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
Lex saw Maya had reached the end of her endurance, but he, on the other hand, had hope for both of them. The balloon actually worked similarly to the ones he'd used before on a planet that used ballooning as their main source of transportation. He took over the burner, keeping the flame burning high and hot to compensate for the leaking of the hot gases through the tears. They left the sound and lights of the soldiers and festival behind, the shining light of the full moon their only beacon. The wind blew gently and, luckily, in the direction they needed to go. Maya slipped her arms around him and pressed her face into his back. He wanted to tell her everything would be all right, but they hadn't quite made it out of danger yet, even if, according to his compass, they should be floating over the gypsum fields. A good thing, for the balloon was definitely losing altitude. Now, if only he could find his ship before the military for this planet did. "Brace yourself," he warne
Maya stood frozen, afraid if she moved or spoke the dream might shatter. Lex wanted her. Not just that, he was taking her into space. She wished she could say she felt bad that he'd failed his people, but a selfish part of her was cheering madly. He'd chosen her! And now he was getting naked. ÁDios m'o! "Take off your clothes, Maya," he said, his blue, muscled body approaching, led by his erect cock. "But . . ." "Get naked for me." His eyes glowed with desire, and Maya shivered. With shaking hands, she tried to undress. Lex let out an impatient sound and, using his strong hands, ripped her dress in half and, in seconds, had her panties gone. Naked before him, coiling heat coursing through her, she licked her lips in anticipation. He groaned. "Hold that thought. First, we need to do something." "What?" she asked. They were both naked. What could they possibly need to do first? "Maya, will you bond with me?" "I-I will." Screw his mi