by J. S. Wilder
“That’s okay, I’m fine.” He stood up so abruptly that she fell back against the couch.
Was he worried about her wanting to have sex right away? “How about I help—”
“No,” he snapped, then softened his voice. “Look, I’ve got to go.”
“Okay.” What else could she say? Thanks for giving me an orgasm, since I’ve not had one with another guy in months. Sorry you didn’t get yours but hey, I won’t force you.
He bowed his head slightly before he raced out of her door and his footsteps echoed on the cement stairwell outside.
Never in a million years would she have believed a guy would get her off only to run away the second he was able to. Did she smell bad or something? She lifted her arm and sniffed. Nope. Was he still mourning his dead wife then? As sweet as that was, the man needed to enjoy life. Or was he self-conscious about himself? No, she’d felt him down there and he was huge. What if he had a girlfriend on the side who couldn’t have kids and he went too far tonight with Megan?
Next time she saw him, she wasn’t going to let him leave until she had answers.
Chapter 16
Levx
Stupid, stupid, stupid. Levx cursed as he stiffly walked back to his car. But driving fast wasn’t going to be enough tonight. He had to spread his wings and fly. The sounds Megan had made when he kissed and touched her had driven him insane. He wanted to rip her clothes off and make her scream his name. And he’d broken her jeans trying to get to her until he realized he couldn’t make love to her. She thought he was a fucking human. Pretty sure if she knew the truth, she’d scream at him or faint like all the mortals he’d come across in his past before.
She’d been so wet and her scent made him heady that he’d taken it further than he should have. Her offer to make him release his sexual frustration while her lips were swollen from his kisses and her body flushed from her orgasm made him almost willing to submit. But she needed to know the truth but how could he tell her? He wanted to spend more time with her not sending her running away.
Flying. He needed to soar through the night to calm his sexual frustration. It was better than the cold shower reference he’d heard on a movie once. Even if he wanted to have sex with her, how could he not knowing if he’d shift into his dragon form or not? His cousin Xrele had said his scales reappeared while he was in his human form the first time he’d been with an Earthling woman. She’d thought it was a skin condition as they were in a dark room. Poor guy had fled and never tried again as far as Levx had known. What if the same thing happened to him? What if he transformed fully into a dragon and hurt Megan? He couldn’t live with that.
With a growl, he ducked into an alleyway and scaled up the building with his dragon claws extended until he reached the top. Then he unleashed his Renjer form, his wings erupting out of his flesh like someone lashed him with whips. The scent of his blood mingled with the hint of a storm approaching, the ions thickening in the air.
His scales broke through his skin and he shivered from the pain escalating through his body as his bones and muscles reformed into the shape he’d worn since birth. As a human, he felt weaker and compact. Like someone had poured him into a mold that was too small. But as a Renjerian, he felt powerful and free. The transformation finally complete as Levx shook out his wings to encourage the blood flow.
Launching himself into the air, he struck his wings hard against the wind until he was well above the city. The cars hummed below him on the freeway. Their exhaust along with the numerous fumes from the restaurants and buildings clogging his lungs. Underneath it all, Megan’s sweet and musky fragrance of her arousal taunted him. He ground his teeth and soared higher. His body whipped through the clouds.
Lightning flashed a few feet away from him burning his nostrils. It would be so easy to drift closer. Allow the electricity to surge through him and open his magic. He could ride a bolt back to Renjer right now. Fight the Tryns until either he wiped them out or they killed him.
But what about Megan? Sure, he’d paid for her father’s past due hospital bills and stay for a year in addition to pouring money into her bank account, but it wouldn’t last forever. Eventually, she’d need more funds and with him gone, would she return to Renjer Associates and let one of his brothers or cousins higher her?
The thought of her carrying another man’s child made the muscle twitch in his jaw.
He couldn’t leave earth now. And his father would figure out what he’d done without making another half-breed Renjerian and would send an army after him to bring him back. Or worse, punish his younger siblings for his refusal of obeying his father’s wishes.What would Megan think after he'd kissed and brought her to orgasm if he just disappeared?
All of Levx’s thoughts churned in his mind. But the one that made his chest feel like it was in a vise was the thought of Megan hurt. He couldn’t do that to her.
He banked left back toward her apartment. He’d shift on her roof then try and talk to her. Explain, as well as he could without revealing that he was an alien, why he’d left. He could figure out some excuse—a heavy body hit him mid-air, knocking the air out of his lungs with a whoosh. Claws dug into his sides as he and whatever was on him plummeted down to Earth.
The stench of sulfur hit him first. Tryn? Here?
“Hello little dragon,” the creature sneered. It’s body covered in short black fur, forked tail and wings resembling the medieval drawings of humans of demons. “Looks like we’ve found where all the Renjerians came to in this tiny planet.”
Levx snaked his head back, blasting fire at the massive demon. But the Tryn let go of his back and slid down to Levx’s tail. Another Tryn leapt from a passing building, a chain muzzle with spikes sinking into his skin and clamping Levx’s mouth closed so he couldn’t use his fire.
If they wanted a fight, he’d give them one and kill them both in the crash landing. He tucked his wings to his body, the wind whistling in his ears as they fell.
Before they struck the ground, a buzzing sounded in his ears. His body went rigid then his wings snapped out of their own accord. What the—
“Ah, that’s a nice dragon now.” The Tryn who clamped the muzzle over Levx’s snout crawled up his neck to his back. “Did you Renjerians think that we’d be satisfied to allow you to leave your planet and thrive somewhere else.” He chuckled. “No, we were biding our time until we could create devices like this one to control you all.”
Levx screamed in his mind but no sound came out. Willed his muscles to obey him but they didn’t even twitch.
The second Tryn on his tail clawed up to his back joining the first. Their size, seven foot, told him they were generals and not the small, annoying minions who had first invaded Renjer. These bastards were harder to kill and smart unlike their millions of peewee size counterparts that were just as nasty.
“Take us to the others, filthy dragon,” the second Tryn said with glee in its voice. “You’re going to help us wipe out your race and then we’ll go after the humans, starting with the one whose scent is all over you.”
Chapter 17
Megan
Megan paced in her apartment, tossing trash away and adding to the growing pile of laundry in the middle of her living room. Why had Levx left like that? Just tore out like she had grown horns or something.
Had she done something wrong? Come on too strong? Maybe he was one of those guys that had to be in charge. He was successful and rich and handsome. Crap. She’d been too forceful. But he’d liked it at first, hadn’t he? He was the one who grabbed her ass and ruined her jeans. Or more likely he didn’t want to have sex with her because she was supposed to be considering carrying his and his dead wife’s child.
With a groan, she hauled up her laundry and stuffed it into the washer. One good thing about being upset was it helped her clean. She grabbed the broom and started sweeping the floors. It was too late to go visit her father.
Thunder boomed nearby, and she jumped.
Her dad. God, she had
n’t told him about the past due bills but the hospital hadn’t called to complain so had Levx taken care of it like he said he would? She paused mid-sweep and chewed at her thumbnail. She should check the bills were up-to-date and that Levx had done what he’d promised. And they hadn’t discussed her salary for becoming a surrogate. What if the payment only covered her dad’s stay up until now and in a month or two she was right back where she started and pregnant as well?
Unable to wait any longer, she plopped down in front of her laptop and pulled up the hospital’s website. She entered her information but her notifications showed nothing was do. Was that right? Couldn’t be because he’d have had charges for today or at least pending for tomorrow.
She clicked a few more keys, frowning each time her payment page showed paid in full. Thunder boomed again making her body shiver. She pushed the laptop onto the coffee table and snatched up her phone unable to believe Levx had paid the entire balance in one shot.
After going through the automated system, she punched in her account and the request to speak to a live representative.
“Memorial Billing, how may I help you?” a woman asked.
“Yes, ah, my father is staying at your hospital and when I try to check my account, would you please confirm my balance due?”
“Certainly. What’s the number?”
Megan told the operator her account details. The lights in her apartment flickered with another crash of thunder.
“Ma’am, I’m showing you’ve paid in full. There’s no amount due.”
He’d paid her dad’s balance so fast she still couldn’t believe it. “What about today’s charges.”
“One moment.” Keys clicked over the phone line. “Well, there’s a bank account attached to the bill that automatically pays whenever a charge is made.”
A chill swept through Megan. “So you’re telling me that I don’t owe anything?”
“Yes, ma’am. There’s also a note that any new bills are to be paid via this credit card on file while the patient is under the hospital’s care.”
What had Levx paid her bills and set up an automatic charge for future bills? That was above and beyond what they discussed. Happiness and relief flooded her. This was actually happening. She needed to speak with him. Thank him.
“Is there anything else I can help you with?” the lady over the phone asked.
“No, I’m good. Thank you.” She clicked the end call button and stood. Why had Levx been so generous? And she had a suspicion that he’d done more. She snatched up her cell again and punched in the numbers to her checking account. The automated system answered. Your balance as of today is ten thousand one hundred and three dollars and twenty-nine cents.
She hit the replay button and the machine told her the same thing. Wow! So Levx had not only paid her father’s hospital bills but had dumped ten thousand dollars into her account. And she hadn’t even signed the damn contract yet. Levx had done her a huge favor and hadn’t asked for anything in return except her to look over the surrogate agreement. What if she refused now? She needed to discuss this with him…what if she hadn’t been clear that this was a business agreement only not anything else. Well, maybe he’d gotten the idea there was more from her invitation to a nightcap. And she was attracted to him but their contract hadn’t included dating. Her dad’s bills were just a loan but she hadn’t agreed to funds in her personal account. That was probably why he’d fled—they couldn’t make love until after she was pregnant—she slapped her forehead then winced. No wonder he freaked out. And she should’ve know better. If they’d had unprotected sex and she conceived, then the contract would be null and void and she’d have to figure out a way to pay Levx back for everything he’d done.
That thought made her gut clench. She needed to review the contract and have a lawyer go over it as well. And what if she refused to sign? God, she hoped there wasn’t crap in there saying she had to return the money. Once she got pregnant, the next nine months were going to majorly change her life, and she would need that money to help herself during her pregnancy. And if the contract didn’t have any technicality about paying it back, he should have new documents drawn up so no one shamed him.
For the next hour, she poured over the contract, rubbing her neck when the strain of reading the fine print made her muscles ache. She wasn’t a lawyer but she couldn’t find anything about refunding the surrogate’s salary. Was this for real? She needed to know his deal…why would he risk sending the money before she even signed the contract or got pregnant?
First thing in the morning she was finding a lawyer to go over this agreement. But excitement at what this could mean for her and her dad kept her tossing and turning all night.
Chapter 18
Levx
The magical muzzle dug into Levx’s scales and down along his wings with every breath but he’d die before he revealed to the Tryns where his family was staying in the city. The bastards had run them out of their planet and they needed to perish.
He tried to opened his mouth and spew out dragon fire and fry these monsters but pain shot into his body making him shake. Despite trying to snap this contraption off, it only seemed to dig in deeper. The metallic scent of his blood permeating the air.
“Stubborn Renjerian,” one of the Tryns hissed. “All of your discomforts will be over soon…just show us where your families’ lair is. Not like we won’t find it eventually but your suffering will end quickly.”
“I don’t care about pain,” Levx bit each word out as his wings flapped of their own accord through the night sky. For now, they circled over the city but he couldn’t control his body. The urge to take them far away and down into the middle of the ocean washed through him. He fought not to allow his body to take them exactly where they wanted to go, the result left him trembling. The two Tryns like leeches on his back zipping back and forth in the darkness, their contraption forcing his body to their will and fighting against it was leaving him feeling weaker by the second. It was like the device possessed his body but not his mind. “I will never lead you anywhere except your death.”
The Tryn laughed, the sound grating like claws on a chalkboard. “No being can resist the harness. If you don’t do as we say, it will break your will and turn you into our slave, then you’ll do anything to please us.”
“Lies!” There was no way what the demon said was possible. No Renjerian would submit to these vile devils and sacrifice their fellow species to be slaughtered.
The Tryns’ voice smug. “Your brother, the new king, yielded so fast we thought we had perfected it early but others we tried it on wasn’t as successful.”
Levx swallowed a roar. Of course, his brother obeyed what they wanted…he would’ve thought doing so would save them…if he had known what would’ve followed after his death, he’d never would have stopped fighting.
“I think he needs motivation,” the second Tryn said.
“Nothing you can do or say will make me betray my people.” He would turn himself inside out to keep his family safe.
“Oh? What about the human woman’s scent on you?”
Acid burned up Levi’s chest and into his throat. Not Megan. They couldn’t know about her. The bastard had to be bluffing. “I’m Renjerian, humans don’t interest me.”
“We know that your kind has had less and less offspring.” The Tryn clicked his tongue. “When we plagued the human world with black death, killing them until you Renjerians came. But our illness has rendered most of your females infertile. It’s only logical that you would try to keep your species alive and mate with the human women. Tell me, do you force them then reveal your true form after they conceive or do you save that for after the birth?”
This time, Levx didn’t hold back his screaming roar. The sound ripped through the night sky like a boom.
The Tryn let out a growl that would’ve made most beings cower but it only pissed Levx off more. They could do whatever they wanted with him but he would never betray his own kind or Megan. Sh
e deserved happiness and a long life, but because of him, she was in danger. He’d been wrong to touch her.
“Take us to your hideout. Resisting is useless, none can escape the harness. If you yield then your pain will end quickly.” The Tryn dug its talons into Levx’s back.
“Go back to whatever hell of a planet spawned you,” Levx ground out. Trusting these creatures was like trusting a den of spiked vormians on a hot summer day.
“You know you’re just delaying the inevitable. One way or another we will find and kill all the humans that could be your mates and destroy your kind forever.”
Renjerians were the only ones that could stop the Tryns. Humans would be defenseless against the creatures. There was one thing he could do…he could kill two devils and buy his family time. When a Renjerian died, the closet sunrise or sunset colored the clouds red regardless if on Earth or Renjerian or anywhere. His kind would know the warning. The warriors would come and fight and the females and children could escape. It was more than he could hope for.
He fought against the magic binding his wings, tucking them to his body. Lancing pain struck down his back. He had to do break this magical hold and kill these Tryns. Buy his people time and warn them that Tryns were here in the city.
Pain radiated down his body but he managed to snap his wings down. The wind tore through him as he and the two Tryns plummeted to the ground. Treetops crashed into Levx’s side. The Tryns bellowed as they tried to stop the fall. Magic burrowed into his bones like liquid fire. His wings stretched out only to be torn from the branches. He hit the ground, the air bursting from his lungs. One of the Tryns hung from a tree branch, impaled.
Where is the other one? Levx struggled to stand, but his legs gave way underneath him. Blood coated the side of his body, his wing bent at an odd angle. Out of his reach, the second Tryn clutched his broken arm to his chest.