Tangling With Topper (11 page)

Then she paced, looked up, and saw the scientist staring at them with wide eyes.

She looked at Theo and waved a hand in the scientist’s direction. “Take him too,” she demanded.

Theo sighed and headed toward the man who of course took off running the moment he took the first step. Thankfully Frost caught him as he walked toward them. Frost ran a hand across the man’s forehead until the scientist went limp in his arms.

“Thanks, Frost. I was tired of chasing people down today. How’s Lacey doing?”

“Fine, Theo. She’s a lot better now that all the dakkari are caught. She’s at the van working on the wounded dog.”

“Good. The jaguar shifters have been calling the office every hour asking when the dogs can come home. I better get this guy tucked away before he causes Topper to implode.”

Theo took the scientist’s limp body from Frost and threw it over a shoulder, looking back at the other two men lying on the ground at Stark’s feet. Shaking his head, he carried the scientist to the jail. Locking them all up would have to do until they sorted this out.

Topper stared as Frost continued his walk towards them. About two feet in front of Stark, Frost knelt in the dirt, head bowed. She looked at Stark, who looked as stunned as she did about it. Suddenly, she wanted to laugh—mostly because it was nice to know Stark’s arrogance had a reasonable limit. Feeling wicked, she winked at Stark, who sighed as he looked down at the younger male.

“Rise Frost and never kneel again. Here on your mate’s world, we are equals. Kneeling makes the Earthlings uncomfortable.”

“Uncomfortable? Not really. Just makes me laugh my ass off,” Topper exclaimed, gesturing with her middle finger before she realized Stark had no idea what the symbolism meant. “Do not start arguing with me again about how superior Glacierans are or I swear you will end up in one of Theo’s cells today too.”

“And who in Icela’s name will put me there, Witch?” Stark demanded, even though Frost was staring at both him and Topper strangely. “The Goddess who came to warn me about the men in black said your power isn’t working today. She said everything would be back to normal tomorrow.”

“Damn the Fates and their secrecy. And you can just bite me, Alien Bastard,” Topper exclaimed, crossing her arms.

Stark growled at Topper’s rudeness, but then he remembered the younger male was still watching him. This was certainly no example of how to treat a female on any planet. He looked back at Frost.

Calm. He needed to remain calm.

“Polar asked me to give you his regards. It is very good to see you again, Frost,” Stark said, bowing his head.

“Likewise, General. Uh… sir?” Frost began, looking between his elder on Glacier and Lacey’s elder on Earth. “Is there a problem between you and Topper?”

Stark followed Frost’s gaze to the too caring witch who alone was more trouble than any twenty females together could be. Hourly irritation and resistance were the only constant around her. But his main problem was that this same female was the most loving, generous one he’d ever taken to his bed. What in Icela’s name was he supposed to do about her?

He had to have her again. He had to try one more time to convince her to be his mate, even though he knew the chances of the witch returning to Glacier with him were non-existent. He would have to abduct her to make that happen and how cliché would it be to feed that ridiculous Earthling myth that all aliens were that desperate?

Yet even if he did convince Topper of his feelings, and convince her to be with him willingly on his terms, who would take care of this town in her absence if she went back with him?

Topper mothered and cared for all of the town’s strange residents. No wonder she’d never had a family of her own. The entire population of Magic was her family.

When he sighed and made Frost’s eyebrow raise even higher, he blamed Topper. Sighing out her frustration was her habit, not his. Normally, he just ran something down and captured it when he was feeling frustrated. Fighting to stay alive never failed to clear his mind from its lesser worries.

“Nothing is wrong between us, Frost. Nothing I can’t handle. Topper and I have a lot of strong feelings between us. That’s all.”

Frost nodded. “Strong feelings. Yes, that’s what happened when I met Lacey. She turned me into a rabbit—which is a small desert mammal with long ears and a fuzzy tail. I did not enjoy being a different creature. Now a short time later I’m about to become a father to our child. This is unlike any place I have ever been, General. The unexpected is a daily occurrence here in Magic.”

“Indeed,” Stark replied. “In my short time here, I have seen that for myself.”

Topper came over until she stood in front of them. “Can either of you freeze the men in black enough to keep them knocked out all night? The scientist doesn’t worry me, but the men in black might be able to get away.”

Frost nodded. “I found a way to cause temporary unconsciousness in animals. It seemed to work on your scientist. It lasted about five Earth hours on the horse shifter Lacey worked on which should translate into about ten on a normal human male.”

Topper nodded. “Fine. Show Stark how to do it and help Theo put the guys in jail. When I get my powers back tomorrow, I’ll fix their memories. Until then, I’d just as soon they not know they’ve been taken prisoners.” She looked at Stark. “When you’re finished, meet me at home. I owe you dinner. We may need to open the portal for your trip back before the men in black wake up.”

Stark quirked an eyebrow. “Capturing dakkari. Taking prisoners. Now you’re making me dinner. And all in one day. You amaze me, Topper.”

“If that’s sarcasm, I’m keeping the largest steak for myself.” When Stark laughed, Topper grinned and transported herself without saying goodbye.

Stark turned to look at Frost. “Is steak some form of animal protein?”

Frost grinned. “Yes. The best kind. So Topper’s cooking for you?”

Stark grinned back. “Yes. The witch seems to enjoy feeding me. First female like her I’ve known.”

“As far as I know, Topper only cooks for the Fates, General. You must be special to her. Now the tension between you is doubly confusing,” Frost said.

“Isn’t everything about females confusing?” Stark asked wryly, not wanting Frost to know about his true relationship with Topper. He didn’t normally brag about the females he bedded, even if in this case, he would like nothing better than to publicly claim the witch.

Frost laughed as he nodded. “I have always thought so, Sir. Always.”

Topper sighed as she watched Stark take the last bite of his food. She’d made two giant steaks and he’d eaten one and a half of them. When he set down his fork, he made the same happy growling noise he’d made when they were doing something fun in bed together.

Her face flamed at all the things she’d done with him and all she wanted to do again. Topper imagined her face would pinken over sexy thoughts of Stark until the day she died.

“How long have we known each other? Has it really been just a couple days?” she asked.

Stark smiled. “Is this a verbal sparring trap? I say it feels like I’ve known you forever and you then have a reason to get angry at me? I studied the nuances of your language before I came to Earth, but you surpass my studies with every conversation.”

Topper giggled and covered her mouth with a hand. “I’m witchy, not bitchy—or at least, not usually. It’s been a hard couple of days, Stark. You’ve not really seen me at my best.”

Stark pushed his plate away. It might as well get said now as later. “Whichever the case, it’s been an illuminating couple of days for me. I don’t want to go back to my planet without you. Return to Glacier with me. I would be very good to you.”

Topper snorted. “You’re just talking about sex. What would I do when we weren’t in bed? I get restless in my own house when I run out of chores to keep me busy. I need a more fulfilling life than merely taking care of a man—even an outstanding one.”

She stood, gathered their plates, and walked them to the sink. She stacked them before turning back.

“It’s very sweet of you to offer, but I can’t go to Glacier with you. And it’s not just about the men in black. Nonny and Moonie could do the mind wipe on them. It’s more about being here for the rest of the townspeople. The jaguar shifters are still new. There’s a Yeti family coming from the state of Washington in a month. I’m supposed to go white water rafting this weekend. I know you have to take the dakkari back and release them… and you have to go soon… I don’t see how this can work.”

Topper stopped talking when she heard herself rambling. Stark was staring at her with a very sad look in his shifting silver eyes. She sighed and shook her head.

“You and I barely know each other. It wouldn’t be very smart to make all kinds of promises neither of us can keep, no matter how nice we work in bed. You have all those other females back home. One day soon, I’ll just be that Earth woman you spent a couple nights with while you were off-planet.”

Stark stood and walked to where Topper stood at the sink. He wanted to tell her they were mates, but she couldn’t even accept that she was special to him. He turned Topper around and lifted her chin with his fingers.

“The other females were just a way for me to cope with not having found you until now. At the risk of you thinking I’m an awful male, the others meant nothing to me and I hardly remember them. I would much rather have you for now and always, even if you are a lot of trouble.”

Sighing, Topper wrapped her arms around him and held him close. “If my magic was working, I’d turn you into a toad. You insult me better than any man I’ve ever known, but I still can’t go with you. It might be fun for an adventure, but I’d never be content. Your work is there. My work is here.”

Stark sighed against her hair. “My work hasn’t been enough for me in many years. How can you ask me to forget I met you?”

Topper hugged tighter. “There’s no other choice. I don’t have the magic to remove your memories of me.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking,” Stark whispered.

Topper fought the tightening lump in her throat. “Yes. I do know what I’m asking, and I can’t see this situation we have working out any other way.”

“Frost chose Lacey to be his mate. Why can’t you believe I could choose you?”

Topper shook her head. “Because we’re old—
I’m
old. I’m not a young woman with big dreams in my head about raising a family like Lacey. Mostly I like my calm, peaceful life. I like my occasional Earth-bound adventures that let me come home more contented. I normally have purple hair, Stark. The only reason I look this plain is because I was trying to be as typical as possible for you. But I’m not really normal—not for an Earthling or a witch. I don’t think I could really change for you, no matter how inspired I might be temporarily.”

“Spend the night in my arms and I will inspire you more than you ever dreamed.”

Topper groaned and put her forehead against Stark’s hard muscled chest. Was she nuts to throw what she had with the sexy alien away? Maybe she was.

But she also knew she was never going to be truly happy living in Glacier’s Alaska-like climate so far away from her family and friends. She would miss the sunshine. She would miss Magic.

Still… there was no man on Earth who could compare to Stark and she wanted all the time with him she could get.

“Look—I will spend the night with you again, but please don’t keep asking me to go with you. You’ll just turn me into a blubbering mess and I’d rather be the woman of your dreams instead.”

Stark pulled Topper close and held her tightly. “Very well. I will cease asking. Will you allow me another question?”

“Sure,” Topper said, shrugging a shoulder against the warmth of him. It was very tempting to grab hold and never let go.

“Is your name really Danielle? I was shocked to hear you introduce yourself. I realized then that I never asked you for your proper name.”

Topper laughed at the question. “I’ve always loved the name
Danielle
, which is why I use it when I have to talk to non-magical people. I’ve used it so often now, it seems like my name.”

“That’s not an answer to my question, but I’ve no more patience for asking. I want to take you to bed.” Stark shook his head, took her hand, and dragged his frustrating, smirking witch to his room.

***

Barely six in the morning and the New Mexico sun lit Magic’s town square. Its bright appearance drew a chorus of groans from all the sleepy witches gathered there, coffee cups in hand. Topper stood in front of the collective circle of power watching Stark arrange the dakkari cages until he could easily carry them all through the portal.

Power had returned to her this morning. When her mind had become conscious, her power had run through her clean and sweet as ever. She had removed the miniaturization spell on the dakkari, but re-shrunk them again with a spell caveat to allow them to return to their full size in a few hours. That put Stark on a deadline, but she had one as well.

The men in black would be coming out of their frozen mental states soon and she had to be ready for them. Nonny and Evanna were already at the jail, prepared to deal with them until she got there. Moonie and Lacey had come to help her open the portal.

Frost stood by Stark, silent as a sentry as he watched the preparations, but she’d caught Frost looking between her and Stark like he was trying to figure out a puzzle. Topper understood Frost’s intuitive urges, but she wasn’t ready to talk about her relationship to Stark. She was still trying to figure things out herself.

This morning she’d watched Stark dress, insisting he keep one set of the clothing Theo had loaned him. Moonie had expressed deep disappointment at his non-naked state when they’d finally shown up.

After last night, she wasn’t willing to share the sight of Stark’s body with other females. She’d done her best to be memorable to him as a lover. But how memorable could she be? Stark was a walking alien sex God. She was an aging witch who’d managed to catch Stark’s interest for reasons she still didn’t understand.

Last night Stark had been both demanding and loving. And he’d awakened her several times, but every time her eyes opened, he’d just been holding her, touching her face tenderly. He’d spoken to her in his own language, tracing icy designs on the inside of her arms as they lay tangled together. She couldn’t believe she’d come to care so deeply about a man she’d only met a few days ago.