Martini got out of bed, pulled out a dresser drawer and put on the standard issue nightclothes. He tossed me a pair as well. My size. His fit perfectly, too.

“How do these get into the rooms, no matter where you go?” I asked him as I put on the nighttime fatigues. “And the Cokes, how do they show up, frosty cold and just when you want them and in the variety you want?”

“Tell you later. Have to keep some secrets from you. I’ve heard that a little mystery is the key to keeping a relationship fresh.” He took my hand, led me to the couch, and turned on the TV.

“They actually show reruns of ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous’? And you watch them?”

He shrugged as he pulled me onto his lap. “I like them, and the other shows, too. They’re nothing like my life’s ever been.”

I thought about it. “Mine either.”

“You’d be a better judge of that than me.”

“Roll over and take your bikini top off. I’ll let you know.”

I rolled. We were in a private cabaña, after all. I lowered my top slowly.

Martini gave me a lazy grin. “I think I’d better protect those. I don’t want them injured, and I don’t think we have enough sunscreen to cover them.”

“Flatterer. I have other areas that need protecting, too.” He bent and kissed me deeply. “I’m on it, baby.” He rolled on top of me.

“I love Cabo.”

“Not me?”

I laughed. “I adore you. And you know it.”

“Yeah. Glad you finally came around.” He kissed me, for a long time. “Hawaii next?”

I thought about it. Well, I thought about it after we made love for the next several hours. “Nah.”

“Nah?”

“I don’t want to go to Hawaii just yet.”

“Where, then? I’ll take you wherever you want to go. As long as you’re there, I’m good with it.”

“Even if it’s around the world?”

He grinned his killer grin. “Especially if it’s around the world.”

I reached up and ran my fingers through his hair and along the line of his jaw. “I want to go back to the Science Center. Fifteenth floor.”

He raised his eyebrow. “Oh? Why?”

“ ‘Fantasy Island’ and ‘Love Boat’ marathons start next week.”

“You really are the perfect woman, on this or any other world.”

“That’s why you love me.”

Martini smiled, and I saw my future. It was the future of a superbeing exterminator from Pueblo Caliente in love with an empath from Alpha Centauri who had two hearts, hyperspeed, and a killer smile. Maybe life got better than this, but I was in no hurry to find out. The journey itself was the reward, after all. Especially if you didn’t have to take that journey alone.

“You want to swim before we go in for dinner?”

“And wash off all this sunscreen? Sure. Race you to the water.”

Martini pulled me to my feet and kept hold of my hand. “No. Like everything else, I’d rather go there with you.” We ran off into the sunset. It was perfect.