Aran: Love me Harder - Alien Paranormal Romance Read online

  “Dee, you couldn’t have been looking that hard.” She tried to reign in the smile on her face. She would tease her tomorrow about getting so carried away that she had left her alone.

  “I’m so sorry.” The flush that went up her ebony skin made her look like she was melted chocolate over a cherry center.

  “Girl, you know I am just teasing you. Besides, I met Aran and he was worth the dump.”

  Dee looked over and her eyes grew big. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Dee. I try to do a meet and greet with all new potential hires. I must have been away when you came on board. Sergey met with you?”

  Rena’s stomach clenched. So much for a potential phone number exchange. Oh, who was she kidding? She had kind of hoped for a goodnight kiss followed by some groping and a “Can I see you again?” Looks like she was losing out to Dee again.

  Dee nodded her head no. “Niko did the meet and greet I was at.”

  Aran smiled at her. “He loves to do to do those kind of affairs. Which department are you in?”

  “Accounting.”

  “Do you like it?”

  Dee nodded enthusiastically. “It’s one of the best places I have worked.”

  “We strive to keep our employees happy. I wish to extend a warm welcome to our company and a personal thank you.”

  “Why a thank you?” Rena would have found the puzzlement on Dee’s face funny, if she weren’t trying to find a way to leave so the two of them could be together.

  “For bringing your beautiful friend to the party tonight.”

  Rena’s eyes flew up to meet Aran’s. Maybe she would stay after all.

  Chapter Three

  “Another dance?”

  “Yes.”

  Aran led her to the dance floor. He was nimble side stepping any potential accidents as he moved through the crowd. He drew her into his arms with flare causing her to flush a little and smile.

  She settled in his arms as the music slowed down. He pulled her closer, she could feel the possessive hold of his hands at her hips. She sighed and moved closer feeling his desire for her flaring hot through her dress.

  Looking up, Rena caught him smiling at her making her heart beat faster.

  “Are you alright? I am not hurting you, am I?”

  She frowned at him. “What makes you think I am fragile?”

  “Let me apologize I have a lot of strength in my hands. It makes me cautious not to hurt others.”

  She looked up at him liking him.

  “I am not fragile. For some reasons I honestly don

  t understand, men seem to think I am breakable. It has made my life hard at times.”

  He smiled at her making her already fast beating heart stutter at the power of his smile combined with that come hither look in his eyes.

  “Maybe I should call you Rena the not so fragile one?”

  Her laughter joined his as he swept her around the room moving to a faster beat.

  They danced until she thought they would never play another slow song. She was about to call it quits when the slow strands of one filled the room. She floated back into his arms loving the smell of him. It was like being covered in the scent of the wild combined with a freedom she had never felt. She took a deep breath in, already his scent was intoxicating her.

  Her lips tilted in a smile as she felt him stroke her back. “Aran, I am glad I met you tonight.”

  “I feel the same Rena.”

  He led her off the floor as the music stopped.

  “I need to find my ride, it’s getting late.”

  She stood at the table and looked for Dee, but she couldn’t find her.

  She over at him. “Aran, excuse me, I will be right back.”

  He nodded. She walked to the ladies room thinking Dee may be in there. No Dee, she checked all the stalls. Walking back to the dance floor she looked one more time. It was official she was stranded. She sighed, it was not like Dee to forget about her.

  “Rena, is everything alright?”

  Aran had walked up on her with all the noise from the party she hadn’t heard him. She started just a bit.

  “You startled me.” She gave him a smile as she looked around once more for Dee. “It looks like my friend left without me. I was thinking about the best way to get home.”

  “Let me take you home.”

  “I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

  “Please, I insist.” His mouth twitched.

  She kept her mouth from smiling. She knew he had gone back to their previous conversation.

  “I would love a ride home.”

  They left the room and gathered there coats. The valet met them at the door and went to get his car. The black BMW was brought around quickly. Aran helped her into the car.

  “Aran, how is a handsome and successful man like you single?”

  “Remember I told you about feeling stronger than the average man?”

  “Yes.”

  “That was the truth. It is hard to date if you are concerned about harming the female you are with.”

  “You do not strike me as the type to harm a female. I understand though.”

  “What do you understand Rena?”

  “I understand the desire to feel comfortable with someone. To know they are capable of giving you what you want. Not wanting to hide your basic needs. I understand that.”

  “You put that very elegantly. That is how I feel, I want to be myself. Not have to hide who I am from the female I desire.”

  His voice deepened, becoming husky as he talked. She liked it. Closing her eyes she let herself wonder what it would be like if they got together. She knew she shouldn’t day dream about him while she was in the car, but the thought of a future was tantalizing her.

  “Does this mean you have not found the right man for you?”

  “Finding the right person can be hard, although thousands seem to do it daily. I am still looking.”

  “I do believe this day has gone in my favor. Tell me more about yourself, Rena.” Aran said.

  “Let’s see. I have two nephews that I adore.”

  “I have four brothers.” Aran interjected.

  “Wow your parents obviously loved children.” He smile without commenting.

  “Tell me something else. Something you would not tell anyone else.”

  “You want that kind of confession?” She looked him over before continuing. “Ok, but then you have to tell me something too.”

  He nodded leaving her to think about what she should say. She knew it was silly, but she wanted to tell him the truth. Not blow him off the way she would do with another. Heck why not? At least by telling him the truth, she could weed him out early if he backed away.

  “I always wanted to skydive from a plane, but I have to admit that I am afraid of heights. One day I gathered my courage and started taking classes. I can do this I kept telling myself. Finally the day came. I would go up in the plane and conquer my fear. I wasn’t alone. Several of the people I had trained with were going too. I stepped on the plane with my heart pounding and my palms sweating. I took my seat and the plane taxied off. I remember telling myself I could do it. There was nothing to fear except fear itself. Finally we were there, one last final check and it was time to jump. Don’t look down I repeated like a mantra. I looked down and knew I couldn’t do it. I backed away making room for the next jumper and caught my foot. I didn’t jump, I fell. Roughly four thousand meters above the ground. I screamed my way down. My training kicked in, before I knew it I was on the ground screaming I want to go again.”

  He laughed with her. “You’re a brave female Rena. Did you go again?”

  “Yeah. I love going now, it is so much fun.”

  “You faced the unknown and thrived.”

  “Ok your turn.”

  “When my brothers and I were younger we weren’t allowed outside by ourselves. I would sneak out during the day always ending up in trouble. One day I snuck out
and went down to the stream. A small animal approached me, it looked so soft I wanted to touch it. I caught it and picked it up. I kept rubbing my hand along its fur when I went to let it go it didn’t move. I must have held on to it too tightly. My brother Sergey had snuck out to come find me. It was time to eat and he knew I would be missed. I was sitting there with the animal on my lap staring at my hands. He rushed over to me and I told him what happened. I will never forget how he sat with me. He put his head on my shoulder and told me he was not scared of me. It was ok I was strong and now I would learn to be gentle.”

  She blinked real fast hoping the tears wouldn’t flow.

  “Your brother sounds great.’

  “He is. He’s the second son.”

  “Did you ever kill another animal?”

  “No. I learned to temper my strength.”

  “Tell me something Aran. Have you ever hurt a woman?”

  “No. Not even those who have asked me too.”

  “I probably shouldn’t say this, but I think you’re a good man.”

  “High praise indeed. Thank you.”

  Aran pulled up in front of the duplex she lived in. He parked the car and turned to face her. She reached out and took his hand. He squeezed it before dropping it with a look of panic on his face.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Did I hurt your hand?”

  “Silly man.” She smiled at him. “You would have to squeeze a lot harder than that to hurt me.”

  Raising her hand he kissed the back of it. He exited the car and came over to open her door.

  “Thank you kind sir.”

  He walked her to her porch. “Rena I was wondering if you would like to come over tomorrow. My brothers and I are getting together. It’s not a big deal, we usually eat and play games.”

  “If it’s not too much trouble. It sounds like fun. Can I bring a friend?”

  “Yes bring anyone you want to.”

  “I will ask Dee I am sure she would like to come also.”

  “I have enjoyed myself tonight.”

  “I enjoyed myself as well. I will have to say thanks to Dee for insisting I come.”

  He leaned over and kissed her goodnight. Rena tried to get closer, she wanted a deeper taste of him. Instead he laid a chaste kiss on her. His mouth saying one thing while his body said another as she copped a quick feel.

  “I will see you tomorrow.”

  She walked into the house feeling frustrated. She had wanted more, how was it she found one of the men who didn’t push their opportunity. Looked like it would be a restless night.

  Chapter Four

  The noise by her head was driving her crazy. Burying her head under the pillow, she ignored it until it stopped. Blessed relief she thought and snuggled back into her covers. The noise started again, just as she was slipping back into sleep. Muttering about a law to kill all cell phone users calling before a certain hour, she picked up the phone.

  “What?”

  “Who woke up on the wrong side of the bed today?” Dee Asked.

  “That’s the problem. I am not awake.”

  “Well, wake up and tell me what happened last night. Did you get some?”

  “Dee!”

  “Well, did you? I mean, he is fine. I have seen him around, but never close up like that. I could see he was fine even though I was dealing with some of my old issues.”

  Rena sat up and perched a pillow behind her back before leaning against the head board. It wasn’t like she was going back to sleep after this.

  “He is fine and a perfect gentleman.”

  “Where’s the fun in that? So what happened after I made a fool of myself and he offered to take you home?”

  “You didn’t make a fool of yourself, but you did ditch me. That was rather uncool.”

  “Sorry flash backs to a bad time in my life, I needed something to help me forget.”

  Rena frowned and decided not to press. Dee wouldn’t talk until she felt like it.

  “He drove me home asking me more questions about what I do for a living and what I like to do for fun. He was easy to talk to. When we got here, he escorted me to my door and gave me a kiss. Like a perfect gentleman.”

  Dee was right. He had been no fun at all. She had hoped to feel those strong hands on her again, holding her close, making her hot. Instead, he had given her a barely there kiss that hardly registered on her senses. It was better than most of the hardly there kisses that she never felt at all. Part of her wanted to swoon like the ladies of old, needing smelling salts to bring her back to her senses. The other part wanted to kick him to the curb as already not meeting the bill.

  “Oh and he invited me and a friend out to his house this afternoon. He said he was spending time with his brothers and I was invited.”

  She moved the phone away from her ear as Dee’s squeal of delight came over loud and clear.

  “This is going to be great. I will be the envy of all the women in my department. I am going to the boss’s house. I am going to the boss’s house, right? You are taking me?”

  “Of course I am taking you. Who else would I take?’

  Dee started shouting again and Rena waited with the patience of a good friend, all the while smiling and shaking her head.

  “What time do I need to be ready? Who’s driving, you or me?”

  “Depends on whether I can count on you for a ride back or not.”

  “Rena.”

  “Please, tell me you didn’t go home with Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome.” The silence on the phone became deafening as nothing was said.

  “Dee?”

  “I didn’t go home with him.”

  “Are you going to see him again?”

  “No. He wanted to, but I said no.”

  “Why?’

  “Let’s talk about it later ok? Besides, I still need to know when to pick you up for this wonderful pool party.”

  “I never said it was a pool party and it starts at four.”

  After finalizing the details of the pickup, she hung up the phone and spent a few minutes worrying about Dee and her issues. She liked to pretend to the world the she didn’t want commitment. Rena knew better. Dee felt she would never meet a man who could deal with her brand of madness. Rena prayed she was wrong.

  She got up and stretched, wanting to do something to keep her eyes off the clock. Going into the room that she used as her office she opened her lap top. Waiting for it to boot up, she looked around the room. It was a large space that allowed her to have a nice mahogany wood desk and a plush chair to sit in. The view was made up of two large windows and several pictures on the wall. There was a nice couch and a chair when she needed to change positions or locations. She loved her little slice of the corporate world in her home. She wouldn’t trade it, even if she could.

  Running her fingers over the keyboard, she opened a program that would allow her to enter one of the work-stations in the office. Her intuition was screaming that a fellow employee was doing more than he should be. It was time to take a look.

  Several hours later, she composed an e-mail to Mr. Harris, the president of the company and her immediate supervisor, telling him what she had found. Brad, the employee she had under investigation, had obviously known how to hide his foot-print. If not for a bit of conversation she had overheard, she may not have found him in time. It was in Mr. Harris’s hands now, along with all the evidence she had collected, Of course, she had also made a backup for herself. Call it protection, but she learned early to CYA also known as Cover Your Ass.

  Glancing at the clock, she stood, wanting to be ready when Dee arrived. She detoured towards the kitchen and grabbed something to eat. She had gotten so caught up that she had forgotten she needed food. Grabbing a piece of fruit, she headed to the other room. She wanted to enjoy her shower before Dee got there.

  ***

  The excitement in the car was making her giddy like a school girl. Dee had shown up dressed in jeans and a nice cami with a sweater over it. Rena th
ought they looked like twins, since she also had put on a pair of jeans. Although they were not skinny jeans like Dee’s. She wanted to be able to breathe! She did have a cami on that made her breasts look wonderful. Well, she thought they looked wonderful. They both wore sandals even though it was on the chilly side.

  “Rena, are you having thoughts of wanting to settle down?” Dee had reached over and turned the music down to ask that question.

  “Yes, no, maybe so, I don’t know.”

  “Hey, I understand all those answers.”

  They laughed together and then sat in silence. How could she get married to someone, when she couldn’t find someone to satisfy her? She knew it was possible or that’s what the girls in the office said when they talked about their long nights. She read it in her steamy romance novels. All she really wanted was to feel it.

  “Dee, when do you think you will be ready to settle down?”

  “Never.”

  “Why not?”

  “Let it go, please.”

  They rode in silence until Rena saw the turn.

  “Right there. Make the right turn.”

  Rena turned to look at Dee. They both needed someone to bring a smile to their faces. Maybe they would find them here.

  Chapter Five

  “Do you think it’s just coincidence?” Aran said to the males surrounding him.

  “Do you?” Ashe replied with a little hesitancy in his voice.

  They were standing in Aran’s security room going over video of several random accidents that had taken place in the last week.

  “These are deliberate. It’s like a child playing April fool’s pranks. The other ones against our contracts, they are a whole different level of vicious. It makes me wonder if the two are actually connected.” Niko spoke up.

  “I agree with Niko.” Sergey addressed Aran’s original question.

  The others nodded.

  Aran looked around the room at his five brothers. They had come to this planet to find peace. Not just peace, but also to find women who would be able to survive and enjoy their touch. Aran looked at the video feed again. The disbelief that had come over him when he saw their truck blown up was now gone. It was replaced by anger. Whoever thought they could play these games would regret targeting them.