Tangling With Topper (13 page)

Stark dropped to one knee in the ice and snow. “Thank you, Goddess. I will do as you ask.”

“
Convince your witch to open the portal again. Several others will need it in the future. Frost’s remaining kin will guard it here on Glacier
.”

“May all be as you wish, Goddess,” Stark replied.

When he raised his head, Icela and her warrior were nowhere in sight.

Stark’s blood ran hot and fast as he stood. He had much to do to prepare. For starters, he needed to go back to the city and tell Polar what Icela had asked him to do. He’d just have to trust that the goddess would find a way to make this okay with the Directors.

Then he would have to decide if anything he owned was of enough value to take with him to Earth. Perhaps he could work something out to keep his residence available for return trips. If the portal remained open, it would be kind of nice to have a home on both planets.

Topper eyed her guests warily as she poured freshly brewed tea into four mugs.

“There’s been multiple portal sightings all over New Mexico since yesterday. Did one of you open one just across the border in Arizona? Theo was in a tizzy over that one. His nostrils were smoking.”

All three of the Fates shook their heads, but she didn’t trust the sly looks they were giving each other.

Topper snorted. “Well, someone opened a portal… or it happened naturally. Right—like that really ever happens. Evanna and Nonny are feeling a space-time riff every few hours. Oh well… if it’s not you three, I’m not going to concern myself. It will at least take the attention off Magic for a while.”

“Aren’t you going to at least go check them out, Topper?” Aura asked, peering over her tea mug.

Topper thought for a moment. “Why? Do you think I should?”

Fortune looked at her two sisters. “It can’t be who we think it is. She was supposed to tell us when she opened a portal. Do you think we caused a problem in the space-time wavy fold-over mat thingy and now portals are popping open all over?”

Destiny frowned into her mug. “Maybe she tried to call us. We were busy with the… you know… the other things we were doing… and well, I didn’t answer that particular phone.”

“Are you saying you knew someone was going to open a portal and didn’t tell me?” Topper asked.

Aura narrowed her eyes at her sisters. “I swear, you two drive me crazy.” She smiled as she turned to Topper. “No, dear. We didn’t know—not really. And yes, I think you should go check out these other portals. We don’t even know if they all connect to Glacier.”

“Good point,” Topper said, then she shrugged. “I suppose I could pop into town and get Theo to help me.”

“We think you should go right now,” Destiny ordered.

Topper rolled her eyes. “Can’t it wait until I finish my tea?”

“
No
,” the Fates said in chorus, then the three of them burst out laughing.

“Okay, but don’t forget to put your mugs in the sink when you’re done,” Topper ordered.

She stood, shook her head, and then lifted her hands. “I need to find some new friends.”

A sparkling purple mist filled the room as she left in a huff.

***

Topper watched numbly as Theo pushed his Sheriff hat back to get a better look at the group of hot-looking, naked aliens. The eight of them looked at each other, then one cleared his throat and spoke.

“We mean you no harm. We merely wish to find our perfect mates—like Star Ranger Frost found his.”

Theo looked at Topper whose mouth was hanging open in shock. He turned back to the aliens. “How did you get here?”

“We came when you opened the portal for us.”

Topper shook her head. “No one here in Magic opened a portal. There’s been a mistake.”

The lead alien turned to his friends. “It had to have been the Goddess then.” They dropped to the ground and started chanting a prayer of thanks.

Topper rolled her eyes as she looked at Theo. “Damn the Fates. Excuse me while I go dismember my deceitful tea-drinking guests.”

Theo laughed. “Come on guys, let’s go inside and see if we can find you something to put on. We can’t have a bunch of naked, seven feet tall aliens running around Magic.”

As the aliens stood, a portal opened nearby. Out of the swirling mist stepped a large alien dressed in a military uniform. He walked towards them chin up.

There was a lot of murmuring and then the aliens knelt in the dirt again.

“General,” the lead alien said, bowing his head.

Topper crossed her arms when he looked her way. Stark looked impossibly bigger in his jacket, especially with all those military-looking medals hanging off it.

“Witch…” he said in greeting.

“Alien…” she said in return.

“I like your purple hair.”

Topper snorted and shook her head over his compliments.

Stark turned his attention to Theo when he could wrestle his gaze away from Topper.

“Greetings Sheriff. I see you found the males who used my original portal. The Goddess didn’t send the males here. They came on their own—through the portal that was created for
me
,” Stark pointed out sharply, glaring at the males on the ground. He pointed at the portal. “Go home. The Directors are waiting to talk with you. Earth is not authorized as a planet to supply potential mates. You will remain on Glacier until it becomes one.”

Topper dropped her arms when the men rose without argument and headed into the swirling mist. One by one they passed through it. When the last naked male had disappeared, Stark touched a point on his wrist and the portal closed. He picked up a bag he’d originally carried through with him and walked the short distance to the witch he adored and the dragon who was grinning at him.

“There’s no need for concern. The portal they used was the only one Glacierans could have passed through. The other portals were the Goddess’s way of causing a distraction. I assure you that nothing came through them at all. Your officials might still come looking for the one I created just now, but I’ll be here to make sure they don’t cause any problems for the town.”

Topper snorted. “Speaking of that—why exactly are you here?”

“Because I wanted to return and the Goddess said you needed me to help guard the portal. She wishes you to keep it open.”

“What if it’s not what I wish? Maybe I don’t want to open the portal again. It’s bad enough I have to answer to the meddling Fates. I will not answer to a Goddess I don’t even know.”

“In that case, I will open the one she gave me power over when I need to do her will. You really have no say in the matter, Topper. My planet is invested in seeing to it that unauthorized portal travel does not occur. I was considered the most suitable candidate for the job. This is my new service assignment.”

Topper snorted. “So just like that… Earth has no choice. No asking. Just orders from the superior beings on the great planet of Glacier.”

“Yes,” Stark declared. “But there are some obvious advantages to my return. Now there is nothing in the way of us becoming mates.”

“If you think that non-romantic proposal is going to get you anywhere… well, you’re an ass, Stark. Yes, that’s precisely what you are—you’re an ass,” Topper declared firmly.

She waved a hand and before her stood a donkey in a military uniform… or what was left of one. She covered her hand with her mouth to stifle her laughter.

“Stark’s going to use his freeze magic on you when you turn him back… and he’s going to be naked. Did you do that on purpose? I really don’t need to be doing the comparison thing right now. Those frigging men in black could come back here anytime.”

Topper gave Theo a warning look. “Want to see what a baby dragon looks like? I’ll regress you to an egg if you keep giving me shit. I’m trying to make sure the people of Glacier know we are not going to let aliens overrun us. Do you really want Stark messing with the security of your town, Sheriff?”

Theo scratched his head. “Well, I guess I’d prefer working with Stark to working with some new alien I don’t know. He’s older… more respectful. Those young ones will be trying to take our women the whole time. Stark only seems interested in you. I think you can take him, especially now that your magic works on him. Now change him back—it’s creeping me out to see Stark’s scary eyes on that donkey.”

Stark brayed a few times and Topper snorted.

“This is not the old west, Theo. Nobody from anywhere is going to be taking anyone from Magic without their consent. But I think you have a point about us being better off working with the alien we know. I’m going to have a long talk with the Fates. I know they’re a part of this.”

Topper waved her arms and a naked Stark began patting his body down.

“What did you do to me?”

“Nothing permanent,” Topper declared. She waved her hand and his uniform covered his body once more. “There… all dressed now.”

“Why in Icela’s name did you do that to me?” Stark demanded.

Topper glared up at him. “Because I could… and I wanted to make sure you knew that no one from any planet is going to be coming to my town and telling me what I have to do to protect it.”

Stark nodded tightly. “I see. You don’t think I can protect this town as well as you can.”

“I didn’t say that… but if you think showing up here in your military uniform makes me go all woozy inside… well, you may be right about that. However, lusting for you doesn’t mean I want to be taking orders from you for the remainder of my life.”

“Very well. But now I feel honor bound to meet your challenge with a sample of my own power.”

Topper held out both hands and crooked all her fingers beckoning him. “Bring it, Big Guy. I’m not afraid of you.”

Stark grabbed her wrists and chills ran up her arms for several reasons. Ice crystals danced over her skin. She was relieved, but didn’t want to admit it with Theo watching their every move.

“In time, you will learn to trust me. I don’t care how many males have disappointed you in the past. You will honor me with your trust, share my bed, and call yourself mine. This is the real reason I returned, you stubborn female.”

Topper burst out laughing seconds before she was yanked within reach of Stark’s seeking mouth. His lips sliding against hers sent tingles everywhere. Nipples beaded. Her underwear grew uncomfortably wet. She wanted to undress for Stark—and to make him naked again. He may have enough magic to match hers, but the real magic was in the way he made her feel.

“You kiss better than any man I’ve ever known,” Topper whispered against his mouth.

Stark snorted and resisted taking her mouth again. “I will adore you forever, but you must promise to never again turn me into another creature.”

“And if I don’t?” Topper asked, nearly choking on a laugh.

Stark uttered something under his breath. Sudden cold overtook the female he adored. Swearing at himself for losing his temper, he scooped Topper up as she passed out. He put her over one shoulder, pleased that she felt so substantial to him.

“Don’t worry, Theo. All she’ll get is a headache,” he said when the guardian dragon glared at him. “It is just a contest of wills. Eventually Topper will tire of fighting me and then I can begin to really convince her of my feelings.”

“Dude, do you really love her? Or are you just saying that?” Theo asked.

Stark frowned. “I care for Topper more than I ever expected to care for any female. I couldn’t even stand being gone from her for a single day. Goddess only knows if the stubborn witch will ever admit to wanting me to be here, but I am convinced she does whether she admits it or not. Her body responds to mine.”

Theo laughed. “TMI, Dude. TMI. But okay. Take her home then. Try not to destroy her house while you two are working things out. It’s the only place Topper is ever truly happy. She’s like my mother and I can’t handle the idea that you might hurt her. I will fry your alien ass, no matter how much I like you.”

“So noted, Sheriff. We will check with you tomorrow,” Stark declared, carrying his prize to what he hoped would be his future home.

Topper woke up with a fever working her body into a sweat. Only it wasn’t a fever, it was Stark’s icy fingertips and hot mouth bringing all her naked girly parts to life.

When her eyes finally opened, Stark hovered above her, then took her mouth in a sexy, demanding kiss. Her hands slid across his wide shoulders, then went looking for what she needed most. It was lying rigid against her stomach. She wrapped him tightly in her fist and pushed against his hips trying to get him lower.

“Are you sure, Topper? It would be best to finish our fighting first,” Stark whispered.

“Are you willing to wait until we’re both dead?” Topper asked, laughing up into his swirling silver gaze. “Because Glacier will melt and Earth will have another ice age before I admit you’re my superior.”

“Good point,” Stark declared easily, moving down into position between her legs.

Topper’s body arched in welcome as he rocked into her. He put his forehead against hers so he wouldn’t take her like the rutting animal she seemed capable of turning him into just by being beneath him.

“This is all I wanted from any female on any world, but I’ve only ever found it with you. I respect you, honor you, and desire you above all others. I want to stay with you for the rest of your life.”

Topper groaned and lifted her legs until her heels rested against Stark’s flexing, perfect ass. “I love you, but if you mess with me, I will never hesitate to use my power. No talented alien man stick is going to reduce me to a weakling.”

Stark chuckled as his alien man stick grew to epic proportions over her taunt. “Goddess forbid,” he said roughly.

Then he let his madness to possess her overtake him, working out his fear of having almost lost her, and his tiny resentment that she would never concede to him. When she called out his name in climax, he surged inside her body and decided the pleasure she gave him mostly made up for any torture she might decide to inflict.

He listened to her breath level out and her heartbeat return to normal.

Topper was his… would always be his. He was going to have a wonderful time getting her to admit it. He grinned when her hand came up to stroke his hair.