Coto's Captive Read online

  “I gotta go. I love you, honey.”

  “I love you too. Have a good time.”

  He chuckled. “Always.”

  She hung up and took a seat on her bed then dialed her best friend. She got the machine. “Hi, Michelle. It’s Lynn. I was just checking up—”

  “You caught me in time,” her breathless friend cut in. “My husband and kids are in the minivan waiting for me but I forgot my sunglasses. Did you call to wish us a good flight?”

  Lynn remembered then. “You’re going on your big vacation.”

  “I can’t wait to get out of here for two weeks. I’ll call you when we get home and you can come over to see all the pictures we take. I can’t believe I’m finally going to see Hawaii. This is a dream come true!”

  “I’m so happy for you.”

  “Actually, it will be about a week after we return. Mitch’s parents are coming into town to see the kids. It’s going to be pretty hectic with them here. Wait. Maybe the week after that. We’re supposed to go to Indianapolis for that race weekend.”

  “Whenever. Have a great time.”

  “Thanks. I have to go. Mitch just honked the horn. We don’t want to miss our flight. Love ya!” She hung up.

  Lynn replaced the phone in the cradle, staring at it. There was no one else to call. Everyone had a life except her. She collapsed onto her back, studying the water-stained ceiling from a roof leak she’d had to patch the year before. The silence got to her and she started thinking about Coto, reliving every moment they’d shared.

  The phone rang a few hours later and she sat up, grabbing it. “Hello?”

  “Miss Reynolds? This is Hilton Morgan’s secretary, Millie.”

  She grimaced. “Yes?”

  “He’d like to see you in his office at two tomorrow.”

  “Why?”

  The woman hesitated then lowered her voice. “He’s angry. I know he received a call from his nephew, then placed a few calls and asked me to make this appointment.”

  There it was. Jimmy had ratted her out and those calls had probably been to her boss. “I’ll see him then.” She slammed the phone down.

  It rang a few minutes later and she answered again. “Hello?”

  “What is going on?”

  “Who is this?”

  “It’s Richard from work. I was just called and asked to cover for you for the next few weeks. I can’t work weekends. My wife is pissed. You need to suck it up if you’re sick.”

  “I think I’m fired.”

  “Oh.”

  “Sorry.” She hung up on him. “My life is shit,” she muttered again, collapsing onto her back once more. She rolled onto her side, staring at the empty space in bed next to her. She wished Coto were there.

  The light faded in her room when the sun went down. She lay there, thinking about Coto and her life. She’d always wanted to find a man who could make her feel sexy, make her feel as if she were the most important thing to him. She’d known that with him, even during their limited time together. The pros and cons of a future without him waged war inside her mind as the hours passed. She finally drifted off to sleep.

  * * * * *

  Lynn jerked awake in her dark bedroom and lifted up, staring at the clock. It was seven in the morning. She’d dreamed about Coto. They’d been laughing together, sitting on a couch in a room she didn’t know. He’d kissed her and something had tugged on her shirt. She’d pulled away from him and a little boy stood next to her leg. He had to be about two years old, and it was obvious Coto was his father from how similar they looked. The toddler had smiled at her and climbed onto her lap. She’d known he was her son too.

  “What did I do?”

  She threw off the covers that she must have pulled over herself during the night and jumped out of bed, rushing into the bathroom. She brushed her teeth, splashed water on her face, and yanked open the cabinet under the sink to grab out a travel bag.

  She didn’t want to lose Coto. It was scary insane to leave everything behind but it would be so much worse living with regret.

  “I only hope I’m not too late.”

  She packed necessities and rushed into her bedroom, digging her suitcase out from the back of the closet. She froze, wondering what to take to another planet. Was it cold there? Warm? She had no idea.

  “Son of a bitch.” She opened the case, tossing in some of her favorite outfits. She’d have to find him and hope he hadn’t already been picked up. The campsite would have to be taken down. She might find him there. They could be at the old farmhouse or even where their ship had crashed.

  Desperation struck as she located a few family photo albums and precious mementos she didn’t want to leave behind. One suitcase turned into two, plus a duffle bag. Lynn kept glancing at the clock. Every minute seemed to speed by as she rushed around her house.

  She finally grabbed a permanent marker and stopped in front of her fridge, hesitating after she ripped off the cap. “How do you say goodbye to everyone you love?”

  She finally started to write. No one would be able to miss seeing it once they came to her house when someone investigated why she was gone. “This is going to suck if he’s gone already and I have to try to get this off.”

  It became clear she’d packed too much when she lugged the first suitcase to her SUV and went back for the second one. She lifted it and carried it out her open front door, distracted, still trying to decide where to look for Coto first. She slammed into something solid and dropped the case.

  Coto gripped her hips to steady her. “Are you injured?”

  She recovered quickly. He was on her porch. “Coto!”

  “I slipped my communicator inside your pocket when I kissed you goodbye. I came to ask you to leave with me one more time,” he admitted. “I couldn’t sleep. All I could think about was you. I tracked the signal at first light. Please come with me.”

  She nodded. “I was going to find you. It’s insane but—yes.”

  He grinned. “Yes?”

  “Yes!”

  She was so relieved they were together again that she lifted up on tiptoe and threw her arms around his neck. Coto’s mouth crashed down on hers, kissing her. She moaned against his tongue. He backed her inside and they bumped into her couch. He tore his mouth away.

  “I want you.”

  “I want you too.” She let him go, fumbling to get out of her clothes.

  “I’ll close your door.”

  “Don’t bother. Nobody ever comes by. The house can’t be seen from the road. Strip.”

  Coto didn’t hesitate. She loved that about him. He nearly tripped tearing off his boots. She finished before he did and motioned him to follow her down the hallway to her bedroom. He threw his uniform top on the floor, opening his pants as he came after her.

  “I missed you last night.” She got on the bed and flipped over onto her back in the middle.

  “I’m here.” He shoved down his pants. “You’ll never sleep without me at your side again.”

  He surprised her when he dropped to his knees, gripped her ankles, and jerked her down the bed. “I’ve never done this before but I was given instructions should I ever bound to a human.”

  “We had fantastic sex,” she reminded him.

  “We’re about to have better.” He spread his hands open on her thighs, pushing them wider apart and lifting her. “I’m going to master oral sex.”

  Lynn looked down at him. “I’ve never been so enthusiastic before to say okay.”

  Coto bent forward, nuzzling his face against her pussy. “Let me know if I do this correct.”

  She clutched at her bedding. “Right there. That’s the magic spot.”

  He paused. “Magic?”

  “You’re supposed to be a leprechaun. I feel lucky. Never mind. Bad timing for a joke. Don’t stop.”

  He resumed licking and suckling her clit. It drove her mindless. It might be his first time, but he seemed determined to do it right.

  She panted encouragement. “Oh,