Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

E rica's wild flight into the jungle didn't last long. Sharp leaves and branches scratched at her exposed flesh, vines tangled her feet, and the rough ground abused her bare soles.

When she pushed through a particularly clingy bush and almost fell into a small stream, she stumbled to a halt. As her breathing slowed, she listened intently for any sign that she was being followed. Instead, all she could hear was the twitter of insects and an occasional rustle from the undergrowth.

She sank down on a moss-covered rock next to the stream and tried to regain her composure. Her body started to shake, and she wrapped her arms around herself as if she were chilly even though the warm air, redolent with the scent of flowers, was far from cold.

Where the hell was she?

The pink sand, the purple ocean, even the odd-looking trees—maybe she could have convinced herself that she had just ended up on some tropical island that she'd never heard of, but that man…

No , she thought again, definitely not a man . Although he was certainly male. Even without the massive appendage between his legs, that broad, muscular body was most definitely male.

And human men didn't have blue, scaled skin, or silver eyes, and they didn't breathe underwater.

The only logical conclusion she could reach was that she was no longer on earth. Somehow, she had been transported from her bed to this place, wherever it was. Had her fairy godmother been listening? She choked back a sudden laugh. Had someone really thought she wanted to get away badly enough to bring her to an alien planet?

It wasn't until a tear dropped on her bare knee that she realized she was crying. As tempting as it was to give in to the emotion, a lifetime dealing with her father had taught her to face the problem first and then deal with the aftermath later.

She dipped her fingers into the stream, intending to wash her face, then hesitated. What if it wasn't even water?

Lifting her damp fingers to her face, she took a cautious sniff, but she couldn't detect anything unusual. Her fingers didn't burn or itch, and with a slight shrug, she wiped her face.

In for a penny, in for a pound , she thought to herself, and gathered up a palm full of water. After a cautious sip didn't have any ill effects, she drank thirstily. It tasted like water, cool and clear and just slightly floral, as if the perfume of the flowers filling the air had permeated the water as well.

Now what? Her stomach grumbled as if in response. How long had it been since she had eaten? Going to dinner with Ronald had destroyed her appetite, and she hadn't touched her food the previous night. Was it the previous night? How long had it taken her to travel to this place?

Thoughts of wormholes and faster than light travel ran through her mind, but in the end, she dismissed them. However long it had actually been, it felt like it had been the previous night, and she was hungry.

The blue-scaled alien on the beach had been carrying fish she remembered now, and her stomach gurgled enthusiastically. The fact that he hadn't attempted to follow her was a point in his favor. Perhaps he wasn't as aggressive as he looked. Would he be willing to negotiate for some food? Not of course that she had anything to offer, other than her body. And that was definitely out of the question, she thought quickly, despite an unexpected flicker of what couldn't possibly be interest in the thought of exploring that big muscular body.

What was she thinking? Even on Earth, she wasn't the type of woman who was particularly interested in an impressive set of muscles. Maybe there was something in the water after all.

Or maybe it was something more primitive. On Earth, a strong, muscular body usually just meant a man spent a lot of time in the gym. Here, it could mean the difference between life and death.

Pushing the thought aside, she decided to try and return to the beach. If nothing else, maybe she could steal some food. It wouldn't be her first choice, but then again, becoming a sex slave for an alien fish man wouldn't be either.

As she started to rise to her feet, she heard a tiny whimper. It seemed to be coming from a small opening between two of the rocks edging the stream. Bending down, she peered into the gap and saw two purple eyes looking back at her.

She jumped back, slipped, and landed in the stream with a great splash of water. The water washed up between the rocks, and when it receded, a tiny body came with it.

Barely as large as her hand, the creature was covered with deep purple fur and had little feet that looked almost like paddles. Purple eyes blinked up at her as it gave an unmistakably distressed whimper.

"Oh no. You poor little thing."

She instinctively reached forward and picked it up. It whimpered again, then nestled down into her hand, licking at her palm.

"You're just a baby, aren't you? Where's your mama?"

Cradling it against her chest, she leaned forward and peered between the rocks. Nothing stirred in there.

From the enthusiastic way the baby was licking her fingers, she suspected it was hungry. Had the mother abandoned it? Should she just put it back?

The dark, muddy hole didn't look very appealing.

The little creature found her thumb and started sucking on it, and somehow that seemed to decide the matter. She smoothed down the mud leading to the den before climbing out of the stream, still holding the baby. She could check back later to see if there were any signs of activity, but for now she would keep the baby with her.

But sucking on her finger wasn't going to keep it happy for long. Based on the sleek fur, the shape of its paws, and the location of the den, it had to be a water animal. If she could obtain some fish from the blue alien, she'd give that a try.

Having a plan, and something else to worry about, restored some of her confidence. She headed back into the jungle with a more assured step.

Her steps were unfortunately easy to retrace—broken branches, torn vines, even a few drops of blood marked her path. And if she could find her way back so easily, no doubt the alien could have found her just as easily. The fact that he hadn't also added to her confidence. Unless…

What if he spent most of his time in the water? What if he didn't belong on land at all?

No , she decided. He stood upright on those two thickly muscled legs and walked with the confidence of someone who was no stranger to solid earth.

Her heart started to beat uncomfortably quickly as she neared the edge of the beach. She could see the ocean glimmering through the branches, but she couldn't hear anything other than the low rush of the waves. Peering through the bushes, all she could see was an empty beach.

An odd mixture of relief and disappointment filled her as she scanned the pink sand. She had almost been looking forward to seeing the blue alien again. Purely out of curiosity , she told herself.

After waiting a few more minutes and seeing and hearing nothing except the wash of waves against the beach, she stepped out from behind a bush. A harsh squawk came from high above her, and she almost dove into the bushes again before she realized that a brightly colored flying creature was perched on a swaying branch at the top of one of the odd trees. It tilted its head, surveying her, then squawked again and flew off.

"That was most definitely not a bird," she muttered to the baby.

Even though she had already reached the conclusion that she wasn't on Earth, each additional confirmation still shocked her. The tears threatened again, but then the baby whimpered and she forced herself to concentrate on the more immediate needs of the present.

Keeping to the edge of the jungle, she walked quietly around the perimeter of the beach. At the far end, she finally found his footprints. Enormous footprints. When she placed her foot next to one, it was half the size. And there were other differences as well. It was lighter and flatter, with what looked like four toes splayed wide at the end.

The trail of prints led around a small point that hid whatever was on the other side. Her courage threatened to desert her, but then the wind shifted. She caught the smell of cooking, a combination of smoke and fish that made her stomach growl. The baby lifted its head and gave an excited little squeak.

"I know, sweetheart. I'm hungry too. But you have to be quiet until we know whether he's friend or foe."

She tucked the baby back against her chest, remembering as she did that she was still naked. Would that give him the wrong idea? Then again, he was naked as well , she thought with a little shiver of excitement. Perhaps it was natural to his culture.

His culture.

She suddenly realized that she had been assuming he was alone, but there could be a whole village of blue aliens on the other side of the point. Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, she stepped back into the undergrowth instead of continuing along the beach. As silently as possible, she made her way through the jungle instead.

Even without her earlier panic, it was difficult going. She had to keep a wary eye out for low-hanging branches and the ever-present vines, not to mention the roots that seemed to clutter the ground.

By the time she saw the ocean again, she was dirty, sweaty, and miserable. The only thing that kept her going was the smell of food.

A'rien heard the female approaching long before she reached his camp. She obviously had no woodcraft skills at all. Which did raise a question: just who was she and why was she here?

Obviously another criminal , he thought with a grin. Although surely someone with a criminal background could do a better job of remaining silent. The fleeting glimpse he had caught of her face had revealed startled brown eyes that looked remarkably innocent.

Not that the appearance of innocence was anything to go by, he thought grimly, remembering Lord Zalatai's wife. Then again, he couldn't imagine Lady Glichi fleeing into the jungle at the sight of a strange male. She would have immediately set to work bringing him into her service.

A branch cracked behind him, followed by a muffled gasp, and he fought back another smile. The little female either had a very low opinion of his powers of observation or no experience whatsoever in being stealthy. He suspected it was the latter.

A breeze swirled across the beach, bringing her fragrance with it, and he almost groaned with pleasure. Sweet, yes, but not the heavy sweetness of the flowers that filled the air. As light and clean as a spring tide.

He couldn't wait to get better acquainted with the little female. But perhaps this time, he would let her come to him.

She'd made no move to reveal herself, and he was grudgingly impressed. Despite her lack of woodcraft, she wasn't completely reckless. It was always best to observe the situation before committing oneself—not that he tended to follow that piece of advice.

Still, if she wanted to look, he would give her something to look at.

He rose to his feet, then stretched lazily, knowing the pose accentuated his physique. Bending over to pick up his harpoon, he made sure she could see the tight curve of his ass. He turned back towards the jungle, looking up into the trees as if he was scanning for an avian.

Was that another muffled gasp as she got a full look at the front of his body? The soft noise sent an unexpected lick of excitement through his body, and his cock jerked.

He suddenly wondered just which one of them was actually the tease. Whirling back around, he headed for the edge of the water, letting the waves wash over his feet and cool his suddenly heated flesh.

The bushes rustled behind him, and he turned back just in time to see that round white ass disappearing into the bushes again, along with his string of fish.

The little thief.

He burst into laughter, then went to retrieve his dinner.