Not Quite Terran Part 1 (Scifi Alien Romance Serial) (2 page)

His face tightened, the relaxed lines stretching over his features. She knew the signs after all this time and he was battling anger or a firm discomfiture. Possibly both.

“I would not to ask for time if no importance.” His eyes darkened. Ah, frustration then. “Moments, Terran Rebecca Varda.”

Terran
Rebecca Varda. He was pulling out all of the respectful stops. “How many tics? Kiarana is on her way with my food.”

His face paled in embarrassment. “Tsumazoar Kiarana P’tor is packaging food for home.”

Another round of respect, but directed at Kia this time.
Varr and Kia sitting in a tree…

Varr seemed pretty damned determined and knowing that, she finally gave in. “Fine. You’re covering dinner.” She pointed at him and saw his confusion. “Paying. Purchasing.”

This would reveal the truth of Varr’s need. If it was just a small annoyance, he’d backtrack and wait for her to eat. If it wasn’t… “Yes.” He nodded in agreement as she’d taught him. “Covering the dinner.”

With a defeated sigh, she pushed away from the table and stood. She only made it one step toward the entrance when Varr placed his hand on her arm. Just a small touch before he snatched it back. “We retreat this way, Terran Rebecca Varda.”

“You’re laying it on thick, Varr.”

He shrugged and waited for her to precede him toward the rear exit. On their way through the kitchen, she waved at Albe and Varr grabbed her food from the cook’s arm before he could throw it at them. Albe did not tolerate disrespect to his food and getting something “to-go” was disrespectful in his book.

The moment they stepped outside, she turned toward her lodgings. “Talk, Varr.”

“In quarters,” he quickly countered and she froze in place.

“No.” Flat and final.
No one
entered her space. Especially not a male.

Embarrassment once again paled his features. “Varr does not wish those things. Must speak with privacy.” His eyes pleaded with her. “Please, Terran Rebecca Varda.
Please
.”

She knew inviting anyone to her quarters was a mistake. And yet… something inside her told her to give in. Her body screamed that it was imperative she allow Varr into her home. Not her whole body, but the part that yearned for… something normally satisfied by gorging on protein and sleepless nights as her heart cried out for more. But it didn’t
want
Varr. It simply demanded she listen.

Rebecca tore her attention from his gaze and stared at the slick, wet ground. The bots had been down the alley and cleaned. So it was later than she thought, then.

And she was stalling, thinking of anything other than her need.

“Fine,” she snapped. “Fine.” She met his stare. “But I will bounce you so fast your head spins off if this is some trick. If you’re trying to get me—”

Varr was quick to shake his head. “No trick. Must speak words with you.”

She spun on her heal and resumed her course toward home. “Let’s go then.”

The rest of the journey was made in silence, the raucous laughter of others interspersed with rude innuendo from those who lingered near the establishments. Varr bristled and opened his mouth to silence them, but a quick whisper forestalled his words. “It’s not worth it.”

“Disrespect, Rebecca.”

She shrugged but remained silent. She didn’t have a people strong enough to act as a threat to the other residents. This was par for the course. “My place is up here.”

“Knowing this,” he snapped back and she sensed rather than saw his anger. The darkened hallways didn’t lend themselves to actually seeing her companion. “Poxu has must fix these.”

Another shrug. “I’m sure it’s on his to-do list.”

Not very high on it, but there somewhere.

“But you are his—”

A ruffle of wind, the slightest brush of something against her pants, and that was all the warning she received that someone lurked near. No, it was more than that. One click. Then two. Then three and her visitor was revealed in a low beam of light.

Click clack click…

She didn’t have to squint to know what stood on three legs close to her. The Luvendari with his teeth bared and small hands filled with his people’s weapon of choice.

“Terran bitch.” Apparently it’d picked up a nice little Terran slur.

Rebecca immediately leapt behind her regulations. “Federation code—”

It struck out at her, tiny blade flashing in the dimness, boasting about its sharpened edge. It lunged, slicing her pants and then the second swipe slipped beneath her skin. That fast, one-two, and she was bleeding. The fabric soaked up the blood and immediately tightened around the wound. Its action made her happy she’d splurged for the self-sealing clothing.

“What?” Varr’s voice rose above the Luvendari’s hisses and snaps as it continued fighting her.

Well, attacking truly. She was merely attempting to evade him in the small corridor. She shoved the alien clear, unwilling for her friend to be injured when the stupid alien was after her.

The Luvendari jolted forward, small arm outstretched and she jumped back. He missed her by a hairsbreadth. “Federation code—”

“Says Terran bitch be punished,” it hissed at her.

She fought the tremors and shakes that assaulted her, the fear that threatened to freeze her in place. She’d been training in the holo rooms. She should be able to protect herself, disarm and capture him. Pity she’d never trained against a Luvendari. Then she would have known she’d freeze up and panic.

“Federation code—” she tried again, swallowing the overwhelming need to hide. “States—”

Suddenly her attacker was gone. A large, deeply tanned hand snatched the Luvendari around its furred neck, lifted it from the ground, and then tossed it over the stairway railing. A high-pitched screech escaped its mouth, the sound echoing off the metallic walls as it made a rapid descent. A few grunts were interspersed with the whine and finally a heavy thud ended the noises. It was then she turned her attention from the Luvendari and sought her savior.

The hallway’s light barely cut through the darkness, but she got the impression of long thick legs encased in midnight fabric—leather? His waist was trim, stomach flat, and his chest was broad and heavily muscled. His arms were like tree trunks, large and strong. Obviously strong if he was able to pick up a Luvendari and toss him down a stairwell without problem. She continued her perusal, letting her gaze drift higher until her stare collided with his.

Her first thought was delicious. She’d seen vids of her kind, those included in recordings about Terra, but this male rivaled them all. He was utmost perfection with a strong jaw, straight nose, and deep brooding eyes. His midnight hair curled around his ears and brushed the top of his collar. And those eyes… Did she only see them as a brooding? No, they were a varying swirl of blues, greens, and purples.

At first glance, he appeared Terran. A quick look by one who wasn’t trained would have the observer believe they’d simply walked by a fine specimen of Terra. Rebecca knew better. It was in the undertones of his skin, the way he held himself, and the slightly different proportions that told her he was not as he appeared.

She tore her attention from the male despite her body’s desire to continue drinking her fill. The part of her that held such a craving, that made her life hell twice a year, demanded she go to the stranger. Not just go to him, but give herself to him. Which was enough of a shock and the surprise cleared her mind of the growing desire.

Instead, she focused on Varr. “Who’s this?” she snapped. She glanced at the stranger, gaze taking him. “Better yet, what’s this?”
What
was a good question. This male did not belong on Rilli, and Varr still had not spoken. “Varr? Who and what is this?” She reached for her comm tucked inside a pocket of her suit. Names weren’t important at this point in the game. It was enough that she wasn’t sure of his race, but was positive he wasn’t authorized to step foot on Rilli. “I’m calling this in.”

“No, no, please to wait, Terran Rebecca Varda. Please to wait.” Varr quickly rushed forward, hands outstretched and intent on stopping her.

She wasn’t stopping. Not only did she value her job, she valued having a mostly safe place to live. She kept her nose clean, head down, and earned every credit of her paycheck. Part of that included staying on Poxu’s good side.

Varr closed in on her, and the familiar panic of being touched without her permission consumed her, rushing forward until her heartbeat stuttered. It wasn’t anything specific against him. There was just something… She tensed, waiting for the connection of his damp rubbery skin against hers, but it was the stranger who stepped in.

“Do not.” His voice was rough and scratching whether from disuse or his normal tone, she wasn’t sure. She did note it touched that commanding part of her, and her body responded in an instant. She’d never truly craved sex in the past, but those two syllables had her nipples hard and erect while her very center heated and ached with want.

Varr launched a handful of words at the stranger, the language further proof this person was not federation sanctioned. The words flowed in a soothing wave despite the occasional growl and groan. The undulating rhythm spoke to her, spoke to her soul, and she couldn’t understand why she reacted so strongly to this male.

It’s because he looks so much like a Terran and it’s that time of year. Nothing more.

Finally the male released one last rapid whip of growls and Varr jumped back a full step, moving so fast he nearly stumbled down the stairs. His features were flushed yet taut, evidence of his anger toward the visitor. The big man snarled another string of words in his native language, and then Varr looked to her.

“Excuses, Terran Rebecca Varda,” he murmured.

Her attention flicked between the two males, and she finally settled on speaking to Varr. “Enough of this placating garbage.” She leaned toward him and spoke low. “Why do you have an unsanctioned species in my hallway?”

He squirmed and focused on the ground. “Please to enter your lodgings.”

“You want me to let you and this guy who could kill me with a single punch into my place? Do you think I’m an idiot?” She hissed the questions at him.

Varr stared at her, resolve filling his gaze. “I am to call in your debt to me. We will enter lodgings.”

Rebecca couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak, couldn’t even move a muscle as those words filtered into her mind. Memories, visions of the past, her first weeks on Rilli pummeled her. Being tripped… Being grabbed… Being cornered…

Instant and overwhelming fear shot down her spine, and adrenaline rushed into her veins. Her mind urged her to run, to flee, but her body refused to listen. Instead, she was trapped in this dirty hallway, Varr on her right with his painful demand and this stranger on her left.

If she remained silent, if she let him into her quarters and anyone saw… It was as good as tossing her out an airlock.

Varr… Yes, he had saved her life, she owed hers to him. She just never imagined he’d call in his marker.

As if recognizing her reticence, he spoke again. “I snatched you from—”

She fought to banish the tears that sprung to her eyes, the remembered feel of hands on her bare body churning her stomach, and forced herself to speak. “I know.
I remember
.” She spun away from him and skirted the stranger as she returned to her path. She reached the next landing and paused. “Come on.”

Three flights up, Rebecca paused at the entry to her hallway. The lights were slightly brighter here, her complaints to the manager resulting in giving her
one
extra lightbulb. The men hovered at her back and she fisted her hands and clenched her jaw.

She lowered her voice and turned her head slightly toward them. “I’m doing this under protest. If I get caught…”

“Yes. Yes.” Varr seemed impatient, and she hissed at him.

“I’m cutting two of the lights. We have five tics to get to the end of the hallway and in my unit. If someone catches you because you’re slow, it’s on your ass and I will save my own. We clear?” She hated doing this. Hated it. But there was no denying she owed Varr.

“Clear.” The stranger’s voice held an accent she didn’t recognize. Then again, she wasn’t sure why she believed she would.

Rebecca flicked a glance at the nearest camera and carefully edged her way beneath the device. A careful and silent pry at the access panel, granted her the ability to manipulate the wires it hid. She rubbed her fingers together, sensitizing them and waking the nerves before she reached inside. Her hand hovered above the wire she needed and she paused to look at the men. She raised her eyebrows with the question, and Varr immediately nodded while the stranger seemed merely confused.

Well, she didn’t have time to explain Terran expressions to him now. Taking a deep breath, she tapped the wire, breaking the connection and sending a shock of electricity through her body. She twitched and gasped with the shock of pain, but she didn’t have the time to whine like a girl over the ache. She withdrew her hand and immediately popped the panel into place before bolting down the hallway, the steady thump of feet on the padded flooring telling her the two males were in pursuit.

She skidded to a stop outside her quarters and she immediately slammed her hand against the access panel. It flickered red for a moment, and beeped low, denying her access.

“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” She lifted her hand and rubbed it on her pants, hopefully wiping away the residue of the small burn she received from the fucking wire. She pressed it against the panel once again, staring at it as the light farthest from them flickered and slowly came to life. “Come on. Come on. Come on.” There were two tics between that light and the one that would illuminate the area outside her quarters. If they weren’t inside by then… She dropped her voice to a low growl and snarled at the pad. “
Come on
.”

The access panel glowed green and a high-pitched chirp announced the door was unlocked. At the same moment the panel slid aside to grant them entrance, she stepped back to snatch the stranger. Varr could be dismissed as a visitor if he was spotted outside her unit, but tall dark and growly could not. She placed her hand on his bicep, squeezing and yanking him toward the doorway. She ignored the jolt of awareness and overwhelming desire that came with that connection. There were more important things than her need for him. Such as staying alive.