Isnt that a bit extreme?
A male does what he can to attain notice. And even better if it involves violence.
Grandma would have loved you, was her odd muttered reply.
He chose to ignore it. He had more pressing needs. Given time is of essence, lest his compet.i.tion appear and attempt to steal the XiiX from under him, I will send my surface pod to my ship to fetch the tracking device.
Arent you just like a man to forget to pack the crucial things? she muttered.
And wasnt she just like a woman to know how to say just the right thing to take a male down a peg?
He frowned, sternly, an expression that had sent more than one lesser being scurrying to do his bidding, eager to please him. By all the moons circling the ocean world in the seventy-first quadrant, that very look had seen him gifted with riches, fathers offering up their daughters, some beings even flung themselves from parapets, overcome by fear.
The human barbarian, though?
She ignored him and moved through an archway into another room.
Being a magnanimous male, he allowed it. It wasnt her fault her feeble barbarian mind couldnt handle his greatness and sought relief by removing herself from his presence in an effort to compose herself.
Tapping into the control unit at his wrist, he programmed his capsule to return to his ship currently in orbit around the Earths moon. It was positioned out of sight, hovering under a cloak of invisibility on the dark side of the satellite where human detection units were blind.
Since it would take a while for his pod to fetch the detection unit and return, he went looking for the feisty human who seemed to think she was in charge of the situation.
Time to disabuse her of that notion. And maybe get started on more pleasurable things while he waited.
Chapter Three.
If a man is too good looking to be true, then hes probably a ma.s.s murderer. So keep him away from the kitchen knives. " Grandmas philosophy on handsome men.
Jilly left the kitchen for more than one reason. The first to give herself some distance from the purple invader. Secondly, because she really needed some distance from the alien male in her house.
Okay, so the reasons were the same. Who could blame her?
Just look at him.
Distracting. s.e.xy. Obviously dangerous. Possibly deranged.
This Vile individual definitely didnt conform to any preconceived notion shed ever held about what life out there might entail.
For one thing, he was much more human than she liked. Oh, sure he sported purple skin, black lips, and freaky pointed teeth, but the rest of him?
Good grief, the rest of him was straight out of some male stripper fantasy. The snug coveralls he wore did little to hide his excellent musculature. Broad shoulders, tapered waist, corded thighs, bulging arms he was the epitome of male fitness with a face to die for, if you were into purple alien dudes who seemed to think women were useless creatures in need of a man to protect them.
Grandma would have shot him for that foolishness alone.
Thing was, Jilly didnt want to shoot him. On the contrary, shed obviously gone too long between boyfriends because, silly her, she wanted to run her hands over the broad planes of his chest and invite him to show her his supposedly impressive package.
Crazy. As crazy as him showing up at her farm looking for some so-called priceless artifact.
What could it be?
Jilly knew every item in this house. Shed grown up here after her ditz of a mother dumped her more than twenty-seven years ago.
Raising a kid wasnt on her mothers to-do list. It clashed with the drugs and partying that came from being a music groupie. Thankfully, Jilly had her grandma to take up the slack.
Jilly never wanted for anything growing up. Grandma and Grandpa gave her everything she ever needed"a home, an education, clothing, affection, a sense of pride in herself, a quirky philosophy on life, and an ability to face any situation.
Even alien ones.
Grandma had also willed the farm, the house, and all its contents to her only granddaughter stating that her other cousins, all boys, could suck it up and get a job.
So when Grandma succ.u.mbed to that pesky cold at the age of eighty-three, Jilly inherited it all. Apparently more than she knew.
What on Earth could this XiiX thing be?
Was it a rock? Some kind of statue? Jewelry? She didnt have much of that.
As she wandered from the kitchen back to the living room"which Vile had vacated"she stared out the window at the still softly falling snow. She noted the s.p.a.ce coffin no longer sat in front of her porch. Had Vile left with it?
A shiver down her spine warned her someone entered the room, an electric tingle of her senses, which let her know her purple guest had stuck around.
And he wasnt one to respect personal boundaries.
He pressed in against her back, a large, menacing, yet arousing presence, that made her heart flutter and her nipples tighten.
Do you mind? she said a tad breathlessly.
Mind what?
She couldnt help but tense as her entire body woke, aware of Vile in a way shed never before experienced. Youre standing too close.
And?
And its rude. But, most of all, arousing.
Manners are for the weak, he stated, inching closer.
She fought not to gasp as his body brushed against hers. Says who?
Says the handbook on mercenary rules that all my kind follow.
His race had a book on behaving badly? On Earth, its considered disrespectful to ignore someones personal s.p.a.ce.
Excellent.
Excuse me?
I would hate to think I was tarnishing my reputation.
You want to be known as a disrespecting jerk?
I prefer the t.i.tle rule breaker.
Well, break the rules somewhere else. Youre making me uncomfortable. And hot. Much too hot.
Uncomfortable or aroused? I think you protest because you enjoy my presence too much. So, no. I wont move away.
Because you like annoying me?
No, because Im enjoying the feel of you against me.
His surprising claim froze her tongue.
What? No reply? He chuckled and leaned in even closer, nudging her hair, sending shivers spiking down her spine.
This had gone on long enough. If he wouldnt move, then she would.
Or not. He slid an arm around her waist, anchoring her against him. He pushed aside the hair covering her ears, and his lips whispered against the lobe, increasing her awareness of him. I am beginning to think there is more than one treasure in this house.
Her breath caught at the unexpected compliment. Im not an object.
Perhaps not, but you are definitely something of worth. I am always looking to add to my collection.
You cant just take me.
He laughed, the husky rumble somehow arousing, arousing enough that her s.e.x moistened. Unbidden, her eyes closed, and she relaxed against him, mesmerized and curious about where this was going despite herself.
While a part of her"that sounded remarkably like Grandma"shouted at her to get away, another part basked in the male attention.
What woman didnt want to feel desirable?
What woman could truly say she didnt enjoy having such a virile male, one who admitted he came from a wider galaxy, think her attractive?
Dont challenge me, female. I have a reputation for taking what I want, and right now, I want He trailed off, and she held her breath as she waited for his next words. To know who the frukx is in those vehicles arriving.
Her eyes shot open, and she peered outside to see that indeed two large trucks, Suburbans to be exact, black in color with tinted windows, had pulled into her driveway.
Who did you contact? Why are they here? His grip went from sensual to tight and unrelenting as he hammered her with suspicious questions.
I didnt call anyone. But if I had to guess, those are the feds. Not surprising really. I mean you werent exactly subtle about your arrival.
They are your planet guardians?
She shrugged. More or less.
I do not wish to deal with them. The less who know of my presence, the better.
Then you might want to hide because I have a feeling theyre going to want to come in.
Get rid of them.
I intend to try. Trust me, Im not any keener than you are about dealing with the government. Besides, even if you are a chauvinist with an ego the size of Kansas, you deserve better than getting buried in some government lab for experimentation and dissection.
And it is for reasons such as these your planet is still considered so barbarian, he muttered. Even though there is little honor in it, or fun, I will conceal myself, but do not think to betray me. It wont go well if you do.
With that ominous warning, Vile left her side, and Jilly took a deep breath before going to answer the pounding at her door.
For a moment, she debated fetching her gun, but vetoed it. Last thing she needed was to appear menacing. Best she find out what they wanted"probably a certain alien hiding out in her house"convince them she knew nothing, and send them on their way.
She opened the door and was faced with a trio of men in black suits, but, unlike a certain movie, they didnt wear sungla.s.ses. Good thing, else, given the time of night, she might have been tempted to sing a certain Corey Hart song.
Gentlemen, can I help you? Are you lost?
The craggy fellow in the middle, his hair cut short and graying at the temples, perused her as he said, Maam, Im Agent Farley, and Im here on behalf of the Department of Defense. Weve come to check on a report of an unidentified object landing in this vicinity.
She widened her eyes. Really? What was it? A meteor? Plane? Weather balloon?
Agent Farley frowned. No. Unidentified as in UFO, maam.
Aliens? She added a giggle to her faked incredulous reply. You cant be serious. Is this some kind of a joke?
No joke, maam. Our equipment tracked an object to this location. Did you hear or see anything out of the ordinary?
She shook her head. Nope. Ive been here all night, baking cookies. I havent seen or heard a thing.
Do you mind if we come in and look around?
Do you have a warrant?
We dont need one when it comes to the nations defense.
And how do I know you are who you say you are? I mean, anyone can put on a suit and claim they work for the government. She held the door only partially ajar as she refused them entry.
As if expecting this, badges were flashed at her, which again didnt prove anything. Jilly wouldnt know a real one from a fake one.
Do you have a phone number I could call? You know, so I can check on you.
Maam, we are going to request you move away from the door.
Or?