Maya couldn't help the tears-stupid girly emotions. However, she just didn't understand. If he wanted her, then why couldn't he have her? "Aren't you allowed a say in who you choose to spend your life with?" He continued to stroke her hair and sighed. "I guess it might seem strange to a society that doesn't deal in arranged bondings. But there is a reason for the way we do things. Would you care for a history lesson so that you can better understand?" "Por favor," she said, needing a reason as to why that, even with the strong connection between them, he could not buck tradition. "The planet I come from is called Xaanda. It is larger than your planet, with two suns and three moons. We've been space-farers for quite some time now, and our explorations brought us in contact with a planet of beings who thought to conquer us. They released a deadly virus on our world, one that killed almost all of our females, and many of those that survived ended up barren. Our numbers d
At her words, Lex lost his ability to breathe. If Lex could have had his way, he'd have worshipped Maya's body for the rest of his life. And much as he feared it would hurt him to remember later, he couldn't deny her last request, not when he wanted it too. She looked like an absolute goddess standing there, naked, curvy, and, for the moment, his. He stripped out of his clothes, glad he'd washed himself in her food preparing area while she cleansed herself in the cubicle. He swept her into his arms, her soft nude form enflaming his lust as he carried her into her sleeping quarters. Laying her down on the bed, he covered her lush body with his. Scorching kisses led to roaming hands. He cupped and squeezed the fullness of her breasts, enjoying her pants of pleasure as he teased her nipples with his lips and teeth. "Suck them," she begged when he blew on them, teasing her. He did as she pleaded and sucked on her tender flesh as she writhed under him. Even as he feasted
They made love the rest of the night, not speaking of what had to be done. Instead, they joined their bodies, time and again, as if trying to make up for a lifetime of lovemaking they would never have. When the golden fingers of dawn crept through the cracks in the blind, they fell into an exhausted slumber. But when they woke sometime late in the afternoon, they needed to face reality. "How long do we have before your ship comes back to get you?" she asked as she cooked them some food. "Tonight, when the full moon rises, I need to be in the field of gypsum." Maya closed her eyes and swayed. So soon. But I wanted more time. Yet, one more day, or even two, would never be enough. She wanted what she couldn't have. She wanted him forever. And it didn't help that she knew he wanted it too. If only she were psychic like her great-aunt-may she rest in peace. She'd have called up someone's ancestors and made them change their choice. Which begged the question, w
Lex admitted, even if only to himself, that he wanted to fail. He didn't want to mate with this Amanda. In fact, he hoped he couldn't find her or that she protested enough that he could return empty-handed and claim, without lying, that he'd failed to complete his mating mission. Then he'd beg, if he had to, for the option of taking Maya as his mate instead. Tradition be damned. He'd fallen for the earthling emotion of love. What else explained this overpowering desire of his to claim her as his forever more? But he said nothing of this to Maya, lest he raise false hope, so he only half listened when she mused aloud different ploys for approaching Amanda Beckworth. "ÁDios m'o, I have it!" she exclaimed suddenly. "The balloon festival." "And how will balloons help?" asked Lex, curious at how her mind worked. "Everyone goes to the festival." "And if she doesn't?" He'd go home empty-handed-perfect. "Don't worry. She'll be there," said Maya vehemently.
Maya hated that she'd kind of lied to Lex. When she'd gone to the bedroom to dress, she'd done one other thing-a sneaky thing. She'd called Lieutenant Beckworth, a conversation that left her with an icy feeling of dread. She'd whispered as she dialed the hotel and asked the stranger who answered to pass her to the lieutenant. She'd almost hung up when Amanda came on the line with a brusque, "Who is this?" But telling herself she had to do this for Lex, she replied, "It's Maya Romero." "The maid." Lieutenant Beckworth's tone took on a softer tone. "You have something to tell me?" The fact that she'd remembered her had taken Maya aback. Swallowing her misgivings, she'd forged ahead. "I have information on the blue one." An exclamation of surprise sounded but was quickly muffled. Speaking with barely restrained excitement, Amanda said, "Really? Tell me more." "No, it's-it's not safe here." "Why don't you come to the hotel then?" "No, I don
When Maya abruptly left him, her eyes shiny with tears, Lex had almost gone after her. The same emotional ripping he suffered at their forced separation affected her just as strongly. But at least she'd given him the opening he needed. It was better this way. Now he could just slip away without the painful good-bye he'd feared and without making her promises he couldn't be sure of keeping. I will come back for you, Maya. I promise. Lex flowed through the crowd in the direction she'd pointed him in, which coincided with where he was heading anyways. As he came up to a brightly lit stand offering fluffy pastel-colored clouds on a stick, all the air left him in a whoosh as he came face-to-face with none other than his intended mate. Oh, Maya, what have you done? He knew this had to be her doing, her way of making sure he completed his mission, a mission that he knew, looking down on the petite blonde, he'd have never gone through with, even had he never met Maya. There
Amanda watched gleefully as the blue alien tried to run with his mind-controlled human slave. They wouldn't go far. The place was surrounded. Her father, the general, would be so proud. Disgusting alien creature. She still couldn't understand why her former best friend and now this simpleminded Latina fell for them. It had to be an alien virus or psychic power of some type. What else could explain their behavior? She certainly felt nothing except disgust for the ET. Impatient at having to wait, she wished the damned civilians would get out of the way faster. She couldn't give the order for her detachment to shoot the tranqs they were armed with 'til they had a clear shot. Too many witnesses and flashing cameras. But she wasn't worried. There was nowhere for them to go. Not unless he suddenly sprouted wings. And that was when the universe decided to work against her.
Panic fluttered in Maya's chest as she saw the trap closing around them, the ranks of soldiers forming an impenetrable wall. This is all my fault. I should have known that puta could not be trusted. She'd made a stupid decision, all in the name of doing what was right, and now she needed to fix it. Mami and Papi, if you are watching and listening, help me find a way to save him. She and Lex continued running toward the edge of the festival grounds, where she hoped the row of troops would be thinner, and that was when she saw it, the answer to her prayers. One huge inflated balloon with a basket was tethered and their ticket out of danger. The sign beside it said, "Take your sweetheart for a night flight and show her the stars like she's never seen before." Maya almost laughed, but instead, she dragged Lex toward the balloon. "The balloon," she panted. "Get into the basket, and cut the ropes." The crowd had gotten thinner here, and Maya could see the soldiers sto