Sex, Love, and Aliens, Volume 1 (6 page)

The same bruising grip tugged her close once more. “No escaping this time, you bitch.”

Screeching filled the air and the blare of a horn. She was released and fell to the ground, crying out as pebbles embedded themselves in her knees and the tender palms of her hands. She cowered, afraid to look up as a horn blasted once more.

“Hey, lady! Are you okay?”

A vehicle has stopped beside her, the black wheels filling her vision. “I’m… I don’t…”

Heart thudding, she looked around, realizing that Garret was gone. A light-headed sensation assailed her, and she dipped and swayed even as she reached out for support. The metal of the car was cool but couldn’t fight back the gray cloud that appeared around the edges of her sight. Black dots filled her vision and her grip on reality receded a little further.

“Lady? Hey!” The man in the car was opening the door, hurrying out even as she fainted.

* * * *

The tiny buzz broke Cedun’s concentration and the name flashed before him on the screen before the connection broke off.
Gia!

He tried to reconnect to the communicator but it failed. Emotions stirred inside him, and he shoved himself out of the chair.

Joruzan raised his startled face. “Something is wrong?”

“I do not know. Gia tried to contact me, then…” His heart thudded in his chest while fear wrapped around him, sinking its claws in deep.

“Location?” Joruzan reached for the tiny stunning weapon they were authorized to carry in their official hours.

Gia wouldn’t contact him without a damned good reason. “Where the hell is Garret?” Joruzan opened his mouth, but Cedun shook his head. “I’m heading to Gia’s. That is where I think she would have gone. Contact me if you find out anything else.” He gripped the transmitter in his hand, hoping like hell he was on the right track.

The world dropped away, and when it came back into view, Cedun was in Gia’s doorway, looking at the open door. Her keys and a batch of letters lay scattered on the tiles. Fury bloomed.
Garret. Damn him!

A commotion in the street caught his eye. There was a knot of people gathered around a car. Something was on the ground and people crowded in.

“Gia!” he bellowed as he set off running. Cedun shouldered his way through the crowd that had formed and found Gia lying on the ground. An icy fear shivered through his brain.
Is she alive?
The need to hear that she was drove him forward.

Her head was cradled in a stranger’s lap. “Hey, take it easy, man.” Someone in the crowd gripped his shoulder as he surged forward.

“Gia!” His voice was hoarse with fear, and the man cradling her looked at him.

“You know her?” The man pinned him with a cold glare and he nodded, unable to trust his voice.

“She was running like a bat outta hell, and someone was following her, then whoever it was disappeared. Like one of those bloody aliens, you know? Bastards shouldn’t be allowed near humans.” His voice died away as Cedun stared at him. “You’re one of them!” Now there was accusation and fear.

“Is Gia…” He couldn’t bring himself to say the words as he brushed away the man’s anger.

“She’s alive, no thanks to you bastards.” The man reached out for Gia as he rose from the ground. “You should go back where you came from! You have no business—”

“Police!” A voice cut through the angry mutters that surrounded them. “Move back! Stand aside.”

The crowd parted, and a small man entered the circle.

“You are law enforcement?” Cedun asked.

The man smiled. “Sure am. Someone called us and said a lady had been attacked.” He squatted down beside Gia and checked her pulse. “Well, at least she’s alive. The ambulance has been called. Anyone here know her name?”

“Gia. Gia Montgomery.” The words tumbled from his mouth that felt desiccated.

“And you are…” The policeman turned pale blue eyes in his direction and Cedun scowled.

“
Turaa
Cedun of
Dirustandi
.”

The man blinked, no doubt taking in his position before he nodded. “Ahh. Right then,
Turaa
, we will need to clear the area so the ambulance can pull in.” He scanned the people gathered around. “Folks, thanks for your concern, but we’ll take it from here.” His voice was forceful enough to make them step back. They murmured and moved away in small groups.

“We do not need the ambulance. I will call my healer and her mother.” Cedun spoke carefully, reaching for the communicator.

The policeman sized him up and stopped his movements with a careful hand motion. “Before you do that, tell me why this young woman should be released to you.”

“Because she will be safer with us than you right now. I will take her to the compound. She will be cared for there.” Cedun reined in his temper. Instead of wasting time talking he could have a healer there, attending to Gia. He almost spoke again, but Joruzan transmitted beside him.

Joruzan’s gaze was instantly drawn to Gia, where she remained on the ground, unconscious. “What has—”

“
Garret
. Get a healer here. We will not move her until they are satisfied.”

Joruzan nodded and moved away.

Within minutes a healer was kneeling beside Gia, murmuring as he applied healing sprays to her. “She will be fine,
Turaa
.”

The words eased Cedun’s mind, and his grip loosened as the ambulance arrived. Cedun glanced up, noting the policeman was taking the driver’s statement.

The paramedics climbed out of the vehicle as the healer stood up. “Where’s the patient?”

“Oh, there is no need. De’ Gia will be well with a rest. The fright, coupled with the bump on her head, is the reason for her faint. She had a concussion, but I have dealt with that too.”

When the paramedics started to protest, Cedun raised his hand. “My healers have attended to De’ Gia. Now I will transmit her to the
Ba’Tua
compound.” He turned in the direction of the man clad in blue. “Officer, if you have questions, give our personnel at the gate my name. They will direct you to my home. Joruzan, you will secure De’ Gia’s house?”

He nodded.

Gia opened her eyes as Cedun lifted her to his chest. “Cedun? What…”

He kissed her forehead. “Soon. Now I am taking you home.”

Chapter 4

The last two days had followed the same pattern. Every moment filled until Gia was too tired to think and had no opportunity to run. Gia vacillated. Valerie had already visited for the day, Joruzan was working in the lounge with Cedun, and the healer was due any minute.

She wanted to go home, but was frightened. But if she stayed, she wanted it to be for the right reasons. And Cedun wasn’t going to let her out of his sight.

And the question was, did she really want to stay and if so, then why?

“I shouldn’t stay here.” The words echoed in the empty room.

Even as she spoke though, her mind insidiously suggested that she didn’t have to go home just yet and face the reality of Garret’s actions. She could stay there. Cedun would ensure her safety. The voice of reason remonstrated. That would be to use him, wouldn’t it?

“I refuse to be a coward and user.” She snorted at her own words before the familiar sense of confusion filled her. She didn’t really want to leave, but fear of making the same mistake again held her back.

She scrubbed her hands over her face, exhaustion pulling at her. Wrestling with her feelings left her tired and with more questions than answers. The one thing she couldn’t question though was that every time Cedun was near she felt whole and confident. And aroused, but that could simply be lust.

“For heaven’s sake, Gia! Get a grip!”

“A grip of what,
Deandara
?” Cedun stood in the doorway, his face a mask of puzzlement. “Tell me what you want, and I will fetch it.”

He was so earnest and caring, and her eyes prickled with tears. Garret had never been like this. In fact, thinking about it, she realized Garret hadn’t really cared if she had what she wanted or not.

“Cedun, has Valerie left yet?” Suddenly she had to ask her a burning question.

He shook his head. “No. Do you need me to find her?”

“Tell me where she is and I’ll go see her.” In a flash she was on her feet. Cedun opened his mouth to order her to lie back down, the concern so clear in his eyes. The
love
.

“She is on the beach with Joruzan.” His gaze roamed over her, and she knew he was checking that she was all right, not overtaxed or anything untoward.

On impulse she rose to her tiptoes and kissed Cedun on the cheek, her lips tingling as they made contact with his lightly-stubbled skin. Her eyes widened in shock. “I’ll… I’ll be back soon.”

She hurried through the house, her heart pounding out a rapid tattoo. At the rear exit she spied Valerie and Joruzan in deep conversation. She didn’t really want to intrude, but the answer was suddenly too important to wait any longer.

As if he felt her presence, Joruzan turned and waved at her. She waved back and slowly made her way along the sand, which puffed up with every step.

She stopped beside Valerie who pulled her close. “Are you all right, Gia? You should be resting.” Her words were lightly scolding but that paled into insignificance.

“I’m fine, but I need to…umm…” She glanced in Joruzan’s direction then back to Valerie.

“Oh, you need to ask me a question, Gia?” Her mother gazed at her for long seconds before she turned to Joruzan. “Joruzan, would you pour me a tea?” Valerie smiled sweetly at the big man, and his confusion was evident in the way he screwed up his face and leaned in closer. For a moment, Gia felt like a voyeur.

“Valerie? You are all right? I offered you one—”

“And I changed my mind,
Deodaru
.” Valerie’s soft words and the gentle stroke of her hand over her lover’s, the intimacy in the touch was too much. Gia glanced away.

When she looked back, Joruzan’s eyes blazed with understanding.

“Of course,
Deandara
. A tea will be ready for you in the kitchen.” He turned and left the two of them on the beach.

“What does
Deandara
mean, Valerie?”

She looked at Gia, surprise on her glowing face. “Why, it means
love
or
darling
.
Deodaru
is the male version of the word.” Valerie smiled broadly. “Does Cedun…”

Her mother’s words were like a stomach punch. Love. Darling. “I need to ask you… With Daddy, was it…” The words trailed away. How did she ask her own mother about her relationship with her father? How could this untangle her emotional state?

“Oh, so it’s time for those questions. Walk with me, and I’ll see if I can give you the answers you need.”

The two women made their way down to the water’s edge, their toes splashing in the waves as they spoke.

“When I met your father I was only fifteen. Very gullible and very, very young. It was a youthful indiscretion, the type so many girls make. I thought it was love and let him… Well, you know. Then I got pregnant and too late I realized it was an infatuation. Your grandparents were stern and told me I’d made my bed. Your father drifted away. I haven’t seen him since your sixth birthday.

“I brought you up by myself. I always tried to do my best, but I was so young. I had no clue. We were happy though, weren’t we? We got by. As you got older, I knew this day would come, but no matter how many times I tried to reach your father, he refused my contact.” She sighed and looked into the horizon, and for the first time, Gia understood exactly what she’d given up.

“You were only a child yourself.”

Valerie smiled at her, raising a hand to her cheek. “But I had a child. One I loved very much. I still do. You are my world, but it’s expanding now.” She grinned and cupped her hand to the small mound of her belly. “Your brother or sister will need me too.”

“I know. But…With Joruzan, how did you know it was…you know, love? Was there like a blinding flash of knowledge or…”

Valerie laughed. “Joruzan sideswiped me. He was there, shadowing me. Doing things for me that I didn’t even realize would make my life easier. He was kind but insistent. He just wouldn’t take no for an answer.” Valerie shook her head. “I couldn’t work it out. It made no sense. Here I am a middle-aged woman and he loves me.” She shrugged. “Then one day I knew. It just… It just happened.” Her voice tapered away and she smiled in an absent fashion, as if remembering things she wasn’t able to share.

“But the confusion? The need to not take advantage. Were they there too?” Gia desperately needed guidance.

“It was, but it was more than that. It was just being together, even in the same room, that made everything seem right. It was the little things that counted the most. It was that feeling deep inside that I wanted to be with him.”

Gia nodded at her mother’s words. She could identify all those things and so much more with Cedun.

“I think I love Cedun.”

Valerie took her hands. “Think or know?”

It crystalized in her mind. “Know. I love him. I want to be with him. I want to share everything with him, but I’m afraid. I don’t want to hurt him. I don’t want him to think it’s because of Garret and the care he’s taking of me.” The words tumbled out, and Valerie slipped Gia’s hand in the crook of her elbow.

“When the time is right, the things that need to be said will be spoken.” Valerie’s eyes searched her face, as if there were more. Gia waited. “If you want one piece of advice?”

Gia nodded. “I could do with any and all advice right now.”

“Fine. Gia, you’re a good girl, but you take a long time to act. You’ve a cautious soul. Cedun is only here for another few months, then he is being recalled. His father wants him to report directly to their senate and take up his position in their society. To do the things a
Turaa
should be doing. So what I’m trying to say is… Don’t take too long to act, okay?”

Mulling Valerie’s words over, she allowed herself to be turned and they walked back up the beach in the direction of the house.

* * * *

Cedun placed the file in the tray and prepared to log out of the systems for the night. Since Gia had returned, his days had dragged. All he thought of was being home. With Gia.