mates, and we were looking at this great outfit when all of a sudden I…well…” The woman had laughed nervously and blushed. The perfect man next to her had taken her hand and finished for her. “The bond started.”
“Yes,” the brunette had continued. “I had tunnel vision. All I could see was him. Literally.” The couple had shared a private laugh, and the anchorwoman had flung some more questions at them.
Pleasure pulsated through her. No, please no. She fought for control, body tensing. She turned her head to the left and locked eyes with a man across the street. He, too, stood still. And he was perfect. And totally wrong. Over six feet and broad shouldered, he wore a suit that had to be custom tailored. He looked like a banker or a billionaire. Not the kind of man to be seen with a woman with fading red dye in her hair and Steampunk boots.
He had black hair and a five o’clock shadow that accentuated perfectly sensuous lips.
They’re all perfect.
His steel blue eyes poured into her soul.
Pleasure mixed with panic held her captive. I will not be controlled again.
The look of shock on his face turned to one of joy. When he smiled, the effect was deeply physical. Kara’s body hummed, and she balanced on a thin wire.
“Beautiful.” His voice echoed in her head, enticing her to go to him. He took a step toward her, a euphoric look on his face. “Is she mine?”
Terror ripped through her and broke the spell. She saw the recognition on his face before she reeled around, grabbed her head with both hands, and bolted back the way she’d come. Only she wasn’t bolting. She struggled with every step, like she’d done in her dreams as a child, trying to escape her mother’s iron grip. Trying to run but only moving in slow motion. Panic engulfed her. Breathe, Kara. Taking one step at a time, she focused on the tips of her black boots. Her body started coming off the crazy high, and her vision returned. Her movements became easier the farther she went.
“Kara, what the hell’s wrong?” Zoe’s voice. “What are you doing? You’re going the wrong way. Kara!” Zoe grabbed her arm. “Shit, girl. Are you having a stroke?”
Kara shook her head. “Keep walking, Zo. I have to get out of here.” Her head spun. The park was no longer anywhere near normal, and she tried, without success, to reign in her thoughts. This can’t be happening. Her chest tightened, and her heart pounded. No. I am not yours. Bastard. She tried to get a grip . Like the Brits said, “Keep calm and carry on.” She let out a slightly hysterical laugh, and then forced herself to take a deep breath.
“Kara?”
The worry in her friend’s voice allowed her to focus.
“What’s happening? You’re pale as a ghost, and I’m pretty sure you stopped breathing back there.”
“Zoe, I…” Kara shot a glance behind her. The man was nowhere to be seen. Her shoulders loosened a fraction. She lowered her voice and leaned in a little closer. “I… Just now…” She couldn’t form the words. If she said it out loud, it would be real.“I think I’m getting sick. I need to go home.”
CHAPTER TWO
Three days later Kara sat at her desk, red pen in hand. Every second of every day she watched and waited, wondering if he would show up. She’d made herself crazy trying to stay busy and not think about the alien. She’d dyed her hair a brilliant blue. Twice. The nights were worse. When she did manage to sleep, she dreamt of being in his arms. The euphoria of his touch and the fear of being trapped had combined into a magnificent nightmare. She had bolted awake last night. He’d been on top of her, slamming into her, making her come and suffocating her all at once. She shivered at the memory, her body betraying her. Picking up the nearly whole, and now rock-hard, bagel, she threw it into the trash. After a bite or two, food had lost its appeal.
She focused on her anger. It gave her the feeling of
“Yes,” the brunette had continued. “I had tunnel vision. All I could see was him. Literally.” The couple had shared a private laugh, and the anchorwoman had flung some more questions at them.
Pleasure pulsated through her. No, please no. She fought for control, body tensing. She turned her head to the left and locked eyes with a man across the street. He, too, stood still. And he was perfect. And totally wrong. Over six feet and broad shouldered, he wore a suit that had to be custom tailored. He looked like a banker or a billionaire. Not the kind of man to be seen with a woman with fading red dye in her hair and Steampunk boots.
He had black hair and a five o’clock shadow that accentuated perfectly sensuous lips.
They’re all perfect.
His steel blue eyes poured into her soul.
Pleasure mixed with panic held her captive. I will not be controlled again.
The look of shock on his face turned to one of joy. When he smiled, the effect was deeply physical. Kara’s body hummed, and she balanced on a thin wire.
“Beautiful.” His voice echoed in her head, enticing her to go to him. He took a step toward her, a euphoric look on his face. “Is she mine?”
Terror ripped through her and broke the spell. She saw the recognition on his face before she reeled around, grabbed her head with both hands, and bolted back the way she’d come. Only she wasn’t bolting. She struggled with every step, like she’d done in her dreams as a child, trying to escape her mother’s iron grip. Trying to run but only moving in slow motion. Panic engulfed her. Breathe, Kara. Taking one step at a time, she focused on the tips of her black boots. Her body started coming off the crazy high, and her vision returned. Her movements became easier the farther she went.
“Kara, what the hell’s wrong?” Zoe’s voice. “What are you doing? You’re going the wrong way. Kara!” Zoe grabbed her arm. “Shit, girl. Are you having a stroke?”
Kara shook her head. “Keep walking, Zo. I have to get out of here.” Her head spun. The park was no longer anywhere near normal, and she tried, without success, to reign in her thoughts. This can’t be happening. Her chest tightened, and her heart pounded. No. I am not yours. Bastard. She tried to get a grip . Like the Brits said, “Keep calm and carry on.” She let out a slightly hysterical laugh, and then forced herself to take a deep breath.
“Kara?”
The worry in her friend’s voice allowed her to focus.
“What’s happening? You’re pale as a ghost, and I’m pretty sure you stopped breathing back there.”
“Zoe, I…” Kara shot a glance behind her. The man was nowhere to be seen. Her shoulders loosened a fraction. She lowered her voice and leaned in a little closer. “I… Just now…” She couldn’t form the words. If she said it out loud, it would be real.“I think I’m getting sick. I need to go home.”
CHAPTER TWO
Three days later Kara sat at her desk, red pen in hand. Every second of every day she watched and waited, wondering if he would show up. She’d made herself crazy trying to stay busy and not think about the alien. She’d dyed her hair a brilliant blue. Twice. The nights were worse. When she did manage to sleep, she dreamt of being in his arms. The euphoria of his touch and the fear of being trapped had combined into a magnificent nightmare. She had bolted awake last night. He’d been on top of her, slamming into her, making her come and suffocating her all at once. She shivered at the memory, her body betraying her. Picking up the nearly whole, and now rock-hard, bagel, she threw it into the trash. After a bite or two, food had lost its appeal.
She focused on her anger. It gave her the feeling of
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