It was like a horrifying roller coaster ride, except she wasn’t strapped in and the only tether she had was the alien male she’d wrapped herself around.
It seemed like they fell forever, but in reality, it was maybe ten seconds.When she heard Vikan shift, his arm striking out to power the engines back on and level off their descent and slow their speed, pure relief rushed through her limbs, making her tremble.
Taylor hardly dared to look until the hovercraft thudded onto what sounded like gravel, the impact hard enough that Vikan pressed her into the panel, tightening his hold around her, so she wouldn’t get thrown around too much.She heard the tiny clattering of rocks spraying in every direction as they skidded and then finally came to a halt.
After a brief moment of blessed silence, the engines gave out.And when Taylor peeked around Vikan’s chest, she saw that they were on the ground.Safe.
Vikan moved first, since her limbs seemed to be frozen.
He pulled her back so he could look at her face and she was shocked to see how…intense he looked.
“Luxiva,” he rasped, running his palm down her back, over her arms, checking her over in an exaggerated way, like he was trying to assure himself that she was unharmed.“Forgive me.Forgive me.I did not check the fuel before…vrax!It is not like me.Nothing is like me, since you.”
Taylor’s lips parted, his last words equally frightening her and making her flush with…something she didn’t want to identify.Because she had the sense that she knew exactly what he was talking about.She hardly felt like herself anymore either.All because of those damn dreams and those damn gray eyes she couldn’t stop thinking about.
It had been a little over two weeks since she’d first seen him.And everything was different.
Taylor swallowed, her heart finally beginning to slow its furious pumping.To distract herself from his gaze, his words, she looked past him, saw that they were in a dark clearing.She could only make out what looked like slim but towering grass-like plants that rustled in the wind.And in the distance, she swore she heard a muted hissing sound, like soft waves crashing on a beach.
“What now?” she asked quietly, realization crashing down on her.“Do you have spare fuel?”
Vikan stilled.“You are not angry with me?”
Taylor forced herself to meet his gaze and she said softly, “I’m mad that you took me away during the night without an explanation.And yes, I’m mad that we crashed here.But it’s not like you purposefully didn’t fuel that hovercraft.”She peered at him, a sudden though occurring.“Right?”
“I would never endanger you like that,” he growled, raking a hand through his long, silky black hair, obviously frustrated with himself, shaken from their emergency landing.
Taylor blew out the small breath she’d been holding.“Then we can only move forward.Being mad doesn’t change anything about our situation.Now, do you have spare fuel?”
Vikan looked at her.He still had that same dark, broody expression that didn’t give much away, but Taylor got the sense that he was…surprised.
“I do not,” he murmured and Taylor felt her shoulders sag.“I can make fuel with a root that grows in this region, but it will take a quarter lunar cycle.”
She figured that meant one week.That was one option, although not ideal.“Can you call for help?”
“Not without fuel,” he murmured, glancing around their surroundings for the first time.Taylor became aware that she was still in his arms, that she still hadherarms around him, her fingers digging into his back as if afraid to let go.Startled, she let them drop away and blood rushed to her fingertips.
With obvious reluctance, he released her and stepped back.After a brief growl, he looked away and said in a strange, almost cold, tone, “My outpost is not far from here.Perhaps three spans to walk for you.”
Spans?
“Days, you mean?”
He jerked his head in what she assumed was a nod.
Three days.That didn’t sound too bad.
Except…she had no shoes.She glanced down at her bare feet in trepidation, remembering the sound of crunchy gravel as they landed.Her feet would be torn up.
“I will carry you,” he said, also glancing down at her feet.
“That’s…that’s not practical,” she protested, but in reality she didn’t want him to carry her because she feared how her body would react being pressed so closely to his for days on end.She remembered how easily he’d tempted her before the fuel warning had gone off.She’d forgotten herself.
And because of that, he was dangerous.He couldmakeher forget herself.
No.She would walk, even if her feet would be ravaged.Because the sooner they reached this outpost, the sooner Taylor could go back to the others…and then she’d be able to go home.To Earth.
“Which way?” she asked, pushing back her shoulders, suddenly determined.
