The damage had already been done.
Chapter Eleven
Kaden pulled into the driveway, passing by three black sedans with limo-grade tinted windows. Two men in dark business suits blocked the path to his front door. Each wore plastic earpieces and black sunglasses. They separated as he approached, making room for him to step inside the house.
Glancing down the hallway, he tried to assess the situation he was walking into. There were two more men in Hayden’s office. They searched through papers in his desk drawers and filing cabinets. In the kitchen, Hayden spoke with another agent seated at their table. Camden leaned against the adjacent wall with his arms crossed in front of him. The tension in the room was palpable.
His car keys jingled together in his hand, alerting everyone to his presence. The mystery man turned around. It was James Brewer, the director of the science and technology department. As he stood, he loosened his red necktie. Since they’d started working with the FBI, James had shown considerable interest in their spacecraft and weapons. Kaden had spent most of his time working with James, helping him to understand the technology.
“What’s going on here? Why are you searching through our belongings?” he questioned.
“Kaden, glad you could join us,” James said, holding out his hand to shake. Although it had only been a few months since they’d seen each other, James appeared as if he’d aged several years. His short, thinning brown hair had new flecks of gray above his ears. “I’ve been discussing recent developments with your brothers.”
“Developments?” he asked, alarm bells going off in his head.
James reached for a leather briefcase, setting it on top of their kitchen table. “You told us you were unaware of any other survivors from your planet. Is that still true?”
He thought back to his final days on their home planet. Hayden had warned the council that the planet was unstable, but they hadn’t wanted to believe him. By the time he had convinced them, it was too late. Kaden knew of a secret military spaceship. He’d collected supplies and met his brothers and wife at the launchpad. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the only one with knowledge of the ship. Several other citizens had arrived, but the small ship could only carry a few. A fight broke out, and Kaden’s wife was one of the casualties. “Yes. Why do you ask?”
James opened his briefcase, pulling out several eight-by-ten black-and-white pictures. He spread them across the table. “Our satellites sent us these pictures last week.” He pointed to a blurry object Kaden could barely make out. “It appears another spacecraft similar to yours has landed in the Panama Canal.”
Uncertainty and confusion crept into his shoulders. They were searching his house because the government believed they were involved. “What does this have to do with us?”
James placed another picture in front of them. This one was the same spaceship, except the picture was in color and much easier to see. “This was taken three days ago. It’s right in the middle of a large field about fifteen miles north from here. Whoever it was is now in Germantown.”
Kaden glared at Hayden, dumbfounded. His brother was impossible to read. There was no physical response as he leaned closer to get a better view of the photographs. Realizing he hadn’t responded to James, he said, “If you’ve come to see if we know anything about it, we don’t.”
James pursed his lips. The subtle response suggested he didn’t believe him. “There will be several members of our division in town for surveillance. They’ll be in civilian clothes, because we have no interest in alarming the people of this town,” he said coldly. “If you’re contacted, you need to let us know immediately.”
Kaden was shocked that so many agents had been called in. He imagined the town under lockdown as they searched for this unknown visitor. What would happen to his family if this became a hostile situation?
Annabelle’s beautiful face flashed in his mind. Tension tightened his shoulder blades. He was right to assume a relationship wouldn’t work with her. They would always be watched, forever scrutinized, and never free from suspicion. “Of course. Is there anything else we should know?”
James collected the photographs, placing them inside his briefcase. “After landing, the creature abandoned the ship and went into hiding. There has been no attempt to contact us. For the safety of our citizens, we are treating this as if we are dealing with a hostile.”
Creature? Kaden had never heard him refer to his kind as if they were animals. In all their dealings, James had been kind and welcoming. Their partnership was for the advancement of science. But now there was fear in those kind eyes. “It seems a bit early to assume the worst. Remember, when we arrived on Earth, we were only looking for a new home. We had no interest in war. This other creature is most likely in the same situation.”
James nodded at the other agents. They headed outside. “Let’s hope you are correct, Kaden. In the meantime, we feel our presence is necessary.” As he headed toward the front door, he stopped and glanced over his shoulder. “We’ll be in touch.”
Kaden had no doubt they would be.
Once all the agents had left, Kaden sat down at the table. Camden sat down next to him, but Hayden remained standing. “You need to be cautious, Cam. We don’t want to give any of these guys any reason to be concerned.”
“What are you saying?” Cam questioned.
Kaden’s tone turned serious. Cam was an adult, but he needed to understand the severity of the situation. “I’m saying, keep a distance between you and the humans over the next couple of weeks. And under no circumstances are you to bring any humans back to this house. Am I understood?”
Cam leaned back in the chair with his hands tucked behind his head. “Brother, I’d be more worried about you than me. In case it’s slipped your mind, I’m not the one who’s bonded to a human.”
Cam’s words seared into his chest like a branding iron. The best thing for everyone would be for him to stay away from Annabelle. Now that she had made her feelings known, the pull was stronger than ever. Thinking about her warmed his body.
“He’s right, Kaden,” Hayden added. “They must not suspect there is something between you two. It breaks every rule we’ve established with them. Our freedom could be at stake.”
Kaden leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “I promise I won’t do anything to put us in danger.” Having already failed once, he wasn’t sure how he could follow through with this, but he had to try.
Camden ran his fingers through his blond hair. He’d said nothing the entire time the agents were here. Seeing him quiet meant only one thing: he was worried. “Okay, now what do we need to do about our new visitor?”
“We don’t have to do anything,” Hayden said, pushing his glasses farther up his nose. Minus the glasses, he looked so much like Kaden they could be confused for twins. “The FBI seems to think they will seek us out, so let’s leave it up to them to make contact.”
“Do you think they’re hostile?” Cam asked, pressing his lips together.
“I doubt it,” Kaden replied, shrugging. “They have no reason to be. They were probably just scared. I imagine they left their ship in search of food and shelter just like we did.”
The lines on Cam’s forehead disappeared. “Yeah, you’re right. Nothing to worry about.”
Kaden gave Cam a reassuring half smile, but he wasn’t sure it was sincere. Of all the galaxies to choose from, he wondered why they had picked this one. There was a chance the visitors didn’t know they were here, but that seemed unlikely because they’d landed so close to town. A sinking feeling of dread settled deep in his stomach. He wasn’t sure what he should expect, but he had a feeling he’d be hearing from these new visitors very soon.
Chapter Twelve
The morning rush is finally over.
Annabelle leaned on the store’s counter with her arms folded in front of her. It had been three days since she’d heard from Kaden. He had promised to call but never did. Now that the truth had come out, she though
t they were ready to take the next step in their relationship. Like an idiot, she’d carried her cell phone around waiting for him to call.
But so far—nothing.
To keep busy, she’d scheduled a meeting with a recruiter and began the hiring process. Several people had been interviewed, with only one more to go. She’d hired two part-time college students to run the cash registers. Both were culinary students hoping to learn from her.
“Excuse me, ma’am.”
A man who looked to be in his mid-twenties stood across from her. “I’m sorry. Can I help you?”
“I’m here to interview for the baker position,” he said, holding out his hand for her to shake. “My name is Andrew, but everyone calls me Drew.”
“It’s great to meet you.” She pointed to a row of empty booths. “Let’s talk over there.”
Wearing a creaseless forest-green buttoned shirt with cream-colored khaki pants, he was handsome. But not Kaden handsome.
“I brought a copy of my résumé with me,” he said, handing her a sheet of paper. He smiled, his perfectly straight white teeth on full display. “I wasn’t sure if you’d need it since the recruiter usually sends the info ahead of time.”
Annabelle remembered Drew was at the top of his graduating class. His specialty was gourmet desserts. “I’m actually surprised you’re interested in this position. I would imagine a student of your caliber would get better offers that pay more.”
“I did,” he said, a hint of pink appearing on his chiseled cheekbones. “But I wanted to work for you. I watched you on Cutthroat Cupcake. You’re kind of famous at our school. I thought, if I want to open my own business someday, who better to learn under?”
Annabelle’s cheeks burned with a mix of embarrassment and appreciation. She never saw herself as anything more than a small-town girl. Sure, she’d been on television and won, but she was by no means a celebrity. “Thank you. That’s so sweet.”
“I meant every word.”
There was something about him that told her he was sincere. He had an easy smile, which she liked. “Well, your résumé speaks for itself, so I guess there’s only one thing left to do.”
“What’s that?”
“I’d like you to cook something for me. Preferably something like what I sell here,” she said, turning her head to the glass display in the far corner of the store. It held a few cakes, pies, cupcakes, and assorted breakfast pastries. “Think you’re up for the challenge?”
His eyes widened with excitement. “It would be my pleasure, Ms. Annabelle.”
She waved her hands in front of her. “Oh, please. Just call me Annabelle.”
“Okay, no problem, Annabelle.”
She led him into the baking area. After showing him where he could find everything, she let him get to work. They spent the next sixty minutes talking as he baked. Even before tasting his food, she’d already decided to hire him.
When he was finished, he placed a cupcake in her palm. “It’s a Valrhona chocolate cupcake with whipped Callebaut chocolate frosting, topped with a fondant flower.”
It appeared identical to the one in the case. She removed the liner and bit into the beautiful treat. Her taste buds zinged with pleasure. “This is incredible. It’s even better than my own recipe,” she said, putting her hand over her mouth. “You’re hired.”
“Really?” He smiled from ear to ear.
“I’ve never been more serious. When can you start?”
He clasped his hands together as if he was trying to hold his composure. “Now. Tomorrow. Anytime.”
She laughed, handing him a Yummy apron. “Great. Meet me here at four thirty tomorrow morning. Dress in casual clothes. Helping customers won’t be part of your job. You can watch me prepare for the morning rush, then hopefully over the next few days, you’ll be ready to take over some of the duties.”
He shook her hand, almost wildly. “Thank you so much for this opportunity. I’ll be ready, and I promise, you won’t be disappointed.”
She thought of the four glowing letters of recommendation from his teachers. Each one of them complimented not only his talent, but overall attitude and punctuality. “I have no doubt, Drew. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You sure will,” he replied, all but floating out of the bakery.
As she watched him leave, she finished the cupcake knowing she’d been lucky to snag him. He was perfect for what the bakery needed. In a few months, there was a definite possibility she might be able to take a real vacation. When she closed her eyes, she imagined the tropical sun warming her skin and the waves crashing against the shore of some secluded beach.
But when she fantasized about traveling, she always hoped she wouldn’t be alone. If she was being honest with herself, she wanted Kaden to be with her. After all, the vacation idea had come from him.
What had gone wrong after he left? Had his brothers talked him out of it? Did they think she’d blow their cover? Or had he changed his mind, decided a relationship with her wasn’t worth the risk? She was desperate for answers. There was no way she could keep fixating over it. Her sanity was at risk. Reaching for her cell phone, she texted:
Hey. It’s been a few days. Is everything okay?
Hesitating, she stared at the message. She had managed to resist calling him up until now. He had said he would call, and she wanted to give him space. But she’d reached a point of desperation. She had to know what was going on with him. With no other options left to consider, she pressed send.
Kaden sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the text from Annabelle. It had been days since they had spoken. He owed her a response, but what could he say? He couldn’t tell her the town was under surveillance. There was no way of explaining it without having to lie to her, which he didn’t want to do. In an effort to keep her off the radar, he’d decided it was best to stay away—a decision that had brought him to the edge of his sanity.
The bond between them grew, even with the distance. He couldn’t breathe without his thoughts turning to her. Everything reminded him of her: the sweet smell of her skin, the taste of her kiss. She haunted him in every possible way. He’d spent hours racking his brain, trying to come up with some excuse to see her, even though it was dangerous.
His work in D.C. had also been affected. Scientists from NASA had spent the last year attempting to upgrade the space shuttles with some of their planet’s technology. Since he had built many spaceships—including the one they used to travel to Earth—he was able to help them improve their equipment. But since the bond, he couldn’t make anything work. A project he had been working on for months failed. A motor he built exploded after he tightened a screw. It seemed as if his tools didn’t want to cooperate.
The boxing ring had become his only solace. He spent extra hours every day sparring with his brothers, working himself into exhaustion. When they weren’t around, he split his time between punching a speed bag and heavy vinyl bag. He figured if he didn’t have any energy left, he couldn’t sneak away to visit her. His plan had worked for the past few days. But after receiving her text, his need for her escalated to new levels.
He was jittery, like an addict going through withdrawal. His palms were sweaty as his mind worked against him, trying to convince him to go to her. “If I could see her for only a moment,” he said to himself. “Maybe it would be enough to get me through another day.”
Almost immediately, he dismissed the idea. There was no way he could see her without talking to her. Talk to her without touching her. Touch her without finishing what he’d started the last time they were together. The woman he craved—his mate. Oh, the things he planned to do to her. Kissing those pouty lips, slowly undressing her while he ran his tongue over every inch of her body. He was hard in an instant.
Only one other option left.
Tossing the phone onto his bed, he hurried into the bathroom, pulling pieces of clothing off as he went. A cold shower was what he needed. Stepping in the tub, he let the bitter spray run over his hea
d and down his back. For a second, he found some relief. Yet the moment he closed his eyes, images of Annabelle found their way inside. They were in her bakery right before her date. Her dress straps had slipped over her shoulders, exposing her perfectly round breasts. Taut nipples stared up at him, begging for his attention.
Growling out of frustration, he wrapped his fingers around his cock and began stroking. He let his deepest desires flow freely. Spreading her legs wide, he ran his tongue over her core, making circles around her most sensitive areas. Then he inserted two fingers through her folds. He kept his movements slow as she squirmed, begging for more. Glancing down, his dick was red and throbbing. He increased the speed of his motion, and within seconds, he released.
He let his hand fall to his side as he leaned his forehead into the wall. This was the fourth time in three days he’d had to resort to masturbation to maintain some level of control over himself. He couldn’t hold back any longer. There was no question that he had finally reached his breaking point.
After he finished his shower, he wrapped a towel around his waist and made his way toward his bedroom. The phone sat on the bed. He picked it up and typed a text message:
I’ll stop by tonight after the bakery closes.
Chapter Thirteen
Hilary held Annabelle’s cell phone as she read the message from Kaden. “He avoids you for three days and this is all he has to say? What a douche.”
Annabelle took the phone out of her hand, replacing it with a fresh coffee in a to-go cup. “He’s not a douche. You’re assuming the worst. Maybe he had a family emergency. Or maybe he had to go back to Virginia for something business related.” Truly, she had no idea where he might’ve gone. Or if he’d gone anywhere at all. Whenever she asked him about work, he’d say it was a boring job and quickly change the subject. After he told her about the witness protection program, she’d wondered if his engineering position was also part of his cover story.
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