Chapter 13

WhenI hear his footsteps approach, I put my hand over my mouth, trying to quiet the sobs I can't seem to stop. Moments later, I hear him walk away, and then there is nothing but silence. I don't know if I am happy or sad that he didn't force himself into the room.

Ashiver wracks my system and I make myself get up off the floor and step into this mist shower thing. WhatI wouldn't give for a bubble bath and a glass of wine right now. Once it shuts off, I get out and wrap one of the long pieces of material around me that are folded nearby. I had put the jumpsuit I had on earlier into the cleaner like ZoD showed me without thinking about it and now I have nothing else to wear.

Hesitantly, I walk out of the room, looking around. Up until this point, I thought what I needed was some quiet time, now I realize that's the last thing I need. The shadows in the room make me wonder what I can't see. Is one of these worm things hiding right in front of me? Or something worse?

Igrab one of ZoD's shirts out of a cubby hole in the wall and pull it over my head.

Justas I open my eyes back up the room starts getting brighter. Pulling a blanket off the bed, I make my way over to the only window in the room and look out, only for my tears to start again. I was never a crier and the fact that I can't seem to get them to stop just irritates me.

Thesky above me is beautiful, several moons or maybe they are planets shine brightly in the sky. They are so close it feels like I could reach up and touch them. Because they are so bright, I can only see a few random stars around them. All this beauty in such a cruel world. I wonder as I gaze outward where Earth was in all this. Were we anywhere near this place, in a faraway star? So many spent their entire existence searching for the aliens, if they only knew what was really out there. Would they still have wanted to know?

Iwonder what happened to my cat. I am glad he was used to running the neighborhood and wasn't trapped in the house. So many questions run through my head that I will never know the answers to. Like who was given the task of wrapping up my entire life when I was never found? I didn't have much, but hopefully someone put it to good use. I am thankful Mom and Dad were already gone, as I wouldn't have wanted to put this heartache on them. Even though the thought of not being able to fulfill the promise I made to Mom, to always care for their graves, is heartbreaking. But if what ZoD says is true … then there is nothing left to be taken care of.

Ican't even comprehend that Earth and everything I have ever known is gone. MaybeI am not supposed to, it's not like I can do anything about it. IfI allow myself to dwell on this more. I will never pull out of the depression that is trying its best to get a good grasp on my mind right now. God, I am so lost. What is my role here? I mean there is no denying I am attracted to ZoD. You would have to be dead not to find him charming and slightly scary.

Hedidn't know I was watching him from a distance today. He has this presence about him that makes all the other ones around him seem less. ZoD's coloring is different from most of the others I have seen around. He seems the center of their world and they all just rotate around him. My feelings for him are all over the place. Part of me wants to believe his words. The other says he will tire of me quickly and that I am just a new toy to be played with until he does.

Iknow my own mind is my worst enemy right now, but how do you find the answers to questions you don't know to ask? The entire time I was with Zllera today I kept expecting to do something wrong and offend someone without knowing it. I felt like an exotic zoo animal that should be in a cage for everyone to gawk at.

Ican feel myself starting to doze off, so I get up and head over to the large bed that dominates this room. Flopping down, I close my eyes as the bed seems to sink all around me. My mind is tired, and my nose is stopped up from crying all evening. I was sure it would take me forever to fall asleep, but I must have gone right out. I don't even feel ZoD lay down behind me until a large arm drapes over me in the middle of the night.

Insteadof moving away from him, I snuggle in closer. His steady breaths tell me quickly that he has been here for quite some time. Wide awake now, I trace the markings on his arm gently, wondering if he was human, would I even be questioning the feelings I am starting to have for him? I must have woke him knowingly, squirming around.

"Go back to sleep, Amori. The next rising will come soon enough. You'll need your rest for the plans I have for us."

Iclose my eyes, but sleep doesn't come easily as my mind won't shut down. He tucks an arm underneath me at some point and turns me towards him, so my head is now resting on his shoulder. Without a thought, I throw my leg over his hips as he lies on his back, my hand immediately settling on his chest. Nuzzling against him, I realize I have never been this comfortable with anyone else, ever. It's like he is a carved-out piece of a puzzle I fit perfectly against. Giggling with that thought, I feel him turn his head towards me.

"Good rising my Amori, did you manage to rest? You wiggled around all darkness."

"Off and on, but I have functioned with less. When did you sneak in?"

"It was late, I tried not to wake you. I started to sleep in the sitting area, but you looked cold, and my large form doesn't fit well stretched out in that small area. I hope you are not too upset with me for coming in here with you."

"Nope, you're the most comfortable thing I believe I have ever snuggled with."

Momentarily, he looks confused. "Is that a positive thing or should I be offended; do I want to be comfortable?"

"It's all good, I promise. What are you looking at up there?"

"I was thinking about kissing you, but I am enjoying this moment so much I don't want to ruin it. There are so few pleasant things in our world if I could spend eternity right in this very spot, I would be a happy male."

"You know, for a big tough guy you sure are sappy. Most guys are scared to voice their emotions. So, they simply say what they think someone wants to hear. But you are sincere and that just proves how confident you are, it's sexy as hell. What if I told you that it's possible a kiss just makes this moment even better?"

"I would tell you to prove it." I swear he purrs those words.

Withoutsecond guessing my actions, I push myself up fully on his chest and lean over his extremely large frame. He doesn't move, just lays there his bright orange eyes watching my every move. Slowly, I lower my face down rubbing my nose against his affectionately before pressing my lips to his gently.

Nippingat his bottom lip, his hand tightens on my back, pushing me closer to him. Soon what started out as an innocent kiss turns into a full-blown make-out session and I find myself suddenly straddling his chest. PantingI make myself pull back, to catch my breath only to find I have my hands buried in his long hair. My legs grasp him tightly like I am scared he is going to escape. Smiling down at him, I sit back, only to realize what I just settled against. "You happy to see me or is that a gun in your pocket?"

Hetilts his head once again, my words completely confusing him, and suddenly. I am laughing so hard that tears are running down my cheeks. I mean here I am, straddling probably the sexiest man in existence. My entire body is wound up and ready to go as I grind myself against him, and for some reason, this is hilarious to me. Maybe my mind has finally snapped.

Hegrabs me by my sides and twists us quickly so that he is now above me. His long fingers are tickling me relentlessly. My laughter echoes throughout the room as I struggle weakly against his assault. "I give, I give…Uncle! I swear I am going to pee on myself if you don't stop."

Whenhe tilts his head once again, my uncontrollable laughter starts all over. "OK, you have got to stop doing that. My poor weak human brain can't deal with all that cuteness coming out of someone who looks so fierce."

Grabbingme, he stands up, pulling me along, only to stand me on the bed in front of him. Finally, I am slightly larger than he is. He throws me around like a sack of potatoes and I will say his strength is a huge turn on. I run my fingers through his hair next to his scalp while looking down at him slightly.

"How would you like a woman this much bigger than you?"

"Depends on what she smells like, honestly I don't mind the view where I am at all."

"My eyes are up here, mister."

"Are they now, because I may have to investigate this delectable little body of yours to make sure I know where all your parts are. You see, I have become addicted to a tiny, larger than life little female that has captured my soul and she likes to play, apparently."

"Life is too serious not to play sometimes, ZoD."

Hiscomm unit going off makes me frown.

"This rising is young. Would you like to do some exploring with me? I think it would do both of us some good to escape for a while."

"I thought that's what we were doing, exploring? After all, I am pretty sure you have all kinds of parts I need to familiarize myself with."

"Oh, my Amori, you could tempt a saint. How about I take you someplace where there will be no interruptions?"

"It's a date." I hold my arms out and he picks me up off the bed, lowering me all the way down his impressive frame.

"You are a very naughty boy, ZoD. It's not nice to tease."

"Says who? Go on get dressed, quickly. So, we can sneak out of here."