“Good thing he didn’t push his luck. As far as I know, water with lemon is not flammable.”
“It did work, and you were very brave to come to the aid of a stranger. We need more people in the world like you.” DeeDee had given her a ride home, and they’d been friends ever since. The princess and the…alien.
“And I’ll be there with you through this, too.”
“I know.”
“Get dressed, then we’ll form a plan of action.” She stood, then left the room to give Callie some privacy.
Callie was just buttoning the last button on her shirt when DeeDee tapped on the door.
“I’m decent,” Callie called out.
DeeDee walked back inside the room. “By the way, does that always happen?”
“What?”
“You change back and find you’re naked.”
“Yes.”
“I bet they have a lot of sex on New Symtaria.” She stopped. “Wait, didn’t you say you changed into a rabbit.”
Callie could see the wheels turning. “Yes,” she said slowly.
“I’m assuming Rogar was there.”
Oh no. She had a feeling she knew what was coming. “Yes.”
“Not going to tell me, are you?”
“No.”
DeeDee grinned. “It’s about time you got laid.”
“DeeDee!” She glanced around as though Rogar would appear any second and she would be even more embarrassed.
“It’s okay, I won’t push for details.”
“Thanks.”
“Not right now, but later, look out.”
“DeeDee!”
She shrugged. “Well, he is an alien. Of course I’m curious.”
“Can we get back to the matter at hand? After all, I am being chased by a crazed Symtarian who thinks it’s his destiny to destroy all the impures.”
“You’ll need a place to hide out, and I have the perfect one, the camp. You remember, Camp in the Pines.”
Callie fell against the cushions with a groan.
“It’s the perfect place. My parents have a nice cabin. You remember.”
“And the camp is crawling with bluebloods.”
DeeDee stiffened. “Excuse me? I just happen to be one of those bluebloods you’re referring to.”
“You know what I mean. I went there with you once and it was quite enough. They were so snobbish.”
“But you have to admit, the cabin is great, the view is spectacular, and you had a fabulous vacation.”
She and DeeDee did have fun when they didn’t need to play the social card. There were all sorts of activities. It wasn’t like she had a long list of choices, either. “Okay, we’ll go, and thanks so much for helping. You didn’t have to, and I really appreciate it.”
“Yes I did. You’re my best friend.” Her smile embraced Callie. “You can take my Hummer, but don’t scratch it.”
“We can’t leave the Jag here. If Zerod comes snooping, I don’t want him to find anything connected with us.”
“No problem. I have vacation coming up. Mom and Dad have been after me to join them. Now would be a good time. I love Colorado in the fall. I’ll have someone pick the Jag up, though.”
“Then it’s settled.” She hoped.
“Looks that way. Want to tell me how it was with Rogar now?”
Callie surreptitiously glanced around. He’d probably kill her for gossiping, but, well…
“Oh, Lord, it was the best sex I’d ever had, DeeDee. I mean, unbelievable.” She hugged her middle. “I never thought it could be like that. Rogar was fantastic. He was…” She laughed. “Out of this world.”
DeeDee didn’t say anything. Callie thought her friend would be more excited for her. Damn, she was kind of disappointed.
DeeDee crossed her legs. “You’ve fallen in love with him.”
“Pffttt, of course I haven’t.”
“He’s the guy in black leather.”
“I think you’ve had a little too much tequila.”
DeeDee shook her head. “Think about it, Rogar is the guy who swaggers into your college classroom wearing a black leather jacket. The bad boy. Except Rogar is even more dangerous now.”
“He’s not at all dangerous. He would never hurt me. I mean, the guy saved my life.”
“I don’t mean dangerous that he would harm you, no, it’s even worse. He’s made you fall in love with him.”
“You’re crazy.” She barely knew the guy. Having a fantastic orgasm didn’t equal falling in love with someone.
“Think about it. The guy comes from another planet, he’s dark and mysterious, then you have fantastic sex, and if that wasn’t enough, he saves your life. It’s the hero syndrome, and you’ve fallen head over heels in love. I can tell by the look on your face when you talk about him.”
Callie opened her mouth, but closed it when no words came out. She couldn’t be in love with Rogar. He was a fling, that was all. He wanted her to drop everything and run off to another planet, and that wasn’t going to happen. No way, no how. Earth was her home. And she was so close to having her dream job. It would be stupid of her to even consider going with him.
But just the thought of him leaving without her sent a queasy feeling rumbling in her stomach.
Life sucked.
Chapter 16
Callie was not in love with Rogar, infatuated yes, but not in love. She hadn’t known him long enough. He was hot, sexy, and yes, he’d been her hero. Dark, dangerous, and mysterious. She was sure he had some flaws somewhere, other than his cooking.
“You’re so in love with him,” DeeDee said.
“Am not.”
“Are to.”
“Callie,” Rogar bellowed from the other room.
She jumped to her feet. “Crap, I gave him one of my pain pills. It should’ve knocked him out and let him get a few hours sleep. He must be in excruciating pain.”
DeeDee raised her eyebrows. “You gave an alien a pain pill?”
Callie frowned as she hurried to the bedroom. “It never hurt me. I’m part alien.” Now that she thought about it, she’d never taken anything stronger than a Tylenol. There had never been a need. At the edge of the doorway, Callie skidded to a stop.
Rogar stood in the middle of the bed weaving back and forth, wearing only his briefs, and the large white bandage. At least it wasn’t blood soaked. “Where’s my weapon? How can I protect you if I don’t have a weapon?”
“It’s okay, we’re safe at DeeDee’s. Zerod won’t find us here.”
He seemed to think about that for a moment.
“You need to lie back down before you fall off the bed and hurt yourself,” Callie spoke softly so she wouldn’t startle him. From now on, no more pain pills.
“She’s right. Sit down, Rogar,” DeeDee told him as she came in behind Callie. “Apparently, he’s feeling better.”
In one movement, Rogar’s legs went out from under him and he plopped down on the bed, then laughed uproariously when he bounced. When DeeDee chuckled, Callie cast a glare in her direction.
DeeDee shrugged. “He’s funny. Besides, you gave him the pill, not me.”
“I didn’t know it was going to make him act all…goofy. What if his wound starts to bleed?”
“Callie, sweetheart, come lie beside me. I want to mate with you. I want to hear you cry my name out in ecstasy again.”
“Oh, this is serious if you cried his name out,” DeeDee commented.
Heat crawled up Callie’s face. This was not happening in front of DeeDee.
“I think I’ll leave you to get him settled back down,” DeeDee whispered. “Just do me one favor.”
“What?”
“Don’t have sex in my bed. It’s not a visual I want right before I go to sleep.”
Callie groaned as the door closed. Then she looked at Rogar, who was sitting in the middle of the bed, with a silly grin on his face.
“You need to get some rest,” she said.
He patted the bed. “So do you.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “I have a feeling sleeping is not what you have in mind.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll stay up with you.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed.
“No! You could start your wound bleeding again. I’m surprised it isn’t now. Besides, you’re not that steady, and if you fall, I doubt DeeDee or I could get you back up again.”