Struggling free of her blankets, she stumbled to the window and searched for Evan in the darkness. “Evan, where are you?”
Look down.
She eased the window open, cringing at each scrape and groan it made. Evan’s scent drifted ahead of him as he climbed up the side of the building. She drew it in, and a small smile touched her lips. Once he was inside, she shut the window and pulled the curtains. Then she rushed to the door and locked it. She pressed her ear against the wall between her and Mandy’s rooms.
“Roommate asleep?”
“Shhh!”
“I’m psychic, remember? She’ll hear me if I don’t focus on only you hearing me.”
Savannah slumped against her dresser. “Oh yeah. She caught me sneaking in and figured it was because of a guy. The questions. Holy crap, Dad wasn’t even that nosey when I brought someone home.”
Evan chuckled. He wrapped his arms around her and swayed them back and forth. “He didn’t ask me anything.”
“He had known you since you were in diapers.”
“Yeah…” Evan glanced away. His head lowered.
Savannah lifted his chin and rubbed their noses together. When she tried to remove the scarf, he stopped her. Fear flashed in his eyes.
“I… I’m not ready.”
Her finger glided over the fabric, but she respected his wish. “I get it, but remember, I’m not afraid.”
I am.
She didn’t tell him she heard the thought. Maybe he let her. Either way, she kept her mouth shut and brushed her nose against his again.
“Eskimo kisses?”
“I’m proving you wrong. You thought you couldn’t kiss me again.”
It wasn’t what he meant, but neither of them voiced it.
“You want to stay here or go out?” she asked.
“We can stay. Door is locked. Window shut. No one can see me.”
“I see you.”
Evan rolled his eyes. “Stealing lines from movies? You’re such a dork.”
Savannah shoved him. “Hey now, I was the captain of the cheerleading squad. Hardly a nerd.”
“You’re a total nerd. Remember those weekends we vegged out watching Star Trek, Doctor Who, and Firefly? You wanted the fifth Doctor to whisk you away.” He twirled her around.
She let her head fall back as they spun. “But only if you came with me. We’d be like Rory and Amy.”
“Who?”
Savannah’s mouth popped open. “You’ve missed so much. They had a fiftieth anniversary special. It was incredible, and in the new season, you will not believe who showed up. Come on.”
They curled up on her bed. She turned on her laptop and put a DVD in. How she had wished it had been his arms holding her all those years ago. When they were in high school, she had taken too long to act on the desire. Uncertainty had held her back, telling her he wasn’t interested in more than friendship.
Evan shifted and wiggled, struggling to find comfort. Hitting pause, Savannah sat up. “Are you okay?”
He stared at his gloved hands. For a second, she wasn’t sure he’d answer. “Do you mind if I take off my shirt?”
Her heart jumped, and her mouth went dry. It had been so long since she had seen him shirtless. Fantasies played in her head. The way he avoided her gaze cooled the heat gathering in her belly. She nodded. Securing the scarf over his mouth, he removed his trench coat and his gloves. In the glow of her laptop screen, she saw the claws and dark green stripes on his arms. When she touched his skin, he froze. He watched her as she traced the markings. His expression was wary, as if he expected her to be disgusted. The markings were rough and scaly, almost like a lizard’s skin. She smiled to ease his fear.
He half twisted away, and something under his shirt moved like bugs. Savannah kept the smile on her face. She refused to make him feel more uncomfortable about his appearance. He yanked his shirt off, and revealed long, thin spines like porcupine quills down his back. Like the markings on his skin, they were green.
“They’re not poisonous, are they? I can touch them?”
Evan nodded. His back was stiff as she scooted closer and ran her hand along the quills. They quivered under her touch. He gasped.
“What?”
“It, uh, it feels nice. I usually keep them bound, and it’s not pleasant.”
Savannah stroked his back. The tension drained from his posture. His eyelids slid close. He made a low noise, something between a hum and a purr.
“Want to reveal anything else right now? Get everything out in the open and stop stressing over it,” she suggested.
“There’s nothing else, thankfully.”
“Is it weird to be a little disappointed?”
The gills fluttered, and his eyes shimmered. Gripping her tightly, he buried his face against her shoulder. A tremor ran through him. She kissed his temple.
“Promise me this isn’t a dream,” he asked.
She pinched his bicep. It was thicker than she remembered. Was that part of what happened to him? She had returned stronger and with more muscle, too.
“Ow!”
“Not a dream.” She rubbed her nose against his. “Or a fantasy.”
Chapter: Evan
Savvy, can I admit something?
Savannah glanced up at Evan. They were lying together on her bed, halfway through season five of Doctor Who. She clung to him when the stone angels appeared on screen. He didn’t mind and was tempted to request they watch the episode again so she’d remain glued to him.
Savannah grinned. “I already know you love me, but I don’t mind hearing it.”
He leaned down and brushed their noses together. Tightness in his pants made him shift. Pulling in a breath and wiping his mind of erotic fantasies, he focused.
“I’ve kinda been stalking you,” he admitted.
Savannah sat up. “Kinda? With stalking there is no kinda.” Her eyes narrowed. “Was that you in the bushes that night I got back from my parents?”
He nodded, heat rising up his face. “I didn’t want to leave you until I was certain you were okay, but even after I knew, I remained.” He ran his hand through her silky hair. How he had missed touching her, missed the way she twitched, almost unnoticeable, when his fingers grazed the skin behind her left ear—a ticklish spot for her. “I kept finding reasons to check on you.”
She pursed her lips. “If I didn’t love you, I’d be super weirded out.”
He scratched his neck. “That’s what I told myself, but I couldn’t stop.”
“Hey.”
He hesitated but looked at her.
She smiled. Her voice was soft. “You were all I thought about, too.”
“But you thought I was dead. I should have stayed away.”
“No.” Anger flashed through her eyes. “If you disappear on me because you have some delusion it’s for my own good, I will hunt you down and chain you in my closet.”
“And I thought I was the pervert. You’re ready to kidnap me.”
Savannah socked his arm. Her jaw jutted out in defiance. Rubbing his shoulder, he pretended to be hurt. She tried to punch him again, but he caught her fist and gathered her in his arms. Red splashed across her cheeks, and she smiled coyly. She toyed with his scarf, but he stopped her.
“I better go.”
She dug her nails into his skin. Desperation colored her voice. “But I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He hoped she saw the smile in his eyes. “I’ll be back.”
She giggled at his bad impersonation. Brushing his nose against hers, he forced himself up. Checking to ensure the coast was clear, he slid the window open and jumped. He landed with a grunt. As Savannah leaned out, he waved, and then darted into the bushes.
Chapter: Savannah
Silence filled the classroom as students hunched over their desks. The professor sat at his with his feet propped on it, reading a book. He glanced at the clock on the wall.
“Fifteen minutes.”
Accelerated heartbeats surrounded Savannah, an
d perspiration saturated the air. She coughed, trying to expel the smell. The tap-tap of the woman’s pencil seated next to her scattered her focus. She glared but was ignored.
A voice bursting into song made her jump. Everyone looked up, turning to her. She fumbled in her bag for her phone and silenced it. “Sorry. Forgot.”
The professor scowled but said in a bored voice, “Ten minutes.”
Savannah scribbled in what she hoped were the correct answers to the quiz. The professor called for everyone to turn the test in and have a good day. As if that would make everyone forgive him for springing the surprise test on them. She blushed as she brought her paper to the front.
“Please remember to turn your phone off next time, Savannah.”
“Of course, Dr. Hartnell.”
She hurried out the door. The hallway was filled with people. Some leaned against the walls, waiting for their next class, and others walked at varying speeds. A face among the crowd briefly caught her attention. The large sunglasses the woman wore made Savannah wonder if she was blind. When she strode past, she showed no sign of being visually impaired as she expertly weaved in and out of the people in the hall.
Savannah shrugged. Maybe wearing large sunglasses inside was a new fad. She continued toward the exit, ready to get outside and escape the noise. Two women gossiping in front of her slowed her down, though. They snickered about a guy one of them dated, joking about his penis size.
Why keep dating him if you’re just going to mock him behind his back?
The women turned. The taller one shot her a nasty look. Oops. Had she said that out loud? She muttered an apology and sped past them. Outside, the air felt lighter, and she drew it deeply into her lungs.
“Hello, kitty cat.”
Armed with a cocky grin, James sauntered over. He seemed to have overcome his annoyance at her. Or did he see rejection as a challenge?
“I’d appreciate you using my actual name.” Savannah glowered at him.
James pouted. “Don’t be a sour...” He grinned. “Pussy cat.”
Savannah’s voice was icy. “Excuse me, is common courtesy not a thing anymore?”
James held up his hands. “Jeez, no need to bite off my head. I’m only teasing.”
“Well, your teasing isn’t very funny.” Savannah walked away, ready to get James out of her life.
Unfortunately, he didn’t. She huffed as he caught up to her. “Look, please stop.” He grabbed her and yanked her to a halt. “Let me apologize.”
“Take your hand off me.” She snarled the words.
He released her and stepped back. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry for being a jerk and not respecting you, Savannah.”
Savannah regarded him and noted his hunched posture. “Apology accepted.”
A grin filled his face.
“But it doesn’t mean anything,” she added quickly. “I’m not interested in a relationship or sex.”
“I can deal with the friend-zone.” He assessed her the same way he had when they met. “You aren’t my type anyway.”
Savannah forced a smile. The way his scent turned musky, he was lying through his teeth. “Don’t forget that.”
She resumed her trek across campus to her next class. He kept pace with her. She tensed.
“I have to go this way, too. Don’t read into anything.” He smirked.
Savannah forced herself to relax. As they walked, among a cluster of trees, she noticed a shadow move. A grin sprang to her lips, and she couldn’t resist turning to wink. The woman passing her glanced over her shoulder then back to Savannah, giving her a puzzled look. The shadow shook, and Savannah knew Evan was laughing.
“Shut up,” she muttered.
“What?”
Her head whipped around. She had forgotten James was stuck to her like glue. “Nothing. Just reminding myself of something.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “It’s cool. Everyone talks to themselves. Sometimes I have deep conversations with myself.”
“Great.” She stopped and jabbed a thumb over her shoulder. “Look, I forgot something in my last class. I’ll see you later.”
It was a bad brush off, and his expression said he knew it. She escaped before he called her out, ducking into the administration building and the women’s bathroom. Fifteen minutes passed before she left. The crowd had thinned with the start of afternoon classes. Ensuring no one was watching, she headed for the trees.
“Is that guy bothering you?”
Evan stepped out from behind a giant beech tree. Darkness churned in his eyes as he scanned the campus.
“Yeah, but I can handle it,” she assured him. “I’m a big girl whose been genetically altered.”
His eyes softened, and he stroked her cheek. “I can’t help but worry.”
Savannah leaned against him and slipped her arms around his waist. His body heat soaked into her, and she sighed. How she had missed the feel of him. “Or are you jealous? Only you’re allowed to stalk me?”
“I’m serious. You don’t know he’s not dangerous. He might snap on you. You need to be careful.”
“You sound like Mom,” Savannah informed him. “She insisted on buying me pepper spray, and the entire drive here, she lectured me on how to stay safe. Even gave me tips on how to kick a guy in the nuts.”
Evan laughed. The sound was coarse, as if he had a bad cold.
“That sounds painful.” Savannah touched his scarf.
Rubbing his throat, Evan pulled back. “It’s… awkward. My vocal cords still work, but my mouth and throat changed too much. It’s not easy to make noises. It doesn’t hurt much, though.”
Savannah chewed on the inside of her cheek but nodded. If he said it didn’t hurt, it didn’t. But even if it had, she’d want to hear him laugh.
“Hey, don’t be upset.” He smoothed a finger over her furrowed brow. “I’ve learned new ways to express myself. Takes a little creativity, but I manage.” His eyes sparkled as they stared into hers. “Don’t you have a class to attend?”
She nodded. They hugged a second longer, neither wanting to end their time together. After four long years apart, Savannah cherished each moment, etching them in her memory. Finally, she tore herself from Evan. Leaves crunched under her shoes as she walked back to campus. Evan was already gone when she turned around. She smiled sadly then stepped into the sunlight.
****
Mandy threw herself on the couch and bounced like a two-year-old. She grinned. “About our double date.”
Savannah moaned. “Mandy don’t start again.”
“But why are you so against it? It will be the perfect way for me to get to know him.”
“You sound like my parents.”
“Have they met him?”
They had known him his whole life but believed him dead. The words caught on Savannah’s tongue. She opted to shake her head.
“Not yet?”
Not ever.
Mandy sighed at her silence and slumped back. “Why are you being stubborn?”
Because it was for Evan’s safety. If anyone saw him, they’d call the Men in Black. The government would make him vanish. A shudder rolled through her. Conspiracy theories and movies told her humanity didn’t deal well with aliens.
“I’m tired. I’m going to bed early. Night, Mandy.”
Savanna locked herself in her bedroom. Her roommate’s movement in the kitchen drifted through the closed door. A song coming from her pocket made her jump. She let out a weak laugh. Mandy’s persistence unnerved her. She didn’t know how long she could keep coming up with excuses.
Fumbling in her pocket, she pulled out her phone. The number was her parents’ landline. She put cheer in her voice. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hey. Hope I’m not calling too late.”
It wasn’t even seven. Savannah smiled. “No. You’re good. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. I thought I’d call and chit chat. How are classes going?”
“Good. Had a surprise quiz in my math class,
but I passed. How’s Dad?”
“He’s being himself. I had to threaten to take the TV away if he didn’t stop complaining whenever he watched the news. You know how he likes to gripe about politicians.”
Savannah chuckled. “Yes, no one does their job according to him.” She wandered to the window and perched on the ledge as her mom rambled on. This early, lots of people were outside. Six guys tossed a football in the courtyard. Nearby, Savannah assumed, their girlfriends sat on a blanket. Her stomach twisted when she noticed James. He was with a group. He looked up and around, pausing when he spotted her and waved. She returned the gesture and watched him leave with his friends.
He wasn’t stalking her, was he? No, it was a coincidence he was there with friends. She shouldn’t be paranoid.
“Savannah?”
She jumped and lifted the phone back to her ear. “Sorry, Mom. What did you say?”
“It’s your grandma’s birthday in a couple weeks. Don’t forget to call her. She’ll be eighty-three.”
“I won’t. Look, Mom, I gotta go. Homework.”
“Oh, of course. I miss you, honey.”
“Miss you, too. Love you. Bye.”
Savannah slipped her shoes on and peeked into the hallway. Light shone under Mandy’s door, and she heard the tapping of a keyboard and faint singing. She tiptoed through the apartment and slipped out.
Evan’s scent was easy to find. It was all over the courtyard and surrounded her building. Heat flushed up her face. She scolded herself. As sweet as she found it, she couldn’t encourage him to keep stalking her. No, their relationship wasn’t normal, but that didn’t mean crossing borders.
Besides, it was only fair since she wasn’t allowed to lock him in her closet.
Laughing at herself, she followed the freshest trail. It led into the heart of the college, past the science buildings and performing arts theater, and into the trees. At the dump, Evan lay on the grass. She curled up in his arms. The night sky stretched out before them, hiding secrets they alone knew.
Chapter: Evan
Puffy, gray clouds floated across the starry night sky. They drifted in front of the half moon, darkening the world.
“I found the Big Dipper.” Savannah tilted her head. “Or is it the little one? I can never find them both.”
Abducted Life Page 5