A Perfect Time To Die: An Ultra Steamy Adult Sci-Fi Romantic Thriller

By Susan Hart

A Perfect Time To Die, is an almost 100,000 word novel which incorporates #4, #5, and #6 of The Foxworthy Files novellas into a completely rewritten book. It’s an ultra-steamy adult romance in the sci-fi thriller genre, and set in three countries – Mexico, England and Germany.

FBI agent Lili Foxworthy and her brilliant and charismatic husband, actor Peter von Rabenhorst, visit the Yucatan peninsula as a delayed honeymoon and to do research for Peter’s new play, End Game: The Mayan Prophesy. The couple runs into immortals and ancient Mayan gods instead. Later, they go to England where Peter will teach a master class at the Royal Shakespeare Company and it’s in the Old Country that they meet up with an ancient Roman vampire. After that, and endlessly searching for peace and quiet, Peter takes Lili to his homeland of Germany for a stay at the family castle. In Germany, they encounter an evil madman, also an Interpol agent, whose plans for world domination throw a huge monkey wrench into the works, as well as changing their lives forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Hart
• Release date: May 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311475114

Susan Hart

I was born in England, but have lived in Southern California for many years. I m now retired and live in the Pacific NW in a little seaside city amongst the giant redwoods and wonderful harbor, almost at the Oregon border. My husband and I have one cat, called Midnight and she is featured in two of my latest Sci-Fi short stories. I love Science Fiction, animals, and trying to help others. I publish under Doreen Milstead as well as my own name. My photo was taken right before the coronation of QE II in the UK.

Book preview

A Perfect Time To Die

By

Susan Hart

Copyright 2014 Susan Hart

Smashwords Edition

Chapter 1

(Q)

Q broke a sweat as he rocketed through the blue-green planet’s atmosphere of two-thirds water. Despite his being immortal, he occasionally got lost in the vastness of space, that void where his spiral-armed galaxy was located. It was his home, but Q didn’t always find his way there easily.

He ran one hand through his spikey blond hair and over his trimmed, short beard. Q knew that if he didn’t soon land, the sleek, gunmetal-grey starship he was piloting would be on fire from the atmospheric friction and he’d be crisp toast. It had already started to glow soft reddish orange, a warning color that time was short.

However, Q liked to play at the edge of danger most of the time, that place where the dividing line between success and destruction lay, the place that could conjure up sensual pleasure likening to the second before a climax. It was his thrill to be on this edge, and it was his style.

His brilliant blue eyes, a gift was from mother so long ago that he’d forgotten exactly when he was born, darted back and forth across the bank of high-tech gauges and computer screens that sat before him; they assessed his situation, but they didn’t change it. Q had to figure out how to land his starship without crumbling into a million pieces and bursting into flames.

The instrument panel didn’t hide the truth of likelihood; this could be his last day, his last breath if his calculation was one tiny millimeter off. The starship grew hotter, its glow brighter. This had to be exactly right.

Q surveyed the planet below him, his target. On one side, he saw a small peninsula that jutted northward. It was covered in the lush greenery of trees and plants headed into a tropical sea. That looks as good as anything else I can see, he said aloud to himself. Gotta land somewhere. He pointed the starship in the peninsula’s direction.

Even in this situation of potential obliteration, Q let his mind wander ahead to what he might find on this strange place. I wonder what type of intelligent life is down there, he thought. Are there animals? Maybe some people? Someone to talk to? Being the last one of a race limited the options.

Finding conversations and intelligent life were extremely difficult when those like you no longer existed, or existed in such small numbers that the event of running across someone like you was very rare. Q zoomed onward to his newly selected destination, anxious to have this dangerous situation resolved; one way or another.

Q was a shape-shifter; he could assume any form of life he chose. His current one had been a favorite for a very long time, a hundred years or so actually. Sometimes, though, his shape-shifting talents sucked; they would get him into a shape that he hated and in which he’d be stuck for a period. It only took his being in a given shape for a few seconds before his actions became as functional as the being he represented.

Q held tightly onto both sides of the console as the ship began to shake violently. He steadied himself to the movements, forcing his body to be limber enough to absorb the shakiness of the ship. Still, his mind processed. Even it the life forms on that last planet could have talked, they were incomprehensible! This place could not possibly be any worse!

Inside the ship, temperatures rose as he sped forward toward the peninsula. Q scanned the jungle ahead quickly, trying to find a remotely flat area ahead of his flight path. In his peripheral vision, he sought out any signs of civilization of life; buildings, animals or even an anthropoid being. Something, anything that indicated this mass of land wasn’t completely deserted.

He braced for a hard impact as the starship shook even more brutally. A new thought crossed his mind; Q could abandon ship and take on a new shape, a winged exotic animal form with which he could just fly from his cocoon of danger and be safe. He concentrated deeply as his ship plunged forward and the heat within it grew more intense.

However, nothing happened; his shape remained as it was. In addition, with it went his emotions and the ability to feel anything but panic or fear eluded him. Something had changed; Q felt weird all over, but he accepted his fate.

Oh shit! he said aloud. Here goes nothing.

The last thing Q saw before it all went blank was the oncoming ground on which stood a large tree directly in his line of approach. He summoned every ounce of courage his being knew and braced himself for impact, closing his mind to everything.

Crashing to Earth in three thousand B.C. would prove to be a very interesting multi-millennial experience for this one-of-a-kind alien who was unluckily stuck in his current humanoid form.

Very slowly, Q regained consciousness, although the amount of time it took wasn’t measurable to him, because time didn’t matter. His head felt heavy, like it weighed a hundred pounds. He pressed both hands against his temple to steady his mind. As reality returned, Q looked around his starship. He was surprised and relieved that the crash had only caused light damage and that he was also spared; he was alive.

Without regard for the soreness he felt, Q moved his hands across the instrument panel, fingering a dent here and there, but in all, he was surprised at how well the ship had taken the impact. It brought a slight smile to his lips. Assured that the inside cabin air pressure was still up, Q sucked in a deep breath of air knowing that it wasn’t poisonous or infested with harmfully toxic microbes.

He patted the console as if patting the back of a friend. Good job, Buddy, he said to the ship. Maybe I can fix your damage so we’ll be ready to ride out of here when we’re ready. Q pulled himself up from his seat just as a pounding on the spaceship door sounded. Must be the locals with a welcome basket, he said, rubbing his head to ward off a headache creeping on.

Q staggered to the door where he pulled the air-lock lever several times before it popped open. The brilliant sunshine blinded him for a few moments, but as his vision returned, his eyes focused on a semicircle of people gathered around the ship’s door. Mmm…this looks very promising, he said to himself, assessing the crowd. They are smiling and look half intelligent. Best part is they didn’t run away when they saw this almost flaming piece of metal fall from the sky and land on their planet. This might turn out to be a very good spot for me. In addition, what an historical event this will be for them; making legends, that’s what I’m doing.

Hundreds of times over thousands of years, Q had influenced many civilizations. No matter how hard he tried to not interfere, it happened. This time would probably be no different. He picked up his universal translator and banged it a few times with his hand. He pressed the ON switch, but it didn’t work.

He pressed it on and off a few times, hoping that would activate it, but it would not come on. In disgust, he threw it into a corner of the control room. Q stepped outside the safety of his starship and faced the crowd outside, smiling broadly at his new acquaintances, not knowing what would come of this landing.

Well, here goes nothing, he said to himself. A line of poetry flowed from his mouth. TaH pagh taHbe’. DaH mu’tlheghvam vIqelnIS. Quv’a', yabDaq San vaQ cha, pu’ je SIQDI’? Hach kíichpan, maasima? Q knew those words could be enough to scare the people away, so he added more. Greetings! My name is Quetzalcoatl, but you may call me simply Q. I’m sorry to barge in on your world like this, but the ship could go no farther. If you like, we can make some kind of beneficial arrangements until I can repair my ship and be on my way.

No one said anything as his eyes scanned the group in search of a friendly face. Finally, the apparent leader of the people gestured with his arm. Immediately, the entire group fell to their knees, prostrating themselves so that Q could no longer see their faces. The leader was dressed in clothes much fancier than those worn by the others, and strands of great gems and stones adorned his neck.

Thinking quickly, Q continued. Please…don’t do that. Don’t bow to me; I’m just a lost traveler, nothing more. Maybe we can find a way to be of help to each other.

No one said anything. Q started to say more, but slapped his head in disbelief. I’m an idiot! My translator is broken, so my words must sound like gibberish to you! The group, except for the leader, remained prone to the ground. Shit! This always happens to me! Guess I’ll just have to learn their language the old fashioned way…by listening to them and fitting words with actions. Q stepped to the ground and approached the leader, his hand extended in friendship.

It was a few hundred years later before Q managed to acquire enough pure metal to fix his starship. Even if he had been able to fix it immediately, Q would have stayed awhile because he liked the people and especially the planet where he had so abruptly landed many moons before. The precious minerals of the planet were plentiful, especially gold, but it was too soft for his purposes. Nonetheless, the people had gifted him with an enormous amount of the gold, plus other gleaming objects of all shapes and sizes.

His ship was full of drinking goblets of hammered gold, many with elaborate designs, the likes of which he had never encountered. The galley as pack with wonderfully decorated plates and knives, whose handles were studded with precious gems. Over the years, Q had helped the priests of the planet create a very complex calendar, a copy of which lay in a chair where he used to sit.

The calendar was his pride and joy; it had been developed to represent the past and current five thousand annual rotations of the planet, plus or minus a few years. Much had changed in Q’s life during those years, too.

At one point, he had become extremely lonely during an exploration trip to a northern continent of the planet, rumored to be laden with metal ore. There, he met a beautiful woman, who he married according to the traditions of the planet’s people. She had dark hair, which was set off by her emerald eyes, the density of which matched the blueness of his. Q loved her dearly; at least he came to understand the emotion as being love, based on what she taught him.

They had many children together, who grew up, traveled to other places on the planet and had families of their own.

He had never known such a widening cycle of life as he saw with his wife and children, but he had heard references to it. Q was happy and settled, so he didn’t rush to repair the ship. In time, he almost forgot about it.

However, even with his extra powers, Q wasn’t able to transfer his immortality on to his wife, whom he dearly loved. As with her type of being, the years aged her while he remained the same. He spent as many years with her as he could until death finally took her from her in her old age. For the first time, as he had experienced with the emotion of love, Q felt an extreme loss when his wife was no more.

While he came to terms with what he should do now that he was, for the most part, alone again, Q was unaware that within the metropolis he had helped to create from the city where he had first arrived was brewing an opponent, another immortal that was waiting to become a supreme god.

This opponent, a Buluc Chabtan, wasn’t from Q’s race. He blended in with the local population because he was born a human, only becoming an immortal through various ceremonies and older practices that used herbs and chemical to change a being’s status to that of an immortal. The secret potions were produced by the elite priesthood of the planet’s society, therefore were not available to the common being.

With envious eyes, the Chabtan watched Q’s happy life with a mortal woman unfold for many years. However, he didn’t have the same powers as Q; he could neither evolve or influence a society in the same manner as Q, so the Chabtan had to wait in the shadows and bide his time until Q readied his ship and left the planet, no matter how long that might take.

He also didn’t possess the same benevolent philosophy or positive attitude that Q had, but he could wait it out. The result for him would be a reign as the supreme god over the planet. In the meantime, he could live well within the framework of the present society without regard to Q’s presence.

As things turned out, it would be several millennia before the Chabtan got his chance to rule and to face Q again.

Finally, the day came. Q stood on the steps of the largest magnificent Mayan pyramids for one last time as he spoke with those he’d come to know as friends and family over the years he’d spent on the planet. After an impressive feast of the best food served on golden dishes, everyone in the priesthood shook his hands and prostrated themselves on the ground before him, a habit Q had never been able to convince them not to do.

Waiting beside the steps of the pyramid as a goat, the intended sacrifice in Q’s name, but he stopped the people from killing it. He hated the sight and smell of blood more than anything, except the use of flesh for food, so he convinced the people to give fruit instead of life.

It worked, and the goat was taken away.

Later, his arms laden with an overabundance of tropical fruit, Q walked away, turning once to wave to the people of the large city he had helped to create. His eyes wandered across the tops of homes framing the central public square, all decked out with colorful flags lining the promenade. From there, they traveled to the unbelievably large pyramids that were so perfectly aligned with each other that a quarter-inch piece of wood wouldn’t fit between their differences. Q smiled, a deep feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment rushed through his body.

It had been a great experience to be among these people on this planet for hundreds of years. However, it was time for something different. His ship awaited him. It was time to go.

Q settled himself into his pilot’s seat in the starship and fired up the powerful engine, which roared to life on the first try. Out the window, he could see the people lined up in the distance and waving to him. When the engine was at full force, he waved once more to them through the thick glass of his window, as his heart skipped a long beat.

You’ll be a hard, hard place to forget, he said aloud at the same time he pulled back on the starship’s throttle and blasted off toward the Milky Way, ready and anxious for whatever his existence had in store for him, wherever that might be.

Peter lay on his stomach, stretched out on their bed as Lili poured scented oil loaded with vitamins onto the palm of her hand, warming it with her own body heat. Gently she rubbed the oil onto his neck and back.

She had started the loving practice when Peter had come home from the hospital after being attacked and bitten by the vicious Tallis.

Her mind drifted as she rubbed her husband’s skin. God! What a horrible time that was, she remembered. I thought he would surely die, either from the shock of the attack or the shame he felt over his scarred looks. He felt ugly, useless, and doomed.

However, Lili had had other plans for the man she loved so deeply. Gradually, she nursed his body and his mind back to reality, a different, but purposeful reality.

As she rubbed him, Lili enjoyed the close contact of her hands on his skin, of feeling his muscles contract and relax under her tutelage. As the scars faded, Peter began to feel much better about his looks and himself. She could see the difference almost daily.

Lili tried to maintain a positive environment wherever they were so that he would heal faster. To this end, now, classical music drifted softly around the warm room lit only by candles burning at various locations around their naked bodies. It all served to create a physical place where the mood was soft and inviting and healing, for both of them.

This was an important and necessary massage, because they were leaving on a four-week long combined honeymoon and research tip to the Yucatan peninsula the next day, so Lili didn’t know when she would have such an opportunity as this again. He was going for the purpose of gathering information for an upcoming play at the theatre; she was joining him so that they both could have a much-needed time of rest.

Peter moaned with pleasure at the soft touch of her hands moving up and down his back and across his shoulders around to the place on his throat where Tallis, the bone picker, had so violently punched him. She marveled at how sexy it felt for her to please him so, and at how much pleasure it brought to her own body, just to touch this man that held her heart in his hand.

Her mind wandered on. When Lili had first seen the throat wound, her heart broke because she knew it had been damaged internally and externally with Tallis’s blow. For a long time her husband would not be able to use his voice the way it had so magnificently and repeatedly filled the theatre with resonations of his deep baritone.

At least, she could hope the future would once again grant him that gift.

Not only had the demon caused his throat and upper body so much damage, but also, Peter’s thighs and legs were also full of wounds. Lili worked the muscles in those areas very hard before telling him to roll over on his back so she could work on the front of him.

What had amazed Lili so much when it all happened was that she was out of the house, safely hidden in the escape tunnel. It had only been four or five minutes before she realized that Peter had returned home from the deli, but it was all it took for the fast-working bone picker. She had run quickly and frantically back to the house to try to save Peter, but the damage was done, quickly and effectively.

By the time she got into the hallway, Tallis had already taken his first bites of Peter. I wished I could have saved him from all that, she thought now as her hands roamed over his body.

He was so worried about the scars and his acting, she thought. All of his talent comes from the inside. I know he can’t stop thinking about how he appears to people, but he’ll always be perfect in my eyes.

Lili’s fingers touched his short beard; thoughts of how the beard came about brought a smile to her lips. Peter had told her he was going to grow the beard so he wouldn’t have to bother with shaving while they were on vacation. Besides that, he loved the way his beard felt when he kissed her soft and scented skin anywhere he could reach on her body.

I do as well, she told herself with a smile. At the first touch of his lips, I always get turned on. The beard communicates his manliness; his scent stills my soul.

Destiny had been good to Peter. He had regained the full use of his Shakespearean voice, but he continued their Theatre for The Hearing Impaired, which operated for the deaf children in the area surrounding the theatre he owned in Santa Barbara. Eventually, they had broadened the scope of the foundation to include all the children within Southern California, who enjoyed the shows immensely.

Again, he moaned pleasurably under the guise of her expert hands. Ich muß mich umdrehen, Liebling. Es ist im Moment zu unbequem für mich um auf dem Bauch zu liegen. I must turn over, darling Lili, he said softly. Once on his back, Peter smiled as Lili straddled his stomach in order to reach his throat and chest more easily. As she worked her magic, his hands ran over her arms, then over her breasts and stomach down to her legs and hips.

Beneath her, Lili felt his erection stiffening. She lifted up her buttocks enough that his cock could find its way to her warm opening. Using her knees for balance, and without stopping the massage, Lili lowered herself onto his waiting manhood, smiling as he groaned louder and deeper.

A warm fire spread within her as she began a methodical, rhythmic move up and down his shaft. She willed his scars to disappear with the same intensity she willed the moment to never pass. He felt so good inside of her, a place where he belonged, a place where the two of them became one.

With her eyes closed, Lili was swept away in ecstasy. He suddenly reached for her breast, and she jumped at the movement. Peter took his time, teasing her the way he always did, holding back when she moaned, moving harder when she had matched his stroke. She felt her precum begin to flow at the same moment he felt its warmth.

His thrust quickened; she matched it. They rose together on the bed, she like riding a bucking stallion, and he was the horse. As the momentum grew and the climax came to a head, they both screamed with release as their cum mingled in one flow onto the bed.

Lili collapsed onto his chest, his arms finding their familiar place of protection around her. His dick remained inside of her, still pumping its final drops.

Lili knew from experience that if she let Peter rest for a few minutes, his erection would return and they could make love for as long as they wanted. Inside she was excited as hell, not just because of Peter, but because leaving her FBI work behind for a few weeks was a rare opportunity for her.

She intended to take full advantage of the rarity, too. Lili was wired with excitement and horniness for the man who could fuck the world right out of her mind. She thought about how it was going to be for them to make love in the warmth and humidity of a tropical jungle. Peter’s fingers rubbed hair off her cheek; he lifted her hand and kissed it, looking into her eyes.

What? he asked, knowing her mind was racing about something.

Should we pack much more than our bathing suits to take on our big adventure tomorrow?

Peter laughed. She smiled, more for the fact that he could laugh again, than at what she had said. His deep blue eyes settled on her face. We don’t even need our bathing suits, Liebling. It’s a very, very private jungle camp…no one will be there except us and the birds and bees. Who knows? Maybe they can teach us something we don’t already know."

His hand drifted over her face again. Hell, we won’t even see the woman who comes once a week to pick up our laundry and returns it. It will only be us, Lili. For once, just us!

A few quiet moments passed. What are you going to eat? she asked, mainly because he was a vegetarian.

Oh, I’ll have to climb trees to harvest mangoes and papayas, and maybe even some bananas to throw down into your waiting arms. He chuckled at the picture in his mind.

I’d rather have you in my waiting arms, she whispered, not a bunch of fruit! Gradually, a look of light panic crossed her face. What about coffee? I can’t do without my coffee in the morning!

He laughed aloud and kissed her neck. I was only kidding with you. The camp is already stocked with everything we need as staple supplies. We’ll stop for some groceries on the way in and again when we visit all those great pyramids and museums they have around there.

Lili picked up one of his fingers and kissed it lovingly. He rolled over on top of her, running his hand down the length of her body, nudging hers with his own.

I’ve been studying how to make our own bread, he said. Flatbread. Would you like that?

Lili reached for the small bottle of scented oil on the nightstand, pouring a little of it onto one hand and rubbing it with the other. She began rubbing his neck and throat gently while she nibbled his ear. She smiled as his erection began. One of the advantages of using organic, vitamin-enriched oil for massages is that it doesn’t taste half bad, she teased, biting his ear again. And, yes, I’d love to taste your flatbread, and anything else you’re offering up to eat.

Peter’s hand wound down to the hair covering her sex, curling it repeatedly around his fingers while he kissed her.

Peter...I know we promised each other before, but tell me again...don’t let us be apart for one hour longer than we have to be. I couldn’t stand it after all that has happened. I really think I’d die if I couldn’t be with you.

He looked at her deeply as his erection moved inside her suddenly. Liebling, there’s no need to worry about anything. We’ll be in a tropical paradise for four weeks. What could happen around some old ruins and in such a beautiful part of the world? We’ll be safe, and alone, and happy, and satisfied. I promise you.

I know I worry too much sometimes. It will be our honeymoon, after all.

Peter placed one hand over her head so that it touched the headboard; he pulled his cock out of her and lifted himself over Lili. He thrust into her so hard that the feel of her hot cunt around his manhood brought forth a scream of pure pleasure.

The next morning, their driver dropped them off at a private jet waiting on the tarmac at the Santa Barbara airport. It was a wonderful, early summer day. Lili looked around her, taking it all in before Peter took her hand as they entered the small business jet. The happy couple, the pilot and the copilot were the only ones on board the luxurious plane. The cabin could be shut off to make it private, and there was an intercom on the wall in between the galley and the passenger seats in case they needed to talk to the pilots or vice versa.

They fastened their seat belts in two well-padded fabric seats side-by-side of each other. Peter leaned back on the headrest, but Lily looked through the window as the plane picked up speed and took off into the air.

What are you thinking about? he asked after a few minutes of watching her.

Lili turned to him. How much I love you and how much I need this honeymoon.

She picked up his hand and rubbed it, enjoying the feel of his soft skin.

Peter stroked her cheek gently. I don’t know how you survive all those vile cases with serial killers and bad guys, he ventured aloud. Especially when two of the worst were so close to home. You’re an amazing woman, Lili Foxworthy. I count myself among the luckiest men in the world to have you for a wife.

Lili kicked off her shoes and propped up her feet on one of the opposing seats. She looked out the window again facing downward to see the Baja, California coastline disappear beneath the