Blurb:
Bryan, a simple country sheriff, is ready to shoot
someone and hide the body. One particular homophobic FBI agent is really
pressing his buttons. Along with that he finds himself in the middle of an FBI
investigation revolving around a recent UFO crash landing, is questioned about
a missing friend targeted by the FBI, and makes first
contact with the very alien the FBI is hunting.
Daroshi, Ma’Rairan warrior, has fulfilled his
obligation to his species, and is ready to mate. As second in command he
monitored the rescue of his captain who crashed on Earth while collecting his
mate, and witnessed the confrontation between a country sheriff name Bryan and
his captain. Impressed by how courageously the brawny human male handled meeting
a fully armed alien warrior, Daroshi asks permission to take Bryan as a mate.
Neither male is ready for the problems that come
with Daroshi’s decision, nor the passion that explodes between them.
Ziang
and Daroshi transported down into Bryan’s backyard. The night was pitch black,
the moon hid behind layers of fluffy clouds. Branches in the trees danced
soothingly to gentle breezes. An abundance of shrubs moved silently in the
quietly swirling wind. Bryan’s small house was set away from the main road and
deep in the woods, alone and isolated. Much like the owner.
“Interesting
set-up he has.” Daroshi looked around. “Bit cut off, though.”
“That’s
good for us. The last thing we need is more attention, and that FBI agent
showing up,” Ziang said. “I want this to go clean and fast.”
“True.
Of course, if he did show up, we could give him to Haya.”
“I
don’t like the human, but I wouldn’t do that to my worst enemy.” Ziang tapped
the communications device on his wrist, loading in their landing coordinates.
“Since Bryan is a law enforcement officer, set your weapon to low stun, just in
case.”
“Ziang,
I don’t want to stun him if it can be avoided.”
“Neither
do I, but Shawn’s words keep replaying in my head. Most bullets won’t hurt us,
but then, Bryan isn’t most humans. I’m sure he has other weapons in his house
that could be dangerous.”
“But
their weapons are so primitive.”
“That
may be, but primitive can wound just as easily as advanced. Set your stunner to
low, and use only if needed.”
“Yes,
sir.”
“I’ll
distract him, and you unarm him, if necessary. I know you don’t want me
touching him.”
“No
more than you’d want my hands on Shawn.”
“Understood.
And no, I wouldn’t.”
“Should
we activate our invisibility?”
“No,
it’s dark enough. If we just appear, we may scare him even more.”
They
crept around the house, moving carefully though the darkness. Both activated
their face shields for night vision. They blended with the night, silent
hunters that became one with the darkness and shadows; predators with a mission.
The prey was inside, unaware of what was closing in on him. Ziang opened his wrist
weapon and pinpointed Bryan in the house by his body heat. He motioned for
Daroshi to follow him to the back of the house. They’d enter through the back
door in the kitchen. As they passed the open window, Daroshi came to a stop
when he heard Bryan’s comment about his hand and a big red dildo.
His
body came alive and his tentacles jerked against his back. A low growl of
desire slipped out. Ziang immediately sliced his hand through the air, calling
for silence. Daroshi couldn’t help himself; the very image of Bryan working a
dildo up his ass inflamed him and sent his desire for the human spinning out of
control. Daroshi respected this human’s bravery and his dedication to an often
thankless job, but now there was more. He could scent Bryan’s arousal. The
scent was unlike anything he’d ever smelled, sharp and musky. From the depths
of his soul the word mine exploded in
his head. He wanted Bryan with a passion he hadn’t felt, ever, and he’d do
whatever it took to ease him into his new life.
In
his excitement, he made a rookie mistake. As he passed the window, he didn’t
bend down low enough to conceal himself.
* * * *
Bryan
sat at the table, waiting for the cookies to bake, when he heard a low growl,
quickly smothered, outside the window. He’d heard something very similar, and
not long ago. It wasn’t a sound he’d ever forget. Every hair on his body stood
up, adrenaline spiked, and his heart kicked into high gear. A cold flush spread
though his body. From the corner of his eye, he caught the blurry shape of
something moving under the window. He glanced at the back door and his stomach
cramped. It was unlocked. There was no way he could lock it before the intruder
busted through. And if he was right, and what was out there was what he thought
it was, a wood door wasn’t going to stop it. Plus, the window was open.
Calmly
he stood and reached for the drawer by the stove. His off-duty weapon was
stored there. He grabbed the taser, too. Why was the alien back and sneaking
around his house? If it was the alien that Shawn left with, why not just show
itself? He’d seen it before, so why act like this? He’d seen lights in the
nighttime sky shortly after Shawn left with his alien, but he assumed they were
monitoring the situation, to make sure all was okay before they left. It never
crossed his mind they were watching him.
Why would they be watching him? Another unsettling thought hit Bryan. Had
something bad happened to Shawn? If that was Shawn’s alien, and he wasn’t sure
it was, had it returned to let him know? But that was silly; he couldn’t
communicate with it like Shawn could.
What
the hell was going on?
The
handle on the back door turned slowly. Bryan tried to slow his breathing; he
was sucking air and that wasn’t good. The door eased opened, an inch at a time.
He held his ground as the door opened and he found himself staring at a seven
and half foot alien… again.
