Janaya by Shelley Munro Page A

a lusty dream. He cracked his eyes open to find some of his dream true. Janaya lay wrapped around him like a ribbon on a Christmas gift.
    “Luke, you coming out of there anytime soon?”
    Beside him, Janaya stirred. As he watched, her eyes flickered open.
    “Morning, sweetheart.” Luke ran a possessive hand across her hip, savoring the smooth skin. He lowered his head to snatch a kiss.
    Janaya swept a lock of blonde hair away from her face and peered up at him. The sleepy look sent a spear of lust straight to his cock.
    “Luke!” The doorknob rattled impatiently.
    “Coming,” Luke snapped.
    “You haven’t got time,” his father hollered through the door. “Dammit! All hell is breaking loose out here.”
    Luke sighed and nuzzled the soft skin behind Janaya’s ear one more time. He knew that tone. Seriously rattled.
    Even though he sensed things were dire, he was loath to leave the warmth of his bed and the woman he held in his arms.
    “Luke!”
    Muttering to himself, Luke dragged his hands through his hair and swung his legs over the edge of his bed. Well-used muscles winced at the movement, causing a snicker to emerge. Damn. He’d enjoyed last night. And the early hours of this morning. Several times. The second snicker held definite satisfaction.
    “Stay there,” he said. “We didn’t get much sleep last night.”
    “No.” Janaya stood decisively and stretched her hands above her head.
    Every thought in Luke’s mind stalled. On second thought, perhaps he’d stay here with Janaya. Plenty to keep him occupied. His hands reached for her breasts even as the thought formulated.
    “Luke, get your butt out here now!” Heavy masculine footsteps retreated but Luke knew if he didn’t appear soon his father would take an axe to the door.
    Luke sighed with real regret. So much for that idea. He grabbed a pair of jeans and yanked them on. “Go back to bed,” he murmured. He unlocked the door and sauntered down to the kitchen whistling.
    “Good of you to join us,” his father said.
    Hinekiri pushed a coffee mug away from her and stood. “I’m off to look for parts.”
    “Parts for what? Maybe I could help,” his father said.
    Luke cut off his whistle mid-bar. “I don’t think that’s necessary. I know exactly what Hinekiri needs.” It was bad enough that his father had turned up here unexpectedly and found him shacked up with Janaya and her aunt. He didn’t need him to learn they were aliens.
    His father gestured at the newspaper that sat on the kitchen counter. “You have enough to do without running around after vehicle parts.”
    “What—?” The insistent ring of the phone cut into Luke’s reply. He snatched up the receiver after giving his father a hard glare. “Yeah?”
    “We’ve had reports of strange men wandering around the old junkyard. And Mrs. Bates wants to know what you’re going to do about the aliens. She says that the reports in the paper are proof she was right. We could do with your help. Will you be here soon?” Tony, his second-in-charge demanded. Underlying the request was a trace of panic that told Luke things were bad.
    His father held up the front page of the Sloan Gazette . The headline was enough to start a burning sensation in Luke’s gut.
    “I’ll be there in ten,” he snapped into the phone.
    Luke placed the phone down and reached for the paper. The headline was just as bad as he’d feared.
    Alien Crop Circles in Sloan
    The accompanying story was worse.
    “We’re going to have every nut in the neighborhood out in those wheat fields,” he said.
    “They’re already there,” his father snapped back. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. Look lively. You’re in urgent need of damage control.”
    Luke whirled about and headed for his room. Janaya sat up in bed and watched him in silence.
    “The mayor’s rung,” his father hollered after him.
    As Luke snagged a denim shirt from his wardrobe, he scowled. He shoved his arms in the sleeves and