...I'm Screwed

“Hello, Ranger, I’m screwed.”

Riker stared at the little bit of a thing in front of him and prayed he could maintain his stalwart expression when all he wanted to do was smile.  Though her voice was cultured and she looked to have been pampered most of her life, she had a sense of humor.  She’d have to have, to be standing in front of him bare naked, trying to cover the bits and pieces all the while cracking funny with her introduction.  He could like this woman…gawd, he hoped she was a woman.

“Well ma’am, you don’t appear to be screwed—yet, but you definitely have some questions to answer.”  Like what the hell she was for starters.  Was she human or alien?  Did alien’s blush?  ‘Cause right this moment she was redder than a currant berry and not just in her cheeks.

“Officer—Ranger?”

“Riker.”  Yeah, he wanted to hear his name roll off her plump pink lips, right before she went to her knees and…oh hell.  Riker slammed closed the visual of this brunette beauty naked and kneeling and tugged at the collar of his uniform.  It was fall, in the mountains, there was no reason for him to be this warm.

“Ah yes, well Ranger Riker, I dare say we are both doomed to disappointment.”

“And why is that, Miss…”  Riker crossed his arms over his chest and tried to strike an imposing stance, one that would assure her he was not going to allow there to be any disappointments between them.

“Doe.”

“As in Jane?”   

“Of course.”  She purred, actually purred, Riker thought.  As if a human could sound anything like a cat.

***

“Well then, Miss Doe. “  Ranger Riker’s tone was clearly disbelieving, but Evelyn had no choice but to fib her way through this faux pas of grandiose proportions.  There was no way she could tell this young man who she was, let alone what she was.  It was the first rule of the pride, when dealing with humans—one should always lead with a lie.  “Two questions…first, where are your clothes? And second, what the hell are you?”

“I beg your pardon!”  Righteous indignation rose up inside her at his rudely asked question, even though it was to be expected.  She had dropped, in her human form, fifteen feet down from the far up branch of the tree behind her.  Humans didn’t do that—ever.  Yet she had, and now she had to somehow explain it without telling him the truth.

“Oh beautiful, you have not yet begun to beg…”

Evelyn stepped back as Riker stepped forward and leaned down into her personal space.  For a human he was much to imposing.  Sun-lightened hair, piercing green eyes with full lips she would love to nibble.  His shoulders were wide; his hips were trim and if his feet were any indication…well any girl would be happy with a man whose feet were that size.  More than that was his aura, his demeanor.   This was a dominant male—a human male who was currently turning her wild cat into a domesticated she-kitten.

 “Now, Jane, one last time…what are you?  And remember, you’ve already lied to me once.  Don’t do it again.”