7th Kind 1: Christmas in Dreamland (2 page)

Charlie stared at Henry’s form in his black T-shirts and jeans. The men were required to look like civilians in case they had to head off outsiders trying to get in. Nothing on their clothing showed rank or military alliance, with the possible exception of their black combat boots. While some might find the casual feel and serious nature of the job conflicted, Henry loved the variety of work here. War was hell, but intelligence and protecting people was a thrill.

“She has no clue about us?” Ike asked.

Henry and Charlie exchanged concerned looks.

“No, well, I don’t think so. I avoided the dust she was working with and kept the conversation more about the dating thing and the holiday stuff than about her experiment. But she’s smart. We can’t keep it from her if we get involved.” Charlie shrugged.

Henry nodded. “She worked with that group of crashed aliens last year. Meg protected them and fought for their rights to have some private space and help. Yes, okay some of the aliens are programmed to be killers but all are trained warriors. They are dangerous. But if they want sanctuary, we have to be open and she is. If the Keelons come after us, I want the weapon she’s making. We have to trust her though, or it’ll screw up everything.”

“We don’t even know if she’s interested in us. A group thing isn’t very human,” Ike said. He’d been the one holding things back.

“She was flirting with me a little today. I think she wants a sex life. So we’re not traditional? More reason to come clean and tell her. We all love and want her, and I think she’s the type who can deal with it. The alien culture isn’t a shock to her.” Henry let his frustration slip out in his tone.

Ike paced. “Meg’s aware of the cultural issues, and we can explain how we came to be here, but that doesn’t mean she’ll love all of us and want to be in this mess. We have no right to complicate her life.”

“You want her. This is our chance to find out if she wants us. There are less people here now. Less distractions. It’s perfect.” Charlie shook his head. “I’ve seen you take a million crazy risks. What’s one more?”

Ike nodded. “You’re right. This is our chance. We can make our move on her and see if she’s interested in us. We’ll keep it sexual and about the relationship until we know we can trust her with our secret.”

“Not tell her about us?” Henry normally didn’t make waves or argue with his unit, but he wanted this to work.

“Not until we know she’s into us.” Ike seemed so certain.

Charlie sighed. “Fine. But she might guess because of our sexual grouping and my avoiding the dust. We can’t keep it from her long, or she’ll dump us on principle. If she can’t trust us to tell the truth, I wouldn’t blame her.”

“I trust her, but I don’t want to scare her off, either. No one knows more than Meg that not all aliens can be trusted. One of those refugees went rogue and tried to kill everyone. The Keelons from the home world could be out to take humans or reclaim all their citizens who left. There’s no way to know if a few are hiding on earth and passing for humans. Hell, maybe some of the crash victims are working for the Keelons back home. We need to be sure how she feels before we put her in that position. And then we tell her our story.”

“Fine. So how do we want to approach her?” Henry asked.

Charlie grinned. “I’ve got an idea. Less talk, more action. It’s what we’re good at. Plus, no one will get nervous and let the truth slip. At least, not until we’ve had plenty of fun. I love you guys, but we really need that woman in our group.”

Ike paced.

“What? What is it?” Henry pressed.

“We don’t know what’s going on right now. The abductions. Her weapon. The closer she is to us, the more danger she’s in. We won’t let anyone hurt her or take her from us,” Ike said.

“Of course, we’re not going to let anything happen to her. The closer we are, the more we can protect her. We’re assimilated to earth. I’m never leaving this planet so let them come,” Charlie said.

“Absolutely.” Henry patted Charlie’s shoulder. “We’re in this together. The sooner she’s ours, the sooner she knows the truth and we can keep her safe with us—she made the weapon so she’s the biggest threat to the Keelons. Plus, she’ll watch out for us where she can. That big sexy brain of hers can solve this, neutralize the threat. I believe in her. It’s not just love or friendship. She’s special. We don’t deserve her, but I think if we work together to keep her happy in bed, she’ll think we’re worth bucking tradition.”

Ike cleared his throat. “If there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s working together. In the field or in bed. We’ll make her happy, but don’t get your hearts set on it. The future is too unpredictable right now. I’d rather have her safe without us.”

“So noble.” Henry smiled.

“So sexist. She’ll get on your ass for that, Ike. She’s not military, and she’s proud of it. That woman isn’t weak or needy. She’s feisty.” Charlie leaned back in his chair. “I say we make our move tonight.”

“I’m in.” Henry rolled his chair closer and kissed Charlie’s neck. “What’s the plan?”

Chapter Two

Getting ready for bed, Meg washed her face and patted it dry with a towel. She rubbed on some moisturizer and put her glasses back on. Life in Dreamland was orderly, and mostly, she fit in, something she’d never felt before. Of course, it didn’t help her social life. Most of the men here treated her like a sister. All those men and, still, she was single. Her frustration over work and being alone on the holidays made her mad at herself.

Unlike her mother and her sister, she didn’t define success or worth as having a husband and kids. That didn’t mean she didn’t want them. Things never seemed as easy for Meg as they did for others. It couldn’t be one dream man, and she just had to work up the courage to ask him out. Just her luck, Charlie and his pals were all in Dreamland for the holidays. She loved each of them in their own way, and all of them were sexy. They were all friendly to her and flirted a bit, but none had asked her out or made any moves. There was an odd vibe she couldn’t shake. They wanted something, and she wanted them—not that she’d made any advances either. Which one would she pick?

That was a problem even her big IQ couldn’t solve. She wanted them all, like her friend, Liz, and the alien men Liz had fallen for last year. It was a big controversy here, but Meg saw the love and how it worked for them.

Climbing into bed, she found ET curled up at her toes like a hot water bottle. Love wasn’t logical or testable, but she wanted it. Meg had the same needs the pretty girls with more natural assets did, but no one chased or drooled over her. All the thoughts of lust and the men she wanted left Meg aroused. She contemplated her toy collection, but right now, nothing would work but the real thing.

As she dozed and thought of the trio of hot men, Ike, Henry and Charlie, Meg wondered if they had girlfriends on the outside. Charles claimed they didn’t, and she trusted him. But why? Tall, handsome and muscled like military men should be, those three had to have women falling all over them. Meg couldn’t come to any other conclusion.

She could picture the men standing together. They had a bond that sizzled. They looked out for each other, loved being together. Charlie and Henry took crap because people thought they were gay, but Meg knew that wasn’t entirely true. Charlie had been flirting with her a little today. Henry certainly had before. The idea of them together made her body tingle all over.

Rolling over and burying her face in the pillow, Meg sighed. Maybe that was just her wishful thinking and fanciful imagination. She wasn’t prone to fantasy except when using her toys, but daydreaming about those three was a bad habit she’d developed.

A knock on the door startled her. Sitting up, Meg watched the door open before she could get to it. Only security and she had keys to her private room.

“What the hell?” she asked.

Charlie, Henry and Ike pushed into her room as ET got spooked and ran out. Ike closed and locked the door.

“Security check. Don’t worry.” Charlie winked at her.

“Security? All my stuff is locked up in the lab. It’s only personal items here.” She’d gotten through tons of screenings, tests and security levels in her time here, but no one had ever raided her bedroom.

“Contraband check. We don’t want any slipups during the holiday time.” Ike’s stern expression didn’t match the twinkle in his eye.

“Okay.” Meg went to grab her robe.

Henry stepped in front of her. “Don’t worry. It won’t take long.”

She was in a long T-shirt and felt every bit the geek until Charlie stepped up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. The heat of him made her aware of how four people could fill up her room. She wanted them to stay but, immediately, pushed the idea away. Now was
not
fantasy time!

Ike rummaged through drawers then went for the boxes under her bed. When he grabbed for the one with her toy collection, Meg felt her face burn. There was no stopping him. Searches were permitted to protect national security.

“Look what we have here.” Ike shook the box, and something started to vibrate.

“Put those back. They aren’t against any rules.” Meg folded her arms over her chest and glared at the floor.

“No, they aren’t, but we’ve got a better idea.” Henry toyed with hem of her shirt.

She laughed as she analyzed the odds. Hot men didn’t go for the nerdy girl. “This is a joke, right? Charlie asked today if I was seeing someone and all that. So you’re making fun of me?”

“What? No. We’d never do that.” Charlie kissed the back of her neck.

After tensing for a second, Meg let his warm lips soothe her, and she leaned back on him.

“Not a joke?” She looked Henry in the eyes then shot a glance at Ike.

“No way. We’re all very into you.” Henry caught her mouth in a quick kiss.

Her insides trembled with desire, but her brain didn’t buy it yet. Kissing him back in a test, she slid her hands to his arms. Henry was so nice and easy-going. She didn’t believe he’d hurt her with a cruel prank. Charlie was an even closer friend. But they all were good soldiers, too.

Her brain flipped to the only option. They were looking for fun while stuck here on holiday. The solution worked for her, as well. That alien encounter last year had left the group sex thing out there in everyone’s mind. Her friend Liz had fallen for a quad of crashed aliens that were housed in Meg’s lab. Group love was real, and Liz certainly enjoyed it.

“Why would this be a joke?” Ike put the toy box back and moved closer to the group.

Meg looked at him. So tall and powerful. He was the most stoic of the three, and she wanted him. He stared her down, not kissing her like the others.

“I’m a geek. I‘ve always been tall, on the lanky side and not as filled out as most other girls. I was teased plenty in school. I’m not some frigid bitch, but if you get asked out as a joke enough, you start to expect bad things from men.” She had a bad habit of honesty when put on the spot.

“We’re not those men. They’re jerks. We appreciate brains and beauty.” Charlie wrapped his arms around her waist.

“All of you?” She looked over her shoulder at Charlie then back to Henry. “It’s a group thing?”

Henry grinned. “When you work deep recon missions together, there aren’t a lot of options. We’ve worked together a long time.”

“If it’s too much or not your thing, we understand, but you look pretty comfortable pressed between two guys.” Ike stepped closer and brushed his mouth to hers.

She wanted more, but two hard bodies had her pinned now. “I’m a scientist. Animals don’t generally mate for life—one lover at a time, maybe—but snakes mate in balls, all the males fighting to fertilize more eggs. Biology isn’t limited to societal convention. But all of you are attractive enough to have your own girlfriends.”

“You want to analyze it?” Ike chuckled.

Grinning, Meg shook her head. “No, I understand. You all share each other. Call it bisexual by nature or learned behavior from no women, but you like men and women. This keeps your little group together. Or maybe it’s alien inspired?” It made sense if they intended it to be long term. Or if, like in this case, it was a temporary need until they had time away.

“So you’re into it?” Charlie slid his hands under her shirt and teased her pussy through the panties.

“Yes.” She pressed forward and kissed Henry. “As long as we’re safe and I get to see a little bit of it, too.”

“See?” Ike asked.

Meg pulled away from Henry and put her hand on Charlie’s neck to urge him forward. She ducked toward Ike as the two other men shared a kiss. The sight of them and Charlie’s fingers still teasing her made her pussy wet. No toy would satisfy her now.

“You like it?” Ike asked.

She nodded and turned to him. This felt like a fantasy, but when she kissed Ike, she knew it was real. Meg was ready to explore all of it. Before the kiss went deeper, she backed off. Ike was the one who led their trio and ranked a level higher. But in bed, they’d all be equals—still they turned her on in slightly different ways.

Charlie and Henry broke their kiss and tugged her shirt over her head.