CollectiveMemory (23 page)

Cayl eased forward, sliding between them, one hand sliding
up the inside of Devin’s thigh and into her slit. The other wrapping around
Mace’s cock. He didn’t want to let either go.

As he considered how he would make his lovers both come, the
first summons arrived. The subsonic voice announced that he had moments before
the transport arrived.

A new pain filled his chest as he looked at his lovers.
Their forms fascinated him. Despite the fact that he had touched them all over,
he wanted more, wanted to repeat the experience, perhaps learn them with his
tongue as well. He wanted to fuck them and be fucked. But it was time for him
to return to his world. The ache in his chest expanded. He rubbed his sternum
with his fingertips. He didn’t understand this sensation.

There was no time to ask Mace or Devin about it. The second
summons followed fast on the first. It was time for him to leave. Cayl stumbled
from the bed, his cock hard, aching to fill Mace.

Mace looked up, his eyes blinking and clearing the sexual
need that fogged his vision.

“What’s going on?”

Devin sat up and looked at Cayl. He shook his head and
returned her gaze. She grabbed the edge of the sheet and pulled it up, covering
her breasts.

“Cayl?”

“I must leave.”

Mace sat up as well. “What?! Now?”

“The transport will arrive within moments. I must return to
my world.”

Disgust twisted Mace’s mouth. His eyes crinkled in
irritation. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Mace’s lovely erection wilted.

“No. I must leave but I would thank you for sharing these
experiences with me. It has greatly expanded our knowledge of the human
situation.” He swallowed, his throat strangely constricted and his eyes were
stinging.

“Glad we could help,” Devin drawled but a smile shone in her
eyes.

“Fuck that. We weren’t—”

The final summons tugged on his being.

“I am called. You will not be forgotten.” He took a final
breath. “You are part of our memory.” Forever.

The words slipped from his mouth and he was taken.

Mace wanted to growl. What the fuck was going on? Cayl wakes
them up, then leaps from the bed like he’s been set on fire?

He shook his head. He was freakin’ tired of this alien shit.

Cayl’s eyes turned white. All white. His mouth dropped open
and it was as if every bit of life evaporated from his body. He crumpled to the
ground, lifeless and pale.

“Cayl!” Mace leapt forward, his hand reaching out, his mind
racing.
Call 911, start CPR. Do something.

Devin yanked him back. “Don’t touch him.”

“But—” He’s dying, he finished silently.
He’s dead.

“Stay back!” The harsh command had barely cleared her mouth
when Cayl started to smoke, as if he was combusting from the inside. The body
burst into flames and Mace yelped and jumped back.

“What the hell?” The flames flared then disappeared. Within
seconds the body crumpled into dust like a scene from
Raiders of the Lost
Ark
.

Mace turned to Devin. He knew his mouth had to be hanging
open and his eyes looking a little wild. Before he could ask the crazy,
cluttered questions flying around his brain, a rush came through room. The
remains that had been Cayl swirled into a tiny dust devil that spun and
vanished.

Feeling like he’d been punched in the chest, he managed to
force out the words, “What the hell just happened?”

“They called him home.” Devin’s voice was quiet but he could
hear the loss burning beneath her words.

Chapter Twelve

Mace walked around the edge of the garage, his mind already
in his kitchen. He’d prepared everything that morning. All he had to do was
pull it out of the fridge and stir-fry it. He’d wait until Devin got there to
do that. Which should be in minutes. He’d been late getting free from work.

They’d been seeing each for the three weeks since Cayl had
“gone home”—wherever the hell that was—trying to figure out what kind of
relationship they had, if they had one.

By mutual, but reluctant, agreement, they’d decided no
sex—or no
more
sex—until they’d gotten to know each other.

It had been good. They’d talked almost every day and spent a
dozen evenings and all the weekends together. The first few meetings had been
strained and awkward without the sex to occupy them, but they’d relaxed and
talked, slowly letting the physical side of their relationship return. They’d
started out with chaste kisses at the front door. Last night, they’d been
inches away from being naked in her driveway.

Mace was pretty sure tonight they were going to end up in
his bed. His heart felt like it flipped over in his chest. It would be odd
without Cayl there. Mace shook his head. He wasn’t going to let this chance
pass. He was pretty damn sure that Devin could be “the one” and he’d just have
to get over thinking about Cayl.

He started up the lighted walkway to his door but jerked to
a stop. There was someone on his front step.
Cayl.
The name flashed through
his mind and his heart gave a little leap but he brushed the reaction aside.
This guy had black hair and looked younger than Cayl.

“Can I help you?” Mace asked, a hint of challenge in his
voice. He didn’t like the surprise of some stranger on his doorstep.

“Hello, Mace.”

His eyes tightened at the edges as he stared at the other
man, trying to place him. Nothing looked familiar except maybe the eyes. He was
damn sure he didn’t know this guy.

“Do I know you?”

The stranger unfolded himself from the front porch, his long
legs carrying him the few steps to meet Mace.

“Perhaps you do not recognize me in this form.”

The voice was different but the words, the formal cadence
were all familiar.

“Cayl?”

He nodded. “Yes.” He held his hands out to the side as if to
display himself. “They had to give me a new body. The previous form was not
available.”

“No, because it disintegrated into dust on my bedroom
floor.”

He nodded in that clinical way that screamed “Cayl”.

“That would explain why it wasn’t available.” His voice was
devoid of concern. It was truly just a shape to him. Cayl looked down at his
own body. “This one seems fully functional though I believe the shaft is bit
larger than the previous model.”

“Larger?” Mace was glad he didn’t squeak when he asked the
word. Cayl had already been nicely sized.

“Yes. I hope that won’t be a problem.”

“No. No problem.” His mind flipped through their last
encounter. Cayl had never gotten the chance to fuck Mace. Now he was back.

Cayl took a step closer. Those piercing green eyes glowed in
the dim light eliminating any doubts in Mace’s mind that this was Cayl.

“I have been studying Earth customs. Is it not normal to
greet a lover with a kiss?”

“Hell yes.” Mace wrapped his hand around the back of Cayl’s
neck, ready to pull him close but Cayl didn’t wait. He pressed forward, meeting
Mace’s mouth. His lips were soft but opened easily, accepting Mace’s tongue,
welcoming him in, sucking, reminding Mace of the eager way Cayl sucked his
cock. He moaned and slid his fingers into Cayl’s hair, holding him in place.

Cayl let him lead in the beginning, then subtly took
control. Mace’s cock jerked. He loved a man strong enough in sheer sexual power
to overwhelm him. He groaned as he thought about Cayl fucking him, taking him
with that big, fat cock. But he wasn’t giving in that easily. Cayl would have
to work for it.

He turned and pushed Cayl up against the wall of the garage,
moving close, rubbing his cock against Cayl’s growing erection. Cayl dragged
his mouth away, grabbing a quick breath and saying, “Fuck, I’ve missed that.”

Mace didn’t give him a chance to say anything else, taking
his mouth again. Taste and texture exploded in his brain and he had to have
more. Cayl’s hand slid down his back, cupping his ass and squeezing, pulling
him hard against the thick ridge that pressed against Mace’s dick. Almost too
much but damn he didn’t want it to stop. He rocked his ass into Cayl’s hand,
savoring the almost painful pressure against his cock as they rubbed together.

The crisp tapping of shoes on cement filtered through the
lust-filled haze and Mace lifted his head. Devin turned the corner and jerked
to a stop. Her mouth dropped open and a strangled gurgling noise came from her
throat.

He knew what this had to look like—lips swollen, Cayl’s hand
on his ass, cocks hard and hips pressed together.

“Damn it, Mace, I knew you couldn’t keep it in your pants
but can’t you at least keep your boy-toy out of sight.” She jammed her heel
into the ground, whipped around and stalked off.

“No, Devin. That’s not it. Wait! It’s—” He ran down the
walkway, Cayl close on his heels.

She stopped at her car and spun around. “What? You expect me
to just fall into bed with this one too?” She tipped her head toward Cayl and
said, “He’s cute and all, but despite appearances, I’m not that big of a slut.”
She grabbed the car door handle and yanked up.

Mace opened his mouth to correct her but never got the
chance.

“You do not appear to be wearing your slutty clothes but it
is good that you find this form pleasing”

She froze. And blinked, staring at the empty space in front
of her before she lifted her head. The shock in her gaze gave Mace a smug, warm
feeling inside. He recognized the reaction because it mirrored his own.

“Cayl?”

“Yes. This is the new form they have given me. The other was
unavailable.”

“It burned up on Mace’s floor.”

“So I understand. Still, neither of you seems to find this
one displeasing. I believe it is acceptable.”

Devin gulped and looked at Mace. His lips formed a crooked
smile.

She cleared her throat. “It’s lovely. Gorgeous, in fact. A
little young but gorgeous.”

“And bigger,” Mace inserted.

Devin’s eyes grew wide.

“Bigger?”

“Bigger.”

“Yes,” Cayl confirmed. “My shaft appears thicker than the
previous version. Not much longer but definitely wider.”

“Oh my.”

“Mace was giving me a returning kiss.” Cayl closed the
distance between them. “Would you not wish to give me one as well? I am most
eager to taste you in this form.”

“Yes but—” Questions filled her head but they disappeared
when Cayl put his mouth on hers. Though the body was different, he came to her
with the confidence of a familiar lover, opening his mouth and flicking his
tongue across her upper lip, asking for entrance. She welcomed him inside. He
was right. The taste was different but the hunger, the need, was pure Cayl.

His hand slipped inside her jacket and closed over her
breast, squeezing and running his palm over the tight nipple as if to assure
himself she was the same.

Damn, he did love her breasts.

“We should probably move this inside.” Mace’s voice—part
laughing, part annoyed—broke them apart. “My neighbors might not be so
understanding.”

“Of course. And your bed is inside. We can fuck in comfort.”

As if that decided it, Cayl turned and stalked back to
Mace’s front door.

“When did he show up?” she asked her mind still racing
through the reality.

“Just now. He was on the step when I got home. He didn’t
come through your offices?”

Devin shook her head. She’d had to tell Mace about working
for IPC, after all he knew for a fact that aliens existed and contrary to movie
lore, they didn’t have a flashy thingy that erased memories. She worked in the
Temporary Alien Visa division. Cayl must have requested a permanent residency.
That would have taken place down the hall.

She looked at Mace and winced, remembering, feeling just a
bit guilty at having accused him of having a boy-toy.

“Listen, I—”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said.

“I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.”

He shrugged. “It wasn’t a far leap. When I’m not in a
relationship, I’m a bit of a slut. But when I’m with someone, I’m good at being
good.” He winked. “Let’s go find Cayl.”

They followed Cayl around the corner of the garage. He stood
on the front step.

“My shaft is afflicting me. We must hurry so I can find
relief.”

“Packaging has changed but that’s Cayl all right,” Mace
murmured.

She stifled a giggle. “Cayl, before we get to any curing
your affliction, I’ve got a few questions.” She tried to sound stern and it
worked. Even Mace’s eyes went wide.

Cayl nodded and hung his head like a five-year-old who’d
been told he couldn’t go out and play.

Mace opened the door and the three of them moved into his
living room. Devin waited until the door was shut then turned to Cayl.

“What are you doing here?”

“My shaft is afflicted and I believed that one or both of
you might be willing to assist me.”

Definitely Cayl. “I understand why you’re in Mace’s house.
What are you doing back on Earth? What is your mission this time?” She glanced
at Mace and he nodded, encouraging her to ask one more question. “How long are
you staying?”

She and Mace were just getting it worked out between the two
of them, making it
just
about the two of them. She didn’t know if they
had a future but would it survive another visit from Cayl?

“I have no mission.” His head shook with a twitch. For the
first time—ever—Cayl looked like he had lost his confidence. “I have been
separated.”

There was a finality to his tone that sent an ache through
Devin’s chest.

Mace must have heard it too. He moved closer, putting his
hand on Cayl’s arm. “Separated? What does that mean?”

“I have been separated from the memory of my world. They
have cast me out and told me I am not welcome to exist within the collective.”