She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound emerged, not even a peep. Blackness rushed up and shrouded her. The last thing she remembered was staring into the greyest eyes she had ever seen, just as strong arms lifted her before she hit the ground.
***
Donovan checked the ship’s systems three times, as per protocol. The ship had just come back from annual maintenance and everything green-lighted during the pre-flight check. So, what went wrong? As he passed Earth’s Blue Moon, he felt a sharp pull to the left. The ship veered off course and no amount of trying to set her back on path worked.
“Correct the problem and put me back on course,” he ordered Rachel, the ship’s main computer.
To which she replied, “Trust me, Donovan.”
Before he could argue, his seat’s ejection panel engaged and he catapulted out of the ship on a crash course with the ground below. He vowed to get even with Rachel by trading her in for a new model once he returned home, after he found out what the hell she could’ve been thinking. His safety harness opened and he held on for the ride, all the while cursing Rachel under his breath.
Hard ground greeted his feet upon landing and he recognized the texture as sand. A small sound, almost inaudible, drew his attention to a woman not two feet away. Her huge violet eyes transfixed on him while her full mouth held an ‘O’ of surprise. Awash in moonlight, this creature was without a doubt the loveliest he’d ever seen, even with shock etched across her features. Long sable hair fell to a trim waist. Her body swayed and her eyelids fluttered. Donovan hurriedly released his safety harness and reached out just in time to catch the beauty into his arms before she hit the ground.
Searing pain shot through his shoulder. Donovan looked down and saw blood seeping through his shirt. The buckle on his harness must’ve cut him. He didn’t want to drop the woman, so he sank to the sand while still holding her. Sitting, he cradled her to his chest. A black dog came over and sniffed him.
“Is this your mistress?”
The animal whimpered and nuzzled the woman’s forehead.
“She’ll be fine.” He winced at the throbbing in his shoulder. “Though I’m not so sure about myself.”
“Wh...what happened?” A soft voice asked.
“You fainted. I caught you.” For the moment, Donovan felt it best to leave out the part about why she fainted, that he’d almost crashed into her because he’d traveled from another planet.
She looked into his face and their eyes held. Sparks of electrical currents ran the length of his arms and dove into his heart. By the stars, she was lovely.
“You’re injured.” The woman sat up slowly from his lap and peered at his bloody sleeve. Donovan’s arms felt oddly empty when she no longer occupied them.
***
“I’m a physician. Let me have a look at that wound.” Hayley leaned in to get a better look.
“I don’t live too far from here,” she added. “The light from the moon isn’t enough for me to see your injury. We can go to my home so I can treat this for you.”
Rising, she reached out to help the stranger to his feet. He placed his hand in hers. His rather large hand. Great strength emanated from him when he folded his hand into hers. She helped him stand.
“My, but you are a tall one, aren’t you?” He must be at least 6’4”. Did I really just invite a total stranger into my home?
Moonlight silhouetted him, making him look like a god and she thought she just might faint again, only this time from his beauty. Black hair cut close to his head framed impossibly high cheekbones. Grey eyes smoldered and Hayley jumped as she realized he watched her just as intently.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare.” She did, actually, because he was so beautiful, but she wasn’t about to admit that. “Come on. I live right up the beach.” Realizing she still held his hand, she let it go, though it was the last thing she wanted to do.
As she led the way, Hayley saw him cradle his injured arm with his other hand. The smart thing would be to get her cell phone, call 911 and let them take him to the ER. While she didn’t think his injury needed emergency care, he was a complete stranger. But for some reason she felt comfortable with him. Something about him told her he wouldn’t hurt her.
“How did you hurt your arm?”
“My...um...seatbelt wasn’t working properly.”
“Here we are.”
Hayley entered through the sunroom, the stranger followed, and she led him to the kitchen. She motioned for him to sit on one of the chairs at the kitchen table.
“I’ll be right back. I need to get my medical bag. I’m Hayley, by the way. Hayley Stone.”
“Donovan de Lyon.”
As soon as Hayley had left the room, Donovan pulled out his communication device to contact home. He needed a ship sent to pick him up and he needed one of his brothers to finish his duties for the evening. Wishes still needed to be granted. Nothing but static emanated from the little machine. He continued to try different sequences of numbers, but nothing changed. The blasted thing wasn’t working. Odd, it had never failed him before.
Footsteps sounded on the hardwood floor and Donovan shoved the device back into a pocket.
Hayley set her bag on the kitchen table. “Can you take off that T-shirt or do you need me to cut it off?” She proceeded to take out cotton balls, alcohol and gauze.
He pulled his good arm through the sleeve, then gingerly removed his shirt from the injured arm. Hayley didn’t think she’d ever seen shoulders so broad and she wondered what it would feel like to rest her head against one of them. The thought startled her.
“Tell me about yourself, Hayley Stone.”
“What? Oh...” Hayley began the task of cleaning and dressing his wound. “Not much to tell, really.” Yet, once she began to talk, the words flowed. She told Donovan about her wonderful childhood and disastrous marriage, about fulfilling her dreams of becoming a doctor and helping others with the gift of life.
Donovan listened, never once taking his eyes off her. Kindness and understanding shone in his eyes. Oddly, she’d never felt so comfortable opening up to anyone in her entire life.
He watched her. “And what do you want, Hayley Stone? A child for you? A love for you?”
“Enough about me,” she said, embarrassed she’d admitted so much. She finished dressing his shoulder wound and gave it a light pat. “There. All done. You’ll be fine. It’s just a flesh wound. Now, it’s your turn to talk.” She stepped to the stove to make hot tea. Grabbing two mugs, she set the tea on the table. Though a warm summer night, chamomile was perfect any evening of the year.
Donovan had a big decision to make. Did he tell her the truth now about his identity, that he was the Star Traveler, or did he continue to sit and talk with this enchanting woman who had just opened her entire world to him. Why couldn’t she be of his world? He’d finally met a woman he wanted to love and honor forever. One he’d cherish and devote his life to. But her life belonged to her patients on Earth and he had a duty to rule in his world once his father retired.
Before he could change his mind, he blurted, “I am the Star Traveler.” He hadn’t meant to be so blunt, but there it was. The look of incomprehension and disbelief on Hayley’s face would’ve been comical if it hadn’t torn at his heart.
Replacing the cup in its saucer, Hayley stared at him for what seemed beyond an eternity. This beautiful man with the haunting grey eyes, who listened to her pour out her heart, was telling her he was the stuff of myth. Her heart sank. She quietly devised a plan to get to the phone and have the police take the crazy man in her house to the psychiatric ward.
“You don’t believe me, Hayley, I see it in your eyes.”
She tried to remember her psychiatric rotation, but her mind felt numb. Did she go along with him until she could slip away and get to the telephone?
“What’s that like, being the St…Star Traveler?” she stammered. “It must be very interesting work.”
“Don’t do that, Hayley. Do
n’t talk to me like I’m crazy. Star Travelers do exist and we have for centuries. We come to earth during the Blue Moon to grant happiness and love to those who truly believe. I wasn’t supposed to be here until much later this evening, but my ship’s computer, Rachel—”
“Your computer has a name?”
“...Rachel,” he continued as if she hadn’t interrupted, “changed course and literally threw me out of the ship. So, here I am. The gash you just tended to on my shoulder is from my safety harness, similar to what you would call a parachute.”
Hayley rose and headed for the door. “I want to see this safety harness. I’ll go find it.”
She bolted out the door before Donovan could stop her. Running to the spot where they’d collided on the beach, Hayley stopped and looked around.
“I could’ve told you it wouldn’t be here,” he said, catching up to her. “Once worn, it gets absorbed into the atmosphere.”
He placed his hands on her slender shoulders and turned her to face him. “Look at my wound, Hayley.” Slowly, he took off the bandages she’d so gently placed on his shoulder a short time ago. Nothing. Not even a small scrape marred his beautiful flesh.
“I don’t understand. The wound wasn’t bad, but it couldn’t have healed this quickly.” She touched the spot where the skin had been torn and bloody not an hour before.
“My people are human, like you, but after many years of traveling to different worlds, our immune systems have evolved to heal quickly.”
“You don’t get sick or die?” The thought of him dying tore into her heart.
“Of course we do. We aren’t immortal. We just have the ability to heal some minor injuries quickly.”
He pulled out his useless communicator and held it out to her. Hayley turned it over and over in her hands, examining it. She’d never seen anything like it before, except maybe in science fiction movies.
“Why don’t more people believe you exist?”
He laughed and the throaty sound washed over her in delicious waves.
“Could you imagine what our lives would be like if everyone believed we existed? We aren’t a dating service. Besides, life is often the stuff of myth and legend. Makes things exciting.”
“Okay, Mr. Donovan de Lyon, Star Traveler, time to tell me about your life. I certainly told you all about me.”
Before she could protest, he lifted her easily into his arms and sat cross-legged on the sand. He cradled her in his arms. As she’d done with him, Donovan told her the story of his life.
“Ironic, don’t you think? I am the Star Traveler, from a long line of Star Travelers, yet love has eluded me all my life.”
The sad look in his eyes as he stared at the ocean made Hayley ache for him. She took his face in her hands and put her mouth on his. His lips tasted sweet from the tea and felt full and soft underneath hers. His arms tightened around her and brought her closer as he deepened the kiss. The promise in this couldn’t be denied.
“I could love you, Hayley. Forever and completely. The way you’ve deserved.” He pressed her head to his shoulder and it fit so perfectly, she knew she belonged.
“I never thought this would happen to me, Donovan. That a true love could be mine. Yet, here you are.” His chest heaved and Hayley drew away to look into his eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“I said could, Hayley. I am the eldest and when my father retires, I am destined to take over as head of the family. I must return to my world. It’s my duty.” The anguish in those last words hung in the air like a wet blanket.
For hours, Hayley clung to Donovan. They sat on the beach in silence. No words were needed, just arms locking their bodies together.
Finally she spoke. “Is there no other way?” She doubted the feasibility of intergalactic long-distance dating. “I could...” She stopped and cleared her voice. “I could come with you, to your world.”
“You could no more leave your world than I mine, my love. You have your patients and family.”
The hand-held communication device crackled and sputtered. Donovan pulled it from his pants’ pocket to see his parents’ faces swim to life on the small viewing screen.
“Hello, my son.”
“Father. Tonight’s wish-granting didn’t go exactly as planned. Rachel—”
“Did exactly as she was told,” his father interjected.
Donovan stared at his parents’ smiling faces. “I don’t understand.”
His mother continued, “You tried so hard to hide your sadness over your desire to find your heart’s mate, Donovan. Yet, your father and I knew. We made up our minds that at earth’s next Blue Moon, it would be your time for love.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me?”
His Mother chuckled. “Would you have gone along with our plan?”
“I suppose not.” His heart swelled with love for these wonderful people. For them to do this for him. “What will happen when Father retires?”
“One of your brothers will take over,” his father answered, placing a hand on his wife’s shoulder. “You are our son and your happiness means everything to us. If we made one of our own children choose work over love, then we wouldn’t be doing our jobs very well, now would we?”
They all laughed and smiled at one another across the galaxies.
“I love you all so very, very much.” Donovan said to their images. With his arm across Hayley’s shoulders, he drew her into his parents’ view. “This is Hayley.”
“Hello, dear.” His mother’s warm smile radiated off the screen. “We have done right by our son to send him to you. We know you will give each other years of happiness.”
His father added with a sly grin, “And give us lots of grandchildren.”
Hayley could barely speak, but there would be plenty of time to say all she wanted to these wonderful people. “Thank you. Both of you, so very, very much.” These were the only words that would come, but for now, they were enough.
Donovan and his parents signed off with promises of a visit to introduce Hayley to his family.
***
The long day settled in Hayley’s bones, yet she felt oddly light. A peace and contentment she’d never known before enveloped her.
“Come, love, let’s go home. We have so many plans to make, but for tonight I want to hold you in my arms and watch you while you sleep.” Donovan lifted her into his arms and carried her home. Onyx greeted them at the door, tail wagging.
“Come, hound, show the way to my lady’s bedroom.”
“Onyx.” Hayley laughed for the first time in a long time and it felt wonderful. She placed a kiss to his neck. “Her name is Onyx.”
They made it to the bedroom kissing and whispering words of love. Donovan kicked open the door and carried Hayley to the bed. He placed her in the center and followed her down, never letting go of her.
“Happy?” Donovan asked right before he trailed kisses down her neck.
She closed her eyes and snuggled close to him. “My mama’s funeral was earlier today, but I know she’s looking down from Heaven right now with a smile on her face. In fact...” Hayley stopped and brushed her hand over his cheek. “If I know my mama, she probably had a hand in this with Alice.”
“Alice?”
“You’ll meet Alice soon enough. She will absolutely adore you.”
Donovan drew her close and held her.
“But to answer your question,” she murmured against his chest, “yes, I am very happy. In fact, I want to take all night to show you.”
The man in her arms completed her world. Though she’d only just met him, she had no doubt about that. And, she didn’t need a medical textbook to confirm her happiness. Mama and Alice had been right. She just needed to find the right man. She wouldn’t put it past her mother to wish on that same Blue Moon from her new home in Heaven.
Pulling Donovan’s face to hers, she kissed him back with all the fervor and passion she’d held inside for so long, just waiting for her Star Traveler to awaken wi
thin her.
She’d taken a chance and wished on a Blue Moon. Alice would never let her hear the end of it!
Visit Victoria’s website at
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A Blue Vacation
Michelle Scaplen
“I did not have sex with him!” Tori exclaimed as she walked into the office.
“Okay. ” Nick followed closely behind. “Do you want to explain why he answered your phone when I called this morning?”
Brenda continued working at her computer and pretended she wasn't listening to her coworkers’ latest argument. Not that it mattered what she did; Nick and Tori hardly paid any attention to her anyway. Of course, neither did Ray, Jack, Linda nor anyone else she worked with in the Action Mattress office.
“He...uh...” Tori tried to explain, then let out a heavy sigh. “Oh come on, Nick. When did we ever say we were an exclusive couple?”
Why anyone would want to be with any other man when they were dating the extremely gorgeous Nick Shelton, Brenda couldn’t comprehend. She was merely a measly, data entry clerk and he was the company's head salesman, so their jobs never required them to work together. But that didn't stop her from fantasizing about him while she keyed in her entries every day.
“Forget it, forget everything,” his voice was low but his tone was harsh.
Brenda looked up from her computer screen as curiosity got the best of her. She’d never seen Nick so angry—but angry was better than hurt. Tori Atkins was not worth getting your heart broken over. She was the office's self-centered, pencil thin, artificially-boobed secretary who treated men like dirt.
Blue Moon Enchantment (Once In A Blue Moon Series) Page 8