Atlantean Heat Read online

  She’d drugged him. There could be no other explanation. Other than maybe she’d been telling the truth. His traitorous mind whispered. Where in the hell had that thought come from? That would mean she’d actually been in space, which wasn’t possible, was it? She did know all about the various galaxies. Knowledge easily gained from a book or the internet. But what about the gold he’d seen? Had it really been there? And if so, what was it?

  It just didn’t add up. Nothing about Cassandra added up, it was as if she was too good to be true. Anything too good to be true probably was. Nope, it had to be drugs. “What in the hell did you do to me?” He staggered. “Did you slip me something?” he asked, pulling on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.

  She frowned, drawing the covers around her body protectively. “I did nothing wrong.”

  Buzz stepped forward, anger and hurt surging through him. “I’m going to ask you again, what did you give me?”

  Her lower lip trembled and tears filled her eyes. “I gave you nothing but love.”

  Buzz felt his chest constrict in a manner painfully similar to heartbreak. “I want you to get your things and get out.” His mind protested the order.

  Pain and disappointment slashed across her face. Cassandra rose from the bed, like a goddess from the sea. Chin held high, she let the covers drop and walked naked across the room, grabbing her clothes and dressing quickly. Afterwards, she reached into her sack and withdrew a silver object, which she brought to the side of her head.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice breaking with emotion as he slipped on his Reeboks.

  “I’m leaving, like you asked.”

  “The door is over there.” He pointed, his fingers trembling from the effort.

  She snorted. “I don’t need the door where I’m going.”

  Buzz frowned. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as all the conversations they’d had played through his mind. “Cassandra?”

  She held her hand out to stop his words. “I’ve told you the truth. It is up to you to choose whether to believe me or not.”

  Buzz’s gut clenched. He knew she was completely insane and obviously, her insanity was rubbing off onto him.

  Energy crackled in the room. The air around Cassandra thickened and began to swirl. Buzz’s eyes bugged. Had she been telling the truth? Was she really from space? It wasn’t possible, was it? His muscles locked as her lower body became fuzzy.

  Last chance, she whispered in his head.

  He flinched. Could he live without knowing, without her? The latter thought sent pain rocketing to his heart in a resounding no! He didn’t stop to think, he just leapt. There was a bright light and the room disappeared. When the spots stopped floating before his eyes, Buzz realized they were standing on the bridge of a ship, which appeared to be in the middle of a jungle.

  “It’s true,” he murmured to himself, his tense muscles relaxing one by one.

  Cassandra smiled. “Of course it’s true.”

  “I’m sorry,” his voice trailed off.

  “Don’t be. You’re here now.”

  He glanced out the viewing window. “Where are we?”

  “In the jungle I grew up in.” Her gaze shifted to the instrument panel. “We’re still on Earth.”

  Buzz nodded, trying to comprehend all that was happening around him. “Where are we going?”

  “Planet Zaron.”

  Excitement swept through him. His dream of returning to space was about to be answered. Fear and anticipation filled his mind, reminding him again that he’d been grounded from space travel for a reason. Buzz shrugged it off. He’d worry about the radiation poisoning later. “Never heard of Zaron.”

  She laughed. “You will.” Cassandra motioned toward the instrument panel, then as if reading his mind she said, “You need not worry about the remnants of your illness. You’ve been healed.”

  Buzz stood in shocked silence as he digested her words.

  “Do you doubt me?” She arched a brow, daring him to question her statement.

  He glanced around at the bridge, his gaze lingering on the controls. “Not anymore,” he laughed, then sobered. “I love you, you know.” He paused. “Both of you.” Buzz wrapped his arms around her stomach and tenderly kissed her neck.

  Cassandra’s eyes filled with fresh tears. “You know about the baby?”

  He nodded. “I had a gut feeling after we’d made love.”

  “And you don’t mind?” She bit her lower lip.

  He smiled and kissed her again. “Mind? Are you kidding? I’m over the moon.”

  “Not yet, but you will be soon.” She laughed. “I love you, too.”

  “I know.” He grinned. “I just wish my sister Carrie knew about all this.”

  Cassandra smiled. “That can be arranged.”

  Buzz stilled. “Seriously?”

  She nodded. “Absolutely. I’ll arrange for someone from Zaron to notify her, perhaps I’ll have Orion send a Phantom Warrior. They can easily slip on and off the planet without being detected.”

  He frowned. “I don’t know if I like the sound of that.”

  “They aren’t too bad, once you get past their intimidating appearance.” She laughed. “They will do her no harm. You have my word.”

  “As long as you’re sure...” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I don’t want her to worry about me.”

  Cassandra’s grin widened. “Then it is done.”

  Buzz’s lips quirked, everything had turned out better than his dreams. “Let’s go home.”

  * * * * *

  Cassandra listened to the message Orion had left her and then followed his instructions to the letter. She gathered the stones which made up the transport outside, permanently disabling the device. The Atlantean people would now be safe from humans.

  Back inside the ship, she pressed several buttons and flipped a few switches, firing up the engines. Buzz’s face held pure joy as the craft lifted from the ground. He turned to her and smiled, love shining in his gray-green eyes. Cassandra’s heart gave a little flip.

  “Does this ship fly itself?” he asked, mischief twitching the corners of his mouth.

  “Practically,” she answered cautiously, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

  “Perhaps you’d like to give me a tour,” he suggested, his eyes widening in innocence.

  “If you wish.” Her voice purred.

  The answering smile he gave her was feral. “Great, let’s start with the sleep chamber.”

  Cassandra felt her eyes widen. Her channel flooded as his heated gaze swept over her body, telling her without words how he planned to pass the time.

  Buzz stalked forward, his outstretched arms telegraphing his intent. Cassandra giggled, then spun around out of his reach. She raced for the ladder leading to the sleep chamber. Buzz caught her a second before she could climb down.

  “You can’t get away from me that easy.” His arms closed around her shoulders, sliding down her arms, and then around to cup her full breasts.

  She moaned as he pressed his thumbs against her nipples. “Who said I was trying to get away?” Cassandra smiled. She finally had her true-mate by her side. All was right in the galaxy.

  THE END

  About the author:

  Jordan Summers is a no nonsense, straight shooting Midwesterner, with a romantic streak a mile wide. Happily-ever-after is a must whether she’s at the movies, watching television, or just enjoying a good book.

  Jordan wrote her first romance in high school and will be forever grateful to the creative writing teacher who gave her an A- , even though she turned it in a week late.

  Just as at home on a ranch, as she is in a major city, Jordan now lives out West, where snow is a distant memory from the past. She enjoys spending time with her husband, the definition of a romantic renaissance man, going to bookstores, and visiting family and friends in Scotland.

  Jordan welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at P.O. Box 7
87, Hudson, Ohio 44236-0787 .

  Also by Jordan Summers:

  · Atlantean’s Quest 1: The Arrival

  · Atlantean’s Quest 2: Exodus

  · Atlantean’s Quest 3: Redemption

  · Gothic Passions

  · Tears of Amun