In His Alien Hands (15 page)

Chapter 2

Over an hour later Josie and Bane were still walking. They kept to the far side of the jam-packed highway, cautious of panicked drivers. The spaceship became a small light in the sky behind them, dimming along with the bright city lights. No one stopped to offer them a ride.

“Everyone’s fleeing,” Josie said, eyeing the endless stream of cars with dismay. They weren’t the only people on foot trudging alongside the highway. Perhaps Bane had been right to get them away when he did.

Bane grunted. He’d barely said two words to her since the altercation in the alley. Looking up at him, she hardly recognized the man she’d known. It wasn’t just his shaved head, his entire demeanor had changed.

“Where are we going?”

“Away,” he replied.

“But where? You seem to have a plan.” At least she
hoped
he had a plan, and that it wasn’t just to get as far away as possible.

“We’ll stop soon.”

“When?”

“When we’ve gone far enough.”

Josie heard the agitation in his voice. Not wanting to anger him, she kept silent. But after another hour of walking and listening to Markley’s steady meowing, she grew braver. “Maybe we could rent a car? I brought my purse—”

Bane stopped and spun around to glare at her. Josie froze at the look on his face. “And what? Go to an all-night car rental shop? And while we’re at it how about we stop for dinner and drinks?”

She knew he was being sarcastic, but dinner and drinks did sound good. She’d put the marinating steaks in the fridge—God only knew when they’d return—and she hadn’t eaten since lunchtime. “I’m hungry and tired, and Markley’s upset.” It came out as a whine but too bad.

“Yeah, let’s stop fleeing for our lives ’cause the cat’s upset,” Bane mocked her.

“What’s your problem? Why are you being such an asshole all of a sudden?”

His furious expression made her take a step back. He reached out and grabbed her hand and began to walk again. After they passed a young couple with a baby, Bane shot her a glance. “You don’t seem to realize how serious this is.”

“I can see it’s serious,” she protested, keeping her voice level. “I just want to know what we’re doing.”
And why you left an engagement ring forgotten on the floor.

“There’s a plan.”

“What do you mean? Did they say something on TV about where we should go? Is that where everyone’s going?” she asked.

“No. I just know. Me and some others know.”

“You just know? What
others
? Who do you mean?” Every answer he gave her led to more questions.

“Don’t worry. I have it under control,” he said.

His tone held a warning not to push him. For the first time since she’d met Bane she was afraid of him. Staying with him seemed her only option; she didn’t have anyone else. She had no family. There were friends, but they may be fleeing as well.

Hours later Bane decided they could rest. He settled them off to the side of the highway deep in a grove of trees beside a stream. The gentle cascade of water offset the steady hum of the cars in the distance.

Josie opened Markley’s crate and pushed a collar over his head. She snapped on a thin leash and let him wander out. He sniffed the air cautiously before roaming around. He drank a little of the water she scooped into his bowl from the stream and did his business before she coaxed him back into the crate.

“Get some rest.” Bane had put down a blanket for them to lie on. He lay on his back, hands resting beneath his head. She settled down beside him, their bodies barely touching. The ground was hard beneath the blanket.

Josie turned on her side, her back to Bane, and stared into the dark trees. It was a mild evening, so she was comfortable in her jacket. Her feet ached and she concentrated on the pain, letting it distract her from darker thoughts. It was a long time before she at last nodded off into a restless sleep.

Before dawn, Bane was awake and urging her to get up. He handed her a sleeve of crackers to eat taken from a box he’d packed. After she’d eaten several she got up and shook out the blanket. Bane took it from her, rolled it up, and put it back in the duffle bag.

“Let’s go,” he said.

No ‘good morning, sweetheart’, or kiss.
Who the hell is this guy?
Josie took a moment of privacy for herself, then let the cat out for a wander and some food and water. Bane watched them with agitation. As soon as Markley was back in his crate he marched them onward.

Back alongside the highway Josie realized the traffic was even worse this morning—bumper to bumper, inching forward, horns blaring. The number of people traveling by foot had grown. Some cars had been abandoned, which only added to the congestion. Tempers flared. Shouts and foul language along with shaking fists shot from lowered windows in the growing heat. It appeared Bane wasn’t the only one whose anger had crept to the surface.

Ahead of them a crowd of people gathered in a carpool lot. As they got closer Josie saw there were at least fifty of them. They had to pass the group, and as they walked by, Josie caught snatches of conversation.

“Another ship was spotted in Toronto,” a woman said to the circle of people around her.

“I heard on the news they’ve arrived in almost every major city worldwide,” said a bedraggled young man.

“Have they done anything yet besides sit there?” asked a young woman, her face streaked with mascara.

“Not that they’ve reported,” answered the young man.

“I wonder what they want.”

“Our water, I’m betting.”

“The army is launching an attack. They’ll scare them off.”

“Yeah, right. They’ll be annihilated just like the rest of us. It’s an extermination, you’ll see.”

“They haven’t done anything yet. Maybe they come in peace?”

Josie shuddered. She’d had similar thoughts to what these people feared or hoped. She supposed everyone’s imagination was going wild. How frightening to think that several more ships had arrived. What
did
they want?

“We’re waiting for a bus,” an older lady said to Josie as Bane marched them past.

Josie stopped and turned to the woman. “A bus is coming here?”

“Yes,” the woman replied. “That’s why we’re all standing here. It was on the radio. Buses are being sent along the highways, stopping at the carpool lots if people want a ride out of town.”

Bane was tugging on her hand, but Josie pulled free. “Where’s it headed? Is there someplace safe?”

The woman shrugged. “We’re headed to Barrie. There’s no ship there. At least not yet. As to if it’s safe, we’ll have to wait and see.”

Josie turned to Bane. “We should go. If they’re sending people there, they must think it’s the best place to be right now.”

“It isn’t,” Bane said, ignoring the older woman’s stare. He latched onto Josie’s hand to pull her away.

“Go to Barrie,” the lady urged them. “It’s our best chance.”

Once they were past the group Josie again broke free of Bane’s grip. “Why can’t we wait for the bus? Everyone else is going to Barrie. Why can’t we?”

Bane gave her a chilling look. “Don’t be a fool. If that’s where the higher-ups are sending people, then it’s definitely not the right place to go. They’ll all be sitting ducks. Think about it.”

What choice did she have? Was Bane right? Or was he leading them into more danger? She was tired and sick of walking. They never should have left home. Josie watched enviously as overfilled buses and steady rows of cars heading toward Barrie passed them by. Bane led them down the highway in the same direction, so she didn’t know why they couldn’t take one of the buses as well. It would’ve been a lot easier on the feet.

Just as the sun began to go down they stopped at a motel for the night that was taking in guests. Despite cringing at the smell and the questionable stains on the carpet, Josie thought it was heaven compared to sleeping outside. Markley was soon sprawled on the turquoise bedspread while she perched on the end of the bed, her gaze glued to the TV screen. It was true what she’d heard this morning—there were spaceships spotted over every major city in the world.
So many!

Markley ducked under her arm and rubbed against her side. Josie stroked his sleek black fur. “Hungry, baby?”

She retrieved his bowls from the pack and filled one with his food. Bane was in the shower, so she would wait to get fresh water. Markley munched while Josie turned her attention back to the news.

When Bane came out of the bathroom he had a small towel wrapped around his hips, his skin still glistening with beads of water. Josie felt an unexpected jolt of arousal. Strange, considering what was going on, how he could still turn her to jelly every time she saw his bare chest. The scowl he’d worn on his face since the invasion was ever present. Josie hoped their temporary indoor refuge would have a good effect on him.

She filled Markley’s bowl with water and returned to perch on the bed while the cat lapped away and Bane dried off.

“See this?” Josie asked, pointing at the TV screen. “They’re everywhere now.”

“Yep.” Bane dropped the towel and stretched out on the queen-sized bed.

Josie couldn’t tell if the broadcast upset him or not. “I’m gonna shower.”

He didn’t look at her or say anything as she flounced off to the bathroom. When she returned, dried and naked, the room was dark and silent. As her eyes adjusted she spotted the cat curled up in one of the chairs, and surmised by the deep, even breaths coming from the direction of the bed that Bane was asleep.

Too bad.
She’d been hoping to stoke the romantic embers. Not that their love life needed any rejuvenation; Bane’s passion matched hers in every way. And yet, since the arrival of the UFO’s—nothing. No kisses or hugs or long, lusty looks. Not even a comforting squeeze or a playful smack on the ass. She’d yet to broach the subject of the ring she found. He sure wasn’t acting like a man ready to propose.

Josie lifted the edge of the blanket and slipped into bed. Bane lay on his back, arms up and crossed beneath his head. She stretched out beside him, turning to rest her head on his chest, and hitched her leg up over his. Out of habit, his arm came down to curl around her. Encouraged, Josie pressed a kiss to the light smattering of hair on his chest. She reached down past his belly and gently grasped his cock. He grew warm and hard as she stroked.

She slid down the length of his body, making sure her breasts touched him along the way, and put her lips to the head of his cock. When he made no move to stop her, she swirled her tongue around his tip and down the length of him. The slight groan he emitted revealed his enjoyment.

His hands moved to hold her head, his fingers tangling in her hair. She reveled in the moment, to have at last gained his attention. Despite his presence the past couple of days she’d almost felt alone. His ball sack hung low, warm from the shower and the heat of the room. Dipping her head, she mouthed him as deeply as she dared and cupped his balls.

Bane’s hips lifted slightly in motion with her mouth sliding up and down his hard length. Faster she moved. His head writhed back and forth across the pillow, his low moans grew louder, and his grip tightened in her hair. Soon he was reaching for her, pulling her up over his body. He held still for a moment, his warm, uneven breaths brushing her face.

Josie gasped as he suddenly rolled and flipped her beneath him. One strong leg pushed her thighs apart, and she felt his cock press up against her opening. He took her hands and pulled them up over her head. In the next moment he was surging forward, filling her with a bold thrust.

“Bane!” she cried. Though ready for him she was shocked over the intensity in which he claimed her. Low pants escaped her, accenting his movements as he withdrew and plunged again and again. “Stop...” His passion frightened her, and yet filled her with a primitive urge of her own. Her hips rose and fell, matching his rhythm.

“Must survive,” he ground out between thrusts.

His words barely penetrated the fog in her brain as Josie fought for control. She wrestled her hands free of his grip and raked her nails down his back, causing him to dive even harder and deeper.

“Survive,” he demanded, as though saying the word would enforce his will.

Josie cried out as spasms ripped through her, making her come harder than she ever had before. Slowly, she drifted back to reality, focusing on Bane as he thrust one last time and tensed.
Survive what?
His wild lovemaking?

* * * *

Bane knew his destination. Once they reached the lake a boat would be there waiting. It was located just outside a small town named Albion, a popular northern getaway which boasted several bodies of water. Where he was going was special though. This lake would assure their survival. Several chosen sites around the world would be destinations for others like him and those they had brought with them.

He’d risen at dawn in preparation to leave as soon as possible. They didn’t have the luxury of time. He was fully dressed and their bags were packed. He’d even fed the damned cat.

“Wake up,” he demanded.

Josie lingered in bed, curled around the sheets and pillows like her feline companion. Bane struggled to feel nothing as he watched the woman he’d loved more than life itself rub her eyes like a child and sit up in the bed they’d shared, her short, blonde hair tousled. They’d fucked last night and he’d enjoyed it. After all of the tension the past couple of days his body had craved release. When he’d sunk deep inside Josie’s body and looked into her eyes, he’d stilled for a moment, feeling a part of him striving to break free—a part that wanted more than just sexual gratification.

Every aspect of their relationship was ingrained in his memories. He could flip through every single moment with impassive crystal clarity. Emotion had fought its way to the surface in that instant of their fucking, but it was beaten back down by superior restraint. If they were going to survive, he had to remain focused. And withdrawn.

Josie rose to dress with clothing he’d left out for her. She took a few moments in the bathroom while he paced the floor and peered out the curtains toward the sky. She’d yet to say a word to him. Silence was good. It meant she was taking things seriously and was ready to accept their situation. There wasn’t time to explain himself every five minutes to an emotional, unstable female. When she came out of the bathroom he had the cat in its carrier and setting beside their bags at the door.