Star Fallen Lover
Page 10
He walked softly near her bed, then paused. Moonlight coming through the window bathed her in narrow path of silvery-blue radiance. Her hair glistened and lay in a fan of loose waves across the pillow. Darli’s eyes were closed, her breathing even. The sheet twisted around her waist, a silent witness that she, too, had experienced restless hours.
It was a wonder she’d even fallen asleep under the circumstances. Her beauty drew him a step closer. Darli’s lips formed a troubled pout that begged to be kissed. But he didn’t dare.
His gaze lowered. He became absorbed by the rise and fall of her breasts and the concavity of her slender waist. He ached to touch her, knowing instinctively what it would be like to hold her body against his, to kiss her until she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
She stirred. His heart pounded. He had to get out of there. He tiptoed quickly past, then glanced back. From the doorway, he saw only darkness. But it didn’t matter. He had her image locked into his mind forever.
She was unlike any woman on Uraticus. Everyone there had colorless hair and ruby eyes, features he’d always found attractive—until he fell in love with Darli. He hadn’t expected it to happen, but Darli’s understanding of the universe and her love for people had drawn him to her as he’d never been drawn to any woman before.
Her uniqueness not only didn’t matter, but it also greatly appealed to him—those layers of golden hair, those wide-set eyes of the palest green that reflected the ocean and sky in the daytime and candlelight at night…honest, compassionate eyes that fascinated and captivated him.
He felt so at home with her—she was his safe haven. She promised to keep his secret. The agreement was made under duress. Would she renege?
He closed the door softly and pulled up the collar of his windbreaker against the cool early morning air. The street was dark, and a premonition of trouble quickened his steps. The sooner he got to the submerged spacecraft the better. He had to assure himself that it was still undiscovered and that all the instruments were operating properly, gathering environmental data and simultaneously transmitting it back to Uraticus.
Deep breaths of salty air and the brisk pace cleared his mind. He had taken a tremendous risk. It had been too soon to tell Darli his secret. She hadn’t had enough time to learn to love him. That seemed peculiar because he’d loved her almost immediately.
In spite of himself, he couldn’t prevent the warm rush of blood that coursed through him every time he thought of her. Would she get over her shock and accept him, or would she send him away? Worse yet, would she turn him in to the authorities? Regardless of the danger, he had to remain patient and give her time to get used to what he was.
He’d been apprehensive when he first approached her. Afraid the strange language would come out all wrong. But once he started speaking, it became easier and easier.
Darli had been angry when she found out he had followed her that night. He still didn’t understand why. On Uraticus, once a man staked out a woman, it was common to stay close behind her to keep others away. It would take time to learn what she didn’t like. Of course, following her wasn’t his only mistake. Another was when he’d left her alone in the store to check on his spaceship. But, with Fox looking at them through binoculars and tailing them, he feared his spacecraft had been discovered.
Suddenly, the same prickling of the fine hairs on the back of his neck that he’d had when Fox was spying on them alerted him to trouble. Cortz looked around. Cars were parked along the street, but he didn’t see anyone in them. Maybe his uneasiness was guilt playing tricks on him.
Coming to this strange environment called for deception, lies, and the postponement of telling the whole truth. Deceptiveness played havoc against his morals. But if he had admitted his entire reason for coming to Earth, Darli might have sent him away before he could initiate his secondary personal plan. He’d expected it to take longer to find a mate, but the moment he saw her, he knew she was the one. The trick now would be to persuade her to return to Uraticus with him. Some Uraticean men had kidnapped women from Earth and other planets. But he believed in love too much to do that.
He felt a rush of pride. He’d been honored when his leaders chose him for the mission. To contribute, even in a minor way, to saving Uraticus, the Earth, and maybe even the whole solar system, sparked an inner fire and gave his life purpose. He smiled to himself. And with the shortage of women of marriageable age on Uraticus, it was a bonus to come to a place where women vastly outnumbered men.
Fooling Darli was unfair. But he learned through watching Earthling movies that even they believed that all was fair in love and war. Still, he felt guilty about purposely getting sunburned, then intentionally falling and faking the sprained ankle. However, it was the only way he knew to interject himself into her life. And it had worked, until she insisted upon the truth too soon.
Cortz repressed the trapped feeling that threatened to wrap around him like a loose and tangling space tie line. Surviving in an unfamiliar society with only his wits to protect him was fraught with danger. He’d believed when he gained acceptance into Darli’s home he would be safe. From there, it would only be a few steps into her heart. Now he wasn’t so sure. He looked up at the paling stars, feeling much like a man lost forever in a black hole of space. Was his trip doomed to be a failure? Cortz clenched his hands. No! It must be a success!
Falling in love so quickly had complicated things. Now he didn’t want anyone but Darli. If only he could discuss this with his best friend. Zentz had warned him to take it slow.
He missed Zentz, even though they seldom agreed on anything. One thing they would agree on, however, was that Darli was the loveliest woman in the galaxy. Even choosy Zentz would go to the end of the cosmos for such a woman.
He’d been on Earth only a few weeks, a grain of sand in life’s hour glass. But it seemed longer. Did his parents, friends and master teacher miss him as much as he missed them? He’d expected the trip to be a solitary experience, but he hadn’t anticipated the emptiness he felt now. The risk and loneliness would be worth it if he could save the solar system.
Then, if he could persuade Darli to go back to Uraticus with him, everything would be perfect. Just as soon as he checked on his spaceship, he would return to her apartment and insist they talk the situation through.
Suddenly in the pre-dawn quiet he heard an engine start way down the street behind him. His pulse quickened. He turned to glance at the car. In the reflection of the streetlights he saw it was white, like the one Lieutenant Fox drove. He couldn’t see an emblem. It was too dark, and the vehicle too far away.
The car pulled slowly from the curb and came toward him. Had Darli called the authorities? No, he’d been certain that she was sleeping soundly. It had to be Fox again—the man suspected something.
Stay calm, he told himself. The car headed toward him, its speed increasing. He panicked and ran toward the chain link fence that separated him from a graveyard for cars. The fence was twice his height. If he could get over it, he could hide inside among the stacks of metal.
The fence shook and rattled under his weight. When he landed on the other side, a furious four-legged beast he recognized as a Doberman Pincher came out of the shadows, snarling and baring its teeth. With the menacing, slobbering fiend at his heels, he ran, zigzagging between mountains of metal. When he reached the opposite side of the yard, he scrambled up the fence. Before he could reach the top, the dog clamped its puncturing teeth around his ankle. As he pulled loose, his skin shredded—searing pain shot through him. But fear and the will to survive spurred him upward to the top of the fence.
He dropped into a dark, narrow alley. Blood ran down his throbbing ankle. As he paused to catch his breath, an eerie sensation crept over him. He wasn’t alone in the alley.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Two beady luminous eyes stared up at him. Another creature…only this one didn’t snarl and lunge at him. This one hissed and humped its back. This furry thing was no threat, and h
is shoulder muscles relaxed.
The relief was short lived. Hushed voices floated to him from further down the alley. Had Fox and his cohorts gotten there ahead of him? He quickly limped in the opposite direction. Suddenly footfalls thundered on the concrete alley, approaching fast. Ignoring the pain and dripping blood, he ran like the wind. But they were faster. They gained on him, only a step behind now. Before he could whirl and defend himself, something came down hard on his head. Pain exploded behind his eyes.
****
Rain pounding on metal gutters snatched Darli out of a fitful sleep. She stretched and rubbed her eyes. Then it all came back. Dare she accept Cortz’s story? Although never one to believe easily, she was leaning strongly in that direction. Of course, there was the chance that he was simply a convincing nut and his whole story an impressive fabrication. With something this important, she needed to get to the truth. She’d always prided herself on keeping an open mind. The silver thing she’d seen dive into the ocean made Cortz’s story at least plausible. Certainly the Navy was concerned about something, and his equipment did seem beyond Earth’s technology. She stroked her chin. The same curiosity that had led her into the field of astronomy made her at least consider what it would mean if it were all true. This could be the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to learn about a new planet in a way she’d never dreamed possible. Questions swirled in her brain. She had to persuade him to show her his spaceship. That was the proof she needed.
Darli pulled the sheet up to her chin. How would it change her life if he proved everything? In the short weeks she’d known him he’d touched her heart, and whether she liked it or not she was already in love with him. She sat up with a start. But being in love with an alien was impractical—impossible!
Would he remain on Earth? If so, would the authorities find out about him? Would a life with him on Earth be an outlaw existence of running and hiding? Frowning, she twisted a strand of hair around her finger. Fitting into his life might mean losing herself.
Uraticus apparently had an atmosphere similar to Earth’s. She still worried about the Uraticeans, still wondered if they were a strange, cold, super race of ultra-brainy people who wouldn’t mind blowing Earth away. She wanted to believe that they were a caring people who only wanted to save the planet. And their own—the thought echoed in her mind.
And what about Cortz? If he had come from a world of advanced technology, as he claimed, maybe his intelligence would be more than she could handle. Maybe all of him would be too much for her. Would his lovemaking be too exotic? Meeting his alien desires might be more than she was capable of—or exciting beyond imagination. She touched a finger to her lips. He attracted and frightened her at the same time. No matter how she analyzed it, loving him was dangerous.
If only he’d turned out to be a diamond smuggler, she could have resisted that. Loving Cortz wasn’t simple, but in spite of the potential problems, she did love him.
Could she get him to stay on Earth with her? Her thinking was crazy. If he is an alien, he’ll do what he came to do and then leave. She had to accept that.
Her turmoil was intensified by the irritating twang of rain on the gutters, the tick, tick of the antique clock, and the whir of the overhead fan. She glanced at the spot where he’d slept the night before. He wasn’t there!
She glanced toward the bathroom. The door stood open. Slipping out of bed, she hesitantly called Cortz’s name. Nothing. She peeked inside. Empty. Loss washed over. She rushed to the open window, scanning empty sidewalks in both directions. Black clouds darkened the morning sky. She dropped into a chair next to the window. Her eyes glazed over in a fixed stare. So he was gone. Didn’t that make things simpler? Weren’t all her problems gone with him? Her inner emptiness cried that it was too late for simple solutions. He had entwined their worlds and crept deeply into her heart.
Why did he leave before they could talk again? It was her fault. She’d pressed him too hard and he’d left her. If she’d faced the situation squarely last night and talked it through…. But his mind-boggling story had thrown her into shock.
She sat motionless like a run down robot. Must get dressed…have to find Cortz. She couldn’t just let him walk away. He needs me—and oh God, I need him.
She could no longer convince herself that it was only because she couldn’t lose this opportunity to learn about Uraticus or even to salve her aching heart. There were serious worries. Earth could be in danger. A shiver slid down her spine.
Fear projected her into action. She rushed to her closet and yanked the door open. His gear was there!
Joy filled her heart. He’d be back!
She had to be ready. She grabbed some clothes and headed for the shower.
Everything would work out somehow, she thought as she showered and dressed. Humming, she tucked her blouse into her shorts and she headed for the kitchen. She downed a glass of grapefruit juice without really tasting it. Her mind was too preoccupied rehearsing what she’d say to him when he returned. None of it sounded right. Maybe she’d just let him talk first. Meeting Cortz had changed her. He’d brought fun and passion into the void of her life. She automatically tidied up the apartment, carrying half empty champagne glasses and dirty snack dishes to the kitchen.
Everything in the room reminded her of the night before. His tender advances, his shocking confession…what he said…what she said. She scrubbed an already sparkling sink with a vengeance. She hadn’t planned a cleaning day, but she was afraid to leave in case he came back.
The day faded into evening. Where was he? She wanted to call the police, file a missing person report, but she didn’t want to break her word to Cortz. She called all the hospitals. He wasn’t in any of them.
Later in bed, when the hushed velvet of the darkness closed around her, a single tear slid down her face and onto the pillow. When she’d found his things in her closet, she’d been sure that he’d be back, but he hadn’t returned. She punched her pillow. If only she knew he was safe.
It didn’t matter who he was, or even what he was. There, she admitted it, clear and simple…she loved him. He had to come back!
Chapter Twenty-Four
Mondays at her office were busy. Darli always arrived early to make copies of her handouts and take advantage of the stillness to go over her lecture notes. She took her coffee to her desk. Its steamy warmth fortified her for the day ahead. She opened a folder and stared blankly at it. All she could think about was Cortz and what his disappearance might mean.
Other faculty members started arriving full of cheery talk about their weekend activities.
“Eh…Darli. Where were you Saturday?” Keiko asked in her usual direct manner. “I tried to reach you all day.” She pushed one side of her dark hair behind an ear.
“I went to the beach to catch some rays,” Darli said forcing a smile.
“I’d hoped we could do something together. Mario had sea duty, and I was bored.” She had a mock accusing look in her black eyes.
At least Keiko knew Mario would return, Darli thought. Keiko’s naval lieutenant boyfriend was crazy about her. When Mario didn’t have sea duty they spent every minute they could together. Keiko and her Caucasian lover had lived together for over a year, much to her family’s displeasure. Even though Keiko had lived in Hawaii all her life, her grandparents still lived in Japan. And they tried to control the family from afar. But Keiko had a mind of her own and planned to marry Mario someday whether her family approved or not.
A knowing grin spread across Keiko’s face. “I think I detect a new man in your life. Let’s have lunch and you can tell me all about it.” Her words were punctuated by a high-pitched giggle.
Darli loved Keiko like a sister and couldn’t think of her without remembering how kind she had been when Darli first came to Hawaii. “We can have lunch, but there’s nothing to tell.”
Keiko was a vivacious, open person and unrestrained words flowed from her like the perpetual cascade of a waterfall. She never held anything bac
k. Darli felt guilty because Keiko shared all her secrets, but she couldn’t share anything about Cortz with Keiko or anybody.
When classes were over, she drove straight home. Cortz still hadn’t returned. Darli changed into shorts and fixed herself a turkey sandwich. She took a bite and after a few minutes, pushed it away.
He was out there somewhere, not knowing another soul, maybe hurt and needing her. She stood and paced the floor. Even though he was brilliant, as a stranger to the planet he’d be like a lost child without her help.
After calling all the hospitals again, and finally in desperation the morgue, another awful thought occurred to her. What if the police or the Navy had him? She had to call Fox.
“There hasn’t been anything in the papers,” she told him when he came on the line. “And I was just wondering if there were any new developments on that meteorite?”
“I was hoping your call meant you had something to tell me,” he said. “Is there something troubling you, Dr. Grenlane?”
“No…of course not. But with my interest in astronomy, it’s natural for me to be curious. Sorry I bothered you.”
“It’s no bother, Dr. Grenlane. I always enjoy talking to you. Please call me anytime.”
Her knees were weak and trembly by the time she hung up the phone. She shouldn’t have called him. If he didn’t know about Cortz, she certainly didn’t want to arouse his suspicions. She began pacing the floor again.
Her last hope was the police. She had to take the chance.
“Yes,” the desk sergeant said. “We had a man matching that description, a mugging victim. But it couldn’t have been your friend because he was identified several hours ago by a California policeman as an amnesia patient from the Los Angeles area.”
Darli hung up, feeling more dejected than ever. It was impossible to effectively search for Cortz. Asking the police or the Navy too many questions was bound to raise suspicions and make matters worse. If she was ever to see him again, he’d have to come back on his own.