Hinekiri

by Shelley Munro

  ALIEN ENCOUNTER: HINEKIRI

  Shelley Munro

  Table of Contents

  Blurb

  Note to Readers

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Excerpt – Alexandre

  Excerpt – Captured & Seduced

  About Shelley

  Other Works

  Copyright Page

  Blurb

  Alien Encounter 2

  New Zealand cop Richard Morgan is settled and perhaps a tad boring. Maybe he’s a little lonely since his wife died, but there’s no need to change a lifestyle that works for him. Small-town life suits him perfectly.

  Intrepid alien explorer Hinekiri walks through life alone, eager to explore uncharted worlds and try new experiences. She’s arrived on Earth to fulfill her ambition to witness the wildebeest migration in Africa. Unfortunately, she has Torgon mercenaries hot on her trail, eager to steal her valuable galaxy charts, and a niece who wants to spoil her fun.

  From the minute Richard unwittingly finds himself in bed with the beautiful alien temptress it’s hard to catch his breath. Suddenly he’s lusting after Hinekiri and discovering they’re very compatible indeed! Richard’s flying in spaceships, talking to dogs and fighting Torgon mercenaries in his spare time. Danger and impulsive are his new middle names. He’s having loads of fun, but soon Hinekiri’s departure date arrives. Richard realizes he wants more than a romantic interlude in Africa. Now all he needs to do is persuade the determined Hinekiri to his way of thinking…

  Note to Readers

  This book was originally titled Romantic Interlude, and it was part of the Talking Dog series. While the title has changed, the story hasn’t. It’s a fun and lighthearted romantic read about aliens crash-landing near a small New Zealand country town.

  If you’re interested in learning more about my books and the Alien Encounter series, please visit my website or join my newsletter to receive news, contest announcements and goodies only available to newsletter subscribers.

  Happy reading,

  Shelley

  Chapter One

  Richard Morgan trudged up the carpeted stairs, heading for his bedroom without bothering to switch on the light. Fatigue made his limbs heavy. Uncoordinated. He was feeling every one of his years after the long drive from Wellington and the ferry crossing of Cook Strait the previous night. An old dog according to his Army mate—too mature to learn new tricks. In other words, he was an old fuddy-duddy, boring and set in his ways just because he’d suggested George take things slowly with the new woman in his life.

  Remembering the label “conservative” George had tagged him with still stung. Damn it, there was nothing wrong with being settled. He didn’t need to prove a point by grabbing the nearest woman and shagging himself into an early grave. Richard liked predictable. He enjoyed his day-to-day routine, even if it was without his beloved wife. Besides, he walked on the wild side far enough by owning shares and sitting on the board of Alicia’s condom company. In his opinion, that was downright racy given some of the discussions about the male appendage that took place in the boardroom.

  “No fool like an old fool,” he muttered as he stumbled into his bedroom. Uncharacteristic loneliness tore at his gut, bringing a scowl. He’d been looking forward to spending a few weeks with George but had felt like a third wheel so he’d decided to head back to Sloan. Since Luke, his son, was here, the early return home wouldn’t be a total loss. Richard sighed. His son was hurting after the treachery of his ex-best friend and his now ex-wife. They could be miserable together. Richard toed off his shoes, leaving them where he wouldn’t fall over them in the dark.

  His hands went to his denim shirt and he unfastened the buttons with the ease of practice despite the dark. Halting beside the bed, he undid the buckle on his belt and stepped out of his jeans. Still wearing his boxer shorts, Richard fumbled with the covers of his king-size bed and slipped between the cool sheets without bothering to take off his socks. Felicity, his wife wasn’t here to complain, but the angels would be hearing about his transgression up in heaven, no doubt.

  Lord, he missed that woman’s snippy tongue, her smile and her curvy body. He missed being able to look after his woman and he missed sex, dammit, even though things had been a bit strained during their last couple of years together. His cock stood to attention at the thought and he groaned, turning over toward the middle of the bed. His hand met warm flesh, and it didn’t belong to him.

  A shriek, loud enough to wake the sleeping citizens of Sloan, echoed through his bedroom.

  Richard let out a shout of his own, leaping upright to clutch at the bed sheets, his heart pounding with alarm. What the hell?

  Almost immediately, the thunder of running feet sounded in the passage. The bedroom light flicked on, dazzling with its brightness. Richard blinked. He blinked again, his eyes widening in shock. Yep, he was definitely in bed with a woman. A naked woman, if her bare shoulders were any indication. He hadn’t been asleep yet so he wasn’t dreaming. This was real all right.

  A naked woman.

  Richard shook his head in bemusement.

  “Dad. What are you doing here?”

  Richard glanced at his son, Luke, who was standing in the doorway. “I live here.” It was his house. He didn’t need to make excuses. “More to the point, what are you doing?” His gaze went from Luke to the half-naked woman his son clutched before he turned to check out the woman sitting in bed with him. She winked.

  Suggestive.

  Saucy.

  His cock rose to even greater prominence and he swallowed, glad of the covers over his lap. The woman had beautiful eyes. They were violet and glowed with humor. The tiny fan of lines at the corners of her eyes confirmed she was a person who laughed a lot and enjoyed life. Blonde curls tumbled down her back. Her shoulders were on the scrawny side, but her bubbly personality shined through. Here was a woman who embraced life with all the curves involved. He liked that. The tenseness he’d felt in his gut and chest ever since he’d left the South Island lifted a fraction.

  Richard turned his gaze to his son and the younger woman. Luke had the woman in his arms and there was a lot of intense whispering. Curiosity followed quickly on the heels of astonishment. He glanced across at Violet Eyes sitting beside him in his bed.

  “Well hello, sailor.” The woman clutched the pale blue sheet to her chest and batted her eyelashes at him, seemingly unperturbed by her nakedness.

  “Poke your fingers in your ears,” the younger woman snapped, pointing a glittering silver weapon directly at him.

  Richard’s breath caught halfway up his throat. His police-issue gun sat locked in the cupboard as required by safety regulations. Fat lot of use it was going to do him there.

  “Janaya,” the woman sitting beside him said in a sharp voice.

  Luke did some more heavy-duty whispering and the woman lowered the weapon. Thankfully. It looked as though it could inflict a bit of damage. His son drew the young woman close to his naked body then propelled her down the passage without looking back. Richard watched the whole procedure with interest since his son had left his door open. He had a great view from his bed, if he leaned forward just a fraction. Luke’s bedroom door opened, closed and opened again. A small white dog with black spots trotted out, growling under its breath. The door slammed shut for a second time and the dog let out a sharp yap.

  Richard shook his head. Again. Life sure h
ad become interesting around his house. He turned back to check out the woman sitting in his bed.

  “Do you have a name, sailor?” The woman’s voice was low and husky and held humor.

  “Yeah.”

  “You going to tell me what it is?” The smile turned toothy, and one eye closed in another of her flirtatious winks.

  Richard found himself grinning, entirely comfortable with the current arrangement. “Richard. Richard Morgan.” In bed with a gorgeous stranger. Who’d have thought?

  The woman stretched out her right hand. “Hinekiri…Jones. Pleased to meet you.”

  “Hinekiri.” Richard gripped her slender fingers lightly. Smooth skin. Short nails. Competent hands. Like a sudden unexpected flash of blue lightning, it came to him that he’d like to do more than touch her hand. The thought made his breath stall and his cock did a whole flagpole routine—mostly up—to his chagrin. He tossed the idea round his mind and didn’t reject it out of hand. She was an original and not a whit like Felicity. “The woman with Luke…?”

  “My niece Janaya.” Hinekiri’s brows arched, a small smile playing around her pink lips. “I think they’re attracted to each other. Your son is good for her.”

  Richard stared at her lips, the sensuous curves and the beautiful natural pink color before a sharp bark jolted him to common sense. He was still holding her hand while his mind was galloping light years ahead. Richard shook his head sharply in an attempt to shake his good sense loose. With regret, he let go of her hand.

  The dog trotted into the room, continuing with its incessant growling and a bark now and then for punctuation. Richard wondered if it would ever shut up and was about to protest but the woman beat him to it.

  “Killer, be quiet. Go to sleep,” she ordered in a stern voice. She made a shooing motion with her hands.

  The dog growled at the back of its throat and leapt onto the bed between them. It rubbed its glossy head against Hinekiri’s arm.

  Hinekiri frowned. “No you’re not having any food. You’ll be sick.”

  The dog sent a hopeful look in Richard’s direction and he could have sworn that if it could speak, the dog would’ve asked for food.

  “Killer.” Hinekiri’s voice held clear warning.

  Sighing loudly, the dog jumped off the bed and trotted out of sight.

  “Well,” Hinekiri said. “Alone at last.”

  Richard gulped. That had sounded a little predatory. Her gaze held interest as it crawled across his chest. Hell, she licked her lips as if she wanted to bite. “I…um…yeah…” Dammit, he was stuttering. The last time he’d stuttered was when he’d asked Felicity to marry him. The thought gave him pause and made him consider Hinekiri a little more closely. Strange. Most women he knew wouldn’t have stopped with the first scream. They would’ve kept screeching. In fact, he was still sitting in the same bed. Yep, his head would still be ringing if he found himself in bed with any of the women of his acquaintance.

  “I guess I’d better go and sleep in the other bedroom.”

  The woman nodded. “I suppose that would be best.” A mischievous expression flitted across her face. “It wouldn’t do to kiss on the first date.”

  Kiss. Richard halted halfway from the bed. He clamped his lips together and stared at her twinkling eyes in shock. Kissing. His gaze drifted to her pink mouth and he imagined kissing her, tasting her lips. Man, he hadn’t kissed a woman for a while. It would be like high school all over again. Sweaty hands. Bumping noses. Unruly erections.

  He shuddered and stood, his breath easing out with a hiss.

  “Oh nice camouflage, sailor.”

  Holy shit. He was standing in front of her wearing his camouflage-patterned boxers and black socks. And he had a bloody hard-on.

  “Nothing I haven’t seen before,” Hinekiri chirped. “If it would make you feel better I could show you mine.”

  “Ah, no. It’s okay.” But his gaze shot to the spot where her fingers clutched at the pale blue sheet. He couldn’t see a thing. Not a hint of cleavage or anything remotely feminine or interesting. But that didn’t stop him wondering. He had a good imagination.

  “Too bad. Maybe later?” And Hinekiri winked at him. Again.

  No way was he going to reply to that one. The woman had a quick tongue. It made Richard speculate exactly what else she could do with that tongue and smart-ass mouth. He shuddered, sensing he wasn’t going to win a war of quips with Hinekiri and it was best he leave with his masculine pride intact.

  “Good night.” He beat a quick retreat before she could comment on his camouflage again or anything else it failed to cover.

  Once he was out of sight, he slowed. He’d been gone for two weeks. Things had sure changed. A stupid grin curled across his lips. Camouflage. Man, she was quick with that mind of hers. He’d always liked an intelligent woman, but she struck him as too independent for his tastes. The woman exuded confidence despite waking up with a stranger. She must be a heavy sleeper not to have noticed him entering the room—either that or flat-out tired.

  Richard found his way down the passage by touch, but once he arrived outside the spare room, he flicked on the light. He didn’t want more surprises tonight. He didn’t think his camouflage could take the strain.

  Richard checked all four corners of the room. A thick Persian rug in bright jewel colors lay on the floor beside the bed. An antique dresser made from native kauri wood stood against the cream wall and matching bedside cabinets flanked the bed. It was a double bed, covered with an expensive amber spread Felicity had purchased. The room was clear apart from the dog. Oh well. He could cope with that. Richard turned off the light and crossed the carpet to slide between the cotton sheets. It was only a little dog. It wouldn’t take up much room.

  Richard found himself thinking about the two women. He wondered where Luke had met the pair. The change in his son was remarkable. He was obviously sleeping with the younger one and she was helping him get past the betrayal of his previous wife. For that, the woman had his approval. A flirtatious older woman and a dog weren’t too high a price to pay in exchange for a happy son.

  The little dog—Killer, Hinekiri had called it—cuddled closer, sighing softly in its sleep. Strange name for a dog, but when Richard considered the rest of the night, he figured a dog with an aggressive handle wasn’t so unusual. He fell asleep with a smile on his lips.

  Something woke him. His eyes flew open. His heart pounded while he tried to identify the noise. A pained whimper sounded, changing to a low growl that made the tiny hairs on his forearms prickle with forewarning.

  Killer.

  Richard’s breath eased out in relief. It was the dog barking and growling in its sleep. The dog’s legs starting pumping as if it were running a race and Richard chuckled. He reached out to stroke Killer’s soft fur then turned over and promptly fell out of bed. He hit the wooden floor with a thump that shook the air loose from his lungs. The rug wasn’t as thick as it looked. Slowly, he sat up, rubbing his sore hip and arm.

  “Fuck,” he said, immediately feeling guilty because Felicity hadn’t liked him using that word. He reached for the bedside lamp and flicked the on switch. Soft, golden light spilled through the room, highlighting the scenic watercolors Felicity had painted when her heart started to slow her down, and picking up the golden threads in the duvet cover. He shouldn’t have let the dog curl up on top of it but didn’t have the heart to make the creature move. Richard checked his watch and saw it was almost time to get up anyway. He supposed he’d slept, but it sure as hell didn’t feel rested.

  A black nose poked over the corner of the bed. Killer gave an enquiring bark, giving his naked chest the once-over before retreating. A sigh indicated the dog had curled up comfortably again and was attempting to sleep. He wished he could do the same.

  Groaning, Richard pushed to his feet. He glanced downward. Second problem. Every item of clothing he owned, apart from a pair of boxers and his black socks, was in his bedroom or in his bag, which was still in his vehicl
e. And he had an erection, dammit. He glared in the direction of his groin but nothing deflated.

  “Damn.” Richard strode from the spare bedroom after checking for wandering women. All clear. He sped down the stairs, gripping the banister so he didn’t fall. Given the way his luck was going, it was a sensible safety precaution. The floorboards creaked with a comforting familiarity, soothing his ruffled emotions and the sense of being out of step.

  Richard headed for the kitchen and the rear door, intending to collect his bag from his SUV. He opened the door and stepped outside. A bright flash went off in his face, making him blink. He shielded his vision with his hand.

  “Who’s there?”

  “Marcie Montgomery,” a voice said.

  “Come out where I can see you, dammit. What the hell are you doing skulking around my backyard?”

  The female reporter from the local rag stepped from behind a waist-high kowhai tree. She smoothed her black jacket and flicked a couple of tiny leaves off her matching skirt. “I’m looking for flying saucers.”

  “You won’t find them in my backyard. Can you damn well see one? Can you? Put that camera down. I don’t need my photo on the front page of the Sloan Gazette.”

  “I’m not sure the camera will work again anyway.” Marcie grinned, her gaze drifting downward to his groin. Sly amusement glinted behind her glasses.

  Richard cursed, realizing he was standing in front of her dressed in his underwear. At least the erection had subsided. “Get off my property before I prosecute. And don’t damn well come back. I think I would have noticed if there were aliens and flying saucers in my vicinity. Little green men. Can you see any little green men? Leave now.”

  “All right. Don’t get your knickers in a twist. I’m going!” Marcie Montgomery clomped off, incongruous in her black gumboots and city duds.

  “Aliens. Humph!” Richard grabbed his red bag from the rear of his vehicle and stomped back inside. After dropping the bag on the floor near the wooden table, he switched on the light and filled the jug to make his morning pot of tea. He poured water in the coffeemaker and dumped some pre-ground coffee beans into a filter before he dressed since Luke preferred coffee when he first woke.