cosmicshifts by Crymsyn Hart Read Free Book Online Page A

slipping into some jeans, a T-shirt, and an old pair of hiking boots he had stolen from a camper years before. Phillip ascended to the surface and scoured the ground for any trace of Alika , finding her footprints lightly pressed into the dirt. Years of practice had made him a good tracker. He followed the indentations up the mountain and away from her crash site, but toward a familiar path he had not traveled in a long time.
    His pace quickened. The earth lent its strength and kept him grounded. The higher he climbed, the cleaner the air became. He prayed that the helicopters were not circling, and that they did not happen to notice a green woman walking around during the day. When he finally came to the precipice, it opened up onto a flat verdant surface with several old pines shading the spot almost in a circle. Phillip stopped when he discovered Alika bowing before a pile of stones. The alien woman was clothed in an oversized T-shirt that covered most of her arms and a furry yellow winter hat with ear flaps that was low over her face. A pair of large purple sunglasses covered most of her face, and a pair of jeans that seemed to be too small for her hugged every curve. If a hiker or the authorities had come upon her, they might not have noticed that she was different. He prayed that that was the case.
    After watching her press her palms over her eyes and then splay her fingers upon the dirt several times, he coughed to capture her attention. Alika stopped and when she spotted him, a wide smile spread across her lips. It lifted his heart. For the first time in a long time, he wanted to be with someone again. To not be so alone was something he had marveled at for a long time. He had wrestled with his heart and wondered if it were ever possible to love once more. Who would ever want a monster? Maybe with Alika his curse could be broken. Then again, maybe it was worsening because she would leave him alone eventually. It was not a good thing to open his heart to her. Phillip pushed the thoughts of her staying and maybe making a life with him away because it was not going to happen. If she did stay, it would be a constant battle trying to hide her presence so that she would not be caught. The best choice for her was to find a way off the planet and return home.
    “What are you doing here?” asked Alika .
    “I should be asking you the same thing.” Phillip crossed his arms over his chest. The irritation he felt was rising like hot bile up his throat. He tried to stay the fury, but it blazed through him. A breeze came up, and on it he heard the echo of the machines near the ship. “You shouldn’t be out in the open. Someone may see you. They’re watching the mountains. I can hear them using their machines, and soon they’ll identify your blood that was left behind or maybe follow your footprints if they haven’t already.”
    Her brow furrowed. “ Pillup , it will be okay.”
    “ Alika , you don’t know that. And you’re not saying my name right. I couldn’t tell you before. It’s not Pillup .”
    “Oh, sorry. How do you say your nomen ?”
    “Phillip.”
    She pursed her mouth around his name. “ Pillup .”
    He shook his head, feeling his frustration ebb. He knelt by her and reached for her, but stopped. “Can I?”
    “You may touch me.”
    He cupped her face between his hands and felt the smooth skin. Their encounter, even with him being a beast, enthralled him. His heart twisted at the rise of feeling that swept through him. A small moan slipped from his lips at the joy that he was now able to touch her satin cheek and inhale the citrus perfume that he associated with her. Alika’s orange eyes sparkled in the daylight. He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. She inhaled and waited. Phillip used his thumb and forefinger to pucker her lips. Alika was very patient with him while he manipulated her mouth.
    “It’s Phillip.” He pursed his lips and exaggerated the ph sound so that she could get an idea of