Just A Kiss

Just A Kiss By Lara Santiago Copyright 2006

Chapter One "Hello. Hello! Can you hear me, now?” Gabrielle Miller shouted into her worthless cell phone as she pushed it against her ear. She pressed her finger hard against the opposite ear, trying in vain to hear the voice from Bob's Tow Service. She bent over the center console because the passenger seat sported a single bar of signal strength versus none in the driver's seat. "I need a tow truck sent to...” She was talking to herself. The ensuing silence she registered meant the call just dropped. Again. "Damn it all to hell.” She lowered the phone to dial again and saw the problem. The low battery warning no longer blinked or beeped. The screen was completely blank. Crap! She snapped her useless cell phone shut and pitched it to the passenger side floor board.

"What am I doing here?” Gabrielle sighed. She'd gotten lost on her way to a party where an acquaintance wanted to introduce her to someone perfect. She blew out her tire racing around like a mouse in a maze in this desolate industrial area, trying to follow directions given by someone obviously more geographically challenged than she was. All for what amounted to a blind date selected for her by someone she barely knew. What could she have been thinking? You thought you were lonely, said a sad voice from deep within her. Straightening from her crouched position bent over the stick shift, Gabrielle caught a disturbing image out of the corner of her eye and strangled a shriek. A man stood outside her window. A glance to her rearview mirror showed a car now parked behind hers. "Need some help changing your tire?” he asked politely. His face was lowered to her window level. He rested one hand casually on the roof of her car; the other was hidden behind him. He looked like an average guy, but something in his tone felt off. "No, I've already called a tow service. Thanks, anyway." She waved him off with her best fake smile plastered securely in place. Her sixth sense, which she largely ignored, sent a punch to her stomach. "Why don't I wait here with you?" "Oh, you don't have to do that. They'll be here any minute,” she lied through teeth clenched very tightly, trying to hold the grin now fading as quickly as the light of day surrounding them. "I don't mind.” The disturbing edge in his tone of voice sent a tendril of pure dread snaking down her spine. Gabrielle dropped her fake smile. “Get away from my car!" "You want me, don't you?” the man asked and smiled suggestively. “I can tell when a woman craves domination. You'll be on your knees tonight, you whore.” His eyes shone with a mania now unmistakable. "I have a gun,” she lied, hoping it would at least make him step back. He didn't step away. Instead, he bashed in her driver's side window with a tire iron he had been hiding behind him. She shrieked when he grabbed hold of her hair through all the broken glass. She fought to disengage her seatbelt. She yanked her head from his grasp, losing several strands the hard way. Eyes watering from the bruising sting, but free from her restraint, Gabrielle dove for the passenger door handle. He reached through the broken window and caught the sleeve of her blouse in his fist. The sound of fabric ripping motivated her to kick him in the face and escape through the now—thank heavens—open passenger door. Gabrielle scraped her hands and tore a hole in the knee of her slacks as she scrambled out of her car. She wobbled unsteadily to her feet at first, but once she gained her footing, her palpable fear motivated her to run as she never had before. Thankfully clad in fairly comfortable low heels, she fed on the adrenalin powering her system. She sprinted down the deserted street searching for any available help.

"I'm gonna catch you, bitch, then I'm gonna punish you for your sins!” the pervert shouted in her wake as he ran after her. Unfortunately, he was faster and already gaining on her. Damn it! The sidewalk she traveled on ended at a ten-story brick structure a few blocks ahead. There were several doors along the ground floor, but she knew her pursuer would overcome her before she could even reach the nearest one. Instead, she caught sight of an opening on her right and headed for it. Gabrielle rounded the corner into an alley, never slowing her pace. She prayed for a miracle with every urgent step she took. After only a few strides into the alley, the muscles in her thighs cramped at the exertion she demanded. If there was a miracle to be found tonight, this alleyway wasn't it. All she could see was endless bricks and absolutely no evidence of humanity whatsoever. Not even a stray dog or cat to add drama. So, she simply kept running, wondering if this was how too-stupid-to-live heroines in horror movies felt as they ran from monsters. Abruptly, she realized the walls were closing in on her. She couldn't see any gap at the end of the alley. Only bricks. Everywhere. Surely it was only her imagination? She squinted into the darkness closing fast around her. The walls of this opening were narrowing to an inevitable dead end. There were no doors, no windows, and ultimately, no hope of escape. Gabrielle didn't slow down, though. She found a reserve of strength and used it to propel her even faster—possibly to her death. If she ended up smacking a brick wall at full speed, then she wouldn't be conscious for whatever the evil man behind her intended. Her rock-or-hard-place choice fast closing in gave her mental pause. This was so unfair, yet so unavoidable. The madman was catching up. Gabrielle could almost feel his foul breath on the back of her neck, but she refused to look behind her. She pushed onward. Fifty feet. Forty feet. Thirty feet. Her eyes welled up. She glanced toward the darkening sky for any sign of help. Not even an alien craft for her vivid imagination to latch onto for help. None. Nothing. Nada. But when she focused forward again, a miracle appeared. A beam of light suddenly spilled forth ahead of her. The blue-tinted glow brightened, as if from a big television, and a shaft of light arrowed toward what was surely her salvation. Was it a door? A window opened in the endless brick? A contingent of law enforcement tucked away ready to help her? Twenty feet. Ten feet. It was a narrow opening between the brick buildings. Gabrielle turned and embraced the light, throwing herself through the gap. She didn't slow her pace as she twisted her upper torso to accommodate the narrow space and charged through at full-steam-ahead mode. If she'd been a D-cup instead of a C-cup, she would have surely left part of one breast behind on the corner.

Without a doubt, the hulking monster giving chase couldn't fit, right? Gabrielle sneaked a glance behind her but couldn't see anything as her hair blew into her face and covered her eyes. When she turned back to the courtyard surrounded by the tall brick buildings, she couldn't quite understand what her eyes registered. A small group of tall, massively built, commando-looking figures stood silently in a circle. The blue light emanated from somewhere in the center of their loose human ring. Gabrielle, elated to find someone else in her barren nightmare to possibly save her, dove for the center of the group and the hope-fulfilling light, intending to do a tuck and roll once she hit the ground. However, as her body slid into the circle and the soothing light enveloped her, something remarkable happened. As she flew between two of the figures, she realized they surrounded a massive marble, coffin-like structure. It looked like solid rock. Another impressive warrior figure lay on top of the slab in repose. Gabrielle, thinking she was aimed to smack into the rock, braced for impact, but she didn't crash. Everything stopped moving, including her body. She hung suspended in midair several feet from the slab. Then a wall formed around everyone, including her. She heard a loud thump behind her and hoped with all her heart the noise came from the pervert chasing her. He deserved to be a smear on the newly created wall. Poetic justice, she thought smugly. She remained in midair, wondering if she would be stuck like this forever, but it was only for a moment. Gravity returned without warning, and she crashed. She hit the side of the structure in a very clumsy tuck and roll. The circle of warriors stationed around her looked surprised. They were very dark. Or was it merely their clothing that was dark? And they were very tall. Or was it just that she was gazing up from the ground which made them look so tall? And they were big. Okay, there was no mistaking the muscles they all had. Was she dreaming? Was she dead? Were they about to do something worse than what the madman she escaped from had in mind for her? Gabrielle closed her eyes and counted to three. It was childish to believe they'd be gone if she simply wished hard enough, but she tried it anyway. When she opened her eyes again, the dark warriors were still in a circle around her, but she was no longer in a courtyard surrounded by tall brick buildings and a newly formed steel wall. Gabrielle gasped in surprise. She was now on an aircraft of some sort. Gabrielle groaned and rubbed her aching shoulder. She was surprised all right, but apparently so were the warriors, as evident by the wary astonishment on their faces as they closed ranks around her. She was so grateful to have escaped the madman, she didn't register the frightfully aggravated looks her rescuers now directed at her. Dangerous looks. They drew their weapons as she stared up into their weary, unmistakably angry faces. And so, Gabrielle did what any self-respecting, too-stupid-to-live heroine in a horror movie would do. She fainted. **** "What will we do with the human?” Crag, the male leader of the alien explorers, asked Sybille, his female second-in-command. He had directed the rest of the dwindled crew to their stations to pre-flight the craft for the journey home. They already faced challenges with Zelda gone and Keller incapacitated.

"Leave her here,” Sybille responded distantly as she watched the female slumped on the floor next to Keller's resting place for the journey. "Is that wise? What if she wakes up? Our mission parameters were clear. No contact whatsoever." "It's already too late for that. The human made contact by jumping into our circle of departure. Besides, we don't have time to return her to Earth and still ensure Keller is healed in a timely manner. We'll bring the human back once Keller's safely attended to by his wife, Maura." "The human won't stay asleep for that long. Surely she'll wake before we dock." She shrugged. “The room will be sealed. She won't escape. I already checked her for weapons and found none. Besides, she's puny, even by Earth standards." Crag folded his arms over his massive chest and took a deep, calming breath. Sybille immediately recognized the look on his handsome face. He was about to protest, but they didn't have time. "Do you want to risk the damage of a royal prince to return a foolish human who shouldn't have been where she was in the first place?" "I hardly think it's her fault, Sybille." "Perhaps not, but I don't imagine you want to explain to our queen that her son spent extra time in excruciating pain because of an earthling who caught us departing." "Putting her back will be complicated." "Perhaps, but unavoidable. We'll deal with it when the time draws closer. Come, we need to make final preparations for our departure out of orbit.” Sybille turned and exited the room, urgency driving her steps. She closed the door on their way out of the quiet chamber to allow their wounded friend peace. If Keller woke during the journey to their home planet Tiburon, he would need it.

Chapter Two Gabrielle woke up lying on her back. She opened her eyes, looked up at what she presumed was the ceiling of the room she was in, and saw stars flying by. How odd, she thought. She couldn't remember where she was at first. A planetarium? No. It looked sort of like an alien spaceship. Then she remembered. Oh, crap! Gabrielle bolted upright and found herself in the exact same place as when she fainted directly after the warriors drew their fierce-looking weapons on her. How long had she been unconscious? Had they done anything to her? Gabrielle ran her hands quickly across her torso and legs, patting herself down looking for ... she didn't even know what. Probes? Recent surgery? An alien baby? Get a grip, Gabrielle. She stood up slowly, brushing imaginary dust off her clothes as she took in her surroundings. There was a door all the way across the room, maybe twenty feet from her, and yet the space seemed difficult to measure. If she actually started walking to the door, Gabrielle fearfully imagined it would be like a circus funhouse where the journey never ended, and she would be hopelessly lost traveling the short distance. Calm down. Getting hysterical won't help anything. She took a deep breath to still her wild imagination. The ceiling was a dome of stars, so she figured she was either in a planetarium or flying through space in an alien craft. Where are Mulder and Scully when you need them? she thought, and then jumped nearly a foot in the air when someone moaned. Gabrielle turned to look behind her and almost fainted again. In the center of the spacious room was a large, rectangular, cubical slab of marble. On top of this sarcophagus-shaped rock was a man lying on his back, eyes closed, arms resting to his side. A gorgeous man. He was sleeping maybe? Or dead? She stifled an urge to run. He wasn't moving, but she could see him breathing from where she stood. Okay. Not dead. Good. Better to be with a sleeping warrior alien than a dead body, right? Better get closer and take a look, and not because he was simply the most magnificent man she'd ever seen. He looked like a Greek God. He was massively built. His thick black hair was short. She wondered briefly what color his eyes might be to complement his angular face. His lips were full and sensuous. His sleek black body armor surely molded to, and barely contained, a very impressive body. No man would look this good and not have the body to go with it. He was perfectly formed head to toes, the stuff of her wild, late-night fantasies, and the best Hollywood had to offer. She wondered why his friends hadn't made him comfortable by removing his protective coverings. Perhaps he was a warrior soldier. They all probably slept in their body armor to make a point about how bad-assed they were at all times. Warriors were a whole different breed. Those in the circle were surely warriors. All of them were tall, too, even the women. Gabrielle looked down at her short, small body. Big men like him hardly ever noticed her. They probably never saw her unless they looked down at their feet.

Gabrielle heard him moan again. Was he in pain? Had he been wounded or something? She looked up to study his face and was startled to see he was staring at her in return. She noted his eye color immediately. He had liquid-silver colored eyes. Exotic eyes. Troubled eyes. He tried to speak, but it was, apparently, too hard for him. He swallowed with obvious difficulty. Gabrielle couldn't stop herself from moving closer to him. "Please, must kiss...” he said in a barely audible tone. "I'm sorry,” Gabrielle said with interest as she stepped even closer to his resting form. She bent down. “Say it again.” She put her ear close to his mouth. Did he just tell her he needed a kiss? Yeah, she wanted to kiss him and make him better all right. She chanced a look at his face. The gorgeous warrior pierced her with a direct stare, mesmerizing her. “Kiss me,” he whispered. "Me?” Gabrielle rose to study his face, checking his expression for clarification. His eyes bore into her straight to her soul and deeper still. Yeah, he was talking to her. Was he reading her mind? Gabrielle glanced around furtively and saw no one around to help him. She'd wanted to kiss him since she saw him helpless and gorgeous on the slab. What's the harm, anyway? It's a meaningless touching of the lips. She easily convinced herself to kiss this handsome, sleepy warrior before he changed his mind. He had beautiful lips to go with his impressive body. "Get ready, Sleeping Beauty,” she murmured under her breath. Gabrielle leaned over him, lowered her face, and carefully placed her lips on his in a chaste kiss. He groaned and shuddered the moment her lips came into contact with his. Her mouth tingled in response to the connection with this injured, dreamy man. She drew back, worried that she hurt some unseen wound. “I'm so sorry,” she uttered sincerely as his eyelids fluttered open to regard her with the molten silver gaze. "I am not, but...” He gave her a scorching, decadent look. “Please ... just ... kiss me." "Are you sure?” She looked around again to see if anyone watched her accost this helpless man. His lids lowered in a sexy, sleepy look. Was he even fully conscious? Should she kiss him? God, he was hard to resist. Gabrielle didn't want to force herself on the poor, injured man. Well, not exactly. But his lips were so warm and full and so invitingly electric, she dared to take another taste. Besides, he'd asked her to ... twice. She was simply complying with his request ... eagerly. This time, her kiss was bolder. Chaste gave way easily to carnal as her tongue valiantly traced the seam of his smooth, full lips. He moaned deeply in what sounded like pleasure and opened his mouth to admit her impatient and inquisitive tongue. She felt the growl of his approval from the vibration in his throat. He raised a hand and brushed her arm before traveling to her head. His fingers tangled in her hair as he pressed her mouth even closer. Her warrior seemed to enjoy his requested kiss, but there was a little problem from her point of view. A height-challenged problem. Gabrielle, on tip-toe, wasn't close enough to this seductive man to give him the kiss she wanted to deliver. She broke from his engaging mouth, and he moaned again as if in pain, but he gave her an approving look when she crawled on top of him. Balancing on all fours, she shifted her body over his to take full advantage of the marble-hard physique. She slithered across his chest on a mission to kiss his hurt completely away. God, he felt great!

She slipped up his body until her face was aligned with his, and her breasts were flattened on his body armor. She touched his face, which was rough with whiskers. Her mouth captured his hungrily as if they hadn't stopped kissing earlier. Her tongue tangled with his in a dance of desire more satisfying than any she'd ever experienced. Seductive. Alluring. Sensual. Engaging. It was similar to a very satisfying sexual encounter, not that she'd ever participated in a very satisfying sexual encounter to compare it to. This experience was what she dreamed of from the reference point of pure mediocrity evident in all her past affairs. This kiss made her feel light-headed. And yet, it was just a kiss, albeit a scorching one. After only a minute of locking lips with this seductive stranger, Gabrielle began to vibrate with a need she wouldn't have been able to articulate even if she had been willing to stop and ponder her feelings. She wasn't going to stop this heavenly tangling of lips and tongues until she was fully satisfied. Not even if one of the others came back right now and tried to pry her off him. Not even if they threatened her with a weapon. The stranger with silver eyes tasted like a spicy citrus rum cocktail she sampled excessively on a cruise once. He was just as intoxicating to all her heightened senses, especially the ardent ones tingling between her legs. Gabrielle registered the stranger's hand press into the small of her back. His touch warmed her through her shirt and sent a prickle of delicious sensation tingling between her legs. The hand tangled in her hair radiated spine-tingling sensation from her scalp down her back. He alternately massaged her neck while silently guiding the angle of her mouth as they kissed. One of his legs moved beneath her slightly. She shifted to accommodate it between her legs, enabling her to grind herself on him. As if reading her mind, he lifted his leg and securely wedged it between her thighs. She spontaneously clenched them together. A few more strokes of his tongue, and she'd crack the armor on his thigh guard lodged deliciously between her legs. She couldn't help but grind her crotch against the rock hard surface of his thigh as his mouth made love to hers with an intensity seriously lacking in every kiss she'd ever shared. She heard herself making needful, gasping noises. Gabrielle felt as if some intangible event were building inside the sensation ridden nerve endings residing in her body. Something was about to happen. She could feel it. Something fabulous. A warm tingly feeling sparked in her stomach and welled outward, rushing an untamed awareness through the very fiber of her weary, love-starved soul. Her heart beat in an erratic fashion, too overwhelmed by emotion to merely beat swiftly during this most intoxicating kiss. Gabrielle pressed her lips further into his and felt his body go rigid as if on the very precipice of ... something extraordinary. The citrus taste of him gave way to a rich, chocolate rush of flavor in her mouth. Gabrielle could feel her clitoris twitching as if he actually touched her there. Sensation exploded inside her in the next moment. Her hips ground forward into his in the ancient rhythm of love. A rush of heat centered between her legs as an orgasm of monumental proportion washed over her. Exquisite! Delicious!

And the kiss went on. The stranger beneath her groaned a satisfied sound. Her legs clenched his thigh as if in a permanent vice mode, the muscles in her body singing in the joy of her climax. Her hips arched forward into his again. This placed pressure against her clit and elicited an even greater sensation of friction to the already volatile experience she enjoyed. Gabrielle finally broke the seal of their mouths and slumped onto his body, her exhausted muscles still aching and quivering in pleasure. Her head rested on his shoulder as she tried to catch her breath. She felt like she'd been running. Then she remembered her earlier race from the devil, which led her here and into the arms of pure ecstasy. Gabrielle snuggled up to her warrior and stroked his face as he cradled her in his arms. She closed her eyes in wonder and supreme contentment. Boneless and sated, Gabrielle remained resting on top of his marble-hard physique, trying to recover from the most powerful orgasm she'd ever experienced. She must be dreaming. "What just happened?” she asked when she could finally speak. She lifted her head off his shoulder to gaze into his silver eyes. "I believe we ... touched our mouths together,” he remarked, then promptly lapsed into unconsciousness again as if he'd never been awake at all. "Did we ever,” Gabrielle said on a sigh. She realized she didn't even know his name. Too bad. She leaned up on shaky arms to see if he had really passed out. "Hey, Sleeping Gorgeous.” Nothing. Maybe she should kiss him again to wake him up. She put her lips on his once more and was about to lick his lips open when she heard a noise. "What in the name of Sultana do you think you are doing?” came a lethally angry voice from behind her. Gabrielle quickly removed her mouth from the warrior she lip-locked. She wondered herself what on earth she was doing. She peeked over her shoulder to see one of the warriors from the circle had silently entered the chamber. Much like the man she kissed, this warrior also had black hair, but it was longer. It brushed his shoulders and had a bold streak of blond running thorough it. Frankenstein's bride had nothing on this guy in the scary hair-do department, Gabrielle thought. Time to climb off her unconscious love toy and explain. Yep. She'd gotten caught violating a possibly injured man. Gabrielle was still tangled around him. She wished her silver-eyed warrior would wake up and explain to his angry friend with the streak that she had only kissed him. It was an amazing, orgasmic kiss, but harmless. Incredible satisfaction still vibrated through her as she tried to get her limbs to function. It was amazing that she felt so good. Apparently, she was so starved for affection and passion, she hadn't needed to shed even one article of clothing to experience a body-rocking orgasm of epic proportions. She had never in her life climaxed while kissing a guy. Never. "Explain your behavior!" "Well ... he asked me to kiss him ... and so I did ... and well ... one thing led to another ... and he fainted again." "I don't believe you. Remove yourself from him."

The streak-haired warrior drew his weapon as if to motivate her. The weapon was a big, evil-looking sword bearing foreign carved markings. Streak, as Gabrielle nicknamed him, motioned for her to climb off his friend. She patted the injured man's cheek in a vain attempt to revive him so he could explain what happened. She herself would like to know what actually happened. Her legs felt rubbery when she moved. She wasn't sure of their capacity to hold her weight once she tested them. "I'm a little weak right now...” She remained where she was. "Get down, or I will help you with the tip of my sword." "All right! Relax. I'm moving as fast as I can.” Gabrielle slowly scooted down the unconscious warrior. She dropped her legs over the edge, near a certain pair of rock hard thighs, feeling for the floor with her toes. "You are not moving fast enough.” The sharp sword point poked her once in the shoulder lightly. Gabrielle braced herself against the slab of rock holding, in her humble opinion, the best kisser in the known universe. In the next second, as if silently beckoned, several of the other warriors arrived in the room, stationing themselves strategically around her and the man still dead to the world. Not good. Gabrielle turned on weak legs to face the assembled crowd of angry people. Streak started speaking, “I found this human lying on top of our injured comrade." "Explain yourself!” demanded one of the females. She was a red-head, a veritable, Amazon-sized female. “Could you not tell he needed rest? Why would you do this?" "Do what? I only kissed him. Big deal,” Gabrielle said without an iota of remorse. “As a matter of fact, I might do it again if he wakes up. What's wrong with him anyway?" "This man has suffered a great loss. His wife died on this trip. He is grieving for her." Oops. Gabrielle had the decency to lower her head in abject horror. She'd kissed a man who just lost his wife. How could she have known? Why did he ask her to kiss him anyway? Maybe she looked like his wife. It was the only rational explanation she could invent at the moment. A huge attack of shame crossed her being. What was wrong with her? Why had she kissed him? "That's not even the worst part,” Streak said with utter distain. “When I first entered the room, I caught her ... with her lips pressed to his." The sound of gasps from every member in the circle of giants worried Gabrielle as she wondered what they were so bent out of shape about. She hadn't known about his wife dying. How could she? "You put your mouth on his?” the redhead spat out as if ejecting a distasteful flavor. "He asked me to and...” Gabrielle started to defend herself, but no one was looking at her. They were all speaking all at once to each other. "What will we do when Maura calls?” another female, this one blonde, said to the red-head.

"Who's Maura?” Gabrielle asked. "His wife,” the blonde responded in an informational tone. "Wife? I thought you said his wife died!" "One of them died on this mission. Another waits for his return on our home planet,” the red-head informed her spitefully. "One of them! He has more than one?” Gabrielle did not like that piece of information one single bit. What was he, a sheik or a sultan or something? The words ‘home planet’ then caught up in her mind. These people were aliens? No. Couldn't be. "That's not the problem.” The red-head was giving her a funny look. "It seems like a pretty big problem to me,” Gabrielle huffed. “Listen, I honestly didn't know he was married, so I'll leave quietly and—" "No, you may not leave. You've touched your mouth to his. You will have to go through a vita parcere ceremony with him.” The blonde female's eyes widened as if her own words scared her. "A vita what?” Gabrielle thought it did not sound good. "Life partnering,” Streak said coldly. "Life partnering! I'm not life partnering with a bigamist.” Gabrielle crossed her arms. "Bigamist?” The two females then started yet another quiet conversation and referred to a flat-etched, silver clipboard as they whispered. "Hello! Bigamist. Polygamist. Whatever. A man with more than one wife.” Gabrielle snorted and saw confused looks echoing all around the group of agitated warriors. "Why are you harping on his wives? It is not important in this situation at all. You put your mouth to his for, I'm guessing, a significant length of time. Now, you will have to become his life partner as our laws require,” Streak said in an uptight tone. "I will do no such thing.” Gabrielle stomped toward the only break in the now closing circle of giants. "You will,” and they closed ranks on her. "It was only a kiss,” Gabrielle whined. She looked back at the man these aliens insisted she had to partner with for eternity. He was still no help. God, he was still gorgeous. No matter. She was not about to ‘life partner’ with someone who already possessed a harem of wives waiting for him somewhere. Gabrielle simply wouldn't. And they couldn't make her. **** "It was foolish to leave the human alone with Keller,” Sybille said to Crag as they exited the quiet chamber behind all the others from their expedition. "Yes, we should have known better, given what we've observed on this planet thus far,” Crag responded. “But it couldn't be helped. Getting the craft on the trajectory home with two less pilots for the

return was as difficult as it was imperative." "At least he should heal nicely now,” Sybille said quietly. Her eyes wandered to Crag's beautiful gray ones. He crossed his arms over his chest, his piercing, vivid gaze now focused on her face. "It's a high price to pay in consequence. Now, not only will we have to face the Queen with the news, we also have to break the news to Maura." "She'll be devastated, of course,” Sybille said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Twice over. First, her cousin Zelda dies on Earth, and now Keller won't be able to take her sister Lena as vita-parcere." "Yes, it is troubling." "Do you think we should force the life partner ceremony before we reach Tiburon?" "Only if Keller awakens. The touching of lips is healing, but at the same time, it can be draining. If he regains consciousness before we arrive on Tiburon, we'll ask him what he wants to do." "We let him down,” Crag said dejectedly. "Yes, we did. Poor Keller. He loses one wife, and then almost in the same breath has to consider life partnering with a puny earthling." "Perhaps since he wasn't in a coherent frame of mind, there is a way he could be spared this travesty." "What are you thinking?” Sybille asked. "Perhaps there is an exception in the laws since he didn't willingly participate in the touching of the mouths. The earthling accosted him when his barrier was down. Perhaps it isn't a valid mouth touching." "I'll go to the archives and check,” Sybille said, hope coloring her tone. "Good. Let me know if you come up with anything to save him."

Chapter Three Okay, maybe they could make her life partner with the magnificent warrior she'd mouth touched. Gabrielle looked at the eighteen-inch long chain attached to her wrists between two gold bracelet-like cuffs. They were prettier than handcuffs, and they didn't hurt. The chain was gold in color, delicate, but very strong. They weren't coming off without a key of some sort. She couldn't even see where a key fit anywhere. Maybe she was chained for life. Or for a life partner. Gabrielle sat dejectedly next to the slab holding her future ‘husband/life partner’ due to her blatant disregard of their stupid laws regarding public displays of affection. She didn't even know about such laws before committing some hideous act upon their comrade, but they already informed her that ignorance was not a valid excuse. At least they couldn't force her to do anything until he woke up. Perhaps she was dreaming all this. She probably smashed into the brick wall trying to outrun the bad guy chasing her. She probably was dead, and this was a wait station on the journey to heaven or hell. It was ironic purgatory. Instead of being raped, she was now being accused of violating some alien prince of Arabia. She wondered if she was allowed a phone call here. Fat chance. Even if she was allowed, she had no doubt it was a super long-distance call. Who would she call anyway? Her dog? "Yeah, Skippy, could you come bail me out, old boy? I'm circling the planet in a spaceship,” Gabrielle said and then laughed at herself. Even Skippy would abandon her if she woke him up to tell him that. Gabrielle laughed again without humor this time. She forced the laugh until she dissolved into tears. She slumped to the floor against the stone crypt where her silent, alien fiancé still lay. "Why are you making that noise?” asked a deep-toned, concerned voice above her head. Gabrielle stood up to face her intended ‘life partner/fiancé.’ “I just remembered my dog, Skippy, who will miss me,” she sniffed. The most perfect specimen of man, who Gabrielle knew was an expert kisser as well, lounged on the block of stone, resting on one elbow. Mr. Sleeping Gorgeous pierced her with his silver gaze. She thought perhaps it was that he was injured or vulnerable, which made him more appealing and drove her to kiss a perfect stranger, but it was pure physical attraction. He just looked damn fine. Now that he was awake and conversing with her, he looked even better. "What's a dog skippy?” he asked and smiled. "A dog is a ... it's a canine, a pet. You know ... a dog. I call mine Skippy. It's his name.” Gabrielle tried to explain without lifting her hands into paws while barking and panting. She didn't want her chains to rattle. If he didn't know what a dog was, maybe he had bigger problems. "I see,” he said, but his face remained blank, clueless. "Do you know what has happened?” she asked. "I remember something quite remarkable before I passed out, but I must have been dreaming.” He smiled

again. There was a sexy gleam in his eyes as he looked up and down her body before resting on her face. "I doubt it.” She smiled in return, wishing they were kissing instead of getting married. "Why are you chained?” His perfect eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement. "Your friends think we're getting married. The chains are supposed to convince me of the inevitability." "Married?” He looked quizzical. "Don't tell me you don't know what getting married is?" "I know the definition.” He shrugged. She had a feeling they weren't speaking the same language. He continued, “I don't see why—" "Did you ask me to kiss you, you know, before you fainted the last time?" "I may have." "Why would you do that knowing the headache it was going to cause?" "I was ill from the death of my wife while we were on your planet. The healing powers of hands are renowned where I come from, especially if one massages the hands of another. It has very beneficial powers day to day. It can be life saving when we lose a husband or a wife. Why do you ask?" "Kissing on your planet means touching hands together?” At his nod, she continued, “Well, kissing on my planet means touching mouths together." The giant warrior before her actually blushed. "You touched your mouth to mine?” he asked in a horrified tone and put his fingers to his lips as if he could feel her hated kiss still lingering. "Listen, buster, you weren't complaining at the time, and you didn't stop me, either. You fully participated in the mouth touching ... kissing. It's called kissing!” she shouted furiously. "I was incapacitated,” he shouted back, then quickly calmed when he thought about it. “Hmm, no wonder I feel so good right now." "You're welcome.” Gabrielle tried to cross her arms. The chains made it impossible, so she turned her back on him in a huff. He put a big hand on her shoulder and turned her around to face him. His legs had slipped over the side of the slab he sat on, and she ended up nestled between his thighs. Again. "Listen to me. This is serious. On my planet, the touching of mouths is ... well, it means we will have to become vita parcere—life partners.” He studied her face as if searching out the meaning behind her despicable act on his person. "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't know. You asked me to kiss you, and I did. I didn't know you meant to put my hands on yours.” Gabrielle sincerely wished he'd quit looking at her like she was a rapist. "I wish I could remember it more clearly. I thought I was dreaming.” He wiped a hand down his face and inhaled deeply. He continued to look at her, and to her surprise, he gave her a positively lustful smile and

said, “It was very good." "You want to kiss me again?” she asked and smiled coyly. "Yes, give me your hands." "That's not what I meant." "I know.” He slid off the slab, steadied himself, and leaned against it with his hips. Maybe he felt weak in the knees, too, she thought with amusement, thinking of her own shaky limbs. God, he was gorgeous, she thought for the umpteenth time. Those silver eyes were simply mesmerizing and still watching her closely as she warred with her emotions. She'd accosted him, and yet he hadn't whipped out a weapon to threaten her with or anything. He smiled at her as though everything would be okay. He should be furious, but he looked at her as if she enticed him. Heavy-lidded, lust-filled silver eyes searched her face as if to commit it to memory. Gabrielle looked into his heartfelt expression and couldn't help herself. She threw her arms, chains and all, around his neck and pulled his mouth down to hers. She wanted him again. He shuddered and moaned when their mouths collided. He tasted so incredibly good. Her warrior. She was going to have to ask him his name one of these times. Gabrielle felt his hands on the move. He slid one around her neck and tangled it in her hair. The other went to the center of her back, pressing her close. She straddled one of his thighs. He remained leaning against the marble bed. She lifted her leg around his calf. His warm, wonderful tongue wrapped around hers with deliberate languor as if their mouths were dancing. She tasted him again and sighed in delicious wonder. The sweet, citrus flavor was back as he swirled and nibbled and stroked and made love to her mouth. He was more aggressive this time, probably because he was wide awake. Time stood still. She wanted to kiss this man forever. Maybe being his life partner wouldn't be so bad. She didn't know how long this kiss lasted, but it seemed like a very long, satisfying while as she became wet with desire. He seemed as urgent and as desperate as she was. She clung to him, rubbing her hyper-sensitive crotch against his steel-hard thigh in a desperate effort to scratch another voracious itch. Surely she wouldn't climax while humping at his leg like a shameless hussy. Not again so soon! A warm liquid rushed between her legs just then, negating her last thought about her imminent orgasm. She was going to climax again. It was coming. She could feel it. Every stroke of his tongue and suck of his mouth sent an electric pulse of pure, raw sexual zing directly to her anxious clit. She was on the brink. Her body was on fire as it neared fulfillment. He shuddered against her once more, and she tasted the rich decadent flavor of chocolate as before. Oh! Yes! Oh! Yes! She dove over a precipice she hadn't expected to find again so soon. Gabrielle screamed into his mouth as she came and clamped her legs around his thigh in reflex. Her kissing lover groaned into her mouth soon after. It was amazing that he didn't even have an erection, but he seemed very satisfied, all the same. Perhaps his body armor hid it. He stilled his movement as if he'd climaxed, too. Gabrielle wrapped her tongue around his suddenly less active one as if to lap up every drop of that

sumptuous essence now swirling around between their lips. She felt a tremble ripple through him. She understood how he felt and licked and sucked on his mouth some more to taste every bit of the delicious flavor. She could swear he was smiling, but he didn't break their delicious kiss. **** Keller held her loosely in his arms, this wonderful creature who'd given herself to him. He couldn't believe he slept through this amazing experience the first time. He had thought he was dreaming. He remembered asking a beautiful waif with sun-colored hair to kiss him in the dream. She placed her luscious lips on his and sent him to a place he'd never been before. Paradise was the word they used on Earth, he believed. The way they kissed now had an obvious rhythm that could have only come from a previous experience. His lips remembered hers even if his broken mind hadn't. Keller was currently in negotiations to life partner with Lena, his wife Maura's sister. It was not because he was passionate about her but because he was overdue to choose a vita-parcere. The Earth woman clinging to him sighed and snuggled closer. Keller held in his arms his new destiny, now inevitable with their actions. He wanted only this enchanting woman for his life partner and no other. He would simply explain the circumstances to Maura. He clasped the Earth woman to his chest even tighter, wondering what her name was. A beautiful stranger was now his future life partner. Unlike in the past, the thought didn't even scare him. Actually, he was beyond excited at the prospect. Keller had always craved excitement and adventure. He fulfilled this rampant yearning when he traveled to distant planets. This was his first and also final expedition to Earth before settling down to produce the required heir for his line. Now, he'd have to inquire as to what the laws on his planet held about partnering with indigenous members from an alien world. The very idea delighted him beyond measure—excitement and adventure, and most importantly, paradise forever.

Chapter Four "What is your name anyway?” Gabrielle asked as she became more fully aware of her surroundings. "Keller, and yours?” He stroked her back. "I'm Gabrielle." "Sounds—poetic." "What just happened between us ... again?" "We touched our mouths together. This time I was paying attention. I was right. It was remarkable.” He pulled her closer for a hug. "We only kissed, but apparently, you're so good at it, I'm moved when you do it. It's a mystery." "You experienced a release?” he asked, an eyebrow quirking up. "Yeah, a big one. How did you do that?” It went right to my cl—. Well, she wasn't going to tell him that. Keller shrugged, and then he smiled and gave her one of those looks—like a man who is an excellent lover and knows it. “It was my first time. I'm certain I don't know what you mean." "I think you do. By the way, it was at least your second time. You're pretending to be modest, which is fine. It still doesn't matter. On my planet, people do not get married because of a kiss regardless of whether they experience the heights of pleasure or not." Actually, she was quite in awe of the fact that she was traveling to another planet. It was better to believe that than to acknowledge what could really be happening—that she was probably dying a slow, dream-filled death in some dirty, abandoned alley on Earth after hitting a wall running at full throttle. "We do life partner on my planet when we touch mouths. By the way, we will arrive on Tiburon very soon. I'm of royal lineage and am held to a strict standard. I can't touch my mouth to someone and then walk away." "Why not?” It's a regular custom on Earth, she thought bitterly. Sometimes more than lips touched, and people—no, men—easily walked away. Gabrielle thought of her ex-boyfriend who'd dumped her over a year ago, very soon after she touched much more than lips with him. "I learned a phrase on your planet during my study of it. I believe it is called a shot-gun wedding." "I'm not pregnant. Shot-gun weddings are for girls in the family way,” Gabrielle responded indignantly. "Preg-nant?” He sounded the word. “It has something to do with reproduction?" "Right ... and I'm not reproducing ... so, no shot gun wedding required." "Not yet anyway.” He actually smirked. "Don't tell me your reproductive organs are in your mouth. I will run screaming from this room right now.” As every alien horror movie she ever remembered watching cycled simultaneously through her mind, Gabrielle lifted her still-chained wrists from around his neck and took a step back.

"Of course not. My reproductive organs are in the same place yours are. I learned that on day one." "Well, what if someone forces another to participate?” It occurred to her, ironically enough, that it was exactly what had happened between them. She should probably thank her lucky stars Streak hadn't simply executed her right then and there over Keller's unconscious body during their infamous first kiss. A dramatic vision of her head being lopped off with Streak's wicked sword danced in her brain. Keller shrugged. “Force is a rare occurrence. Usually, we have a protective barrier around us at all times to shield us from unwanted advances." "I wish I had a barrier of protection, then I wouldn't be in this mess.” Gabrielle had a sudden vision of herself dressed like Wonder Woman, standing tall against any and all bad guys intending her harm. In her vivid daydream, she laughed and watched as perverts and madmen bounced off her invisible force field to their much-deserved deaths. Keller cocked his head to one side. “I don't understand your meaning." "I was running for my life from a seriously deranged lunatic when I happened to stumble into your blue light." "The barrier wouldn't have protected you from our departure platform.” He scrunched his brows in puzzlement. "Well, I wouldn't have been running for my life if I could repel unwanted advances with a barrier of protection." "True, but the barrier isn't infallible, as in our case. Besides, how could we have met if fate hadn't stepped in?” Keller smiled in a predatory way and gave her a sultry, I-want-to-eat-you-up-right-now stare. "Fate certainly had a hand, but I still say a barrier would have been handy. So, why was your barrier broken again?” Gabrielle changed the subject to distract him. He looked so irresistible, she wanted to jump into his arms again. "My wife died. The loss of someone close precipitates the Tiburon barrier to disable." "Right. Your wife died.” Gabrielle sobered up from her lust. The thought of Keller pressing his lips to all those wives upset her more than getting dumped by her idiot ex-boyfriend last year. "Yes.” A look of sadness stole over his handsome features. This made Gabrielle jealous, and she had absolutely no right to be. "You were so over come with grief, your barrier was broken when I accosted you, kissing you like you asked me to." "I only wanted to kiss ... your hand." "What will happen now? If it turns out I'm not dead, that is." "Dead?" "Yeah, dead. Maybe I need an alien-to-earthling dictionary. I can look up a word, and you can tell me the reinterpreted meaning in your language,” she said sarcastically.

Keller smiled. “I have a scientific translator embedded in my head to sort through and interpret alien phrases. It does a pretty good job." "But it didn't tell you my definition of a kiss." He shrugged again, and Gabrielle thought she saw him smile. A terrible thought occurred to her. "Wait a minute. You knew!" "Knew what?” His eyes showed sincere puzzlement, but she was onto him. He was no better than the lying bastards on Earth. "You knew what a kiss was to me, and you requested it anyway. You have been on Earth for a length of time. You must have seen all of us touching our mouths together. It must have been a real-live porno fest for you and your kind." "I don't know what you are talking about,” but his tone said he did. "Oh, yes, you do! You knew when you asked me to kiss you I would put my mouth on yours, didn't you? Admit it." "I was incapacitated. I don't even remember asking you to kiss me.” He sounded convincing, but she knew a lot about men, most especially how they lied easily to suit themselves. "I don't believe you.” Gabrielle heard sadness in her own voice. She hated to be fooled by men, but unfortunately, she was often gullible in matters of the heart. "I thought I dreamed you up. I didn't think you were real. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to mislead you. I promise.” He sounded sincere. Gabrielle was so confused. She put her hands to her face and wiped the moisture from her eyes. She couldn't decide whether she was angrier about his half truths or about her own gullibility. "Doesn't matter. I don't want to be your wife. I won't life partner with someone who is already married." "Married means?" "Life partnering!” she said, exasperated. “How many wives do you have anyway?" "I have five wives ... I mean, four. I have only four now because one died recently on your planet,” he said with obvious sorrow. Gabrielle hated the immediate empathy she felt for his loss. He obviously loved the wife who had died to the point that he'd been incapacitated in his grief, leaving him vulnerable to her violation of his mouth. "Right. Sorry. How did she die, anyway?” Gabrielle tried to change the subject at hand again. "It was ... just her time. Thinking on it now, I believe she must have known this was her final trip abroad. She lived a long and happy life, but she wasn't expected to pass on during this trip. I was her husband for a long while, and she was a very dear soul. I'll miss her." "Uh-huh. She was older than you, I'm guessing?” Gabrielle hated this subject. "Yes."

"I don't want to be your new fifth wife, Keller,” she stated clearly, trying to get him to understand. Lip touching expert or not, orgasms while kissing not withstanding, bottom line, Gabrielle still didn't want to life partner with someone and then share him with his other women. Not going to happen. "Okay,” he agreed, and his eyebrows scrunched again in confusion. They were talking, but she had a feeling they were not necessarily communicating. If kissing meant two different things, then perhaps other words were multi-meaning, too. Gabrielle gave herself a pop on the forehead, resisting the urge to say ‘Duh’ to herself. "What does life partner mean?” she asked. "It means we will be together for the remainder of our lives. One flesh. We will have children to proliferate my lineage. We will go to social gatherings together. Sleep together. Live our lives together." "Then what does wife mean?" "Husbands and wives are—” he stopped to search the air for a word, “—in a trade together." "Do you have any husbands?” she asked, smiling with sudden clarity. "Yes, of course. I have fifteen of them." Gabrielle laughed out loud. He gave her a sour look in return. Clearly, he did not understand her amusement. "So wives and husband do not touch mouths together." "Of course not. We merely conduct business for commerce, like a job in your world." "Okay, then I'll stop feeling jealous,” Gabrielle said quietly. "I know what jealous is,” he responded with an amused smile on his face. “Are you jealous of my wives? You have no reason to be. You are the only woman who has ever touched my lips." "Why were they in such a hurry to get you to your wife Maura then?" "She is renowned in kiss ... I mean, hand touching. She has a gift. She could have healed me quickly. That's all. No mouth kissing.” He stepped closer to her, but not quite into her personal space as if to lend sincerity to the words he spoke. "Okay.” Gabrielle nodded. Perhaps they were communicating after all. "You will life partner with me?” he asked, his utter surprise showing. "No, just..." "I see I must still convince you to be my life partner. What can I do to persuade you? What is your primary objection?" "How about—we're strangers? How about—we're different species from different planets, for God's sake?” She waved her arms about in exasperation, at least as much as she could with the stupid chains still on her wrists.

"We are no longer strangers, Gabrielle.” Keller said her name for the first time, and it stopped her cold. Poetry on his lips. She shook her head, refusing to be lulled by his sultry, sexy voice. "Yes, we are strangers. We only know what each other's mouth feels like. While the experience is wonderful, it's not enough to base a lifelong relationship on.” She genuinely tried to sound convincing. In fact, lots of people married for much less, as she well knew. Stop it. Do not let him talk you into this. "What do you need to know to life partner with me, Gabrielle?” he asked, crossing his arms and sounding entirely too reasonable. He caressed her by merely saying her name. He leaned closer. She did not step away. "Lots of things. For example, what do you do for a living?” At his puzzled look, she added, “What job do you have?" "Well, besides future King of Tiburon, I'm an explorer and scientist. I was on a mission to Earth to learn about your physical space, land forms, and indigenous plant life." "Really, all that brawn and a brain, too,” Gabrielle muttered to herself. "What else?” he prodded. "What do you do for fun ... or recreation?" "Recreation...” He looked up again as if to seek an answer from the dome of stars above them. “I love adventure. I like to explore in my ... spare time. I love watching the universe. I crave ... excitement." "On my planet, you'd probably be an extreme sport's guy.” Gabrielle gave a long sigh and said under her breath, “And so not my type." "What do you like to do, Gabrielle?" I really like to touch my mouth to yours, she thought and felt her face immediately go hot. She was thinking about what he would look like with his armor off. Sexy, probably. All those rippling muscles displayed for her tactile pleasure. She couldn't stop her eyes from straying to the space below his waistline. She'd yet to see him hard and erect. Would he be impressive? Probably, but then again, since they seemed to have sex with their mouths, maybe his equipment was average. Good Lord, she was wondering about the size of his penis! What was wrong with her? Her eyes strayed back up. His face, and especially his eyes, displayed his amusement. Maybe he could read her mind. "Your cheeks are suddenly full of color. Are you—embarrassed?" "Maybe. I was wondering about your ... size,” she admitted. "My size?” He grinned with question in those beautiful silver eyes of his, trying to get the joke. Gabrielle gave him a heated look. “Your ... uh ... penis size.” She should check out that area before any further discussion of marriage or life partnering. "Oh, I imagine it's adequate enough in size to get the job done." "Now, there is proof positive you are not from Earth. All men on my planet think they are massive." "Do they now?"

"Yes. So, are you massive, Keller? Would you fill me to the brink?” She felt a sudden rush of moisture gush below as if in preparation for the possibility he might whip out his mighty cock suddenly to test the capacity of her brink and his ability to fill it. "Do you want to find out firsthand?" "What? How?” Another gush of wetness released between her legs, and a quivery feeling in her stomach immediately accompanied it. Yes, she wanted to find out. Keller smiled deviously and uncrossed his arms. “We could try out some Earth-styled—live porno, as you called it." "Now, wait a minute,” Gabrielle said as a tendril of pure want tingled its way down her spine. “I don't think that's a good idea." "So, it's okay for us to touch mouths whenever you get close enough to put your lips on mine even though you know it is the ultimate sexual experience for me, but when the tables are turned, you become shy and hesitant. How is that fair?" Keller advanced on her as she tried to think of a reason why it wasn't fair. Why shouldn't they check out how they would fit together? There had to be a reason why not. Think, Gabrielle. She couldn't think of a reason right now. Absolutely nothing came to mind except the answer to her question about how big his cock was. She couldn't think as he approached her. The closer he got, the less her brain pathways worked, and the wetter she got in anticipation of the notion she was about to have sex with him. Earth-styled sex with a man who could already make her climax by simply touching his mouth to her. Wait! shouted the shy voice deep inside her. What about protection? "I don't want to get pregnant.” Gabrielle said rationally, mentally thanking her deeply buried voice of reason. "You mean reproduce?” At her nod he said, “Not a problem, I can control it." "You're trying to talk me into bed. You are just like an Earth man after all." Keller crossed the boundary of her personal space and placed his hands on her shoulders. She sucked in a breath at his touch and closed her eyes to hold herself from launching herself at him with her legs open in invitation. She was wet enough to receive whatever he was about to offer. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I can become fully erect and easily insert my—” he paused as if to search for the Earth word “—cock inside you without losing control, Gabrielle. While it feels like any other skin touching skin and not at all unpleasant, I promise, you won't become pregnant. You can determine if I am massive enough in size for you to consider life partnering with me." "Okay,” Gabrielle said more dreamily than she should have. Her insides were liquefied with sexual need. What was she about to do anyway? She hoped she was dreaming because she would never allow a man to talk her into bed this fast in real life. Alien or not, he was slick in the seduction department, and now, she was very slick in anticipation of testing their respective ... size capacities. She wanted him with an unreasonable need guiding her. She did want to know whether he was massive or not. The shy voice inside spouting advice of caution and refusal was summarily overruled by her starved libido shouting, ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!' "Come over to the table,” he said motioning her, “and I'll show you."

"Don't you have a bed?” She looked around the austere room. The only decoration were the stars still visible through the glass dome above her. "Not needed. The table is more comfortable than it looks. Come.” Keller placed his hand on the surface of the marble, patting it twice in invitation. "Can you get these chains off me first?” She held up her wrists to him. "Of course, I'm sorry.” Keller pulled a small key from his belt and approached her. "What about the others ... your friends? I don't want them walking in on us,” Gabrielle reasoned as he removed the chains. He tugged at her wrists, propelling her along with him as he retreated back to the stone table. He set the chains on the floor. "They will not bother us,” he said quietly. “The door will stay locked until I want it open." "You act like this isn't a big deal,” Gabrielle said. “What we are about to do..." "We've already done from my point of view, twice,” he said sternly, but then he softened. “I'm sorry. I don't mean to take this lightly. We don't have to do this." Oh, yes, we do—at least according to her now-hyped libido. “So—you truly don't get excited by groin-to-groin contact?” Gabrielle was let down in a way. Perhaps this wasn't going to be a body-rocking experience. Or maybe it would be, if he was massive. "It's not unpleasant,” he said shrugging. “It is considered more of a ceremony on my planet. Making children is not taken lightly. It's a natural function and not necessarily regarded as a pleasure." "But it can be?” Gabrielle asked, climbing up on the unusual slab where he'd lain before. It was softer. It looked like slate but felt like a mattress. "I suppose so. I expect with you, it will be a very exciting experience,” and he smiled like a wolf about to dine on lamb. "I guess there will be no mouth touching,” she said regretfully. "Perhaps later, but let me show you the regular ceremony. You may be surprised. I'm hoping my adequate size will appeal to you once the ceremony is at an end,” he said. “I'm doing this to convince you to life partner with me." "Yeah, me, too,” she replied as sultry excitement rippled through her. Liar, said the overruled shy voice stuffed way down deep inside. **** Keller removed her clothing slowly. Deliberately. He watched her, carefully. This was pure science for him. He tried to think of it as mouth touching for her sake, but mostly, he diligently watched her reactions to his ministrations. He so wanted to please her and make her happy. Once he showed her the ceremony, he intended to place his mouth on hers at the very end. His hunger— his craving for the sweet, exciting taste of her mouth might make him lose control. He would place his mouth on hers—just a peck. Anything deeper would be dangerous for him. A heated thought came to him as he wondered what it would feel like if they shared mouth and groin contact at the same time. Gabrielle would be sexually satisfied at the same time he would feel fulfilled.

Perhaps he could talk her into a second round to experiment with combining their sexual satisfaction techniques. But first, he needed to convince her they were meant to be together. He believed, with his whole heart, that they were meant for each other. He removed her outer clothing, noting that she even had on beautiful underclothing. Her lace-covered breasts with peaking nipples showed though the form-fitting garment. The fragrance of her skin, sweet and yet exotic, was intoxicating, assailing his every breath. He leaned down, pushed the lacy bottom of her camisole upward with two fingers, and nuzzled the soft curve directly below her breasts. The delicious taste of her skin made his lips tingle in anticipation of the ceremony. "Do you talk during this ceremony of yours?” she interrupted his fantasy to ask. "Not usually, but I could if you like. What do you wish me to say? Complimentary things about your hair and eyes and your tiny form?” He laughed lightly. "No, I like quiet. I mean ... no words. Conversation distracts me from the sensations I'm experiencing." He slowly pulled her camisole over her head and placed the garment aside, watching the blush that spread from her face down to her pert, bare breasts jutting enticingly at his face. The taut, pink peaks begged to be touched and sucked on. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Almost frail, but he knew she was stronger than she appeared. "No talking then. I certainly don't want you distracted.” Keller pushed the lacy wisp of her underwear down her slender hips and gazed in wonder at her perfect stomach and the gold curls at the apex of her legs. Gabrielle was so different from the women on his planet. He took note of every part of her body as he exposed it. Keller slid his fingertips lightly up and down her petite body. She possessed the softest skin he'd ever stroked. Her legs, although not long, were slender and sleek. He put his mouth on one of her thighs then brushed his lips lightly across the gold curls. She was wet. The musky scent of her arousal enveloped him, and he wanted to taste her. Soon. He pulled away to finish looking at the rest of her. She had tiny feet with red-tipped toes. Unusual. Incredibly beautiful. He was completely enthralled with her. "Can I put my lips on your neck and other places during this ceremony of yours?” she asked. He pulled away from her to gain some measure of control. No, not a good idea at all, he thought. To calm himself, he began the process of removing his body armor. "If you want to,” he said, taking pause as a streak of desire ran through him. Having her mouth anywhere on his skin was foreplay in his world, but he didn't want her to be afraid to touch him. He'd have to pay attention and not lose himself. If he lost control and impregnated her, it would force the union. Besides, he promised her he wouldn't. He wanted her to come to him willingly. At this point, there was a small chance the Council, especially his mother, would not force him to life partner with an indigenous Earth dweller—no matter how much he wanted it. Physiologically, their races were nearly identical. However, life partnering with an alien race would set precedence in his royal lineage. Others from Tiburon had mated with beings from the planets they visited, but this was a rare occurrence. Thus far, it had never happened with a member from the royal house. He wondered if his mother was what earthlings called a snob—another interesting word he learned during his

brief research about Earth leaders. Keller knew he didn't want to be talked out of taking Gabrielle as his life partner. She was the most exciting and delightful woman he'd ever met in any world. Regardless, he couldn't life partner with Lena now. To that end, Maura would be saddened. She was his favorite wife, and he highly respected her. Since he was no longer pure of mouth, his life partner options had become severely limited. Lena, with her impeccable lineage, would no longer be available to him. If Gabrielle was deemed inappropriate and not allowed to partner with him, he still needed to find another partner, someone no longer pure of mouth. If no one existed for him, he might well end up alone. The royal line was still safe as his younger brother Kyle could be named heir, but his mother would be disappointed. She had trained him from birth to lead their people. Perhaps no longer being pure of mouth constituted the same loss of stature for his line. He might be forced out. The thought should distress him, but he found it did not. "Are you ready?” Keller asked, peeling the last of his armor off and then his underclothing. Gabrielle nodded and leaned back, her eyes closed. The expectant look on her face made him smile. He must resist the urge to touch his mouth to hers. He crawled up onto the slab, and it automatically expanded wide enough to accommodate them both. Keller lay along her side and propped his head on one hand as his eyes moved over her naked form again. Gabrielle took his breath away, from her engaging blue-eyed face framed with golden hair all the way down to her red-tipped toes. He hardly knew where to start because he wanted to taste every part of her, to touch her everywhere, to love her for life. The warmth radiating from her body infused him with raw desire. He trailed a finger from one shoulder, tracing her collarbone, down to the swell of her breast with the rosy tip. He moved his finger across to the other breast, circling the nipple that promptly pebbled under his caress. He ran his thumb across the tip once before skimming his fingers back up to the other shoulder. In his scientific opinion, she was absolutely beautiful. "Let the ceremony begin,” he said formally as was the custom. It was time to convince her that she was his life partner.

Chapter Five Keller placed his hand on her breast and stroked the peak with his thumb until it pebbled. He then did the same to her other one. His touch was tender. His face was a mask of concentration when she dared to peek at him through the slit of her barely open eyes. Gabrielle lifted her hand to stroke his face. He closed his eyes in seeming appreciation. His lips grazed her palm in response, then he lifted himself over her until he was on all fours above her. She suddenly lost her nerve and stopped herself from checking out his size just yet. Surprise added a certain thrill. Besides, she wasn't ready to discover him inadequate. Secretly, she hoped he had a massive shaft to match his massive warrior build. Most of the cocks she'd seen, or rather felt, in her limited sexual history, were fairly average, with the exception of the ones she read about in books. For the next several minutes, or perhaps hours, Gabrielle lost all sense of time as Keller massaged her body from head to toe with his large, beautiful hands. He was right. Touching was like a healing balm, and he was very good at it. He left no patch of skin untouched, stroking and massaging as if to memorize the landscape of her entire physical being. He rolled her over and gave her a back massage to rival any masseuse on Earth. He ran his hands over her, kneading her carefully from shoulder to thighs several times before rolling her onto her back again. More fun. Keller placed his thumbs on her nipples and rubbed, flicking them occasionally with his nails until she moaned her appreciation. He leaned down and took a nipple between his lips to suck on her. If she wasn't wet already before, she certainly was dripping now. One of his hands stroked down her body to the juncture of her legs. She trembled in anticipation of his touch at her center. He cupped her mound, pressing the heel of his hand against her to test her reaction. By now, he could definitely feel how wet and ready she was, too. She moaned for him once again. She couldn't help it. His hand ground against her a few more times as if to massage and ready her for his penetration. His thumb rubbed across her swollen clit as if by accident. She sucked in a gasp of pleasure. All the while, he alternated his luscious mouth over one nipple and then the other, traveling between each breast, kissing a path from one mound down the valley to the other mound. He flicked his tongue over each nipple again and again until she wanted to flip him over, jump on top of him, take him into her body, and ride him bronco style. His hand shifted and one finger entered her while his thumb stroked the sensitive folds of her flesh. Gabrielle grabbed his shoulders to hang on. The streak of pleasure he elicited forced her spine to arch. He continued to stroke her throbbing clit, inserted another finger, and then another. All the while, his thumb stroked her at a steady pace, building her arousal to fevered peaks. Damn, he was good at this. A veritable master of the ceremony, she mused. Her passion was at an all time high, on the brink of pure ecstasy and sublime release once again. She wished for him to place his erect cock inside her. She was so ready for him now. She wished he would fill her past her brink. As if he read her mind, his body shifted over hers. She didn't feel anything hard. She opened one eye and looked down between their bodies. She gasped in shock. She'd almost expected him to be shrunken based on his earlier statement. He was so cavalier about his adequate-enough-to-get-the-job-done size. He was hung like a bear.

Gabrielle moaned in anticipation. Oh, this was going to be absolutely fabulous. She hoped he could last for a few minutes. "Are you ready?” she heard him whisper quietly for the second time since the ceremony began. "Yes. Please. Now. Take me. Please.” Her body was so hungry, she could barely think, let alone speak. Keller plunged his massive cock slowly and steadily into her until she bucked mindlessly against him in sublime pleasure. She was on the very brink of orgasmic nirvana. He withdrew with aching slowness and entered her again, and again. His pace was slow and steady. He was pleasure personified. She wanted more of him. Gabrielle figured he was merely going slow to test her reaction to his ceremony, but she wanted him to go faster. Harder. He felt incredible, so fully embedded inside her. She grabbed his luscious, firm, muscular ass with both hands and pulled him hard against her for a deep, satisfying thrust. She lifted her hips to take him to the hilt. She nearly fainted from the sensation. He filled her completely, stretching her internally, and she knew she'd never find anyone in real life who felt as good as this incredible man. Keller must have figured out she wanted him to go faster because his next thrust impaled her swiftly without her hands yanking on his hips. Then he repeated it, and repeated it, and repeated it. She was mindless. The friction was unbearably pleasurable. It thrilled her, powering her once again to the pinnacle of gratification. Gabrielle moaned as he increased the pace of his thrusts. His hand at her hip helped him pierce her deeper. She met each thrust with her own feeble push until she felt the familiar sensation of satisfaction creep up to dance around her spine then dive between her legs. She grabbed his head and led his mouth back to her breast. Keller pumped his sizeable cock into her rapidly, building her climax. When his mouth pressed against her breast, and he drew the nipple back between his lips to suck, Gabrielle found out true paradise did exist. Rapturous pleasure ripped through her. She screamed her release as he continued to plunge inside her. Most men she knew wouldn't have lasted this long unless on drugs. Not that she'd ever had many men to compare it to, but the ability to last until she climaxed first was a new experience for her. Keller was gorgeous, massive in size, and could last as long as she wanted. He kept pumping into her as if he could go all night. He probably could, as long as she didn't kiss him on the mouth. Gabrielle was on a sexual high. She touched his hips to stop his thrusts and wrapped her legs around him to keep him in place, deeply embedded. Oh, how exquisite! She envisioned a time where they might share each of their world's sexual pleasures. Mouth to mouth and groin to groin. It would certainly be an event. A cataclysmic one. "I can feel you,” Keller whispered in her ear in what could only be described as a child-like, delighted tone. "Feel me?” Gabrielle could feel him, too. All nine or so inches of him buried deep inside her happy, satisfied body. "Clamping on me,” he explained, “like an internal massage. Very pleasurable."

"Kiss me, Keller. Please. Touch your mouth to mine” She could hear the longing in her voice as she raised her face to his. "All right, but only a small one.” He sounded cautious as he lowered his lips to hers and gave her a light peck. Gabrielle closed her eyes. She was unprepared for the burst of electricity from one chaste touching of lips together. Without thinking, her tongue slipped out, and she licked his mouth. He drew back as if she'd just burned him, and Gabrielle realized she shouldn't have tested him. His eyes glazed over and practically rolled in his head. She could see the feral pleasure etched on his face. He wanted her. He wanted her now. Excellent! Kiss me! Take me again! I'm yours! She met him halfway as his lips descended to hers hungrily. No chaste kiss this time. He devoured her. He gathered her in his arms and kissed her. Aggressively. Ravenously. Gabrielle could just faint. Keller's massive body pressed into hers as his mouth did wondrous things inside her mouth. He was like a man consumed, engaging his tongue expertly, sweeping and swirling around inside her, touching every moist surface, every crevice. The other two kisses she shared with him had been very good, but this one was stupendous. She'd climaxed more times in the last hour than in the last six months. This kiss was about to rock her world because Gabrielle knew where it would lead. She was about to climax again and taste the very best chocolate flavor ever. She could hardly wait. This time was going to be so good. His massive, rock-hard cock was still embedded deeply in her, not moving but felt glorious all the same. Her passion rebuilt. She was completely focused on Keller. He was so demanding. Their mouths danced in sublime surrender to the bliss about to erupt. Keller growled in her mouth as she climaxed in record time. She tasted that intoxicatingly rich chocolate flavor. Her vaginal muscles clamped down hard on his massive, bear-sized erection, which was still embedded to the hilt inside her. He roared his pleasure when his climax hit him. She registered the spurt of semen deeply inside near her womb as he slumped over her prone, overly satisfied body. Did she deserve to feel this wonderful? "That was magnificent, Keller,” she said, her hand sifting through his short, dark hair. She could feel his breath on her throat as he tried to move his head from her shoulder. He still panted harshly when he lifted his chest off hers. He gave her a horrified look. She didn't become alarmed. Her body still clamped onto him. She remained calm, her mind drifting in the wondrous aftermath of her climax even as she lazily registered the fact that he had ejaculated inside her body. "Gabrielle...” he said with a wounded, self-loathing she didn't understand. "What's wrong?" "I...” He swallowed deeply and shut his eyes in appalled self-hatred. He was still trying to catch his breath. He closed his eyes and took several more deep inhalations before speaking. "I should never have touched mouths with you ... I lost myself. I'm so sorry."

"Why sorry?" "I released..." "Yeah, so did I. Twice. Your ceremony rocks,” Gabrielle said in appreciation, not understanding why he was sorry. She threw her arms around him and kissed his neck. He jumped as her lips touched his skin. She laughed in delight and did it again, kissing an affectionate path to his mouth. He kissed her throat in return, but he soon shook himself and stopped just before their lips would have connected again. Gabrielle wondered if he was ready for another round, or if he needed some rest between chocolate bursts. "You don't understand. I released myself in the passion of the moment. I lost control. I may have impregnated you, Gabrielle." "What!” His words finally registered through her sex-happy haze. “You said you could control it!" "The mouth touching ... I couldn't. I'm not experienced enough ... I was mistaken." "Mistaken?” She tried to comprehend the consequences of this most recent interlude. At the same time, she wondered where her anger was. She had wished for it to happen anyway. She was the one who asked him to kiss her afterwards. What was wrong with her? "You overwhelm me, Gabrielle,” he said quietly and lowered his head to place his lips on her cheek. “I very much want to life partner with you. I can't imagine being with anyone else but you." Keller's words finally penetrated her pleasure-sated mind. He might have impregnated her? God almighty, what had she done? What had he just trapped her into doing? He was a man after all. He lured her into a false sense of security, and then—Wham! "You tricked me again, and I foolishly let you,” she said, stiffening beneath him. After all, he was trying to get her to life partner with him and had been from the beginning. He enticed her into having sex with him on the pretext of checking out the size of his equipment. God, she was naïve. Adequate for the job, my butt, she thought. He was massive, and he knew it. He'd only given her four orgasms since she dove for the blue light. How long had she even been here? An hour? Two? "I didn't deceive you. I lost control. I said I was sorry. On my planet, we don't have much use for the kind of mischief you are accusing me of." "Get off me,” Gabrielle said through clenched teeth. "As you wish.” He slid his wonderful, massive cock out of her. He turned away from her and sat on the edge of the flat surface as if nothing of note had transpired. Gabrielle started crying because something wonderful happened to her, only to be smacked down in the next instant by betrayal. She wept silently at first, but pretty soon, she couldn't stop the great gulping sobs that tore through her. She was so stupid. She deserved to get pregnant. The words ‘too stupid to live’ reverberated through her brain. She should have them tattooed on her forehead so everyone would know.

"This seals our fate then, right?” she asked between her tears. "I hope so, especially now.” He turned back to her with a quizzical look on his face. "What do you mean, you hope so? Why are you looking at me like that?" "I don't understand the nature of the water coming out of your eyes,” he said with an expression of wonder. "I'm crying. It means I'm full of sorrow.” She wiped her eyes with the back of one hand. “It means I'm mad at myself for letting you talk me into this. I'm sorry we had sex. I'm sorry I trusted you not to impregnate me." "And this sex is..." "My version of touching mouths with each other,” she spat. His eyes widened in understanding. “You are now sorry you did this sex with me." "Yes." "Presumably you feel as I did when I awoke,” he said as if he'd discovered something new. "Is that why you did it? To teach me a lesson?” Gabrielle wondered how she could have misjudged him so totally. He wanted her to feel like a deflowered virgin and shamed into a shot-gun wedding. Well, you begged him for it, you love-starved hussy, said a disgusted voice deep inside her. "Of course, not,” he said. “I was simply trying to find common ground. Don't be full of sorrow. The ceremony is not foolproof. Sometimes, it takes more than once. Anyway, I didn't use the optimal position for impregnation." "Do I even want to know what the optimal position for impregnation is?” she asked sarcastically, and yet her libido popped up right then wondering what salacious position would be needed to accomplish the traditional impregnation ceremony. Gabrielle willed the thought away. She'd rather let anger encompass her instead. "You will know someday when we actually try to conceive a child together,” he said smiling. "Dream on, buster. I'm done with you. Pregnant or not, you couldn't drag me to a wedding chapel with you.” She slipped off the platform, which shrank before her eyes, and began to get dressed. "The leaders of my race—the Council—will have to make the determination regarding our future together. I'm compromised.” Keller remained on the other side of the platform, slipping his warrior outfit back on quickly. "Not my problem. I won't ... life partner with you, and you can't force me." "If you carry the future heir of my line, there will be consequences for our actions, Gabrielle,” he said with a tone of rationality she didn't want to face. It was time to be foolish and crazy, not reasonable and sane. Surely she couldn't have gotten pregnant the first time. Any way, there were single parents everywhere on Earth. "If I turn out to be fifteen minutes along with this pregnancy right now, then I'll deal with the consequences of my own actions when I get back to Earth. I'll raise the baby on my own. My dog Skippy will help me.

I don't need you,” Gabrielle told him bravely. He sighed deeply at her wound-up attitude. He probably didn't even understand most of the words she just said. Keller started to speak, but a chime sounded from somewhere near the door. At his verbal command, several warriors came into the room. "I have good news for you, Keller,” the redhead said eagerly even as she sent a snarky look Gabrielle's way. "What good news do you have, Sybille?” he asked her, smiling warmly. Gabrielle wasn't jealous. She wasn't. "You are still pure of mouth,” she announced, her face now wreathed in a bright smile. "No, I'm not—" "Yes, you are,” Sybille interrupted him. “You cannot be held as impure since you were not conscious during the experience. It's that simple." "I am still not pure of mouth—” he tried to explain, and the redhead cut him off again. "Of course, you are, Keller. Your barrier was down. We made a mistake of leaving you alone with a puny, alien creature. It wasn't your fault. You do not have to life partner with her. I read that in the ancient scripts. You're saved." Puny, alien creature has a whole different slant when you are the one they are talking about, Gabrielle thought petulantly. Keller stared at Sybille and said nothing. No one said anything. Gabrielle could practically hear stars twinkling above in the large chamber. Why didn't he say something? Perhaps he realized, as she did abruptly, he could have gotten out of life partnering with her if she hadn't accosted him the second time. However, he tricked her the third time with the size thing, so in her limited, biased view, he was as much at fault right now. She still waited for him to say something, anything, but he remained silent. She took this to mean he wasn't going to admit the second and third times. Just like a man, she thought furiously. An Earth man, she corrected herself. Gabrielle didn't want to life partner with him anyway. Essentially, this was a way out for her as well. Fine. She wouldn't tell if he didn't. "Now, you won't have to tell your mother or Maura the bad news,” Streak said, giving Gabrielle a hostile glare as if she were the worst news ever told. “Also, you are now free to life partner with Lena as you originally intended." "We touched mouths again, after the first time,” Gabrielle said before she realized she had spoken out loud. “Oh, yeah, and we went through the reproduction ceremony, too. It was incredible. Fabulous. The best I certainly ever had." Gabrielle, suddenly so sick and tired of these people thinking she was unworthy, let her mouth spew what was on her mind. She was not a repugnant, puny, alien, Earth creature not good enough to touch mouths with their royal future leader, and she refused to be treated as such. "Gabrielle!” Keller said in a totally shocked tone as he turned to her with a panicked look.

"Well, it's true,” she taunted. "You touched mouths with her again!” Sybille looked at him as if he'd lost his marbles. "Yes, he did,” Gabrielle said, “and he liked it, too."

Chapter Six Keller was so shocked at what Gabrielle had said, for a moment, he couldn't speak. He wasn't used to people discussing their mouth touching experiences with a group of peers. Unlike on Earth, it just wasn't done. However, she was right about one thing. He definitely enjoyed it, but to share the intimate information with his colleagues was—well, quite shocking. Admitting to the reproduction act was the most damning, though. He wondered if she was about to tell them all he'd lost control and that she might possibly be gestating. Perhaps she could rip his dignity away completely and expose his humiliation to his entire planet. The entire room was silent again. His colleagues were naturally stunned by Gabrielle's confession. "Crag, how much longer until we dock at Tiburon?” he finally managed to grate out. "Not long. We're about to reach communications range,” Crag responded quietly. "Please inform me when I can send a missive forward." "Keller...” Crag began, but Keller didn't want to discuss the human and his responsibilities yet. He held up a hand and shook his head. He was finished discussing things publicly. "Leave us now. Both of you,” Keller told his friends. They nodded and turned to depart, but not before each gave Gabrielle a withering look. Once they were alone, Keller tried to understand what prompted her reaction. He couldn't fathom what she was thinking. "Would you care to explain your outburst? I thought you wanted out of life partnering with me. I guess you know you sealed our fate with your momentous words,” Keller stated what he felt was the obvious. He was still firm in his resolve they would suit perfectly, if they could only communicate a little better. Certainly, their bodies were well suited for carnal pleasures. Despite everything, he wanted her desperately. He simply needed to convince her. Keller came to realize he would never be satisfied with anyone else. He didn't want to touch another female in the manner he'd shared with Gabrielle. A life of solitude would inherently be preferable to joining his life to anyone else. And yet, he wanted Gabrielle to come to him willingly, not by force. **** "I don't want to life partner with you.” She didn't, did she? “But they insulted me, Keller, and you didn't say anything. I refuse to be treated like white trash." "White trash?” Those gorgeous eyebrows lifted in puzzlement. They really needed, at the very least, a phrase book between them. "Unworthy. A repugnant, puny, Earth creature, to be exact.” She crossed her arms in defiance. "They insulted you, so that is how you retaliated?" "Yes, and I'd do it again. Besides, this changes nothing."

"It changes everything. You admitted our interaction, publicly.” Keller sounded irate, but she was the insulted one. Why didn't he get it? "But you didn't,” Gabrielle said tearfully. Was he ashamed of her, too? Did he feel she was an unworthy, alien, Earth creature? “So just deny it. Tell them I'm crazy along with being puny and unworthy." "I thought you didn't want to life partner with me. I was trying to let you go,” he said quietly. "I do want you to let me go,” she whined. No, I don't. What was the matter with her? She didn't even know what she wanted. "Why is water leaking out of your eyes again? Why are you full of sorrow now?" "I don't want to talk to you anymore,” she pouted. "Be that as it may, I need to prepare you." "For what?" "For what happens next. Once we arrive at my planet, you will have to be examined by our healer,” he said in a placating, rational tone, which really annoyed her. She was not a child. "Why?" "To see if you are gestating the next heir in my line." "It hasn't even been an hour yet!" "It can be determined." "Whatever. I don't need to see your voodoo doctor." Gabrielle's mind was working a mile a minute. If she did turn up with a bun in her oven, what would she do? Work was no problem. She freelanced doing photography to keep herself busy. She worked out of her apartment most of the time. In addition, she had a generous trust fund she could tap into if needed, thanks to her grandparents being rich. They left her well provided for after their death. She and the baby wouldn't starve. She mentally rolled her eyes. His pregnancy fantasies were rubbing off on her. "If you carry my child ... then preparations will have to be made." "No, you take me back to my planet and leave me alone." "Not if you carry what's mine. Do you remember the shot-gun wedding? Well, we have our own version here." "Okay, Conan the Barbarian, let's lay off the caveman talk. You can't make me do anything. The likelihood of me being in the family way is remote, at best. When it turns out I'm not gestating, then I want to be taken right back to Earth. Got it?" "As you wish,” he said distantly. Gabrielle wished she knew what he was thinking. Surely he wouldn't give up so easily, would he? She shook her head at her own inability to make a decision. The chimes sounded again, and Keller signaled entrance. The wonder twins were back, Streak and Red,

as Gabrielle now thought of them. "We are about to dock, Keller,” said the warrior sporting a huge streak of attitude to match the one in his hair. She gave him look of distaste, which he merely deflected with one of his own. "Thank you, Crag.” Keller stepped between them and broke their willful, staring contest. "Maura and your mother are waiting at the reception area,” the redhead added. Oh, great! Gabrielle thought. The future mother-in-law and another wife to meet. This should be an interesting first contact. "Did you tell them I do not need a kiss from Maura?” Keller asked Red. "No, that is your communication to express.” She looked uncomfortable. "Why didn't you put to rest their fears?” Keller sounded exasperated, a tone she was getting used to. "Because you mouth touched an alien!” she yelled at him, then her eyes widened when she remembered who she was yelling at. She bowed her head slightly. “I beg your leave, Keller, but how was I supposed to convey that startling news? I did not deem it my place." "I did not expect you to tell them everything, just that I was unhurt,” Keller retorted. "Please do not act like this is our fault,” Streak said and immediately narrowed his eyes on Gabrielle still half hidden behind Keller. Gabrielle thought the name Crag suited him, like a rough rock that jutted out and annoyed everyone in his path. "But it is your fault,” Gabrielle spoke up in Keller's defense, poking her head around him to glare at Crag, “You were the ones who left me alone with him in the first place. Perhaps you should have separated us or given me instructions." "No, the initial time was our fault. Later, it was entirely your fault, human.” Crag stepped towards her. Keller pushed Gabrielle behind his body once more and took an aggressive step towards Crag. "Keller, please, wait.” Sybille stepped in front of Crag as if to protect him from Keller. “This will not be resolved here." "You are correct,” Keller said curtly. “Please inform Maura I've already been healed. Tell my mother I will communicate with her shortly. I need to prepare Gabrielle." Now, that sounded ominous. If she needed to be prepared, she was probably going to fail the task. What did she need to be prepared for? The others left them alone. Gabrielle refused to be sorry for picking a fight with Crag. Keller was staring at the floor, but then he looked at her uncertainly "What have you decided, Gabrielle?" "You mean I get to decide something?” she asked sarcastically. "Despite everything, I still want to life partner with you. Will you cooperate in this matter, or should I try to figure out a way to keep my position with my family since all has been revealed?" "Despite everything? You know what? It doesn't matter. Decide whatever you want or need to make

your life rosy and wonderful. In the end, it won't include me. I want you to take me back to Earth as soon as possible." "Will you stay if you carry my heir?" "Not likely." "Very well." "Very well? What does that mean?” How dare he give up so easily? "It means I hope you are not gestating.” He walked away from her without answering her question satisfactorily.

Chapter Seven "I knew this trip to Earth was a bad idea,” Elsbeth, reigning Queen of Tiburon, stated after Keller had delicately explained his first two mouth touching experiences in more detail than he ever wanted to with his parent. He had very carefully explained the events that took place on his return trip from what was to have been his last adventure. He never thought he would be explaining to his mother any details about his love life. "Mother, I'm old enough to decide what my fate should be. This trip was important to me and the others for scientific research,” Keller insisted, knowing she wouldn't feel this way, especially not after she heard the whole story. "You do not take seriously your important royal duties, Keller,” she said accusingly. “How could you throw away everything like this?" "I don't perceive it as being thrown away.” Keller stalled telling her the rest of his problem. "But it is! So, am I to allow you vita parcere with an alien creature of dubious character, one you admit you've only known since you've regained consciousness on your return trip from Earth? Or worse, am I to allow you to sully the royal name and force some other worthy, unsuspecting princess from our planet to life partner with you even though your mouth is now tainted? Well, I don't like either choice." "There is something else." "What else could there possibly be?" "There is also the possibility she may be gestating the next generation of our line." Elsbeth, Queen of Tiburon, the feistiest leader in the remembered history who ruled with an iron fist, flushed at his words and sat down abruptly in the chair closest to her in what looked like utter astonishment. He finally said something which made his indomitable mother lose her balance. "Are you without any morals whatsoever? I have obviously been lacking in my skills as a parent,” she said more to herself than to him. Keller had the good judgment to look contrite. He had perhaps made a series of poor judgments, but he did not think of them as mistakes. He wanted Gabrielle. He needed her. He sincerely hoped she carried his child. He'd fibbed to Gabrielle back on the ship. The glow of pride at seeing her swell with his offspring was a joy he couldn't wait to experience. In his soul, he knew she was the singular being to hold his spirit and heart captive. No other woman in his past came even close to making him feel this way. Keller knew he must do everything in his power to convince his mother he and Gabrielle were meant to be together. "What do you want me to say to you, Mother? It's done. It cannot be undone. I don't know that I would undo it, even if I could. I care for Gabrielle." "You care for her?" "Yes."

"Does she feel the same way about you?" "I think she might if our people stopped insulting her at every turn." "What are you talking about?" "She is distressed. She is out of her element. I don't think she believes she is experiencing this as reality. She wants to go back home ... to her planet." "Perfect. I agree it would be best. We can arrange a flight as soon as she is checked out. Let her believe it was all a dream. Speak with Crag immediately." "I don't think it would be best. What are my options? Are there still only two?" His mother took a deep breath and sighed. “This is a royal mess, Keller. I need some time to think. Call for a healer and have her checked out. If she carries your progeny, then we will discuss life partnering you with her. But I warn you, it will have to go before the Council of Elders. I can make my wishes known and suggest a course of action, but they will have the final decision." "What if she won't life partner with me?” Keller thought of Gabrielle's last wish to go back regardless of her womb's status. "Why wouldn't she? Isn't it why she lured you into this debacle in the first place, so she could raise her status by life partnering with a royal? She's lucky I'm even considering it." "No, Mother, she accidentally came on board as our craft was departing. Coming from a different planet, she didn't understand what she did to me had consequences." "But she did know when she put her mouth on yours the second time. Once you were awake, she knew what it meant to you." "What it still means to me,” he said quietly. "I don't want to see you taken advantage of like this, my son. She has wormed her way into your good graces, and your prejudice will not serve you this time." "I wasn't taken advantage of—" "Weren't you?" "—and I'm not biased." "Yes, you are. She fascinates you, like a shiny new toy intrigues a child, but as soon as enough time passes, you'll grow tired of her." "You're wrong. I'll mourn her if we are separated.” Keller couldn't help feeling like a young lad facing his mother for misbehaving. He knew how he felt about Gabrielle. He had never felt this way about any other woman. "Call the healer. We need to know exactly what our options are right away." Keller merely nodded and left the room. He registered a pain in his middle, which was growing ever larger. His future did not bode well, and he wondered what to hope for. He did know that, baby or not, he wasn't going to give up Gabrielle so easily.

**** "I will not!” Gabrielle exclaimed adamantly. After what seemed like hours, Keller now stood before her with some ancient relic of a guy. She spent the past stretch of endless time alone pacing in some visitor's quarters they dumped her in upon her unexpected, and certainly unwanted, arrival. "You must,” Keller told her calmly. His shoulders lowered slightly as if bearing up to prepare for battle. "I won't take my clothes off so I can be poked and prodded by aliens, no less. Ever heard of an anal probe? Well, I'm not interested, thank you very much." Keller sighed. “He merely wants to determine if you carry a child. My child. Our child." "Don't make me do this, Keller,” Gabrielle whined. She hated doctors. Her parents both died in hospitals, her mother from a car accident and her father from cancer. It was the kind of cancer that lasted way too long while the patient suffered. Meanwhile, the doctors assured her each and every pain-filled day that her parents might have a chance. "I'll stay right here with you. We must determine your status before we can decide the best course of action." "You won't leave me?" "I'll stay right here." "Will you hold my hand?” She wondered why she was being such a baby about this. "If you wish me to.” He smiled warmly at her request. She should be wary. No sense in leading him on, but his comfort was nice. The ancient, old man was nearly as tall as Keller but at half his weight. He requested that she disrobe, giving her a lingerie wrap to wear for the exam. At least this alien garment didn't open in the back as in hospitals on Earth where, invariably, her butt cheeks ended up coming into contact with every available cold surface for the duration of the doctor's visit. After changing in the spacious bathroom, she returned and lay on a table similar to the one in the big chamber of the ship. Keller, true to his word, ambled over to stand beside her. He slipped his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together. He never let go of her throughout the exam. Not once. The healer waved several hand-held computer devices over her body, especially her stomach. He didn't utter a single word the entire time. The machines he used made unusual noises much like a ham radio operator trying to zero in on a signal. Gabrielle couldn't tell by the healer's dour expression whether she was pregnant or not. After several minutes, he told her she could get dressed. "I will have the results shortly,” he said in a frail, whispery voice. “I will inform the Queen without delay." "I want you to tell me first,” she heard Keller whisper and saw the healer shake his head in the negative. They continued to whisper for a few minutes more until Keller threw up his hands as if in supreme annoyance as the healer exited her quarters. "I guess we'll be the last to know, right?” Gabrielle joked, trying to lighten the mood. "Once he makes the determination, he'll tell my mother, who will then tell the Council of Elders.

Eventually, they will make a recommendation. Finally, yes, we will be told." Gabrielle retrieved her clothes from the bathroom. "You act like you want it to be true,” she said, stepping back into the sleeping chamber, her still ruined clothes clutched in her hands. "I do." She slipped the alien robe off her shoulders, sending it pooling around her feet. Keller sucked in a surprised breath at her brazen act, which was intended to rattle him. Why did she want to shock him? Probably because the scandalous gaze he sent her way warmed her heart and soul. His eyes scanned her body slowly and repeatedly from head to toe as she took her own sweet time getting dressed. "Why? Because you like the way I look when I'm naked?" As if realizing he'd been practically licking his lips watching her put her clothes back on, he now looked at her face. "I care for you, Gabrielle,” he said earnestly. “I want to life partner with you. It's simple. I don't care if you carry my child or not. I still want you to stay.” He took several steps closer until he stood inches away from her. She tilted her head all the way back. “I care for you, too, Keller, but I don't want to stay where I'm not wanted. I'd still have to live in this world and be around your people every day. It will be a constant and daily reminder of how short earthlings are in comparison." "But if you stayed and made your life here, eventually you would be accepted. I'll be king one day. You would be my queen." "Deep down, I'll always be an inferior, alien creature, in the eyes of your people, never a queen. You know it's true,” Gabrielle said sadly. "Perhaps, but no matter. I still intend to fight for you, for us." "It's a losing battle. I want to go back to Earth. Child or not, I won't change my mind. I want to go home.” Gabrielle finally understood Dorothy and her drive to get back to Kansas from the wonderful Land of Oz. A small part of her sincerely believed she was either dead or dreaming. That belief was growing. She wasn't on an alien planet about to see if she could marry their king anyway. Was she? If this was truly happening, and if she turned up pregnant, and if she was forced to stay here with people who hated her ... well, then, she'd know for certain she was dead and had earned an eternal place in Hell. Tiburon seemed real, just like the spaceship had seemed real. As for Keller, he was the most real of all, but she had obligations on Earth. People depended on her, and photography clients wanted her. Didn't they? She sighed deeply as the harsh truth hit her square in the brain under the subheading of reality check. Damn lonely life anyway. She only had one obligation on Earth, truth be told. Her dog Skippy needed her. She refused to allow him to be discarded. Not again. Gabrielle missed the Jack Russell terrier she'd rescued from a garbage can one night on a my-clothes-are-all-too-tight, guilt-inspired jog around the block near her apartment. When she stopped

to catch her breath a half a block into her slow run, she heard a whimpering. She looked inside the trash can she leaned on trying to get air in her lungs and saw him resting half inside a jumbo-sized peanut butter jar, thus inspiring his name. It was fate. They needed each other. She wasn't about to desert him now, if she were even alive and not in some dark alley dying a slow, dream-filled death. Keller slipped his arms around her, holding her close. Gabrielle leaned her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him in return, snuggling closer still. If it weren't for Skippy, she was saddened to realize there wasn't a single soul waiting for her on Earth. She could easily slip away forever, and no one would care. She fought the urge to allow water to leak from her eyes again, certain Keller was sick to death of her sobbing over everything. As if he read her mind, she felt him squeeze her closer to his impossibly hard physique. What would it be like to wake up to Keller every morning? Did he snore? Did she? She allowed herself the luxury of contemplating a future life on Tiburon for a few moments while awaiting their fate. Once Keller was king, perhaps his people would be compelled to accept her. She wasn't perfect, but she was a good and compassionate person. She paid her taxes on time, well mostly. She let the little Girl Scout on the third floor of her building talk her into buying too many boxes of cookies each year regardless of their impact on her thighs. And she always bought extra groceries, insisting her next door neighbor help her eat the excess because she knew his medication ate up the majority of his meager fixed income. Tiburon, she decided, would be lucky to have her for a queen one day, if she decided to stay. Keller stroked her hair lovingly from the crown of her head to the middle of her back. Over and over, his hand slowly repeated the motion. The power of his touch sent prickly sensation through her. Head to toe, front to back, the tingling became ferocious. She was about to go into vibration mode. Her lips, she discovered to her surprise, were mere centimeters from his throat. Before giving it another thought, just wanting to be connected skin to skin, she kissed his neck below his jaw line. He jumped as her mouth made contact. His hug became crushingly intense, pushing the air out of her lungs, but she didn't stop. "I love you, Gabrielle,” he whispered with reverent sincerity. “I always will." She was surprised to find herself touched by his admission. There was not a doubt in her mind he meant what he said. His passion for her showed in every look he directed her way, even when he was puzzled by her. "I love you, too, Keller.” She found, incredibly enough, she truly meant it. Keller was unlike any other man she'd ever known. In their short time together, she'd carved out a space in her heart for him. Regardless of what happened, he'd forever be etched in her soul. Gabrielle deviously planned the best course of action to initiate another sultry memory with him. She knew if she accidentally kissed his mouth, they'd be writhing on the floor in seconds. Before she could put her sexy strategy in motion, someone came for them. "You are wanted at the Council of Elders, Keller,” Crag said once he entered the room. He approached them as they remained in each other's arms, hugging. She couldn't bring herself to let Keller go. The expression on Crag's face was more of undisguised bafflement than disgust. He clearly didn't understand

Keller's unflinching attachment for a puny earthling like her. "Did they request Gabrielle, too?” Keller released her from the bear hug. "No, they want to talk to you first." Keller sighed and squeezed her shoulders once before lowering his arms and stepping away from her. "Stay with Gabrielle and watch over her. I'll send word as soon as I'm able,” he said and exited the room. "Good luck, my friend,” Crag said as he departed. Gabrielle watched Keller leave and felt his loss. She was going to miss him desperately once she got back to Earth. Should she try harder to stay? Fight the good fight with Keller? "Do you need alimentus?” Crag asked, disrupting her train of thought. "I doubt it. What is it?" "I believe your word is sustenance ... food." "Oh, no. I couldn't eat." "Perhaps you should anyway, just in case,” he said with a courteous tone she wanted to embrace. Crag was trying to be nice to her. She should enjoy it while it lasted. "Maybe something small,” she murmured, trying to be polite in return. "Follow me.” He led her out of the room and down a well-lit and very white hallway to yet another austere room. The door parted in the middle and slid open like the ones on Star Trek. This room had several tables and odd-looking white-on-chrome chairs. They looked like the old ergonomic chairs she remembered from her mother's art studio for sketch class, where one was required to spend the duration of the visit testing the stamina of their knee strength as it related to the physics of body weight pressure. Crag didn't bother to ask what she wanted. He pointed her to a table and went to a counter lining one wall where yet another tall alien stood taking food orders. Proud of herself for mastering the mechanics of sitting in an alien chair quickly, she didn't have long to wait for his return. After a few minutes, Crag brought her what looked like a cup of tea and a bowl of broth. "Thank you,” she said sincerely if not fully meeting his eyes. "It's nothing.” He looked uncomfortable as he took the seat next to her. Gabrielle sipped the tea. It was orange and spicy sweet. A spoonful of the broth brought a smile to her lips as she realized it tasted like chicken. "Is it satisfactory?” he remarked at her smile. "Yes, it's good. It reminds me of soup from home." "I've never seen Keller look at any female as he does you. It puzzles me,” Crag said as she ate the soup. "How does he look at me?"

"Like you are his perfect vita-parcere, and he'd rather die than lose you." "And that's bad?” Gabrielle looked into his piercing, slate-gray eyes. Angry warrior eyes. Not at all the sultry, liquid silver of Keller's. However, Crag was not looking at her with love as Keller did. He was obviously defending his friend from making what he believed to be a monumental mistake. "Yes, it is bad. You and I both know you don't belong here,” he stated matter-of-factly. "Well, now, don't sugarcoat the truth, Crag. Please do tell me how you really feel." "I don't understand your words, but your tone is mocking.” Crag shrugged and continued, “Keller cares for you. If you care for him in return, you should let him go. Do not pressure him into life partnering with you." "I'm not the one doing the pressuring,” Gabrielle said willfully. "Are you going allow him to throw away his future, one which was preordained from birth, so you may prove your self-worth in this world?" Wow, Gabrielle thought, this guy has depth. Who would have thought? He worried about his friend making a huge, life-changing mistake by marrying an inappropriate alien. This was the classic leave-my-friend-alone speech given by countless best friends all over the galaxy. She wondered if a bribe was forthcoming. "I know where I belong, Crag. I'm more than ready to go back to Earth now,” Gabrielle said bitterly, but the notion of returning to Earth was fast losing its appeal. She didn't want to stay on Tiburon, but taking Keller back with her was an interesting fantasy. Gabrielle pushed the soup bowl away. She had no more appetite. Her mind was rife with confused, conflicting thoughts. As they talked, Gabrielle noticed several more Tiburons entering the eating room. Perhaps they were all curious to see the earthling. Maybe she should do a trick for them, roll over and play dead. She was certain it would be very popular with some. "Oh, no,” Crag said and stood up from the table as he watched the door behind Gabrielle. Before she could respond, a scathing female voice sneered at her. “This is the being who ruined my life? Turn and face me, earthling!" Gabrielle turned and rose from her chair, her mouth wide open. An achingly beautiful, ethereal female dressed entirely in delicate, flowing white stood at the entrance to the eating room. Her flashing, lavender eyes shot daggers at Gabrielle. "Lena, this is not the time. You should speak with Maura,” Crag said in a placating tone. "No, I wish to speak with the human,” she spat out ‘human’ like it was a curse word. It probably was on this planet. "I am not going to allow you to damage her,” Crag spoke clearly. “Keller was clear. No harm shall befall her." On some level, Gabrielle registered Crag's defense of her, and she marveled at it, but she couldn't take her eyes off Lena. Now, she would make a perfect queen, Gabrielle thought with disheartening approval. Lena looked like a picture-perfect fairy princess, tall and slender, fair of skin, with light blonde hair.

Gabrielle felt like a dumpy wallflower in comparison. Lena and Keller would make a beautiful and perfect regal couple for this planet of tall aliens. As the discouraging thought clarified in her mind, Gabrielle almost reacted physically as the stabbing pain engulfed her from head to toe at the mere thought of Keller with someone else. How could she let him go? He was perfect. He cared for her. She might already be pregnant. She'd never find a man like him on Earth. Never. Gabrielle, who'd been ready to leave Tiburon happily only a minute ago, unexpectedly had the urge to fight for a man and a life she wasn't sure she should want, one she certainly didn't deserve. How ridiculous. It must be that old, competitive nature in her making a statement. Gabrielle hadn't completely convinced herself she wanted to live here, but she was certain she wanted to win the battle before her. She was the underdog here, the David to Lena's Goliath, and Keller was the ultimate prize. The gorgeous, tall, expert-kisser of an alien who cared for her and repeatedly begged her to stay with him. Why was she fighting so hard to leave? "I don't intend to injure her, Crag,” Lena said in a devious tone of voice then added mockingly. “I just wanted to see my competition up close. I can see for myself I have absolutely nothing to worry about. She is sub-standard, even as aliens go." That does it! The war was on. A princess she might be, but Lena carried the soul of a viper in her nicely endowed chest. Gabrielle refused to remain silent in this matter. "But are you possibly gestating his child?” Gabrielle said quietly in a deliberately sickening, sweet tone. "How dare you!” Crag roared. He stepped in front of Gabrielle, facing her. His visage was a livid mask of hatred when he whispered through clenched teeth, “Do not say another word, human. You will not embarrass Keller by spouting every lurid detail of your circumstances aloud again. Do not test me on this! You will lose." "What did she just say?” Lena asked from behind Crag in a puzzled tone. Gabrielle opened her mouth to repeat the inflammatory statement, but she changed her mind when Crag put a hand on his sword. Gabrielle knew better than anyone he'd use it on her, even with Keller's warning. She frowned at Crag and sighed with frustration. “Nothing. I said ... nothing of importance.” If she had to fight everyday, she should learn to choose her battles. Today was a perfect place to start. Crag relaxed his stance, took his hand off his sword, and turned to Lena. “Leave now. Go speak with Maura,” he stated in no uncertain terms. Lena gave Gabrielle one last contemptuous glance before turning toward the sliding door. Gabrielle resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at her back, wondering if it was the same as extending one's middle finger on Earth. She decided not to test her theory. Lena took only one graceful step before the doors opened for someone else entering the eating room. "Keller!” Lena shouted and then took two more steps towards the door. She fell into his arms whimpering. No tearful sobs came forth as expected. A princess even as she filled with sorrow. Gabrielle was instantly jealous of their embrace. She rolled her eyes at the dramatics and resisted the urge to run up and scratch Lena's eyes out in a jealous fit for daring to touch Keller.

Keller looked around and seemed to register the scene before him at once. Gabrielle thought he handled it very well. Unsuitable and possibly pregnant girlfriend meets scorned and emotional fiancée as best friend tries to keep them from starting a cat fight in the lunchroom. Keller deftly handed Lena off to the woman who stood behind him and turned to head towards Gabrielle. Lena, unwilling to be passed off so easily, put her hand up to Keller's face for one last stroke before being led out of the room by the other female. To his credit, Keller never looked back at Lena, not even when her fingertips caressed his jaw. Once he turned away from the woman who wanted to be his queen, Keller put his silver gaze on her, the puny alien creature. Gabrielle did want this alien warrior, but did she deserve to be his queen? "Gabrielle, come with me. The Council has come to a decision,” he said striding over to her and Crag. "What did they say?" "I merely stated my case. We'll go find out the decision together.” He grabbed her hands and turned to Crag. “Thank you, my friend. I know you do not approve of all this." "My approval is not important, Keller. Regardless of what the Council decides, you should still consider all of your options before making a decision,” Crag said evenly. He then looked at Gabrielle with meaning. She knew what he meant: Whatever the Council said, and however Keller felt about her, she didn't belong here. While on some level she knew it was true, her competitive nature reared its head, wanting a chance to be heard. She wasn't going down without a fight. Besides, Queen Gabrielle had a nice ring to it.

Chapter Eight Keller led Gabrielle down the white hallway quite a ways before turning down another hall on his way to the council chambers. He'd pleaded his case to the members while they all waited for the results of Gabrielle's gestational assessment. There were eight council members with voting power. The ninth vote rested with the Queen to break tie votes. Sybille had been called to bear witness to the events on the ship prior to Keller becoming conscious. That surprised him. Witnesses were rarely, if ever, called in matters before the Council. Sybille also recounted her attempt to use information in the ancient scrolls to liberate him from the inevitable life partnering while still back on the spacecraft. Until the ... ah-hem ... second publicly declared event by the alien herself rendered the facts useless. Privately, Keller had questioned Sybille further about the ancient scrolls. She reluctantly gave him some very interesting information. He tucked that precious knowledge away in the unlikely event he might need it. "Wait!” Gabrielle grabbed his arm before he could lead them through the doors into the chamber. “Aren't you going to prepare me or anything?" "I'm sorry. Yes, here is what will happen. The Council will state the concern before them, something about my no longer being pure of mouth. They will state whether or not they should allow me to life partner with you, the alien who ... ah ... tainted me...” He smiled as if embarrassed. “Then the healer will come in to declare your gestational status, but the Council already knows this. They may ask you some questions, but I'm not certain. Finally, they will render their decision and state the vote." "State the vote?" "How many are for and how many are against the decision,” he explained quickly as they stopped in front of the chamber. “Will you be all right?" "I guess.” Gabrielle sounded uncertain, but Keller held enough confidence for them both. Gabrielle would be carrying his child, the Council of Elders would allow them to life partner, and his life would turn out better than he had ever expected it to. Keller entered the elder's chamber, pulling the reluctant Gabrielle along behind him to their fate. **** "In the matter of Keller, future king of Tiburon, and his unfortunate experience during the authorized mission aboard the exploration vessel Titan: "While returning to our planet from Earth this day, while lying in mourning after his eldest wife died, Keller was accosted by an alien accidentally brought aboard during departure. "The alien in question, not understanding our laws, performed an oral touching with Keller, thus leading to his mouth becoming tainted for vita parcere with any other Tiburon citizen,” said a snobby, regal-looking alien. He sat dead center at a large, half circle-shaped table with eight other snobby, regal-looking aliens as he read from a yellowed parchment scroll.

Gabrielle stood before them on a foot-tall circular step. She rested her sweaty hands on the short, half wall as she faced the Elders and the Queen, who also happened to be Keller's mother. No pressure there. Keller stood stoically across the room on his own half circle separated from her by twenty feet or so. She felt like she was on trial for war crimes against humanity—or, in this case, against aliens. "After consulting with a healer to determine the possible gestational status of the alien, the Council has reached an undivided decision regarding Keller's petition to life partner with the alien in question. Are you ready to bear witness to our pronouncement?" "Yes, senior elder Forte, I am,” Keller said formally with what sounded like complete self-assurance. Gabrielle hoped she didn't have to speak. She'd pee her pants if anyone behind the table even looked at her. Fortunately, none of them bothered to look her way. "Our decision is as follows: We deny your petition to life partner with the alien who tainted your mouth. The alien female in question is not carrying your progeny. Therefore, she will be returned to Earth on a flight, leaving as soon as this council meeting comes to an official close." Gabrielle glanced at Keller. His head lowered, and his eyes closed as if absorbing the news physically, but only for a few seconds. Then he lifted his head. His face morphed into a determined mask as he continued to listen. "We have further determined in researching our ancient laws that, since the first occurrence was unintentional while you lay unconscious in mourning, any subsequent experiences also fall into the same category, given the nature of the unusual circumstances. "At the behest of our Queen, we have already made arrangements with citizen Maura. You may still life partner with her sister, citizen Lena. They are aware of the state of affairs surrounding this unfortunate event and have agreed to go forward with the previously discussed life partnership betrothal. The decision vote was unanimous. Therefore, if no other participant has any further comments, we will adjourn to—" "I oppose,” Keller cut into the council member's speech before it trailed off to its obvious and depressing conclusion. “I invoke the ancient ritual of pretext and demand the ruling before the Council be appealed prior to Gabrielle being sent back to her planet. You must allow me to be heard." Gabrielle had started to tune out the events surrounding her when the council member denied the petition. Now, she perked up to listen closely. What was he up to? "Keller, do not impede these proceedings,” the Queen said as she came to her feet swiftly, yet regally. Keller locked a ruthless gaze to the Queen. “It's my entitlement, Mother." She returned his harsh stare at first, then she turned her angry eyes to Gabrielle. Gabrielle smiled serenely in return and resisted the urge to give a finger wave and wink to break the hostile glare. She suspected the Queen didn't have a sense of humor. "On what pretext do you demand an appeal?” one of the council members asked. "Gabrielle landed in our departure platform because she was running from an attack. If you put her back at the moment of removal, her life will be in acute danger. My appeal to allow her to stay on Tiburon is based on prevention of injury to life. It's valid.

"Additionally, I'd like her to be placed in my custody while she remains on Tiburon." Gabrielle couldn't help but smile at his final suggestion. She couldn't wait to be placed with him for safekeeping. The Council was all a-buzz with whispered conversation. Gabrielle glanced at Keller, but his focus remained on his mother and the council members, who were all chewing over his latest demand. After much hushed conversation, the council members seemed to come to a consensus. They called over one of the guards stationed on the side of the courtroom and sent him outside. Gabrielle jumped when a flute-like noise sounded. She guessed it was their version of a gavel rapping on the judge's bench to restore order to the court. "We grant you the appeal of pretext to review the ancient scrolls for validity of your claim. However, the alien will be placed in the custody of another citizen not associated so closely with the proceedings." The flute sounded again, and the door she and Keller had entered earlier opened abruptly to admit Crag. He approached Gabrielle without looking at Keller or the Queen. The streak in his hair never failed to give her pause. She wondered if it was natural or if he was secretly sneaking Miss Clairol to his hairstylist so he would look even more formidable. "I've been instructed by the Elders to escort you to the visitor's quarters until the matter before the Council is decided,” he informed her quietly. "So, we're going to be kept separated like children who've misbehaved?" He cleared his throat. “It was felt no further contact between the two of you was the best course of action given your history,” Crag whispered diplomatically. Gabrielle detected a slight bit of amusement in his tone. "I see.” She wondered how she could sneak out and find Keller anyway. If she got caught, what were they going to do? Send her back to Earth as punishment? In fact, Gabrielle was relieved to have the proverbial stay of execution. Keller was right. If she went back to Earth in the same moment as when she departed, she'd be in big, fat trouble. The first rule she'd learned in karate was to get out of the way when being attacked. Unfortunately, the rest of the rules were a mystery to her. She only learned two other karate moves during her free-for-30-days trial run in the field of martial arts. She was nowhere near prepared to face the lunatic who waited for her on Earth should she be sent back. "Let's go then,” she told Crag. **** Keller watched Gabrielle leave the council chamber with Crag. He had used his last and best chance to keep her here with him. So far, his unlikely plan was working. Relief coursed through him. He was surprised to find Gabrielle warming to the idea of staying with him. He planned to do whatever it took to sway her completely to the idea. Before Crag ushered her out, Gabrielle looked over her shoulder and winked at him. Earth-styled flirting. He smiled at her in return. He was smitten and even more driven to succeed. "This is not the best course of action for you or for our people, Keller,” said a voice in a tremendously surly tone.

"Whatever you say, Mother.” He didn't take his eyes off Gabrielle. Once she was out of his sight, he turned to face his angry parent. "You would do well to see the larger scope of the actions you are pursuing." "I see perfectly the scope of my actions. You and I will never agree on the definition of the best course of action with regard to my eventual life partner." "We shall see then, won't we?” Elsbeth turned away from him, her back ramrod straight in personification of regality. Keller smiled at her temerity. There was a reason she was called the Iron-Fisted Queen of Tiburon. He would do well to remember she was a formidable foe in all matters, most especially those with regard to him. He stepped down from the witness perch and exited the council chambers. The first person he encountered was the perfect accomplice for his loosely thought-out plan. Sybille waited in the corridor outside the council chambers. Keller knew her brother was in charge of visitor accommodations. If there were a way in to see Gabrielle, Sybille knew what it was. Now, he just needed to convince her to share the information with him. Given it was her data gathered from the ancient scrolls he'd used to keep Gabrielle here longer, he was probably pushing his luck. "Keller, what happened in the council chamber? I saw the alien taken to visitor's quarters instead of the departure platform for Earth." Sybille's red hair was unbound and hanging well below her shoulders. He always imagined she and Crag were fated for each other, but if there were any romantic feelings between them, they hid their emotions for each other very well, unlike himself with regard to Gabrielle. Before he could stop it, he felt a smile taking over his face. Sybille, not realizing why he was smiling, returned it bashfully. "Can you get me into Gabrielle's quarters?” he asked. Her bashful smile faded immediately. “I can't help you." "Can't, or won't?" "There is no difference.” Her firm resolve to save him from himself etched clearly on her face, but she was persuadable because he knew she was a romantic at heart. He could feel it, and he pressed his advantage. "Please help me, Sybille. I love her. I simply must speak with her."

Chapter Nine "Are you certain that's what it says?” Elsbeth said, shocked to her very core at the disturbing information. She hadn't considered the possibility of Keller's success in his bid to keep the alien on Tiburon. She had only thought that he was postponing the inevitable. The clerk before her nodded solemnly. She was glad she had the foresight to have the Keeper of the Scrolls come to her directly with the information she sought. She only wanted to check the validity before it was chanted to the Council in open court. She wouldn't be able to suppress it, but she would be afforded the opportunity to delay the Council, and more importantly Keller, from finding out in a timely manner. Elsbeth headed off worse problems in her history as reigning queen. She was not about to be thwarted by an insignificant alter-terrestrial from a weak and undisciplined planet. "If you could delay telling your information, I'd be most grateful, Eldon,” Elsbeth said. The scroll clerk librarian gave her a nervous look. "Yes, Your Majesty ... but if I don't report in, the Council will merely send another in my place." "Then perhaps you should start from the beginning and research the information again for clarity. If they ask, tell them you need to continue to work on it to be thorough. I'm only asking for a short delay to speak to my son again. I must reason with him one last time. It's for the good of our people" "Yes, My Queen. I will continue to research for clarity." As soon as the office door closed behind her faithful scroll clerk librarian, the bell to her private chamber sounded. Elsbeth responded quickly. She opened the door to the one person on Tiburon she knew wanted Keller out of this deplorable situation as much as she did. "Thank you for responding so quickly to my summons. Did you understand my request?" "Yes, My Queen." "You understand this situation. Therefore, I won't belabor the point or mince words. You know what must be done for Keller's sake and for the sake of our people. We simply cannot have an alien queen ruling Tiburon." "Yes, My Queen. I will not fail you." Her loyal servant then left to carry out her wishes. With this demonstration, Keller was about to learn from first-hand knowledge the strength it took to lead. His destiny was to be a mighty king life partnered with a princess from Tiburon, not a scandalous laughingstock shackled to an alien. **** Gabrielle paced a hole in the carpet waiting for Crag to return to the visitor's quarters. The minute he came back, she would continue her insidious attack to compel him to bring Keller to her room. If he refused, then at the very least, he could carry messages back and forth. Crag already declined her

fervent plea to let her wait in Keller's room on the way here. "Will you bring me some more tea then?” she asked once they stepped into the stark room. "Tea?" "The warm liquid beverage you provided for me earlier in the eating room." He nodded in understanding. “Yes, I will bring you tea." "Before you go, could you bring Keller here, too, since you won't take me to his room?" "No, you both will stay separated." "That's no fun." "We are not here for your amusement, earthling. You are to remain here. I will get the tea and return shortly." He promptly left her alone, so she paced to burn off all the nervous energy coursing through her, and he locked the door, too. Damn him. The room she paced in was the very definition of austere. Even cheap motels had amenities. This one had a slab bed and ambient light filtering down from the ceilings. These two items summed up the amenities. She wouldn't even be able to tie bed sheets together and climb out a window, and not only because her room was located on the first floor, either. There were no bed sheets on the slab bed, and in fact, no window, either. They'd already removed the robe she used earlier, or she would have readied it to throw over Crag's head when he came back. How far could she run screaming Keller's name in the halls of Tiburon before he found her? A noise near the bathroom made her turn. The sound was a door handle turning, and it wasn't coming from the bathroom door, which was already slightly ajar. Instead, the door next to the bathroom opened. Gabrielle thought it was a closet, but she realized it was the adjoining room when the red-haired Amazon female, Sybille, stuck her head in the room. She looked around as if to ensure Gabrielle was alone before she stepped inside. "What—” was as far as Gabrielle got out before Keller strode into the room from behind Sybille. Gabrielle let out an unladylike squeal and propelled herself across the room to fly into his open arms. She wrapped herself around him like a monkey and buried her face in his neck. "Gabrielle,” he said in that positively poetic tone of voice reserved for saying her name. "Five minutes only, and I'm leaving the door ajar, Keller.” Sybille moved back into the adjoining room. "Thank you, Sybille,” he murmured as he clutched Gabrielle to him tightly. "Yeah, thanks.” Gabrielle called out as she popped her head up over his shoulder. She caught Sybille's uneasy gaze before she returned her attention to Keller. Time to make some plans. "I missed you,” he said. "Enough to touch your mouth to mine?"

"Yes, but I won't share you with an audience." She glanced at the open doorway and sighed. He had a point. "It's mostly shut, Keller." His eyebrows rose. He gave her a positively lip-licking gaze before he closed his eyes. “No, we shouldn't. She can hear." "What will happen next?” Gabrielle asked, changing the direction of her own amorous intent, resisting the temptation to try to talk him into it. Her voice muffled against his shoulder. He held her firmly, rubbing a slow, lazy hand in circles over her back. "You will be allowed to stay here. We will be life partnered. One day soon, you will be my queen. Then your Earth expression, and they lived happily ever after, will apply." "That would be wonderful, Keller, but I have a concern involving my dog." "Skippy." "The very same. I wonder if he can be brought here. You have pets, don't you?" "No, but I will see what I can do." "I don't want to abandon him,” she told him in a serious tone. “Maybe you could, at the very least, send a note back to Earth and have someone find a place for him to live. I want him to be happy if he can't be with me." "If it is possible, it will be done. Crag determines the timing of all trips abroad. I'll ask him to look into it." Gabrielle nodded then gave him her positively best seductive look. She placed a kiss on his cheek, as close as possible to his mouth without actually touching their lips together. The moment they connected, Keller stiffened and put a death squeeze on her. She returned his ardent hug. She couldn't help herself from the next action. Kissing was too ingrained in her, and Keller made her seriously lust for him. She pulled back only long enough to place her mouth on his, chastely caressing him. The familiar arc of electricity burned her. She felt him tremble in passion before she broke the seal of their lips. "Sorry, couldn't help myself,” she whispered. "I love you, Gabrielle,” he whispered in return. His warm breath caressed her cheek as he spoke. “Don't ever doubt my feelings for you." Before she could respond in kind, Sybille's strident voice shocked them apart. “Keller, your time is up." After a moment or two, he placed her gently on the ground and backed away from her towards the door where Sybille now animatedly motioned him over. "Hurry up. Someone's coming.” She pulled on his shoulder to move him faster. "Probably my guard, Crag,” Gabrielle said and blew him a kiss, hoping it wasn't an offensive gesture. The look of utter love for her on his face before the door shut said it wasn't. A hidden bell sounded at the other door as if a breeze had come up to strike wooden chimes together.

Gabrielle heard the door unlock. The door slid open to reveal an unexpected visitor. Lena, the haughty princess with the soul of a viper, was paying her a visit. What a surprise. She stood on the threshold of the room with a steaming cup of ... poison, maybe? "I've come to offer you alimentus,” she said brightly. Definitely poison, Gabrielle thought, eyeing the cup with obvious suspicion. "Did Crag send you?" "Crag? No, he didn't send me. No one knows I'm here.” She offered the cup to Gabrielle with both hands as if the contents were precious. Gabrielle took the proffered beverage politely, but even a gun to her head wouldn't make her drink it. Even a too-stupid-to-live heroine wouldn't fall for poisoned brew from the enemy. "What do you want?" "This is awkward, but I have wondered about you since you were brought here. I would like to speak with you, learn about you. I want to understand why Keller fights so hard to keep you.” Lena gave her a once over, seemingly finding her lacking, just as she had before. "Plus your wounded pride won't let you move on until you discover my secret hold on him?" "Perhaps a little, but mostly curiosity drove me here.” Lena's eyes fell to the untested cup resting in Gabrielle's hands as if to ask, ‘Aren't you going to make this easy for me and drink the poison I brought so you can be eliminated?' No, Gabrielle thought, I'm not too stupid to live, and I adore Keller in a way you never will. Poor Lena. Now, she'd never have Keller's wonderful lips on hers. No wonder she was mad. "Curiosity about what? His luscious mouth?" "No.” Lena shrugged and made a face as if Keller's mouth wasn't something she cared about possessing. “I wonder why you want him so desperately." "I love him,” Gabrielle admitted simply, and she did. Hearing it out loud made her feel like the unwilling participant in a daytime soap opera. Should she throw a forearm up to her brow and declare their love was stronger than both of them? She knew the drama was wasted on Lena, but the visual made her smile anyway. "Love shouldn't be a factor in deciding the next Queen of Tiburon. You aren't even a citizen. You will never be qualified to rule. The best you can hope for is conjuxtrix. Why do you wish to be only the conjuxtrix to the king of another planet?" "What's a conjuxtrix?” Gabrielle thought it sounded slightly dirty. Like mistress or whore. "It means unsuitable life partner of the king.” Lena's lips curled with disgust. "Does this happen often? Kings choosing unsuitable mates, that is?" "Almost never. It's only used when a regent is already married and ascends to the throne, like a second or third child taking power when the firstborn is killed or dies unexpectedly." "Well, I don't care if I become queen or conjuxtrix. I just want to be with Keller."

"I do not understand you at all. You do not wish to be queen, yet you will prostitute yourself for the king's pleasure. You should be sent away. I am the best choice to be Keller's queen.” Lena took an offensive step closer as the last word of her tirade escaped her lips. The over-warm liquid in the cup Gabrielle held sloshed over the rim and onto her hands as she took a step away from Lena's advancing form. "Stay back! You may be taller, but I know karate." Lena's perfect eyebrows curved up into a questioning stare. She obviously didn't know what karate was or the accompanying threat. Gabrielle rolled her eyes. Hard to threaten someone if they didn't understand what was said. Yet, Lena retreated a step and eyed the cup in Gabrielle's hand again. The chime sounded once before the outer door slid open and Crag came in. He was holding an identical steaming cup. "Lena, you should not be here,” he said as he crossed over to where they stood with battle lines drawn. "I was just leaving.” Lena gave Gabrielle one last, contemptuous, head-to-toe appraisal, still finding her lacking, if her sneer was any indication. Her eyes rested a couple of beats on the cup again, then she stiffened her back and turned to go. Gabrielle watched her leave without comment. She then promptly traded cups with Crag. "I wouldn't drink that if I were you,” she said. Crag looked thoughtfully at the brew Lena had brought as if contemplating Gabrielle's unspoken accusation. He then smiled slowly as if very amused by her statement, but he didn't respond. He took the cup Lena brought her and placed it in the bathroom. He then returned and posted himself at her door like a sentry. Gabrielle took a single, relaxing breath and sampled the spicy orange brew. The warmth of the tea spread down her throat into her chest and down to her stomach. She relaxed measurably and went to sit on the edge of the slab bed. She got comfortable and took another long drink of the tea. Soon, the notion of a nap became very appealing. Her day had been strange, long, and fraught with drama at every turn. It was a wonder she wasn't comatose. "I wanted to ask you about my dog, Skippy." "What's a dog skippy?” His arms were crossed over his massive chest as he stood guard and watched her closely. "He's my pet. Keller said you were responsible for trips to Earth. Maybe you could get him for me, or find him a good home there." "Perhaps. Is this important to you?" "Yes, I don't want to leave him alone.” She couldn't stop the big yawn that came on all of a sudden. "You look like you need to rest,” Crag said. He wandered closer to her seated position on the bed. "I am a little tired from my day,” she said as a wave of dizziness came over her. She held up her cup and sniffed it. Damn, did this tea contain alcohol or something? She was getting a great buzz.

"The cup Lena brought you was not poisoned, you know." "What? How do you know?" "She does not have the means to acquire any drugs. Amusingly, I do. My uncle is a healer.” Crag stepped dangerously close to her wobbly position on the bed. Gabrielle tried not to panic when she realized she couldn't feel her legs anymore. She looked at Crag and then at the cup she'd nearly finished as the horrible realization came over her. She was too stupid to live after all. "You poisoned me?” she croaked. "No, it's something to make you fall into a deep sleep for travel. You will remain in suspended animation on your journey back to Earth. I'm sorry it has to be this way." "I love Keller. Why would you do this?” The numbness she experienced traveled from her hips to waist and continued ascending rapidly. "I was directed by the Queen, but I agree with this plan. Our planet has been at peace for over a hundred years. Before that, we spent five hundred years of fighting, strife and war. I will not see Tiburon plunged into civil unrest because Keller was forced to take an alien vita parcere, especially because I left you alone with him while his barrier was down. I am doing my duty by protecting my future king. "Do not worry. You will return back in time to the exact moment you jumped on our platform. If you have memories of Tiburon, I hope you come to believe they were only dreams." "How can you put me back in time?” Gabrielle's arms went weak. He grabbed the cup from her right before it fell. She slumped backwards onto the bed, staring at the plain, white ceiling above. She could no longer move her head, and her face was numb. "We have the ability to manipulate time as long as we take care to avoid paradoxes. Our race operates on a different time space reality than yours, making it even easier for us to come and go from Earth and other planets we survey. You should also know—the Council of Elders will not authorize Keller to come back to Earth for you, so don't wait for him. Lena is going to be his life partner now. One day, he will be king, with or without a queen who loves him." "But I was running for my life from a bad man right before I jumped on your platform. Now, he'll get me and...” unspeakable things will take place. She finished silently because she could no longer speak. Tears spilled down her face until she could no longer hold her eyes open. Her last vision was of Crag and the troubled look slanting his harsh features. I love you, Keller, was her last conscious thought before the lights in her brain went out.

Chapter Ten After leaving Gabrielle, Keller sauntered back to his private quarters to wait for the Council to grant his appeal. It was only a formality. He was certain he'd win. Sybille had found the pretext appeal he'd used. They couldn't send her back if she were in imminent danger and could die upon her return. A probability of outcome would be established. If Gabrielle were about to die from an attack as she indicated, then she could remain on Tiburon and life partner with him. His confidence propelled him to his desk to further plan their future. There would be much to do in the coming weeks. Keller resigned himself long ago to the fact he would be king, but until now, he never looked forward to it. His mother would retain power until her death, but going forward, he would further immerse himself in matters of the kingdom, taking on more responsibility as time marched on. Gabrielle becoming his queen added a colorful future element to his reign. Unorthodox, perhaps, but exciting nonetheless. His thoughts drifted back to her parting gesture as Sybille pulled him out of the visitor's quarters. By pressing fingers to her lips and directing her breath to send the suggestive touch to him across the room was the highest form of affection and fidelity one could express to a lover. Whether she understood or not, she'd told him he was the only man for her. The literal meaning said she'd rather die than have any other but him for a mate forever. He'd been taken completely by surprise. He knew he should have returned the gesture because it was exactly his feeling for her, but Sybille slammed the adjoining door before he could reciprocate. However, he had time. The next time he saw Gabrielle, he'd respond in kind and make sure she understood the meaning. That would be the first lesson in a long line he'd take great pleasure in teaching her. He would show her she was not only his life partner but also his vita-matia. His life mate. Being life mates meant theirs was a love match. If he lost her, there would never be another for him for the rest of his life. The bell rang, signaling someone at the entrance to his quarters. Keller crossed the room and opened the door to a stern-faced Crag. He looked past his friend for Gabrielle, but she wasn't with him. "Is the Council ready to meet?” Keller asked. Perhaps she was already waiting in the council chambers. "There has been a development. I volunteered to speak to you about it." "Has the Council of Elders reached a verdict on my pretext appeal?" "Not exactly,” Crag said evenly. “It remains undecided, but something has happened to make the decision irrelevant." Keller watched the strange actions of his lifelong friend. A gut sick feeling pummeled him low and deep. Something was wrong. “Where is Gabrielle?" "Keller, please listen to me..." "Where is she?” His voice rose to a shout.

"She's gone." "What? Where could she go?” Keller's mind flashed on her exiting the space station environment the planet of Tiburon existed in, wondering if she wandered out in their harsh, mountainous terrain, lost and cold and all alone. "She asked me about her pet ... Scrappy." "Skippy." Crag grunted. “She wanted to go back for him, so I sent her." "What have you done?” Keller was beside himself with fury. “When is she coming back?” Even as he asked, he knew in his soul she'd been banished forever. He forced his body to remain upright as the rage and the feeling of loss engulfed him. "I'm truly sorry, Keller. She will not return. The Queen feels it's best. With all due respect to you, but I concurred with the Queen's assessment in this matter." Keller was at a total loss for words, and yet, a single word bounced around in his mind over and over again. Betrayal. He'd been betrayed not only by his best friend but also by his mother. "Send me back to Earth." "The Council of Elders has forbidden any further trips to Earth pending consideration of—" Keller launched himself at his lifelong friend, intent on maiming him. Crag deflected his rush, and he missed crashing into a wall. "Keller, please do not do this. You are more a brother to me than my own flesh and blood." Keller righted himself and leaned against the door. “She is my vita-matia." "An alien vita-matia." "Send me back or else—" "I beg you to reconsider. Do not test the patience of the Queen or the Council further. I do not want to hurt you, but I am compelled to ask you to see reason." "Ask me to see reason? Any life without Gabrielle will be meaningless for me. Leave me. I do not wish to be disturbed by you any further.” Keller pushed himself from against the closed door and strode angrily towards his desk. Inside, he tried to keep himself from slumping to the floor in an undignified heap as he loudly grieved his loss. "How can you say that to me?” Crag seemed at a loss for a moment. “I spent my whole life to serve you. How long have we spent together in training for your birthright and ascension to be king? Yours has the potential to be the greatest kingship in history. I do not wish to see you discard it to make up for the disgraceful actions of one alien female's horrendous error of judgment. "Please understand. It would have been a huge, tactical mistake to force her into being your queen. Beyond that, I do not wish to see you, my Crown Prince, being made a laughingstock in your future kingdom." "I do not care about being a laughingstock if it saves her life. How could you send her back to her

death?” Keller took a forceful step in Crag's direction, closing this short distance between them. Crag did not look him in the eye. His hands, still at his sides, clenched once and released. “She does not die. I checked the probability of outcome data." Keller stepped aggressively forward. “How did she escape the attack?" Crag remained silent. "Tell me.” Keller growled and grabbed the front of Crag's uniform, pulling him closer. Crag broke from his hold and took a step back, piercing Keller with a sharp gaze. “She does not escape the attack, but she survives it. She was discovered before her attacker...” Crag looked down at the floor and sighed, “...killed her." "What aren't you telling me?" Crag raised his eyes to Keller's solemnly. “She was hurt very badly, but as I told you, she survives. The Council will vote against your pretext of appeal since she will not lose her life. I took the liberty of polling the Elders before coming here." Keller wanted to die. Gabrielle would survive, but without him. “She deserves a better fate than mere survival." "Let it go, Keller,” Crag said softly. “Let the alien go. You have responsibilities here, and with utmost respect, it's time you focus on them." "Leave me." "The Queen has requested I bring you to join her so you may announce your life partnership to Lena today. The Queen felt it would be best to avoid further scandal. The citizens are in an uproar over the alien's presence." "Her name is Gabrielle, not alien.” Keller sent a warning glance to Crag who was completely unmoved by it. His face remained even and reflected a quiet determination. "Please come along. Tame the masses with your engagement to Lena, and then all will be as it should. You'll see. Everything will work out." Keller didn't respond to Crag. He turned away from his future commander at arms and exited his quarters, fighting the tumultuous struggle that raged within him. He was beyond devastated over the fact that he'd never see Gabrielle ever again. His vita-matia. His life mate. I love you, Gabrielle. Don't ever doubt my feelings for you. The words rang in his mind repeatedly, gaining strength with every step he took. I love you, Gabrielle. Don't ever doubt my feelings for you...

Chapter Eleven For one second, Gabrielle found herself groggily waking up on the slab bed looking at a serene canopy of dark, star-strewn skies ... and in the next moment, her heart was slamming in her chest in full-sprint mode, legs pumping, muscles burning trying to escape the evil man chasing her. Instead of diving for a blue light and an alternate future, she barely dodged the blue marble, sarcophagus-shaped monument in the center of the courtyard surrounded by endless brick buildings. Her pursuer wasn't as lucky. He crashed into the low, flat sculpture going full speed. Gabrielle heard his head crack on the surface of the stone. Hoping he was knocked out cold, she glanced over her shoulder and was disappointed to find him still fully conscious. Now, he was bleeding from his head as well. One of his hands dripped blood from bashing in her car window, and he was still intent on catching her. His face now registered rage as though he blamed her for his collision. Nothing seemed to slow him down. "You're mine now, bitch. Stop running from me, or I'll punish you!” he screamed. “You will bow before me. I'll fuck your whore's mouth and make you mine forever!” Then he threw his head back and laughed. It was one of those crazy, sick, cackling hyena laughs meant to frighten and subdue all prey for miles around. It made Gabrielle even more determined to get away. He was truly insane. She had slowed to a jog and looked around urgently for an escape. There were no other passages out of the clearing. The only crack of an opening was the one she'd come through, and the maniac lumbering after her had blocked her only exit. She searched left and right for a weapon, a door, a window—damn it—anything to help her escape, but there was nothing. She was fast running out of clearing and wondered if it would be better to propel herself into a brick wall to avoid a fate worse than death at the hands of the pervert behind her, but she wasn't the type to give in, nor did she have any suicidal tendencies. Besides, slamming into a brick wall would hurt like a bitch. Gabrielle caught sight of a ladder of sorts against a building ahead of her. It dangled precariously lopsided from the decrepit fire escape above. It was her only chance. She kicked in some reserve strength and sprang forward, catching the rusted bottom rung with both hands. She heard the screech of metal rubbing against metal as she hauled herself up, kicking her feet out, pumping her legs like on a bicycle as if the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels. She got momentum enough to reach and grab the next rung as she pulled herself up further away from the threat below. Before she could gain her balance and get her other hand up to the third rung, her pursuer grabbed her from behind and yanked. She lost her hold on the second rung. Her other hand bit into the eroding metal of the lowest rung. Metal splinters embedded in her hand painfully before the entire ladder groaned under the pressure of their combined body weight and detached from the fire escape. Gabrielle's stomach wrenched painfully as she went airborne for a moment before crashing onto her back several feet below. She landed on the attacker who still had a death grip around her waist. The ladder crashed next to her face, missing her head by mere centimeters. She kicked back and tried to get the pervert to release her. Fingernails now chipped and broken off, she scratched at his arms as her legs flailed, trying to connect with any part of him to inflict pain. He rolled over and took her with him. Suddenly, her face was pushed down into the grit on the ground, and his substantial weight was pressing into her back, holding her down. She clawed her hands forward

blindly, trying to get some leverage to break his hold. She kicked out and managed to connect with a part of his body, making him grunt and release his grasp. She scrambled forward on hands and knees, kicking back at him when he tried to grab her ankles. Two steps later, she was wobbling on unsteady legs as she headed towards the monument and the now unguarded open door across the clearing. This was her only salvation for escape. She took a few more staggering steps before tripping over the metal ladder they'd pulled off the building. She pitched forward, bruising her knee on the edge of a metal rung as she fell. Too terrified to feel the pain, she leaped right back on her feet as if her life depended on it, because it did. She ran on a trajectory around the monument and headed for the door. Her hand touched the cold, smooth marble top in an effort to steady herself while she gasped for air. The madman came to his feet and chased her again. "You fucking whore!” he screeched. “Stop and kneel before your master. Ready yourself to receive your punishment!" She panicked when she realized her legs were bruised and did not want to cooperate any longer. She'd used up all her reserves. She braced her hips against the monument as he sprang forward to kill her. He was leering now, his hands wildly reaching out for her. Gabrielle used the solid marble to launch forward and attack him first. She grabbed his wrist and used one of the only two karate moves she knew. She yanked on his arm while bringing up her foot to plant it squarely on his kneecap. Then in rapid succession, she used her second move to lift her throbbing leg and kick him in the balls. He screamed from each kick, but unfortunately, lunacy was apparently its own pain reliever. He launched forward and pinned her to the monument with his body. The marble edge bit into her lower hips as he bent her backwards over it with his forearm across her throat. She tapped the back of her head on the smooth surface and was stunned for a moment. She stopped fighting. "Open your mouth wide and ready yourself for me, whore,” and again he laughed maniacally. She panicked when she felt what she presumed to be his already hard dick against her leg, pressing disgustingly into her. Gabrielle took a deep breath and readied herself to lunge up and escape, but she found a filthy cloth in her face. She turned her head to the side when she caught a whiff of something sickly sweet wafting off the cloth he tried to press to her face. She turned but could not escape the strong smell. A wave of nausea assailed her. Was that chloroform? Oh, God. She was so screwed. Well, then. Game over. He'd won. Gabrielle managed to get a deep breath of air without chloroform, but he promptly smashed the cloth onto her face again. Once she used up this final lungful of air, she'd suck in the fumes. When she woke up ... if she woke up ... the madman would have done whatever mad men did. Even if she survived, she'd be left without even the possibility of a life with Keller. Life is a big, fat bitch, and then you suffer alone, and then you die. The end. Her lungs burned for air. Any air. Even tainted air. A reserve of panic rose, and she fought, wriggling

back and forth. Side to side she moved, but he held tight to her. Gabrielle was ready to accept her fate. She looked up to the canopy of stars above one last time to remember Keller and bid him a fond farewell. I love you, Gabrielle. Don't ever doubt my feelings for you. I love you, too, Keller. I'll never forget you. Gabrielle blinked. She thought she saw the figure of a very tall man descending the rickety fire escape ladder. She decided she was past hallucinating and well onto delirium. For an instant, she thought he looked like Keller. Just as quickly, the figure disappeared. It was surely a pity-induced vein of hope her subconscious sent her because she was oxygen deprived while thinking of him. Definitely a fantasy. As her mind reeled from lack of nitrogen-rich air, she pondered the possibility Keller had never been real. Had she dreamed him, or was he real and living a zillion miles away with Lena as his new queen because they'd been betrayed? What had Crag told him about her surprise departure? Did he think she left him willingly? Would he believe she abandoned him? Gabrielle thought she heard the fire escape groaning again. Wishful thinking. Probably the wind. Big black blotches swam across her vision relentlessly. She blew out the air in her lungs into the cloth smashed against her nose. She inhaled as shallow a breath as possible, but the drug knocked her out. Game over. **** Keller materialized on Earth with a determination born of panic. He darted to the edge of the building where he'd landed on and stuck his head out into the open space, cursing many things about this second journey to Earth. He cursed the location of his arrival. The rooftop was not ideal for rescue because Gabrielle was several stories below, but he couldn't materialize in the clearing because he'd departed from there on the last journey. He waited several endless minutes while his body in the first journey cleared the atmosphere. Damn paradoxes. Keller made out the flimsy metal staircase attached to the building and bolted over to it, flinging himself over the edge. Landing on the fire escape, he rapidly descended the rickety metal staircase attached to the building, which made atrocious noises as he traversed it. At each turn of the steps, he watched Gabrielle's attacker pursue her to the solitary structure centered in the clearing. By the time he'd gotten to the last set of stairs, Gabrielle was pinned underneath the bastard and not moving. Keller jumped off the outer building stairs, landing on the balls of his feet to absorb the shock. He sprang up into a practiced sprint and hoped he could stop himself from killing Gabrielle's attacker with his bare hands. He wasn't allowed to change the future by killing him. He could only stop the man from hurting her further. He'd left his sword behind with the certain knowledge that if he brought it, he'd use it. Repeatedly.

Keller barreled up to her attacker, grabbed him, and launched him over his shoulder. The man made frightful noises when Keller pulled him into the air. Gabrielle wasn't moving. The lunatic went airborne for a few seconds before crashing to the ground with gratifying force. It should have stopped him, but the man bounced right back onto his feet and came at Keller. The look in the man's eyes reminded Keller of the look on his mother's face the last time he saw her—when she realized he wasn't going to bend to her will in the matter of Gabrielle or his future as King of Tiburon. The look was a demented one. "The whore is mine! I saw her first! You can't have her!” the lunatic screamed. Keller didn't respond. He dodged when the man charged. He noticed the blood dripping off the man's forehead and more from his hands when he turned. The thought that those drops could be Gabrielle's precious blood made Keller act before thinking. He balled up his fist and powered it into the man's already bloody face, hoping to knock a few teeth down his throat. The blow sent the attacker reeling backwards until he lost his balance and fell on his ass. He rolled back and forth trying to get up as Keller walked over. The crazy monster managed to gain his footing and stand on unsteady feet until Keller punched him again. Same fist. Same power behind the punch. Same resulting fall to the ground. Keller couldn't believe it when the crazed man wrestled himself onto all fours and tried to get up a third time. He kicked the man solidly in the face before he made it to his feet. Grabbing him up by his coat lapels, Keller slammed him against the nearest brick wall. The man managed to cuff Keller in the head. Several seconds later, before he could stop himself, Keller found his hands jammed around the man's throat. Then he applied pressure, and then more pressure. Don't kill him. Just render him unconscious, Keller repeated to himself, squeezing until the man finally and mercifully slumped over unconscious. Releasing him, Keller turned and sprinted back to Gabrielle. She had slipped off the monument and lay on her side motionless beside it. Heart in his throat, he knelt beside her and turned her so she rested on her back. He felt for a pulse and, to his relief, found it beating faintly. Picking up the dirty rag next to her, he wondered why the attacker held it over her face. There was a strange odor coming from it. Poison perhaps? Keller put a hand on her forehead to brush a stray lock of hair from her eyes. He scanned her body and felt for broken bones. She had three metal splinters in one hand, which appeared to be the worst of her injuries. Reassured she was not badly hurt, he leaned in and placed his mouth next to hers, not quite touching as she'd done to him the last time they'd been together. A rush vibrated his body, but it was more a feeling of relief that she was alive. Her attacker hadn't had time to kill her or do any serious damage to her lovely body. "Please, wake up, Gabrielle,” he said, willing her eyes to open for him. He'd have to carry her out of here and find help. He'd yet to retrieve his cellular phone and all the other components of his Earth persona in his zeal to make it to Gabrielle's rescue on time. He moved to pick her up when he heard the footsteps of someone approaching.

"Freeze!” came an agitated yet authoritative voice from the opening at the clearing. Keller looked up to see two uniformed police officers pointing guns at him. One was tall and skinny with curly hair. One was shorter and heavier with not very much hair. The skinny one moved towards the monster lying unconscious in a bloody heap. "Now, stand up and step away from the woman slowly,” the shorter police officer said, directing his comment to Keller and motioning with his weapon. Keller stood up with his hands away from his body. He was glad he'd left his sword behind. It finally occurred to him that, from their point of view, he was the one who'd wrought all this mayhem. The tall, skinny officer keyed a radio attached to his collar. Keller heard him calling for an ambulance for the filth resting where he'd left him. "She's hurt,” Keller informed him and nodded at Gabrielle. “She needs an ambulance, too." "What'd you do to her?" "I pulled that guy over there off her. He was the one who chased her in here and tried to hurt her." "Oh, yeah. Now, why would I believe that?” The officer maintained the large gun on him and walked over to Gabrielle. She wasn't moving and was impossibly frail looking. Keller knew he needed to remain calm now that Earth's law enforcement was involved, but a part of him wanted to scoop her up and run her to safety. "It's the truth." "Uh-huh. Where were you?" "Up on the roof.” Keller nodded towards the building he'd come down. "What were you doing on the roof?" Keller pushed a deep breath slowly out of his lungs in an effort to calm his raging nerves. "Stargazing,” he replied. Planning my invasion of your planet, puny earthling, was his second choice of response. "You got any identification?" Keller sighed deeply, again cursing in his mind the manner in which he'd come back to Earth. He didn't have any identification on him at this particular moment. It was back at the residence his group had used while studying Earth. Keller didn't think it would be prudent to explain to the officer he was an alien from another planet several trillion miles away. Earthlings were prone to panic regarding alien invasion. Keller was prepared to resurrect permanently the persona he'd used while on Earth the last time, but he hadn't the time to retrieve the documents. He'd come back to this time and place to spare Gabrielle a long, painful recovery if she were left to suffer at the hands of a madman. Keller formed his words carefully. “My name is Keller. I'm an Earth scientist..."

Chapter Twelve Gabrielle woke slowly and painfully to find she was lying on her back on the cold ground. She saw the circular canopy of stars surrounded by brick walls. Crap! Where was the asshole who'd tried to drug her unconscious? She could still smell the scent of the chloroform around her nose and mouth. Gabrielle hoped the creep had given up and gone home because she couldn't move to fight him off right now. On her left was the blue marble monument. It calmed her somehow, probably because it reminded her of Keller. Her last thoughts were of him before she conked out the last time fighting for air. Keller. She missed him already. She closed her eyes to remember. She'd never find a man like him on earth, a man who kissed like a wet dream come to life, kisses that brought her to climax with sensuous intensity. She welled up at the realization he was gone forever. Did he even exist? Had she dreamed him up? Probably. Gabrielle moaned and opened her eyes. She squinted to read the writing she hadn't noticed earlier on the sculpture. It was a memorial to a group of nine heroes. They were firefighters who'd died saving others from a fire in the building that stood here once. Had she seen tall, warrior-like, firefighter ghosts? Well, it made as much sense as tall, warrior aliens departing for their planet. Gabrielle sensed someone close to her and flinched, expecting to see the loathsome man who'd been chasing her. Instead, it was a police officer who stepped into her view. He was young and skinny with curly dark hair. "Hello,” he said with concern. “You're awake. I'm Officer Brooks. We've called for an ambulance, so you just sit tight, okay? It'll be here before you know it." Gabrielle nodded. She swallowed and tried to speak, but no words came out. Her whole body hurt, which was second only in intensity to the pain in her heart. She hadn't processed her anger over losing Keller to betrayal before she'd been forced to run for her life from a lunatic bent on her destruction. Her mind was still full of vivid memories about an alien race who brought her to their planet by accident on their spacecraft. She'd managed to violate their future king a couple of times, and when she was all set to life partner with him, she was betrayed by his best friend and returned because she was an unsuitable, puny earthling. Crag told her he hoped her memories would become dreams. Were they really memories, or had she been dreaming all along? Gabrielle had an epiphany right then as she lay on the cold, hard ground. She felt like she did when she woke from what seemed like a perfectly rational dream, only to recite it out loud when she was awake and discover she sounded like a complete idiot. Of course, she'd been dreaming. She was such a dork. Of course, it was only a vivid, wonderful dream. There wasn't, in reality, a Keller. That made her sad enough to cry. She was probably crazy. She couldn't stop her tears. Officer Brooks gave her a concerned look. “Aw, now, don't cry. It'll be okay. You're a very lucky girl. Can you tell me your name?" She swallowed hard. “Gabrielle,” she managed to croak out, barely recognizing her own grief-stricken voice.

"Is there anybody I can call for you, Miss Gabrielle?” he asked. She shook her head and resisted the urge to have him call Skippy, who still wasn't trained to answer the phone. "Thank you, but there's no one,” she whispered quietly. "Now, I think that's a shame, ma'am,” he said and then looked over his shoulder. There was a very tall man dressed in black standing next to another police officer. Gabrielle turned her head to see the stranger more clearly as Officer Brooks stepped away. The man in black looked very familiar. He looked almost like ... Keller? But it couldn't be. Keller was a million, zillion miles away, getting ready to life partner with Lena so he could be king of his planet. "Is it you?” Gabrielle sucked in a deep breath of surprise before she could stop herself. "Is this the guy who attacked you, ma'am?” the other officer asked her. His tag read Officer Flanders. The man resembling Keller sighed with a perturbed look on his face. He looked like an Earth version of her dream Keller dressed all in black. He wore a black leather jacket, black turtleneck, and black jeans instead of black body armor. "No, it wasn't him,” Gabrielle said quickly. Would she sound crazy if she identified him as an alien warrior king from another planet? Yep. Not a doubt in her mind. "We found him hunched over you holding a chloroform-soaked rag when we arrived,” Officer Flanders accused. "Well, he didn't chase me in here. Look at his hands. The man who broke my car window was bleeding." Officer Brooks nodded. “That's right. We found your car with the window bashed in, and a stolen car parked behind it. We followed the blood trail from your car into the alley here and found you." The gorgeous man in black, who couldn't possibly be Keller, held his hands up, flipping them back and forth to show he wasn't bleeding. Officer Flanders huffed his acknowledgment but still didn't look convinced. Gabrielle rose on her elbows, trying to sit. Earth Keller, as she was going to call him, took a step towards her, but Officer Flanders stopped him. "You stay here. Just because your hands are clean don't mean you didn't help the other guy. You still haven't produced any identification to prove who you are." "I told you, I left it at home. Call the Scientific Research College and ask for Professor Ambrose. He'll vouch for me." Gabrielle couldn't believe there was a doppelganger for her luscious Keller right here on planet Earth. Before she could ponder the coincidence of two Kellers, she heard more footsteps as an ambulance crew arrived. The police officer called for two rescue vehicles, which both miraculously arrived together. No moral issues of whether to take the victim or the attacker first. Gabrielle reached out to touch Earth Keller's arm when the emergency team wheeled her past him on the portable gurney. "Thanks,” was all she had time to say before they took her away. He reached for her, but Officer Flanders held him back. The officer dialed a cell phone to call the place Earth Keller told him would

vouch for him. “You said your name was Keller, right?" Gabrielle tried to bolt upright on the gurney when she heard the question, but they pressed her back and strapped her down lightly. She lifted her head to stare at Earth Keller, whose name was also coincidentally Keller. The paramedics pushed her back down, trying to be comforting as they took her away. On the trip to the hospital, Gabrielle pondered her sanity. What were the odds of two gorgeous, identical guys with the same name? Astronomical, she surmised. **** "What hospital did they take her to?” Keller asked Officer Flanders. "Why do you need to know?" They'd wheeled Gabrielle away, and he'd seen the animated look she gave him after discovering his name. Didn't she know it was him? Probably not based on the way he was dressed, the darkness, and the all-around confusion. "I'm concerned about her. I want to make sure she's unharmed.” He needed to find her to explain everything. "Well, when you find your identification, you need to come down to the station and make a formal statement." "Right, I'll do that. Where did you say they took her?" "I didn't, and I'm not going to, either." Bastard. “Am I free to go?" "Sure, I guess. Why don't you leave the lady alone? She's had a rough night." "I'll have to, won't I, since you won't tell me where she is now?" Keller's earth residence where his identification and other components were stored was not too far away from this clearing. In fact, the area was chosen as a departure platform because of its seclusion and usual lack of human activity. Keller strolled from the scene in the opposite direction of his destination. He didn't want the police to follow him. Once he got what he needed, he'd have to scour the city hospitals for a woman named Gabrielle who had a dog named Skippy. He remembered just now he didn't even know her formal name. **** "It's after midnight. Do you have to ask these questions now?” Gabrielle whined. Five minutes ago, Officer Flanders trotted into her hospital room dressed in civilian clothes with a detective in tow. "The man who attacked you recently escaped from a mental institution for the criminally insane,” the new detective informed her as if she should be shocked by the information. “He'd attacked women in this

manner before." "Oh, really?” Gabrielle asked in an exaggerated tone. “And here I thought he was just a normal guy chasing me down like an animal because I was simply a woman who needed to be dominated!" They each gave her a look as if fighting the urge to roll their eyes, but then they both sighed. They weren't going to scold her for her attitude, thankfully enough. "We need a detailed recounting of what he said and did. It will strengthen our case. We want to ensure once he wakes up, he won't be allowed out on the streets again." "Well, if he escaped, it's so simple ... put him back!" "That's the plan. Your statement tonight will expedite and further ensure the process is followed." Gabrielle answered several of their questions, but then she wanted to find out what they knew about Earth Keller. “What was the name of the guy who saved me again?" "Um ... Keller. He's some kind of scientist or something. Do you know him?” Officer Flanders’ tone suggested he knew something was going on between them. She wasn't ready to explain how she might know Earth Keller. In a biblical sense, in fact. Gabrielle put on her best surprised face. “How could I possibly know him?" "You tell me.” His face said he didn't buy her claim. As if conjured from their uncomfortable conversation and her fanciful imagination, Earth Keller drifted into her hospital room, eyes searching warily around with each step he took as if afraid someone might see him. She didn't have time to warn him. At first, it was obvious he didn't see the two men questioning her in the room. They were tucked behind the curtain separating the two hospital beds. By the time he did see them, it was too late for him to sneak back out. "Well, speak of the devil! What are you doing here?” Officer Flanders asked drolly and made a show of checking his wrist watch. “Isn't it sort of late for a social call?" "I came to see how Gabrielle is doing.” Earth Keller walked around to the opposite side of her bed. He cocked his head to the side. “Do you typically conduct your investigations at midnight?" Gabrielle smiled at his snappy response and watched him closely. He looked exactly like the Keller from her wild fantasies—except for his eyes. They were light blue and not sultry silver. Maybe she'd seen this man somewhere around town before tonight. Her karate class was held at the college campus in the gymnasium. Perhaps she'd subconsciously imprinted his gorgeous face in her memory. Gabrielle didn't believe for a minute she wouldn't have stopped to take note the moment she saw him. Like in her fantasy where she'd accosted him immediately and repeatedly without stopping to even ask his name. The night shift nurse, Patsy, joined the growing party around her bed. Hands on hips, along with a disbelieving look on her face, she said, “What are ya'll doing in here?” Her smooth, southern accent made Gabrielle smile. “Visiting hours are over and have been for quite a spell now. I'm gonna have to ask

y'all to come back tomorrow." "We're on official police business,” the detective said, flashing a badge. Gabrielle had already forgotten his name. "I don't care if the President himself sent you. Scoot on outta here until visiting hours. Tomorrow.” Patsy motioned the two officers away from the bed. "Can my boyfriend stay a minute?” Gabrielle asked, putting a hand on Keller's arm to keep him close. He turned an interested look her way at the term ‘boyfriend.’ So did the other two men. "I thought you said you didn't know each other.” The detective frowned. "I never said that. Besides, maybe he's my new boyfriend, as if it's any business of yours,” Gabrielle said hotly. Nurse Patsy gave Keller an appreciative once over and smiled, but then shook her head, “Sorry, Sugar, but it's late, and you need to rest. Everyone needs to go." "Well, can he kiss me goodbye before he goes then?” Gabrielle looked up to see his reaction. He looked embarrassed as if she'd just said ‘can he fuck me goodbye’ or something—just like Alien Keller had looked after she said ‘mouth touching,’ but he smiled anyway. God, he was still gorgeous. If his kiss sent a rocket down her body, she'd have personal proof life existed on other planets, and her alien warrior lover had come back for her. If not, then a gorgeous stranger got a free kiss, and she'd know she wasn't crazy or delusional. Win-win as far as she was concerned. She made a silent plea for the rocket ride. "Go for it, Sugar. If he was my boyfriend, I would.” Nurse Patsy smiled. Gabrielle watched as Keller leaned down and made as if only to kiss her on the cheek. Not going to happen, Keller, she thought. She grabbed his face and directed his mouth to land on hers instead and waited for her hospital-issued socks to shoot off her feet once their lips connected. His lips pressed to hers, and he even jerked slightly once they were joined, but his reaction was the only one Gabrielle felt. It was a good kiss. It was a worthy kiss. It was a soft and engaging kiss. But it was most assuredly not an alien-Keller-lightning-through-her-entire-being rocket kiss. She sighed internally. Why was she disappointed? So, she wasn't crazy and delusional. So, life didn't exist on other planets. So what? A sweet, gorgeous man saved her from a fate worse than death tonight. Even if his kiss didn't rock her world, it didn't mean she'd throw him to the curb. Earth Keller stopped the kiss as if keenly sensing he didn't measure up to her expectations. He pulled back and studied her face for a moment. He looked thoughtful, but then he cleared his throat and sighed deeply. His hands unclenched from her sheets on either side of her waist, leaving balled-up, wrinkled patches He gave her a look she couldn't identify, sadness, frustration, disappointment. No rocket for him, either? Keller patted her hand twice and stepped away from her bed. Oh, crap. She didn't want him to leave. She wanted to talk to him alone. Would he come back? Would she be able to discern if he were an alien warrior prince without speaking the words out loud?

"Will I see you tomorrow during visiting hours ... Keller?” She was unable to hide the hope in her voice. "Don't you call your boyfriend by his first name?” the detective asked suspiciously. Gabrielle's eyes widened. Crap! She didn't know his first name. Was this a trick? "No, we're funny that way. I like Keller." "She doesn't like the name Eric. It reminded her of a bully from her childhood,” Keller said smoothly. Great lie, Gabrielle thought. He was as quick on his feet as she was. "Why didn't you say you were her boyfriend at the scene?" Gabrielle looked at Keller and shrugged. He gave her an uneasy gaze in return. She'd already told her whopper lie for the evening to get a kiss. He was on his own. "Because we were meeting secretly tonight,” he said finally and glanced to see her reaction. She smiled and raised her eyebrows. She couldn't wait to hear why they were meeting secretly. "Why were you meeting secretly?” the officer asked. Again she and Keller exchanged piercing glances. She shrugged, trying to give him the go ahead to tell whatever lie he wanted. She'd support it. "I'm a college professor. When we met, Gabrielle was a student. I didn't want to be reported to the ethics board. I don't have tenure quiet yet,” he continued as smoothly as ever. Good one, Gabrielle thought approvingly. "Now, why don't I believe that?” Officer Flanders grunted, but he was moving towards the door. "You lack imagination?” Keller suggested. Officer Flanders stopped. “This isn't over. We'll talk again. Make yourself available." "As you wish.” Keller shrugged. “You know where to find me." **** Keller couldn't believe he'd been thwarted again and wondered if he'd ever again get a chance to talk to Gabrielle alone. He had so much to tell her, but there was always some earthling around, even at midnight in her hospital room. If the law enforcement twins hadn't walked him all the way out to his vehicle, he'd have snuck back inside and wrangled his way past the nurse. Now, more than ever, he wanted to speak to her. Alone. And then the kiss. Great stars above! The barrier he had in place protected her from the usual sensations she'd had in the past when they touched mouths. He could tell she was surprised when they'd ‘ kissed’ in her room, and it hadn't had the same impact on her, but it still sent him for a wild ride. It was just like her to mouth touch him when he least expected it, and in front of other humans. Shocking is what she is. Exciting, though, he had to admit. Pleasurable on so many levels. He almost turned and entered the hospital to finish what she'd started. Tomorrow. He'd be back to take her home. Tomorrow. Then she would be his. He hoped, anyway. He

drove out of the hospital parking lot, forming a checklist in his mind for tomorrow.

Chapter Thirteen "We can release you this morning, Ms. Miller,” the harried doctor told her as he consulted his clipboard. He wasn't paying too much attention to her. "Why? Because my cheap-ass insurance won't pay for another overnight stay?” Gabrielle asked crossly. She felt like crap. Her whole body ached. They'd been poking and prodding and asking her the same stupid questions over and over since the butt-crack of dawn. This just added to her long list of why she hated hospitals. "No, it would pay if you needed it, but you don't have any broken bones or a concussion, surprisingly enough. We already gave you a booster tetanus shot for the rusty splinters we took out of your hand. You have a few additional cuts and bruises, but you're fine to go home. My advice is to take it easy for a few days. Maybe soak in a nice, warm bath tonight,” the doctor recommended then signed her discharge papers. Great. A prescription for a warm bath. Just what she expected from her crappy medical insurance. The doctor patted her on the arm distractedly and left her alone to dress, but more importantly, to leave. Apparently, they needed the bed since she was being released so early in the morning. They'd kept her overnight for observation due to the chloroform she'd inhaled. Fine. It wasn't like being here didn't make her skin crawl anyway. Besides, Gabrielle needed to get home and check on Skippy. The poor thing was probably crossing all four legs by now waiting for her to get back and let him outside to do his business. It seemed like she'd been away from home for weeks. Home sounded like an oasis. She wanted some time to think about Earth Keller. No, his name was Eric Keller, Earth Scientist, and luscious rescuer. Since they were releasing her way before visiting hours, she'd have to find him on her own. Did he want to be found? Was he planning a trip during visiting hours today, or had the lackluster kiss they shared last night turned him off? All night, she'd slept fitfully, and in between bouts of foolish questions so early this morning, she thought about him. Alien Keller of the rocket kiss was lost to her either in a dream if he weren't real or the betrayal of his best friend and his mother if he were. In the end, he and his magical lips were gone from her forever. Eric Keller was an entirely different story. He existed, and she had a copy of the preliminary police report to prove it. It listed his name but no address or phone number, aggravatingly enough. Rocket kiss or not, she wanted to find him. What was he doing in the middle of a desolate place, on hand to rescue her? Gabrielle had gotten a nurse to bring her a phone book, but of course, he wasn't listed. Of the three people with the last name Keller, and of course, she'd called every number, no one knew of any family member who had the occupation of scientist. Maybe they lied to her because she'd disturbed them so early in the morning. Gabrielle grabbed her purse, generously brought to her by Officer Brooks late last night before the midnight meeting around her bed. He'd found it in her abandoned car still resting upended on the passenger side floor board. She exited the hospital to the first rays of morning light, only to remember she didn't have a vehicle to

drive home in. Her car now sat at a service station after another early call to a tow company. It wouldn't be available for at least three days while awaiting a replacement driver's side window and the repair of one life-changing, flat tire. She cursed under her breath, realizing she'd have to go back inside to call a cab. As she turned, Gabrielle saw a man leaning against a cement column to the side of the hospital door. "Keller?” She walked towards him as if in a trance. He was in partial shadow, but she recognized his form. Tall, muscular, great lips ... okay ... not great, but intriguing. The rest of the package was fine enough for a second and third look. "Hello,” he said simply and dazzled her with his smile. "What on earth are you doing here? I figured you were long gone by now. How did you know I got discharged early?" "I happened to run into the nurse from last night as she was leaving a few minutes ago. I tried to get into your room for some alone time. Well, before visiting hours,” he added roguishly. "Really?” She laughed. "Yes, I wanted to speak to you alone." "Difficult endeavor in a hospital room masking a three-ring circus." He nodded and directed a heated gaze from the top of her head to the tips of her toes and up again. “Are you okay, Gabrielle?" "Yeah, I'm okay. A little banged up, but no worse for wear, thanks to you,” she said, watching his mouth. She wanted to see how he'd react to a kiss this morning. Maybe last night was strange because others were watching. One percent of her still missed Alien Keller. She loved his reaction to the touching of mouths. She took a step closer, right into his personal space. He didn't move to stop her, but his lips quirked into an amused smile. She probably was pretty transparent when it came to her intentions. "Kiss me,” she said softly. "Why? What do you really want to know?" She shrugged. “I just want you to kiss me again." "I sensed the earth didn't move for you last night,” he said quietly. “Why do you want to try again?" "It moved enough,” she said distractedly, thinking every kiss didn't have to melt her hospital-issued socks off. "Liar.” He backed away from her slightly. "Please, Keller, don't go. Can I call you Keller?" "Sure, I can live with that,” he said, sobering. He lost his luscious smile. “But I can't live with tolerated kisses."

"Trust me, I didn't tolerate it. I enjoyed it, I swear,” she lied. His dubious face reflected his disinterest in another kiss this morning. All around them, people were weaving and dodging them, trying to get into or out of the hospital. Gabrielle registered an aggravated look from a passerby, and for the first time, realized they were in the middle of another circus. "Once again, we are surrounded by people.” She laughed nervously. “Could we go get something to eat? Then we can discuss whatever you want to, and I can convince you I'd like to get to know you better." "All right. Perhaps we can find a quiet place with a few hundred less people around." Keller stuck out his arm, and she held onto him as they strolled towards the parking area. She passed by a car with the window cracked for a tail-wagging Beagle inside and remembered poor Skippy. "Oh, wait! Could we stop by my apartment and let my dog out first? His legs are probably crossed since I didn't make it home last night." "No problem.” He smiled. “We can't leave good old Skippy to suffer now, can we?" Gabrielle stopped in her tracks. She removed her arm from his then looked up at Eric Keller, her eyes wide. "How do you know my dog's name?” she asked in a harsh tone. "You told me.” His eyes squinted as if trying to remember something important. Then just as quickly, it registered concern, like he was busted, and he knew it, but he didn't have a reasonable lie in place to placate her with. "No, I didn't,” she said firmly. I only told Alien Keller, she thought wildly, trying to figure out how he knew. "You must have told me, Gabrielle. Otherwise, how would I know?” Right then, Eric Keller's eyes changed color right in front of her disbelieving ones. She watched it happen. It was Keller. Alien Keller with the sumptuous, sultry silver eyes and the lips to die for. "Keller?" "Yes." "Your eyes changed color,” she said as if this occurred every single day. “They were light blue a minute ago, and now they're ... silver." "Hmm. I do have to watch that down here,” and Alien Keller smiled with aching beauty. What is going on? "Down here?” She swayed on her feet. Keller grabbed her by the arms to steady her as his smile grew. He pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her neck, taking a deep breath. "You know, on Earth,” he whispered. “I missed you so much, Gabrielle.” His arms crushed her into his chest. She was too shocked to stop him, and he felt so great. His breath tickled her ear. She pushed back to look at his face. He winked at her, winked with a sultry, silver-colored eye.

"But you're not real. I dreamed you, didn't I?" "You violated the sanctity of my mouth. I've come to force you to take responsibility." "How?" "You know how. You touched your lips to mine while my barrier was down." "No, how did you get here? Crag drugged me and said he wouldn't send you. He said you were going to life partner with Lena, whether you loved her or not. He said I'd think Tiburon was a dream.” She pushed out of the comfort of his arms to distance herself. "That is a very long story, best told when there is no chance anyone can listen in.” He looked over his shoulder as someone approached and then back at her. “Let's go someplace quiet, okay?" "No, start talking. What are you doing here?” Gabrielle formed her body into a rigid stance, arms crossed, one leg and hip cocked forward. Keller crossed his arms, mirroring her, but his stance was not angry. He was in explanation mode. “I gave my mother an ultimatum. I told her either I would rule alone, or she could oust me in favor of my younger brother, Kyle." "But why?" "I refused to take a life partner if she couldn't be you. I knew I could never life partner with Lena, not after having fallen in love with you." "And just like that, you gave up everything. No being king of your planet? Just for me?" "I didn't want to be king without you. I had such grand plans for us before Crag sent you back to Earth. He and my mother expected me to announce my engagement to life partner with Lena the same afternoon. I refused. "My mother wanted an heir from me and Lena to continue the royal line. I told her you were the only one I was interested in having children with. She refused to budge on bringing you back, so I told her I would simply rule alone, and she'd never get an heir from me. "She told me that if she replaced me with Kyle, she still wouldn't allow me to return to Earth.” He shrugged. “I made it clear that I'd rather be alone than life partner with someone I didn't love." "So, she got rid of you?" "Not at first. She freaked out for awhile." "Freaked out? Where did you learn to talk earthling?" "Television transmissions, a remarkable way to learn culture and language differences." "But it was only last night. How did you learn so fast?" Keller looked all around their immediate space. She looked around as well. He was making her paranoid. "Citizens from Tiburon exist on an entirely different time space dimensional relationship than that of earthlings. When we were here last, I spent my time sampling and capturing visual images of your

topography. Mountains, desserts, forests, oceans, lakes. You have the most varied and astounding scenery I've ever studied. "Sybille, however, recorded cultural information, including years’ worth of television transmissions from your Earth. I spent several months alone on Tiburon reading and learning about your culture after you were sent away. It made me feel close to you." "How did you get Crag to send you back to Earth?" "First, I thanked him for leaving you in the ship chamber alone with me that first time. I'd rather have known you for only a short time than not at all. He blamed himself for what happened between us the first time. He wanted to set it right, but I told him it was too late." "And he gave in, just like that?” she asked incredulously. Crag didn't seem the type to reverse his opinions lightly. Keller smiled and shook his head. “After several months, he and my mother understood I wasn't going to cave in. I publicly announced the reason I refused to life partner with Lena at a royal ceremonial dinner." "What did you say?" "My lips had been tainted by my true life mate, a gorgeous alien from Earth.” He dropped his arms to his side, leaned forward, and kissed her on the forehead. "You said that in public?" "I guess you're rubbing off on me." "I wished I'd been there to see it.” She grinned. "If you'd been there, I wouldn't have had to say it." "True.” She relaxed a little and took a step closer to him. “So how do you have identification and a car here?" "Prior to our trip to Earth, we set up documentation for our duration here on your planet. We have the ability to see past time events on other worlds, so we found the identity of someone who resembled us and was missing. Someone we knew had already died. We checked to see if the body was ever recovered. If not, we assumed their identity. "By coincidence, we found a scientist with the name Keller, like mine." "Did you two look like twins or something?" "Not exactly identical but similar enough to fool people who never look too closely. I also have a barrier. People here seem to see what they expect to see. I even fooled his mother. I think she was prepared to accept his death, but when I showed up, she was so happy to have her son back, she didn't question too closely.” He shrugged. “I had to concentrate on keeping my eyes light blue instead of silver when I was around her." "Amazing." "What is?" "You are. I can't believe you're really here. What about the kiss last night? I mean, it was nice, but not

body rocking like before." "It's like the eye-color phenomenon. I put up a barrier to deflect earthlings from seeing the true color of my eyes or my true being. I had the barrier up last night to deflect touching mouths with you." "Like a condom." "For you maybe, but it still rocked me to the core. I absorbed the vibration so I wouldn't give myself away in front of your law enforcement workers." "Kiss me without the barrier then,” she said, grinning probably like a fool. "Give me your hand." "Keller,” she said with exasperation. "Don't you even want to marry me first?” he asked. “I mean, you are my first, so you need to make an honest man out of me." "So, are you here forever, or are you just visiting?" "I'm here for good." "I love you, Keller." "I love you, too, Gabrielle. Let's go home and meet Skippy. Later, I can introduce you to my Earth mother. Her name is Ruth, and she is going to love you, I promise. She wants her son to meet the perfect girl and settle down and have lots of little earth Kellers." "How many little Kellers are we going to have to reproduce?” Gabrielle raised her eyebrows. "Let's start with one and see how it works out, okay?" "Okay, but you still owe me a kiss. Don't even think you can distract me with baby talk. Kiss me, or I'm not taking another step.” Gabrielle tilted her face up. "Okay, but just a small one." "No such thing where you're concerned.” Gabrielle threw her arms around his neck and placed her lips on his. His mouth was warm and nice. Then he lowered his barrier completely, and she felt the electric jolt of it spread across her lips. "Oh, Gabrielle,” he moaned in her mouth before he devoured her with his lips, his tongue dancing a familiar tango with hers. She felt his hand go up to the back of her neck, and his other press into her waist. Then she felt something new. She felt an Earth male's response to excitement on her lower belly from something large stiffening beneath his jeans zipper. All right, Keller! Gabrielle nudged closer to him and pressed her hips forward to better feel the hard ridge of his erection through his jeans. Her ankle found its way around the back of his calf. She wondered briefly which television shows he'd been watching, but then she didn't care. He felt so good and right and... "Jesus! Get a room!” That came from a stranger passing by.

She broke the kiss and removed her ankle. Keller groaned deeply then. His eyes glazed over with sensual intent, and he tried to reconnect with her mouth. "Wait, Keller. We need to leave.” She turned her head, and his mouth landed on her cheek. "Two more minutes, please,” he panted, taking aim to kiss her again. His mouth slid close to hers before she pulled away. "No time. Come on, take me home, and I'll give you all the minutes you want, I promise." Keller shuddered deeply and pressed his forehead to hers, still trying to catch his breath. Gabrielle half dragged, half carried his tall, solid body as she pulled him towards the parking lot. After several steps, he seemed to bear up and straighten out. Good thing. He was big and tall, and she didn't know where his car was. "Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “You still overwhelm me. I haven't learned to control mouth touching you quite yet." "I like the new thing you added,” and she looked down below his belt. "Oh, that. I implanted a deep suggestion in my mind, so it happens automatically now. I heard Earth girls liked a man with a massive—cock,” he grinned. He led her to his car, which was a Mitsubishi sports car coincidentally named after Keller's home planet. Not a surprising choice, she thought. "How many earth girls have you tried it out on?” Gabrielle asked in mock anger. "Just you, baby. I swear." Then he drove her home to finish what they started.

Chapter Fourteen Skippy ran out of the ground floor apartment door as soon as Gabrielle opened it. His short legs carried him quickly on a trajectory for the small yard out front. Luckily, the hallway door was still open. Otherwise, Gabrielle was certain there would have been a Skippy-shaped hole in it. "Go on inside, Keller. I'll be right back.” She waited for her poor, beleaguered dog to pee several hours’ worth. Gabrielle picked up Skippy on his way back in and cuddled him close. He licked her nose, so she knew he forgave her for the long absence. "You're the best dog ever. I missed you on my travels in space.” Skippy yipped once and licked her chin as she entered her apartment. Once inside, Keller seemed fascinated with Skippy. They were fascinated with each other, truth be told. Keller and Skippy bonded quickly. Soon, Keller was scratching him behind the ears and rubbing his belly, but Gabrielle had another agenda. Skippy wasn't invited. "I'm glad you like my dog, but it's my turn now." "Your turn?” he asked in a puzzled tone she no longer sure she believed. He knew too much more than he let on. "Follow me.” She led Keller to her bedroom and closed the door. Skippy would be sleeping in his own bed tonight. Gabrielle lowered the lights and turned on her favorite sexy, slow music. She turned to see Keller's very intent face watching her. "Remember when you asked for two more minutes?” She stripped out of her clothing slowly as she danced to the music. "I remember.” He leaned against the door to watch her swaying body. "I'm going to want more than two more minutes, you understand,” Gabrielle said as her slacks pooled on the floor at her feet. She was left wearing only bra and panties. She'd let him remove those at his leisure. Gabrielle sauntered over closer to him, letting her hips sway and her arms move, dancing seductively to the music surrounding her. "I understand,” he said and smiled, “earth girls are very demanding." "How many earth girls are we talking about?” She gyrated closer to him. She thrust out a hip and brushed the front of one thigh, the very one she'd pleasured herself on once or twice before. "You know there is only you, Gabrielle.” He smiled wickedly. "Yeah, I know. I just like to hear you say it.” She finished her strip tease dance by leaning close and placing a wet kiss on his throat. "You should think about getting a brass pole put in your bedroom,” he said huskily, running his hands down her arms. "Now, I know what television shows you've been learning from. Skin-a-Max and the Porn channel,” she remarked slyly.

"As a scientist, I had to explore all of those options, but my favorites are the Sci-fi channel and the Cartoon network.” He pulled his black t-shirt over his head to display a deliciously ripped chest any body builder would covet, complete with washboard abs. He kicked off his shoes, never taking his eyes from hers. He didn't have socks on, and she decided that was very sexy, too. "Come here,” she demanded in a husky tone, running her fingertips over his superbly muscled chest. He was only an inch away, but it wasn't close enough. "If I get any closer, I'll be inside you." "Well, then, let the ceremony begin,” she murmured. He grabbed her up in his arms, burrowed his face into her neck before licking a path from her collarbone to her earlobe. He loosened her bra and let it fall to the floor. Her nipples hardened, pressing into his muscular chest wall. His warm fingers caressed her hips before he slid them into the band and pulled her panties down. He kissed a path down her stomach. She stumbled as she kicked her underwear to the side. Keller pulled his pants and boxers down and off in one pull. He flung them to the side while his eyes devoured her. He stepped closer, grabbed her shoulders, and turned her around facing away from him. His head rested on one shoulder briefly before he dropped a kiss there. She watched his hand as he palmed her breasts and then rolled the nipples between a thumb and forefinger. The sensation sent a sexual pulse right down to her center. She moaned, leaning her head back, dipping as her knees went weak. He pushed her gently onto the bed, face down. He followed her down, pressing his fabulously naked body into her back. His humongous cock rested on her butt. She thought he was going to try a new sexual position, and she was more than ready for anything he wanted, but then, she felt his hands stroke her sides. He slowly lifted her up onto her hands and knees. She tried to turn over, but he stilled her. His hands burned a path down her back, tickling her spine. Touching. He was so good at it. He massaged her back, making her toes curl when he squeezed the cheeks of her butt. His hands brushed so close to her wet opening that ached for his touch along with nine or so inches of rock-solid, erotic pleasure, but he didn't touch between her legs. Keller purposely avoided putting his lips on hers for the next hour, or so it seemed like to Gabrielle. Instead, he massaged her whole body. He licked her and teased her breathless with his kisses everywhere, except on her mouth. She was crazed with desire and didn't know if she could take another minute more of the exquisite pleasure. "Keller, please,” she begged and tried to turn over. "Shhh, I'm not done touching you yet." "Yes, you are. I've never been more turned on or so ready in my life. Please." He laughed, apparently delighted at her plea. Finally, he turned her onto her back and slid his body over hers. Still, he didn't kiss her. He leaned in and kissed the top of one breast, then trailed his lips to her shoulder, but she wanted a lip lock. He lifted off her onto his knees and gave her a scorching once-over look from face to thighs. Gabrielle was about to attack him, but then he lifted her hips about a foot off the bed. Yes! Finally! As she took her next breath, Keller opened her thighs and filled her completely in one stroke with his oh-so-very-impressive-and-very-massive cock. The air in her lungs expelled in a whoosh as he pierced her again, and again, and again. Breathing became a luxury. She panted, unable to keep oxygen inside for

long. "Oh, my God, Keller. You're so good...” she groaned, unable to stop herself. She thought she heard him chuckle, but she felt his hand move between them. His thumb rubbed her hyper-sensitive clit only one time before she came apart, screaming his name. Vivid waves of her release unrelentingly undulated with vibrating force through her. "You're beautiful,” he whispered reverently and lowered his body on top of her still shaking form. He kissed her throat once and made a yummy noise. She didn't hesitate to take what she wanted. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she planted her mouth on his in a soul-searching kiss. She wanted him to feel as good as she did, and she knew what to do. Her hand at the back of his neck, she plunged her tongue into his warm mouth, swirling and drinking in his wonderful taste. Keller moaned as her tongue danced with his. She wrapped her legs around his waist to keep his stallion-like cock firmly inside her. She knew once she tasted chocolate, she'd climax again, and it felt so delicious when he remained impaled fully. She felt him begin to move inside her. In and out once, slowly. In and out twice, a little faster. Gabrielle tasted chocolate as he slammed into her the third time. Stars exploded in her brain at the sudden climax as if she'd been struck by lightning. She came, moaning into his mouth. The very thought of having an orgasm from his kiss never failed to amaze her. In the same moment, she heard him growl his release. They lay wrapped around each other for a long while before Keller removed his mouth from hers. He whispered her name over and over, raining kisses on her cheeks, her eyes, her face, her neck in between each “Gabrielle." Gabrielle clung to him and started crying. She couldn't help it. He was an incredible lover. He'd followed her to the ends of the universe, literally. He gave up everything he knew for her. He abdicated a throne for her. He pissed off his mother, the Queen, for her. What could she ever give him to measure up to all his sacrifices? Did she deserve to be this happy? "Why the sorrow, Gabrielle?” she heard him murmur against her throat. He sounded sad. "I don't think I deserve you, Keller,” she sobbed. Keller slowly lifted himself onto his forearms and gave her an engaging glare. She couldn't turn away. He mesmerized her. Inhaling deeply as if taming his temper, he then smiled wickedly. “This again,” he said evenly. “I already left one planet. I can't imagine where we'll move to now. Mars? Jupiter?" "You deserve to be king and marry a princess." "Don't you love me?" "Doesn't matter,” and the tears fell copiously from her eyes. "Sure it does. You are better than any princess I ever knew, and I knew a couple of them. It makes me mourn to see water come from your eyes." "Earth men don't like to see women cry, either." "I love you, Gabrielle. Please become my life partner. I bought you a ring from the Home Shopping

Network last night and everything." "What?” Gabrielle stopped crying and lifted her head off the pillow. “The Home Shopping Network? Are you joking?” She made a mental note to put a block on certain cable channels for him. A vision of faux white gold band with a forty-eight carat cubic-zirconium golf ball embedded danced before her mind. "Yes, I learned about joking, too. Comedy Central. Very amusing.” He laughed. “You should see your face, Gabrielle." She squinted at him, trying not to smile in return. Keller had a sense of humor after all. Who would have thought? "So, do you have a ring or not, Romeo?" "Almost. I ordered it from a place called Tiffany.com. My Earth mother assured me it is the very best place." "Tiffany's good,” she said, relaxing a bit. “So, where is it?" "To be delivered to my apartment later on today." "This ring you got,” she said mischievously, “is it big?" "I imagine it's adequate enough in size to get the job done." "Will I be able to lift my hand?" "Of course. Will you marry me, Gabrielle? I love you,” he said sincerely, his eyes shining with pure, unadulterated love for her. Gabrielle looked at him, overwhelmed by her own love for him. “I will. I do love you, Keller. Don't ever doubt my feelings for you." Then they sealed the proposal with ... just a kiss.

Epilogue Skippy took an instant liking to Keller who secretly fed him dog treats like candy to a spoiled child whenever Gabrielle wasn't looking. Keller took an instant liking to Skippy, too, because they both loved Gabrielle unconditionally. Keller took Gabrielle to his Earth mother's house for dinner the very next night. Ruth Keller was indeed delighted her son was dating a sweet girl. As expected, she began asking about their future wedding plans before dessert was served. Gabrielle was overjoyed to have a future mother-in-law who actually liked her and didn't think her son was too good for the likes of her. Keller waited a whole week before giving the Tiffany ring to Gabrielle. He asked her formally in a public restaurant with several strangers clapping at his bended knee proposal. After waiting two months, they did get married in a small civil ceremony, where Ruth cried buckets as she held Skippy on her lap. Gabrielle insisted the vows contain the words ‘life partner’ in there a couple times so Keller would feel at home. Some time later, and after several attempts at the reproduction ceremony, where Gabrielle finally learned the optimal position for impregnation, she found out soon after she was gestating an alien human hybrid. Keller and Ruth were both beside themselves with joy as Gabrielle enjoyed crackers and Sprite until she, too, felt the joy. Eight months later, she bore Keller a son, whom they named Craig in honor of a friend from far away. Gabrielle wisely said giving him the name Crag would only make him the kick toy of bullies everywhere. Eight months and two years later, Gabrielle bore Keller twin daughters, Emma Ruth and Elizabeth, which Keller warned her was going to happen if she kept requesting the optimal position for impregnation on a regular basis, whether they were trying to conceive or not. Keller and Gabrielle were strolling with the children in the park one day when, lo and behold, they received an unexpected visitor. Elsbeth, Queen of Tiburon, who still ruled with an iron fist, came to visit the son who'd abdicated the throne in favor of one puny, alien, female creature, and of course, to meet her new grandchildren. Keller and his mother forged a fragile peace and forgave each other. Gabrielle was moved to invite her alien mother-in-law to visit planet Earth anytime she wanted but added, “Please call first, and try to come at night.” Don't want to alarm the other puny, earthling neighbors. And like most fairytales, Gabrielle and Keller, along with Skippy, Ruth, and the hybrid children, lived happily ever after. JUST A KISS THE END