Alien Terrain Read Online Free PDF Page A

they were. How easy
to trace. But people said a lot of shit that wasn’t true.
    “What is it?” He was trying to sit up. She caught the
sliding ice pack, soothed him back against the pillow.
    “If my presence is a danger to you, then I’ll go.”
    “Go?” He looked completely serious, but what could he be
thinking? “You’re in the middle of nowhere. There’s no place to go,” Jane
explained. “If you were in perfect health and in possession of safe
transportation, I might agree. But you need to stay here right now. Just let me
think what we can do. I was expecting I could nurse you back to health and keep
you here until things cooled off. Then I thought we’d both go north together,
or I’d get in touch with someone to come get you. I
never once believed you’d die from sex starvation. What the fuck is that?”
    Jane glared with sheer disgust at the far wall. She noticed
for the first time there were dark patches of paint where someone’s pictures
had once hung. For a second, she tried to imagine what they’d been. Photographs of cheery family outings? Children? Grandchildren? Now look at it. Jane shook her head.
Just shadows, absences. Another sad example of the empty
spaces in this world.
    Beyond that wall there was a dusty street. Maybe she could
go and find a woman for him—someone she could ask a favor of or hire. Excuse me, miss . Jane went through a
quick scene in which she asked a farmer’s eldest daughter for a favor. The girl
would scream and run off telling everyone about the crazy woman in the teacher
house. It had to be her stupidest idea to date.
    There might be real whores somewhere. Jane conjured one up
in her head and saw that she was not only depressing but unsafe. Nothing would
stop a hired woman from talking once she left. If word spread there was a Bod
out here, Bill Dancer’s men would finish up the job.
    This time the man stood up. She tilted her head to watch him
calmly put the ice packs on the tray and walk toward the door, his dark hair
brushing his broad shoulders.
    “Hey.” When he was halfway through the kitchen, Jane leaped
from her chair and started running after him. “What are you doing?”
    “I won’t let you risk your safety for my sake.”
    “I’m not the one at risk. You are. Go back to bed. You can’t
go out there. Are you nuts?” She grabbed his arm with both of hers and swore
she wasn’t letting go.
    “Give me your word you won’t take any risks.”
    Jane stared at him. She’d have to do something to save his
life. He saw the hesitation, shook her loose so easily it frightened her.
    “Okay,” she said. “I won’t take any risks. I swear.” He had
no shirt or shoes and she was certain he would leave that way and not come
back. “Please,” said Jane. “It’s dangerous for both of
us if you go out there.”
    His rigid jaw tightened a little more. He looked at her with
his good eye and leaned in to her till she took a step away from all that
height and muscle. “Don’t forget you gave your word.” She nodded, watched him
move with grace and dignity back to the bed.
    “I think I’ll have a snack,” said Jane, still standing in
the kitchen. A little time apart might do them good. “Do you eat anything
besides orgasms?”
    “Fruits. Grains. Vegetables. Some dairy. But
I’m not hungry now.”
    No appetite. No good. But she was overloaded and
half-useless from the stress. A little lunch, a nice, hot shower first. After
that, she’d think of what to do.

Chapter
Four
    She didn’t want him.
    Raj would have found that fact a pity even if it didn’t
threaten his existence. She didn’t want him, but he wanted her. Had he a dozen
willing women all around him, Raj would long to fuck the lovely woman who’d
just saved his life. Her body was compelling, and her stark, budding scent
already had a taste for him. The moment she was near him, he could feel her
presence on his tongue.
    But she didn’t want him.
    It was his first rejection. And that fact