Page 5

London hoped the crash didn’t do any damage to the implant. She remembered exchanging a few words with him before he’d pulled her out of the heliocraft, but she wasn’t sure if she understood because of the chip or because he spoke her first language.

Walking further into the room to make her presence known, London cleared her throat. The man looked her way, his eyes widening in surprise. When he stood up and she got a really good look at him, her breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t seen any man like him before and she liked what she saw.

“So you’re up?” his surprisingly deep voice croaked.

She smiled with relief. “You speak English. I’m so glad.”

The corner of his mouth tilted slightly. “I think that’s my line. I don’t know where to begin.”

“Well, it would be nice if you could tell me where I am exactly. Obviously this is Earth, but what part?”

He was staring so intently that her question seemed to take him by surprise. Shaking his head as though coming out of a trance, he grinned again. “I’m sorry. I didn’t quite catch that.”

“I asked where I was. What part of the world is this? You seem stunned. Are you okay?”

Taking a step closer, he stopped just a foot away from her. “I’m sorry to stare at you like this, but you’re… you’re so beautiful, and you look so human. I didn’t know extraterrestrial beings looked like you.”

London’s face grew warm. He’d sounded so sincere and open. “Thank you, but I look human because I am.”

“You can’t be. I saw your ship hurtling from the sky.”

She shrugged. “So?”

“So, it was unlike any ship I’ve ever seen before. Besides, that crash should have killed you.”

“Judging from some of the technology I’ve already seen on this planet, maybe you would have died if an Earth ship had crashed. I’m Princess London Blazedawyter of Thibius, and you are?”

Matt raked his fingers through his hair, and he shook his head. “This is getting too damn weird.”

London frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you crash landed from God knows where and then tell me you’re human. But you’re also claiming to be a Princess from another planet?”

“I can show you the Royal tattoo if you’d like.

Anyway, I don’t have a reason to lie to you, especially after you’ve saved my life.

” She felt shy all of a sudden. Something about this man made London feel uncertain about herself.

Usually men were tongue tied around her, but now, she found herself in a similar predicament.

Although he was taller than her by some inches, London liked that she didn’t have to tilt her head all the way back just to meet his gaze, and what a nice one it was.

“Uh, you don’t have to show me. I’m just surprised is all. Where are my manners? Please have a seat.” He gestured to the couch in front of the large box.

London gratefully sat down. “Thank you. I appreciate this.”

He sat on the other end almost as if he were too afraid to be next to her. “So tell me, Princess London?—

“London is fine.”

“London, then.” He smiled revealing even white teeth.

Her eyes widened slightly and her heart beat faster than normal.

What was happening to her? Could this be the feeling her mother described when she’d first laid eyes on London’s father?

It had to be, why else was her body tightening with awareness of him and sweat popping out of her palms?

Her pussy tingled as it never had before.

“You say you’re human and a Princess, from Thibius. Is that what you called that place?”

“Yes, it’s the planet I grew up on in the Malazian galaxy.

I see your confusion and it’s easily explained.

You see, I was actually born on Earth. My mother and I were taken by Adieaen slave hunters when I was two years old, almost three.

That’s how we ended up on Thibius. My mother was purchased as a gift for Emperor Blaze Jereksuhn.

I was thrown in as part of the deal. They fell in love and married.

The Emperor adopted me and has raised me as his own.

For the most part, my life was happy there.

I don’t really remember much about Earth since I was so small when I left. ”

Matt’s dark brows furrowed together. “Then why did you come back?”

“My main reason was to find my sister. She’s my twin actually. When my mother and I were taken, she was with a sitter so she was left behind.” London went on to tell him all that she’d learned and remembered about Paris.

She stopped to take a breath. “That was twenty years ago. You never told me your name. Is it a secret?”

He smiled that wonderful smile of his again and London couldn’t help but smile back. “Matthew Taylor, but please call me Matt. All my friends do.”

“Matt,” she tested the name on her tongue. “I like that. It suits you.”

His cheeks went red. Did he feel what she did too?

Maybe it was too soon to tell, but it was something worth exploring.

They stared into each other’s eyes, until Matt finally broke the silence.

“London, that’s an impressive story, but how do you plan on finding her?

Even if your sister is still alive, this is a big country.

Hell, she may not even be in this country now and it would be difficult for you to travel without a passport or any kind of identification. ”

“Oh. You actually need that to travel from place to place in this world?”

“If you want to go to another country you do.”

“I…” She hung her head inwardly cursing her impulsiveness.

“To be honest, I didn’t really give this mission a lot of thought.

I’d schemed so carefully just to get here and now that I am, I don’t know what to do.

Now that the heliocraft has crashed, I have no way of getting back home.

” Tears filled her eyes as she realized that her rashness may have cost her seeing any of her loved ones again.

Worse yet, she’d never find her Paris at this rate, not to mention that she was imposing on Matt’s hospitality.

“Do you remember where you used to live on Earth?”

“My mother talked about a little town in a place called North Carolina. I remember that, but I don’t remember the name of the town. When she lived on Earth, my mother’s name… well it still is, Calliope Renee Randall.”

“That may be something to go on. You’re saying she was abducted about twenty years ago? Maybe we can look on the Internet and find out some old news articles about it.”

“Is North Carolina close?”

“Actually, it’s on the other side of the country several thousand miles away.”

“If I hadn’t crashed the heliocraft, we could get there in no time. I’m doomed aren’t I?”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

“You don’t think so? Because from where I’m sitting it looks like I am. I disobeyed my parents, stole one of my father’s ships, and now I have no idea where I am.”

“But finding your sister really meant a lot to you didn’t it?” Matt sounded like he really understood how she felt and that meant so much to her when despair was threatening to take over.

“Yes. It really did. I know this sounds crazy, but even after twenty years, I feel her in my heart. Ever since I heard my parents talking about her, my thoughts have been consumed with finding her whereabouts. Paris is the part of me that I’ve felt has been missing all my life.

If I have to walk or swim to my destination I will.

I can’t let anything stop me. I’ve come too far to give up. ”

Matt stood up abruptly and began to pace the floor. She watched him anxiously wondering what was running through his mind. London liked the way his slim loose limbed body moved. She wondered what it would feel like to have those long arms wrapped tightly around her.

She’d never been in a passionate embrace before.

Once, a guard had stolen a kiss from her when she was eighteen.

Unfortunately one of her brothers had witnessed the occurrence and informed her father.

The guard had been relieved of his duties and that was only because she’d begged for leniency.

The Emperor had threatened to have him sent to the Adieaens.

She didn’t even count the little peck from Zahn.

It wasn’t easy growing up with an overprotective father and six brothers who guarded her virtue as though their lives had depended on it.

London wanted to feel and know love as her mother had explained it to her.

She’d actually stumbled across a guard and one of the maids in the act, and instead of making her presence known, she’d watched.

Later she’d gone to her private chambers and fingered her clit.

Masturbation was becoming increasingly frustrating. She didn’t know why, but from looking at Matt, London instinctively knew that this man could give her the loving her body had screamed for since she’d matured into womanhood.

She’d been so deep in thought that it caught her by surprise when he stopped pacing and turned to give her an intense stare. “You don’t have to do this alone, London.”

“No?” She stood up wiping her damp palms against her thighs. “Does… does that mean you’ll help me find my sister?”

“If you’d like my help.” He said it with a hint of uncertainty that her heart flipped again. Unlike the arrogant men on Thibius, he didn’t demand. He was actually asking her. How refreshing.

“Yes, I’d love your help.” And a whole lot more.