“And here I thought I’d had too much to drink. Earthling alcoholic drinks are yummy and potent.”
He nodded. “That’s what I thought, too. I truly believed you were an earthling until this morning when I saw your picture.”
“Really?” Her expression brightened and then just as quickly disappeared. “Or are you just saying that to be nice?”
Cam laughed. “Ask anyone, especially my siblings, and they’ll tell you I’m rarely nice.”
She moved closer. “Well, you’re nice to me.” She brushed her fingertips along his cheek and jaw.
“I like you.”
“I like you, too.” Her fingers glided down his neck to his shoulder, and she moved her soft, luscious body even closer.Danger.
She kissed his shoulder. She trailed a few more kisses along his skin and soon reached the base of his neck. She moved to straddle him, resting on her knees, and looked down into his eyes with a fierce expression.
“I don’t want to go back. Not yet, anyway. Besides, I have a couple of days before anyone gets riled up about my absence, if they even notice I’m gone. Besides my mother, that is.”
Oh, trust me. They noticed.
Ria put a light kiss on his lips. The feel of it reverberated all the way to his lonely soul. He didn’t want her to go, either. But she had to get back on the cruise liner. It had to depart Earth soon.
Through the sensual haze her kisses produced without fail, he remembered the flight had been rescheduled to leave earlier than anticipated. Apparently she’d made her getaway before learning about the new curfew for the passengers. Typically, before sunup was the best time for ships to depart, but that wasn’t an option due to the moved-up schedule. How much time did he have left to spend with her?Whatever it is, it won’t be enough.
From his living room came an unexpected sound.Bong. Bong. Bong.It was his grandfather clock. He’d ordered it online all the way from Germany after saving up for months to get it delivered. The shipping charges alone had required nearly an Archetech’s ransom.
Bong. Bong. Bong.The grandfather clock kept chiming. Cam had set it to peal only at noon and midnight. For the first time since waking, he noticed the bright beams of sunlight streaming into his bedroom from the thin space on either side not shielded by his curtains. That usually didn’t happen until…
“Wait a minute. What time is it?” he asked the air around him.Bong. Bong. Bong.
Ria, still straddling his lap, pointed to the digital alarm clock on his nightstand and raised her voice to be heard over the grandfather clock’s resonant chimes. “Twelve o’clock, right?”
“Noon?” The cruise liner was scheduled to leave at nine.
Ria wasn’t on the ship. Had Axel said it already left? Cam couldn’t understand all the tidbits of information jostling for attention in his head. The ship hadn’t waited for her? How was that even possible?
Bong. Bong. Bong.
His grandfather clock finally struck the last chime. The eerie silence that followed echoed through his house.
Cam was awash in confusion. How could the ship not have waited for her to return?
Ria, sounding very concerned, asked, “What’s wrong? You look disturbed.”
“TheRoyal Caldera Fortedeparted Earth three hours ago.”
Chapter Four
Ria laughed. “No, it didn’t. It couldn’t have. It’s not scheduled to leave till after the weekend. Besides, they wouldn’t leave without me. Would they?” Equal parts joy and despair vied for attention in her brain. “My mother would never leave me here all by myself. Trust me on this.” Her forearms rested on his shoulders. She leaned in, relishing the close proximity of this perfect man. An Alpha, in fact. Perfect.
“Because she’d worry about you?”
Cam was so sweet to think that. “No, because she’s got an agenda.”
“An agenda?”
“I’m supposed to marry this dirt bag… I mean, a Technician’s son. This trip was sort of a chance to get the families together prior to the public declaration of the pre-arranged marriage announcement.
