Tangling With Topper

Number V of Magic, New Mexico Kindle World

Donna McDonald

Kindle Worlds (2016)

She has no witch power to fight the sexy alien and can’t fight his power over her.

Topper didn’t always like being responsible, but as the head witch in the town of Magic, she has do the right thing. That means no out of country safaris or whitewater river rafting until their latest witchery fiasco is over. Last time the witches of Magic opened the space portal, it was to reunite pregnant Lacey with her mate Frost.

This time? It’s to let some Rambo-esque alien cop now turned freaking animal catcher come through to help them round up the missing green meanies. She caught most of the little creatures who snuck through when Frost returned. She’d eventually catch the other three. Why does everyone keep insisting she needs help?

Nothing explains why the older Glacieran male chooses to show up naked. Stark is incredibly rude, no matter how impressive a man package he’s sporting. On top of not caring one whit that he’s embarrassed them, Stark is also more arrogant than anyone Topper has ever met. This includes the Fates who decide to amuse themselves by taking some her powers away without telling her why.

When the men in black and a nosy scientist arrive, it just caps off the worst week Topper can ever remember having in her entire witchy life. The only bright spot is that Stark is a sleek and talented alien animal in bed. Plus she won’t have to wipe his memories of her when it’s over because Stark’s leaving anyway.

keywords: science fiction romance, alien contact, witches wizards warlocks, magic mischief mayhem, paranormal romance, shifters, mythology, action and adventure

Text copyright ©2016 by the Author.

This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by S.E. Smith. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Magic, New Mexico remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of S.E. Smith, or their affiliates or licensors.

For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds

Table of Contents

Title Page

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Note From the Author

Other Books By This Author

About The Author

TANGLING WITH TOPPER

By

Donna McDonald

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Melody Simmons for the great cover.

Thanks to my partner in crime, Robyn Peterman, for her willingness to read anything I write. This writing journey would not be the same without you.

Thanks to my husband, Bruce. You are every hero to me.

DEDICATION

For SE Smith.

Thank you for inviting me into your magical world.

CHAPTER 1

On the planet of Glacier…

“Thank you for coming, General. I am very honored by your presence in my home.”

“It is I who am honored. My work has made it difficult to find as much time to visit friends as I would like. I treasure this rare opportunity.”

Polar felt pleased when his distinguished guest bowed his head politely. The giant male looked out of his element in the domestic scene of his home’s library, but manners went a long way to smoothing the awkwardness of the situation. He really hadn’t thought the General had meant it when he said he wanted to take care of the dakkari problem personally.

“You are looking as well as ever, General.”

“Polar—please. I haven’t served in the Star Rangers for a couple of centuries now. That old title sounds strange to me. Why don’t you just address me by my given name? We’ve come far now through our life stages to get there, yes?”

Polar smiled slightly as he shook his head. “Regretfully—I will not be able to do that in the entirety of my lifetime, sir. You will always be the General to me.”

A heavy sigh of resignation from his superior signaled a potential end to their easy accord, so Polar changed the subject. He didn’t want to genuinely embarrass his former leader and Frost’s trainer. His son’s deadly reputation in the Star Rangers had come from the training given to him by this male. Polar was forever grateful. It had kept Frost safe and allowed him to find his Goddess given mate.

“Out in the ice fields, titles don’t matter much. It is the one thing I have enjoyed about the work I do now. I come to the city, but I always want to return. Somehow I always knew living here was not to be my fate. And the politics of the Directors… Goddess save me.”

Polar nodded, glad there had been no one else around to hear the General’s thoughts. “You don’t have to go to Earth yourself, General. Retirement is supposed to free you from direct service. With only a century left to work myself, Goddess knows I have to practice, but even I am learning to delegate. It is painful, but it does allow me to see to other things.”

A shrug and snort were his first answers from the male. A low, throaty growl was his second.

“All the ice on Glacier will melt the day I can’t capture a few rogue dakkari on my own. Earth is the primitive planet of Frost’s soul mate. I wish to meet this special female and see the connection for myself. Not that I’m still looking for my chosen one at my age. Goddess knows I was not successful in my two choices of life companions. Thankfully, they both moved on to more suitable pairings without too much drama.”

Polar nodded. “Yes. That is fortunate for you, sir. I am sure it has always been a trial for an adventurous man like yourself to adapt to the sort of domestic life most females prefer.” He felt his face flush when the General laughed. This was definitely the most personal conversation of their long acquaintance, but he didn’t want his superior to go to Earth unprepared. He didn’t know what to think when the male looked at him directly and laughed even harder.

“What strange ideas you must have about me, Polar. It’s not like I don’t appreciate female company around a fire as much as the next male. I just don’t feel inclined to put out the effort to woo them these days.”

Polar shook his head. “I was not judging, sir.”

The General waved away his apology. He watched him study the glass of ale Polar had given him earlier. He waited patiently this time, no matter what his superior felt he needed to say.

“I stopped caring about finding a soul mate the first time I realized I could find physical satisfaction with any female. It’s really all a matter of biology. I willingly studied it and spent the necessary time perfecting my techniques. I will be the first to say it paid off well over my lifetime. Females still line up for their turn at entertaining me, but I’m… Well, I’m bored, Polar. They’re all so Glacieran. They want things I cannot give them. I may have to give up all mating if I get any more jaded.”

Polar swallowed around the knot of discomfort in this throat. The General’s prowess with females was legendary and he knew the male didn’t exaggerate his talents. His mate, Sella, had many friends who had taken their turn entertaining the General. Sella had not done so and he wanted to keep it that way. It was mostly why he found critical tasks for his mate to do on the occasions where the General met with him.

Polar sighed quietly at his unworthy thoughts and made himself say what needed to be said. “I feel I must warn you that Frost’s mate and her people are not typical among Earth’s vast variety of humanoid species. Some residents of their locality are nearly as powerful as you… no offense, Sir.”

Only someone who knew the general well would have caught the flash of excitement lighting those goddess-blessed, strange eyes of his. Polar fought the urge to smile over the fact he had even noticed the shift in the male’s demeanor. Perhaps he had retained his warrior skills more than he’d realized. The only visible sign the General gave of his enthusiasm was in draining the rest of his glass of ale in one final swallow.

“Indeed. If true, I look forward to discovering their level of power for myself. Perhaps I will write about my discoveries after my return.” When Polar started to caution him, the General held up a hand. “No, no… all writings will go only in my private collection. I’m well aware of the need for discretion. Eons from now when the planet has come of age, those writings about Earth can be thawed from my private holdings and wondered over.”

Polar bowed his head. “Of course, General. I never doubted your discretion. And how do you feel about making the trip to Earth via portal travel?”

“I look forward to it. Portal travel may just be the most interesting form of travel in the universe. Too bad I will have to leave my uniform behind. Just recently I had recorders installed in all the fasteners. Some probably think I look strange talking to my clothes when I’m working, but I don’t give an icy fruck about their opinions. The ability to save information so readily comes in very handy out in the frozen fields.”

Polar felt his eyebrows go up, but did not immediately jump to correct the male he revered, not even when he saw him start to remove his clothing.

“General… Sir…” Polar drifted off, unsure of how to handle the situation.

“Speak quickly, Polar. My travel time draws close.”

Polar winced when the General’s trousers hit the floor. For a moment, speech was impossible. It was partly shock and partly envy of the male’s preservation of his masculine form. The General’s body rivaled his son’s and made him instantly regret his own lack of physical training. He was also doubly glad Sella had missed this particular show.

Still staring at his former superior in stunned silence, Polar watched confusion cross the General’s face before the older male looked down at his now dangling parts. He sought for words, but then the General raised his gaze back to his and shrugged off the oddness.

“Frost’s report said there was no ice where he dwells and I can’t stand the heat. From what I read they do cover themselves somewhat, but Frost said he still had to wear next to no clothing to avoid heat sickness. Young males have a greater tolerance for such suffering, especially when mating is involved. I can’t imagine the primitives on Earth will be put off by the sight of an old man walking around as the Goddess made him. At least I will be comfortable while I work.”

Polar cleared his throat. “Yes, Sir. But… about your clothes.” He had to stop again when the General raised a hand and waved away his concerns.

“Trust me, Polar. Everything will be fine. And I really appreciate you sending the request directly to me. This was just the sort of adventure I needed to relieve my boredom. Last week I captured another gallota of hellican bipeds. They spat ice balls nearly as large as my fist the whole time I was tagging them with transmitters. Can Earth humans be any more dangerous than that? I do not fear dealing with a few most friendly humanoid creatures. Besides—the Goddess will protect me.”

“Of course she will, but… Sir…”

Polar felt a crushing grip on his shoulder. The force of it stopped his speech altogether. The General was the largest Glacier male he knew or had ever known. And probably the most intimidating one when naked, even though the General didn’t seem to have any sense of his commanding presence. He just hoped Frost would be around to help the general blend in on Earth—if that was even possible for a Glacieran male of his age who was set in mind about how things worked.

“Stop worrying, Polar. Everything will be fine. You’ll see.”

Polar released a long breath, hoping the General didn’t recognize it as a sigh of resignation. “Of course. Whatever you say, sir. The portal should be opening in a few more seconds.”

“Mind my clothes for me, will you? I’ll need them when I return. They don’t call where I work the frozen fields for nothing.”

Polar nodded. What else could he do? When the swirling silver oval appeared in his office, the general lifted a hand in salute and stepped into it without hesitation.

Goddess… there was no braver male on any world.

CHAPTER 2

Meanwhile on Earth in the town of Magic, New Mexico…

At the back of the crowd, Topper stood restlessly scanning the gathering of most of Magic’s best witches around the town’s sacred circle. Instead of praying like so many others were doing, her arms were crossed while her right leg and foot furiously stomped against the hard New Mexico dirt. Waiting had never been her best thing. She preferred action of any sort and was comfortable with the adventure it typically brought.

For reasons she hadn’t been able to take seriously at the time or now, Frost had been insistent about only opening the portal at the appointed time. She wanted to shout “Screw Glacier schedules!” to the four winds and order it done immediately. She was used to being the one who made those decisions, not the one being forced to follow intergalactic protocol.

At her age—a number that was no one’s business but hers—she and time were adversaries, not good friends. Thank the Fates she had a lot of living left to do, and it didn’t include wasting a single moment coddling some Glacier animal control officer.

A blizzard would blanket the entire state of New Mexico the day she couldn’t catch a few alien critters without any interfering help.

This situation was all Frost’s fault and she didn’t need the headache. He’d been the one who’d contacted his home planet, not her. But now he and Lacey were too busy guarding the animal shelter to come greet the alien animal wrangler.

At least the male coming hadn’t been afraid of portal travel. She remembered Frost’s guttural swearing as he’d made the trip back with them. The memory still made her laugh… as did Frost’s heaving at the end when they’d finally materialized in Magic once more.

Honestly… how much harder could it be to dimensionally travel through a magically created worm hole than to fly one of their tiny, claustrophobic Glacier spaceships to get to Earth? The time savings alone was worth a bit of nausea, if you asked her.

Aliens were such big babies about magic, except Frost, of course. He’d come to terms with Lacey’s magic pretty fast. But great sex had a way of smoothing lots of daily life things over. Or at least she had once thought it did… back when she still believed in love and sex and romance.

It had been so long for her now that she felt silly even thinking about such things. No one her age was out looking for romance anymore. When the urge for sex hit, you found someone for a tussle between the sheets, and then got on with the rest your business the next day.

“I’m older than dirt and my memory isn’t what it used to be, but I haven’t lost all my faculties yet, Topper. Wasn’t your hair purple yesterday? You love purple. With those curly blonde tresses you’re sporting, you look like an angry Madonna impersonator. All you need is a pointy bra and one of those ear piece thingies. Good thing your boobs are still perky. Nipple hard-ons encased in metal wouldn’t look so great pointed at the ground.”

Topper snorted before turning a smile in her friend’s direction. Agatha Moonbeam was one of the few beings in Magic who really was older than her… and one of the few she ever spoke her genuine thoughts to.

Moonie’s labored breathing from just standing caused the same rush of concern it always did. Time and age eventually caught up even with magic wielders. True—Moonie’s power push might only last for thirty seconds these days, but it was certainly a powerful thirty seconds there for the calling. Thank the Fates for that because without Moonie, she couldn’t have created the portal between Earth and Glacier in the first place.

It’s a serious drain on everyone, even with all of them contributing. But the bigger problem was keeping the rest of Earth from discovering what was going on while it was happening. Opening the portal again so soon would just increase the risk of it being spotted. In the west, there was always some science geek with nothing better to do but look for strange phenomena popping up in the desert.

Topper fought back a sigh and barely won. She hated being frustrated and she almost never was. But today… today she was on edge. Her instincts were singing. Worse, she had looked at her anxiety and saw nothing dire. She shook her head as she turned to Moonie again.

“Frost said the animal control guy from his planet had a stick up his butt about females. Apparently the guy tried out a couple mates after he retired from being a Star Ranger, but neither relationship worked out. The reason I look like this is that I thought I’d present the most benign Earth female example to him while he’s here. I thought he would feel less threatened when he finds out the residents of Magic are not typical humans.”

“Benign Earth female?” Moonie snorted at the term and rolled her eyes. “That would be a first, especially for you, Topper. You are many things, but non-threatening is not one of them. You’ve had a permanent glare on your face for the last forty years. One look at the lines around your mouth ought to tell any seasoned warrior that he needs to tread carefully. How you manage to look so young and perky despite all that is a mystery to me.”

“You make me sound cold and that’s simply not the case, Moonie… at least not with this anyway. I’m planning on being supportive even though I still think I could do this on my own. But I know Frost’s family has enough political stuff to deal with on Glacier. For Lacey’s sake, I don’t want this new alien to feel like Frost acted too rashly.”

Moonie huffed. “Still doesn’t explain your blonde hair. It goes nicely with your awesome girls though, and that back-me-up booty you somehow manage to maintain.”

Topper snickered over the description of her figure. “Maybe I wanted to prove I can craft a common human appearance just as well as anyone else in town.”

She crossed her arms again when Moonie chuckled after hearing her statement.

“Stop that, Moonie. I was being serious. Who do you think dropped a senior citizen glamour over Magic when those stupid men in black came calling the first time? Me. That’s who. Hell, we didn’t even have to use glamour back in the sixties and seventies. It was my idea to make tie-dye shirts and wear sunglasses. We fit right in as hippies, even with the freaking Vampires. I’ve protected this damn town all my life.”

“Yep. Got to say the best glamours were all you, Topper. All you,” Moonie agreed as she fought her widening smile. “Change of subject… did you find any more of those little green devils yet?”

Topper sighed. It had been nearly a week now and the last ones still eluded her.

“No—but I can feel them watching me sometimes. The little buggers are hiding and waiting. I just don’t know for what.”

They had learned the hard way that the portal wasn’t discerning about who or what used it. It had opened on the edge of Frost’s town and on the way back, some hitchhiking—and apparently body-snatching—little green critters had come through with them. Luckily, most of them were caught immediately. The twins had helped and it had been a perfect chance for the boys to practice their shrinking spells.

So what if two of the little green meanies were now sporting big noses and webbed feet? The twins wove adolescent level spells which would wear off eventually. Probably. Spells had worn off Frost fairly fast, but come to think about it—not the lizard bad guy. Oh well. Maybe they’d know before the Glacier Crocodile-Hunter-Wannabe showed up.

The seers in town had looked at the critter portal jumping event using everything from scrying mirrors to cauldrons to tea leaves. The consensus was that they’d captured all but three.

Topper had not shared her growing concerns with anyone yet, not even with her sister, Nonny, or her friend, Moonie. What worried her was that the captured green meanies were too calm in their plastic containers, even the ones who’d been slightly modified because of spells. She would bet her favorite broom the little bastards were plotting something. Maybe she’d missed nabbing the leader of their pack.

Because of Frost’s stories, Lacey feared the missing green meanies would try to take over the bodies of the shelter animals who sometimes weren’t well enough to defend themselves from much. Topper knew the last thing a pregnant woman carrying an alien’s baby needed was more stress in her life. She had personally jumped in to handle the green meanie eradication just to make sure Lacey wouldn’t feel the need to fix the problem.

Topper wished the whole situation was already over and resolved because she had another safari scheduled.

Plus, she was supposed to go whitewater rafting down the Colorado River this weekend. That sure wasn’t happening now.

So she certainly didn’t need some arrogant alien dogcatcher checking just to make sure no one in Magic was using the green meanies for nefarious purposes. Sheriff Theo expressed similar concerns, though what in Fates name anyone would do with the critters was beyond her.

Moonie’s husky chuckle brought her attention back to the present. The woman was really going to have to give up her pipe smoking. Moonie sounded awful these days.

“Topper? We gonna open the portal now or stand here in the hot sun all afternoon watching you glare. No amount of red lipstick makes that tight mouth of yours any prettier, woman.”

Topper sighed and rubbed a hand over her face. Her real lipstick had been chewed off in a short, nervous hour. Her fingertips felt smile lines by her eyes and creases around her mouth. Her glamour spell obviously wasn’t holding. Not that she cared if she looked old anymore. Hadn’t her awkward date with Alfred shown her that female vanity no longer served a purpose in her life?

“Fine. We’re only three minutes ahead of schedule. Let’s open the damn thing,” Topper ordered with relief.

She waded through the throng of witches until she got to the front. She felt Moonie step into place beside her as she lifted both hands in the air and started the chant.

Soon all hands lifted to support the arc of power she’d crafted. Seconds later the power traveled along their fingertips until it met in the air. They brought their hands slowly down until the power formed an oval doorway of liquid silver.

They lowered their hands when she called to them to do so. The doorway to Glacier pulsed with energy and would remain open for several hours if they didn’t close it.

She looked over her shoulder and nodded to Theo, Magic’s resident Sheriff and guardian dragon. Because the green meanies had slipped by their wards, Theo straightened and came to take a stance close to the portal. Topper knew Theo secretly liked a fire-breathing dragon being the first creature their visiting alien would see when he came through.

Two minutes went by while they waited. Nothing happened. The portal pulsed for no reason.

Topper snorted and crossed her arms again. She imagined some tight ass male on the other side of the molten silver looking at it and then back to his time piece as he counted down. She frowned and thought about turning the irritating male into something fluffy she could shave. Bet that would cure him of his OCD tendencies.

“I need to pee, Topper. How long does it take for someone to pass through the portal?” Moonie asked.

Topper snickered. As did the other witches who’d heard Moonie’s question. She dropped her arms to her side and relaxed, unwilling to let some obsessive-compulsive alien control her mood. “It depends on whether or not he was waiting at Frost’s home like he was supposed to be. Go ahead to the bathroom, Moonie. We can close the portal without you.”

Moonie huffed. “No way. They might send someone who looks like Frost. I’m not missing my chance to ogle an alien hunk because of a weak bladder.”

Topper outright laughed. “They’re sending some guy that’s several centuries old. He’s a retired warrior who’s divorced two wives and dedicated his life to his work. Frost says all the warriors on his planet are scared shitless of him because of his Goddess given power. Only those with it can become animal control officers. Frost says it’s really hard work on Glacier… harder than being a Star Ranger. But whatever the case, the guy will be more wrinkled than any of us.”

Moonie snorted and raised her eyebrows. “I don’t know about that. What kind of power does he have?”

“I have no idea,” Topper answered, crossing her arms again. “Frost didn’t know either.”

When the silver finally shifted, everyone’s attention did too. All eyes were glued to the doorway as a bare foot and leg emerged. Then they just as quickly disappeared back through it. The effort was repeated.

Theo leaned forward. “Need some help?” he yelled into the silver, his voice making it ripple.

Finally, two feet and legs emerged, along with a set of bare knees, muscular thighs, and the rest of a naked alien male who nearly filled the whole portal opening with his excessive height and breath of shoulders. Topper didn’t see him do anything specific, but as he glanced back, the portal shrunk and closed behind him without them doing anything.

The guy turned his full attention to them and bowed his head once.

Moonie leaned close to her. “I don’t get it, Topper. How is it that males on every planet age better than females? It’s not fair… and look at him… that’s a damn nice package for an old dude. He looks as good as Frost in the buff.”

Topper heard Moonie speaking, but her gaze was watching the giant alien male nod to Theo respectfully as he passed by him. Without missing a beat, the naked alien turned to scan the whole crowd. “I’m looking for someone named Topper.”

Like a schoolgirl asking to be recognized, Topper raised her hand. Then realizing what she’d done, she yanked it back down and huffed at her stupidity. “That’s me. I’m Topper.”

Mesmerized, she couldn’t look away as he walked toward her. He held her gaze the entire time until he stopped, leaving about two feet of personal space between them. Her neck was all the way back as she peered up and up.

Alien males physically made most Earth males look inferior in one way or the other. Apparently being bred on an ice planet did that to them. Frost was incredibly attractive for an alien, but this particular Glacieran was outstanding. His hair was nearly as silver as the portal. His shoulders were so wide, she couldn’t see Theo around them. And his body was ripped better than any Earth male she’d ever seen. And he had to be well over seven feet tall.

If the guy was several centuries old, he sure as hell didn’t look a single Earth year over fifty to her. Worse, she could tell he wasn’t using any glamour to look like he did. The masculine perfection was all him.

But despite his catalog of amazing assets, it was his eyes that caught her attention the most. They were the strangest color. In fact, they had no color at all as they shifted and changed while she gazed into their depths. They looked like the portal itself.

Erupting giggles and flying whispers finally snapped her out of her musings. In the process of breaking eye contact with him, Topper inadvertently glanced down to see his impressive dick now pointing at her. She studied the perfection of it for a moment or two, shook her head in disbelief at doing so, then deliberately looked back up at his face.

“Greetings, Glacieran. Why are you naked?”

Unable to stop herself, Topper snorted at her own question, but there simply wasn’t a polite way to ask a strange naked alien why he was saluting them with his erection. His eyebrows drew together as if he hadn’t quite understood her statement. Topper fought back a laugh because it would be even ruder than what he was doing.

“Research told me your climate was inhospitable to me. I thought this would be the best way to deal with your planet’s hotter temperatures.”

Topper waved her hand in front of his stomach, nearly brushing his still rising erection in the process. She blushed over his eyes widening as much as hers at her near miss, but also felt panic when her magic fizzled off her fingertips in a short burst of purple sparks as it failed to clothe him.

She stepped back and away. Her body suddenly felt weakened, drained, and sexually needy for the first time in several decades. Of course, it was also the first time she’d seen a prime nude male in several decades as well, so maybe that explained the last thing. But why wasn’t her magic working? It must have been the portal. Maybe it had drained her more than she’d realized.

Moonie tapped her on her shoulder. “Want me to give it a shot? Seems a shame to cover all that up, but what the hell… I’ll give it a go.”

Topper silently nodded. She felt Moonie step to her side and wave a hand. Their naked alien fisted his Johnson protectively and stepped back from both of them.

“Please cease whatever you’re trying to do and tell me how I’ve offended you,” he commanded.

Topper rolled her eyes at his order and held up a hand when the giggling and whispering grew loud around her. She looked over at Theo and motioned for him to approach them. When Theo arrived, she waved a hand over his bottom half and Theo’s pants completely disappeared, just like they were supposed to.

“Hey!” Theo yelled.

Stunned, they all watched Theo use one hand to cover a penis as equally impressive as the naked alien’s.

Topper sighed with relief to know her magic was working. It just hadn’t worked on the Glacieran. That was strange too, but she didn’t want to overreact and let him see that her failure had concerned her.

“Damn it, Topper,” Theo exclaimed.

“Sorry, Theo. Just checking,” she said cheerfully, waving her hand again.

When Theo’s pants reappeared, the irritated dragon patted them down checking for his keys and other belongings. “Don’t do that ever again. It wasn’t funny.”

“No, it wasn’t, but I had to know. It was a matter of… security. Now we know something we didn’t know a few minutes ago.”

Topper’s gaze swung from Theo’s sigh and nod back to the Glacieran when he spoke again.

“Ah… now I see the reason for your strange discomfort around me. Conventions on your planet require the covering of one’s mating organs. I should have guessed Earth’s primitive classification might have also meant prudish about mating. But you never know. I haven’t been off my own planet in over seventy-five of your Earth years. I read all of Frost’s observations, but he neglected to talk about those sorts of habits.”

Topper’s gaze came back to her naked alien guest. “Yes, we cover them and keep them covered at all times. What’s your name, Glacieran?”

“Stark,” he said, bowing again.

“More like Stark Naked,” Moonie declared. “Is that your porn star name, big fella?”

“I do not use more than one name,” Stark insisted, lifting his chin.

Topper sighed at the huffy irritation in his voice. If he understood what Moonie had meant by the porn star comment, they might as well kiss their efforts in intergalactic diplomacy goodbye. Despite his nudity and his uncompromising stare, she could see a glimpse of the seasoned warrior Frost had warned her about. She didn’t want to make it worse.

“Stop harassing him,” Topper ordered. She swallowed hard as she fought not to look at the impressively hard body part Stark still held in one hand. “Um… got any clothes with you… Stark?” She bit the inside of her cheek when he let go of himself.

Ignoring his erection, Stark calmly pressed a button on some kind of tight fitting arm band and pulled a large swatch of purple cloth from it.

Topper bit the inside of her cheek harder trying not to laugh.

“Oh, this I have got to see. Weak bladder… don’t fail me now,” Moonie pleaded in a whisper.

Without looking at her, Topper reached out and smacked Moonie’s arm hard enough to make her yelp.

Stark shook out the strip of purple. Figures it would be her favorite shade of that color. She watched him unfold the strip and deftly shake it out into a thin square. Then he folded it diagonally until he’d made a very large purple triangle. After doing so, he proceeded to fashion it into a diaper-like covering for his crotch before tying it as expertly as any bush-born aboriginal could have, knotting it securely in the front.

Topper smiled at his success. And Glacierans thought they were the primitives?

All eyes remained focused on him as Stark adjusted himself and carefully tucked his still partially hard dick behind the purple covering. Topper fought off a shiver as his strange eyes sought hers out once more while he finished tucking himself away.

“There. All better now?” he asked, lifting both hands into the air.

“Yes. Much better,” Topper answered serenely, matching her tone to his.

Then she turned her back to Stark, covered her mouth with her hand, and bent over to laugh harder than she had ever laughed in her life. She held her stomach until she managed to get some control back. She took a deep breath and straightened again when she felt him standing very close behind her.

“Excuse me. Were you bent over to present your rear to me because you wished to mate? I didn’t think you were aware of being the reason for my unfortunate arousal. I offer my apologies and my promise to control my reactions to you better. It might be a side effect of the portal travel. I confess I got very excited walking through all that raw energy of yours.”

At the end of his speech, Topper snapped back around to glare at him. He’d closed the distance between them so much that she found herself now speaking to his impressive chest. If she tilted her head, all she would see was the space beneath his chin.

“You’re surrounded by more than twenty staring females, and you want me to believe I’m the one who caused your arousal problem?”

Stark frowned as she glared. “Yes… because it is truth. However, my statement was an explanation, not an accusation of blame. I am endeavoring to be polite, but you seem determined to misread my every statement. Are you always so irrational?”

Topper shook her head and backed away until she could look up and glare into his shifting silver eyes. “I’m starting to think Moonie was right about you. How about you keep your endeavoring enclosed in your purple diaper while you’re here. Now let’s get this over with so you can take another arousing trip through the portal and go back to where you came from.”

Topper turned to walk away and saw the other witches still eyeing Stark. “Stop gawking at him. You saw what just happened to my power. Go home and recharge. Do it now.”

She brushed by them, refusing to be stalled from her quest.

“Theo,” she called over her shoulder. “See if you have something to fit our very large guest. Basic clothing shouldn’t over-heat him that much.”

“Uh… Topper?” Moonie began.

Topper shook her head and didn’t turn. “Save it for later, Moonie. Come on, Stark. I’ll show you the green meanies we’ve caught.”

***

Moonie looked at Theo when Topper and Stark had disappeared.

“Did I just hear the naked alien admit to being attracted to Topper?” Theo asked.

“Oh, thank the Fates,” Moonie declared, putting a hand on her chest. “I thought my hearing was messed up. My body parts just aren’t as reliable as they used to be.”

Theo grunted. “Wonder why Topper’s power didn’t work on him? That’s as alarming as he is distracting. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her fail before.”

Moonie shrugged her bony shoulders. “I don’t know, Theo. Mine didn’t work fully either. All Stark Naked felt was a tickle on his sausage from what I did, but that might have been because I was zapped from opening the portal. No one comes close to having her level of power, not even Nonny or Lacey. If Topper’s got a problem, what does that mean for the security of Magic?”

Theo frowned. Dragon smoke leaked from both his human nostrils, leaving trails as he worried.

“It means that after we send this guy and the green meanies back, we need to agree about not opening the portal again. Who knows what might get through next time? It’s one to thing to protect Magic, but we’re not equipped to defend the whole Earth from a whole planet of people like Stark.”

They both sighed as they watched the alien’s large purple-covered ass moving through town behind a stomping Topper.

CHAPTER 3

Topper stopped in front of her house and held up a hand to slow them down. Her wards were practically vibrating in alarm. She glanced at her large, alien shadow and lifted her chin. Stark tilted his head down and raised an eyebrow over her gesture. She felt like a bug under a microscope.

“This is my home. Do not touch anything unless I say it’s okay.”

Stark stiffly nodded as he watched the strange, hostile female climb a series of small platforms until she reached a large wooden landing. He imitated her actions until he was standing behind her on the platform. She held both hands palms out facing the door and was chanting something.

Her power was erratic, but it wrapped strongly around him. The only being he’d ever known who rivaled her was the Goddess herself.

His gaze roamed the back of Topper as he waited for further instructions. That turned out to be a misjudgment as his body once again reacted to her. Soon he was straining against his pathetic covering and it was all he could do not to lean in and sniff to see if she was aroused.

To keep from doing so, Stark imagined he and Topper being together on the rug in front of his crystal fire at his residence. He imagined her face relaxed in pleasure instead of wearing her current scowl. The vision was surprisingly easy to hold in his mind—natural even.

The witch provoked some very strange feelings in him. Her need of him was nearly palpable. Trusting the instincts the Goddess had given him, he had to pursue his interest.

“Are you mated?” Stark asked softly.

Topper froze mid-chant at the question. She looked over her shoulder. “I can’t talk right now. I need to focus on the words.”

“Sorry. Was your mated status too personal a query?”

“Yes. Stop asking me,” Topper ordered through gritted teeth. “I’m way too old for this nonsense. Let me finish altering my wards so we can go inside.”

She turned back to her door. Nearly yelling out the call to action part of the spell, the energy strands woven over her entry unwound like a magic spider web.

Pushing open the door at last, Topper sighed as she crossed the threshold. Her home was a special place for her. Now aliens had invaded it, but for the moment, not even magic could change that fact.

“Follow me. The green meanies are out in the sunroom.” She headed that direction, expecting Stark to follow, and he did.

“You put the dakkari in your home? Amazing. I’m surprised you even still have them. They are very cunning when it comes to escaping all sorts of traps.”

“Not my traps—they’re magical,” Topper explained. She motioned to a set of plastic cubes lined up on the table. “Their containers allow in light and air, but do not allow them escape. I’ve been feeding them leafy vegetables to keep them alive. They don’t seem to mind. Though I have been concerned about their lack of struggling. Something tells me they’re not normally this calm.”

Stark was surprised more than he’d expected to be at how well Topper had constrained them. He walked to the small plastic cubes and studied the miniature dakkari inside each. Several were strangely malformed.

“Did the trip through the portal cause them to shrink and change forms?”

Topper snorted and shook her head. “They’re under a magical spell and will stay that size until you’re ready to take them back. Any deformities you see are temporary. Not all those who helped me catch them are equally skilled in magic.”

Stark looked from creature to creature. Outside of a few strange features, they appeared mostly unharmed. He turned back to face the witch responsible for their capture.

Now he knew why Frost had contacted Glacier for help.

“Where are the beeberg and her mates?” Stark asked.

Topper shook her head. “I’m sorry—the what?”

Stark frowned and thought hard, searching for words in her language. “The beeberg is their female leader. She takes two males as her mates. They never leave her side.”

Topper sighed in frustration. “Well… damn. So we are missing three of them.”

“Yes, if they passed through with the rest, and my guess is they did. A dakkari pack travels together, but the beeberg is the decision maker. She’s the one in control.”

Topper nodded. “Okay. How do we catch her and her mates?”

“Strategies vary by situation. How long have they been missing?” Stark asked.

“Not quite a week—uh… almost seven Earth days,” Topper corrected, remembering how Frost had struggled with understanding time.

Her gaze glided across Stark’s smooth, broad back and down to his trim waist as he turned back to inspect the captured ones again. He was more attractive than any of the other Glacier males she’d seen on Frost’s planet during her visit. She grinned at what she knew was hidden behind his purple cloth and let her gaze wander down the backs of his legs to his feet as he paced in front of the cubes.

All she knew about Glacierans was what Frost had shared with her, but she didn’t need magic to see Stark was restless. She recognized the signs because she often felt exactly the same. Despite his youthful looking body, an older, more impatient soul was in residence.

“I’m surprised the beeberg and her mates have not taken hosts yet. You would have known if they had because the host creatures would have been acting strangely by now. And they would have come back for the rest of their pack, even if they are being held captive in your home.”

Topper sighed deeply. “You’re just the bearer of all kinds of wonderful news, aren’t you? The dakkari are stored here because it’s my spell holding them. How dangerous are the missing three?”

Stark shook his head. “The hosting situation is invasive. Eventually the beeberg and her mates would shed their dakkari bodies and be absorbed by their hosts. It is an evolution they use to survive the severe ice storms on Glacier. The rest of the explanation is quite gruesome because they bring the host animals back as food to feed the pack, as well as birthing new versions of themselves inside them. The cycle goes on even if the originals die in the process. New leaders are chosen from the pack to replace the ones that don’t survive.”

Topper nodded, even though she was more worried now than ever. “I’m sure the missing three haven’t left Magic. I cast a net around the town and tuned it to the ones in the cages. If anything remotely like them tried to leave, I would instantly know where. Theo would hunt them down in the desert and fry them.”

Stark frowned as he repeated her words. “Fry them? As in cook them for food? That would be most unwise.”

Topper laughed at his dryly offered advice. “Gee Stark, what a great impression you must have about the intelligence of people on my planet.”

Stark shrugged a shoulder. “I researched your culture before I came here, but perhaps I need clarification of your statement. Feel free to enlighten me.”

Topper snorted. “Yes, you certainly do need enlightenment, especially about the residents of Magic. Sheriff Theo is a dragon. He would have breathed fire on the fleeing dakkari and reduced them to ashes before they got away.”

Stark nodded. “Oh. Good then. Destruction is acceptable and preferable in those circumstances. Dakkari are poisonous for Glacierans and should never be consumed as food. I assume the same would be true for Earthlings.”

A knock on the door sounded. “Speaking of dragons,” Topper declared, walking back to answer it.

She glanced back to see Stark had followed her to the door. She pulled it open to find Theo standing on her doorstep with several pairs of pants and a few t-shirts in his hands.

“Something here ought to fit your alien visitor. These clothes belonged to my brother, Kane. He was a lot taller and bigger than me, so they should come close to being the right size. Kane left town a long time ago. I’ve been keeping these in case he came back, but honestly, I don’t think he ever will.”

Topper took the clothes from Theo’s hands and stepped into him for a hug. “Thank you. This is very helpful.”

Theo returned the hug and smiled. “Sure. You doing okay?”

“Perfectly fine,” Topper lied. She didn’t want anyone worrying yet. “Stark and I are talking about capturing the green meanies—I mean, the dakkari—that’s what he calls them. He confirmed we are missing a female leader with two male mates. Stark said they were going to be actively looking for hosts and may have found some by now. Spread the word around for everyone to check their animals. If any start acting strangely, they need to let me know. Tell them not to take any action outside of restraining them.”

“Sure thing, Topper. I’ll check on you later and give you an update if anyone calls in to the office.”

Theo sent a warning glare in the alien’s direction before he left.

Topper rolled her eyes at well-meaning males and turned back to Stark who was studying her again. “Why are you looking at me so strangely?”

“Is the dragon your mate?” Stark asked.

Topper snorted at the question. Theo was young enough to be her son. Stark was the most clueless male she’d ever met on either of their planets. “No, Stark. The dragon is Theo. He’s our sheriff and the person in charge of security here in Magic. He sees every stranger as a threat.”

Stark shook his head. “No, I must disagree. That is not what is going on here. I distinctively feel his concern is directed towards my continued presence near you. He is being a protective male.”

Topper threw up her hands. “Of course he is. Theo is like my son. I have no mate—alright? Topper has no mate. In fact, Topper is an old lady who has never had a mate. Why don’t you take an ad out with some intergalactic news service and tell both our worlds? I’m sure everyone would like to know how someone my age could live all this time on Earth without a man.”

Stark nodded in approval. “Ah… now I understand. You have no male at all in your life, so the young dragon has placed you under his protection.”

Topper rolled her eyes. “More like the other way around… but whatever. I stopped trying to explain my power to men like you long ago. It’s not worth the trouble trying to squeeze reality into your narrow minds.”

Despite the rising anger in her tone, Stark was surprised at the joy Topper’s irritated declaration about being unmated brought his body. As a Star Ranger, he had visited many planets. Hope was a universal among all life forms, and Goddess knew, he had never stopped appreciating it in his too often austere life.

But to feel hope now about this beautiful Earth woman—this allegedly powerful witch—to anticipate that she might share herself with him? Lust was not something he’d expected to feel for anyone when he agreed to this assignment.

Plus, it was fascinating to find he was capable of being unsure. Despite his long history of dealing with females, he was fairly clueless about how to deal with this fascinating one.

Stark cautiously approached the obviously offended female, trying to gauge the best way to put Topper at ease again. He pointed to the clothes she still held.

“I assume you wish me to cover myself with those articles of clothing.”

Topper nodded and held them out. “Yes. Naked male aliens, no matter how well hung their package, are just too distracting for most Earth females.”

“Hung?” Stark repeated the word and chuckled at the term. Hung. Goddess, he liked that word being applied to him.

Topper’s gaze dropping constantly to his barely covered mating organs clued him in to her meaning. Polar would be proud of him. Even without Frost’s help, he was beginning to figure things out.

“Very well, Most Powerful Witch Topper. Since the dragon is not your mate, I will wear his clothes. In exchange for my compliance with your prudish customs, will you please give some consideration to having intimate relations with me before my return to Glacier?”

“Having… what?” Topper drew herself up straight. “Are you asking me for sex?”

“Yes. I am sure Frost would be willing to provide a reference. On my planet, females stand in line for the opportunity because I am very skilled at pleasuring them. I’m sure I can become just as proficient with your Earth anatomy if given the opportunity to practice with it a few times.”

“No thanks. I do not need or want an alien pity fuck,” Topper exclaimed, shoving the clothes into his arms. “Now get dressed. We’re going on a dakkari hunt as soon as you put on some freaking clothes.”

Stark frowned. “I sense extreme discord between us again, Topper. What did I say to make you angry? I find you physically appealing and you arouse my body every time I glance your way. I wish to pleasure you at the first available opportunity. Are such things not complimentary to females on your world?”

“No,” Topper yelled loudly over her shoulder as she left. “It is not complimentary to offer your sex services to me as if I couldn’t find a man on my own if I wanted one… which I damn well don’t or there would be one here. I may be almost sixty, but that’s pretty young for a witch. And I stay in freaking shape so there… asshole.”

Stark stared at Topper’s extreme agitation in confusion. He had no idea what he’d said that was so wrong. “I apologize for offending you. Was it the offer itself? Or the fact that I asked first? If you wish, you can ask me instead. I did not mean to disrupt your intimacy protocol. I thought females on Earth like to be pursued.”

Topper snorted. “Get over yourself, Mr. Arrogant. The answer is no in either case. Come find me when you get some damn clothes on.”

Stark set the clothing on a nearby surface as Topper stomped away from him. While he dressed, he pondered what grave Earth error he’d committed in asking to be with her.

CHAPTER 4

When Stark finally came to find her, Topper nearly sighed because he was dressed in jeans and a green shirt that seemed to have turned his eyes the same shade. She missed the swirling silver in his gaze, but maybe it was like when she changed her hair color. Or maybe Stark was an alien chameleon, his eyes taking on whatever colors surrounded him.

Stark looked even younger dressed in casual clothes—with the exception of his silver hair that gleamed in any light. His body looked to be around thirty-five in Earth years. Topper knew she was well-preserved for a witch nearing sixty, and she had a young soul, but most days she looked like the mature woman she was. Like older, but still handsome Earth men, Stark’s extreme attractiveness only served to remind her of her own waning beauty.

Ordering herself to stop focusing on unchangeable things, Topper opted to save her magic and silently led their trek back to the center of town from her house. They stopped by the Sheriff’s office where Theo handed Stark a pair of oversized sneakers and an unopened package of clean socks he’d probably just purchased.

While Stark sat in a chair to put on the shoes, Topper wrestled her attention back to their task and Theo. “Anyone report anything unusual?”

Theo shook his head and then his gaze went to the alien who was investigating the fabric of the socks before tugging a pair on. He wanted to roll his eyes and laugh as the man considered adding the second pair, but Topper’s distress made it hard to stay amused for long.

Theo scratched his nose. In dragon form, he had a horn trying to grow there. He sure hoped that wasn’t going to manifest into something ugly on his human face. “You know that new couple that moved in last month?”

Topper scrunched up her face as she tried to think. “Both are shifters of some sort, right? Nonny did the welcoming. I was out of town.”

“They’re cats—solid black jaguars to be precise. I have no idea what jaguars are doing in the New Mexico desert, but they own a couple of big red mastiffs that went missing two days ago.”

Topper rolled her eyes. “You’re telling me jungle cats are keeping a pair of dogs as pets? Are they being ironic or cruel?”

“They treat the dogs like family from what I could tell and now they’re worried something has happened to them. And you know cats keeping dogs is not the strangest thing we’ve ever seen around here.”

“No,” Topper admitted. Her gaze shifted between Theo and Stark hoping she wouldn’t have to intervene.

Theo rolled his eyes in disgust. “Dude—Stark—one pair of socks is all you need. Save the second pair for tomorrow if you’re still here.”

At Stark’s quick nod and muttered thank you, Theo turned back to Topper. One moment he saw genuine concern reflected in her gaze. The next, he saw disbelief followed quickly by a female interest he had never seen Topper show in any male before.

If anything was strange—that was strange.

Theo put his hand on Topper’s shoulder to stop her from staring. “If Stark needs a place to stay, he can use Kane’s old room at the house.”

Topper shook her head. “Normally, I’d send him to Lacey’s so he could visit with Frost, but I think the best idea is for him to stay with me. If Stark is right about the missing dakkari, they’ll be showing up there soon to rescue the others. I’d just as soon have an expert on hand if that happens. I’m not doubting my magic, just trying to spare myself from over-using it. I’d rather not destroy the animals if I don’t have to do so.”

“Are you going to be safe with him?” Theo demanded.

“Sheriff—the person you are worried about is present and understanding every word you say about him.” Stark stood and walked to stand at Topper’s side. The strange foot coverings were more comfortable than he’d imagined they would be. He stared into the dragon’s eyes as he spoke. “Topper will always be safe with me—always.”

Theo huffed. “I don’t doubt you can protect her from the green meanies, but who’s going to protect her from you?”

Stark turned to Topper. “I was unaware such a dilemma existed. Do you need to be protected from me?”

Topper crossed her arms and glared at both males equally. “No, I do not. You can sleep in the guest room which is closest to the sun porch. That way you can keep an eye on the dakkari yourself.”

Stark bowed his head in agreement. “A wise course of action,” he said in approval. “I accept your wisdom in the matter.”

Topper looked away from Stark to fully glare at Theo. “Stop trying to slow this down. Thanks for the tip about the dogs. We’ll check those out first. The cat shifters moved into the old Jackson house, right?”

As he nodded, Theo rolled his eyes and held up both hands. “I’m sorry to be so blunt, but I don’t trust him, Topper. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Do you trust him?”

Topper looked back at Stark with his silver hair, his smooth pale skin, and one eyebrow arched high at the surprising question. But now she knew the arrogant alien wasn’t nearly as clueless as he looked.

“Stark has given me no reason not to trust him, Theo. His naked arrival is nothing to judge his character by, now is it? Female witches dance in the buff every time their Sabbath rolls around. I don’t see anyone in town judging them for their two days of nudity. And half the town saw Frost naked when Lacey’s spell broke. I think he was in your jail at the time and you threatened to sell tickets because everyone wanted to get a look at his alien assets.”

“Both of those are completely different circumstances from this,” Theo insisted.

Topper glanced sideways and waited until Theo met her gaze so he’d understand how serious she was. “Not really. But all that’s critical is that my priorities are clear. I want my house back, my peace back, and to maybe go Colorado River rafting this weekend. Possessed animals could screw that up royally, so Stark stays with me until this is all over.”

“Fine,” Theo said sharply. “Change of subject—when was the last time you saw Alfred? Apparently, he’s gone missing too.”

Topper sighed and stared at the ceiling. Why was she always held responsible for everyone’s decisions? She was a witch, not a muse.

“The last time I saw Alfred was the night of our dinner date. It was awkward and that’s the best thing I can say about it. He complained all through the meal about how hard it was living as a human and said he should have just stayed a fish. Who reported him missing?”

“No one. He and I had a lunch date, and he never showed. There’s an opening for a fish and wildlife warden for the Magic area. I thought it would give Alfred something productive to do with his human time.”

Topper sighed and nodded. “That’s a great idea. I’ll make sure to check on him as soon as this is over.”

“Are you sure nothing bad happened on your date?” Theo asked.

Topper shook her head. “No—nothing happened at all. I thought we parted as friends, but I’ve never been great at all that male ego stroking stuff. Maybe I said something that sent Alfred into a funk. But if I did, I have no idea what it could have been.”

Theo shrugged. “Okay. If you see him while you’re hunting green meanies, tell him I need to talk to him.”

“Sure thing,” Topper agreed. She reached out a hand and Stark just looked at it. “Hold my hand in yours. We need to touch one another to travel the way I want to.”

“More magic travel?” he asked. Stark slid his fingers through Topper’s, surrounding her smaller hand with his much larger one. A sense of rightness exploded along his nerve endings.

Topper never answered his question. She just smiled… and then they were flying.

***

Topper landed on the edge of the road leading up to the property. She waited patiently for Stark to walk off his small bout of nausea. She frowned at his back. “Did you eat before you travelled through the portal?”

Stark shook his head. “No, I had a glass of ale with Polar—Frost’s father. Probably a mistake, but Polar insisted.”

Topper shook her head. “Well, that could be the problem with magic travelling again so soon. I have to speed up our molecules to make it happen and that burns a ton of calories. Are you vegetarian or carnivore?”

“Carnivore,” Stark replied.

Topper closed her eyes and chanted. She opened them to a thick sandwich piled high with everything she’d had in her refrigerator in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. She held both out to him. “This should hold you a bit. I’ll feed you better later. The outside is bread made from organic ancient grains. The inside is fresh meat, cheese, and vegetables.”

Stark took her offering, smelled it, and then took a healthy bite. “It’s very good. Thank you, Topper.”

Her stomach rippled in satisfied flutters at his thanks and his obvious enjoyment of the food. “You’re welcome. I’m sorry I didn’t ask if you’d eaten earlier. I’m usually a more polite host.”

Stark didn’t answer her. He finished off the food and then opened his drink. “Bottled essence of the Goddess. I wish they had this on Glacier—very portable. I use canteens, but they’re not as aesthetically pleasing,” he said, holding it up level with his shifting eyes.

Topper smiled at his description and his pleasure. “I find it is the simplest things in life that make it worth living. I like adventure, but I can also appreciate the sun setting across the New Mexico desert just as much.”

“Indeed,” Stark said, handing the now empty bottle back to her. “I think I could also bask in that caring smile of yours for a few hundred years. Thank you for feeding me, Topper. I sometimes forget the need for food until my body revolts like it did when we travelled.”

“You and every other male ever born. It must come with the gender. In all my years, I’ve never figured it out.”

Topper sighed at how happy Stark’s happiness made her. Wow—she really needed to date more. She was obviously missing male attention.

Stark snorted. “Too much reflection on the past makes you start counting time backwards. It is an easy slip from there to feeling old.”

Topper shrugged and studied the driveway dirt. “I guess that’s right. Even being a powerful witch, I will not live past two hundred Earth years. The women in my family tend to die early and not even last one hundred years. My time is growing short, if that’s the case for me. To balance that, I live life fully and don’t have many regrets. I find counting my blessings makes the good parts last longer.”

Stark smiled fully. “Then I shall count them with you. I am feeling very blessed that we met.”

Topper swallowed hard at the sincerity shining from his face. She’d seen Frost look at Lacey like that. She turned away, not letting her mind conjure up more than was really there. Stark was being friendly—that’s all it was. And he wanted sex. All men were extra nice to women they were pursuing. She might be out of practice with men… but she wasn’t stupid.

When they reached the house, only one of the shifters was home. They were invited in and she showed them the matching dog beds and dog bowls. The furniture in the house was sparse, except for an incredible four poster bed that was a mile high and had things hanging from it that Topper pretended not to notice. But it certainly looked like the jaguars knew how to play.

Nearly everything else in the house of any worth had a dog’s name on it. Theo was right. The dogs were their family. And the woman was ill with genuine worry.

Stark looked around the food dishes, the water bowls, and investigated the pillowed beds. He rose and asked to see where they normally played and did their business when nature called.

Out they all trekked to the backyard to see the area.

Stark walked around until he found what he was looking for. He picked up several things from the ground and carried them back with him. But it was his frown that told the real story. Topper braced herself to hear it.

“Two of them took the dogs as hosts,” he said, holding out bits of fur dotted with tooth marks and bloody patches. “It looks like the males got them because the female is bright red.”

“What can we do?” Topper asked, reaching out to hug the woman who’d started to cry.

“Find them fast,” Stark said flatly. “In two days, the physical connection would still be partial, but each individual dakkari would have taken over their dog’s mind in a single day. If we find them quickly, we might be able to remove the dakkari before it is absorbed. I can’t guarantee the animal’s lives, but becoming a fully assimilated dakkari host would be a worse way for the animal to die.”

Topper hugged tighter when the woman rolled into her chest and started weeping full out. She met Stark’s sympathetic gaze over the woman’s head. “Isn’t finding them the problem we’re still trying to solve?”

“Yes. But it’s gotten a little easier,” Stark declared. “They’re with the beeberg. We just have to locate the animal she’s taken over. I promise you the dogs will be nearby.”

Topper pushed the cat shifter gently away and ran a hand full of glittering magic over her hair. The shifter’s sobbing reduced to sniffling almost immediately. She looked at the woman’s face and met her gaze. The shifter would not know she acted from magical inclination, but they didn’t have time to indulge her grief properly. If they didn’t find the dogs, there was going to be a lot more weeping.

She lifted the woman’s chin with her hand. “I want you to call your mate and tell him about your dogs. And I want you to call the Sheriff if the dogs show up again. Don’t do anything to them and don’t let them into your home until we get their alien abductors off them.”

Topper smiled at her whispered okay and patted her cheek. She stepped away and held out her hand to Stark. “Okay. Let’s head back to town and see if Theo has any more leads for us.”

Stark linked his fingers through hers and braced himself. “Ready when you are,” he said, gripping her hand. “At least if I get ill again, my body has something to reject this time.”

Topper squeezed his fingers and laughed at his trepidation. She found herself liking Stark’s company far more than she’d expected. Not all men were such good sports. “It takes a brave person to fly with the most powerful witch in town. Looks like your impressive man package isn’t all you’ve got going for you.”

Stark felt a smile take over his face. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d been so entertained by just a female’s company. “Is that a compliment on your world, Topper? Because it is definitely one on mine.”

When his sincere gaze turned to her, Topper panicked at the challenge in it. She was transporting them back to town before Stark could act on the genuine interest shining in his eyes.

CHAPTER 5

The three of them stood in Theo’s office looking at a map of Magic mounted to a wall. Stark’s idea was that the beeberg had been present when the dogs were abducted. His theory was that she led them away from their home and stalled for a time until the mind control links were established by her mates.

Topper watched Theo and Stark triangulating an area where the animals might have travelled since their abduction. It covered pretty much all of town. She sighed loudly and made both males look at her.

“Sorry. It’s starting to get dark and I’m tired. Opening the portal was tough on me. As much as I want to save the mastiffs, we can’t canvas that much territory this evening.”

Theo bobbed his head in agreement. “Right. I can probably visit a few strategic families on the other side of town and ask them to keep an eye out as well as pass the word along. Maybe you guys can get some rest and resume the search tomorrow.”

Topper looked at Stark. “Do dakkari on the run sleep?”

Stark nodded. “Yes. They sleep more when they are joining a host. Saving the hosts is going to be difficult anyway. I didn’t want to say it in front of their concerned owner today.”

Topper hung her head. “I got that from your explanation. Right now, I need food… and a bath.” She raised her gaze. “Let’s go home, Stark. I’ll make dinner and we can strategize about tomorrow.”

Stark’s smile widened as he put a hand on his chest where a large warmth was spreading through his muscles. Perhaps it was the cadence of her voice… or her vulnerability. He simply could not explain why he was so thrilled at the idea of spending even more time with Topper.

“That is a gracious offer. I happily accept.”

When Topper held out her hand, Stark once again took it. He turned to offer the frowning sheriff a polite nod. He could not erase the male’s concern this evening. Fortunately, the sheriff’s face disappeared from sight and Topper’s kitchen appeared instead. He’d noticed the room during his visit to her house earlier.

She slipped her hand out of his and it was all he could do not to snatch it back and pull her to him for an embrace. Instead, she stepped out of his reach.

“If you want to shower while I fix us dinner, use the bathroom in the hall. Just call out if you have questions. I’ve seen you naked, so I don’t mind coming in there to help if you have trouble getting something to work. Frost said our indoor plumbing was similar to a more primitive version used on Glacier.”

Stark watched her walk to a cold storage box and pull food from the shelves. “I would like to clean off the dust of our travels, but I feel bad for leaving you to do this alone. Do you need any help?”

Topper stopped pulling out things and turned back to him. “No, I’m fine. I actually like to cook. The Fates come to visit a lot. They love my cooking. I’m just going to throw together an omelet. Don’t worry—I’ll make sure yours has a lot of carnivore protein.”

Stark bowed his head. “Thank you for being so thoughtful.”

“You’re welcome,” Topper declared. She raised her hand and motioned for him to leave. “Go on. I’m fine. Come back when you’re done.”

After Stark left, Topper gripped a countertop and took a few deep breaths. The attractive Glacieran was nearly irresistible when he was being so nice and polite. No wonder Lacey had ended up sleeping with Frost. She wondered how polite Stark was in bed. Or did his arrogant side win out?

She laughed at her wicked thoughts as she went back to her cooking.

***

Stark stared at his empty plate. It had been full a few minutes ago. He raised his gaze to Topper who was smiling at him over her drink. Her plate was empty as well.

He was more than satisfied—he was content. Great food cooked by a beautiful woman. It was not something that happened to him often.

Stark bowed his head. “Thank you for the excellent food, Topper. It was wonderful.” His heart constricted when she bowed her head and smiled almost shyly. Why was such a competent, beautiful female so embarrassed by compliments?

“Hasn’t a woman ever prepared you a meal before?” Topper asked, sipping her wine.

Stark snorted. “My mates were intelligent companions but less domestic than I was. Much to my chagrin, both of them expected me to use my retired military status to provide them with an abode in the city and an easy life full of servants who would meet their needs. They were shocked to find themselves living in a remote location with someone who left them alone for weeks at a time. Neither relationship lasted long. And I did not wish to choose wrongly a third time.”

“So did you marry for the sex then? I suppose you would call it privileged mating availability?”

“No. Any female can relieve basic needs. I mated for the companionship and thought it would be nice to have someone to come home to. The ice fields are a lonely place, even for someone who likes their independence as I do. Perhaps it is not a fit life for any female. Willing partners come to visit me, but they do not stay. I don’t take it personally.”

Topper chuckled. “At least it spares you cooking breakfast for them the morning after.”

Stark sighed… and shrugged. “Probably for the best since I don’t cook at all. It is my greatest failure.”

He shrugged when Topper laughed at his admission.

A smile accompanied his next shrug. “When I served as a Star Ranger, I was often sent to strange planets that had food I truly couldn’t eat. Once I went many of your Earth months living off Glacier survivalist rations. After I retired from that work, I vowed to make good food a priority in my life, no matter where I lived. Unfortunately, I am out in the ice fields a lot and cooking heat is too much of a luxury in a temporary shelter. Despite the obvious irony, in my current job I find myself once again living off Glacier survivalist rations. This is why even your simple food is a feast to me.”

Topper snickered over Stark’s story. “Okay. Now I feel sorry for you. After we catch the dakkari, I’ll make you a giant steak. If an omelet makes you so happy, you’ll be ecstatic eating a whole meal of meat. I eat alone more often than I have company, but I cook for the pleasure it brings me. I could magic it together, but it’s not the same experience.”

“You appear to have created a very nice life for yourself, Topper. Are you contented?”

Topper took another sip of wine as she thought of how to answer. “Am I contented? Yes. I think I am—for the most part.”

“Why do you have no mate?” Stark asked, really wanting to know.

Her head was shaking before she realized that she wanted to tell Stark what she had never told anyone. Only her sisters knew it had even happened. She had been a young witch, barely twenty-five, and not nearly as powerful as she had become in her thirties. Her sisters honored her decision to simply forget her lapse in judgment. She had forced everyone else to do so the way she always did.

“I was madly in love once,” Topper admitted, though it felt strange now to say it aloud. “Lanier wasn’t like me. He was just a regular human. When he found out I was a witch, he got scared. In a short period of time, he became so afraid of my power that he reported me and my whole family to government officials. When they came to Magic, hoping to experiment on us and steal our power, I had to mind wipe all of them. It took all the power I had at the time and my sisters lent me some of theirs to get it done. I made the scientists believe they had failed to find anything but a family of eccentric humans. They left Magic and never returned.”

“What did you do about your betrayer? Did you seek him out and kill him?” Stark demanded. “I would have.”

Topper swallowed hard and then laughed because she suspected he spoke the truth.

“Oh, I thought about killing him, but being a coward doesn’t mean you deserve to die. There are millions of people on Earth who fear the kind of power that exists in Magic. Loving someone like him was my mistake. So, no—I didn’t kill him. Instead, I tracked him down and wiped away all his memories of me. Now only I remember. It’s better that way.”

“But you are still wounded inside from his betrayal.”

Topper snickered at his poetic way of saying the guy had broken her heart. “Not really, Stark. I just never kept a lover for long after that. My power equal never showed up in my life so I settled for temporary relationships. When I broke up with a guy—human or otherwise—I always made him forget me. That small measure has kept me and the rest of Magic safe.”

Stark frowned as he nodded. “Your story tells me we have led similar lives. It does not please me to know you have suffered the same loneliness I have suffered. It seems like a waste for both of us.”

Topper stood and carried their empty plates to the sink. She would leave them until morning. It would be comforting to wake and see their dirty dishes. It would remind her that she didn’t have to be alone unless she chose to be.

She brought a wet cloth back to the table and wiped the surface down while Stark watched her every motion. She was aware of his masculine interest, but at the same time, she found him a good listener and a comfortable companion. Perhaps they were becoming friends—of a sort.

“The real problem for me is that I never found a person—human, witch, shifter, or immortal creature—who understood how important it was to me to protect those who come to live in Magic. All creatures who roam the Earth deserve a safe place to live and raise their families. It is Gaia’s law of creation on this planet—much like the way Icela takes care of Glacier. I’m friends with the three Fates too. They drive me crazy with their stupid prophecies, but at least they keep me from screwing up more.”

She stopped rubbing a perfectly clean table and found Stark’s gaze riveted to her face.

“I think you are perhaps the most admirable female I’ve met outside of the Goddess,” he said.

“You met your Goddess? You met Icela? Like in person?” Topper asked in surprise.

Stark nodded and smiled. “Yes. In the ice fields, she and her warrior found me one day. She gave me a gift of power to make my job easier. She said it was because I had been careful not to kill any Glacier creatures I didn’t have to kill. She said I had a pure heart despite the warrior’s blood that ran in my veins.”

“What power did she give you?” Topper asked.

“Seeing into the soul of every creature I meet,” Stark answered carefully. “And some other useful things. Nothing as spectacular as being able to create an intergalactic space portal, but I appreciate the gifts regardless.”

Topper straightened and walked back to the sink. She suddenly felt exposed. What had Stark seen in her soul?

“I guess it’s my turn to shower. Then I think I’m going to bed early. I want to be fully rested for whatever we have to do tomorrow. I’ll see you in the morning, Stark.”

Still thinking about all he had said, Topper left without saying goodnight.

***

Stark paced in his assigned sleeping space listening to the running water and imagining Topper standing naked under it. When the sound stopped, he couldn’t take the pressure any more. He was afraid of being rejected again. But he was more afraid of not asking and never getting a chance to be with her.

How had the Earth witch reduced him to this level of hesitation? He was never afraid—not of anything. His bravery was legendary. He simply refused to be afraid of Topper now no matter how powerful she was.

Walking out of his space and stopping in front of hers, he opened her bedroom door and walked blindly into the room. All his senses were aware Topper was naked under the scant strip of drying cloth she’d donned before leaving her bathroom. Her natural fragrance was beckoning him, but he made himself resist its call.

“Stark, you can’t just come in here because it suits you. Maybe being nude in front of people is normal for you, but I require privacy while I dress.”

“This won’t take long. I just needed to ask you a question,” Stark said softly, walking a bit closer. He reached out and touched a tendril of damp hair that rested against one of Topper’s soft, pale shoulders. “What kind of pleasuring techniques do you like best?”

“What?” Topper stumbled away, pulling her wet hair from his fingertips.

Techniques? Was he for real?

Her pulse fluttered at his closeness. Stark was large, attractive, and extremely intimidating. Double that when she was naked and clutching a towel.

But they were in her bedroom, not his. She could disappear easily enough, but she wasn’t using her magic up just to run from what he was making her feel. Stark was obviously used to females being more receptive to his arrogant sexual attention, but that was no reason to expect Earth women to be easy.

“It’s none of your business what I like,” Topper said, clearing her throat.

“That’s why I came in here. I wish to make it my business. I wish that very much,” Stark whispered, closing in until he was close enough to touch her. “Do you like a small show of aggression to titillate your senses?”

Topper’s mouth dropped open in shock. Before she could stop him, Stark hooked two long fingers down the front of the material she was wrapped in and tugged her closer.

“I know some females like the male to inspire their lust. I’ve already risen to the challenge you offer. Are you aware of that, Topper?”

His mouth hovered over hers while he growled low and deep. Goddess, he could feel Topper’s erratic heartbeat thundering under his fingers. Her rising excitement made him hard as a Glacier male half his age. When she still didn’t answer, Stark tightened his hold and leaned down to her mouth. Topper melted against him when he used his sharp, deadly teeth to gently nip her bottom lip.

When she sucked in air trying to catch her breath, Stark spun Topper around to face away from him as he stripped the fabric from her body. Normally, he didn’t have to work so hard to seduce a female, but Topper seemed insecure about her appeal. He would like nothing better than to show her just how appealing he found her.

“Maybe you would prefer more physical closeness and perhaps some stroking. I’ve been dying to touch you since the first time I saw you, so I think I would like that too,” he whispered.

Topper’s panicked squeak as breath left her body again made Stark growl in answer. He suddenly had greater empathy for all the beasts he had dragged away from their mates for a time.

He covered Topper’s generous breasts with both hands and pressed proof of his arousal against her back. When she hissed, he slid one hand down until it disappeared between her legs. She instantly made his hand wet with her readiness for taking. His muscles strained and trembled against her, wanting fiercely to do just that.

“Or do you prefer a little jolt to wake up your sleeping libido? I could wake you up, Topper. I could wake your body up from its long sleep.”

He released her, but before she could stumble away from his hands, Stark gently grabbed a handful of hair at the back of her head to restrain her in a different way. Then he used his much larger body to bend her forward until her hands had no choice but fall to the bed as a brace.

Leaning to one side, he gave her already quivering buttock a tiny, sharp slap before stroking his hand over it to soothe the slight pain he’d caused.

“Stark…”

“Yes, Topper?”

Stark slipped his hand around the front of her again and between her legs just before they tightened. Topper’s muttered swearing as she called her deities for help made him smile.

He pulled Topper’s head back by her hair and twisted her face back up to his until he could devour her mouth. It was a brutal first kiss and yet more relieving than he had anticipated. She moaned around his tongue thoroughly exploring her mouth. She quivered and shook, and then pressed her hips back against his until he believed madness would result for them both.

Finally, he tore his mouth away, stunned to find himself breathing as roughly as Topper was. His demonstration of his power over her body had him reeling with both success and failure.

Maybe that was Topper’s problem with him. He wanted to be the aggressor with her.

“Tell me Topper—are you one of those females who needs to have all the control? I can do that also, but it is much harder for me. I am used to pleasuring females who barely move beneath me. After doing all the work for so long, my first inclination is to be in charge.”

Stark let go of her hair then, kissed the back of her neck, and pulled Topper upright with an upward stroke of the hand he eased from between her thighs. Ignoring the taut, taunting nipple he’d grazed on his travels, he stepped away while the female he desired remained frozen where she was.

He walked around to stand beside her where Topper could see the full effect she had on him, even through the clothes he wore. He lifted a tendril of her hair, but didn’t really touch her again. Her bed was too close and her nipples were still hard buds begging to be appreciated.

“I want to be yours, Topper. I want you in a way I can’t recall wanting any female before you, even though I have enjoyed my fair share of them. I do not understand the origin of the fierce urge I have to be with you, but I accept it for the gift it is. I want it even if it is as temporary as all other such connections have been for both of us. What I don’t want is to regret not making my wishes clear.”

Stark bowed his head and then left her to consider his proposal. Leaving Topper was a torture. He wanted to stay, but not if she didn’t want him back as desperately as he wanted her.

He stopped at the door of her room and turned back briefly. He didn’t want to leave Topper thinking that all he saw in her was a bed partner.

“Thank you again for feeding me. It was very pleasant to share a meal with a companion so easy to converse with. I’ll be in my room if you decide you want me. If you don’t, I promise I won’t keep pressuring you. That would not be honorable male behavior where I come from.”

Still in shock, Topper turned just in time to watch Stark’s prime jean-covered ass clearing her bedroom doorway. She looked down at herself, stunned at her own brazen nudity, including her protruding nipples. Her girls hadn’t done that trick in a very long while. She didn’t even know they still could.

Stark’s sexual talent show had woke all of her up, and it had made her wonder just what he could make her feel if she let him have his way.

Topper shook her head and sighed. His power over her was not something to take lightly.

When in Fates name had she developed an affinity for love taps on her ass? Never—that’s when. Now she was thinking about a good many things. All of which were highly possible with the male sleeping in the bedroom on the other side of hers.

And all she had to do was march in there and tell him she wanted him.

But could she really believe all that stuff Stark said about her being different than the other females he’d known? Of course not. She might glamour herself, but in reality she knew how she looked. Her breasts were mature, as was the rest of her. She didn’t really mind her aging because she liked herself. That didn’t mean she expected some guy who looked like Stark to desire her.

Maybe his planet of Glacier had different ideals about body image.

Bloody hell… why was she even thinking about this?

She was not sleeping with someone who would be leaving in a day or two. You couldn’t miss what you never had. Sure, most her relationships had been temporary, but she hadn’t entered into them knowing they were going to be. She’d always retained some hope they might turn out to be… well, more.

“Aliens. Can’t sleep with them. Can’t get them out of your freaking head,” Topper groused, as she collected her towel from where Stark had flung it.

Then she headed back to the bathroom for a necessary cold shower.

CHAPTER 6

Three hours later, Topper pulled a pillow over her face and thought about screaming. The second shower hadn’t helped. She was still wide awake and failing to get Stark’s arousing touch out of her mind. She pulled the pillow away. She was too old for this. Women her age shouldn’t cower in the face of their obvious needs. They should act and not worry so much about the costs.

She climbed from the bed and yanked on a robe over her naked body. Walking briskly out of her bedroom, she walked through the connecting hallway to the room where Stark was sleeping.

Only he wasn’t sleeping. He was sitting naked in a chair by the window, staring out at the stars. Stark turned and smiled when he saw her. “I couldn’t sleep for thinking about you.”

Topper nodded. “Same here.” She walked slowly across the room to him. “I have many reservations, but if we don’t do this, I think I’m going to die of frustration.”

Stark held out a hand. “I know. Come sit with me. We will adjust to the idea together.”

“Doubtful. I’ve been trying to do that for the last three hours without success,” Topper snickered, but she let Stark pull her into his lap. He adjusted her body until she was draped across him. Then he tucked her chin into his shoulder and ran a hand down her arm. A sudden rash of cold shivers made her tremble. Beneath her, Stark went very still.

“What’s wrong?” She raised her head to see Stark staring at his fingers resting against her wrist.

“What is it?” she demanded again.

Stark shook his head and ran his fingers up and down Topper’s arm again. He watched the crystals form designs. “Icela has a habit of surprising me, but she’s outdone herself this time,” he whispered. He lifted Topper’s fingers to his mouth for a reverent kiss. “Now I know why I was so determined to do this mission myself. You are the female the Goddess has chosen for me. I should have guessed that when I could not control my arousal around you.”

Topper leaned away. “What are you talking about?”

Stark smiled. “It doesn’t matter tonight. All that matters in this moment is that you came to me—that you want me back. It was more than I hoped would happen after I left you.”

Topper started to pull away, but Stark’s hand slipping inside her robe to cup her breast wiped away the urge. Instead, she marveled again that he could pull such a fierce, nearly instant reaction from her. She leaned toward him, pressing her breast into his large hand.

“Now kiss me, powerful witch. Make me feel wanted. I crave it from you,” Stark ordered, pinching her nipple firmly until Topper’s mouth opened in a gasp.

Despite the dizziness he was causing, Topper managed to find his mouth with hers. She dragged her lips across his, stopping to nip along the way. He groaned against her and she let her tongue slip out to look for his. Suddenly, she was lifted and spun around until she straddled him. Her hands held his face while she tormented his mouth. Her knees slid down on either side of his hips as she leaned into him.

She pulled her mouth from Stark’s and kissed her way down his neck as her hands slipped between her legs to stroke what had risen against her.

“It’s been a long time for me and the last few men… well, let’s just say they were not like you,” Topper whispered.

Stark leaned forward to kiss her eyes. His fingers went to her robe and undid the tie. He spread it open and grabbed her hips to move her closer to him. Topper moaned as he slid her already wet entrance across his erection. She had reason for concern. He was harder for her than he’d been since a youth.

“I will be as gentle as I can be—at first. Once inside you, I know I will not be able to constrain myself. You will have to stop me if you are uncomfortable.”

Topper laughed. “Stop you? I don’t even know why I’m here. I’m nothing but confused about why I feel like I have to do this.”

“Let me show you why then,” Stark said. He slid one hand under her and lifted her up so he could kiss her again. His other hand slid between her legs, two fingers gently slipping inside her.

“You are ready for me and I am honored by the fact,” he whispered against her mouth. “Take me inside you, Witch.”

“Yes, oh bossy one,” Topper declared, biting his bottom lip and liking his groan. She reached between them, gripped his hard length, and then braced a hand on his shoulder as she slid down on him.

“Open your eyes while you do it,” Stark ordered.

Her startled green gaze flew to his dancing silver one as she eased herself further down on him. His eyes nearly crossed when he was completely sheathed.

“Now ride me,” he commanded. “I need to be taken by you. I need to know I am who you want.”

Topper shook as she rose and fell until Stark was seated deep within her and breathing hard. She rose again, this time rocking her hips forward as she came down. Stark hissed beneath her. She watched his face as she rode him, watched his bliss take him over. She rode him lightly, reluctant to change what felt so good for her.

Until Stark grasped her hips and growled in her ear. “Harder. Don’t make me keep you up for the rest of the night getting my fill.”

Topper lowered herself and rocked her hips forward and back. She heard herself panting but couldn’t care. Stark’s commanding whispers were driving her on… but they were also driving her crazy.

“Shut up,” she ordered back. “I can’t concentrate with you barking orders at me.” His husky laughter made her stop mid-slide. “And now you’re laughing… okay, I’m done.”

“No, we’re not. Far from it. I don’t think we will ever be done,” Stark declared.

He stood with Topper wrapped around him. He buried his face in her shoulder. She had to wrap her legs tightly around his waist to keep from sliding down his body. He loved every second of her desperate clinging.

Then her back hit the bed. Topper stared up into Stark’s eyes as he stared back. “I’m sorry I couldn’t finish you off in the chair. I’m out of practice.”

Stark chuckled at the least of his concerns. “You won’t be by tomorrow morning,” he promised. “We will be experts on each other by then.”

“You are so damn arrogant. I hate that in most men,” Topper whispered.

He took her mouth ruthlessly, his tongue seeking hers as his body surged forward to bury his mating organ in her depths. Topper moaned around his tongue and her legs quivered as they tightened around his waist. He chose a rhythm and held it, knowing it might take his out-of-practice lover a while to find her pleasure. That was fine with him. There was a perfect bliss from just being inside her. In time, he would find a thousand ways to please her. But this first time was about raw need and their acceptance of it.

When Topper hissed and arched her hips, he wanted to yell like a warrior, but instead he bent his large body enough to bury his face in her throat.

“Stark,” she said, panting in bliss.

“Goddess, I love to hear you say my name so desperately.”

Unable to hold back anymore, he raised up on his hands and drove into her hard, Topper’s body giving with every push until she shattered around him. He kept on moving until his body found release and then he slid arms under her to hold her to him, unwilling to let her escape.

He was still kissing her face when Topper’s breathing returned to normal. Her hand moved to his face and her fingertips traced his lips. He smiled against them.

“Now I get why all those alien women stand in line for a turn with you,” Topper teased.

Stark shook his head. “Not really. But eventually you will understand. Tonight was rough. It was a hard won concession for both of us to give in to each other. Now we can focus on more pleasurable pursuits of our bliss.”

Topper snickered. “I should never have praised you. You’re arrogant enough as it is.”

She fell asleep only to be awakened some time later by a hot mouth suckling her nipple while several icy fingertips teased and stroked her throbbing clit. When a couple of those icy fingers slid inside, her moan incited a riot in the male torturing her. His mouth and hands traded places and Topper screamed when the orgasm from Stark’s suckling rolled over her. The nearly violent pleasure was overwhelming, but especially so when followed by Stark’s determined erection giving her spasming channel a bigger reason to be grateful.

She could tell he held nothing back, but as sore as she knew she was going to be, all she really felt was a profound sense of being desperately needed. It was thrilling and she couldn’t believe she’d found it with someone like him.

Following instinct, which in this case meant rejecting her sanity, Topper reached out and grabbed a handful of Stark’s silver hair. She pulled hard and forced his matching silver eyes to meet hers in the dimly lit room.

“Harder, alien. I need to know you want me,” she mocked, sending his words back to him. She let go of his hair only when Stark growled and lifted her hips to plunge even deeper.

When pleasure took her over again, she—human female that she was—wept with emotional relief, as well as physical. In the middle of the most astounding climax she could ever recall having in her life, Stark’s body had seized and fallen down heavily on hers, his breathing harsh as his body still strained inside hers.

Topper sighed raggedly in contentment and ran fingers through his silver hair while he panted in effort. “Stark—talk to me. Are you okay?”

His head moved side-to-side next to hers and made her laugh. He slid gently away until his face rested on her breasts.

“I am like a young male with no control at all with you. I prayed to the Goddess that I didn’t harm you in my enthusiasm.”

Topper’s giggle as she met his gaze was uncontrollable. She’d earned that silver-eyed glare she’d gotten for laughing, but his concern still amused her. “I’m not harmed… at least not permanently. But if you wake me up again, I may have to turn you into a toad. This is incredibly nice, but I need my rest.”

Stark huffed and laid his head back down on her breasts. “Why should I fear you, Witch? Your magic didn’t work on me when I got here.”

Topper giggled again. In a saner moment, the truth of that might have worried her, but she was still feeling the glow he’d given her.

“You’re right, Stark. I forgot that. Guess I’ll have Theo fry your alien ass. Let’s see if you’re immune to dragon fire.”

“After all the pleasure my alien ass—as you call it—has given you tonight, I would have thought you might feel more kindly toward me.”

Topper played with his silver hair. Stark was right, but for some reason, she didn’t want him to know it. “Why should I feel special? I’m just the next female in line. Not that I’m complaining. Like I said earlier… you’re as good in bed as you claimed to be. I certainly won’t be calling you a liar.”

Stark sighed against her. “My dearest Topper, you are not the next in line—you’re the last in line. You are my chosen one. Now sleep. We will talk about this tomorrow.”

Topper snorted. “It is tomorrow, Mr. Bossy. The sun is coming through the windows.”

“Then sleep for a short time anyway. I’m sorry I woke you so often. I couldn’t stop myself. I find your uninhibited responses to me very interesting.”

Topper giggled. “Yes. I feel that interest rising against my thigh again. Are you really that insatiable?”

“No—at least not usually,” Stark declared. “I just have never found a female who could handle me as well as you do. It’s like I was starving for this level of satisfaction, but I didn’t know I was starving until I’d had you a few times. Now I know only you and I feel I have a lot to learn. Being an impatient sort, I want to learn it all tonight.”

“Oh,” Topper replied, staring at the ceiling. “You know, I think you’re right. I need more sleep. But we need to get up in a few hours. We still have to find the dakkari.”

“And we will,” Stark declared, “but for now—let’s both sleep—just for a while.”

He slid off Topper’s body reluctantly, but fitted himself against her side. In moments, her even breathing told him that she slept. Unwilling to think of the decisions ahead for both of them, Stark closed his eyes and rested as well.

CHAPTER 7

Topper woke up groaning when she tried to roll to her side and it hurt. Before she could get mad at her aging body over the discomfort, she remembered the night’s activities and laughed. There wasn’t an inch of her that had escaped Stark’s attention. She would be paying for that debauchery the rest of today unless she called Nonny for a tonic.

As full consciousness returned, Topper also realized the guest bed was empty of the male who’d used her so thoroughly. Guess Glacierans didn’t hang around to chat the morning after. They were not much different than most Earth men in that regard.

Snorting at her silly sense of abandonment, she swung her legs to the floor, only to find out they were not very willing to hold her up this morning. She laughed again, then cursed the horny alien who’d caused her weakness.

She gingerly walked out of Stark’s room to hers, then directly to the shower where she turned on the hottest water she could stand. It went a long way to easing her aches. By the time she was dry, she was nearly ready to face the day… and the alien who hadn’t bothered to face her the morning after.

To deal with the remaining discomfort, she settled for popping a few of the painkillers she found in her medicine cabinet. Real healing would have to wait for later. At least now she would be able to walk without wincing with every movement.

This time when she entered the hallway, she heard male voices in the kitchen. She walked in on a conversation that halted as they both turned to look at her.

Stark bowed his head once, his silver eyes gleaming with pleasure to see her. The way he was looking at her almost made up for waking alone. And damn, that reverent head bowing thing he did was sexy. The alien was so constrained most of the time.

To know what he was like under all that calm demeanor made her want to smile at him like a mad woman. It also made her want to go sit in his lap and say good morning for real despite her aching body. Luckily for her still aching legs, their audience put a damper on that urge.

Theo grinned at her around his coffee cup. “Look who finally got up today. Stark and I have been out here talking for over two hours. All that extra sleep must have been good for you though. You’re actually smiling this morning.”

“What are you talking about, Theo? I’m not smiling,” Topper denied, heading to the coffee pot. She started to pour herself a cup and then stopped. “Wait—I don’t like coffee. I drink tea. What am I doing?”

“Besides delaying the search for the green meanies by sleeping in?” Theo demanded.

“Oh, stuff it,” Topper said, not turning around. “Or you’ll be the first ever dragon toad.”

Theo snorted and looked at Stark. “Has Topper threatened to turn you into a toad yet?”

Topper froze and swung around to glare fearfully at Stark who stared at her panic with one eyebrow raised.

“Yes,” Stark said succinctly, his gaze never wavering. “Topper threatened and then I reminded her that her magic didn’t work on me. As I recall the conversation, you and your fire-breathing skills were Topper’s backup plan.”

Theo laughed and drank his coffee. “Well, she’s right. I’d fry anyone’s ass Topper asked me to. Even yours… though I am finally starting to like you… a little.”

“Yes and we were both so worried about your opinion. I could barely sleep for worrying about it,” Topper said sarcastically, turning back to the sink.

She filled her tea kettle with water and put it on the stove to boil.

“So… did you guys come up with a plan while I was sleeping in?”

Topper put a teabag in her favorite mug and turned back to face them. She avoided Stark’s gaze, afraid of seeing humor there. She would laugh and that would tell Theo far more than a sultry glance would. The only time she laughed at a man was when she was mind wiping one.

Theo frowned and took a sip of his coffee. “Actually, what we came up with was something scarier. If the beeberg caught a shifter in its animal form, it could go after it for a host. Stark seems to think that may be why we haven’t found her yet. He thinks maybe she’s got her eye on a shifter and is just waiting for the right opportunity.”

Topper drew in a startled breath. The possibility hadn’t even occurred to her. No one in Magic thought of shifters as animals—not really. “We need to put out a no shifting ban until the creatures have all been located and caught.”

“Agreed,” Theo said, rising from his chair. “I’m heading back to the office to do that right now. I’ll let you both know if I hear anything else. Finish making your tea, Topper. I know my way out. Stark—see you later.”

“Of course, Sheriff.” Stark bowed his head to acknowledge being included in the farewells.

Theo paused in the doorway. “I still haven’t heard from Alfred. Can you run by and check on him? He’s probably back in his fish bowl, but that would be good to know. I’d go myself, but I figured since you and Stark would be out and about…”

“Fine,” Topper said. “I’ll check on him today.”

“Thanks,” Theo said, once again heading to the door.

She and Stark said nothing more until they’d heard his truck start up and pull away.

***

When the tea kettle whistled, Topper poured the water over her tea bag. She carried it to the table and took Theo’s vacated, but still warm seat.

“What happened between you and Theo?” she asked.

Stark felt one corner of his mouth lift. “Males on your planet are very similar to mine. Now that your sheriff feels we are working together, he is no longer threatened by my power as much. However, the peace between us might have been jeopardized if the fire breather had suspected you’d spent the night in my bed.”

“One of many reasons why I always slept with men who didn’t live around here,” Topper ground out, blowing on her tea to cool it. “Well, I’m glad Theo feels better about you being in Magic. His improved opinion still doesn’t change what we have to do though.”

Stark nodded in agreement. “Nor does it change how I feel about what happened last night.”

Topper took a sip and burned her tongue. She was always doing that, too impatient to wait for it to cool to a drinking temperature. “I guess that is true for me as well.”

The silence between them grew and Topper let it. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to talk about last night or not. But obviously Stark did.

“I must ask this question. Do you now regret giving yourself to me?”

Topper sipped her tea. Now that she’d burned her tongue, the hot liquid didn’t bother her so much. She looked at Stark over her cup—met his direct gaze.

“I don’t regret the first couple of times, but the last two or three took their toll on my older female body. I’m surviving this morning, just maybe walking a little funny. Theo didn’t seem to notice, which makes me think no one else will. The dragon misses nothing.”

Stark rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m sure the answer I seek was in that explanation, but I failed to hear it. Let me rephrase—did I harm you in my enthusiasm for you last night?”

Topper snickered. His concerns about her always made her laugh. She just wasn’t sure why. “No, Stark. You didn’t harm me. I’m just not twenty, so your enthusiasm has me aching in places that I forgot existed. I’ll be fine. Stop worrying.”

She swallowed hard when Stark reached out and picked up her hand. He brought her fingers to his lips. He was so gallant. Once again she wondered about how relationships worked on his world.

“Topper—in my whole long life, I never lost control with a woman until you. The entire time I was talking to your fire breather, all I could think about was if you were going to hate me when you awoke. I was unable to enjoy the food your dragon insisted on making for me.”

Topper set down her mug with an exasperated thump, sloshing tea over the side. “I don’t know what kind of females you’re used to on Glacier, but I would have stopped you if anything had been a problem. But I didn’t want to stop you, so I didn’t. Now I’m paying a tiny price for my overindulgence this morning, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking about repeating everything we did. Earthlings are like that. We’re excessive, especially women who’ve found a man who makes love to her the way she’s always dreamed a man would.”

Stark swallowed hard and sighed. “It relieves me to hear I pleased you.”

Fed up with explaining something that still had the capacity to make her blush despite her age, Topper stood and leaned over the table. She grabbed Stark by the shirt front and yanked him close enough to put her mouth on his. He let her kiss him, his mouth relaxed and compliant under her exploring one. Moaning, she bit and sucked his bottom lip, before making herself turn loose.

Sighing after she let go, Topper lowered herself back to the chair and picked up her tea again. “Did that answer any remaining questions you might have?”

“Yes,” Stark whispered, his voice husky with renewed arousal. “Yes, my lovely witch, I believe it did.”

Topper nodded, swallowing nervously at the possessive look in his eyes. Stark looked like he was ready to drag her back to bed. She really needed to learn to control herself better. Maybe when Stark went back to his planet—until then, she’d just have to deal.

“Good. Now that we got that straight, where are we going to start our search for the beeberg?”

CHAPTER 8

As they left her house, Topper sighed in resignation. There was no use putting off what she didn’t really want to do, but neither she nor Stark had any idea where to start. The town was full of shifters. All the witches owned familiars of some sort. What else was she supposed to do?

“No matter how much I wish I could put it off, I need to go check on Alfred,” she announced.

“The person the sheriff mentioned?” Stark asked.

“Yes,” Topper replied. “And someone I recently disappointed. We had dinner and… it didn’t turn into more. Alfred didn’t take it well.”

Stark nodded. “I know how that feels. I’ve had to turn some females away because they just didn’t appeal to me—some because they were mated. Those who left unsatisfied did not speak well of me.”

Topper snickered. “I’m sure the ones who got to stay more than made up for that with their glowing reviews.”

Stark shrugged. “I never thought about it. Some left before I woke. No one complained. Occasionally, one returned hoping I was ready for a mate again. I made no promises because I had no intentions of keeping any of them. They knew when they stayed that what I offered was only temporary.”

“Gee… am I supposed to feel sorry for you because all those women wanted you?” Topper demanded, laughing at his sad tone.

“No,” Stark said, turning his head to her. “But after last night, I suddenly understand why I withheld my true self from them.”

Topper laughed. “Stop—okay? I already confessed to wanting a repeat. You don’t have to work so hard to flatter me.”

Stark grabbed her arm to stop her from walking. “Do you not recall what I said to you our first time? The crystals danced on your skin for me. You are my chosen one.”

Topper pulled free and started walking again. “Crystals? I’d call you crazy, but being a witch, I have no right. I guess you being an alien explains well enough why I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Before Stark could say more, twin flashes of red ran across the path in front of them.

“Look—it’s the jaguar’s dogs. Get them!” Topper exclaimed.

She started running after them, only to see Stark pass her as his long legs raced ahead. He was like some sleek animal himself, all muscle and speed, and exhibiting a strength she found astounding. She slowed to a walk after a minute, promising herself she was going to start using that freaking treadmill Lacey had given her when she’d turned fifty. Apparently, the occasional safari or white water river rafting jaunt hadn’t helped her stay in great physical health.

Between Alfred’s house and his neighbor’s, there was an alleyway. She caught up with Stark there. He had both of the giant mastiffs gripped behind their necks and dangling in front of him. Those dogs had to weigh over a hundred fifty pounds each, yet Stark held them like they were mere puppies. How freaking strong was he? No wonder she was sore all over.

“Wow. You got them,” Topper said, unable to stop herself from stating the obvious.

Stark chuckled. “They were a lot easier to catch than the thetta bears on Glacier, and are much lighter to carry. Look on their stomachs. Do you see a dakkari attached there? I can’t let go to check properly.”

Stark lifted them high and dangled both whimpering dogs in front of her. Topper dipped her head slightly and searched their undersides. Sure enough, there was a good size dakkari attached to each animal. All four limbs and most of the face was now buried beneath the fur and not visible anymore.

Topper turned away and stepped back, covering her mouth to give herself a moment. She took a couple deep breaths to fight her stomach’s reaction, then turned back to Stark.

“Sorry. I got a bit queasy there for a second. Normally, I zap things that make me feel like this. They’re there. Did we get to the dogs in time to save them?”

Stark lowered one dog to the ground while lifting the other. He turned it toward him as best he could. He studied what was left visible of the dakkari.

“We might be able to save the host creature, but there will be some damage to the animal after we disconnect them. The level of damage depends on how deeply the dakkari has gone into the creature’s vital organs.”

Topper winced at the grossness, but nodded. “Okay. More than I ever wanted to know, but I guess that can’t be helped. So the beeberg must be nearby, right?”

Stark tightened his grip on both animals, looked around, and nodded. “Yes. We need someplace to secure these two. If possible, we need to keep them nearby so the beeberg doesn’t get concerned. She will know if we take them too far away.”

Topper held up a finger. “Hold that thought. I’ll be right back.”

She transported herself and landed with a flash in front of Theo’s desk. Purple sparks of magic flooded the air and had both her and Theo coughing.

“I’m nervous. Sorry, Theo,” Topper said in apology, waving a hand.

“Damn it, Topper. One day you’re going to scare me into roasting you.”

She wanted to laugh at Theo’s complaining, but there was no time. “Call Malcolm and tell him to bring the containment van to the alleyway next to Alfred’s house.”

Theo’s brow wrinkled. “You mean the one we had made to hold first time shifters?”

“Yes—that one,” Topper confirmed with a nod. “We found both dogs and two of the missing dakkari are on them. We still have to look for the beeberg. Stark says we need to keep the dogs close at hand until we find her.”

“Okay. I’m on it,” Theo said, picking up the phone.

Topper lifted a hand and when she lowered it, she was back in front of Stark. “A containment van will be here in two minutes. Can you hold them that long?”

Stark’s eyes twinkled. “Yes. They will not struggle much because they know it could mean their death. I am what on your planet would be called an apex predator—probably the highest form here outside of Frost. I imagine that is the reason your dragon sheriff has been so concerned about me, though I understand he was merely acting on instinct. I’m sure Theo is used to being the top species here in his dragon form.”

Topper blinked, stunned by Stark’s comment. There was no doubting he was different from most human males, but after sleeping with him, she had forgotten he was an alien.

She watched him holding the massive dogs like it was no big deal to do so. She would have had to use her magic. So far Stark hadn’t had to do anything outside of what seemed everyday ordinary for him.

“Humans are the top species on Earth,” she declared firmly, crossing her arms as Stark smirked and turned away to hide his amusement. “Don’t give me that condescending look, Stark. I meant what I said. Dragons are not the top species here. Theo just thinks he’s hot shit. That doesn’t mean he actually is.”

Stark chuckled, grinning at Topper’s crossed arms. “I see self-delusion is another planetary trait Glacierans share with Earthlings.”

His knowing smile made her stomach flutter. Snorting, Topper put a hand over her midsection and rubbed. “I can’t believe you think you’re an apex predator. Next thing I know, you’ll be telling me that your people are superior to mine in every way.”

His full out laughter made her frown. Was the arrogant alien laughing at her or with her? She couldn’t tell. She didn’t like it either way.

“You seriously can’t think that, Stark. I was joking, damn it.”

Still laughing at the witch’s irritation over his honesty about the rest of her planet’s inhabitants, Stark turned when he heard a rolling transport approaching. What more proof could he offer Topper? Earth didn’t even have levitating transports yet.

The slow-moving metal box pulled forward and then backed into the path where he stood. The dragon sheriff popped out of one side opening. A stranger popped out of the other and came to open the back of what appeared to be the containment area Topper had ordered. Stark shook his head. The vehicle no doubt ran on fossil fuels too.

After showing the sheriff and the other male the attached dakkari on the dogs, Stark loaded both abducted animals into the containment unit. When he turned back, Topper was still standing with crossed arms. And she was still glaring at him.

Stark’s amused gaze dropped to focus on the ground while he rapidly thought of something he could say without making his situation worse. It wasn’t that Glacierans were superior… not really. It was that Earthlings were not yet completely evolved. It was like comparing a small child to a full grown adult. There was no fair way to do it. But this was obviously a time for careful politics instead of scientific truth. This sort of thing was precisely why he wasn’t working in Polar’s position. He sucked at interplanetary diplomacy.

“What my planet has always believed about your planet has not previously taken witches, dragons, or other shifters into account. So the term superior cannot apply to any discussion we might have. However, when comparing average beings on my planet to average beings on Earth, such as those without any special powers, then it is only truthful to say Glacierans are more advanced.”

Topper glared. “And just how in the name of the Fates are Glacierans more advanced? Other than living longer and getting to look like kids when they’re really irritating, snooty old men?”

Choosing to ignore her insults, Stark thought for a moment. “Some of us have powers similar to yours… with the exception of magical transportation. Others are advanced healers, excellent builders, or artists whose creations move you to weep at their beauty.”

“Fine. Can any of your advanced beings open a damn space portal?” Topper demanded.

Stark grinned at her tone. “No. No, they cannot. I concede the portal does make me question the validity of my argument.”

“Because there is no valid argument in your words,” Topper declared. “This is exactly why I reacted the way I did when we first met. Arrogance is like your default setting. I can’t believe I forgot that about you.”

Topper waved her hands angrily, wishing she had the power to do something to him in retribution. When Theo and Malcolm called out her name and ducked, laughter over her actions caught up with her. She glared at Stark harder than ever.

“See what you do? Now I’m scaring my people because your alien arrogance makes me so mad. A witch with my power can’t go around losing her temper.”

Stark snorted. “I really do understand, Topper. Your Earthling self-righteousness about your people being the most valuable beings in the Goddess blessed galaxy is what compels me to correct you. Surely a powerful witch like you can handle the truth.”

Topper growled at his smirk and his tone. Was that really her making that animalistic sound?

“I am far more than human. I am a seventeenth generation hereditary witch, you hard-headed alien. Gaia, the Goddess of my planet, grants me her power to protect those you consider your inferiors. Just because my magic doesn’t work on you for some reason doesn’t mean you can say whatever you like to me. There are more than fifty other witches living in Magic. Any one of them would be more than happy to turn you into whatever creature I think might teach you a lesson in Earth-bound humility.”

Theo’s near ear-shattering whistle drew both their attentions back to him.

“Before you two make each other mad enough for Topper to blow up the whole town proving herself, how about we all go back to finding the last green meanie that’s still missing?”

Topper glared at Stark while she nodded. “Theo’s right, but I’m checking on Alfred first since we’re right here by his house. You men can figure out what kind of canvassing we need in the area to find the beeberg.”

Stark watched Topper stalk away. She was still angry at him. Perhaps he’d gone a bit far in indulging his amusement over her quick defense of her planet. When he heard the sheriff sigh beside him, Stark turned.

“You don’t really think you’re superior to us, do you, Stark?” Theo asked. “I didn’t chime in because I figured you were just messing with Topper. But you made her spitting mad and that’s not easy to do. Topper is usually a very even tempered person. I hate to tell you this, but you probably just blew any chance you had with her liking you—if your alien man stick was still pointing her direction.”

Stark chuckled. Alien man stick. He was going to have to remember that one too. He wondered if Frost’s anatomy had gotten a similar description. And yes. His alien man stick would always be pointing Topper’s way, no matter how much they argued.

“Topper was sickened by the dakkari. I merely meant to distract her from the unpleasantness of the situation. Her passionate reaction to such a minor disagreement was surprising.”

Theo laughed. “I’ve known that woman nearly all my life. The only time Topper ever gets mad like that is when government officials get nosy and show up in Magic. I’ve never seen her react to anyone the way she reacts to you. You seem to know exactly how to push all her hot buttons.”

Stark bowed his head as he smiled. “Thank you. That is high praise.”

Theo laughed. It took him a full minute to stop. “Dude… that was a warning.”

“Then consider it noted, Sheriff,” Stark said, bowing his head. “Now tell me about the residents nearby. Any of them have animals?”

CHAPTER 9

Topper rang the doorbell and got no answer. She knocked several times, but that went unnoticed as well. Alfred was either not home or ignoring her. If it was the latter, he was in for a surprise. She was not going to let one bad date take out a friendship that had endured her entire lifetime.

Topper went to a nearby flower pot and retrieved the key from under it. She could have used magic to open the door, but that would have been an intrusion. Friends used keys, and that’s what she did today, letting herself inside without a shred of guilt.

“Alfred?” she called, walking back through the house. She heard a scrambling sound, then watched the back door slam. “Alfred—wait! We need to talk. There’s something important I need to tell you.”

She rushed down the back steps after him, lifted her hands, and sent a retrieval spell out to stop him from running off. Alfred paused in the back yard of a neighbor’s house, turned around to look at her, then stumbled off as if the spell hadn’t really affected him.

“Hell’s bells. This repetitive failure stuff is enough to give me a damn complex. Alfred,” Topper called again, chasing after him. Stark and Theo caught up with her before she got over the neighbor’s fence. “I tried to stop him, but it didn’t work. Something’s wrong with Alfred.”

Stark’s hand on her arm made her pause.

“What kind of creature is Alfred?” he asked quietly. “Is he more human or more something else?”

“He’s a… Alfred’s a fish,” Topper admitted. “He’s a shifter and has spent a lot of time in his animal form. He’s only been human for a short while now.”

“And he is immune to your magic?” Stark asked.

Topper stopped. “Not usually… no one in this town is immune. But weird things have been happening with me since you came to town. Maybe my magic isn’t working on Alfred either.”

She turned to Theo who grabbed at his clothes and held up a hand to stop her.

“No, Topper. No more magic tests. Let’s just say something’s wrong with Alfred,” Theo exclaimed. “I’m going around to head him off. See you two on the street.”

Topper turned back to Stark. “Do you think the beeberg is on Alfred?”

Stark straddled the fence with a single long legged stride. “I will investigate and let you know.”

Topper bit her lip. “Stark? Be careful. Alfred’s my friend.”

“I will be as careful as I can be,” Stark vowed, jogging ahead until he could see the creature in question.

The being was struggling to walk, no doubt fighting off Topper’s spell as he dealt with the dakkari now trying to control his brain. Stark walked quickly to catch up with him. He could see something moving on the man’s back under his shirt. That meant the dakkari had not taken possession yet, but she was working hard to do so. Well, at least they had found the beeberg.

“Alfred?” Stark called, speeding up when the being stopped and met his glare.

Alfred hissed at him—or rather the dakkari did—as they faced each other. Stark spoke to the creature in his native tongue, eliciting more hissing. At his continued approach, the hissing turned into a series of growls he doubted the poor shifter had ever made with his human throat.

He saw Theo coming towards them now from the opposite direction. Behind him, he felt Topper huffing as she caught up with them as well.

Stark spoke to the beeberg again in Glacieran. The beeberg controlled creature raised hands as if to claw at him. He put out his arm to prevent Topper from running forward and being on the receiving end of the creature’s wrath.

“Topper, no. Your friend is being controlled by the beeberg. We must find a way to separate them as quickly as we can.”

Topper swallowed back her pride. “My magic… it doesn’t seem to work. What else can we do?”

Stark turned and looked down at her. “Your magic might work if I can incapacitate the beeberg. Were you jesting about turning people into other creatures or is that a truth about your skills?”

Topper snorted. “Is this really the time to question my word? That’s only going to make me mad again.”

Stark drew himself up to his full height, the better to glare down at her. “Goddess preserve me. Calm that ego of yours, Witch. I just want to know if you can turn your friend into something smaller than the dakkari so it will make her turn loose of him.”

“Oh. Sorry,” Topper said. She fisted and unfisted her hands as she thought. “I don’t know if I can turn him into anything. But I can order him to revert to his animal form. Would that work?”

“Really? How can you order him?” Stark asked.

“It’s a pact everyone makes with Gaia when they come to live in Magic, New Mexico. The women in my family are the executors. We can order shifters to change either way. The magic law was put into effect for the safety of everyone in town. Sometimes a shifter goes into their animal state and doesn’t want to shift back. That can be problematic. We made the van for first timers. The young, arrogant ones are the worst.”

Stark nodded. “Okay. We need to be prepared if you can manage to get him to change. The dakkari beeberg will attack you as the source of her loss. I will stop her of course, but she can be quite vicious.”

“As vicious as Topper when she’s mad at you?” Theo asked softly, earning a hissing from Alfred and dual glares from Topper and Stark. “Hey… it was a joke. I’m tense over here. I’m hoping we don’t have to fry one of my best friends.”

Stark narrowed his gaze, holding the dragon’s. “This is bad, but it will be okay. I swear it.”

Topper nodded grimly. “Okay. If you’re that sure, I’m ready to do what I can.”

“Order your friend to change then,” Stark commanded.

Topper raised her hands and the wind lifted around her.

“Blessed Gaia, hear my call,

Help the one who’s now enthralled,

By your command and by my wish,

Let Alfred be once more a fish.”

They watched Alfred’s eyes grow wide and then the man disappeared into his clothes. A loud scream split the air as something fuzzy launched itself at Topper’s head.

Her answering scream froze Theo in place, but Stark reached out and snatched the creature mid-air. Topper watched his eyes shift and change. He spoke some words in his language. The screaming animal was suddenly covered in a block of ice with only its head outside of it. The hissing continued, but fighting was no longer possible. Stark worked his fingers free of the frozen block, until he held a beeberg popsicle in both hands.

“Alfred?” Topper called in alarm. She waved her hands, purple flecks of magic went flying everywhere, and suddenly a fully dressed Alfred stood in front of them. “Oh, thank the Fates.”

Stunned, Alfred’s gaze went from Topper to Stark to Theo and back to her.

“Topper? What’s going on? Why are we all out on the street?” he asked.

Topper stepped into Alfred and hugged. “I was so worried about you.”

“Ow… don’t hug me so hard. My back is killing me. Wait… did you just make me shift? Why did you do that out here in public?”

Topper looked at the ice bound dakkari in Stark’s hands. The ice wasn’t even melting. Later… she’d think about his magic later.

She hooked her arm through Alfred’s. “Come on. Let’s get you home. I’ll tell you on the way.”

***

Theo brought in Nonny to take a look at Alfred’s wounds.

Since all the dakkari were now accounted for and the threat was neutralized, Lacey and Frost were now heading their way to help with the mastiffs.

Topper and Stark were staring into the van at the dogs. “Could we do the same thing for the dogs?” she asked.

Stark nodded. “But it is hard to know if they will survive the dakkari being ripped from them.”

Topper turned away and rubbed her face with one hand. “I’m too old for this. If I hadn’t opened the portal, none of this would have happened. This is all my fault.”

“If you hadn’t opened the portal, Frost would never know about Lacey and his child, now would he?”

Topper sighed and nodded. “You’re right. Of course, you’re right. I just… poor Alfred. I should have been more careful. And now the dogs may die.”

Stark set the dakkari on the ground where he could keep an eye on it. The ice wouldn’t melt for some time, but he didn’t want to chance it escaping. He turned Topper by her shoulders until he could force her to look at him.

“We were able to quickly save your friend because of the amazing things you can do. This is no time to doubt your previous decisions. Yes—the two in the truck may die, but they also might live. All we can do is try and save them. At least then, we will have exhausted possibilities, yes?”

“Yes,” Topper agreed, nodding. “I’m just… I don’t know what I am. I don’t like this. I don’t like dealing with alien creatures. I want this to be over. I want it to be over now.”

She screeched when Stark shook her. Her head wobbled back and forth.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Topper yelled.

Stark snorted. “I am calming a hysterical witch by shaking her until her common sense returns.”

Topper smacked at his hands and jumped out of reach. “Well, stop it. Shake me again, and I swear I’ll find a way to turn you into a toad.”

“You will help me try and save the dogs,” Stark ordered.

Topper sighed and nodded. “Yes. I will help you… but keep your damn icy hands off me.”

“Until tonight,” Stark agreed, turning back to the van.

“Until I say otherwise, you arrogant bastard,” Topper declared.

Not arguing further, Stark opened the truck latch and lifted one of the dogs out. He held it in one hand and pointed to the dakkari. “This time—I’m going to freeze the dakkari before you turn the animal into a smaller version of itself.”

Topper nodded again, not smiling this time.

“Ready to start?” Stark demanded. “Our actions must be in concert.”

Topper glared. “Just freeze the green bastard. I’ll take care of the dog.”

Stark murmured words in his language and ice crystals formed a sheen on the back of the dakkari. They grew and covered the creature until the dog whimpered as it shivered with cold as well.

Topper waved her hand. The dakkari fell to the ground, solidly frozen. Stark held a yapping, mad Chihuahua in his hands instead of the mastiff. He inspected it and saw there were wounds left, but nothing that would not heal in time.

“Nice work,” Stark said, speaking loudly to be heard over the yapping. “Now please change him back. The other species is much better behaved.”

Topper wanted to disobey out of spite, but she couldn’t. She had never been a fan of small dogs. She waved her hand and the mastiff reappeared.

She watched as Stark lowered the dog to the ground and urged it to sit. “Remain here,” he commanded the animal. And it did—watching him with a guarded gaze. Topper glared. Stark better not think she was ever going to obey him like that.

Rolling her eyes at her thoughts, she repeated the process on the second dog and made it small. The second dakkari felt out of it, but the wounds were greater. There was no yapping, just whimpering. She changed the second dog back to its original size and Stark carefully put the wounded animal back into the van. Patting the area beside it, the first dog jumped right up in there without further prompting.

Stark consoled both of them and then ran his hands over the second dog’s wounds. A fine sheen of ice crystals formed over the area. The animal lay down and closed its eyes. The other lay down next to it for comfort.

Topper looked from Stark to the animals. “You really do have a way with them. I can see why you chose to work with animals for a living.”

“Mostly I didn’t want to be a politician and make laws for Glacier. I’d done enough law keeping.” Stark petted both animals one more time before closing up the van on them. “Frost says his mate understands how to heal animals. What I did will keep the dog mostly out of pain until Lacey can work on it properly. But I’m thinking both dogs will heal from this.”

“Good,” Topper said, nodding.

They both turned as Theo and Malcolm came out of Alfred’s house. Theo glanced into the back of the van, but didn’t ask Stark anything about the dakkari popsicle or the two dead ones. He just said they would meet Frost and Lacey back at the Sheriff’s office so they could hand over the dogs.

She and Stark watched the van drive away.

Topper sighed as she turned back and thought of what still had to be done. The two male dakkari were dead, their hosting days at an end. The female was still active and glaring, but going nowhere. She waved her hands and made all three creatures pocket sized.

Stark smiled and pulled his purple cloth from his pocket. He set all of them inside and tied it up to make it easier to carry.

He stood and held out his hand. “Thank you for helping. I know it was hard to be so brave despite your aversion to the situation. Star Rangers are not any better sometimes. Frost was an exception. However, in this case, we required your magical help.”

Topper nodded, but said nothing. Her mind was still trying to shove what they’d had to do away. She did reach out and wrap her arm through his. Then she took them home with replying to his explanation.

It was going to be a long while before she could accept the ease with which she’d let Stark order her around.

***

It took a bit of finagling, but they found containers for the missing dakkari, including the two dead ones which Stark was planning on taking back with him. The rest had started hissing when they saw their female get thrown into prison like their own. Stark spoke to them in his native language and the hissing magically stopped—or at least it seemed like magic to Topper.

When the doorbell rang rapidly, Topper sighed and hung her head. “Now what?”

She trudged to the door, her steps dragging. All she wanted was a long, hot shower and to forget what she’d seen today. She opened it to find Malcolm frowning on her doorstep.

“Good. You’re back. The men in black have come calling,” he said, turning around to jog away the moment he’d delivered the message.

Topper glanced over her shoulder when she felt Stark come up behind her. “You better stay here. I have to go pretend we didn’t open up a space portal. Then I’m going to have to mind wipe the government officials sent to investigate it.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Stark said, running a hand over her hair.

Topper closed the door and walked into his arms. Having someone in her life to hug was a luxury she’d rarely had. Stark was leaving soon so she might as well make the most of him while she could. This meant forgetting their arguments from earlier and his insistence she help when she didn’t want to. All of it was high on the list of reasons she’d never let any man stick around long.

“Hug me,” she ordered, before she could change her mind about indulging. She let herself be held in his strong arms for a few precious minutes and then gently pushed away. “Okay. Now I have to go be Topper the Powerful again.”

Stark bowed his head to her, but the look in his eyes clearly said he didn’t want to let her go alone. Sighing, Topper lifted a hand “It’s alright. I do this all the time,” she said.

And then she was gone.

CHAPTER 10

Topper popped into Theo’s office with a minimum of purple sparkles. Her magic was growing weaker.

Sheriff Buchanan was peering out the window and turned at her appearance. He raised a ghostly hand and pointed outside to where Theo stood talking to a couple of men in black suits. A nosy man in a crumpled, white polo was with them. He had to be the scientist because they always looked like they’d just climbed out of bed.

Topper nodded and huffed, when the previous sheriff of Magic, pointed again.

“Now I’m being chastised by a ghost for not doing my job. This whole town is spoiled. Topper, chase away the aliens. Topper, find my dogs. Topper, don’t let the men in black hurt us. What does everyone want from me? A miracle every three seconds?”

“Of course not, dear. More like every four or five seconds,” Aura said kindly from over her shoulder.

Topper called out at the same time Sheriff Buchanan blinked out of sight. “Aura! Don’t sneak up on me. You know I hate that.”

Aura patted Topper’s shoulder. “Sorry dear. I just popped in to deliver a message before you went to talk to the men out there.”

Topper waited. Aura smiled. Topper held out both hands. “Okay. So tell me quickly. No telling what kind of bullshit Theo is feeding them. He’s not the most convincing liar.”

“Uh…” Aura winced. “Your normal powers aren’t going to work again until tomorrow morning. You can still pop around, but you can’t—you know—zap anything, or anyone.”

Topper frowned. “What’s wrong with my powers?”

Aura patted her shoulder again. “Nothing, dear. This was a unanimous decision. But I drew the short straw and had to bring you the news. Just know we want only the best for you. Oh… and the same thing is true for the other witches in town. Magic is temporarily a spell-free zone. It was for the best.”

“But…” Topper started to argue, but Aura disappeared as quickly as she’d arrived. Since screaming was out of the question, she took in a few deep breaths before heading out the back door.

***

Topper walked around the side of the Sheriff’s office as if it was the first time she’d walked into the square that day. Looking confused wasn’t even a challenge after hearing Aura’s bad news. She trudged over to Theo, forcing a smile to her mouth.

“Oh, Sheriff—there you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Evanna had one of those days again. That temporary black-out we had a bit ago—well, I’ll try hard to make sure she doesn’t do that again. I swear you just can’t find scientists who understand the power limits of small towns like yours.”

Topper turned and looked at the first man. The men who came always looked like perfect clones of each other right down to their height, weight, and clothes. Even their sunglasses matched. She stuck out her hand to the one staring at her the hardest.

“Hello. Professor Danielle Topper from the Brisbane Cosmological Institute of Sydney. I’m on loan there from the University of London. I’ve been in Magic for several years now looking for a black hole.”

He nodded, but didn’t shake her hand. No telling what he’d been told.

Instead of dropping her hand, Topper held it up and waved it as she laughed. “Now I know you’re probably going to tell me this is all quite a lot of silliness. You American gents tend to think of all British natives as a bit daft, but there’s nothing you can do to talk me out of it. I know they exist.”

As if just seeing him, Topper turned her attention to the man in the wrinkled, white polo.

“I say, can I help you with something? You seem very interested in the town square. They don’t hang people here if that’s what you’re wondering. Oh, I know you’ve probably heard the rumors about witches and all in Magic. Well, there are a few practicing ones in residence from what I’ve seen, but certainly not any Salem bonfire worthy models dressed all in black. The ones around here tend to sport purple hair and breezy clothing. They dance naked for Gaia once in a while—which I admit is quite the show.”

The scientist stopped fidgeting and brought his attention to her. “I don’t give a flip about witches. They’re not real. I saw some kind of worm hole open up here. I know I did.”

“Where?” Topper demanded. She walked briskly over to him and grabbed his shoulders as she swung her head from side to side looking. “I knew it. I knew it. I told Evanna that something strange had happened outside of her plugging in too many electrical things. Where did your anomaly go?”

“Go? Why… I don’t know,” the scientist said sharply.

Topper dropped her hands and stepped back. “Oh. So you only think you found something. You didn’t actually find it. I see. Well, I’ll wish you better luck than I’ve had, Sir.”

She saw the scientist look at the two men in black. They were now glaring at him.

“I tell you—it was here,” the scientist insisted, glaring back. “This is nearly the exact triangulation point.”

Topper sighed loudly. “You don’t have to prove it to me. Tell the sheriff. He’s the one who thinks I’m touched in the head.”

Theo stammered, but saw where he needed to jump into her story. “Now Topper… Professor Topper. I have never called you crazy. I would never do that because I was taught not to be rude.”

“Professor Topper…” the first man in black interjected. “I would like you to come to dinner with us. We’ll be staying in town tonight while we look into this situation. I have a feeling you could be very helpful if you chose to be.”

“Well, dinner sounds lovely, Mr…?”

“Agent,” the man in black said sternly.

Topper didn’t miss a beat. She could play that game too.

“Of course… Mr. Agent… sir. But you see, I’m married, and my old man… well, the bloke is a bit of a jealous prat about me dating other men. And you and your friend are very hunky and all. I wouldn’t want him to get the wrong idea about me being a floozy. Perhaps we could have a cup of tea down at the coffee shop instead?”

“You have a jealous husband?” the man in black said in disbelief, covering a smile with his hand.

“Yes. What in hell is so funny about me having a jealous husband?” Topper demanded, forgetting her fake British accent when the guy all but laughed in her face.

“There you are, Topper.”

She swung and watched Stark striding purposely toward her. He had sunglasses on, a fresh t-shirt, and a tighter pair of Theo’s brother’s jeans which were struggling to constrain the male’s considerable assets. With his silver hair glinting in the New Mexico sun, Stark looked like some movie hero come to life, sexy swagger and all. Her sigh was loud.

“Bloody hell. I do not need this,” Topper exclaimed, and meant it.

Stark smiled as he walked up to stand near her. He turned to the men in black. “Professor Topper has other plans for her time this evening. Sorry. She is not available for dinner.”

“Look buddy…” the second man in black began.

Before they got any further, Stark growled, picked them both up, and smashed the two of them together, bouncing their heads off each other. They fell to the ground unconscious when he let go of them.

He pulled off his sunglasses and turned to Topper. “There are three more dressed in similar uniforms stashed by the entry to your house. Malcolm is watching them until we can retrieve them. I froze them a little, so they won’t wake for at least an hour. We need to put them somewhere out of my sight, though if you don’t want me to kill them. Their actions were extremely hostile and one pulled a weapon to use on me.”

“You can’t kill any of them, Stark. I made that mistake long ago. They’ll just send more after us if any go missing.” Topper turned around and swore as she stomped away.

Then she paced, looked up, and saw the scientist staring at them with wide eyes.

She looked at Theo and waved a hand in the scientist’s direction. “Take him too,” she demanded.

Theo sighed and headed toward the man who of course took off running the moment he took the first step. Thankfully Frost caught him as he walked toward them. Frost ran a hand across the man’s forehead until the scientist went limp in his arms.

“Thanks, Frost. I was tired of chasing people down today. How’s Lacey doing?”

“Fine, Theo. She’s a lot better now that all the dakkari are caught. She’s at the van working on the wounded dog.”

“Good. The jaguar shifters have been calling the office every hour asking when the dogs can come home. I better get this guy tucked away before he causes Topper to implode.”

Theo took the scientist’s limp body from Frost and threw it over a shoulder, looking back at the other two men lying on the ground at Stark’s feet. Shaking his head, he carried the scientist to the jail. Locking them all up would have to do until they sorted this out.

Topper stared as Frost continued his walk towards them. About two feet in front of Stark, Frost knelt in the dirt, head bowed. She looked at Stark, who looked as stunned as she did about it. Suddenly, she wanted to laugh—mostly because it was nice to know Stark’s arrogance had a reasonable limit. Feeling wicked, she winked at Stark, who sighed as he looked down at the younger male.

“Rise Frost and never kneel again. Here on your mate’s world, we are equals. Kneeling makes the Earthlings uncomfortable.”

“Uncomfortable? Not really. Just makes me laugh my ass off,” Topper exclaimed, gesturing with her middle finger before she realized Stark had no idea what the symbolism meant. “Do not start arguing with me again about how superior Glacierans are or I swear you will end up in one of Theo’s cells today too.”

“And who in Icela’s name will put me there, Witch?” Stark demanded, even though Frost was staring at both him and Topper strangely. “The Goddess who came to warn me about the men in black said your power isn’t working today. She said everything would be back to normal tomorrow.”

“Damn the Fates and their secrecy. And you can just bite me, Alien Bastard,” Topper exclaimed, crossing her arms.

Stark growled at Topper’s rudeness, but then he remembered the younger male was still watching him. This was certainly no example of how to treat a female on any planet. He looked back at Frost.

Calm. He needed to remain calm.

“Polar asked me to give you his regards. It is very good to see you again, Frost,” Stark said, bowing his head.

“Likewise, General. Uh… sir?” Frost began, looking between his elder on Glacier and Lacey’s elder on Earth. “Is there a problem between you and Topper?”

Stark followed Frost’s gaze to the too caring witch who alone was more trouble than any twenty females together could be. Hourly irritation and resistance were the only constant around her. But his main problem was that this same female was the most loving, generous one he’d ever taken to his bed. What in Icela’s name was he supposed to do about her?

He had to have her again. He had to try one more time to convince her to be his mate, even though he knew the chances of the witch returning to Glacier with him were non-existent. He would have to abduct her to make that happen and how cliché would it be to feed that ridiculous Earthling myth that all aliens were that desperate?

Yet even if he did convince Topper of his feelings, and convince her to be with him willingly on his terms, who would take care of this town in her absence if she went back with him?

Topper mothered and cared for all of the town’s strange residents. No wonder she’d never had a family of her own. The entire population of Magic was her family.

When he sighed and made Frost’s eyebrow raise even higher, he blamed Topper. Sighing out her frustration was her habit, not his. Normally, he just ran something down and captured it when he was feeling frustrated. Fighting to stay alive never failed to clear his mind from its lesser worries.

“Nothing is wrong between us, Frost. Nothing I can’t handle. Topper and I have a lot of strong feelings between us. That’s all.”

Frost nodded. “Strong feelings. Yes, that’s what happened when I met Lacey. She turned me into a rabbit—which is a small desert mammal with long ears and a fuzzy tail. I did not enjoy being a different creature. Now a short time later I’m about to become a father to our child. This is unlike any place I have ever been, General. The unexpected is a daily occurrence here in Magic.”

“Indeed,” Stark replied. “In my short time here, I have seen that for myself.”

Topper came over until she stood in front of them. “Can either of you freeze the men in black enough to keep them knocked out all night? The scientist doesn’t worry me, but the men in black might be able to get away.”

Frost nodded. “I found a way to cause temporary unconsciousness in animals. It seemed to work on your scientist. It lasted about five Earth hours on the horse shifter Lacey worked on which should translate into about ten on a normal human male.”

Topper nodded. “Fine. Show Stark how to do it and help Theo put the guys in jail. When I get my powers back tomorrow, I’ll fix their memories. Until then, I’d just as soon they not know they’ve been taken prisoners.” She looked at Stark. “When you’re finished, meet me at home. I owe you dinner. We may need to open the portal for your trip back before the men in black wake up.”

Stark quirked an eyebrow. “Capturing dakkari. Taking prisoners. Now you’re making me dinner. And all in one day. You amaze me, Topper.”

“If that’s sarcasm, I’m keeping the largest steak for myself.” When Stark laughed, Topper grinned and transported herself without saying goodbye.

Stark turned to look at Frost. “Is steak some form of animal protein?”

Frost grinned. “Yes. The best kind. So Topper’s cooking for you?”

Stark grinned back. “Yes. The witch seems to enjoy feeding me. First female like her I’ve known.”

“As far as I know, Topper only cooks for the Fates, General. You must be special to her. Now the tension between you is doubly confusing,” Frost said.

“Isn’t everything about females confusing?” Stark asked wryly, not wanting Frost to know about his true relationship with Topper. He didn’t normally brag about the females he bedded, even if in this case, he would like nothing better than to publicly claim the witch.

Frost laughed as he nodded. “I have always thought so, Sir. Always.”

CHAPTER 11

Topper sighed as she watched Stark take the last bite of his food. She’d made two giant steaks and he’d eaten one and a half of them. When he set down his fork, he made the same happy growling noise he’d made when they were doing something fun in bed together.

Her face flamed at all the things she’d done with him and all she wanted to do again. Topper imagined her face would pinken over sexy thoughts of Stark until the day she died.

“How long have we known each other? Has it really been just a couple days?” she asked.

Stark smiled. “Is this a verbal sparring trap? I say it feels like I’ve known you forever and you then have a reason to get angry at me? I studied the nuances of your language before I came to Earth, but you surpass my studies with every conversation.”

Topper giggled and covered her mouth with a hand. “I’m witchy, not bitchy—or at least, not usually. It’s been a hard couple of days, Stark. You’ve not really seen me at my best.”

Stark pushed his plate away. It might as well get said now as later. “Whichever the case, it’s been an illuminating couple of days for me. I don’t want to go back to my planet without you. Return to Glacier with me. I would be very good to you.”

Topper snorted. “You’re just talking about sex. What would I do when we weren’t in bed? I get restless in my own house when I run out of chores to keep me busy. I need a more fulfilling life than merely taking care of a man—even an outstanding one.”

She stood, gathered their plates, and walked them to the sink. She stacked them before turning back.

“It’s very sweet of you to offer, but I can’t go to Glacier with you. And it’s not just about the men in black. Nonny and Moonie could do the mind wipe on them. It’s more about being here for the rest of the townspeople. The jaguar shifters are still new. There’s a Yeti family coming from the state of Washington in a month. I’m supposed to go white water rafting this weekend. I know you have to take the dakkari back and release them… and you have to go soon… I don’t see how this can work.”

Topper stopped talking when she heard herself rambling. Stark was staring at her with a very sad look in his shifting silver eyes. She sighed and shook her head.

“You and I barely know each other. It wouldn’t be very smart to make all kinds of promises neither of us can keep, no matter how nice we work in bed. You have all those other females back home. One day soon, I’ll just be that Earth woman you spent a couple nights with while you were off-planet.”

Stark stood and walked to where Topper stood at the sink. He wanted to tell her they were mates, but she couldn’t even accept that she was special to him. He turned Topper around and lifted her chin with his fingers.

“The other females were just a way for me to cope with not having found you until now. At the risk of you thinking I’m an awful male, the others meant nothing to me and I hardly remember them. I would much rather have you for now and always, even if you are a lot of trouble.”

Sighing, Topper wrapped her arms around him and held him close. “If my magic was working, I’d turn you into a toad. You insult me better than any man I’ve ever known, but I still can’t go with you. It might be fun for an adventure, but I’d never be content. Your work is there. My work is here.”

Stark sighed against her hair. “My work hasn’t been enough for me in many years. How can you ask me to forget I met you?”

Topper hugged tighter. “There’s no other choice. I don’t have the magic to remove your memories of me.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking,” Stark whispered.

Topper fought the tightening lump in her throat. “Yes. I do know what I’m asking, and I can’t see this situation we have working out any other way.”

“Frost chose Lacey to be his mate. Why can’t you believe I could choose you?”

Topper shook her head. “Because we’re old—I’m old. I’m not a young woman with big dreams in my head about raising a family like Lacey. Mostly I like my calm, peaceful life. I like my occasional Earth-bound adventures that let me come home more contented. I normally have purple hair, Stark. The only reason I look this plain is because I was trying to be as typical as possible for you. But I’m not really normal—not for an Earthling or a witch. I don’t think I could really change for you, no matter how inspired I might be temporarily.”

“Spend the night in my arms and I will inspire you more than you ever dreamed.”

Topper groaned and put her forehead against Stark’s hard muscled chest. Was she nuts to throw what she had with the sexy alien away? Maybe she was.

But she also knew she was never going to be truly happy living in Glacier’s Alaska-like climate so far away from her family and friends. She would miss the sunshine. She would miss Magic.

Still… there was no man on Earth who could compare to Stark and she wanted all the time with him she could get.

“Look—I will spend the night with you again, but please don’t keep asking me to go with you. You’ll just turn me into a blubbering mess and I’d rather be the woman of your dreams instead.”

Stark pulled Topper close and held her tightly. “Very well. I will cease asking. Will you allow me another question?”

“Sure,” Topper said, shrugging a shoulder against the warmth of him. It was very tempting to grab hold and never let go.

“Is your name really Danielle? I was shocked to hear you introduce yourself. I realized then that I never asked you for your proper name.”

Topper laughed at the question. “I’ve always loved the name Danielle, which is why I use it when I have to talk to non-magical people. I’ve used it so often now, it seems like my name.”

“That’s not an answer to my question, but I’ve no more patience for asking. I want to take you to bed.” Stark shook his head, took her hand, and dragged his frustrating, smirking witch to his room.

***

Barely six in the morning and the New Mexico sun lit Magic’s town square. Its bright appearance drew a chorus of groans from all the sleepy witches gathered there, coffee cups in hand. Topper stood in front of the collective circle of power watching Stark arrange the dakkari cages until he could easily carry them all through the portal.

Power had returned to her this morning. When her mind had become conscious, her power had run through her clean and sweet as ever. She had removed the miniaturization spell on the dakkari, but re-shrunk them again with a spell caveat to allow them to return to their full size in a few hours. That put Stark on a deadline, but she had one as well.

The men in black would be coming out of their frozen mental states soon and she had to be ready for them. Nonny and Evanna were already at the jail, prepared to deal with them until she got there. Moonie and Lacey had come to help her open the portal.

Frost stood by Stark, silent as a sentry as he watched the preparations, but she’d caught Frost looking between her and Stark like he was trying to figure out a puzzle. Topper understood Frost’s intuitive urges, but she wasn’t ready to talk about her relationship to Stark. She was still trying to figure things out herself.

This morning she’d watched Stark dress, insisting he keep one set of the clothing Theo had loaned him. Moonie had expressed deep disappointment at his non-naked state when they’d finally shown up.

After last night, she wasn’t willing to share the sight of Stark’s body with other females. She’d done her best to be memorable to him as a lover. But how memorable could she be? Stark was a walking alien sex God. She was an aging witch who’d managed to catch Stark’s interest for reasons she still didn’t understand.

Last night Stark had been both demanding and loving. And he’d awakened her several times, but every time her eyes opened, he’d just been holding her, touching her face tenderly. He’d spoken to her in his own language, tracing icy designs on the inside of her arms as they lay tangled together. She couldn’t believe she’d come to care so deeply about a man she’d only met a few days ago.

The only reason she hadn’t begged Stark to stay was because part of her knew it wasn’t fair to ask for what she wasn’t willing to offer him in return.

Sighing over his innate masculine beauty that she would miss, she watched Stark walk slowly to her. She bowed her head to him, then smiled when he returned the gesture. Respect was a universal sign that spanned both distance and culture. Despite their differences in opinion, it was astounding how much she cared for him after so short a time.

Stark stepped close until his chest nearly brushed her breasts. “It is time for me to go. I will miss you, Topper.”

“I’ll miss you too, Stark.” Topper patted his chest. “You forgot something at the house.” She held a hand out to her side and whispered a chant. His purple diaper cloth appeared in her hand—washed, folded, and pressed.

Stark took the cloth from her and fitted it back inside his wrist unit. He whispered something over it and the cloth shrunk and disappeared beneath the metal band. Topper was the only woman who had ever felt any genuine need to look out for him.

“May I return to visit you?” he asked, setting the rest of his pride aside.

Topper sadly shook her head. “It won’t be possible. The portal is too dangerous. If we keep using it, the men in black will be visiting Magic every day. Eventually, the word will get out and Glacier will be overrun with unscrupulous Earthlings trying to steal advanced technology or whatever else they think they can get by with taking. We can’t let that craziness happen, so you’re going to be the last Glacier traveler to use the portal. We won’t open it again unless it becomes a life or death emergency for Frost and Lacey.”

Stark blinked. He was stunned to hear he was about to take a one-way trip, but what could he do? He didn’t own the portal. Glacier didn’t have any rights to say what happened to it.

“A normal trip here without worm hole assistance would only take six or seven of your Earth years to make in a Glacieran starship. That is not so long. I could return that way.”

“Don’t be silly. We’d both forget each other before you got back here,” Topper stated sharply, shaking her head. “Now you better go, Stark. Otherwise my eyes are going to start leaking and then everyone watching us will panic. You’ve been hell on my public bad-ass witch reputation.”

“You will always own my heart, Topper,” Stark promised, as he leaned down and placed his lips over hers. He just couldn’t make himself believe he’d never see this female again. She belonged to him.

When he raised his head, a stunned silence had fallen over the gathered crowd. Apparently no one in Magic had ever seen Topper be kissed before. It slightly mollified him to know he’d been the only male who’d dared to lay a public claim.

“Be careful while I am not here to help you. Even bad-ass witches need help now and again.”

Topper laughed, even though it wasn’t really funny. “I will, alien. And you watch those green meanies when you release them. They’re not going to be very happy back out in the ice fields after being in a warm desert climate for so long.”

Stark kissed her a final time. Then he walked to the circle and waited while Topper and the other witches opened the portal. With one final nod to Frost, he gathered up the dakkari, and stepped through it before he could change his mind.

It was the first time in his life that doing his duty felt like it was also ripping out his soul.

***

This time the portal released him just outside Polar’s home. Ignoring the loneliness he knew was only going to get worse as his homecoming reality sunk in, Stark stored the dakkari in the transport he’d left there and then returned to Polar’s residence to retrieve his clothes.

They were still folded in a pile exactly where he’d left them in Polar’s office. It all seemed so silly now—that he’d thought he needed to be nude to go to Earth.

But he did not put his other clothes on even though what he was wearing would not serve him well where he was headed with the dakkari. Instead, he just slipped his uniform coat over the Earth clothes the dragon had given him.

He should have been overjoyed to be back safely after completing his mission. Perhaps tomorrow he would be.

At the moment, all Stark could think about was that his home planet no longer seemed like home to him.

CHAPTER 12

“Topper, this can’t go on. You’re acting like a zombie and you know what happens to zombies in Magic. Sheriff Buchan got rid of all of them before he passed on. We can’t have the magicals being eaten for their brains,” Destiny declared, raising her thumb and finger as she pretended to shoot Topper.

Aura frowned. “Stop teasing her, Destiny. Can’t you see Topper’s hurting and confused?”

Topper snorted. “I am not confused. I mind-wiped the men in black like you taught me and then I had a perfectly good time white water rafting over the weekend. My hair is now purple again. See? There is nothing wrong with me.”

“At least nothing a well-hung alien couldn’t fix in about an hour,” Fortune declared.

Aura fisted her hands on her hips. “I can’t believe you’re harassing Topper over sleeping with him. This is our fault, Fortune. If we hadn’t decided Topper needed someone, the green meanies wouldn’t have gotten through the portal, and Stark Naked would never have shown up on Earth to retrieve them. I told you we shouldn’t have sent out that distress call to his intergalactic floozy of a goddess.”

“Icela is not a floozy, but please don’t talk to her again. And stop calling him Stark Naked or none of you will get dinner,” Topper said firmly. She set bowls of steaming butternut squash soup in front of the three of them. “This is your first course. Eat your soup before it cools down. It’s better hot. The squash will set your palate.”

Topper frowned when the Fates sighed collectively and lifted their spoons. It didn’t make her feel any better knowing she and Stark had been nothing more than live pawns in an interplanetary matchmaking scheme. She hoped Icela proved more helpful to Stark than the Fates were being to her.

She spooned up a slaw she’d made from raw brussel sprouts and pine nuts. Stark would probably have enjoyed it. He seemed to enjoy her cooking as much as the Fates did. Thinking about his praise, her sigh filled the kitchen as she put small dishes in front of her three guests.

“Raw vegetables to help with clarity. Eat and be well.”

“Blessed be,” the Fates answered in chorus before moving on to eat the slaw.

Topper stopped cooking and let the blessing bring her a measure of peace. “I have the best life any witch could ever wish for. What other witch can say the Fates come to dinner? None. So what if I miss him… a little? Any woman would miss a man capable of giving her as many orgasms as she could handle. There probably aren’t five human men walking this planet who have that sort of bedroom talent.”

Fortune snorted. “You’re probably right, Topper. It was very generous of you to pass him back to all those horny Glacieran females who are no doubt standing in line this very minute to take a turn on Stark Naked’s talented man stick.”

Topper turned and slammed down the entrée in front of her mouthy, irreverent Goddess friend. “Baked cod with mango salsa. It’s a little spicy. Eat it and shut up. I made no promises to him.”

“Nor accepted any in return,” Aura said flatly.

Topper slammed another entrée down. “It would not have been fair to accept Stark’s promises. He can’t come back. You know I can’t open the portal again without risking the whole town.”

“You could have at least offered to wait the few years it would take him to get here in a spaceship. What would it have hurt to have given him some hope you’d be here if he found his own way back? It’s not like you were getting any bedroom action before Stark Naked came into your life,” Destiny declared, jumping when a plate of food was slammed down in front of her. “Thank you, Topper. It looks delicious.”

Topper fisted hands on her hips and glared at all three meddling goddesses. “This is not high school and Stark isn’t captain of the football team. He’s a freaking alien. What part of him having a life on another planet don’t you get?”

“He’s dreamy,” the chorus of Fates said. Then they glanced at each other and giggled.

“This discussion is not helpful,” Topper declared.

“What would help you, dear?” Aura asked.

Topper slid into a vacant chair at the table. She stared at the far wall. “I just need to forget him—that’s all. How attached can you get to a man in just a few days anyway?”

The Fates looked sideways at each other. “Stubborn as always,” they said in chorus.

Unable to handle the torture a moment longer, Topper put her face down on the table and groaned into her hands. “Okay—fine. I wish Stark hadn’t left. I wish he could come back. I wish a lot of things, but I know that’s not realistic of me. Why aren’t you telling me everything will be okay like real friends are supposed to do?”

“We’re not that kind of friend, dear. And screw reality,” Aura said, earning funny looks from her sisters. She waved a hand. “You know what I mean.” At their nods, she smiled at Topper. “Icela mentioned something about ice crystals dancing as the true test of couple compatibility on Glacier. Did you conjure up some ice crystals for Stark Nak… I mean, your hunky alien?”

“No. You three pretty much kept me from conjuring up anything for him. Thanks to you all, Stark thinks I’m the wimpiest witch that ever was born.”

Topper studied her arms. Faint patterns were still visible there, but every day they faded a bit more. She had no doubt one day they would just disappear forever.

“Ice crystals appeared whenever Stark touched me. I think it was one of his powers.”

“No wonder he was so good in bed with you. You’re his perfect mate,” Fortune declared.

Destiny put down her fork. “Sisters—I am not happy with this situation,” she said quietly. “Something simply has to be done.”

“No—Gaia forbid,” Topper declared, rising quickly. “Don’t do anything more. Things are bad enough. Let me go get your dessert.”

Heart pounding in fear they would get involved and prolong her agony, Topper hurried to the refrigerator to retrieve the chocolate mousse parfaits she’d put in it to chill earlier. She pulled out a fourth one for herself because right now she needed all the endorphin rushes she could get.

***

The beeberg had not been happy about having to choose two new mates. The scratches she’d put on him as he freed her from her cage hadn’t made Stark any more sympathetic to her plight.

But then he wasn’t feeling very sympathetic towards any creature at the moment. He was too busy feeling sorry for himself. He’d been home only a short while when he realized Topper had let him go without offering a single word of affection.

“Polar was right. I should have delegated. Then someone else would have met the frustrating witch instead of me.”

Stark sighed and started back into his residence when a voice stopped him.

“Do not blame yourself completely, warrior. Part of you meeting the witch was my fault. She looked so nice and the Fates of Earth gave her such a glowing recommendation.”

Stark turned and looked into the caring eyes of the most beautiful female he’d ever met. “Topper was very nice. She just didn’t fall in love with me. That is no one’s fault.”

Icela blinked. “It is harder to believe in such love when you have spent your entire life alone. When my warrior showed up for me, I had a very hard time accepting we were meant to be together. It was only when he decided to stay that I finally believed him.”

Stark shook his head. “She did not want to come home with me, Goddess. Her people… they need her. Topper was right about that. I understand her sense of duty to them.”

Icela looked around. “It looks to me like you’ve done all you can for the people of Glacier. Do you not think your mate’s people might be able to use your warrior talents? It’s not like you couldn’t go to her planet to live. Your protégé, Frost, is already living there.”

Stark froze. “Are you really suggesting I leave Glacier? After all you’ve done for me?”

Icela bowed her head in a single nod. “I am suggesting you should serve where you are needed most. Your warrior talents are needed on Earth to guard the portal from those who would misuse it as the witch rightly declared. I do not wish the doorway to be closed. Neither do the Fates. Our planets were connected for a higher good. And the witch… even though she makes you unhappy at times… she is your perfect mate.”

Stark ran a restless hand through his silver hair. “But the Directors…”

“Do not make all decisions for my planet,” Icela declared, her voice echoing in the icy mist.

Stark swallowed. “Topper won’t open the portal again. She said she wouldn’t.”

Icela fisted hands on her hips. Stark’s eyes grew wide when a large male suddenly appeared behind her and placed his hands over hers. Stark met the famous warrior’s stare, lifting an eyebrow when the male smiled widely at him.

“Our Goddess can open as many portals as she pleases,” he said softly, whispering the words near her ear. “She most certainly can open one for you in a location far enough from your mate’s town to fool those who would attempt to misuse it. I happen to know she would do this for someone who has honored her all of his days.”

So Icela could open a portal and would if he said the word? Stark looked around. Could he trade the ice fields of Glacier for the melting sunshine of New Mexico on Earth? At least he’d have Topper in his life—if she would have him.

“Speak your mind, Warrior Stark. Do you care for the Earth witch as you have no other female?”

Stark sighed and nodded. “Yes. I care for her like no other.”

“Do you wish to spend your nights in the Ice fields or in her bed?”

Stark smiled. “I wish to spend the rest of my days and nights with her—wherever that is.”

“Then serve us both,” Icela declared, waving her hand. “Go and prepare. The portal will be ready for you tomorrow. It will not be precisely fixed, but you will be within a few Earth hours of your real destination. That should suffice for your necessary deception.”

Stark dropped to one knee in the ice and snow. “Thank you, Goddess. I will do as you ask.”

“Convince your witch to open the portal again. Several others will need it in the future. Frost’s remaining kin will guard it here on Glacier.”

“May all be as you wish, Goddess,” Stark replied.

When he raised his head, Icela and her warrior were nowhere in sight.

Stark’s blood ran hot and fast as he stood. He had much to do to prepare. For starters, he needed to go back to the city and tell Polar what Icela had asked him to do. He’d just have to trust that the goddess would find a way to make this okay with the Directors.

Then he would have to decide if anything he owned was of enough value to take with him to Earth. Perhaps he could work something out to keep his residence available for return trips. If the portal remained open, it would be kind of nice to have a home on both planets.

CHAPTER 13

Topper eyed her guests warily as she poured freshly brewed tea into four mugs.

“There’s been multiple portal sightings all over New Mexico since yesterday. Did one of you open one just across the border in Arizona? Theo was in a tizzy over that one. His nostrils were smoking.”

All three of the Fates shook their heads, but she didn’t trust the sly looks they were giving each other.

Topper snorted. “Well, someone opened a portal… or it happened naturally. Right—like that really ever happens. Evanna and Nonny are feeling a space-time riff every few hours. Oh well… if it’s not you three, I’m not going to concern myself. It will at least take the attention off Magic for a while.”

“Aren’t you going to at least go check them out, Topper?” Aura asked, peering over her tea mug.

Topper thought for a moment. “Why? Do you think I should?”

Fortune looked at her two sisters. “It can’t be who we think it is. She was supposed to tell us when she opened a portal. Do you think we caused a problem in the space-time wavy fold-over mat thingy and now portals are popping open all over?”

Destiny frowned into her mug. “Maybe she tried to call us. We were busy with the… you know… the other things we were doing… and well, I didn’t answer that particular phone.”

“Are you saying you knew someone was going to open a portal and didn’t tell me?” Topper asked.

Aura narrowed her eyes at her sisters. “I swear, you two drive me crazy.” She smiled as she turned to Topper. “No, dear. We didn’t know—not really. And yes, I think you should go check out these other portals. We don’t even know if they all connect to Glacier.”

“Good point,” Topper said, then she shrugged. “I suppose I could pop into town and get Theo to help me.”

“We think you should go right now,” Destiny ordered.

Topper rolled her eyes. “Can’t it wait until I finish my tea?”

“No,” the Fates said in chorus, then the three of them burst out laughing.

“Okay, but don’t forget to put your mugs in the sink when you’re done,” Topper ordered.

She stood, shook her head, and then lifted her hands. “I need to find some new friends.”

A sparkling purple mist filled the room as she left in a huff.

***

Topper watched numbly as Theo pushed his Sheriff hat back to get a better look at the group of hot-looking, naked aliens. The eight of them looked at each other, then one cleared his throat and spoke.

“We mean you no harm. We merely wish to find our perfect mates—like Star Ranger Frost found his.”

Theo looked at Topper whose mouth was hanging open in shock. He turned back to the aliens. “How did you get here?”

“We came when you opened the portal for us.”

Topper shook her head. “No one here in Magic opened a portal. There’s been a mistake.”

The lead alien turned to his friends. “It had to have been the Goddess then.” They dropped to the ground and started chanting a prayer of thanks.

Topper rolled her eyes as she looked at Theo. “Damn the Fates. Excuse me while I go dismember my deceitful tea-drinking guests.”

Theo laughed. “Come on guys, let’s go inside and see if we can find you something to put on. We can’t have a bunch of naked, seven feet tall aliens running around Magic.”

As the aliens stood, a portal opened nearby. Out of the swirling mist stepped a large alien dressed in a military uniform. He walked towards them chin up.

There was a lot of murmuring and then the aliens knelt in the dirt again.

“General,” the lead alien said, bowing his head.

Topper crossed her arms when he looked her way. Stark looked impossibly bigger in his jacket, especially with all those military-looking medals hanging off it.

“Witch…” he said in greeting.

“Alien…” she said in return.

“I like your purple hair.”

Topper snorted and shook her head over his compliments.

Stark turned his attention to Theo when he could wrestle his gaze away from Topper.

“Greetings Sheriff. I see you found the males who used my original portal. The Goddess didn’t send the males here. They came on their own—through the portal that was created for me,” Stark pointed out sharply, glaring at the males on the ground. He pointed at the portal. “Go home. The Directors are waiting to talk with you. Earth is not authorized as a planet to supply potential mates. You will remain on Glacier until it becomes one.”

Topper dropped her arms when the men rose without argument and headed into the swirling mist. One by one they passed through it. When the last naked male had disappeared, Stark touched a point on his wrist and the portal closed. He picked up a bag he’d originally carried through with him and walked the short distance to the witch he adored and the dragon who was grinning at him.

“There’s no need for concern. The portal they used was the only one Glacierans could have passed through. The other portals were the Goddess’s way of causing a distraction. I assure you that nothing came through them at all. Your officials might still come looking for the one I created just now, but I’ll be here to make sure they don’t cause any problems for the town.”

Topper snorted. “Speaking of that—why exactly are you here?”

“Because I wanted to return and the Goddess said you needed me to help guard the portal. She wishes you to keep it open.”

“What if it’s not what I wish? Maybe I don’t want to open the portal again. It’s bad enough I have to answer to the meddling Fates. I will not answer to a Goddess I don’t even know.”

“In that case, I will open the one she gave me power over when I need to do her will. You really have no say in the matter, Topper. My planet is invested in seeing to it that unauthorized portal travel does not occur. I was considered the most suitable candidate for the job. This is my new service assignment.”

Topper snorted. “So just like that… Earth has no choice. No asking. Just orders from the superior beings on the great planet of Glacier.”

“Yes,” Stark declared. “But there are some obvious advantages to my return. Now there is nothing in the way of us becoming mates.”

“If you think that non-romantic proposal is going to get you anywhere… well, you’re an ass, Stark. Yes, that’s precisely what you are—you’re an ass,” Topper declared firmly.

She waved a hand and before her stood a donkey in a military uniform… or what was left of one. She covered her hand with her mouth to stifle her laughter.

“Stark’s going to use his freeze magic on you when you turn him back… and he’s going to be naked. Did you do that on purpose? I really don’t need to be doing the comparison thing right now. Those frigging men in black could come back here anytime.”

Topper gave Theo a warning look. “Want to see what a baby dragon looks like? I’ll regress you to an egg if you keep giving me shit. I’m trying to make sure the people of Glacier know we are not going to let aliens overrun us. Do you really want Stark messing with the security of your town, Sheriff?”

Theo scratched his head. “Well, I guess I’d prefer working with Stark to working with some new alien I don’t know. He’s older… more respectful. Those young ones will be trying to take our women the whole time. Stark only seems interested in you. I think you can take him, especially now that your magic works on him. Now change him back—it’s creeping me out to see Stark’s scary eyes on that donkey.”

Stark brayed a few times and Topper snorted.

“This is not the old west, Theo. Nobody from anywhere is going to be taking anyone from Magic without their consent. But I think you have a point about us being better off working with the alien we know. I’m going to have a long talk with the Fates. I know they’re a part of this.”

Topper waved her arms and a naked Stark began patting his body down.

“What did you do to me?”

“Nothing permanent,” Topper declared. She waved her hand and his uniform covered his body once more. “There… all dressed now.”

“Why in Icela’s name did you do that to me?” Stark demanded.

Topper glared up at him. “Because I could… and I wanted to make sure you knew that no one from any planet is going to be coming to my town and telling me what I have to do to protect it.”

Stark nodded tightly. “I see. You don’t think I can protect this town as well as you can.”

“I didn’t say that… but if you think showing up here in your military uniform makes me go all woozy inside… well, you may be right about that. However, lusting for you doesn’t mean I want to be taking orders from you for the remainder of my life.”

“Very well. But now I feel honor bound to meet your challenge with a sample of my own power.”

Topper held out both hands and crooked all her fingers beckoning him. “Bring it, Big Guy. I’m not afraid of you.”

Stark grabbed her wrists and chills ran up her arms for several reasons. Ice crystals danced over her skin. She was relieved, but didn’t want to admit it with Theo watching their every move.

“In time, you will learn to trust me. I don’t care how many males have disappointed you in the past. You will honor me with your trust, share my bed, and call yourself mine. This is the real reason I returned, you stubborn female.”

Topper burst out laughing seconds before she was yanked within reach of Stark’s seeking mouth. His lips sliding against hers sent tingles everywhere. Nipples beaded. Her underwear grew uncomfortably wet. She wanted to undress for Stark—and to make him naked again. He may have enough magic to match hers, but the real magic was in the way he made her feel.

“You kiss better than any man I’ve ever known,” Topper whispered against his mouth.

Stark snorted and resisted taking her mouth again. “I will adore you forever, but you must promise to never again turn me into another creature.”

“And if I don’t?” Topper asked, nearly choking on a laugh.

Stark uttered something under his breath. Sudden cold overtook the female he adored. Swearing at himself for losing his temper, he scooped Topper up as she passed out. He put her over one shoulder, pleased that she felt so substantial to him.

“Don’t worry, Theo. All she’ll get is a headache,” he said when the guardian dragon glared at him. “It is just a contest of wills. Eventually Topper will tire of fighting me and then I can begin to really convince her of my feelings.”

“Dude, do you really love her? Or are you just saying that?” Theo asked.

Stark frowned. “I care for Topper more than I ever expected to care for any female. I couldn’t even stand being gone from her for a single day. Goddess only knows if the stubborn witch will ever admit to wanting me to be here, but I am convinced she does whether she admits it or not. Her body responds to mine.”

Theo laughed. “TMI, Dude. TMI. But okay. Take her home then. Try not to destroy her house while you two are working things out. It’s the only place Topper is ever truly happy. She’s like my mother and I can’t handle the idea that you might hurt her. I will fry your alien ass, no matter how much I like you.”

“So noted, Sheriff. We will check with you tomorrow,” Stark declared, carrying his prize to what he hoped would be his future home.

CHAPTER 14

Topper woke up with a fever working her body into a sweat. Only it wasn’t a fever, it was Stark’s icy fingertips and hot mouth bringing all her naked girly parts to life.

When her eyes finally opened, Stark hovered above her, then took her mouth in a sexy, demanding kiss. Her hands slid across his wide shoulders, then went looking for what she needed most. It was lying rigid against her stomach. She wrapped him tightly in her fist and pushed against his hips trying to get him lower.

“Are you sure, Topper? It would be best to finish our fighting first,” Stark whispered.

“Are you willing to wait until we’re both dead?” Topper asked, laughing up into his swirling silver gaze. “Because Glacier will melt and Earth will have another ice age before I admit you’re my superior.”

“Good point,” Stark declared easily, moving down into position between her legs.

Topper’s body arched in welcome as he rocked into her. He put his forehead against hers so he wouldn’t take her like the rutting animal she seemed capable of turning him into just by being beneath him.

“This is all I wanted from any female on any world, but I’ve only ever found it with you. I respect you, honor you, and desire you above all others. I want to stay with you for the rest of your life.”

Topper groaned and lifted her legs until her heels rested against Stark’s flexing, perfect ass. “I love you, but if you mess with me, I will never hesitate to use my power. No talented alien man stick is going to reduce me to a weakling.”

Stark chuckled as his alien man stick grew to epic proportions over her taunt. “Goddess forbid,” he said roughly.

Then he let his madness to possess her overtake him, working out his fear of having almost lost her, and his tiny resentment that she would never concede to him. When she called out his name in climax, he surged inside her body and decided the pleasure she gave him mostly made up for any torture she might decide to inflict.

He listened to her breath level out and her heartbeat return to normal.

Topper was his… would always be his. He was going to have a wonderful time getting her to admit it. He grinned when her hand came up to stroke his hair.

“The Fates will want to meet you personally. I’ll make dinner. Do you think you can do vegetarian for one meal.”

“I will eat whatever you cook for the rest of my life. Just please let me do so in this form—Oh Great and Powerful Witch, Defender of Earth and Magic, New Mexico. And I promise to never freeze you again outside of the foreplay you seem to enjoy. I lost my temper when we were fighting. I’m sorry.”

“Goddess help us both. This isn’t going to be easy,” Topper declared.

Her giggle and hug made him laugh and told him everything important. He kissed her face, her hair, and buried his mouth against her neck. His contentment was too large for words, but he had a few to say… and something he had to ask.

“Will you be my mate? I wish us to go public with your people as a couple.”

Topper snorted at his crazy phrasing. “Do I look stupid to you?”

Stark raised his head and frowned. “I swear to the Goddess Icela—I was not making an insinuation about the intelligence of Earthlings. My question was just a simple mating proposal.”

Topper laughed loudly. “Stark—you froze my ass, and then had the audacity to wake me up from it with an orgasm that lasted over a full minute.”

He glared down into her face. “That commentary is still not an answer to my very serious question.”

Topper sighed and ran her fingertips over his pouting mouth. “You are so damn sexy. I never want to leave our bed. And the moment you stepped through the portal in your uniform, I wanted to bawl in relief that you’d come back. Are you sure you’re going to be happy staying here with me?”

Stark nodded and pressed his hips down on hers. “I will always be happy here.”

Topper laughed. “Stop joking. I meant in Magic, not in me.”

Stark shrugged, then grinned. “You are in Magic. I don’t see the difference. Are you playing word games with me?”

Topper closed her eyes and snorted as she shook her head. “Not on purpose, Alien.”

Stark rolled them over and made her squeal. She found herself suddenly staring down into his very serious face. He looked unsure and it bothered her to see him that way. She preferred him arrogant.

“Stark—I love you. Yes, I want us to be a couple, be mates, and maybe even get married. If you really want to be with me, then I want you here, but you have to remember that I’m used to living alone. I’m sure I will have some major adjusting to do.”

Stark nodded against the pillow. “None of that worries me because I am also willing to compromise. We will learn to give each other whatever is needed. We have the wisdom of age on our side… and the fact that we adore each other in all the important ways.”

Topper chuckled and laid her head down on his chest. He was still inside her. She was happy with that. She was happy with him. It was probably the first time in her life that she had ever been really happy with a man.

“Tomorrow we’re going to talk about your Goddess’s portal orders.”

“It was really more of a request for your help. Icela said others needed to use it and that there was a higher purpose for keeping the connection between our planets open.”

Topper nodded against his chest. “Fine. We’ll talk to the Fates about it. I’m sure they’re in on whatever is going on. I wish you’d said it like that when you first told me.”

Stark snorted. “I would have, but ass braying is a very limited language.”

Topper’s laughing prompted him to roll her under him again. Making her scream his name in pleasure was the only sure way he knew to get his witch to take him seriously.

***

They stood in Gaia’s circle, surrounded by witches, as moonlight glinted off the sheer white robes they wore. Topper secretly thought Stark looked like a silver draped God, but she couldn’t say that to him in earshot of the Fates and whatever other higher powers might be in attendance. His hair, eyes, and clothing illuminated the night as much as the moon did. Nothing would stop her from enjoying the absolute radiance of the man who wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

They turned to the officiate Gaia had sent to conduct their ceremony. The woman was a true Druid, one of a rare few left in the world. She was marked with symbols from head to toe, her power from Gaia a true reflection of the mother of the Earth they all served.

“Stark—do you take the Earth Witch known as Topper to be your sacred wife? Will you be her constant friend, her partner in life, and her true love until you are no more? Will you love her without reservation, honor and respect her, protect her from harm? Will you comfort her in times of distress and grow with her in mind and spirit? And will you refrain from freezing her unconscious unless it is a matter of her life and death?”

Stark chuckled as Topper’s eyebrow lifted in challenge over what she had added to their vows. “Yes. I will gladly do all those things.”

“Topper—do you take the Glacieran warrior known as Stark to be your sacred husband? Will you be his constant friend, his partner in life, and his true love until you are no more? Will you love him without reservation, honor and respect him, protect him from harm, including that which you might be tempted to inflict yourself? Will you comfort him in times of distress and grow with him in mind and spirit? Will you swear never to turn him into any other creature on his planet or yours?”

“May Gaia help me,” Topper pleaded while she laughed. “Yes, I promise to do all those things.”

“Well spoken then. Those of us who have gathered to celebrate your union also celebrate the vows you have taken. By the power given to me by Mother Gaia, and with the blessing of the Goddess Icela of Glacier, I happily declare you to now be official husband and wife. May you have many blessings from your union.”

As Stark’s mouth sealed hers in relief and happy possession, Topper heard the entire town of Magic chanting “Blessed Be” in celebration around them.

Tomorrow she’d be turning sixty. She and Stark were headed to Alaska for their honeymoon. They were going dog sledding in a climate that she hoped would help Stark miss his home planet a little less. Her new husband was very excited about getting a chance to talk to the husky team. Yes… she had discovered Stark could talk to most animals, but it was dogs he liked best. Well, big dogs anyway. Lacey adored him. Frost was happy to have someone he knew nearby. Stark’s best magic had turned out to be the way he seemed to fit in so well.

It was going to be a lot of fun taking her new husband along on her future adventures. He was a good traveling companion. They still argued about his strange ideas about Earth, but she was going to enjoy setting him straight about such things.

Maybe he’d let her put some purple streaks in his hair to match hers. They would look like newlyweds for sure then. Topper’s mind spun out ways to talk Stark into it while she kissed him back.

# # The End # #

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

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~ Donna McDonald

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After many years of doing everything for a living except writing books, I finally published my first romance novel in March of 2011. Thirty plus novels later, I am living my own happily ever after as a full time author.

I do my best to give back to the universe by hanging out to write at local coffee shops and helping keep them in business. When not at one of those, I am sitting in my office at a monstrous black desk I bought from my sister, which my husband lovingly refers to as my “table”.

My work spans several genres, such as romance, paranormal, and science fiction. Humor is the most common element across all my writing. Addicted to making readers laugh, I include a good dose of comedy in every book.

**Visit www.donnamcdonaldauthor.com. I love to hear from readers.**