Vados (Scifi Alien Romance) (The Ujal Book 1) Read Free Page A

feel—want—things she hadn’t even realized she craved. Then his voice rolled over her. He’d shouted at her above the whip of wind and lashing rain, berating her for being out in the storm.
    It’d been sexy as hell. He’d been sexy as hell with his scales ranging in hue from the bright color of fresh blood to the deepest red that neared black. His hair, whipped and snagged by the wind, blew with the speedy air. He’d continued his approach as he shouted at her for female stupidity. The closer he came, she began to realize he was nude. Gloriously bared for her. She also recognized his lack of clothing meant he’d just risen from the sea.
    A furious Ujal fresh from the ocean… and focused entirely on her. It was stupid now that she thought back on it, but between the danger of the storm and his gorgeous form, she’d become aroused. Anxious to reaffirm life with the male.
    So she had, in a way. They hadn’t consummated anything, but they had enjoyed one another’s bodies. Folding down seats and making room to stretch out in the massive SUV had taken some wiggling, but by the time they were done, they had enough space to explore. And they had. For hours.
    Then he was gone.
    “No, thank you,” he rasped.
    He tore her from the past, and she had to recall she’d offered him coffee.
    “Oh.” It was the answer she’d expected. She tried to think of what else she could offer. “I might have juice. Or bottled water?”
    The Ujals at UST didn’t care for any water that didn’t come from the sea, but every human was different. It’d make sense if Ujals were the same.
    “ Nothing .” He spat the word. “I want the truth. I want this settled, Maris.”
    The last time he’d said her name on that day, it’d been with an almost loving purr.
    So different from today.
    Maris shook her head. “I waited for you, Vados. I counted the minutes. You said you’d be back in five, a quick dash up the coast to check things out. After over an hour, I left. People were stirring, officials were coming out to evaluate damage, and the police were on the move. Cell service came back, and I was told UST had some injured Ujals, but the closest doctor was too far out. I’m not a medical doctor, but…” She sighed. “I am trained as a nurse.” She shrugged. “It’s helpful when you’re doing research in the middle of the ocean and someone is injured.” Maris ran a hand through her hair, wincing when her fingers got caught in the strands. “It doesn’t matter. I had to go somewhere and UST needed me, so I went there to help how I could.”
    Vados clenched his jaw, muscles flexing. “I did not realize I was gone for so long. I did intend to come back immediately. I wanted nothing more than to return to you, but I came upon Rhal and…”
    Maris remembered Rhal. He was a nearly all black Ujal and had been brought in for treatment after being cut up from a shattered, loose boat in the ocean. “His chest was split open.” She traced a long, slashing line across her body. “And when his legs reappeared, he’d sliced one down to the bone.”
    Vados grimaced and nodded. “Yes, I hauled him to UST and immediately returned to you.”
    “And I was already gone. Off to help how I could.” Maris met his intent stare, unwilling to believe they’d been like ships in the night, passing without knowing the other was near. How close had it been? Did they miss each other by seconds? Minutes?
    Did it matter? Her body said no. Her body told her he was the one male in the world it would welcome rather than reject.
    She only had one last question. “Where does that leave us? You said…”
    Dare she let her thoughts go there?
    “We…” He took a step toward her, no more than two feet, and froze in place. He cocked his head to the side and then slowly panned his attention back to the sea. A second passed and then two before he opened his mouth, releasing a quick series of noises, which reminded her of dolphins and whales. That done, he