I could smell his cologne, and I loved it. "I'm sorry, babe," he said, as he kissed me 'hello'. "What are you doing here? I thought we were hanging ...ut tomorrow." "I couldn't wait. I needed to see you. I need to tell you something." Johnathan had his arms around my waist. "Well, what is it?" "Alanna. I've been thinking a lot lately, and I was going to tell you this tomorrow, but.." he blushed, and looked down. I raised my eyebrows and smiled, encouraged him on. He looked me in the eyes. . She takes a deep breath and focuses. She aims at an advancing chaser and mows it down, tearing its fungus body apart. She turns and blasts the stalker tailing it.All around her, Audra can see stalkers and chasers being ripped apart or burned into char. Her comrades unleash spray after spray of bullet and liquid fire. But the Scourge still gets close, too close. She hears a scream as a tendril snakes out toward them. It quickly wraps around one of the squad. Before any of them knows it, it is. ‘I’ve thought about it. I’m almost afraid of how Mom would react.’ ‘Why don’t you talk to her about it? Sooner or later, it’s going to happen.’ ‘I know. I just don’t want to hurt her. She’s putting on a brave face, but I’m not so sure she’s feeling very good about what happened.’ ‘What does Neal think?’ I asked. ‘He’s a bit less worried than me, but he doesn’t see her every day. Hell, he sees her about once a month. He’ll be working up north this summer, so he won’t be around at all.’ ‘Have you. "Mmmmmm, yes! Because that is what you are…and very soon my 'lover,'I shall be stroking, kissing, licking, and sucking that voluptuous young fleshthat you are offering me." Her eyes surveyed the length and breadth of the girl's naked body. "Now where shall we start? …Why yes! your beautiful legs I think.But first…" she went on, moving around to stand between Sarah's widespreadthighs, "I want you to be just the way you were when I first saw you, thatday at the beach, standing in the sea, your.