Fawks (Dragons of Kratak Book 4) by Ruth Anne Scott (19)

“It is quite important, Paige. Or else I wouldn't have disobeyed your wishes.”

She opened the door further, motioning for me to come in. “Okay, but please, be quiet. They can't catch you here.”

I nodded, just happy to be let in and that I hadn't been rejected. Not right away at least.

Paige shut a door leading to a hallway and turned off the television before motioning for me to sit on the sofa with her. I sat and she stared at me.

“Well?” she asked. “What is it, Baz? Why did you drive all this way in the middle of the night?”

I opened my mouth, but the words weren't easy to say. I tried to figure out the best way to tell her that her life was in danger, all without actually frightening her. Because if she kicked me out, there was no saving her.

“I have reason to believe you're in danger, Paige,” I began. “And I'm here to keep you safe.”

She laughed, but I could see that it wasn't in amusement. She paced the room in anger. There was a firm set to her jaw and a narrowing of her eyes that made her displeasure very clear. She was very mad at me, and she was letting it show, all while trying to keep her voice down in order to avoid waking her parents.

“I'm in danger?” she said. “Are you kidding me? And what, you're going to keep me safe?”

“I'm the only one who can, I'm afraid.”

I told her all about the assassins, how my brother knew about her and he was set on killing her, all to break my spirit.

“Wait, why would it break your spirit, Baz?” she asked, her voice coming out soft.

Josie said I needed to be completely honest, and this was one of those times I knew it was necessary. “Because he knows I care for you, Paige. He knows that it would hurt me deeply if something happened to you.”

Paige made a noise that reminded me of a mouse – a squeak of sorts – as she looked at me with eyes that were widened again. As she looked at me, I could see that some of the anger in her peeled away. But she had a serious expression on her face.

“You care for me?”

“I do, actually,” I said. “A surprising amount.”

Paige sat back down beside me, and for a moment, I saw something other than anger in her eyes. She actually looked – happy? Relieved? I did not know with any certainty. I was not the best at reading human emotions – or understanding them, truth be told – but she was calmer now and not lashing out anymore, which I took to be good signs.

She bit her lip as she spoke, looking uncertain of her words. “While it doesn't excuse you putting my life in danger – as well as the lives of my parents – I am actually glad you came.”

My pulse raced, and I felt a smile forming on my face. “You are?” I asked.

“I am,” she said. “Because like it or not, I care for you, too. I have no idea what you are or even what's going on, but I can't stop thinking about you, Baz. These feelings are intense. And it's been quite a while since I've felt so strongly.”

The more she spoke, the more my heart filled with joy, and the harder it became to resist my impulses to touch her. Her hand reached out and touched me first, though, surprising me and breaking my resolve as I felt her caress my cheek. Closing my eyes, I leaned into the touch, and before I could stop myself, I leaned forward, closing the distance between her and me, and kissed her deeply.

She took in a deep breath as our lips touched, causing me to pull back at first, but she didn't stop the kiss. Instead, she kissed me back, pressing those soft lips of hers to mine. Our lips parted, and her tongue touched mine as my hands moved to the back of her head, freeing her hair from the ponytail and letting it fall over her shoulders.

I may not be a human, but I was still very much male and had needs like any other male would. I felt myself growing hard against my suit, and I resisted until Paige pulled away, taking me by the hand.

“Come on, Baz,” she whispered, her voice coming out breathy.

“Where to?”

“My bedroom,” she whispered. “For some privacy.”

“Privacy?” I asked.

Paige blushed, almost like she was embarrassed or ashamed. “I'm not sure how to ask this,” she said. “This is crazy. But I mean, you do have – umm – well, a penis? Being an alien and all...”

My eyes grew wide as I understood what she was asking me. “Oh, of course. I'm built much like a male human. In fact, the physiology between humans and Optorions is very, very similar. In fact, there is some speculation–”

“Baz?” she raised an eye brow at me? “You're doing it again. Wandering off on a tangent.”

I cleared my throat and felt a little embarrassed myself. “I still have all my parts – parts that are almost human-like, yes. Does that mean you want to–”

Paige bit her lip and stared at me, her beautiful eyes wide and her hair cascading over her shoulders now that it was free. God, to think of making love with such a beautiful creature – I felt the tightness in my suit grow even harder.

“Only if you want to, of course,” she said.

“Oh, I do,” I said. “I truly do.”

I'd never been with a human woman before, and I was nervous. So I was forced to appeal to an expert – such as he was.

“Human anatomy is very similar to our own,” Anjol chimed in with. “Mating happens much the same way as it does with your people, Baz.”

“Thank you, Anjol.” I truly was thankful for that tidbit. It made what we were about to do less scary. “Please, continue. Tell me more. Tell me what human females find most pleasurable.”

Chapter Five

When we got to Paige's room, she took me by surprise and kissed me. I was still in shock to be kissing this amazingly beautiful creature – not to mention that I was about to have sex with her. But as she pressed me against the door frame, I became more aware that this was truly happening, and if I wanted it to continue happening, I needed to make a move.

I grabbed Paige by the hair, pulling her face to me and kissing her deeply. I moved down her neck, sucking and nibbling on her soft, supple skin as she groaned softly.

“We have to be quiet,” she giggled. “God, I can't believe I'm an adult saying this – but my parents are right down the hall.

“Of course,” I muttered, my mouth firm against the flesh of her neck. “I will make sure to remain silent.”

I was still a male, and that meant I wanted to make her scream out in pleasure. Not to brag, but back home, I was known as a very good mating partner. I didn't want Paige to hold back, I wanted her to let me know what she liked so I could make her feel good.

But I also knew that if her parents found us making love in their home, that might not be the best thing for either of us, especially given the fact that she was already nervous about her parents finding out.

I pulled Paige's shirt off over her head, exposing her delightful cleavage. I couldn't help but stare in awe.

“Never seen a breast before?” she teased.

“Not like yours, I'm afraid. Women on my planet are less… shall we say, bountiful as you.”

That caused her to blush ever so slightly. There was only one garment separating me from those delightful breasts, and I was intent on removing it. As I fumbled with it, I started pitying the poor males who had to remove these on a regular basis. More than that, I felt sorry for the women who had to wear contraptions like those.

“Let me,” Paige said, reaching behind her back and unhooking the latch in one smooth motion.

The garment fell to floor, and her breasts were free. I so badly wanted to nestle my head amongst them, to feel her soft flesh against my skin and cheeks, but I feared that might be considered strange or inappropriate. I wasn't familiar with human traditions around mating and sex, so I erred on the side of caution, taking in the beautiful sight with only my eyes.

Paige slid out of her pajama bottoms, letting them – and her undergarments – fall to the floor. She was nude in front of me, and it was a sight to behold.

“Now it's your turn,” she said, fumbling with my suit.

“Here, let me,” I said.

I pressed a button on my wrist and ran my finger down the length of the chest, like a human might do for a zipper. The suit opened up, exposing my chest and Paige helped slip it off of me. In one fell swoop, and then I was naked too.

“I almost feel like an awkward teenager,” she said. Paige bit her lip and looked up at me with eyes that were partially closed and relaxed. “Almost like I don't know what to do.”

“Believe me, I understand your emotional state precisely,” I scratched my head as I stared at her, continuing to enjoy the lovely sight before me.

Paige stood on her tiptoes, letting our mouths touch again, and this time, we pressed our bodies together. Her hands explored my body and I explored hers. She was warmer to the touch than females on my planet. Our body temperature was naturally cooler, so to touch her was something entirely new and surreal to me. It almost made me dizzy.

We moved over to the bed, and I pushed her down upon it, my body above hers. Staring down into her eyes, I felt her hand grab hold of me. She tightened her grip, stroking my hardness before guiding me into her opening. Slipping inside of her was an unbelievable sensation and my eyes nearly rolled back into my head. Paige let out a gasp, grabbing onto me and thrusting her hips upward as if to make sure our bodies were truly connected.

Making love to Paige was an experience unlike anything I'd ever had before. Yes, we were very similar in anatomy – in fact, outright indistinguishable – but being with a human was still different than being with someone of my own kind.

Things were very similar to how they were on our planet, but better. I couldn't explain it, but human females were warmer than my own kind – our body temperature is naturally cooler thanks to our planet's climate and living conditions. But it was more than that. It was the body heat thing in part, yes. But it was also the way human women did things.

Paige had taken me into her mouth, which was something entirely new for me, and something entirely amazing. The way she used her mouth, tongue, and hand on me almost made me instantly climax. She had gotten down on her hands and knees and told me to get behind her, to pull her hair as I thrust myself in and out of her. She'd commanded me to go faster, harder, and all the while, my own excitement was building.

Paige's warmth was truly something unbelievable to me, especially the way it felt to be inside of her, wrapped up in it all. She, too, seemed to enjoy herself, leaving her mark on my shoulder – a literal bite mark, that is – from trying to stay quiet as I pumped my hips, moving myself in and out of her.

I, too, had my moments where I almost lost control. It was more intense than anything I'd ever experienced before. At one point, Paige was on top of me, but I guided her body with my hands, touching her at last. For all I had wanted to do was to touch her, to feel her, and there I was, getting to touch her in ways I had only imagined I would get to. And in some ways I'd never even been able to imagine.

In the end, our bodies shuddered as we climaxed together, forgetting that she was human, and I was alien. We were simply two people lost in a moment of making love. Her hands in mine, our lips pressed together, and our bodies shuddering and writhing as the most intense pleasure took over my body. She was whimpering, her pace intense as she'd ridden me, until both of us collapsed in a heap of sweat and bodily fluids. Utterly spent.

Paige stared down at me, her eyes sleepy and tired. “Jesus Christ.”

I knew enough about humans to know it was a statement. She wasn't actually calling me by the biblical name of a religious figure. Thanks to Anjol for that little tidbit. Always proving himself to be handy.

I was out of breath and still trying to get used to my body once more. “I told you I was built just like a human male, parts and all.”

“Built like a human, only better,” she said, looking down at me with a mischievous grin on her face. Her hair blanketed both of us in softness, shielding us from the rest of the world in that moment.

“Better?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Bigger,” she whispered, blushing slightly as she spoke. “Much, much bigger.”

“Oh,” I said, feeling some pride in that statement. “Well, I'm considered well-endowed on my planet as well, so it's by no means average.”

“Actually, that's not true. The average male–” Anjol started to say.

“Shh, let me have my moment.”

Paige laughed, kissing me as I wrapped my arms around her beautiful, naked body. That right there, was something I could get used to. Being with a woman like Paige was something I'd always wanted, but never thought possible. Not on my home planet, at least. She was different, and I meant that when I'd said it. I was falling in love with her because of those differences.

We both rolled over together, and I slipped out of her. We curled up together in her bed, our bodies exhausted and depleted of energy. All I wanted to do was sleep right there, curled up and snuggling her warm body, but I knew I had to stay awake. I had to protect her.

“Sleep, Paige,” I whispered, pushing the hair away from her face. “Get some sleep.”

I'd have to stay awake to watch over her and her family, too. I owed her that much after everything I'd put her through and the danger I'd put her in. Sleep wouldn't come for me, but I'd let her rest. I'd hold her, keeping her safe.

Paige fell asleep, mumbling something or another that I couldn't make out. I kissed her forehead and rested my head on the pillow next to her. Sleep would be nice, but making sure she was safe was of the utmost importance at the moment. I just had a feeling that Kapoc's assassins were out there lurking, and I couldn't afford to let them get the upper hand.

“Anjol, I commanded, would you please activate the energy reserves? It's going to be a long night.”

Chapter Six

“Incoming message from Tarkonil,” Anjol said. “It reads, ‘They're here, Baz. I picked up a transmission from them. They know where she's at, your human-friend, and they're headed that way. Escape now.’”

Paige looked so peaceful lying there, I hated to wake her up, but I had to. We needed to get out of there and fast. As long as we were there, her parents would also be in danger, and it would be hard to explain anything to them. I couldn't imagine having to explain to them that aliens were coming to kill their daughter – and them if they got in the way – so I had no choice.

I had to get us out of there, lead the assassins away from the home, and fight them somewhere else. Somewhere that Paige and her family would not be caught up in it. Hopefully, somewhere there would be no loss of human life at all.

“Paige, you must wake up,” I said, nudging her awake. “We need to go. Very quickly, we must go.”

“Go where?” she said.

“Somewhere else. We can't stay here,” I said, my voice urgent. “The assassins I mentioned earlier are on this planet. They know about you, and they are on their way here. We need to get you out of here to lure them away from your parent's house.”

Paige's eyes were now wide open as my message set in. “They're on their way? Here?”

“Yes, I'm afraid so. The only way I can think to keep your parents safe is for us to leave–”

“Okay,” Paige said, sitting up and picking up her clothes. “Yes, let's do this. Let's leave so they don't come here. We can't let anything happen to my parents, Baz.”

“I'm doing everything in my power to prevent it.”

She was scared, I could see it in the way she looked at me. But even though she was scared, she reacted quickly. She knew what had to be done to protect those she cared about, and in that moment, I knew I was falling in love with her. It probably wasn't the best time to be having that revelation, but what could I do? My feelings were my feelings and they didn't always come up at the most opportune times.

Paige was so brave, even when facing an enemy that she couldn't possibly understand.

“Let's go,” she said.

I'd slipped back into my biosuit and had my weapons handy. They'd find us, I had no doubt about that. But the further we were from that house, the better. I would be able to fight them, to protect Paige, and we'd be fine. But we had to get away from this house so her parents would not be collateral damage.

“Where should we go?” Paige asked me.

I was wondering the same thing as I stared out the window to the backyard. There were trees all around us. That would give us plenty of cover.

“Out there,” I said. “The woods. We can hide out there as we get away.”

Paige nodded. “Sounds like a plan. Let's get moving.”

I started to climb out the window, but she shot me a look and put her hand on my shoulder. “There's a back door we can use. That's how we civilized creatures do things,” she said with a smile on her face. “No need to climb out the window, Baz.”

“Oh, yeah. Right.” I followed her to the kitchen and we snuck out the back door, quietly moving through the night. We reached the fence, and she opened the gate, giving one last look at her family home.

“You okay?” I asked her.

“Just worried about them. You sure this is the right thing to do?”

I couldn't be sure, but knowing how vicious and tenacious the enemy was, this gave us the greatest odds of successfully drawing my brother's assassins away and keep everyone whole.

“To protect them?” I asked. “Yes. They want you, not your family. If we're not there, they won't go there. They'll look for us.”

She nodded, and together we walked in silence. The pine trees smelled so fresh and clean. It reminded me of when I'd first landed on this planet and how charming it all was. Everything about Earth was different than back home, and I loved it. The fresh scent was intoxicating and could almost make me forget we were running for our lives.

We got quite a distance from her house when I heard a sound behind me. And another to my left, and yet another my right. We froze, standing there for a moment as we waited for the enemy to show themselves. I had my sword ready and kept Paige close to me, ready to die to protect this woman if it came to that.

I felt someone step up behind me, and as I turned to face him, I felt a needle press into my arm. The pinch made me wince, but the feeling of hot liquid pouring into my veins made me grit my teeth to avoid screaming.

“What the–” I started to say, but I didn't get to finish my question. The paralytic rushed through my veins, freezing me in my place.

“Sorry, Baz, buddy,” a voice I recognized from my home planet said. “But you're no match for paralyzing serum. Nobody is. In fact, consider it an honor that we'd have to use a serum to render you paralyzed in the first place.”

I stood there, helpless and frozen. I couldn't even blink, so I was forced to watch what was unfolding before me. Watch as they killed my beautiful Paige? I couldn't let this happen. I tried to push past it and break the chemical bonds that were restraining me. But the medicine was too powerful for me.

I mentally kicked myself hard. I'd been so confident I knew what I was doing. We had walked this way to hide from them, but they could also hide from us, and sneak up on us too, apparently.

The man, a friend of my brother known as Rykan, smiled back at me, empty needle in his hand. Three others had Paige in restraints, and she fought against them, kicking and screaming until one of them stuffed something in her mouth to shut her up. She still fought, however, and for that I was impressed.

She was no match for the assassins, though, and I feared for the worst.

“Don't worry, Baz. We're not going to kill her. Not yet, at least,” Rykan said with a smirk. “Your brother insists on keeping her alive for now. But in order to see her released, he demands to meet with you back home.”

With me being completely incapacitated, Rykan walked over and stuck a needle into Paige's arm. Her eyes grew wide as she fought, but then she went limp. Unlike the serum they'd used on me, though, the one they used on her knocked her out completely. She fell asleep in their arms like a rag doll, unable to fight any longer.

With me there, frozen in place, I couldn't do anything about any of the situation either. I'd never felt so helpless in my entire life. I watched as they carried her lifeless body away from me. Rykan waved at me as a ship approached from above, gliding overhead, and then landing nearby.

“See you soon, Baz. At least we better, if you don't want us having some fun with your human-friend here,” he said. “The serum in your blood right now will run its course. After that, you should be free within about five hours. We expect to see you home shortly after that.”

He climbed aboard the ship, and the three others dragged Paige's limp body aboard after him. I watched as the space ship took off, leaving nothing but a trail of dust in its wake.

There was nothing I could do for now. I was stuck, unable to move a muscle for several more hours. At which time, I'd have no choice but to return home and rescue Paige.

And likely be killed by my own brother in the process.

Book Four – Secret

Chapter One: Baz

The effects of the serum wore off several hours later, as expected. The first thing I felt were my fingers twitching. I was able to move them, but nothing else on my body. It was beyond frustrating to be trapped in a body that would not move or react as I needed it to. Then, as the sun was rising over this beautiful planet, I had the use of my hands again. Finally, once the sun was high in the sky, I could finally move my legs again.

I needed to hurry. I needed to get back to Sapphire Bay to check on my ship. Hopefully, it was going to be ready to fly. But it only took one step for me to see it wasn't going to be that easy. Though functional, my legs still weren't quite right, as the muscles were a bit stiff and twitchy. It was like walking in mud, and for the first half an hour or so, running was near impossible. Every movement hurt, and my body told me to rest. After the effects of the serum wears off, your body needs to recover. But I didn't have time for that. I needed to get moving. Paige needed me.

I saw Paige's family was awake, and knew I needed to avoid the backyard. There was no way I could return to her home. Not without her. Everything looked peaceful there. There was no sign of any problems, and her parents were probably fine. Just as she'd hoped. But I also had hoped that Paige would be okay as well, and we saw how that turned out.

I told myself that she would be okay. I'd make it back home and see to her release. My brother wanted me, not her. She was bait. I was confident I could negotiate her release, even if it meant we'd never have a chance to be together. I knew what my brother was trying to do by luring me there, and as long as she was safe and out of harm's way, I would pay whatever price I was required to pay.

There was only one outcome to be expected from me returning home, and that would be my death.

“Are you sure you want to go back then?” Anjol asked me.

“I have to,” I said. “They have Paige.”

“There are other humans on this earth – several billion, to be exact. There are plenty of women. Statistically speaking, there are more women–”

“No, Anjol,” I said out loud, rubbing my aching temples.

I needed a drink, badly. But I needed to get to the car I'd stolen first. And then, I needed to get to my ship. I had to get moving and had no time to stop.

“Not just any woman will do,” I said. “Don't you see? I'm falling in love with her.”

There was a man in a blue uniform delivering what looked like white envelopes into the small metal box outside Paige's parent's house. He stopped and stared at me, looking concerned.

“Sorry,” I said, smiling toward him and pointing at my ear. “Bluetooth. Talking to a friend.”

I was thankful Anjol had told me about such technology, not that I knew what Bluetooth even meant, but it seemed to satisfy the man who went back to his delivery vehicle without a second glance.

The Tesla was parked exactly where I'd left it, and I nearly walked toward it, intent on climbing inside and getting out of there. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw a police car parked not too far away. An officer was speaking into one of their communication devices as they watched the car. Uh oh.

I switched track and pretended to be walking down the street, without so much as a second glance at the car I'd stolen. There should be no sign of me in the vehicle and no way to prove I was the one who'd stolen it. I kept walking as I overheard the response to the officer.

“Belonging to a Harold Jenkins,” the voice crackled over their communication device. “Reported stolen at six o'clock this morning from Sapphire Bay, California.”

Good thing I'd kept walking. But there was one little problem. How was I going to get back?

Steal another car? As I weighed my ever-so limited options, I realized that I had no other choice.

“How did Paige get to her parent's house?” Anjol asked me.

“Most likely she drove…Ah ha! That’s it, Anjol.”

“I know, that is why I asked you the question to begin with.”

I doubled back around and waved at the mailman as I walked past him again, keeping my conversation to myself this time. Paige's car was parked out in front of her parent's home. Considering the fact that Paige wasn't even on this planet anymore, it was a safe bet that I could probably borrow her transport.

Anjol worked his magic once more, unlocking the automatic locks. Hers wasn't a keyless start, but Anjol helped me there, too. Walking me through the simple steps of hotwiring the car, Anjol helped me get her car started right up without a hitch.

Now for the fun part, I thought to myself with a smile, clasping my hands together as I fastened my seat belt.

“Baz. Be careful, please.”

“Of course, I'll be careful, Anjol. I have to make it to my ship alive if I want to save Paige. But we have to hurry, anyway.”

Anjol sighed. Yes, the computer chip in my headache sighed. I ignored it, however.

Paige's car was much easier to drive than the Tesla, mainly because there were fewer gadgets and buttons for me to press and play with. It also didn't go as fast, which was a problem only because I was in a hurry.

“Probably better that way,” Anjol reminded me. “At least this way you won't get stopped by the local authorities for speeding and draw attention to yourself.”

“Good point, Anjol. Good point.”

Chapter Two

I made it to Sapphire Bay in just over an hour, and I quickly rushed to check on my ship. Parking Paige's car behind her club, I got out and headed for the forest. I ran amongst the tress as quickly as I could, hoping that my ship would be space ready. Tarkonil never heard me coming – he sometimes gets so lost in his work that he is oblivious to anything going on around him. I burst through the door, startling my friend who was busy at work. He jumped and acted like he was getting beaten.

“What the hell?” he asked.

“They have Paige,” I said. “I need to get back to Optorio. Now.”

Tarkonil's eyes grew wide as he stared down at the part in his hand. “I need to rebuild part of the ship. It's going to take me at least another day or two, and that's working around the clock.”

“Shit,” I muttered, pacing the workshop and staring at my broken-down hunk of metal. Somehow, we needed to get this up and running, and fast. “Shit, shit, shit.”

“You certainly are enjoying the English language,” Anjol said.

I ignored him. He couldn't possibly understand how it felt. How helpless, useless, and frustrated I was. I paced the workshop, not knowing if I wanted to scream in frustration or cry. My fists were clenched up, and I was ready to punch anything that got in my way.

“I'll work day and night, Baz. We will get it up and going as quickly as possible. I promise,” he said. “He's only using her as bait, so you know she'll be safe until you get there.”

“I know,” I said, “but I hate her being there, so scared and alone, feeling like I failed her.”

“I understand,” Tarkonil said softly. “But listen, Baz. You know what your brother is going to do, right? You know this is a trick to get you back home so he can–”

“So he can execute me in front of a large audience and take the throne? Yes, I already know that,” I snapped.

“And you're still going back?”

I was silent for a moment, staring down at my useless, pathetic hands. “I have to. I love her.”

Tarkonil didn't say another word, he merely patted me on the back and returned to work. “I'll let you know when the ship's ready, hopefully by tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Tarkonil,” I said. “You've been a real friend.”

There was nothing else I could do now, except wait.

****

The Mahogany Tavern felt like a lonely place without Paige, even lonelier than last night. I was sure it was all in my head, but it literally felt like she was galaxies away from me – because she was – and there wasn't anything I could do about it. All I could do was sit there and wonder if she was okay, if Kapoc was treating her well, and if she was scared and alone.

“Baz,” Josie said, rushing up to me as soon as I walked into the bar, “have you spoken with Paige? I can't get in touch with her, and I'm worried.”

“She's okay,” I lied. “She's just wanting to be alone, that's all.”

I sidled up to the bar, hoping Josie wouldn't ask any more questions. The fewer people who knew about what was going on with Paige, the better. That way, there were less people at risk of getting hurt.

Josie followed me to the bar. “You know, I still owe you a drink,” she said. “What can I get for ya?”

“Lady's choice.”

I had no idea what I might like, and was starting to think perhaps alcohol wasn't for me. But I had to do something with my time, and sitting at the Mahogany Tavern without a drink would make me stand out.

Josie went behind the bar and mixed a few things together. I didn't pay attention to what they were, but she popped a drink in front of me. It was bright yellow and reminded me of urine.

“What is this?” I asked, almost afraid to try anything that was that brightly colored.

“Lemonade. With a twist, of course,” she beamed. “Go ahead and try it.”

Lemonade. A drink made with lemons, something I had yet to try while on Earth. So I did as I was told, taking a sip of the drink and found a sweet, yet sour flavor that actually had a very appealing taste to it. It was certainly much better than the drink I'd had last night.

“I like this,” I said, swirling the drink around in the glass with the straw. “Thank you, Josie.”

“You're welcome, Baz,” she said, her voice growing softer. She leaned on the bar, staring at me with wide, inquiring eyes. “So? How'd things go with Paige? Are you and her okay?”

She flinched a bit at the last word, as if she was almost afraid to ask. I guess me coming in here alone, looking depressed and mopey – combined with what she believed was Paige's continued radio silence – didn't give off the best impression. I needed to pretend to be happier, or else risk her asking more questions.

“Oh, things with Paige couldn't be better,” I said. “We had a long talk last night, and we are actually doing very well right now. Thank you for asking. And if I can confide something in you, I believe that I may even be in love with her. Is such a thing even possible?”

Josie looked surprised by my outpouring. Had I said too much? Did I sound suspicious? I took a long swig of the drink, followed by another.

But Josie just laughed. “Of course it's possible, Baz. Anything is possible when it comes to love.”

My head was swimming, and my heart was thundering. It felt wonderful to have someone validate what I was feeling and to tell me that I wasn't crazy. I did love Paige. I don't know if she loved me back, but I loved her.

Then, as quickly as my good mood came on, it all came crashing down as I was reminded that we couldn't be together, and that in order for her to live, I'd likely have to die by my brother's hand. Josie must have seen the change in my mood because she reached for my hand.

“Listen, I know Paige can be difficult. And maybe she doesn't know if she loves you yet, but give it time, Baz. You're good for her. I know it, and it won't be long before she sees it, too.”

Someone called her name from the other side of the bar, so she excused herself, leaving me alone. If only she knew the real reason for me being upset. It had little to do with Paige's feelings for me and more about the fact that we would never be able to be together.

But the more I drank, the better I felt. Josie refilled my drink before I even finished it completely, saying, “It's on the house.”

As I went to stand up, I felt my head spinning and I almost fell from my chair. Josie was there in a flash thought, thankfully, to help me to my feet.

“Whoa buddy, I think you've had a little too much to drink,” she said.

But even through all the dizziness, and yes, the vomiting that came afterward, I felt good. Suddenly, I realized why these humans were so obsessed with this concoction.

It was magic.

Chapter Three

It didn't seem so magical the next day though. After Josie called a cab for me, and I got back to the lodging establishment where I'd taken a room, I collapsed in bed, not even bothering to remove my biosuit. Oh, I'd cried a bit for Paige, for myself, and for this awful situation I was in. But then I'd fallen asleep, and had slept soundly until Anjol woke me up, making my head feel as if it might explode.

“Message from Tarkonil. The ship is ready.”

As soon as I heard those words, I jumped from the bed, feeling energized. I was still nauseous, but now I had a renewed sense of determination. My ears were ringing from the pain in my head, and I still felt dizzy, but I had to get ready. Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was well after noon. I'd slept until the afternoon. That was unprecedented for me.

I had to hurry as I needed to prepare for my trip – one that I knew I wasn't coming back from. I stumbled around the room, packing up my things, and making sure I was ready to leave with no intent of ever coming back. As I closed the hotel room door behind me, I felt a small twinge of sadness. I would be leaving Earth, likely never to return.

I didn't spend too much time being sentimental, though. I couldn't afford to. Paige was waiting for me, and I had to get back to her. I rushed back to where Anjol had the ship hidden and found Tarkonil putting the finishing touches on it.

“Looks like you should be good to go, Baz,” Tarkonil said, his voice sounding a little sadder than usual.

“Thank you,” I said. I ran a hand over the metal, feeling the slickness beneath my touch. Very soon, we'd be back in space, heading for my home planet.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Tarkonil asked me.

“I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life,” I said.

Tarkonil didn't argue with me further, but I could tell he wanted to. Anjol had ceased trying to talk me out of it as well. My mind was made up. I was going back home, and I was going to face my brother, even if that meant I'd end up dead. At least Paige would be safe. Never before had I cared for someone else's well-being above my own, but Paige inspired that sort of feeling in me.

“Well, I'll see you off then,” Tarkonil said. “Let's get you prepared for takeoff.”

I nodded and put a hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Sounds like a plan.”

****

Our technology never ceased to amaze me, and it amazed me even more after spending time on Earth. Seeing how limited Earthlings were when it came to space travel made me feel privileged to be able to fly such a complex ship. I was off the planet and in the air within the hour, looking down upon the world I'd grown to love.

It was hard saying goodbye, but it was easier knowing that I would be returning Paige back to her home and back to where she belonged. It was the only planet she'd ever known in her life. I couldn't imagine how scared she had to be – being so far away, locked away on another planet, and held captive by my enemies.

Thankfully, the trip wouldn't take too long, not at the speeds I could reach with my ship.

It would only be a matter of time before I was back on Optorio, facing my brother for the first time since I'd left.

Chapter Four: Paige

“Is the human awake yet?”

“I don't believe so.”

“Tell me as soon as she wakes up.”

I heard their voices. They were talking about me, of course. But who were they? I knew they had to be the enemies Baz spoke to me about – the assassins sent to kill me to get to him. But why wasn't I dead yet? Everything that happened that evening was a blur. I'd blacked out and then woken up here, with no sign of Baz anywhere.

I pretended to sleep, afraid of what might happen to me once they knew I was awake. Were they going to kill me then? If so, why wait until I was awake? Not that I knew the enemy. They were unlike me – they weren't even human.

“Hey, girl,” a gruff voice called to me.

I ignored it, feigning to be passed out still. My bladder felt like it would burst, but there was no way I could let them know I was awake. Even as my stomach growled, I stayed still.

“You want somethin' to eat?”

Food. Yes. I wanted food alright, but that would mean I'd appear to be awake. I couldn't let them know–

A loud, crashing sound caused me to jump. It was right next to my head, and I couldn't help it. I screeched, sitting up and looking all around for the source of the noise.

I saw a tray sitting next to me on the floor. A tray with pellets on it. Yes, pellets – the kind one might feed a rabbit or guinea pig.

“Oh, so you are awake then,” the voice said.

I stared in disbelief at what was before me. While Baz appeared to be mostly human, this thing wasn't human-like at all. With a sickly, yellowish tint to his skin and grime coating on his body that seemed to ooze from his skin like sweat – I really didn't want to eat anything his hands had touched.

“Eat up. I'll let Kapoc know you're awake.”

The creature was short and robust, and he didn't appear to walk so much as slither. He turned and slithered out of the cell, closing the door behind him with a tentacle coming from the center of his back.

“Eat? What is it?” I asked, staring at the pellets.

“It's meat. Or rather, imitation meat. What, you think prisoners deserve the real stuff?” He sneered at me.

“Thank god it's not real meat then. I'd almost be afraid to see what kind of meat you'd serve up,” My mind went back to old Twilight Zone episodes, and I shuddered.

The creature didn't say another word, he just continued down the hall, leaving me alone in my cell. I picked up one of the round morsels and squished it between my fingers. It was gooey and felt like meat – only in a pill-shaped form. I popped one in my mouth and was surprised to find that it tasted like chicken.

What a cliché, I thought to myself. Of course it tastes like chicken. Everything tastes like chicken.

I ate another one before it occurred to me that maybe they'd try to poison me. But if they had, it was too late now. And besides, why would they kill me with poison when they'd had plenty of time to kill me while I was passed out? My mind was spinning out all kinds of crazy ideas and theories – a byproduct of being scared out of my mind, I was sure.

There were footsteps from down the hallway, and I had to wonder if this was Kapoc that the creature had mentioned. Is this the enemy that Baz had told me about? His brother?

As soon as Kapoc stepped in front of my cell, I knew it had to be.

Unlike the creature from before, Kapoc looked almost human. He had the same pale skin and dark hair as Baz. They looked so similar that they could almost pass for twins. Almost. Kapoc was shorter, less built than his brother, and his face was squinty - almost rat-like with a long, pointed nose and tiny eyes.

Baz had apparently gotten all the best genes.

“So you're Paige, the human my brother has fallen for,” Kapoc said. “It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm his brother, Ka–”

“I know who you are.” I said coldly.

I placed the tray and the pellets down, not wanting him to see me eating the food he'd provided for me. Call me stubborn, but I wasn't a willing participant in any of this.

“Where's Baz?” I asked.

“You don't remember? He was still on Earth last I checked, but we estimate he'll be arriving sometime within the next few hours. You know, to save the day and all that.” He waved his hand in the air, as if to mock his brother's deeds.

“And you intend to kill him?” I asked, pushing myself against the wall until I could stand.

“Why yes, I do, actually,” he said, looking surprised. “I guess Baz has filled you in on our little family feud.”

“He doesn't want the throne,” I said. “Just leave him alone.”

“Oh, I wish I could. But I can't. You see, as long as he's out there, alive and well and doing whatever it is he's doing, my throne will not be considered legitimate,” he said. “He will have a claim to it as long as he's alive, and that's just the way it works.”

“I don't need a history lesson,” I said. “Or a course on royal succession.”

“Well tell me then, what do you need?” he said, looking me up and down. “My, you're a fine morsel, aren't you? Now I see why Baz was so crazy about you.”

I spat in his face.

“Feisty, too. I like it. I just might have to keep you,” he said, wiping the spit from his face. “After I kill my brother, that is. Would you like to be the king's pet?”

“Rot in hell.”

“Hell? I do not know what that is, but judging by your tone, it's not a place I believe I'd enjoy,” he said with a shrug before walking away, leaving me alone in my cell once more.

Please, Baz. Don't do it. Don't come, I thought long and hard to myself.

I knew that if he didn't come, I'd be stuck there in that cell. At least until they decided to kill me. But the idea of him being murdered in order to save me literally killed me. I fell to the floor once more, my chest hurting. It felt like I couldn't breathe. The walls were closing in on me, and I was in the middle of a full-blown panic attack.

I didn't want to stay there. I wanted to go home. Tears welled in my eyes as I thought of my parents and how I would never see them again. But in order to be free, Baz would be walking into a trap. To imagine him being killed hurt just as much.

Either way, it was a lose-lose situation. I would end up losing someone – or many people – I cared about.

Chapter Five: Baz

I found Kapoc overlooking the red waters of the ocean from his private balcony. I managed to sneak past his guards almost too easily. If I wanted my brother dead, I could easily do it, right then and there. But as tempting as that might be, I didn't know where Paige was at and who was watching her. It would be too easy for them to kill her out of revenge if something happened to my precious brother.

“I'd heard your ship was detected in our atmosphere,” Kapoc said, not bothering to turn around to greet me. “To be honest, I'm surprised. I wasn't sure it would be this easy to get you back here, brother.”

“Where is she?” I growled.

Kapoc laughed, turning around and shaking his head as if disappointed in me. “See, I found it hard to believe that my brother – the great Bazarok – would be smitten with an Earthling. A human. But look at you, willing to risk your life to save that pretty chunk of flesh.”

I gripped my knife, steadying it in my hand. I couldn't overreact. I couldn't kill him. If I did, Paige was dead.

“I'll ask you again, Kapoc. Where is she?”

“Oh, fine,” he sneered. “She's locked away, safe and in one piece. For now.”

“For now? You had better hope she is still in one piece, Kapoc.”

“Or what, brother? You're going to kill me?”

He knew he had me, but I also had him. “I won't give you what you want if she's harmed even in the slightest.”

“And what is it I want, brother?”

“You want me dead. But not just dead, you need to make sure the world knows about it so you can ascend to the throne and rule unchallenged,” I said. “As long as I live, you can't do that. Because no one will accept you as king otherwise. Nobody outside of your little group, that is.”

“Ahh, you know me well, Baz. Question is, are you really going to let me kill you? Just like that?”

I took in a sharp breath, and it almost hurt me to say it, but I knew I had no choice. “Under two conditions. One, you let Paige return home to planet Earth where you snatched her. And two, she is forever free from you or any of your assassins. She will face zero retribution for any of this. If you meet those conditions, then yes, I'm willing to let you do what you have to do. But only if she's guaranteed to be safe for the rest of her life.”

Kapoc looked stunned, as if he didn't expect me to give myself up that easily. I could tell he was ready for battle and to do whatever it took to defeat me publicly. He walked over to a bar and poured himself a drink, offering me one. I turned him down, for obvious reasons.

“Just out of curiosity's sake, what if I don't want to let this human go?” Kapoc said. “What if I decided to keep her as my consort just to spite you, brother?”

I felt my grip on my knife tighten, and I stared at my brother's throat. The idea of plunging the blade deep within his flesh was oh so tempting. I had to take a few breaths before I could answer him.

“Then, brother, there will be war. Civil war. Your partisans against mine. And need I remind you whose side is likely to win such a battle?”

Kapoc cringed as he took a long sip of his exotic beverage. We both knew who had the largest army at their disposal – I did, because I was the rightful heir. I was the one people wanted to see on the throne. My people were stronger, better organized, and more willing to go to battle for me. And if I called them to do so, they would. Kapoc knew it as well as I did.

“The only way you'll get the throne is to make sure Paige is released and is never to be harmed again. Then, and only then, will I submit to you.”

I turned and left, leaving my brother to ponder his decision. I knew it would be an easy choice to make. Paige meant the world to me, but she meant nothing to him. Least of all, she wasn't worth losing his chance at gaining the throne so easily. I could feel his eyes upon me as I left his home.

And I knew, right then and there, that I'd made the right choice. Because there was no way he'd give up his chance to kill me publicly. Paige would be safe to live her life as normal back on Earth.

To me, that was worth dying for.

Chapter Six

“Incoming message from Kapoc,” Anjol said.

Well, that didn't take long, I thought to myself. Then again, I knew it wouldn't. I'd made it an easy decision for him.

“Baz, I've considered your offer, and I agree to your terms. As a gesture of good will, I'm offering you something in return. Please visit me so we can finalize our terms in person.”

Offering me something? My mind was spinning with the possibilities – and none of them seemed particularly good. Was that some sort of code for a surprise attack? Was this a trick? I didn't have much of a choice, but I needed to make sure our terms were finalized and that Paige was released. But his offer made me a bit uneasy.

I returned to the castle to find that he was no longer alone. Paige was with him. As soon as I saw her, I rushed over to her, only to be stopped by one of Kapoc's guard.

“Don't do this, Baz,” Paige begged me, tears streaming down her face. “You don't have to die for me.”

“Such a sweet thing,” Kapoc said, lifting her chin with a finger. “I can see why you like her. Well, almost. She's still an alien to us and has some very strange things about her.”

Paige tried to bite my brother's finger, but he was too quick. He laughed. “I love how feisty she is though. She's so very fun to play with.”

“Leave her alone,” I warned. “In order for me to surrender in public and submit to you, she needs to be unharmed, remember?”

“Oh, I remember alright,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Aren't you even going to ask me what my offer to you is? Not the least bit curious?”

“Curious? Of course. Worried it's some sort of deception? Even more so. I know you, brother.”

“Listen to how he speaks of me? You'd think I was evil or something,” he said, pretending to pout. “Just to show you how magnanimous I can be, all I wanted to offer was a chance to spend one last night with your human-friend, Baz. One night to say goodbye before I send her home for good. And here you are, assuming I'm going to do something nasty.”

I was stunned into silence.

“Did you hear me, Baz?” he repeated. “Would you like one more night with your precious lady friend?”

There was no question about it. “Yes, of course,” I said, my voice coming out strained. “But why would you do that?”

Kapoc shrugged. “Call me sentimental? Make the most of your time together, Baz. Because you aren't very likely to get another chance.”

There was something more to this; there had to be. Some hidden string or loophole. He was trying to do something nice, but not simply to be nice – Kapoc didn't do that. It was probably to make himself look good. My brother was always one to worry about his image, and this was a case where showing me out with Paige, letting my followers know that he showed me kindness, was a way to hopefully win their favor. It was all just public relations.

Whatever it was though, didn't matter to me. It meant that I would get one more night with Paige. One more night with her before she went home, and I was killed. It was worth it.

Honestly, I didn't care why he was doing it. I was just thankful I had the chance. I couldn't ask for a better sendoff. One final goodbye with her. As painful as it might be, I looked forward to spending my last few hours alive with the woman I loved.

Chapter Seven

Paige was released, and as soon as she was free, she was in my arms. Tears stained her cheek as she cried. All I could do was hold her and tell her over and over again how sorry I was.

“If only you had never met me...”

“Hush,” she said. “I'm glad I met you.”

“Even with all this?” I asked her, motioning to the world around her. “Being kidnapped, taken to another planet, held hostage – all of that is still worth it to you?”

“Of course,” she said, staring deep into my eyes. “It's all worth it, Baz. Because of you. Because I got to spend time with you.”

I wasn't one to cry, not usually, but I felt a lump in my throat. This woman was truly something special. And there I was, spending my last night alive with her. I needed to do what Kapoc suggested and make the most of it.

“Come on,” I said, taking her hand. “Let me show you around. After all, it's not likely you'll get to visit this place again any time soon.”

She smiled as if she wanted to be happy, but there was a dark shadow of sadness beneath the surface. All I wanted was for her to forget what was to come and do nothing more than truly enjoy our time together. I wanted to die remembering her smiling and laughing, and I was going to do everything I could to bring her happiness in our last few hours together.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“To my favorite place in this world,” I said softly.

The beach was always where I felt most at home when I was there. Large and expansive, it felt like the sea went on forever. When I was forced to stay put on this planet, I could stand there and look out over the water, imagining distant places. I'd swim to the bottom of the sea, hiding away from the world and dreaming about what it would be like to swim in other oceans on other worlds.

I never did get to experience that fully. Not while on Earth. And what a shame, too, as I was so close – and yet I was so far away from ever getting to do that now.

“It's so different from back on Earth,” she said. Her voice was full of awe as she stared at the red water crashing into the shore. At first, when we approached the water, she looked scared to let it touch her. “Why is it red? Is it blood?”

“No, it's a mineral,” I said. “Completely safe, I promise.”

I dipped my feet into the water. When she didn't follow suit, I started stripping down.

“What are you doing?” she laughed, looking around.

“What? Public nudity isn't a big deal here. Besides, it's a private beach. No one else is around. It's just you and I, Paige.”

It was my own private beach, the one place I could always be alone.

Paige turned a bright shade of red, almost the color of the water I was stripping down in. But she watched me, nonetheless, and I loved the look on her face as I removed my clothing. To have a woman look at me like that, as if I was a work of art, was something I'd never get used to. The blushing stopped, and I reached out my hand for her to come to me.

“You sure it's safe? For a human, I mean?” She bit her lip, staring down at the water with a look of wonderment on her face.

I was pretty sure the minerals in our water would be safe, but to make sure, I checked in with Anjol.

“Yes, the water is safe for humans. In fact, the minerals that turn our waters red are the same ones that keep them clean - cleaner than any ocean or sea on her planet.”

“Thank you, Anjol.”

I repeated it to Paige, who looked less frightened by the prospect. I walked toward her, hand outstretched, but she made me come completely to her. As I approached, she didn't take my hand. However, she embraced me, wrapping her arms around me, and pulling me close. I heard the muffled sobs coming from her as she buried her face into my shoulder.

Not wanting to focus on the negative, I started kissing her gently, pushing her hair out of the way to kiss her cheek, her ear, then her neck. Paige stopped crying as our lips met. A soft sigh escaped her throat as we kissed deeply, standing on my beloved beach.

I was going to make the most of our time together. I wanted her to be happy and to enjoy our last night together. I kept kissing her, moving lower down the neck and dotting her collarbones with soft kisses. Her head was thrown back, and her eyes were closed. I worked the buttons of her shirt, slipping it down to expose her bra.

But Paige reached around and, with one hand, removed it. It fell to the ground along with her shirt. Her breasts were so beautiful – larger than the ones women have on my planet. I cupped one in my hands, kissing the nipple, and sucking on it. Paige let out a soft groan as her knees almost gave out from under her. That's when I knew we should move to another position.

Gently, I eased her body to the ground until we were laying in the sand, me on top of her. In the midst of the changing of positions, she'd slipped her pants down to her ankles, giving me a full view of her beautiful body. I soaked it in like any gorgeous work of art.

I just stared at her, taking her in. I never wanted this moment to end. If this had to be the last thing I ever saw in this life, it was one amazing way to go. I could stare at this view all day.

“What is it?” she asked, insecurity creeping into her voice.

“You're just so beautiful, Paige,” I said, feeling the tears well up in my eyes. I knew what I wanted to say to her, and since this was our last night together, I had to just do it. “And I love you.”

She made a sound of surprise, as her eyes grew wide. I almost feared I'd made a mistake. Maybe that was the wrong thing to say to her? Not that I'd take it back; she needed to know how I felt about her.

Paige closed the distance between our bodies, kissing as she grabbed my head, pulling me close to her. Her legs opened, inviting me to make love to her, and how could I resist?

Together, on the beach, we made love as if it was the last time. Mostly because, well, it was the last time. I held her close, kissed her everywhere my mouth could reach, and showed her I loved her with every movement of my body. She writhed and shuddered underneath me, her body filled with pleasure – exactly the way I wanted her to feel. I wanted to make her feel good.

She called out my name, and I knew she was climaxing, her legs wrapped around my body, pulling me deeper inside of her. I was on the brink myself, and before I could stop myself, I came with her, our bodies dancing along the beach, moving to their own rhythm as the pleasure overtook us.

As I stared down into my love's eyes, I could see she was growing tearful once more. I stroked her cheek and wiped the tears away, repeating what I'd said earlier.

“I love you, Paige. More than I've ever loved anyone before.”

I didn't expect a response. I didn't fault her if she didn't feel the same way about me. After all I'd put her through, I was surprised she didn't hate me.

She kissed me again before pulling away, staring deep into my eyes.

“I love you too, Baz. I really do.”

Chapter Eight

Waking up beside Paige was delightful, and for the briefest of moments, I forgot that we were going to be saying goodbye later. I watched as she slept beside me, naked and curled up against me. She looked so peaceful that I hated waking her up, especially considering what we were about to do.

But if we didn't show back up at the castle, Kapoc would send his assassins to find us. Depending on how that went, it could turn ugly and ruin the special night I'd had with her.

I kissed her awake, causing her to wake up smiling as I tickled her softly. “Wake up, beautiful,” I said.

Her eyes opened, staring into mine, and I was overcome by the sensation of just how much I loved this woman.

She looked around, almost as if she forgot where she was. As soon as the realization hit her, however, her smile disappeared. My heart sunk as the tears filled her eyes.

“We must go,” I said, nudging her chin up so she was looking at me. “But I promise you, you will be safe. No matter what, you're going to be okay.”

“It's not me that I'm worried about, Baz,” she said. “I meant it when I said I loved you.”

My heart did a flip within my chest. I loved hearing those words coming from her mouth. “And I love you.”

“I can't let them kill you, Baz.”

Sighing, I pulled her head to me, letting it rest on my bare chest. We had no choice. There was no way the two of us could live happily ever after. My brother would kill me one way or another. And if I killed him, his people would hurt her. There was no winning this battle, and the only way I could guarantee her safety was to let Kapoc have what he wanted.

But in that moment, we needed to go. “I'm going to try to prevent that, Paige.”

It was a lie. I had no plan. But if it would keep her from fighting this, I'd tell a little white lie or two.

“Really?” she said, looking hopeful for a moment.

“Yes, my love,” I pushed a strand of her hair from her face so I could look at her completely. “I want to live just as much as you want me to. I want to spend my life with you on Earth. But unless we get you on that ship and safely to Earth, there is nothing I can do.”

It sounded all well and good. That way, she'd do what I said without fighting me. If she thought her staying would hinder me, I could get her to safety faster. In the end, that's what needed to be done. She may never forgive me for lying to her, but at least she'd be safe.

She nodded. “Okay.”

We got up and dressed without a word. I was literally dressing for my execution, but I couldn't let Paige know that. She only had the clothes she came in with, so I gave her one of my shirts. It hung loose and long on her tiny body, but then again, it hadn't been made for a woman. She smiled as she hugged it close to her body.

“It smells like you.”

At least this way she'd have something of mine to bring her comfort after I was gone.

****

I walked Paige over to the ship that would take her home. Holding her hand in mine, I felt her shaking wildly. She was absolutely terrified, and there was nothing I could do to ease her fears. As we approached the bridge of the ship, a guard stopped us.

“No further for you, Bazarok. Say your goodbyes here. The human will have to board alone.”

As soon as he spoke, Paige broke down in tears, pulling me to her. I held her close, my own eyes feeling moist as the woman I loved sobbed into my shoulder, gripping me tight as if she would never let me go.

“Shhh, Paige. It's going to be alright, sweetheart. It's going to be alright,” I said, my voice soothing. “They're just going to take you home where you'll be safe. I promise.”

I kept repeating this over and over again, holding her close. Kapoc's voice caused her to jump and look up, her face red from crying.

“My, my, what a sight to see. I never would have thought my brother, the great Bazarok, would be crying so publicly,” he sneered. “Much less over a human and not one of his own people.”

“Leave us, Kapoc,” I said, not bothering to look at him.

“Sorry to ruin the moment. I'm just surprised, that's all. Can't say I've ever witnessed you shed a tear, Baz. You know our family isn't too fond of the sentimental crap.”

“Until you've been in love, Kapoc, you couldn't possibly understand.”

“God willing I don't, brother. For it's a sad, sad sight to behold,” Kapoc said. “Amusing for me, though.”

I didn't let his words get to me. Instead, I focused on Paige, making her look at me as I spoke carefully. “You need to get on that ship, Paige. Don't do anything to fight it. It's the only way we can make this work. You need to get back to Earth–”

“And then what, Baz? Are you going back on your word?”

I clenched my teeth as Kapoc taunted me.

“No, Kapoc, I'm not.”

“You better not, because Paige is only a few galaxies away, and my people are ruthless, as you well know.”

Paige looked terrified, as if everything we'd talked about earlier came crashing back down, leaving her lower than before. I mouthed to her, “Don't worry about me.”

She looked back at Kapoc, then at me, as if she was trying to determine who was telling the truth. “I'll be okay, Paige. You just need to leave.”

“Time's up, Baz. Guards, grab the human and take her away. We don't have all night.”

“NO!” Paige screamed, fighting as the guards approached.

“Go with them, Paige. Don't fight them. Just go so they don't force you.”

Kapoc's guards grabbed me, restraining my hands as I yelled at Paige to obey. They could hurt her if she fought too much. And I was scared they would.

“Just go with them, Paige.”

One of the guards placed a bag over my head, keeping me from seeing Paige as she boarded the ship. I'd never see my love again. The last memories I had of her were her screaming my name.

“I love you, Paige,” I called out, unsure if she could hear me or not. “I love you more than you'll ever know.”

Chapter Nine

“Update, please.”

“Baz, this is the 5th update in the last 6 minutes, not much has–”

“Anjol, please. Just give me an update already.”

“Fine. The ship is approaching the Earth's atmosphere. Should be landing within the next few minutes, as long as they find a suitable location.”

“They will. I know they will. Thank you, Anjol.”

Minutes. I was mere minutes away from getting confirmation that Paige would be safe and back on Earth. As much as the idea relieved me, I also knew that it meant my time was coming to an end. I'd started to make peace with my own death. Paige would get to live out her life, and that was all that mattered to me.

I heard footsteps, and I knew it was Kapoc coming for me. He was coming to confirm that she had landed and to take me away. There was an event planned with many notable people from our community, all of them unprepared for what was about to happen, surely.

A public execution – one where I willingly surrendered to my brother and conceded he was king – meant that no one would question my brother's rule.

Of course, I'd mentioned the conditions of our agreement that no harm would come to Paige, just as a reminder that civil war was always on the horizon if he ever went back on our promise. It never hurt to keep some insurance. Not that Paige was much use to him once I was gone, but one could never be too careful when dealing with my brother.

Anjol updated me before Kapoc got to my cell.

“Her ship safely landed in the woods near her parents' home in Big Sur, California, Baz. She has left the ship and is on her way back to the house. She's fine, her vitals appear good, and the ship has already departed earth, and is heading back here.”

That's good. That's what I needed to hear.

“I assume you have your update, but in case not–”

“I know she's safe, Kapoc,” I said, standing up. “And I'm ready to keep my promise to you.”

He looked pleased, his grin stretching from ear to ear. “The celebration has already started, so if you'll follow me...”

I did as I was told. My hands were restrained for now, but he'd remove the restraints before entering the public square. More proof that I came willingly.

We were surrounded by people – families, too. I cringed at the idea that children would witness my demise. If only there was a way to warn them, to ask everyone to please leave the area unless they wanted to witness a man's bloody end. But there wasn't.

A few people recognized me right away, though I admit I looked a bit rough and haggard.

“King Bazarok has returned,” someone yelled.

Others joined him, and I could see the pained look on Kapoc's face as people celebrated, excited to see me. Of course, none of them had any idea what was happening, or that their happiness would be short-lived. I tried to smile and appear pleasant, however. They didn't deserve to be part of this. The least I could do was go down smiling. For the people, right?

Kapoc and I walked upon the stage. People kept staring, watching, and waiting to see what their king had to say. I could guarantee that most of them weren't going to like it, though.

“Attention, everyone,” I said, my voice coming out softer than I'd intended. Yet everyone in the area quieted down on command. “As many of you know, I have returned to Optorio. But my presence will be short-lived, I'm afraid. I do apologize for what you're about to witness, but I need you all to hear this. This is my choice.”

A mumble rippled through the crowd. People were growing concerned. There was more and more talking, so much so that the next part of my speech was almost not heard at all.

“Please accept my brother, Kapoc, in my place as king, for I'm not going to be of this world much longer–”

Just as I started my concession speech, the ground beneath our feet shook violently, sending Kapoc to the ground. Members of the crowd were screaming and shouting. The shaking was so violent, I barely managed to stay on my feet.

“What's going on?”

People were running around, screaming, “There's a bomb! A bomb! Get out of here!”

They were running away from us. Kapoc tried to command them to stay, but another explosion shook us, sending shrapnel within inches of Kapoc's head.

One of his guards rushed over to him. “It's the army, sir. Someone dispatched them, they're setting up bombs at the perimeter and are heading this way.”

The army. My army. The same army I threatened Kapoc with, but had never called upon. And yet, now they were here.

Someone must have been looking out for me.

Kapoc grabbed my arm, pulling me away from the stage where the bulk of the explosions were centered. “Looks like we're going to have to do this fast, then,” he said. He pushed me down and reached for his sword, but I was much faster than him. I dodged the blade, but with no weapon of my own, I had nothing to fight back with.

My men filled the area with fighters, killing off Kapoc's guards one-by-one, cutting them down quicker than I'd ever seen before. My men outnumbered his, but until that moment, I had no idea how much support I truly had.

My brother swung the sword down, missing my head by mere inches. I was playing defense, but I needed a weapon. I was dead in the water without one, and sooner or later, Kapoc was going to get lucky with one of his wild swings.

I saw General Lazarzo, one of my closest allies nearby. I called out to him. “I need a weapon,” I said.

He rushed over to me, risking his life by doing so, and handed over one of his own weapons – a sword.

“Do you need my help, my king? It would be my honor.”

“No, but thank you. I can handle my brother,” I growled, running toward Kapoc at full speed.

My brother was still a swordsman and put up a fight. My blade hit his but never touched him. But at least I had something to defend myself with and to block his blows. Kapoc lost his footing at one point, but he didn't go down. I swiped to the right, to the left, and to the right again, but he managed to stop every single thrust and swing.

Most of the fighting around us was over. Kapoc's forces, such as they were, had been routed by the army. All that was left was Kapoc and I. We stood in the center of the public courtyard, our blades up, circling one another.

“You made a promise, brother,” Kapoc snarled.

I shrugged and grinned at him. “Looks like things have changed,” I replied. “It doesn't appear that the people want you on the throne.”

He snarled and ran toward me, his sword raised above his head. I blocked the blow and danced to the side. Kapoc was angry. Frustrated. And as gifted with a sword as he was, when he was angry and frustrated, he was prone to mistakes.

He came charging in at me again, sword raised above his head. He brought it down in a murderous arc, but I deflected his blade with my own. As I pinned his sword to the ground with mine, I made my move. Snatching the knife off my belt, I thrust it straight up and into Kapoc's neck.

Blood sprayed from Kapoc's neck, spraying me in the process. His eyes were wide as if he couldn't believe what had happened. He'd gone from king to corpse in a matter of minutes. I twisted the blade and felt it bite deeper into his flesh. He looked at me for a moment and opened his mouth to speak – but all that came out was a large, bloody bubble.

The bubble popped, and the light of life left Kapoc's eyes. I pulled the blade of my knife out and let his body fall to the floor. All around me, silence reigned as we all realized that Kapoc was now dead. We were a people without a king.

But then, applause started somewhere in the room. One person clapping at first. And then one-by-one, everyone else began to join in. Soon enough, the thunderous sound of ecstatic applause filled the air, shaking the hall every bit as much as those explosions had.

I looked down at the corpse of my brother and felt only a grim satisfaction.

But the people were happy, and in the end, that's what mattered.

Chapter Ten

Civil war. I hadn't asked for it, nor had I expected it. But word had gotten around that Kapoc was going to publicly execute me. And as such, my people had come together to save me. My people.

As I stood before them, they were on their knees in a show of deference. Kapoc and his men were dead and gone. There was no more threat to me or Paige.

“King Bazarok,” Lazarzo, one of my most loyal friends spoke, his head down, “we are pleased to have you back where you belong – on the throne once more.”

Yes, with my brother dead and no other heirs in line to take the throne, it was mine. Unquestioned and undisputed. There was no one else who could try and steal it from me. If I wanted, I could be King and live out the rest of my life without fear, travel as I'd like, but always return here. It's a dream for so many people, I was sure. But it wasn't mine.

“Please, Lazarzo, stand. Everyone, stand.” I demanded.

They did as they were told.

“Thank you all for everything you did. For saving my life. I can't thank you enough, honestly. I had no idea things would play out this way, and for that, I am eternally grateful. But–”

There was a collective gasp through the throne room. What could this “but” be about, they had to wonder?

“I do not wish to serve you as your king. I do not believe that I am worthy of this crown.”

“But without you, who will lead our world?” Lazarzo asked.

Honestly, I didn't know the answer to that one. I thought back to how Earth was run. There was something called a democracy, with elections and elected officials. Would something like that work for our world?

“We will vote someone in, someone who will have limited powers and who will pass the control down to the next person voted in after several years in office. We, the people of Optorio, will be free. We will no longer be ruled by a royal family. This is my one and only act as king, to destroy the monarchy once and for all.”

I placed the crown on the throne, leaving it behind as I walked from the dais.

“I trust Lazarzo to make sure this gets implemented, while running things in the meantime.”

“Why? Where are you going?” he asked me.

“Home. I'm going home.” I said with a smile forming on my lips.

Never before had I felt like I had one, solid home. But with Paige waiting for me on Earth, there was nowhere else I wanted to be.

Chapter Eleven: Paige

Every plane, every helicopter, hell – every bird – caused me to turn and look anxiously up at the sky, hopeful for an alien spaceship carrying Baz. But as the days went by, I started to realize that maybe he wasn't coming after all.

I sat at my parent's house, drinking some iced tea on their front porch, letting the days go by. I'd return to Mahogany Tavern once I'd had a chance to grieve. But for now, being there made me think of him. Stepping foot into that place was damn near impossible, because I'd break down in tears as soon as I'd walk in the door.

Never again would I see him there. It killed me to accept that. It wasn't that long ago when I'd sworn off men and hadn't looked at one twice. But then Baz came into my world and turned it all upside down. And now he was gone.

Josie was running things for me at the Tavern, but her calls and texts were even more urgent as the days went by. She wanted to know what was going on, but how could I tell her that I lost the man I loved because his alien brother wanted to kill him? How could I tell her about my time on another planet. It didn't even feel real to me, and if I told anyone about it, I'd be sent to a mental hospital.

And yet, I needed to talk to someone. The only person I could talk to was Baz, of course, but he was gone. Likely forever.

I took a sip of my chamomile tea, hoping it would bring me some semblance of peace. I might not ever feel peace again, I thought, but I needed to try. I needed to try and relax some, to potentially get some sleep.

I felt my eyes growing heavy, so I allowed myself to slip off to sleep outside. Because I hadn't slept for days, any amount of sleep – even on the front porch – was better than none. I was exhausted both mentally and physically, so I fell asleep, feeling like just being out underneath the night sky, I was somehow closer to him.

“Paige.”

Even in my sleep, I heard his voice. I felt his lips against my forehead and it hurt so fucking badly. I'd never feel his touch again, and I felt the tears stinging my eyes.

“Wake up, darling,” he said to me.

His voice sounded so real, too – so real that I felt like if I opened my eyes, I'd be able to see him standing there. So I did. I opened my eyes, expecting the dream to come to an abrupt end.

But it didn't.

“Baz?” My voice was shaky as I sat up. “Is that you? Is that really you?”

“It is,” he said.

He kissed my lips, and that's when I knew it was real.

He was alive. He'd come back to me.

“You're alive,” I sobbed. “You're alive. I thought he was going to kill you. I assumed you'd lied to me.”

“I did lie, Paige, and I'm sorry about that. I know how much you hate lying and I hope you can forgive me.”

I kissed him long and hard before telling him, “There's nothing to forgive. You kept your promise. You're here, and you're alive.”

“And I'm yours,” he said.

“And you're mine,” I said, feeling like my heart could literally burst. “And I'm yours.”

“I love you, Paige.”

“I love you too, Baz.”

And I meant it. I really did. There was no one in this world I wanted to be with more than the man beside me. Or rather, the alien beside me.

But that could be our little secret.

THE END

Optorio Chronicles Box Set II – Optorio Civil War

Book 1 – Homecoming

Chapter One

Tarkonil

Finally back on my home planet, beneath the beautiful twin moons, you'd think I'd find some measure of peace once and for all. After spending time on Earth, well away from home and all I was familiar with, I was happy to return. It was a bit of a rough period on Optorio after Baz abdicated the throne. It had taken a little time for the Regent Council he'd ordered to rule in his place to really step up and take charge.

But eventually, with a little time, things began to turn around. Life on my home world began to smooth out, and I assumed things would really start looking up. The people and our world would flourish. Especially with Baz's brother, Kapoc, dead and gone, there would be no more threat of war, no more battles for control of Optorio. We could focus on making our world prosperous for all.

And for the most part, that was the case. On the surface anyway. Though the Regent Council and some of the wealthier class of Optorio grew fatter and richer, that prosperity and good fortune – the very things the Council was established to ensure for the people – wasn't shared by all.

I walked the streets of Tochasea, our capitol city, unable to meet the eyes of most of those I passed. Many were begging for food, money – scraps of anything that would help keep them going another day. And I'd already given what I had. I'd given everything I was able to give to try and ease the suffering and deprivation I saw all around me. I'd given almost all, but there were so many, and I had precious little left for myself.

But I too, needed to eat and having given away as much as I had, I was struggling to make that happen.

A pretty woman with exotic features stepped in front of me, making me stop in my tracks. She wore next to nothing, flaunting her full breasts and toned tight body. The woman grinned salaciously, running a hand through a thick mane of white-blonde hair as she stared at me.

“You look lonely,” she purred, running a finger down the length of my chest. “Maybe I can keep you company for a bit?”

“No, I'm fine,” I said and tried to walk past her. “But thank you.”

The woman grabbed me by the arm, stopping me from leaving. Like most Optorion women, she was far stronger than she appeared. But I was not in the mood for company, and even if I were, I would not utilize the services of a prostitute. It was exploitative and wrong – to say the least.

And when I turned back and looked into her eyes – eyes I suddenly realized were far too young for the life she was living – my heart broke for her and I felt like weeping.

“Please, sir, I'm begging you. If I don't get at least another customer –” She stopped speaking and I saw the light in her eyes – what little remained – suddenly go out. She set her jaw and apparently steeled herself to the reality before her. “Never mind. I'm sorry for my outburst. I'm sorry to have troubled you, sir.”

I wanted to stop, to ask her what would happen if she didn't get at least one more customer tonight – but I couldn't. But I had an idea. I wasn't blind or deaf to the suffering going on around me and had heard stories about men forcing women into the sex trade – and dealing out terrible abuses should they fail to produce. I'd heard those stories but didn't want to believe them. That was the kind of thing that happened elsewhere – not on Optorio. And most certainly, not in Tochasea, the most prosperous city in the system.

Feeling terrible, but not knowing what else I could do, I reached into my pocket and felt for any spare change that might be in there. It wasn't enough. Not by far and I knew it. It most certainly wouldn't be nearly enough to satisfy her boss. I knew that and feared the consequences for her, but it was all I had. It was all I could do.

“Here, miss,” I said, handing over the change. “I wish I could do more, but it's all I have. I'm sorry.”

The woman looked down at her hand and sighed, pocketing the change and walking away without as much as a “thank you.” Not that I could blame her. Common courtesy wasn't a concern when you were dealing with life or death, as many of the people on the streets of our formerly great capitol city were.

When Baz's father had been on the throne, the people had been taken care of. He could be a bit of a tyrant, I had to admit. But it was mostly when dealing with off-worlders and people not from Optorio. He was a rigid man, set in his ways. He did not like change and he did not like to be challenged.

But when it came to caring for his people, he always went the extra mile. He'd opened shelters for those who had no place to go. Made sure they had food, a place to sleep, and had an army of people to help clean them up, get them trained, and get them back to living a normal, productive life. He'd created jobs – had just invented them out of thin air – simply to make sure his people could work. Could care for themselves and stand on their own two feet. It infused them all with a sense of pride and dignity.

As I looked at the young woman as she walked away, I ruminated on the fact that it was pride and dignity that was sorely lacking. And had been ever since Baz had abdicated the throne. There was some small part of me that was angry at him for doing it. By doing so, he'd paved the way for this sort of greed and corruption – for this sort of deprivation and suffering among the people. He wasn't psychic, but he should have known this would happen. At least, that's what the bitter, angry part of my mind told me.

But deep down, I knew I was just angry at the state of things on our world. This wasn't Baz's fault and there was no way he could have known what would happen. Logically, I knew that. And as his friend, I'd encouraged him to follow his heart. To do what he felt was best for him and not be beholden to tradition or a life of servitude if he did not desire it.

Sometimes – like when I walked among those in need in the city – I regretted ever encouraging him to follow his heart. There was some small part of me that wishes I had spoken out against it. Had encouraged him to stay, to follow tradition and sit the throne when his father passed.

But that was the selfish part of me. Baz had every right to live his life the way he saw fit.

I sighed as I passed an older woman holding two small children at her side. Her nearly translucent skin was dirty, unkempt, and to be honest, she smelled horrible. The thick shock of dark hair on her head was filthy and her face was a mask of pain and desperation. She needed to feed her children as well as herself – but I had nothing to give.

“Please, sir,” she said, her voice hoarse. “My children haven't eaten in two days.”

I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. But as with all matters, I held my emotions in check. I was a member of the Regent Council and couldn't be seen to be emotionally unbalanced. It just wouldn't be proper and would give my enemies among the Council – of which, I had a few – ammunition to use against me.

“I'm sorry, miss,” I said. “I've already given away all I had. But did you look into the shelter two blocks from here?”

Tears welled in her eyes. “The Council closed it down two weeks ago.”

I sighed and shook my head. Though I – and a few others who shared my views – had not been present at the time, the Council had begun dismantling all of the social programs that Baz's father had instituted – including closing down the shelters for the needy. They'd said it wasn't financially viable and was draining the government's coffers while giving nothing of value in return.

I'd argued strenuously, but in the end, had been shot down. And in the ultimate form of disrespect, had begun voting to shut down the shelters one by one without even allowing me to cast a vote or lodge a formal protest.

Feeling miserable and powerless, I had to acknowledge that I was fortunate. At least, compared to so many, I was fortunate, I supposed. I wasn't on the streets. I had a roof over my head, a job that supported me thanks to skills that were always going to be in demand. I had food. I had the basic necessities that kept me going every day. I didn't have to live in a doorway or under a bridge. I didn't have to sell my body. And I didn't have to suffer the indignities and degradations so many of my fellow Optorions had to endure on a daily basis.

I also had the memory of my home before it was like this. Before it had fallen into ruin. Before the Regents had assumed control.

I never knew things could be worse than when Kapoc had been in charge – albeit briefly. But that small taste had given me an idea of how disastrous his reign would have been. Life on Optorio would have been hard and brutal under Kapoc, but life under the Regents seemed to be far worse. The deprivation was far greater and their corruption seemed more insidious.

Crime was through the roof, I now had to watch my back as I walked the streets. The government set in place by Baz was no longer concerned with our safety and welfare. They stayed away from the people, stayed away from the streets, and when they did come out, they had armed guards by their side.

Kapoc was a brutal tyrant, there was no doubt. But at least you knew what he was. The Regents pretended to be of the people, pretended to care about their welfare, and pretended to truly want to make life better for all. The reality of the world run by the Regents though, was far different. Far starker. And far, far worse.

I walked on, leaving the crowded and filthy streets behind me as I made my way home. A home that unlike some of the other Regents, was very modest. In fact, it was the same home I had lived in before ever joining the Council. Most of the other Regents, as their wealth grew as amply as their midsections, had moved to far more spacious, comfortable, and opulent homes. It was their right for doing so much work on behalf of the people, they said.

“It wasn't supposed to be like this,” I muttered to myself, unlocking the door to my small home on the outskirts of town. “It wasn't supposed to be anything like this.”

As I stepped into my home, I turned and made sure to lock the door behind me. I didn't fear the people on the streets so much. No, I feared those in the fancy clothes, with the ostentatious homes and friendly smiles – those who'd done this to our world. Our home.

I sighed as I walked through the darkened hallways of my home. My work day had been long, but I wasn't done yet. There was still more work to do. There was always more work to do. At least, for some of us. I signed into my security system and submitted to the bio-scan, authorizing that it was indeed me in the system. Once I had been verified and granted access, I got to work.

I began by pulling up some names – names of some of the members of the Council I was looking into. I'd been looking into them secretly, of course.

Ragor was the last one of the Regents I'd followed from a distance, and I watched as he came out of the building where many of the more exotic looking prostitutes often lingered. It was a private club you had to either pay very well to attend, or know somebody who could get you in. Somebody like me, just off the street, would not be welcome there.

But many of the prostitutes that I saw did not look to be Optorions to me. They looked to be from off-world. And although we did not forbid the practice of prostitution and companionship, we did have laws in place that prohibited the importation of alien woman for the purposes of forcing them into the sex trade.

The question in my mind though, was whether or not Ragor was only a patron. Or if he was working the sex club from the inside. After all, he'd paid several visits to that same club in the last week – often spending hours at a time there. Sure, a man might have a libido that high, but Ragor was aging, and it seemed highly unlikely that he had the stamina and vigor to spend an entire evening with prostitutes.

To me, it looked like Ragor was involved with the importation of women from other planets for the sole purpose of exploiting them. Of bringing in alien sex workers and likely, profiting handsomely from it.

But I couldn't be certain.

This was why I had much more work to do. I needed to get inside of one of these sex clubs, see what was going on inside. I needed to see where this new influx of women were coming from. I needed to figure out who else was involved with it. If Ragor was bringing alien women to work in his sex clubs, that meant that Urak, Regent of Commerce, was likely involved as well – he would at the very least, be turning a blind eye to Ragor bringing in loads of alien women.

Having met and spent a little time with Paige – Baz's wife – I was reasonably sure that many of the women in Ragor's club were from Earth. As far as I knew, outside of Paige, humans and Optorions hadn't had any contact before Baz. And hadn't had any since – or so I had thought, anyway.

Humans were something of a more primitive species. One without the capability of traveling all the way out here to Optorio. And until Baz had made his fateful trip, Optorions had no cause to visit Earth. So to now suddenly have so many human females popping up on my home world – in relative secrecy, of course – it made me wonder a great many things.

For instance, it made me wonder how they were all getting to Optorio.

And who was behind bringing them in?

I had an idea – a very dangerous one at that. But it was one I'd been working on for a little while now. However, until I had more proof of what I suspected – what I was reasonably sure I knew – I couldn't do anything about anything. At the moment, all I could do was record my findings and ensure that no matter what, this story would not die.

I wanted this investigation to continue even if, by chance, something were to happen to me. Like say a Regent assassin breaking into my home and killing me in my sleep.

Call me paranoid, but in this new world order, things like that tended to happen to troublemakers. I'd seen enough to know that although I was admittedly, a touch paranoid, I wasn't entirely wrong, either.

And I was reasonably sure Ragor would view me as a troublemaker. Or at least, he was going to.

Chapter Two

Riley

“So what do you think, Riley? Are you up for a drink tonight?” Sam asked me, smiling pleasantly as we closed up the restaurant. “I hear there's a really good band over at Mahogany tonight. We should check it out.”

Sam was a sweet kid and I had no ill feelings toward him. Honestly, I had no feelings toward him at all, really. He was a typical small-town boy who'd been born and raised in Sapphire Bay. He'd played football in high school, and was good enough that he'd earned a scholarship to play back on the east coast.

And from what I'd gathered, when he'd left for school, he'd claimed he'd never be back. But there he was – working in his father's restaurant as my manager. Not that it was entirely his fault, but it just goes to show the foolishness of making declarations like that.

Sam had blown out his knee during his junior year and after that, his scholarship had gone the way of the Dodo – as did his opportunities to play football at the next level. Sam didn't have a plan for his life. For him, it was football or bust and he'd never taken his studies all that seriously. He'd truly believed that he'd be playing football professionally and hadn't given thought to a life without it.

Reality can come crashing down hard on you sometimes. And when it does, it can be a real bitch.

To his credit though, he could have been angry and bitter about it all, but he wasn't. He'd accepted that his dream had died the night he'd heard that fateful pop in his knee, but he'd somehow managed to maintain a positive attitude about his life. For the most part.

Once in a great while, I saw something akin to disappointment and sadness on his face – perhaps even a small trace of anger every now and then. But he'd always done a good job of hiding it and being positive and upbeat otherwise.

“Sam, you know I can't go out on a date with you. You're my boss.” I laughed it off as I finished wiping down the last of the tables in my station. “That would be so totally inappropriate.”

I'd used that excuse on him more times than I could count since I'd started there. But he remained undeterred and always came back, hopeful that he'd get a different answer. He was persistent and it was sweet in its own way. But even if he hadn't been my boss, I wasn't interested in him like that.

To be fair though, it wasn't him. Honestly, I wasn't really interested in any man like that. I was happy being single and in doing my own thing. But of course, men like Sam – or most men, really – couldn't understand that. Not without hearing my entire story, anyway. But who knew, perhaps even after hearing my story, he wouldn't understand it.

But there was no way in hell I was about to open up to him about all that. I preferred to keep the past where it belonged – firmly in the past. My story was my story and I wasn't going to talk about it. Not to anybody.

“Oh come on, Riley,” he said, leaning on the counter top, looking up at me with those baby blue eyes I was sure made many a heart melt in his day.

Sam was a good looking man, there was no denying it. With those heart-melting eyes, that strong and toned physique, and his Captain America good looks, I doubted he struggled with the ladies. In fact, I was pretty sure no girl had ever said no to him before, much less as often as I had. And maybe because of that, he was eager to turn my no into a yes.

Yeah, good luck with that.

“Not happening, Sam,” I said. “I have class early tomorrow and homework due. It's already going to be a long night. Sorry, babe.”

Sam rolled his eyes and sighed. He stood up straight and tried to flex a little bit, trying to give me a good view of the muscular body beneath that maybe too tight shirt he was wearing. He seemed to think his good looks would finally win me over and that I'd magically throw my panties at him or something. Maybe experience had taught him that was how things operated in his world. But if he genuinely thought that, it proved that he didn't know me. And that he was in for a big surprise.

When you got right down to it, I just wasn't attracted to him. Not in any sense of the word.

Sure, he was an attractive enough man. Tall, broad shoulders, well-built and with sandy brown hair and blue eyes. I assumed that most women would throw themselves at a man like Sam – and many probably had. There certainly was no shortage of cute little waitresses and hostesses in the restaurant he could have had a crack at. So, why in the hell was he all over me? I didn't get it.

I supposed that for many men, it came down to the chase. The challenge of conquering that which they deemed unconquerable. And the more I said no, the more he tried to win me over. Like he needed to conquer me. Like I was goddamn Mt. Everest or something.

I was starting to think that maybe it was time to start looking for another job. But the bitch of it was that I liked working at the Lazy Hen Cafe. The Hen, as it was called, was a family-owned diner that focused primarily on making amazing tasting home-cooked meals. Some of the food there was a lot like the stuff I grew up on myself. And they had the best pie in Sapphire Bay – not that we had many pie places here, but I still liked to indulge in free slices now and then. Just one of the perks of the job.

But staying at the Hen also meant that I had to deal with the likes of Sam. And all the pie in the world – no matter how amazing it was – just wasn't worth that.

“You really need to get a life, Riley,” he said as I clocked out for the night. “All work and no play isn't good for you. Like they say, it makes you a dull girl.”

“Sadly, I don't have the luxury to have it any other way, Sam,” I said, gritting my teeth and doing my best to suppress the anger that was rising within me. “I don't have those options.”

“Don't you have family?”