Page 24 of Tomlin

But he was already gone, leaving her frustrated once again as she redressed and went to wash her face. She rubbed absently at her aching nipples, sending another spike of desire down her spine, but she already knew that her own hand wouldn’t be enough.

This has to stop, she decided. If he still couldn’t bring himself to believe that he wouldn’t hurt her after all the times he’d pulled away, there was nothing she could do. Maybe some time apart would make him see things more clearly. The thought made her heart ache, but she couldn’t see any other way of getting through to him. The prospect continued to weigh on her as she returned to the lab, and she couldn’t even concentrate on her work.

She was staring absently at one of the morchev crystals when there was a knock at the door. Her heart skipped a beat before she realized that it couldn’t be Tomlin. He hadn’t knocked since he returned. She started for the door, then remembered his warning and retrieved her weapon first.

A strange man was standing on her porch. Not a man, she realized, a Vultor. The Vultori had also established colonies on Cresca, although they tended to keep to the mountains, and most humans feared and distrusted them. Still, he’d knocked politely enough and he didn’t appear particularly threatening.

“Move away from the door,” she ordered, tightening her grip on her gun.

He flashed an unexpectedly charming grin in her direction as he obeyed - a grin that showed an alarming number of very sharp teeth, bracketed by deadly looking fangs. She cautiously opened the door far enough to see him clearly. His nostrils flared briefly as the door opened, but then he nodded politely.

“I’m sorry for bothering you, ma’am. I was just wondering if you had any work that needed doing.”

“Work?”

“In exchange for a meal, and maybe a place to rest my head? I’ve been travelin’ a long time.”

He was still smiling, his voice friendly and polite, but she caught a brief glimpse of his eyes and a chill suddenly shivered down her spine. They were blue as well, but a cold, icy blue that belied his attempt to seem harmless.

Danger, her instincts whispered.

“I’m afraid I can’t offer you work or accommodation, but if you’ll wait a minute, I’ll give you some provisions to take with you.”

Her voice came out remarkably calm, even though her fingers were so tight on the handle of her weapon that they ached.

He studied her for a moment, then gave another easy nod.

“I sure do hate to take somethin’ for nothing. Isn’t there anything I can do for you?”

Another chill coursed down her spine but she shook her head politely.

“No thank you.”

“Then I’ll just wait right here.”

She closed the door firmly behind her and hurried into the kitchen, rapidly throwing an assortment of food into a box. It was awkward carrying it with one hand but she wasn’t about to let go of her weapon. He was leaning casually against the porch railing when she returned but she wasn’t stupid enough to believe he really was as relaxed as he appeared. She set the box on the ground by her feet and pushed it towards him, careful not to move past the doorway.

He grinned again as he approached her, moving with the same predatory grace as Tomlin. Another chill washed over her and she raised her weapon, aiming directly for his chest. He stopped abruptly, his smile still in place.

“That’s not very neighborly of you.”

“You’re not my neighbor.”

His eyes moved back to her face as he leaned down towards the box.

“Oh, you’d be surprised.”

Despite her caution, he moved with shocking speed, grabbing her wrist and pointing the weapon up at the ceiling.

“You didn’t really think that little thing would stop me, did you?”

Her heart was beating so rapidly she felt sick but she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of an answer.

“Consider this a… friendly warning. Humans don’t belong out here. It’s too dangerous for them.” His nostrils flared again. “Especially small human females with such a delicious scent. You need to leave. Now.”

She stubbornly kept her mouth closed. He chuckled, but his eyes remained as cold and deadly as ever.

“Remember. One warning.” Then he released her arm and stepped back. “And you can keep your human food. I prefer to catch my own prey.”

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