by Tanya Jolie
Steve had a point. Ryan was young, and it was very unlikely that he was having a heart attack. But as she went about her day, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, that she needed to go to his house to make sure he was okay.
Throughout her shift, Lynne could think only of Ryan. She mixed up orders and could scarcely be pleasant to customers. Many who were regulars asked her what was wrong, but she told them only that she was having a bad day.
Finally, her shift was finished. She clocked out, raced to her car, and sped a few miles over the speed limit until she reached Ryan’s house. Pulling into his driveway, she turned off her car and ran to the door.
When she knocked, she received no reply. She knocked again and again no reply. She tried the knob, and the door opened. Thank goodness. She hadn’t wanted to break in, but she had been determined to do so if necessary.
“Ryan!” she called out. “Are you here?”
There was no reply.
“Ryan! Wake up!” she shouted as she rushed to the bedroom.
He lay there on the bed, his eyes staring at the ceiling, his chest neither rising nor falling. Lynne wasted no time. She’d been in this position with her father two years ago, so she knew exactly what she needed to do.
Chapter 3
Praying that she wasn’t too late, she burst into action. The first thing she did was check for a pulse on the side of his neck. Nothing. But he was still warm, so there was chance to save him. Grabbing his arms, she pulled him onto the floor. Then she called 911. Without hesitating, she began chest compressions with one hand over the other, putting some force behind her actions by sitting on her knees, her arms straight and using the power of her entire body. One … two … three … up to thirty.
Turning her attention to his breathing, she tilted his neck back so his chin was raised. She thrust two fingers into his mouth to make sure he didn’t have an obstruction before bending over him, pinching his nose with her thumb and index finger, and blowing into his mouth for just a moment. His check rose and fell, so she repeated the breath for a bit longer.
She returned to the chest compressions then mouth-to-mouth twice more. Lynne sighed with relief when Ryan gasped for air as he came back to life.
“Thank you, God,” she said to the ceiling. Ryan started to get up, but Lynne laid her hands on his shoulders and pushed him back down. “You rest. The ambulance is on the way.”
“Ambulance?” he asked in apparent confusion. “Why?”
“When I finally got here, you didn’t have a pulse, and you weren’t breathing. I figured you hadn’t been gone for long since you were still warm, so I did CPR.”
“CPR?”
“Yep.” She smiled and tried to lighten the conversation by teasing him as sirens wailed in the distance. “At first, I thought you might be faking it to get my lips on yours.”
“That makes no sense.”
“Don’t worry. It was just a joke.” Sirens grew louder then stopped. “The ambulance is here now. I’m going to let them in. You stay put.”
Scurrying out of the room, Lynne went to the front door and opened it for the EMTs. The female carried a small first aid kit, while the male toted a larger bag.
“Where’s the patient?” the female asked.
“This way,” Lynne replied as she led the pair to the bedroom.
To her dismay, Ryan stood in the middle of the room. “What are you doing up? I told you to stay down?”
“No, you told me to stay put. I stayed in the room.”
“Well, lie down on the bed so the technicians can examine you.”
“Yes, sir,” the male technician said. “Please lie down.”
“Could we speak alone?” Ryan asked the man.
“If you want.” The technician turned toward the women. “If you don’t mind, would you close the door on the way out?”
The female paramedic took Lynne’s upper arm and steered her back to the living room.
“Why wouldn’t he want us in there?” Lynne asked in a daze as she dropped onto the couch.
“Some men just don’t want women around when they’re being examined,” the EMT replied.
“But I just saved his life. Surely, he wouldn’t mind if I was in there with him.”
“Apparently, he would. Relax. John will take care of him, and we’ll take him to the hospital for a complete check-up.”
When John came out to the living room, however, he announced that Ryan refused to go to the hospital, insisting that he was fine and had simply fainted. John had checked his vital statistics and listened to Ryan’s heart and lungs. Since everything registered as being normal, he could do nothing to force Ryan to leave.
So John and the female technician packed up their belongings and left.
“You should have gone to the hospital,” Lynne admonished as she and Ryan sat on his couch together.
“I’m fine. I do not need hospitalization. Even the paramedic said I was fine.”
“But you had no pulse, and you weren’t breathing. Technically, you were dead. You need to find out what happened.”
Without a word, Ryan rose, went to the picture window overlooking the street, and stared outside. Realizing that he needed time to process what had happened to him, Lynne remained silent. She didn’t want to interrupt his thoughts. When several minutes had passed, however, she decided it was time to speak again.
“You realize, don’t you,” she said, “that this is a serious matter? Just because you don’t have any symptoms now, doesn’t mean you won’t have them again in the future. You need to have a doctor see you.”
This time when he turned to face her as he leaned against the window sill, he looked a little different. Oh, his eyes were still dark brown; his hair was still dark brown, as well. His mouth was still full, but he carried a slightly less cheerful expression. Was it because of his near-death experience? Had he actually had a near-death experience?
“What is it, Ryan? What happened while you were dead?”
“To begin with, I don’t believe I was dead.” He wandered to his recliner and dropped into it. “Maybe I was close, but I don’t believe that I had actually died.”
“Either way, you need an examination.”
“No. They will want to poke me and prod me, and I don’t want that. If I am ill again, I will do as you suggest.”
“Will you promise to do it as soon as you feel the symptoms coming on? The cold sweats? The upset stomach? The tightness or pain in your chest? Especially the tightness or pain in your chest.”
“I never make promises, but I will do my best.”
“All right—on one condition. I’m staying here tonight.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” He paused then added, “You are a very caring person. That is a wonderful quality. I believe I could spend eternity with you.”
“Oh, yeah?” she said, automatically adding a bit of seduction into her tone. “Does that mean we’ll be dating for longer than a few weeks?”
“Possibly. Are you hungry? I know I am.”
“Then let’s feed you. I’ll order from Die Suppenküchen around the corner. Do you want chicken soup or something else?”
“I like their split pea, but anything is fine.”
Chapter 4
After their meal of soup, homemade bread, and chocolate chip cookies, Ryan suggested that they watch television in the bedroom. If he’d been so ill earlier, he explained, he should probably lie down and take it easy.
Lynne had no problem with this. For weeks, she’d wanted to sleep in his arms in a more comfortable spot than on a couch, and this was her chance to do so. As she cleaned up after dinner, Ryan went into the bedroom. When she joined him, he was already sitting against the headboard with his shirt off and the covers around his waist.
He patted the bed and said, “Come join me, Lynne.”
Without hesitation, she sat on the edge of the bed and removed her shoes. Then she stretched out beside him, also leaning against the headboard
. She didn’t recognize the characters on the show, but she didn’t care. She was there with Ryan, and that was all that really mattered to her.
After several minutes of unsuccessfully trying to figure out what was on TV, she asked, “What are we watching, anyway?”
“Do you really care?” he asked in response.
He scooted down on the bed so only his shoulders leaned against the headboard and slid his hand across her stomach. Lynne inhaled sharply at the sensation that burst through her body, surprised that such a small act created such intense feelings in her. But he had nearly died that afternoon. She had to keep her wits about her and not let her emotions dictate her actions. No sex for him. Then his voice broke through her thoughts.
“Would you not be more comfortable taking off some of your clothes?”
She chuckled at his formality. “I would, but somebody here has to use common sense.”
His warm hand inched under her Polo shirt then slithered up her stomach to her satin brassiere. When he thumbed her nipple enticingly, she couldn’t resist releasing a soft moan of pleasure as it hardened to a point. That prompted him to massage her pliant mound.
“We shouldn’t do this,” she whispered. “You nearly died today.”
“We should do this,” he replied in a similar tone, “because I nearly died today. I must have you now in case there is no tomorrow.”
“Don’t talk like that!” she exclaimed, frightened by his words. “There will be a tomorrow. There has to be. We just found each other.”
Sliding his other hand under her shirt, he pushed it up until he freed her bra-covered breasts. His tongue snaked up her stomach to her nipples, and he kissed each one. She shivered with delight and excitement.
“I want you, Lynne.” He kissed her nipple again. “I want you like I have never wanted another.” He kissed the other nipple a second time.
“Oh, Ryan!” she breathed. “I want you, too, but …”
His hands slid up her sides, up her arms, to her hands, before her shirt fell off her body. Then it happened! His mouth captured hers in a desperate kiss. His tongue gently forced its way between her lips until it connected with hers.
Her body exploded in sensations she had never before experienced. Almost immediately, she surrendered to his kiss, letting him move her into a better position. To assist him, she scooted toward the foot of the bed. Finally, she lay prone on the bed with Ryan lying beside her, still under the covers while she remained on top of them.
He pulled away and kissed her neck just below her ear. An uncontrollable shiver escaped from her. Oh, how she loved what he was doing to her! As he kissed his way lower, he lifted her only far enough to unhook her bra in the back. When it was released, he removed it before nuzzling his way lower to the waistband of her slacks.
Without hesitation, he stripped her pants and panties off in the same moment. His lips moved to the folds of her womanhood, where he licked her several times before gliding his tongue upward to her moderate breasts again.
Oh, how she wanted him! But she couldn’t let this continue. He needed his rest.
“Ryan, stop.”
He covered her body with his, holding himself back just far enough that the hair on his chest tickled her nipples. “I cannot. I must be with you.”
“But, Ryan …”
His lips cut off her protest, not that it was one she really wanted to make. Ryan was usually a sweet, gentle man; but tonight he was forceful, and she discovered she liked that side of him.
Finally, his organ connected with her womanhood. Unable to control her actions, she grabbed his buttocks and lifted her hips to complete the joining.
He felt so good deep inside her, as though that was where he had always belonged. He thrust into her over and over, bringing her so close to an orgasm that she could scarcely hold back. Then he dove into her completely and ground his pelvis against hers. Her body erupted in spasm of fulfillment, and she inadvertently dug her nails into his buttocks.
Ryan released a lusty growl as he collapsed beside her.
Neither spoke for several minutes before Lynne said, “That was incredible, Ryan.”
He didn’t respond, so she rolled onto her side and laid her head against his chest. She would just sleep like this. Even though he was asleep, she was sure he wouldn’t mind.
Wait! Something was wrong. She couldn’t hear his heartbeat, and she didn’t feel his chest moving. Frantic, she scrambled from the bed. She stared down at Ryan in shock. Lying before her was Ryan in the same position she had found him earlier that day. It was almost as though none of the evening had happened, but she knew otherwise.
Lynne reached to pull him from the bed as she had earlier, but a hand wrapping around her arm stopped her. She stared at it in shock. It was a human hand, but it was fuchsia in color. Slowly turning, she gazed up at the being behind her.
Chapter 5
Shocked, Lynne spun out of the person’s grasp. There, right next to her, close enough that she could feel his breath on her face, stood the most perfect specimen of a human man she’d ever seen—except he was purple. His eyes were like emeralds, and his hair was almost pure white.
“Who are you?” she asked in a panic. “How did you get in here? Did you kill Ryan?”
“I am Fenrir. I got in here through Ryan’s body. Ryan was nearly dead when I arrived. One could say that you let me in. Had he been dead, I would not have arrived. Now, it is time for us to leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“We need females on Cartonia. Ours are all unhealthy, and we need to replenish our people. Earth females are the closest to ours, therefore, we need you.”
“Well, Fenrir, I’m sorry about your problems, but that doesn’t change anything. I’m not going with you.”
“If you come, you will be queen one day. You will help me rule Cartonia. There are gold and silver and bronze in our world that grow as plentiful as trees here. You will be well cared for and will never have to worry about money again.”
That sounds good, Lynne thought. She could handle not worrying about money, but she had no idea how she could possibly live in a place where people were purple. She would stand out like the proverbial sore thumb.
“How could I even live on another planet?” she asked, unexpectedly curious as to how this man—no, alien—could believe she could survive anywhere but on Earth.
Fenrir spread his arms and took two steps back. “Look at me. Am I not the same as you? Cartonia is much more advanced than Earth, but we have basically the same atmosphere. You can live there because it is like living on a mountain here. You will get used to it.”
Lynne studied him. Somehow, some time, he’d gotten dressed in a white jumpsuit. He did look a lot like a human, and he was obviously surviving on Earth. But an alien? How could she possibly believe a word he was saying? The man could have had himself painted after he escaped from some mental institution. Going with him was insane, too, though.
“Wait a minute!” she exclaimed. “You said that you got here through Ryan. Did he make love to me? Or did you?”
“I did. We are built the same which is why we can do this. The only difference is that we do it to procreate, while you do it for fun.”
It certainly was fun, Lynne told herself. But to leave with a strange alien was foolhardy. Besides, she had a mother and brother; she had a few friends; she had a job. She had people who would miss her, so she couldn’t just up and leave.
Then words escaped from her mouth that she hadn’t even known were in her mind. “I expect to be brought home if I don’t like it there or if I get homesick. I’ll be the only Earth person there.”
“You will not be the only one,” he told her. “We have brought other females, and most have not left. In fact, Princess Melanie is from Earth.”
Princess Melanie. That certainly sounded like an Earth name. “And if I agree to go, may I let my family and friends know that I’m leaving for a while.”
Lynne couldn’t
believe she was even considering this, but it sounded like quite an adventure. She would kind of like to see how people lived on another planet.
“You may,” he replied. “But you may not tell them where you are going. You may say that you need a vacation and that you might find a job wherever you are.”
Somehow this alien had bewitched her. She actually wanted to go with him. Although, she didn’t know how they would get to this Cartonia. She could only think that it involved some kind of spaceship, but she couldn’t conceive how they would get to it.
“All right,” she agreed. “Let me make my phone calls, and we’ll leave.”
Chapter 6
Lynne was in awe of the vibrancy of the colors on Cartonia. There were few trees, but the landscape was amazing. She didn’t think she would ever tire of the rainbow colors of the ground. And thanks to Fenrir furnishing her with bodies from which to choose, she didn’t feel out of place in her skin. She also didn’t have trouble breathing. He had told her that she would remember nothing from Earth, but he’d been wrong. She did remember some things; she wasn’t going to tell him just yet, though.
She’d chosen a lovely pastel green body with strawberry blonde hair and dark blue eyes. The body’s symmetrical shape reminded her of a well-built model’s figure, but then all of the people on this planet had perfect bodies. Fenrir said that he was pleased with her new body, and he proved it by making love to her several times on their trip across the galaxy.
Now that they were on Cartonia, though, Fenrir was often away doing whatever job it was he had. Several of his friends came to visit him, and he always asked that she leave the room, so she decided the job must be pretty important.
“Fenrir,” she had asked that morning, “why is it that I can understand the people speaking here on Cartonia? Do they speak English, too?”
“We have our own language,” he had explained, “but you hear the words differently. You hear your language. That makes it easier for you to adjust to your new world. We also hear what you say in our language.”