Alien Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

she tended Kiele in the underground lab. She also learned that Melissa had tried to escape the lab twice before her successful attempt. That she came back for Anji, and agreed to return again for Kiele, made her the most courageous woman Anji had ever met.
    After a restless night, Anji was ready to crawl into the nearest bed by the time they all sat down for dinner.
    “Come on, sweetheart, before you fall asleep in your food.” Jane stood next to her, one hand held out.
    Grateful, Anji took it and stood, following her across the living room. She halted at the tank and leaned against the cold glass. The men had changed the water three times, keeping Kiele in a bathtub. Anji had sat with him, holding his icy hand. Even now, he was still unconscious, his body in a T’An version of a coma. Orlen told her, more than once, that it was their way of healing deep wounds, and not uncommon.
    She forced herself to believe him.
    “Goodnight, Kiele,” she whispered. “I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere without you. I love you.” She laid her forehead against the glass, watched him float. His dolphin pendant hung in the water, the abalone shell that made up the sun flashing in the overhead light. Her heart eased when she saw that his face had more color than before dinner, and the gills on his left side had finally stopped bleeding. The still clear water proved that. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
    After a minute, she pushed away from the tank and followed Jane through the doorway leading to the bedrooms. She had the one closest to the living room, in case Kiele woke up during the night. Once again, guilt nudged her at the thought of kicking someone else out of their bedroom, but she couldn’t apologize personally, since no one was claiming the room as theirs.
    Jane brushed the long bangs off her forehead and pressed a gentle kiss there. “Get some sleep, Anji. If Kiele wakes, someone will come for you.”
    “Jane.” She paused in the doorway, one hand on the brass knob. “Thank you, for taking us in.”
    “Your Kiele is the reason we have Melissa back. He more than earned our assistance. This is also our time to remove that murder factory for good. Sleep now, honey.”
    Jane closed the door, and left Anji with only her thoughts. They weren’t enough to keep her awake for long; minutes after she slipped out of the oversized dress and climbed into bed, exhaustion pulled her under.
     
    ***
     
    Cool fingers slid down Anji’s bare arm, jerked her out of sleep.
    “Anji.”
    The warm, deep voice she was afraid she’d never hear again had her sitting. “Kiele—”
    His lips cut her off, both hands circling her waist. When he eased back, his jewel green eyes studied her, so alive she wanted to pinch herself to make sure it wasn’t a dream.
    “I needed to touch you, t’anling . To know my dreams of you were not merely dreams.”
    “I’m here, alive. Now you need to get back in the water—”
    He cut her off again, taking her down to the bed this time. She gasped against his lips when his erection brushed her thigh, hot and hard. Her hands slid down his chest. His bare chest. God—he was naked, and still damp from the water.
    “I need to hold you, Anji.”
    She cradled his cheek. “You shouldn’t be here. God, Kiele—you nearly died—”
    “I thought I lost you down there.” He pulled her in, his arms wrapping around her, strong, real. He was here, he was alive. “All that kept me breathing was the desire for vengeance.”
    “I’m glad you’re so stubborn.” She kissed his chin, then reached up to kiss her way along his jaw. She wanted to touch every inch of him, know he was safe. Her fingers caught in the silver chain around his neck, slid down to touch the dolphin pendant. “Does this do more than look pretty and open doors on your ship?”
    He smiled, his deep voice edged with amusement. “It is the symbol of my family, one that goes back many of your centuries. What it represents is the