Page 48 of Exiles on Earth

“Wow,” she breathes, stepping closer into my embrace. She hesitates only briefly before laying a hand over my chest, setting off ripples of fire underneath my scales.

She frowns briefly at her palm, then up at me. “You okay? Your heart’s beating really fast under here.” Her cheeks deepen in hue, lips parting.

“It’s normal,” I murmur, though the rasp in my voice betrays me. Normal is not how this feels. “Olorians have two hearts.”

“Two?” Her jaw drops. “Really? Can I listen?”

I nod, but the moment she presses her ear to my chest, I grab onto the doorway. I’ll need it, to keep us upright.

Staying still is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Her warmth seeps into my chest, her breath ghosting over my scales. Then—her body tenses. She shifts, pressing in closer.

“You have two heartbeats,” she says in a hushed voice.

“Yes.” My twin hearts work in tandem, strong and steady—until now. Now, they trip over each other, struggling against the unfamiliar pressure coiling in my chest. I swallow hard. “El-len. I… I want to…”

Asking for what I want is impossible. I can’t even finish my sentence.

She tips her face up, her brown eyes as rich as the earth she loves. As her hand moves up my broad chest, undulating over my collarbone, a riot of color follows her fingers. “Ilia. I… want to kiss you. May I?”

“Kiss?” My blood heats. Whatever it is, the fact El-len would ask instead of demanding makes my cocks jump anew.

“It means to touch lips, I… I’m sorry if it’s inappropriate–”

“Show me how, and I’ll learn.”

Her hand touches my cheek, gently guiding my face closer tohers. Our breath mingles in the space between us, and my hearts beat so hard I’m sure she feels them, pounding against her where she stands cradled against my chest. Her face comes closer and closer to mine, and I quiver with anticipation.

A chime rings in the house, startling El-len. Her panicked look sends rage rushing to the surface to defend her, my scales turning red and searing with pain as Gerverstock strength floods me.

“That’s the door, but who’s ringing the doorbell?” She ducks under my arm to race down the corridor. “Quick, I hope the others have stayed out of sight!”

My hearts drum, and not only from the danger as I follow her. I shudder as my scales flicker into different colors and thicknesses, as if confused by the emotions coursing through me.

I catch up to her, but she halts me. “Other humans can’t see you like that,” she hisses, waving at my varicolored strobing chest.

I force myself back under control, pulling on the pale color of El-len’s skin over my face and hands, and then dark blue and black to simulate a shirt and long trousers like she wears.

She nibbles her lip, and seeing her teeth where I touched mine to hers sends another surge of longing through me. “Better, but don’t get close to whoever it is. In fact, stay here.”

“Not if there’s danger to you or my crew.”

She nearly rolls her eyes. “There’s no danger to me here.”

“What if it’s a Bank?” I raise my fists.

“It’s not a bank.” She shakes her head, exasperated. “Sit at the table at least, pretend you’re visiting and having a cup of tea, and say nothing!”

I comply, snatching the mug she’d given me earlier to complete the subterfuge, but glaring at the door as I raise it to my mouth. Whoever interrupted us better have sufficient cause.

El-len wrenches the front door open. Outside stands ahuman of a similar height to her, the wider shoulders and flat chest signaling this one is a male variety.

And El-len’s face tells me everything I need to know, cheeks shading a pink deeper than the lush color of her plump lips. The color of shame. This man is an enemy.

A small smile perches on half his face, as if they share a secret. “Good afternoon, El-len.”

I keep my focus on him and his jerky movements as he enters El-len’s home uninvited, and without taking his boots off.

“Hi, Terry,” El-len bites off the words, glancing from him to me. She needn’t worry; I can easily snap this small human. Behind his back she mouths to me, ‘Stay quiet.’