Ria had no trouble falling back to sleep after Cam left to “take care of something” at work after a call disturbed them. He said he’d be right back in a tone that suggested they might not be sleeping when he returned. She needed a couple more hours to recover from all the lost sleep from the night before, even though the lack had been totally worth it.
She thought she managed to mumble something about waiting here. She must have, because he whispered, “Good, because I’m not nearly finished with you yet.” She’d tried to smile, but dropped off. Last night with Cam had been beyond her wildest expectations.
She didn’t know how long he’d been gone when the doorbell started ringing. She sincerely wanted to ignore it, but the person outside seemed rather insistent. After what seemed like an endless stream of blaring noise, Ria shrugged on Cam’s shirt from the night before and shuffled to the entrance. She briefly fumbled with the unfamiliar locking mechanism, then opened the door halfway. The light of day almost blinded her, forcing her eyes mostly closed before she blinked hard in an effort to block some of the extreme sunlight.
Ria guessed the elderly woman on the stoop to be Cam’s neighbor when she started with, “Finally, you answer your door, Cam. I need to know if you have—” The woman stopped speaking, eyed Ria wearing Cam’s shirt and apparently nothing else, her gaze traveling from the top of her messy, slept-on head of hair down to bare, painted toes. She grinned and said, “Oh. Well, then. Never mind,” and abruptly turned and walked away. Ria stood at the open door all alone with no idea what the older woman needed from Cam. Whatever.
Not that Ria could have supplied anything like a cup of sugar—wasn’t that what all earthling neighbors asked for when they came over?—or even a coherent spoken word, as it turned out.
I should have just stayed in bed.
Ria, eyes closed for the short journey, made her way by feel alone back to the bedroom and Cam’s comfy bed, and slipped under the covers ready to conk out again. She luxuriated in the soft texture of sheets surrounding her and the remarkable scent Cam had left on his pillow. She buried her face in his pillowcase, breathing deeply before drifting into oblivion.
Some time later, she had no idea how long and didn’t care, Cam returned.
She woke when he called out, “Ria!”Ooh, that yummy voice makes my toes curl.
Ria was barely awake, but the heated memories of their decadent night swirled in her mind. She never wanted to leave. She could be perfectly happy right in this bed from now on. She wouldn’t have to hide the blue streaks she’d put in her hair before sneaking off theRoyal Caldera Forte. She could dress how she wanted and do what she wanted and live how she wanted. This was fun. This was freedom. This was where Ria wanted to stay forever. Plus, she couldn’t move yet even if she wanted to, she was that sleepy and worn out from last night’s best fun ever.
He yelled her name a second time, but sounded closer to the bedroom. Ominously, he added, “We need to have a talk.”
Oh no. She didn’t want to talk. She wanted todosomething. She wanted to recreate last night’s breathtaking experience.
Unfortunately, Cam didn’t sound happy. Did he have to work? Was he about to kick her out because he had a marvelous Earth life he needed to get back to? He couldn’t have found out who she was and where she’d run from, could he? Surely not. Earthlings were kept in the dark about alien things on this planet. Whatever he wanted totalkabout, she knew she wasn’t ready to leave. If he had to work, she’d stay here until he was finished.
She focused her sleepy mind on being persuasive. She’d have to convince him to let her stay for the weekend, even though she wasn’t supposed to be this far from the way station. Come to think of it, she didn’t even know where she was or how far away the way station was. Her mind had been otherwise engaged last night, and she hadn’t paid attention.
Ria pretended to be asleep when Cam came in. She heard him move to her side of the bed. The mattress dipped as he plopped down next to her. Perfect.
“Ria. Wake up. We need to talk about something important.” He put a firm hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently, the tone of his voice softer now that he was so close. The only important thing she wanted to discuss was the itinerary for the coming few days they’d be together.
She slowly opened her eyes and stared deeply into his blue gaze for several seconds before whispering, “Good morning, Cam.” She kept staring, trying to get him to forget whatever he was about to say. His eyes—which seem wise beyond their years—softened.
A half-smile shaped his gorgeous mouth. “Good morning, Ria.” He inhaled and then exhaled, looking much less stressed than he’d sounded when he’d arrived. Maybe her persuasion was working.
She studied his dark blond hair for a moment, remembering how soft it was when she’d slipped her fingers through it. “Did you sleep well?” she asked, than added, “I hope so. I slept like the dead, in case you wondered, but I’m still exhausted.”
Cam relaxed a bit more, his shoulders easing down a notch. “I slept much the same, until I got interrupted. I’m worn-out, too, but I also have no regrets.”
Her tummy made an opportune noise in that next moment. Cam’s gaze went to where the noise came from. He put his hand there, rubbing her stomach through the shirt she wore.Hisshirt. He seemed to note this as he stroked her belly. One corner of his luscious mouth lifted in seeming approval. “This shirt looks better on you than it does on me.” She thought it looked good on both of them.
Ria wanted to keep him from declaring whatever “important” thing he wanted to discuss. “Didn’t you mention something about breakfast last night and how you were going to bring it to me in bed?” Ria asked, even though she would rather do something else entirely in bed.
His body seemed to relax further. Her persuasion was working. He didn’t seem as intense or ready to discuss whatever important thing he’d come in to say. “I seem to remember something like that, yes.”
His half-smile widened into a full-blown grin. Ria sat up and kissed him gently on the lips. He kissed her back, ardently. “Come back to bed, Cam,” she whispered. “Belly growling aside, I’m not really hungry for food. Not yet, anyway. Get undressed and snuggle with me for a little while, okay?”
He paused, as if torn. She saw the moment he capitulated in his eyes, before he said, “Okay. But just for a little while.” Her persuasion worked again. Excellent. She planned to sway him for the next three days, until she had to go back to the ship.
He stood and peeled off his T-shirt, revealing his rocking hot upper body.Whew. His hands lowered to his waistband and she licked her lips. A jarring buzzing sound stilled his fingers on the button just as he began to unfasten it. He sighed and pulled a communication device out of his pocket.
He looked at the screen and made an odd face.
“Who is it?”
Cam pushed out a long sigh. “My crazy aunt.”
“Shouldn’t you answer it?”
