Relic Of The Heart

RELIC OF T HE HEART

…Her nipples tightened, and she knew without a doubt the moisture between her thighs had more to do with lust than the temperatures outside. Rough fingertips of a tomboy touched a breast, lifting its weight, tugging at a sensitive nipple. Kadir would be a gentle lover. There would be no pinching, no biting. Then again, in her fantasies he could be either—or both. She thought of him, fierce and male and crazy with need, pounding into her sex while she gripped his horns for dear life. Her free hand caressed her hip and passed over the sway of her belly as if she had all day. And she did. Kadir never took a break. Hell, he would probably dig all night if his body could stand it. She pictured the muscles of his back rippling with exertion while he swung his axe. The fingertips so tender with each new find. Her hand twisted in her curls and found the center of her core. Wet fingers retreated, then brushed her clit in teasing circles. The wind taunted her with prickles of sand. Little stings assailed her calves and burned into the tender flesh of her breasts. When her finger hit the right spot, she moaned with the open mouths above her and felt her pleasure mount. The feeling peaked, and a cry broke from her throat that startled her into awareness, into bliss. And into the arms of a very real Kadir… ALSO BY LAURA BACCHI

Chella’s Quest

RELIC OF THE HEART BY LAURA BACCHI

AMBER QUILL PRESS, LLC http://www.amberquill.com

RELIC OF THE HEART AN AMBER QUILL PRESS BOOK This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. Amber Quill Press, LLC http://www.amberquill.com All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review. Copyright © 2005 by Laura Bacchi ISBN 1-59279-453-X Cover Art © 2005 Trace Edward Zaber

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PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AM ERICA

To Heather and Stephen for putting up with me, and to Bridget Midway for all the laughs and support.

PROLOGUE

Danazi, New Mexico, 2079 Tara Covington had hit rock bottom. Literally. The shovel slipping in her sweaty palms refused to budge against yet another layer of hard rock. Her boyfriend, the esteemed Dr. David Hampton, swore that the few Anasazi artifacts they’d recovered thus far would lead to bigger and better things. Her intuition told her otherwise, and so far she’d been right. The blistering noon sun showed no mercy on the team of archaeologists and interns from Taos State University. Tara willed her slick hands not to drop the shovel as she dragged it behind her in defeat. When she went to find David

and give him the bad news, the tent they shared was empty. She let go of the shovel and continued her search. “Dr. Covington?” A young intern blocked her path with a nubile tan body and a blinding smile. Tara didn’t bother trying to remember her name—all David’s interns looked the same. So she gave them numbers instead. “Yes?” Bimbo Number One nibbled her bottom lip. “I had some questions…” Well, this was news. “About what?” Tanning? Teeth whiteners? She chided herself for being catty and decided to hope for the best. “I need your help.” Number One stepped closer and showed her a collection of intricate sketches. The designs, copied from the smattering of pottery shards the team had unearthed this month, were exquisite. Maybe all the dough mommy and daddy had spent on Number One was worthwhile after all. Tara took a good look at the images. “These are excellent. I didn’t know you could draw.” The woman giggled. “Yeah, well, I wanted your opinion on which one I should get tattooed right here.” She yanked the scooped neck of her tee aside to reveal a gravity-defying mound of breast. Tara rolled her eyes and held her tongue. Sidestepping the young woman, she trudged uphill toward the caverns at the western side of the dig. It was her favorite place at the site, and every evening since their arrival, she’d come here to be alone and watch the magnificent sunsets. Global warming had hit critical levels in the last ten years, and the dusk skies celebrated this human anti-achievement with violent streaks of purple, red, and sometimes green. It was hard to believe that something so beautiful marked the destruction of the planet. She laughed bitterly to herself. Why bother delving into the past, why waste her life preserving the culture of an ancient people for future generations? Experts predicted Earth would be uninhabitable within the next hundred years. All that schooling—and money—down the drain. The woman caught up with her and grabbed her arm. “Why don’t you come back to the camp, Dr. C.? I wanted to ask about some courses—” “Look, I’m tired, sweaty, and frustrated as hell. Go find a grad student to talk to.” She tried to shrug off the blonde’ s grip, but the student held tight. The woman lowered her voice. “I don’t think you should go up there right now.” Tara searched the young intern’s face. “The look in your eyes tells me I should.” She wrenched free from the blonde’s grasp and started her ascent anew. She rounded the corner of the first cavern and instantly regretted leaving the shovel back at the tent. David stood naked from the thighs up, jeans sagging to his knees, his tight white butt flexing with a rhythm as old as dirt. Bimbo Number Two’s perfectly manicured fingernails kneaded his ass. Tara didn’t need a doctorate to know the intern’s lips, most likely in a shade of pink to match her nails, were fastened to David’s cock. After climbing silently onto an outcropping of rock, Tara checked her own nails and sighed at the torn cuticles and ragged edges. She scraped some soil from beneath a thumb before giving up. Maybe when this dig was over she’d get a decent manicure. David groaned and stepped away from the kneeling woman. Maybe he’d stay faithful if Tara dyed her brunette locks a lighter shade. Luckily, she didn’t plan on staying with him long enough to find out. “Dr. C.!” The blonde fell back onto her heels and clamped a hand over her mouth. Too bad she hadn’t done that earlier. David turned and had the nerve to look annoyed instead of guilty. Somehow Tara managed to keep the anger out of her voice. “Sorry to interrupt, but we’re hitting rock again.” He tucked his fading erection back into his pants and zipped up. The young woman stood up, but couldn’t seem to decide if she should stay or go. Tara took pity on her and made the decision for her. “You can leave now. I think he’s through.” When the intern skittered away, Tara added, “We’re through, too.” “Whatever.” He headed back for the camp. She jumped down from her perch and blocked his way. “No apologies this time, David?” His cool blues eyes, the ones that had melted her insides at that first faculty meeting, turned cold and steely. “The only reason I stuck with you this long is because funding for this expedition required two Ph.D.s. So get over it, and let’s get back to work, shall we?” Her hands found her hips. “I’ll get back to work when you start to work. Feeding your cock to a pretty pink mouth may feel good, but you can’t put that on your vitae.” She gave him her back and marched to camp. When the tents came into view, she groaned. A yellow Hummer sat parked in the middle of the makeshift village of college students. A tiny man emerged from the monstrosity of a vehicle, a man who held her future in his hands. She managed a cheery hello. “Hi, Dr. Tavish. Is anything wrong?” Something must be up for the Department Chair to make an appearance at a site. The man was rumored to only leave the confines of his office to go to the bathroom or meet with the Dean. Tavish adjusted his tie as he took in his surroundings. She sensed David’s presence behind her and heard her lover’s gulp. Fortunately, Tara’s students possessed enough brainpower to appear busy while Tavish looked around the camp. They dusted chunks of pottery and made notes in their sketchbooks. David’s students, however, were diligently engaged in deepening their tans. One of them had the nerve to shout out, “Cool car!”

“Why thank you, my dear. And what is your name?” The sun worshipper looked up. “Tassie McCormick.” “Daughter of the media magnate, Don McCormick?” “Yeah, that’s my daddy.” He stood over her, intentionally blocking the sun to get her attention. It worked. She propped herself up on an elbow and squinted in his direction. “And what would daddy say if he knew his hard-earned cash was paying for a vacation instead of an education?” Tassie laughed. “Tell him whatever you want. My daddy pays your salary.” “Then tell him I need a raise when you see him tonight.” All activity at the camp stopped. Tara’s breath hitched. Tavish wouldn’t really throw a rich kid off the project, would he? “In fact, why don’t all of you pack? This excavation is a joke.” He stomped over to face David. “What the hell is going on here? If it weren’t for Tara, I wouldn’t have a clue as to your progress. If I can even call it that.” David opened his mouth to reply and stuttered excuses about time and the lack of students. She wanted to enjoy her boyfriend’s—make that ex-boyfriend’s—squirming, but knew her turn was coming next. Tavish dismissed David’s gibberish with a shake of his head. The Chair looked at Tara. “I’d like a word with you. Alone.” At least he’s saving my ass chewing for private. She sighed and tilted her head back toward the caves. Hopefully she wouldn’t end up on her knees like the intern had, begging to keep her job. “I took a big risk hiring you—” “I know, sir, and I can explain—” “Be quiet, Tara, and listen. I hired you fresh out of grad school because of your enthusiasm, and I need you to show some of that enthusiasm now.” She narrowed her gaze. “What exactly do you mean?” “We’ve got a major funding problem on our hands. Between the budget cuts announced yesterday and the lack of support from our regular donors, I’ve had to make some tough choices. The recent football scandal hasn’t helped, and wealthy patrons are dropping like flies.” Her heart lurched. “My fellowship?” “I’m sorry, Tara.” His hand rested gently on her shoulder. “I can keep you on part-time this fall until you find something. Unless…” “I’m listening.” Tavish took a deep breath. “A billionaire contacted me this week, and I have to admit, at first I thought it was a prank. An eccentric old fart looking for an archaeologist to dig up his back yard will fund you—and give you a considerable stipend.” “How much?” “One-hundred-thousand Euros.” Tara practically swooned. “You’re joking.” “No. But there is a catch.” She cocked a brow. “He wants me to dig naked?” “No, worse. He’s convinced that aliens once lived on his ranch. Claims he’s found some evidence to support his theory.” She shook her head in disbelief. “So not only are you trying to get rid of me, you’re going to make it impossible for me to work at any other university in the world.” “You don’t have to say yes now. Just go for a visit and see what you think.” He patted her arm. “The man wanted someone with enthusiasm. My advice? Do it and keep a low profile. If your colleagues don’t know, they can’t laugh you out of tenure.” “Enthusiasm, eh?” He nodded. With that much money, she could work with the guy for a year, then fund whatever pursuit caught her fancy. She pasted a fake smile on her face and nodded back. “What’s his address?”

CHAPTER 1

Kadir Takoda kept his head bowed, partially out of respect but mostly to hide the huge smile that threatened to split his face in half. He’d gotten the summons to the Hall of Command two sun cycles ago and hadn’t slept at all since. Commander Delise had selected the young archaeologist for a return mission to Earth in the hopes of bringing closure to the unfortunate history of Earth-Cartha relations. The Millennia Celebration was two years hence, and the leader of Cartha had made it clear the mythical Relic of the Heart would make a notable addition to the upcoming festivities. Kadir wondered if being selected had another purpose. His ancestor, Bachir Takoda, was the reason Cartha had lost the Relic in the first place. Delise’s smooth voice roused him from his thoughts. “Are you up to the task?” He met her eyes. “Yes, Commander.” “I’m glad to hear this.” Her grandmotherly features crinkled with wisdom and pride. “You must go alone, but you’ll have everything you need. We’re only a com-call away.”

“I know, and I am honored, Commander.” “Just remember one thing, Kadir. Under no circumstances are you to bind your heart to an Earth woman. That’s what got us in this mess to begin with, and I’m trusting you to guard your emotions from such temptation.” When he nodded, she added, “Earth people’s ways are more advanced now. I wouldn’t want you to lose your life for this venture.” “Understood, Commander.” “Good. Now go pack, son of Cartha.” *** Kadir cursed the desert heat in the place known today as Nu Mexiko. Whoever translated the documents about life on Earth must have had their numbers confused. His travel thermometer registered 345 P-degrees at the site, a temperature barely survivable by most life forms. He’d expected variables in Earth climate, but the steep increase surprised him. The only thing that had surprised him more was the fact that someone had already discovered the Carthian contact site. Evidence of activity—perhaps as recent as the last Earth decade— greeted him upon arrival and sent a chill of fear through his bones. Who else knew of the relics? And would the men return? When he could stand the sun no more, Kadir erected a domed tent over his current work area, careful not to disturb the site in the trench excavated prior to his arrival. Thankfully, a breeze wafted through the open sides of the shelter. He peeled the soaked shirt from his skin and gathered his damp hair in a strip of leather. The nearest Earthling lived half an Earth mile from the site. Hopefully Kadir wouldn’t meet a single one during his stay, especially now that he’d taken off his highnecked shirt. Three pairs of szachis buds decorated the sides of his neck and marked him as non-human. And the lowest pair, resting where his neck met his shoulders, had erupted into small horns, signaling to all who saw them that he was a Carthian male entering his prime. He should have taken his friends’ advice. At his departure party, they teased him about the emerging horns and urged him to take a mate before leaving Cartha. Had he done so, the desire to be with a woman would not lead him astray while on Earth. While peeling back the layers of time beneath him, he let his mind wander through the fantasies crowding his brain. He thought of the young women back home and wondered what they would feel like as he pressed his cock into their wetness. Finding a mate would prove easy enough, he supposed. He’d overheard the girls at the Academy whispering about his body and long, black hair. The problem was keeping a mate. Visiting sister planets and looking for signs of ancient cultures didn’t appeal to most women. The few female students in his classes wanted to catalogue the finds or sketch them for posterity. They didn’t want to have their hands in the dirt, and they didn’t want to sweat or freeze in a land far away from their families. But Sacha had. He bit his lip as her name echoed in his head like it had on the nights he’d palmed his prick in her honor. Unfortunately, Tarvan got to her first. The last he’d heard, they were rummaging through the exile colonies, looking for clues to life on those harsh worlds. Lucky bastard. He ignored the heat building in his pants and continued to search the sandy soil for hints of civilization. The Carthians of old had established contact with an ancient race of Earth dwellers, and although things had been rocky at first, Carthian documents told of living in peace with the natives. The two peoples shared a love of nature, and while the Earthlings celebrated the land through dance and song and stories, the Carthians made art. From the sketches he’d studied, Kadir expected to find Carthian paintings of the Earth tribe’s activities. He wondered what, if any, costumes were worn and if creation of the universe stories paralleled those of the Carthians. Footfalls sounded behind him and roused him from his thoughts. “I knew you’d come.” Kadir shot upright and felt the air flee his lungs. Above him stood a man with the face of a dried parma fruit, leaning on a cane and sporting an impish grin. Although Kadir had excelled at Earth languages, the English from satellite broadcasts he’d reviewed evaporated as his heart pounded in triplicate. The old man reached down to touch him. He staggered back in shock and fell into a hole he’d finished digging just moments before. When the man held out his hand in a gesture of peace, Kadir got to his feet. Pulling a roll of thick parchment from a pocket, the man offered it with trembling fingers. Too intrigued not to look, Kadir climbed up and reached out for the document, and the man handed it over. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this day. You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.” Kadir listened and tried to throw off his stupor. The man’s shriveled hands reached up to touch his own neck. “You’re one of them. You have the six bumps.” Kadir ignored him and unrolled the scroll in silence. Row after row of sketches paired with Carthian words covered the entire surface of the paper. “I’ve hired an archaeologist to help you search.” Something in the man’s expression told Kadir he could be trusted, but the idea of another person at the site felt wrong. Many Carthians back home viewed the relics with a reverence he feared an outsider would not hold sacred. “I need no help.” “Ah. So you can speak. And you will need help. Time is of the essence.” “I have plenty of time,” Kadir replied. “Two Earth years.”

The elder placed his hand on Kadir’s forearm. “But I don’t have that long.” The man crept toward a copse of trees. When Kadir threw on his shirt and grabbed his travel bag, the man looked back and smiled. The trees thinned and opened up to a cluster of caves. The man entered the nearest one, waited, and then pressed a button. Soft light washed through the large passageway, illuminating their path with a comforting glow. “My name’s Alistair. Alistair Gray.” Although the cavern floor was smooth, he seemed unsure of his steps. Kadir offered his arm, which the man seemed happy to accept. “I’m Kadir Takoda. And I have many questions.” “I can imagine. I’ll try to explain on the way to my home.” “You live in a cave like the ancients?” “No, my son. This is a shortcut to my house. Kept me cool when looking for things your people left behind.” Kadir studied the old man’s face in the uneven light of the tunnel. “How did you find the site?” “I lived here on my father’s ranch as a boy. In the summer, my brother and I dug around for bones or buried treasure until Dad had to fence off the damage we’d done. Didn’t want a cow to fall in and break a leg.” The man paused to wipe his forehead with a square white cloth. “After my brother went off to college, I continued playing in the trenches we’d made for playing war or pirates. Although the Anasazi ruins lay north of here, I still had hope that I’d find something, anything. A sharpened stone, a basket fragment. That optimism kept me going and fostered a lifelong obsession for buried treasure of a different sort.” Kadir nodded. “Once you believe something is out there, waiting for you to unearth it, you can’t stop digging. It’s as if you feel an artifact calling to you. Patiently, impatiently—it doesn’t matter. All you live for is to keep searching.” “We have a lot in common, Kadir. Except that I did turn my back on my passion. But only to make enough money to retire young and hire a team of experts to help me.” The younger man stopped. “How long have you and your helpers been at it?” If a wealthy man with assistants hadn’t found anything yet, how would Kadir manage to do so in less than two years? Alistair grinned, the lines on his face bundling into tight folds. “We found the document you have in your hand first. A team of experts took one look at the diagrams of what appeared to be a spaceship and accused me of perpetrating a hoax. So I labored on by myself. Until last year.” “Why did you stop?” A fuzzy, gray eyebrow shot up, and the wrinkles on Alistair’s forehead etched further into his flesh. “I’m not in the best of health, my son. Hiring someone in the field, someone who’d take me seriously was a necessary move on my part.” Alistair’s eyes twinkled in the low lights of the cave. “A nearby university with funding problems also happens to have an excellent archaeology department. The same archaeology department that scoffed at me decades ago.” The man’s motives troubled him. Kadir didn’t travel all this way to get involved in an Earth conflict. His mission was to bring closure to his people and restore honor to the Takoda name. “So this is about revenge?” “If my hired help chooses to write a paper on what we find and vindicate me, so be it. I hopefully won’t be around to find out either way.” Kadir felt sadness weight his heart. He touched the wizened hand on his arm. “You will die soon?” he asked. “Soon enough. But I hope to have a choice about where I die.” “I don’t understand.” “I’ve dedicated my life to your culture, your past. I want to go home with you, Kadir, when you take the relics back.” The younger man’s gulp echoed in the passageway. “I don’t think that’s possible.” They reached the end of the tunnel. Alistair pressed his palm to a stone, and the rock wall parted to reveal what appeared to be a small museum devoted to Carthian culture. “Anything’s possible,” he whispered, his hand now guiding Kadir’s stunned body inside. His shock faded, and he rushed in to peer at the rewards of Alistair’s hard work. The man had found so many things: jewelry, written documents, tools—even a wall-sized scroll painted with dancing figures. So many things, but not the Relic of the Heart. A piece of parchment under glass detailed the history of the Relic and the giving of the Relic to the Earthlings as a token of peace. Alistair’s frail voice interrupted his reading and pointed to an image of the mythical stone. “It’s the one thing I cannot find.” “It’s the one thing I must bring back.” “Is it valuable? Or simply important?” Kadir met his gaze. “Both. The Relic of the Heart is made of bozarite, a crystal no longer found in our system. Dug from the ground in perfect shape, the gem needed no carving. My ancestors believed it had magic inside. We now know that to be myth, but the Relic remains sacred to my people.” Alistair pointed to a long scroll of woven rushes. The images, crude and simplified, did not compare to those drawn by the Carthians. “I think I know what happened,” Alistair said. “This was made by the native tribe to tell what transpired. A woman and a man fell in love.” “An Earth woman and a Carthian man fell in love.”

“And he wanted her to come back with him?” Kadir nodded. “We try not to interfere with the planets we visit. But Earth was the first so far away from our galaxy to have humanoid life. We were excited and shared too much. Your people were overwhelmed by our technology. And my ancestor…” A sly grin danced on the elder’s lips. “He shared a bit too much of himself.” Kadir felt the heat rising to his cheeks. The bottom buds on his neck pulsed at the mere thought of coupling. “Um, yes. They became romantic. But the Earthlings didn’t understand that he wanted the woman to come away with him.” He trailed a finger over the glass, over the fallen bodies covered in dull red pigments. “She thought my ancestor, Bachir, would stay. He took her onboard the explorer craft and, when the engines started for take-off, she became frightened. The Earth people attacked.” “Their weapons were no match for ours. Bachir wrote that they tried not to hurt the Earthlings, just repel them long enough for takeoff. But when the tribe cut into a fuel line with their spears, the gas escaped. The toxic vapors imploded the warriors’ lungs, leaving them to drown in blood. My people had no choice but to flee.” “I see.” Alistair’s palm rested on his slumped shoulder. “And I’m sorry about what happened.” Then his seriousness dissolved into mirth. “Women,” he chuckled. “The downfall of men everywhere.” Kadir couldn’t help but grin. “Hopefully, I won’t see an Earth female my entire stay here.” Alistair’s chuckling grew louder. “Then this should be interesting.” Kadir’s smile vanished. “Why’s that?” “I only had one taker for this dig. And you’ll meet her later this afternoon.”

CHAPTER 2

The cool temperature of the Alistair’s home did little to combat the sweat beading on Kadir’s upper lip. He waited in a small study, praying to the gods his host wouldn’t reveal his true identity. And praying the woman was hard to look at. Or perhaps covered from head to toe in clothing. When the time came, he walked slowly with Alistair to meet the Tara woman. “Does she know who I am? What I am?” “No.” The other man winked. “You’re just a volunteer. Someone I’ve been corresponding with about my finds. She seemed a bit miffed by your presence, but she’ll come around.” Kadir wiped the moisture from his brow with a sleeve and followed his host to a set of doors. He peeked into the room, anxious to meet the woman who would help him uncover the past. She sat by the window, her wild head of curls lit by the sun like an aura from a luxite crystal. Auburn highlights on her untamed tresses flickered with the light, then deepened to a dark brown at the roots. So much for being ugly. Or well covered. A thin strap from the revealing garment on her torso slipped off her shoulder. Her legs, tan and toned, flexed as if agitated, and animated the feminine curves of her calves. A stretching sensation burned through his horns—and his groin. She seemed preoccupied with cleaning the dirt from her nails. When she held her fingers to the light for inspection, her forearm pressed into her right breast and exposed even more bare flesh above her shirt’s neckline. A groan gurgled in his throat. The woman looked up, then tended to her other hand. “Just so you know, I’m not happy you’re here. But since you are, know that I’m in charge of this dig.” He couldn’t speak. And if he could, he wouldn’t trust himself to say a word. Thank the gods she couldn’t understand Carthian; he had a strong feeling little comments would be escaping his mouth on an hourly basis. Alistair gripped his shoulder in a show of support. “Kadir Takoda, meet Tara Covington from Taos State University.” She stood and walked up close. Too close. Her scent added another dua-measure to his cock and brought it near to bursting. Her eyes searched his face, then dropped to scan the rest of him. He didn’t need to look down to know his loose pants lifted away from his body in an obvious display of arousal. When her eyes returned to his, a smirk lifted one corner of her sensuous mouth. She crossed her arms over her chest, causing more supple skin to spill into view and increase his agony. “Well, you certainly seem happy enough to be here, Kadir Takoda.” He nodded and looked away. Moisture slicked his body, and the activity in his horns accelerated. Finally, Alistair spoke and ended his torment. “I’ll show you to your rooms. You may want to shower and change before dinner.” “Certainly,” Kadir replied. After I take care of my aching prick. Travel bag in hand, he tried to focus on the posh surroundings as Alistair mounted the huge stone staircase. Murals of primitive art flanked each banister and mimicked the earthy colors twisting in the cool rock underfoot. Kadir motioned for the woman, who now wore her luggage on her back, to start her ascent before him. She

declined, and the way her beautiful green eyes darted to his backside forced him to swear. “Are you Native American?” she asked. Alistair lied for him. “Yes, he’s Cherokee.” Each step teased the soft cloth of his pants along his shaft. He hoped the gods would be kind and allow him to make it up the stairs without exploding. “Then shouldn’t he be interested in the digs near his ancestral homelands?” She talked about him as if he were invisible. It angered him, but he couldn’t respond to her questions without the possibility of slipping up. He took a calming breath and let Alistair to do the talking. “He is. But he’s more interested in what I’ve found.” That kept her quiet. The stairs ended, and their host pointed to two doors facing each other across the hallway. “Take your pick. Dinner’s at six.” Alistair made his way to the staircase, leaving Kadir alone with his travel bag and the Earthling. “Let me know if you need any help.” She stared pointedly at the bulge in his pants. Had he known females on this planet were so forward, he would have mated before leaving Cartha. Since his meekness seemed to fuel her advances, he resorted to a brasher approach. His fingers found the joiners of his shirt and leisurely unfastened them from top to bottom. Then his hand rested on the laces of his belt and untied the knots. Her leer turned to surprise as her expressive mouth formed a small o. He eased his thumb down into the sagging waistband in a slow tease, then held tight to the garment to keep it from falling. “I’m sure I can take care of things on my own,” he whispered. Her shock did not last long. The tip of her tongue caressed her bottom lip and sent a jolt through his balls. “If you change your mind, I’ll be glad to give you a hand. I’m only a few footsteps away.” He wanted to take her up on her offer, to tear off his pants and pull her slim fingers to his eager cock. He’d rip off the tiny pieces of fabric she pretended were clothes and taste the female nipples that had grown stiff during their heated exchange. Instead, he turned and fled, bag in hand, and slammed the door behind him while spouting curses loud enough to rival the laughter echoing in the hallway.

CHAPTER 3

Tara clamped a hand down on her mouth to muffle her laugh, and listened to the exotic words coming from the other side of the door. When he’d entered the den earlier, she’d done her best not to drool. Thank God she’d brought all male interns; any female student with a half-decent libido would be sneaking into Kadir’s room every hour, on the hour. She prayed she could keep herself from doing the same. When the eccentric Mr. Gray informed her of the volunteer, she’d been furious. The last thing she needed was some other supposed expert hanging over her shoulder, interrupting her work. With almondshaped eyes of deep brown, the man would be interrupting her work. Her imagination had stripped him naked within sixty seconds of their meeting. The loose white shirt and billowy pants couldn’t hide the powerful muscles padding his frame—or the impressive bulge making itself known below his odd belt. She’d been without a good lover for too long. David’s extracurricular activities prevented him from tending to her needs— needs she was sure Kadir could take care of quite nicely. But if he had any inkling of how his presence had affected her, she’d lose her authority on this dig. She needed to play tough, keep him on the defensive both sexually and intellectually. Another giggle escaped when she thought of how he’d run away after just one lame attempt at turning the tables on her. Keep it up, and he’ll be high-tailing it back to wherever he came from in no time. Tara opened the door to her bedroom and gasped. All thoughts of ravishing the man across the hall dissipated as she scanned her room. Her bed frame had been carved from variegated stone. Four glossy columns soared up into a high glass ceiling and matched the rich browns and greens of the rest of the room. She slipped the backpack from her shoulders and entered what appeared to be paradise. Her pack hit the floor, its fall cushioned by a thick carpet covered in a design of interlocking leaves. She ran a palm over the silk bedding and watched it change from gold to green with her touch. A dozen or more pillows graced the headboard, and she flopped onto the mattress to lose herself in its softness. After all the summers spent in a raggedy tent, she could definitely get used to this. From her vantage point, she could see a fireplace made of speckled stone and a huge window that offered a view of unspoiled desert. How many treasures lay beneath the miles and miles of sand reaching out to the horizon? And would she be able to find any of them? A strange sound from Kadir’s bedroom startled her. She sprang from the bed and flew across the hall then put her ear to the door. He howled as if in pain. Without thinking, she barged through the door to make sure he was okay. He was, and the stiff cock cradled in his hand told her that pain had nothing to do with the noises he’d made. He stopped in mid-stroke when she entered and fumbled to cover himself with a pillow.

The silky squares spilled to the floor. He bent over to grab one, and the glossy sheet of his black hair slipped forward to expose six large knots on either side of his neck. Her jaw dropped. He scrambled over to her, backing her up against the wall before covering her mouth with his hand. “Shhh. It’s okay.” His eyes bored into hers seeking compliance. “You promise not to scream?” She nodded. Her heart ached from the adrenaline slamming through her system. He removed his hand that only moments ago had cupped the thick shaft of his erection. His musky scent burned her nose and sent a flutter through her sex. “Ever heard of knocking?” he asked. “Ever heard of locking your door?” He grunted at her retort. She stretched out a hand to touch the growths on his neck, but he dodged to the left. “What are they?” she asked, trailing her own hand along her nape. He couldn’t be more than thirty years old. Perhaps he’d been born after the Northern Meltdown of 2040 to parents of the Great Lakes area. Even with the government evacuations, the effects of this environmental nightmare continued to cause deformities to children of parents exposed to the fallout. She cringed and chided herself for blurting out her question. No wonder he seemed shy. “Can I get my pants on first?” She chuckled. “Why bother? I’ve already seen you naked.” And growths or not, I like what I see. “Because you’re a woman, and I barely know you.” He stood in the middle of the room, a fancy pillow clutched to his crotch. She fought the urge to laugh—the poor guy didn’t need any more taunting from her, especially since the bumps made him selfconscious. Walking backward toward the bed, he released a stream of what sounded like profanity in his native tongue. He yanked back the covers of the bed and climbed in. Her toes curled in her boots and urged her to take a step forward. “Stay back,” he warned. His body was large, but the bed was larger. He jerked the covers to his chin like a vulnerable child guilty of some small transgression. “You’re covered up.” Unfortunately. She softened her voice. “Were you a Meltdown baby?” He wrinkled his brow in confusion. “No.” “Then what are they?” “I can’t tell you. Not yet anyway.” “Why not?” she asked. “I need to consult someone first.” He released his death grip on the sheets and let them drift downward, exposing a hard, sun-kissed chest. She sighed, imagining how he’d feel if she discarded her clothes and joined him. The hard planes of his torso tempted her to the edge of reason. Sleeping with someone on the job was never a good idea. David had been proof positive of that. But something about Kadir made her insides hum with desire. Maybe after their work here was done…if she could hold out that long. She risked another step. Then another. When her thigh grazed the edge of the bed, he burrowed deeper into the covers. “You’re a grown man, Kadir. You don’t need to ask anyone’s permission to tell me anything.” One innocent hand on the bed. Then another. The knee that came after, however, had nothing but mischief in mind. Her whole body made it onto the coverlet and straddled his waist with no further protest from him. The bottom pair of things on his neck widened another centimeter right before her eyes, and the scientist in her took over. She leaned closer for a better look and savored his sensual male scent. Warmth radiated from the knobs, and when she rubbed it with a fingertip, the steel she sat on increased in length as well. Kadir writhed under her hips in what appeared to be agony. He clawed at the covers to free himself from his satiny cocoon, unveiling inch after glistening inch of his rock-hard abdomen. Then his hands fisted in her hair and brought her face to his. Her lips parted for his kiss. A wet tongue lashed across her mouth instead. She tried to capture his lips, but failed as his tongue continued to dampen the outside of her mouth. Tara opened her eyes. The tongue sliding back and forth along the skin surrounding her lips increased in pace until she reared back. He released his hold on her curls and had the nerve to look surprised at her reaction. She lifted herself away from him and wiped her mouth with the back of her arm. “Wha…what planet are you from anyway?” He bolted upright and sent her sprawling backward . “So you know?” “Know what?” That a gorgeous guy like you should kiss a helluva lot better? “That I’m not Earth-born.” “I must be losing my mind.” She rolled off him and started to laugh. “Is this a hoax? I’m laughing now, but if I don’t get some answers soon, I’m going to get really pissed.” The modesty he’d shown earlier vanished. He peeled back the covers and took his time getting dressed. “Let’s find Alistair.” “Is he an alien, too?” Kadir didn’t answer. He simply strolled from the room, leaving her to calm her raging hormones and question her sanity.

CHAPTER 4

Alistair waited at the foot of the stairs. “Scientists are always so punctual. I hope you like what we’re having tonight.” As if on cue, the peals of a bell sounded the hour. Kadir forced a smile. His studies hadn’t prepared him for Earth time or Earth food. And had he known about Earth women, he would have never accepted this mission. A Carthian woman didn’t dare crawl into bed with a man she’d met only minutes before. Carthianas were soft spoken and demure, like a gentle breeze at dusk. Tara Covington was what Earthlings called a hurricane. The trio took their seats at one end of an enormous table, its surface glassy and veined like the stone found throughout the house. Tara sat opposite him and propped her chin on the knuckles of one hand. He refused to look away and acknowledged her unspoken demand for an explanation. “She knows.” Alistair didn’t seem too concerned. “Yes, I suppose those bumps are hard to hide. We’ll need to make some decisions then.” Kadir’s eyes dropped to her chest. Tara’s breasts sported two prominent bumps of their own. “Yes, we will.” He’d already made one decision during his walk to the dining room. The Commander had warned him about safeguarding his heart and emotions. But she neglected to mention any rules about sharing what throbbed between his legs every time Tara came near. Maybe he could use that to his advantage. In truth, this project belonged to him and his people. He’d do whatever necessary to gain the upper hand with this woman. The Carthian grinned. “Contact your interns. We won’t be needing them.” “But this helps pay their tuition. You can’t—” Kadir stood firm. “Yes, I can. No one must know I’m here. Get rid of them.” Alistair chimed in, probably in an attempt to ward off the female’s temper. “Don’t worry, Tara. I’ll see they’re compensated.” She turned to glare at the old man. “And the credit hours they would have earned?” “I’ll make some calls,” Alistair replied before trying to placate her some more. “I think it’s for the best, dear.” Kadir bit his lips to keep from laughing when she faced him again, her tan cheeks blotched with red. Thankfully, no platters had been set before them yet—she would have aimed hers straight for his head. She buried her face in her hands until dinner was served. The offerings now before them tasted as good as they smelled, and whether she ate out of anger or hunger, he could not tell. But she attacked the dinner like a starving person. He shifted in his chair as the food disappeared into her feminine mouth. Each lick of her lips and every ravenous swallow tempted him beyond despair. He imagined those lips making love to his body with the same appetite she showed for her meal. Kissing his chest, nibbling his hip, sucking his cock… Both the bottom and middle set of szachis moved upward by the slightest measure and grazed his long hair. The sensation in his neck matched the one in his pants, and his teeth gnashed the metal utensil in his mouth to hold back a groan. She must have heard the sound stirring in his chest. Her gaze met his, and the thing they called a fork froze between her lips. What would his cock feel like in her mouth? Would she tease him with her tongue, keep him on the verge of release until he could take it no more? Or would she guzzle him quickly with a wild, desperate look on her face as she forced him all the way down her throat? He hoped to find out soon. When the torment of dinner concluded, his belly felt as full as his cock, and Alistair invited them outside to a balcony. The sun glowed violently on the horizon, its reflection staining the clouds with angry, psychedelic streaks. Evening skies on the planets in Kadir’s star system soothed inhabitants after a day of work with calming washes of blues and greens that deepened into black. The jewel-toned colors above him illuminated everything in sight, and he squinted to filter out the strange combination of hues. “I had no idea Earth sunsets would look like this. Strange yet beautiful.” Tara snorted. “Beautiful but deadly.” He didn’t respond. “Earth’s atmosphere is changing. Every year or so, the sunsets get more gorgeous, and our planet’s protective layer of ozone becomes thinner and thinner.” Alistair chimed in. “And the climate gets hotter and hotter.” That explained the lower temperatures in his ancestor’s journal. “But surely you have the technology to fix it.” “No, we don’t.” Tara stared out into the expanse of desert before them, her look turning wistful, almost tender. “My father loved to photograph sunsets as a young man. You’d be amazed at how much the sky has changed in the last thirty years.” “I’d like to see those images. You must be very fond of them.” The softness in her features vanished. “I try not to think about them. Studying the past is one thing. Looking back on it with your heart is another.”

“That’s a terrible way to live, Tara.” Her full lips pulled into a grim, tight line. “It’s the only way to live.” “Are you always this callous? This…unfeeling?” “Keep going. I’m sure you can find some other descriptors to add to the list.” “How about sarcastic?” She gave a mock pout. “Ouch.” “No wonder you’re unmated.” “Double ouch.” The look in her eyes told him he’d hit home. She wrapped her arms around herself to ward off both the evening chill and the barb he’d just sent her way. Alistair raised his eyebrows and quietly made his way back inside. “Are all scientists on Earth like you?” Her attention returned to the setting sun. He leaned down to rest his arms on the railing and hoped she’d open up to him. “The academic world is a cutthroat business. Publish or perish. Be the first to find something new. It doesn’t pay to be kind in this profession.” “Scientists on Cartha collaborate, share information. We celebrate our findings and give credit to everyone who helped along the way.” “Must be nice.” She spoke without a trace of sarcasm. “It is.” He brushed a stray curl from her cheekbone. “I wish you could know first-hand.” His fingers lingered in the softness of her hair. The wiry mass of ringlets was not as coarse as he’d imagined. Perhaps a gentleness lay hidden beneath that tough exterior, waiting to be discovered. By him. “You could make a difference, you know. Show others by example what a community of learning should really be like.” A mix of anger and sadness filled her features. “There is no future for this planet, Kadir. What we do today, we do for ourselves, for our own personal glory. Earth as we know it won’t exist a century from now.” He recalled his descent to this land and marveled over the cities and landscapes he’d seen. Earth was a thriving planet with much to offer future inhabitants. “A shame,” he whispered. “Yes, it is.” His fingers sought her chin. She gasped at his touch and emerged from the privacy of her thoughts. “But that’s no reason to not try something new, Tara. To not show others how to be different.” She peered deeply into his eyes as if seeing him for the first time. “You’ve given me something to think about.” “Good.” He smiled down at her and resisted the urge to touch his tongue—or lips—to hers. “Good night, Kadir Takoda.” She made her way to the door, but turned back to flash him a lopsided grin. “And be sure to lock your door.”

CHAPTER 5

On the day Earthlings called Monday, Tara kept to herself. After describing the Relic in case she happened upon it, he watched her choose a patch of dusty ground far from him and go to work with her tools. At the end of that day, the look on her face, caked with sweat and dirt, remained guarded. Kadir’s heart hung like a rock in his chest. Digging just wasn’t as fun without an enthusiastic colleague by his side. Tuesday was no different. Wednesday started out much the same. Kadir’s hesitant efforts to make conversation met with curt replies and eyes lacking trust. Such a shame, he thought. He knew what her eyes, the color of deep green muzari crystals, were capable of when excited. Kadir missed the glow he’d seen in her during their first meeting. He wanted her lively, full of spunk. To hell with the breezy women of Cartha—he now yearned for a hurricane. Wind, fire, whatever elemental Tara forced upon him, he was ready. He cringed while the events of that first meeting replayed in his mind. He’d give anything to have her on his bed again. The everpresent tingle in his cock agreed, and he cursed the sun for taking so long to set. He needed to be in his room, ridding himself of the ache between his legs and the tension in his body, purging the memory of her touch with a few flicks of the wrist. He thought about his initial strategy to deal with Tara. As much as he wanted to leave her reeling with lust to distract her from taking charge of this project, he knew in the end it would do them both no good. He wanted her as a peer, someone who’d focus all her attention on finding the Relic. His ability to focus, however, waxed and waned on an hourly basis. Sensation thrummed in his horns, and he gritted his teeth while adjusting the monster throbbing with need in his loose pants. His growing horns remained the only sign of Carthian male aggression, a holdover from eons before when men fought to mate with a prized female or protect their clan. The men in his family had warned him of the trouble those six spikes would cause even though the days of claiming women through battle vanished long ago. And his uncles joked about the “seven agonies” as if the horns were on par with his cock. In a way they were.

The young women at the Academy tried not to stare at the changes happening to the necks of the young men in class. But he’d caught them enough times in mid-giggle to know a very personal part of him was on display for females to see. He’d trained himself to think of mathematics or astronomy when a Carthiana looked his way; he knew the feminine gaze would soon be dropping below the belt to see what effect her staring had caused. A high-pitched sound from Tara pushed all these thoughts aside. He came running, shovel in hand to save her from what had made her scream. Kadir exhaled in relief when he saw that no creature had caused her panic. She turned to him and smiled, an ancient Carthian eating stick cradled in her hand for his examination. His worries that she might hide any artifacts from him evaporated as his grin grew wider. From that moment forward they became partners in this adventure, discussing the histories of their planets and sharing the highlights of past excavations. On Thursday, when she moved her tools closer to him, it was as if they’d been working together forever. He threw himself into his work, happy to know someone by his side could match his tenacity and appreciate even the smallest discovery. With no rain on the horizon and a cloud or two to block the sun, they slowly uncovered the past. Only when the wind passed by did he stop toiling, look away, and pray for the strength to ignore her scent as it assaulted him in the most wonderful ways. *** “You need sunscreen.” And I’ll be glad to rub it on you. Tara fumbled for her bottle and tossed it through the air to the man who refused to let anything get in the way of his search. His blistered palms caught the lotion and massaged some under his long ponytail. He’d surprised her this afternoon by tearing off his shirt only an hour after arriving on site. She took in the smooth planes of his bronze chest. If he continued to work shirtless, she’d be a puddle of hormones before the week was out. “Want some help?” She crept up behind him and took the bottle from his hand. After warming the white glob between her palms, she glided along his spine and observed with delight the effect her touch had on him. He shifted uncomfortably in the sand, and his torso stiffened. Tara had a pretty good idea that something grew stiff below his waist, too. She imagined slipping her slick fingers beneath the waistband of his cargo pants. Easing them down. Finding the thickness down below. Instead, her fingertips massaged his nape, then explored the strange protrusions on either side. He reached over his shoulders and grabbed her wrists. “Those are private.” “Don’t be sensitive about them. They’re interesting.” “I’m not sensitive, but they are. Touching them is like touching…some other things.” She took a step closer to him and felt his tight butt against her stomach. “Like what?” He wrenched her arms forward, pulling her to her tiptoes. Pulling her flush with him. Their laughter filled the air beneath the tent that he rarely stayed beneath. “I thought scientists were supposed to be smart,” he teased. “They’re sexual organs?” “More or less.” “If they’re sexual in nature, why don’t you cover them up?” “For Carthians, the horns are like facial hair. A sign of manhood. But unlike a beard, you can’t go around touching them on a man.” The horn to the left of her mouth taunted her. Her tongue darted out and swirled over its length. Breath rushed from his lungs. “Or licking them.” His fingers dug into her forearms as she dangled behind him. But when she nipped the growth with her teeth, he dropped her to the ground. “Sorry,” he panted. I’m not. A large hand waved in front of her line of vision, sweeping away the delicious fantasy playing out in her mind as it had every day since they started this dig. A fantasy fed by tidbits of information he’d shared throughout the week. “I’m not…tired,” she mumbled. He offered her a water bottle. “You should be. You’ve been working like a beast from sunrise to dusk. You’re as tenacious as I am about finding Carthian relics.” She took the water and let a trickle cool her dusty mouth. The things they’d found thus far had caught her attention, and she remembered her squeal of utter delight after unearthing the metal eating utensil. Poor Kadir had grabbed a shovel, running to her side of the site ready to kill a rattlesnake. She hadn’t felt that kind of thrill in years. Instead of wondering whose theories she’d prove wrong or what publications she’d submit to, Tara held the mottled two-pronged fork in her dirty hand and relished the racing of her heart. “I take this project seriously.” “That’s commendable, but I have more at stake here. If I were you, I’d be sneaking off to the cavern we found the other morning.” His deep brown eyes danced in the sunlight. “The one with the clear water running through it.” A break sounded good. Although they spent every night in the posh residence of Mr. Gray, the days were hell. She was tired of tasting salt and dust every time she licked lips parched by the sun. Tired of her deodorant melting away by mid-morning. A quick dip in the shady pool sounded like a well-deserved treat. She practically skipped the half-mile in the shifting sand. This morning’s find—a child’s doll made of woven rushes

and decorated with turquoise beads—had loaded her system with adrenaline. But more importantly, it reminded her of how her father had been at the peak of his career. Her dad had been a brilliant archaeologist. While in his prime, he traveled the world and made a career of documenting the work of his peers. “Never know too much,” he once told her. Tara didn’t understand what that meant as a teenager and ridiculed his motto as a grad student. When his meaning hit her, it was too late. For both her and him. Gerald Covington III wanted his bright, young daughter to experience all the riches the world had to offer. Make friends with all the diggers, as he called them, and find out just enough to write a story for National Geographic or some other popular rag and leave wonder intact. Instead, she followed the narrow path of one school of thought. She ached to be the best at one thing and scorned her father’s flightiness. When she finally understood why he’d stayed happy with his field all those years, it was too late to ask him to tell her his tales. Alzheimer’s robbed them both of so many memories. Memories she’d give anything to know now. Dad would be proud. She smiled to herself and silently thanked Kadir for putting the fun back into her job. She stepped into the shaded cavern and into another world. The high ceiling of red stone, pierced by time and the elements, dwarfed her. Scattered circles of sun dotted the ground below. The breeze outside, feeling her mood, picked up speed. Here, she sought shelter from the sun and wind. The water beckoned, its glassy surface marred by the air howling through the openings in the cave. Had she been a child, she would have likened the sounds to the howling of ghosts. To her adult ears, the unfamiliar tones echoed through the structure sometimes plaintive, sometimes questioning, but always calming. She pulled the sticky clothes from her body and lost herself in the moment. Tresses both dry and damp lifted with each gust, then dropped to tease the tops of her shoulders. After backing up to a cool wall, she closed her eyes and pretended the wind was her lover, that the wind was Kadir. Her nipples tightened, and she knew without a doubt the moisture between her thighs had more to do with lust than the temperatures outside. Rough fingertips of a tomboy touched a breast, lifting its weight, tugging at a sensitive nipple. Kadir would be a gentle lover. There would be no pinching, no biting. Then again, in her fantasies he could be either—or both. She thought of him, fierce and male and crazy with need, pounding into her sex while she gripped his horns for dear life. Her free hand caressed her hip and passed over the sway of her belly as if she had all day. And she did. Kadir never took a break. Hell, he would probably dig all night if his body could stand it. She pictured the muscles of his back rippling with exertion while he swung his axe. The fingertips so tender with each new find. Her hand twisted in her curls and found the center of her core. Wet fingers retreated, then brushed her clit in teasing circles. The wind taunted her with prickles of sand. Little stings assailed her calves and burned into the tender flesh of her breasts. When her finger hit the right spot, she moaned with the open mouths above her and felt her pleasure mount. The feeling peaked, and a cry broke from her throat that startled her into awareness, into bliss. And into the arms of a very real Kadir.

CHAPTER 6

He grinned down at the female in his arms. “I guess this makes us even.” The dead weight in his arms sprang to life. “What are doing here? You never take a break!” She untangled her arms from his and tried to cover the places his mouth yearned to taste. “You’ve been staring at me all week, wanting this as badly as I do. Don’t be coy with me now.” He caught her wrists and pinned them above her head. “And I told you I would take a break. After I found the Relic.” She beamed at him. “Where is it? “You’ll see it soon enough. But now that it’s found, I can tend to other things.” He gathered her hands together into one of his. “Things distracting me every day.” His tongue tasted the salt on her neck. “Things needing my attention.” His unoccupied hand stole along her neck in pursuit of a breast. He bent low, crushing her mouth in a kiss he’d been practicing on his pillow every night this week. She responded as he’d hoped. With need. With awe. Every sharp intake of air she sucked in between his kisses became a triumph. Blood thundered through his temples. When he made love to his hand, he could last forever. With Tara in his arms, his cock threatened to spasm at any moment. He broke the kiss. “You’re a quick study, Kadir.” One of her hands escaped and drifted down his abdomen. He snatched it back. “Keep it up, and quick will be an understatement.” He tilted his head toward the water. She pushed away from the cavern wall, and he let go of her wrists. Slowly, she lowered herself into the pool and waited.

He stripped off his clothes and retrieved the red stone from his pocket. After holding it up for her inspection, he joined her, gem in hand. Her eyes shot back and forth from him to the stone as if she couldn’t decide which was more of a find. He then released it into the water between their bodies. The faceted stone floated, and when a speck of light shone down, it touched off a dazzling vision of color. “It’s breathtaking,” she whispered. “So are you.” She actually blushed. Any insecurities still plaguing him left at the sight of crimson in her cheeks. Her reaction gave him permission to take the lead in their mating dance. To be the aggressor. He nudged the sparkling stone toward her and sent it bobbing in his hand’s wake. Her weathered fingers grasped it tentatively, like a child admiring something precious and forbidden. Forbidden. Why did that word have to enter his mind? Why before the act and not after? He groaned aloud in frustration. She glanced up. The heat in her look made his cock pulse with anticipation, and she relinquished her grasp on the rock. It dipped below the surface, then buoyed back to the top. Kadir tapped the Relic and sent it spinning toward the water’s edge. More flashes of red filled their private sanctuary. “I shouldn’t be doing this.” He swam along her body and caught her in his embrace. “We shouldn’t—” “Give me one good reason why not.” “Because my ancestor’s relationship with an Earthling is the reason I’m here.” “What does that have to do with us?” “Do you remember the long scroll in Alistair’s study?” “The one with the dead bodies?” she asked. He nodded. “Bachir Takoda wanted to take an Anasazi woman with him. They were heartbound.” Her forehead wrinkled at the phrase. “In love,” he explained. He ran a wet fingertip along her bottom lip and continued. “Bachir wanted to take her back. She didn’t understand, and when he took her into the vessel, things turned ugly. The Anasazi attacked.” “Your relative and his people defended themselves, right?” “It never came to that. He tried to make her understand, but the natives began destroying the ship. When the warriors severed a fuel line, my ancestor had no choice but to take off. Fuel escaped and killed the warriors. My people ’s leader sent me here to bring back what we left behind. To close this ugly chapter in the history of Carthian space exploration.” “I see.” “So now you understand why my leader forbade me to do this…this act with an Earthling?” The serious expression on her face dissolved, and a ray of light from above brightened the naughty twinkle in her eyes. “Share and collaborate. Weren’t those your exact words?” Her hands slipped under the water and held tight to the stiffness between his thighs. “How will you learn Earth mating rituals if you don’t participate?” His balls tensed in agony as she pressed on. “And I believe your boss said not to give your heart to an Earth woman.” Her fingers cupped his sac, then gave his cock a squeeze. “This isn’t your heart.” His groan echoed through the cave. He caught his breath before trusting himself to reply. “But I can’t offer one without the other.” “I think you can.” You’re wrong, Tara. So wrong. His heart and head burned with rejection. But below his waist burned an urge much stronger, much more primal. Now he knew the meaning of the word siren. Lorelei. Temptress. The water nymph in his arms pumped his shaft and captured his lips. And he was defenseless to deny her.

CHAPTER 7

Kadir was anything but gentle. His lips plundered her neck, and his fingers raked into her flesh, leaving trails of searing need in their wake. Pressure built in her clit as a hand slipped through the curls of her pussy to explore her secrets. “I want to taste you.” He guided her to the water’s edge, turned her around, and helped her crawl back up onto land. She waited on hands and knees for whatever would come next, then sighed when he grabbed her thighs and thrust his tongue deep into her sex. He pulled his tongue away when her moan filled the cave. “Is my tongue okay now? Here?” She moaned when he licked the frilled lips of her pussy. “How about here?” The thrashing tongue she’d ridiculed that first night stunned her clit with its precision. Unable to speak, he thankfully understood her groans to mean yes. A few heartbeats more, another shudder or two, and she’d be there. He removed his mouth, and she almost gave herself whiplash when she

jerked her head back to face him. He wore her juices on his grin. “More?” “Yes!” A lick teased the strip of aching flesh between her legs. “I want you to beg.” His eased down into the water. “Come back. Please.” The thought of herself bare and open for his perusal sent another shockwave through her pussy. “How much do you want this, Tara?” “More than you know.” With his lips fastened to her again, his tongue lashing from side to side, she screamed. Pleasure thundered through her body, and he tugged her nipples to the cavern floor, arching her back to expose more of herself. She needed to go limp, to crash to the earth in exhaustion. But instead of letting her go, he began to suck, coaxing her clit to plump once again and make her cry out his name. Only when the echoes faded to silence did he roll her onto her back and let her relax. She opened her eyes. Tight, skyward nipples framed the torso of a man graced by perfection. He climbed up between her legs. “I can make a baby now,” he whispered, gesturing to his spikes on his neck. “Do you want me inside you?” “Don’t worry. I’m safe.” No more words were needed. The tip of massive cock met her slickness, plunging into her core at full speed. His girth spread her almost to the point of pain before the waves of orgasm hit her again. Her sex clenched him tightly with each pulse of bliss until sticky heat shot from his cock and mingled with her own wetness. She found the strength to speak. “That was…” “Terrible? Boring?” The laughter in his features told her he was joking. He laved a nipple while she searched her brain for the right words. “…out of this world.” He beamed at her, then jumped up and retrieved the Relic floating nearby. She wanted to ask him where he found the energy to hop up like that, but when his still-trembling hands lost their grip on the slippery stone, she dared not say a word. His reflexes broke the gem’s fall before it hit the ground, but not before a faceted edge struck the wall of the cavern. The loud ping of a shard landing on the ground drowned Kadir’s stream of exotic curses. “I’m so sorry.” She held back her tears. All his work, down the drain in less than a second. He stopped yelling in his native tongue when the sliver of crystal lost its color. Red liquid drained from the shard and rose on the wind, higher and higher until the droplets stuck to the cavern ceiling. Then, as if drawn to the outside air by a magnet, the red orbs slid to the nearest hole and flew away. Too shocked to speak, they turned back to the Relic. Her first instinct was to protect him. “You could say you found it in that condition…but you probably shouldn’t lie.” Kadir opened his mouth to speak when all hell broke loose. Red light flashed through what little sky they could see while the sound of fireworks filled their ears. She could barely hear what he said next. “Maybe there is magic in this after all…”

CHAPTER 8

The storm didn’t last long. Maybe twenty minutes. Twenty long minutes. Kadir helped her to her feet with a wary eye toward the sunset flooding the cave’s exit with crimson light. “I think we’ve done enough damage. Let’s call it a day.” They dressed and secured the site. After he saw her to the door of Alistair’s mansion, he headed back to his ship. “What did I unleash?’ He typed frantically into his computer’s databases, hoping to undo whatever harm he’d just caused. Three Cartha hours later, he gave up and plopped down on his berth bed, tired and aggravated from his fruitless efforts. Granted, his ancestors lacked the technology to find out more about bozarite, but other than creation stories and hints about magic, no documentation existed. “Kadir?” His gut knotted when he heard Tara’s voice. He ran to the rover’s door. “Stay back!” Too late. She stood right inside the entrance. First the broken Relic, now a female body registering on the sensors. His onboard communicator beeped. He froze. Should he force Tara back and say a solar flare-up was messing with the signals? Or should he accept what seemed to be a curse on the Takoda family and confess to the Commander? Tara’s voice shook him from his dilemma. “Something’s happened.” “How bad is it?”

“It’s actually kind of good. At least so far.” She handed him a pile of printouts from the Internet. He scanned the pages in disbelief. “The hole in Earth’s ozone layer. It’s healing.” She paused to let her words sink in. “Apparently the red liquid multiplied while it rose. Oneeighth of the damaged atmosphere has been repaired. That’s the good news.” “And the bad?” “Military and airport radar systems caught the whole event. The government knows the storm started here. The military is already on its way.” Kadir switched off the beeping communicator so he could think. “Alistair wanted to come back with me. And I want to take him, to show him the world he believed in for so long when everyone else thought he was crazy.” She nodded. “Then take him. Your leader will understand.” He risked looking into her eyes. The unspoken question hung between them. “I want to take you, too, Tara. Go get Alistair and pack your things.” She flashed him a smile and headed toward the door. Then she turned back. “This isn’t a trick, is it? You promise to be here waiting when I get back?” “I’ll be here. Waiting for you both.” He’d traveled across the stars to find the rare and precious Relic of the Heart, but found something—someone— more unique than any stone. Even if it meant the end of his career, he’d take her with him. “I promise, Tara.” She backed away then stopped. “My dad…” She’d talked about him a lot these past few days, and although Carthian medicine was advanced, it couldn’t make the man well. This thing called Alzheimer’s seemed unbeatable. He gave her shoulder a supportive squeeze. “You’ll have to say goodbye.” She seemed unfazed by his words. That should’ve been his first clue that she was up to something. “If we had time, would you take him, too?” Without thinking, he replied, “Yes.” “Then I think I can buy us some time. I have a plan.” He started to imagine what outrageous strategies she might be dreaming up, but decided against it. She trusted him not to leave; he would trust her with whatever scheme she’d thought up for getting her father. He watched her run out into the darkness of midnight, and his heart crashed against his ribs in fear—and joy. She would be coming with him back to Cartha. Approaching the control panel, he summoned all his nerve, then relinked the communicator. Commander Delise’s worried face filled the screen. “What’s happening, Kadir?” He took a deep breath. “Don’t be alarmed—” “I’m already alarmed. We detected a second body in the rover with you. A female.” “She found the ship by accident today. She’s been helping me look for the Relic.” He cleared his throat for courage. “The Relic that I broke today.” “What happened, son of Cartha?” Her voice, almost tender now, must have sensed his remorse. She would be forgiving. “It slipped from my palm. A piece broke off…” “Oh. Well, that’s disappointing but manageable. We can display the unbroken sides for the exhibit.” “There’s more.” “Tell.” “When it broke, something was released. Something that changed Earth’s atmosphere.” He had never seen the Commander display panic—until today. “Leave now, Kadir.” “I will,” he promised. As soon as Tara gets back.

CHAPTER 9

“Are you sure, Tara?” Alistair’s shaky hand gave up trying to hold his cup of coffee. “This may be too much excitement for an old man like me to handle.” The corners of his mouth lifted in the dark study. She knew the news of the Relic’s powers thrilled him as much as it did her. Who wouldn’t be ecstatic to save the Earth, then rocket off to another galaxy? “I think you can handle it. In fact, I think you’ve been waiting for something like this all your life.” “You’d better believe it, my dear girl.” He shuffled as fast as his ancient legs could manage, and unlocked the cases filled with his life’s work, his fingers trembling, his eyes bright. Tara helped him grab some boxes from a closet, and when she was sure he could manage the task of packing by himself, she ran off to grab her and Kadir’s belongings. And as much aluminum foil as she could find. The military would be looking for an alien, a UFO—anything to explain what happened last night. Why not give them exactly what they wanted? After settling into Alistair’s truck, she pulled a length of heavy-duty foil from the box on her lap to fashion a helmet for herself and Alistair. Kadir and his spikes would do well enough on their own. She

added a giant antenna to the top of her headgear, pressing more and more foil onto the crinkled mass until she was satisfied. Then she proudly showed off her handiwork to Alistair. He nodded his praise and added, “It’s perfect.” She agreed. Kadir had excellent timing—at this very moment, hundreds of people were heading south for Roswell’s annual Alien Fest. Once the four of them hit the road with a flying saucer in tow, they’d all blend in just fine. *** “We’re going to pretend to be aliens?” Kadir couldn’t believe his ears. “Yep,” Tara answered. “Want a space hat? I’m getting quite good at this.” She checked her reflection on the surface of his rover and smiled at her creation. Even Alistair wore something shiny on his head. “This had better work.” I’m in enough trouble as it is. He quickly stowed their bags on board and sensed her warmth close behind him. When he turned, she lifted the crazy thing on her head and kissed him lightly on the lips. “It will.” After Alistair closed his gaping mouth, he whistled his way back to the huge vehicle and inspected the hitch. Kadir followed. “Are you sure that truck can haul my rover? It’s made of traciumbased metals, denser than anything on Earth.” He helped the feeble man up into the lofty cab. “This, my boy, is a Ford F-950 equipped with an American-built V-8. And it’s tougher than anything in the universe.” *** Cartha could use some Fords, Kadir thought when they pulled away from the protective grove of pine trees. Too bad he couldn’t take the engine back with them for a closer look. Three extra bodies would be tricky enough. Tara stopped exploring the rover and looked up as if she could see through the ceiling. “They’re here.” He’d seen the blips on his scanners and felt his skin prickle. The vibrations of helicopters grew louder. He grabbed her hand for reassurance, and she gave it a quick squeeze. Within seconds, a gruff voice blared from a speaker, demanding that they pull over for inspection. She opened the ship’s door and hopped out, space helmet in hand. The driver of a Jeep sat talking to Alistair. Kadir slipped on the aluminum helmet she’d made and made sure his spikes were covered before joining them. The vehicle’s driver removed his military cap and massaged his temples. “Don’t you people have anything better to do? We’ve got a Level 1 Alert and the entire state is crawling with alien freaks.” His passenger snickered. “Sarge, these guys are wearing tin foil, for Pete’s sake. Let’s head northwest and let these loonies go.” The man called Sarge opened his door. “Our orders were to search everyone.” He went straight for the open door of the rover, gun in hand. Kadir followed and prayed the man wouldn’t touch anything. He didn’t want to resort to violence if the officer threatened their escape plan, but, if necessary, he would. “You must have a lot of time on your hands.” Ridicule or compliment, Kadir couldn’t tell. He just stood a few paces away and let the sweat pour from his brow. “My great grandparents used to have an old Silver Stream. Rode all over the country with that thing.” He peeked into the sleeping quarters. “I can’t say that I agree with your décor, but it’s nice to be inside an RV again.” Kadir had no idea what the officer meant and simply nodded in agreement. The officer moved past him and met Tara at the door before vaulting down to the road below. “Enjoy your trip, ma’am.” “Oh, we will, Sergeant. Have a great day.” The officer gave a mock salute while ogling her breasts. All three sets of spikes impaled Kadir’s silly hat as jealousy coursed through his veins. His hands tightened into angry balls, ready to slam into the man if didn’t stop looking. Tara must have sensed his rage. She gave the man her back, and the male took the hint. The three of them watched the cavalcade churn up dust and move past. When the last vehicle disappeared, Alistair gave them a thumbsup. Tara latched the door shut after he helped her inside. “The hard part is over,” she said. He pulled her into his arms, tight enough to wrench the breath from her lungs but not close enough to kiss. Foil grated against foil and kept their lips apart. He yanked her hat off, then his before twining his fingers in her curls. His free hand pressed her palm to his crotch. “I still have a hard part that needs some attention.” She walked him backward to the chair facing the controls. “Sit.” Dropping to her knees, she swiveled the chair away from all the flashing buttons, then traced the outline of his erection straining against his pants. He slid into the chair, put his hands behind his head, and waited. She wasted no time in getting his pants to his ankles. A pearly bead filled the small opening of his cock. With two fingers gingerly holding his shaft, she went low and wet his sac with her tongue. His groan bounced off the metallic walls. He spread his legs apart as best he could with his pants still trapping his feet. She noticed his discomfort and freed a leg, then lifted his thighs over the high arms of the chair. The openness of his position made him feel vulnerable, but he couldn’t wait to see what she’d do next. Her lips captured a ball. All of it. A hot mouth suckled the sensitive organ and rolled it gently against the brand of her tongue. His hands dropped to grip his knees and expose more of himself to her. The precum on the end of his shaft doubled in size and dripped down the side of his prick.

She went after the other ball, lavishing it with the exact same treatment. He bit his lips to keep from losing his seed. Backing away, she worshiped him from a distance with one tender finger that played in the sticky fluid he’d produced. Soon both of her hands twisted around the length of him. She licked her lips. Kadir struggled to stay still in the sweat-filled seat when her mouth covered the purple tip of his cock. Her tongue, slick and eager, swirled round his crown until spasms raged through his groin. She was ready. Twisting the chair, Tara worked him back and forth, side to side, taking more of him with each turn of the seat. When her lips met the base of his manhood, they pressed hard into his flesh, then rode him up to the ridge of his cock’s swollen head. His seed followed in her wake, pulsing into her mouth as she sucked him dry. “You were up late last night. You need some rest.” She stood and removed his hands locked in position behind his knees. After leading him to his bed, she covered him with a blanket and sent him off to nap with a sweet, salty kiss.

CHAPTER 10

Facing the military wasn’t the most difficult part of their leaving after all. Tara’s father sat in front of a television, shaking his head. “I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to stay here.” He finally unglued his eyes from the TV. “Who are you again?” She still had the stupid hat on her head. Yanking if off didn’t help him recognize her, so she dropped to one knee and clasped his hand. “It’s Tara, Dad.” For a fraction of a second, his body became alive. He clapped his hands together, then pointed her way. Maybe this time, he’d remember. Just maybe… He turned to his companion, a frail woman tucked away under a mountain of blankets. “It’s that girl I’ve been telling you about. She comes to see me every week.” And in a loud, exaggerated whisper, he added, “I think she’s the one who’s been putting stuff in my treasure box.” Tara glanced down at the rectangle she’d fashioned from scrap wood two summers ago. Sand hid the “treasure” buried at the bottom of the box, and every week she’d bring him a new trinket and slip it under the cool sand. He’d sift through the box and usually find what she’d concealed before her next visit. Her pockets were empty today. All she could offer him was a oneway ticket to Cartha, and he wasn’t interested. Kadir put his hand on her shoulder, then found a chair at the other side of the room. She turned back to him, hoping he’d give her enough time to convince her father that he should come. His reassuring nod told her to take all the time she needed. After an hour—the longest hour of her life—she knew her father wouldn’t be going. No amount of begging or nagging would be worth ruining her last visit with her dad whose hand held tight to the woman’s beside him. This was where he needed to be. Tara tried to swallow the lump forming in her throat, but it stubbornly remained and made it damned near impossible to talk. Kadir sensed her pain and rose to hold her from behind. She relaxed against him. “I have a digicamera in my backpack,” she whispered. He left to go find it, and Tara searched her pockets in vain for something to hide in the sand at her feet. When Kadir returned, camera in hand, she brought him forward. “Dad, this is Kadir. He digs, too.” Her father smiled. He reached for his daughter’s hand and kissed her rough skin. “I’ll miss you. Tell your mom hi for me.” Tears escaped and singed her cheeks. “I’ll be seeing Mom.” As we zip past the stars. When she’d lost her mother to cancer years ago, she’d thought that was the cruelest way to die. Too bad her father proved her wrong. “One last hug?” she asked. He drew himself to full height. Even with age he towered over her. Out of the corner of her eye, she spied Kadir tucking little things they’d found over the past week into the box. A spray of tears unleashed fullblown sobs. Her father seemed afraid to let her go. “Will you look after my little girl?” “With pleasure.” Kadir opened his arms to receive her, then took the camera from his pocket. After a few shots, her dad slid back into his chair and dozed off. It was time to leave. Her feet, however, stayed rooted to the tile floor below. Kadir gathered her into his arms and carried her out into the sunshine. Tara held tight to his shoulders. “Thank you.” He planted a kiss on her temple, then lifted her into the ship. Alistair didn’t have to ask what happened. He gave them time to get settled before heading back out on the road. By the time they reached a side road that led to desert, her crying had stopped. “He’ll be okay, Tara. We couldn’t give him the care he needs even if we took him with us.” She nodded. The bumps beneath the ship told them it wouldn’t be long. Once they hit a stretch of desert, the truck would stop and they’d take off. Tara broke the silence. “Alistair left a letter for his lawyer. To tell him where he’d gone and about the Relic.”

He pulled the stone from a pocket. “Will it do any good?” She shrugged. “People don’t often get second chances. Let’s hope this planet does the right thing.” The truck slowed. Kadir hopped out to unhitch the rover. Tara took her last look at Earth, camera in hand. The setting sun conjured up the usual mix of colors, and she wondered how it would look after the atmosphere had healed completely. When she snapped her final picture of the New Mexican horizon, the men were ready to come onboard. The craft lifted a few feet off the ground and made its ascent gradually. As they hovered over the red cliffs below, Kadir peered out the door. “Strap in. I don’t know what will happen.” He waited for them to comply, then wrenched his arm back, muscles tense, legs ready to thrust the stone forward with all their strength. A flash of red flew through the air. He sealed the door, but stayed by a window to watch. The moment the Relic made contact with a hard surface, chaos exploded all around them. A blinding red glare blazed through the windows and pitched the ship to the right. Kadir made it to his seat, buckled up, and slapped a button on the panel before him. Then a wave of unimaginable force pressed Tara’s head into the padding of her chair, and blackness filled her mind.

CHAPTER 11

“Are you going to tell your leader?” Tara asked. “She might not be too happy to see a pair of stowaways when we arrive.” Kadir took another look at the control panel. With a safe lift-off and their course programmed, they’d be docking at Cartha in less than two Earth days. Thank the gods for portals. He initiated the com-link and waited for a response. Space travel had disrupted his sense of Carthian time; luckily the onboard computer kept track for him. Commander Delise would be in her office. Static evolved into patterns, and an image of the Commander loomed large and stony before them. Her silence lasted what seemed like an eternity. “You have a lot of explaining to do, Kadir.” “Yes, I know. But first, I wanted to be sure these two Earthlings would be welcomed upon our arrival.” Tara bit her lip when the Commander glared onscreen. Alistair, however, stood firm and smiled. “And if I said no to these visitors, would you drop them off at the nearest planet?” Kadir wrapped his arm around Tara and clapped a hand on Alistair’s shoulder. “No, Commander. Alistair Gray and Tara Covington aren’t going anywhere but Cartha. Alistair has many things to show you. Relics and scrolls of our people.” Her features relaxed, and a grin spread on her face. “Well, Son of Cartha, you figured out the magic of the Relic, a mystery that has intrigued us for ages. Who would have known that a simple stone could create an atmosphere for a world with none? And you’ve saved an entire planet with that knowledge. How could I say no?” Tara jumped up and down and landed in Kadir’s strong arms. When she yanked her head back to avoid a full-grown spike, the Commander laughed. “Just try not to wound her before you land in Cartha. An Earth woman will be spectacle enough without a missing eye.” “I wouldn’t hurt her for the world. Any world.” His lips covered hers. Gently. Shyly. Seven parts of him ached to have her twisting in the sheets of his berth bed—eight if he counted his heart. Delise cleared her throat. “I’d like to speak with Mr. Gray in private. Talk with him about his work. That is, if you two can stand to be alone for a bit.” “With pleasure, Commander.” They left Alistair as he sank into a chair and began to formally introduce himself. But when the door to his room latched shut, Kadir focused all his attention on the green-eyed female beside him. “You’re wearing way too many clothes.” He raised her T-shirt over her head and stifled a groan when her sheer black bra came into view. Her hands found his pants. “So are you.” They waded through the puddle of clothing forming on the floor and fell to the tiny bed. His teeth captured a nipple. Mouth sucking, tongue licking, he tormented the stiff peak with an onslaught of sensation while his hands feathered light touches on her sides. She wriggled against him and trapped his leg between hers. When he slid his thigh along her cunt, the slickness that met his skin demanded he take her now. Grasping a set of szachis, she arched his neck back and laved his neck with a hot tongue. He spread her legs wide and lifted them close to her chest. With the head of his prick poised to enter her, he needed to hear her voice. He grazed the snug hole with the slightest pressure until she begged. “Stop teasing. Please…” He tipped his cock only slightly into her heat and moved his hips from side to side. She tried to tilt her bottom upward to force him in, but he backed off. She met his gaze. “Kadir,” she whispered. “You’re being cruel.”

“I want you to have all of me.” “I’ll take every inch —” “Yes, you will.” He surprised her with a quick, deep thrust, then retreated. “But I’m offering my heart, too.” His words hung in the air like the scent of their sex. He watched her inhale, think, and inhale again. “Only if you’ll take good care of mine.” The look in her eyes told him she’d been heart-wounded before. He silently vowed to never give her reason to feel that pain again. “I promise, Tara.” “Then stop talking and take me.” He slammed into her with abandon, stroking deeply and furiously. With a twist to the right, he plunged even deeper and slaked his shaft against pure, wet heat. She peeked at him through half-closed lids and sought her clit. Seeing her pleasure herself made his cock spasm and threaten to end their fun. He slowed his movements to watch. When her free hand rubbed a plump nipple, he pulled out. But her fingers found his cock and tugged it back into place. He readied himself to dip back in, and she surprised him by running his head along her clit, strumming his flesh against hers until she pressed him back into her cunt. Together, they slid into ecstasy, muffling their moans and scratching skin until their bodies could pump no more. His seed filled her, and he rolled onto his back to hold her close. When the damp sheets began to cool their bodies, he cupped her chin for a kiss. She had already begun to doze, and given today’s adventure, he didn’t fault her. “After you settle in on Cartha, will you go with me to planets in our sub-system, digging up the past of a people you don’t know?” “I’d love to, Kadir.” His heart soared with her answer. “Do you want to go some place dry and dusty? Or would you prefer cold and snow?” He touched the tip of her nose, imagining it pink with the icy temperatures of Devuna. “Hmm. I’ll have to think about it. I haven’t seen snow, except in photographs.” She snuggled closer to him. “If we went somewhere chilly, we’d have to find ways to stay warm.” He brought her hand to his spent prick. It twitched at her touch. “This will keep you plenty warm.” She gave it a tender caress, then raised her hand to the thumping in his chest. “So will this.” Yes, Tara, it will. He’d come so far to find a stone and found instead a woman to risk everything for. His future. His family’s honor. He placed his palm over her own heart and thought about the billions of stars whizzing by. Somewhere, watching from a star, were Bachir and his Earth woman. Watching and feeling proud.

LAURA BACCHI

Laura Bacchi writes romance, erotica, and everything in between. Her science-fiction erotic romance, The Heart of a Hunter, placed second in Phaze.com’s Phaze One Writing Challenge, and her romantic short stories appear regularly in Sun Magazine. A librarian by day, Laura lives in the Southeast with her daughter and a super-supportive husband who is always willing to read her latest work-in-progress and assist with any “research.” Readers are always welcome to drop her a line at [email protected]. For more about Laura and her work, please visit her website at: http://www.laurabacchi.com. *** Don’t miss Chella’s Quest, by Laura Bacchi, available from Amber Quill Press, LLC

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