Naura Read Free

breasts with a hint of nipple half hidden behind the material.
    His gaze traveled down her ribcage to the slightly prominent abs of her stomach. His mouth went dry.
    She reached for the waistband of her pants and wriggled her hips as she attempted to tug them downward.
    Tony found his voice. “What are you doing?”
    A tiny wrinkle appeared between her brows. “You expect me to shower in my clothing?”
    “No,” he growled, keeping his gaze trained on her face, praying that his erection would calm down before she noticed it. “Do you strip in front of every man you meet?”
    She had the audacity to grin. “I am not sure how to respond as you are the only human man I have been alone with in a bathroom.”
    That pissed him off even more. He stepped in close, his nose nearly touching hers. “Do not ever disrobe in front of anyone else. Do I make myself clear?”
    A quick nod was the only evidence that she understood.
    He moved to slip around her, but her next words stopped him.
    “Why do you dislike me, Anthony Vaughn?”
    Tony lowered his head momentarily before meeting her gaze once again. “I do not dislike you, Naura. That would require feelings, and I don’t possess any.” He calmly exited the room, pulling the door closed after him.
    “Do not judge my sister by her actions,” Vaulcron announced from the room across the hall. “She has spent her life below the surface and has no knowledge of the ways of land walkers.”
    “And you do?” Tony shot back.
    “I do not know everything about the human way of life, yet I would not consider myself to be on the same naive level as my sister.”
    “Thank God for that.”
     
    * * * *
    Vice President William Pratt hung up the phone and ran a hand through his hair before facing his wife, Jaqueline. “Something doesn’t sit well with all this, Jackie.”
    “What did you find out?”
    “The alien that’s responsible for the outbreak?” At her nod, he continued. “He’s not alone.”
    Her eyes grew huge, and a small gasp escaped her. “There is another one?”
    “More than one,” William admitted in a hushed voice. “It would seem that they are holding two of them at Eglin Air Force Base.”
    Jaqueline’s mouth fell open. “That makes three of those things, Bill. And God knows how many more may be out there. What if other aliens come in search of their missing? They could kill us in our sleep.”
    William skirted around his desk and pulled his wife into his arms. “No one is going to die, sweetheart. I promise.”
    “But how can you be so sure?” she cried against his shoulder. “When thousands have already died because of those things.”
    Pulling back to make eye contact with his wife, Bill decided to let her in on what he’d learned. “I’m going to tell you something that goes no further than this room.”
    She studied his solemn expression for several seconds before nodding. “I won’t say a word.”
    “The aliens are not solely responsible for the outbreak that’s sweeping across the land.”
    “I don’t understand?”
    “Have a seat,” he coaxed, directing her into a nearby chair. “And I’ll explain.”
    He knelt in front of her and clasped her trembling hands. “The aliens carry a virus that can be deadly to the old and young alike, but the majority of our people would have been able to survive had the CDC not spliced the virus with one of their own, mutating it into this pandemic we are witnessing now.”
    The color drained from Jackie’s face. “ We did this? Our own people?”
    “Yes. I’m sure it wasn’t meant to get out of control, but…there it is.”
    “Does the president know about this?”
    Bill nodded. “He’s the main one behind the cover-up.”
    “But why would he do such a thing?”
    “He was up for re-election…” He left his meaning hanging in the air.
    “Oh, Bill. All those innocent people.”
    “I know, love. And if it’s not contained soon, the virus will continue to mutate into something far worse