Page 91 of Stranded with the Alien

Vahn allowed the surrounding world to seep back into his consciousness. He became aware that Kara was shaking against him.

“Kahlesha,” he soothed, stroking her back. “It is all right. It is over.”

She kept her face pressed into his chest and he tilted her chin back, concerned. Her face was wet with tears and rain but he could see no obvious signs of damage.

“Are you hurt, Kara?”

“Not hurt. But very, very confused. I feel like someone just opened up my brain and stirred everything around.”

He frowned.

“I do not understand.”

“Neither do I. And it’s your fault.Yourfault, you big blue jerk.”

She punched his shoulder none too lightly and he let go of her, more puzzled than ever.

“Kara, did you get hit on the head?”

“Not the head, you idiot.” She sniffed and wiped her nose. “The heart. I got hit in the heart.”

“Your…?”

“Don’t you get it?” She suddenly flared up at him. “I thought you were dead. I thought you’d left me here alone. And I realized… God damn it, Vahn. I realized how I feel about you.”

She started pacing in agitation.

“There was a moment when I thought if you were dead, I’d just let that thing eat me because there wasn’t much point carrying on. Me! Ineverthink things like that! And then I heard your voice calling my name and it was like sunlight bursting through the clouds. And yes, I know how fucking corny that sounds. It’s like I’m a different person. Do you know how many men I’ve slept with?”

Vahn wisely kept silent, sensing it was a rhetorical question.

“Loads! You could fill a stadium with the number of men I’ve been through. Couple of women too, in my college days. But the point is…” she whirled round, eyes flashing. “The point is I didn’t fall for any of them. Not a single one. I’ve never even come close to falling in love. And now suddenly here I am mooning over a bloody alien. And not just any old alien but humanity’s biggestenemyalien.”

Her shoulders slumped as the fire finally left her.

“Sweet Jesus. I’m screwed. If anyone finds out about this, I’ll be crucified.”

There was a very long silence. One Vahn finally broke with a soft question.

“Sorry, could you go back to the part about falling in love?”

Forty Three

They sat side by side watching the rain fall. The fire flickered under the shelter and Rocky lay stretched out in its warmth.

Night was drawing in. Kara had bathed in the river, scrubbing at her skin until it was red. She thought she might never be free of the stench of the creature’s lair.

Both of them had washed their clothes and were now wrapped in furs, waiting for them to dry. Neither had spoken much on the walk back to the camp but for entirely different reasons.

Vahn was struggling to control the hope rising in his chest like a joyous balloon, while Kara was wallowing in regret and embarrassment over her outburst.

“I’m sorry I over-reacted just now,” she said eventually. “I was just so relieved to see you were all right. Forget I said anything.”

Vahn was silent and Kara cringed inwardly.He must think I’m crazy.

“Vahn, please say something. You’ve barely said a word since I told you that I… you know.”

“Was it true?”

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