Maya had left hours ago, and Lex began worrying. What if the enemies who'd chased him had captured her? She could be in danger. Hurt. Or walking through the door with a grim look. Quick strides brought him to her side, where he enveloped her in a crushing hug before he shook her. "What took you so long? I was worried about you. Are you injured?" Looking bemused, Maya just gazed up at him, the longing clear in her eyes. Lex gave in without a fight and raised her higher for a kiss. She returned his embrace for a moment before pushing away. "Hi," she said breathlessly. "As you can see, I'm fine, so you can put me down now." Lex wanted to protest but clenched his jaw instead as he let her feet touch the floor. Maya avoided his eyes and moved past him into the living area. Crinkling sounded, and once again, flying material hit him. Apparently she had a penchant for throwing things. He perused the clothing she'd brought him, dark pants of a strange m

Lex was bored out of his mind. He'd finally stopped masturbating-not an easy task. Through trial and error, he'd figured out how to turn on the vid screen, but the odd programming confused him. Who was this Seinfeld, and why did everyone find him so amusing? He paced the confines of Maya's home waiting for her to come back, and it was while he walked back and forth that the uneasiness set in, a niggling feeling that something was amiss. Lex tried to ignore it-leaving the safety of her home would be unwise-but the lingering sense of wrongness-Maya is in danger!-grew. Unable to take it anymore, Lex cursed and looked for something to disguise himself. He found, buried in a closet, a hat with a brim on one side. Placing the strange hat on his head and pulling the narrow brim low over his eyes, he left the confines of her house. Thick darkness blanketed the road and surrounding houses. Lex thanked the clouds that covered the moon, only a night away from its fullness and the end

At her words, Lex lost his ability to breathe. If Lex could have had his way, he'd have worshipped Maya's body for the rest of his life. And much as he feared it would hurt him to remember later, he couldn't deny her last request, not when he wanted it too. She looked like an absolute goddess standing there, naked, curvy, and, for the moment, his. He stripped out of his clothes, glad he'd washed himself in her food preparing area while she cleansed herself in the cubicle. He swept her into his arms, her soft nude form enflaming his lust as he carried her into her sleeping quarters. Laying her down on the bed, he covered her lush body with his. Scorching kisses led to roaming hands. He cupped and squeezed the fullness of her breasts, enjoying her pants of pleasure as he teased her nipples with his lips and teeth. "Suck them," she begged when he blew on them, teasing her. He did as she pleaded and sucked on her tender flesh as she writhed under him. Even as he feasted

Lex admitted, even if only to himself, that he wanted to fail. He didn't want to mate with this Amanda. In fact, he hoped he couldn't find her or that she protested enough that he could return empty-handed and claim, without lying, that he'd failed to complete his mating mission. Then he'd beg, if he had to, for the option of taking Maya as his mate instead. Tradition be damned. He'd fallen for the earthling emotion of love. What else explained this overpowering desire of his to claim her as his forever more? But he said nothing of this to Maya, lest he raise false hope, so he only half listened when she mused aloud different ploys for approaching Amanda Beckworth. "ÁDios m'o, I have it!" she exclaimed suddenly. "The balloon festival." "And how will balloons help?" asked Lex, curious at how her mind worked. "Everyone goes to the festival." "And if she doesn't?" He'd go home empty-handed-perfect. "Don't worry. She'll be there," said Maya vehemently.

When Maya abruptly left him, her eyes shiny with tears, Lex had almost gone after her. The same emotional ripping he suffered at their forced separation affected her just as strongly. But at least she'd given him the opening he needed. It was better this way. Now he could just slip away without the painful good-bye he'd feared and without making her promises he couldn't be sure of keeping. I will come back for you, Maya. I promise. Lex flowed through the crowd in the direction she'd pointed him in, which coincided with where he was heading anyways. As he came up to a brightly lit stand offering fluffy pastel-colored clouds on a stick, all the air left him in a whoosh as he came face-to-face with none other than his intended mate. Oh, Maya, what have you done? He knew this had to be her doing, her way of making sure he completed his mission, a mission that he knew, looking down on the petite blonde, he'd have never gone through with, even had he never met Maya. There