Page 22 of Kissed By the Alien
I discreetly yank the pull cord, but it doesn’t chime or signal the driver to stop. Of course it wouldn’t. It’s not a city bus. I thrust my high heels into my bag and shove my feet into my boots as the bus stops at a red light. I force the back set of doors open, jump down, and run.
The dress nearly trips me, so I hike it up past my knees and pour all my energy into clearing the street. I need to find an alley or open doorway, somewhere to disappear from sight.
I glance over my shoulder and see McCauley and Sideburns racing to the backdoor as the bus pulls away. They don’t make it off.
Yes!
As I turn to gain my bearings and figure out a way home, I run into a hard wall of muscle. The man grabs my wrist.
“You didn’t think you’d get away from me that easily, did you?”
CHAPTEREIGHT
LUTAN
Chasing a bus was not part of my plans for this evening. Fortunately, these Earth vehicles move slowly through the city, stopping every few blocks. Running a few miles doesn’t tire me out, but it gives me time to reflect on problems this one female’s causing.
When the bus finally stops at a red light, my female springs from the bus. The two males following her don’t move as swiftly and are trapped aboard when the bus continues down the street.
Lexi jumps up and down, celebrating her escape, then turns and slams into me. I grip her arm to steady her and to keep her from fleeing.
“You didn’t think you’d get away from me that easily, did you?”
Her eyes go wide, then the excitement of her victory wanes. She’s not pleased with me. I don’t blame her. I’m not pleased with me either. I left her in that hotel with the plan of assigning other warriors to her so I could avoid this pull toward her.
“You ditched me at the hotel and now you’re stalking me?”
“Not precisely. There are two males following you. I intend to find out why and to keep them from touching you.”
“You mean those men on the bus?”
“Yes. They’ve been watching you since the ballroom. I’ll escort you home.”
She jerks her arm free from my grip. “I don’t need your help.”
“Maybe I need yours.” The words slip from my mouth. I don’t want to know why, let alone understand what I meant by them. I want nothing from Lexi, only the chance to ensure she gets home safely.
Then I’ll walk away without telling her who she is to me. From what I’ve read about humans, unlike zyanthans, they don’t have heartmates. They form temporary bonds. The gods don’t tell them who they should be with. It all sounds so chaotic, but it comforts me knowing she will find another male in time, a human who can give her what she needs.
Not a broken warrior.
“What are you saying, Lutan?”
Before I can answer, I spot the men from the bus running toward us. We’re standing in the open, with nothing but skinny trees nearby. I will not leave her exposed if the males fire, but the tree is the closest form of coverage. I stand behind the tree for partial coverage, while pulling Lexi behind me as I draw my blaster. They will not reach her.
Her hand lands on my blaster. “Don’t kill them,” she says in a commanding voice. She’s not in charge here, but there’s something about the way she said it that piques my interest.
“I’m permitted to use deadly force if I’m in danger.”
“You’re not in danger. Probably. Just don’t kill them, okay?”
“Why? Who are they?”
“We can get away,” she says without answering me. “I know where to go. Can you keep up with me?”
“Female, I just chased and caught up to a speeding bus.”
“So what I’m hearing is you have lots of stamina and can go all night?” she says with a teasing voice and a wink.
