While You Were Dead (38 page)

Audra stared as the man beckoned her. Stared at the most handsome man she’d ever seen. Jet-black hair, worn cropped yet long enough to run her fingers through. Strong, square jaw and...his eyes. They mesmerized, so deep and dark a blue it was as if they were a gift from the god Poseidon. Just a little of his ocean domain gathered at the stroke of midnight and given to a mortal man.

Lips, full and sensual, invited her to explore their very depths. His uniform fit like a second skin, molding itself to his incredible body. The uniform did little to hide, but rather accentuated his form, from his wide shoulders, to his abs and on down. She watched the muscles play across his chest as he extended his hand to her.

Snuggling deeper into the blankets, Crown Princess Dayanara, heir to the throne of Sunaru on the planet Centauri rolled away from the sound.

“Ugh.” Sleep laced her voice. Reaching over she nudged the clock on the nightstand toward her and hit the top of it. “It’s too early,” she groaned, rolled flat on her stomach

“Now, Princess, please calm down.” Darius dropped her pillow, reached for the phone, and ripped it from the wall. “I mean you no harm, but we must talk and there is little time.” He fell to one knee, bowing in front of her.

Her eyes wide with fear, she grabbed the next available object, a tiny pink lamp on the bedside table. She held it out in front of her like a sword and then swung at him. He deflected the blow with his forearm as he stood, denting the lampshade in the process.

“Princess. Someone is going to get hurt if you don’t allow me to speak.” He wrestled the mangled lamp from her. “Hear what I have to say. Please,” he implored. “You must return home. Immediately.”

“Help! Somebody help me!” Screaming, she kicked out at him with her foot, trying to take his head off. Her attempt at self-defense was pitiful; her skills no match for his.

Blocking her kick with one arm, he grabbed her leg with both his hands flipped her completely around and back to the floor.

“No one can hear you. Stop screaming.” Darius could not help but notice her garment actually her lack of garment. It was held on her body by two thin straps and dipped dangerously low in front, revealing the firm, creamy mounds of her breasts. Very short to begin with and holding her leg in his hand he saw clear up to where her thighs met and knew she wore nothing underneath the slippery material. He couldn’t help but notice her legs, well formed and as perfect as the rest of her.

Audra stopped to catch her breath. Breathing hard, she rolled to her back and eyed him from stem to stern. “You look like you just came from a Star Trek convention.”

And just like the man in my dream.

Could it be? She’d had dreams come true before, but nothing like this. Never about a man. At least never about a man like this one. Oh, no. She would have remembered him, in her dreams or in reality. She definitely would have remembered him.

“Yes, I have trekked across the stars in search of you, Princess.” His words were odd, clipped, very formal, as though learned from a book.

“What are you talking about?” This man, dream or not, was in her bedroom and she could not imagine how in the world he got in here.

She yanked at the straps of her gown, resettling them on her shoulders. What she wouldn’t give for her cotton flannel granny gown at the moment.

He held out his hand to help her up but she swatted it away.

“Who are you? Really? How did you get in here and...and who are you?” she repeated. She lunged for the lamp in his hands.

Placing the lamp out of her reach, he said. “I am Coridian, brother of your betrothed.” He bowed, again. “I am here to escort you home.”

“Betrothed? You’ve escaped from the asylum, haven’t you? You’re some kind of nut and...” She scrambled to stand up and moved closer to the window, judging the distance to the ground.

In the next instant, she reached low for the lamp, threw it at his head and bolted for the door. He leapt forward and caught her before she’d taken two steps, slamming her up against his chest, trapping her there within his arms. The lamp crashed to the floor, shattered.

Kicking wildly, Audra connected with his groin. His knees buckled, but he was quick to recover and never loosened his hold on her. She twisted, freed an arm, and slammed the heel of her hand into his face. If he hadn’t turned, she would have broken his nose. Her strike was solid enough though, she heard him groan in pain before he released her.

She spun around, connecting her foot with his solar plexus, knocking the wind from him. Now on the attack she jumped up, slammed both her feet into his chest sending him flat on his back. Regaining her balance before he did, she straddled his chest, pressing her hand against his throat, with his jugular in her fingers.

“Now. Tell me what I want to know or I’ll make sure you don’t see another day.”

He smiled, actually smiled at her. “I have told you who I am. Only your aunt can tell you more. I have no wish to harm you, my lady.” He waggled his brows at her, his eyes falling to half-mast. “I rather like you sitting on me like this.”

“Are you mad? I could kill you.” She squeezed his jugular for emphasis. He didn’t flinch or even look pained. Instead, he bucked sideways, sending her flying to the floor. Before she could rise, he had her back on the floor, straddled her, his hands pressed her shoulders down to keep her immobile.

Raising her chin, she nodded. She wasn’t afraid of him...her dream man. Somehow she felt, no she knew, that this man would never hurt her, would rather die than cause her pain. How did she know that? “Fine. Tell me what you want and get out.”

Walking to the window, he gave her some space. “I am Coridian. Darius Coridian. My brother, Anton, is your betrothed. He sent me here to bring you home. To Centauri.”

“Anton?” Her confusion had to be evident even to this moron. “I don’t know any Anton and I’ve never heard of Centauri.”

“Allow me to finish. You are Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Dayanara, and heir to the throne of the country of Sunaru on the planet Centauri in the system you know as planet Alpha Centauri, approximately four light years from here.

“You have been living here on Earth for the last twenty-two years. This was done to protect you from your enemies. Now, however, both of your parents are dead and you must return with me to claim your throne and marry my brother.”

Audra bit the inside of her lip, and then unable to control herself, she burst out laughing. Grabbing her middle, she bent over, her body wracked with spasms of laughter.

He raised an eyebrow, and gave her a look she was sure had sent many a grown man scampering for cover. “This is not the time for humor.”

She laughed even harder, tears running freely from her eyes. “You’ve got the wrong woman. My name is Audra, Diane Audra Cantwell to be exact. Do you really expect me to believe that malarkey you just spouted?”

Finally, she stopped laughing. Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, she walked over to the closet and pulled on her robe, which covered her from neck to toes. She then sat on the edge of the bed. “Well, I guess you aren’t dangerous or you would have murdered me already. So who are you? Really?”

“I told you who I am. Really.” He sounded exasperated. “Do you not see the similarity between your Centaurion name and the name they call you here? Princess Margareta can verify all I have told you.”

“You try my patience, Princess, deliberately, I suspect.” He stiffened. “The woman who raised you, Princess Margareta, is your aunt, and she will verify everything I have just said.”

“My mother is going to verify your story?” She snapped her fingers. “Just like that?”

“Yes, just like that.” He snapped back, mimicking her.

Pacing the room, her bare feet sunk into the realtor-beige carpet covering the entire apartment. “Let’s say I believe you, not that I do but, for the moment, let’s pretend.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, he nodded.

“Now, let me see if I’ve got this straight. I’m not Audra Cantwell. I’m a princess from outer space, named Dayanara. And my mother, who’s not really my mother, will verify all of this?”

He nodded.

She slumped onto the thick comforter covering her bed. “This has got to be a dream.” She pinched herself. “Ouch! Okay, I’m not asleep. So, then, I’ve lost my mind. I’m delusional. Any second now, my nightmare self will sprout fangs and wings and swallow my head in some disgusting way.” Shivering she said, “No, I better not even think that or I’ll dream it and that would not be good.”

“You are not delusional. I know this is much to assimilate. If there were more time I would have told you more slowly, but unfortunately there is no more time. Princess Margareta should have prepared you for this moment. ” His jaw clenched as he emphasized each of the last words.

“You’ve got the wrong girl.” She shoved off the bed, wrapping her arms about her. “This can’t be happening to me.”

“Princess.” He stood next to her, but did not touch her. “Audra. Look at me.”

She did and looked up into those dark, midnight blue eyes, framed with inky, incredibly thick lashes...and felt an instant, and unwelcome thrill of recognition. It was the same as in her dream. His proximity made her aware of nothing but him. The room seemed smaller, the air thinner. Her heart beat faster to accommodate her racing pulse.

“Let us go see your...mother. She will explain everything to your satisfaction.” His voice was gentle, coaxing, almost mesmerizing. Then he had to ruin it by adding, “Then we must leave quickly. The trip home will be long, but not nearly long enough. You have many things to learn on the way.”

His words brought her back to reality. She walked over to her nightstand, where her phone used to be. “Give me back my phone. I’m calling the police.”