by Terri Lane
“Yes…well in a way I didn’t. When I was younger, I lived in a single parent household. I was my mom’s only daughter and she…um, she was diagnosed with cancer, right around the time I turned sixteen. I had to put her first in a lot of things because I was the only one that could take care of her. It was that, or be separated, and I didn’t want that to happen. So instead of stay in school keep going with my education, I dropped out and started housekeeping. Just to bring in some money, to keep food on the table. To do anything to keep her upbeat and focused on getting better.”
“Did she?” Kohl asked quietly. He hated that she had to go through such an ordeal at such a young age. Meanwhile he’d been the height of spoiled and coddled in his formative years. Every bit the young prince.
“No, she died when I was eighteen. I needed money, and since I had the housekeeping experience, this is the field where I ended up.” She took a drink of the wine and set the glass down on the table.
“Are you happy with your work?” Kohl asked because it was difficult to tell.
“I love the people I work with…but I don’t know. Sometimes I toy with the idea that I could open my own little inn or bed and breakfast you know?” she mused.
“You do seem like more of a leader than the kind to do menial work,” Kohl observed.
“Like cleaning up food a prince with a temper tantrum threw all over the floor?” she asked.
Kohl laughed and put his glass down to try and catch her. She slipped out of his grip with surprising ease and darted into the living room, giggling the entire time. Kohl gave chase and followed her as she ran into her bedroom. He caught her just before she could jump onto the bed. Holding her close he was glad she was willing to be playful with him. It was simply him and his Maya Lu, with nothing else from the outside bleeding in to drive them apart. Laying her down onto the mattress, he kissed her slowly. He pressed his body against hers, feeling the outline of every part of her body through her clothing.
“You must have thought me to be a child,” he murmured against her lips and pulled back to see her amused grin.
“Sometimes I still wonder,” she joked and stuck her tongue out at him. Kohl nibbled on her neck while circling his fingers around her wrists. He held her hands above her head and circled his hips against her.
“I want you, Maya Lu,” he said in a deep voice.
Chapter 4
Maya
“Kohl…” Maya was trying not to end up naked with him, but it was damn hard to resist him. Especially as he grazed her throat with his teeth.
“Maya…” His voice tickled her neck and she figured, what the heck. She could make time for conversation later. She had been the one to lead them into the bedroom anyhow. She sighed with a lazy sort of pleasure. Kohl hummed against her skin and she felt his smile against her skin. He was clearly happy that she was giving into him…yet again.
Maya tangled her legs with his and leveraged her weight to turn him onto his back. Kohl laughed in surprise, the sound was chocolate-smooth, and warm.
“I’m impressed, you’ve managed to dart away from me and overpower me in bed?” he teased, tilting his head up to kiss her briefly on the lips.
“So I work out? I like to keep in shape,” she stuck her tongue out at him and he made as if he would bite it. Maya untangled her legs to straddle him as he sat up, his hands holding her bottom.
“Keep…in shape?” he asked, making her laugh.
“Yeah, stay active. You know, exercise?” she clarified. Understanding passed over his features then and he gave her a crooked smile.
“I am still learning some vernacular,” he explained.
“What language do you speak on Ve’dra?” she asked him curiously.
“Well we all grow up learning Vardic, but when schooling starts we are taught the common language of the UAP…” he said.
“Can you speak some to me?” she asked him curiously.
Kohl smiled and spoke a few soft sentences. It sounded like some sexy mix between Portuguese and a Baltic language.
“What did you say?” she asked.
“That you’re irresistible and I’d very much like to make you mine…” Maya kissed him and he wrapped his arms around her waist. “Also I said that I want you naked,” he grinned. Maya chuckled while she slid her hands underneath his shirt. She let herself enjoy the feel of him, sliding her hands all over his chest and stomach. When he laughed, grabbing her hands, Maya felt as if she’d just discovered the Prince Kohl’s weakness.
“Kohl…are you ticklish?” she asked, giggling. He simply grinned at her and played coy.
“I have no idea what that word means,” he said.
He tilted his head and bit her neck lightly. His hands became sure as he pulled her shirt off and peppered her chest with kisses. As soon as her bra was undone, things happened very quickly. He sucked her nipple into his mouth grazing his teeth against it while pinching the other in between his fingers. Her hands tightened on his lower back as electric pleasure swept through her. She wanted to get him naked and pulled back a fraction, breaking his contact with her breasts, to pull his shirt off. Kohl groaned in frustration and quickly stood her up so they could both get out of their clothes.
Kohl barely gave Maya time to catch her breath before he was pulling her onto him once more. He sat at the edge of the bed, pulling her legs on either side of his hips to straddle him just as before. His fingers lightly rubbed her clit and her whole body flushed with heat. He teased her with his mouth too, brushing his lips along her neck and collar.
“Kohl…” she panted, her sex clenched with need. It never seemed to take much from him to get her highly aroused. She reached between them to arrange the tip of his sex at her entrance. She was already wet and eager for him. Without any more preamble he thrust into her. Maya had to hold onto his shoulders for balance as she began to ride him. Kohl let her take her pleasure from him, his gaze hardly ever leaving hers and his hands constantly roaming her skin.
It didn’t take long before Maya was flying into climax. But that was hardly it for them, she and Kohl spent much of the day wrapped up in each other. Honestly Maya had forgotten all about her earlier hurt with him. A full day of sex can do that for a girl.
*
“You didn’t answer my question though!” Maya laughed and kept him from taking a bite of her French toast. She’d made a savory parmesan version to go with the eggplant; she had been hungering for something with Italian flare. She was secretly super pleased that Kohl seemed to like her cooking so much. He was on his second huge helping of the eggplant parmesan.
“When I was of fourteen years…I convinced my pilot instructor to let me take my father’s fastest flier out to the racing zones. Ahh…needless to say, among professional flight racers, I lost. Dramatically so. I steered into the edge of the racing zone, clipped one of my wings and crash landed, in front of an entire host of Ve’drans. It was the most embarrassing moment of my life,” he said in a rush. Maya had introduced him to the ‘truth or dare’ game; he’d chosen ‘truth’, and she’d asked what his most embarrassing moment had been.
“Wow…oh my goodness, were you badly hurt from that?” she asked, a little horrified for young prince Kohl.
“Yes, I had two broken bones and a lot of bruising, but nothing life threatening,” he smiled.
“Okay…you’re way too nonchalant about that,” she chuckled, offering him her French toast so he could take a bite.
“What? Would you not let a child of ours, perhaps, fly race?” he asked her as if they were talking about go kart racing.
“Um…no,” she said with a small chuckle.
“Well perhaps you may have to simply see for yourself that it isn’t all that dangerous,” Kohl said thoughtfully. As if they were indeed having a future ‘fly racer’ or whatever he called it. Weird thing is, anyhow, Maya got a warm feeling in the center of her chest thinking about having a little boy who looked exactly like Kohl. That scared her a little bit.
Chapte
r 5
Kohl
Kohl didn’t want to leave Maya, even though he now had a way to contact her. He simply wanted to remain in their separate reality, just the two of them, for as long as possible. But he had to check in with his duties.
“Tell me Kelhan, have you been keeping an eye on Beerus as I asked?” Kohl glanced at his guard while he drove to the hotel.
“Yes my prince, he has been adhering to your orders. The diplomats have taken a more periphery role, overseeing the progress being made at the various academies our innovators have been dispatched to. The humans are still taking a long while as far as making a decision with the treaty. They are working with our kind in scientific exchange.”
“But no mention of the UAP at all?” Kohl asked. Referring to one of the true goals of striking an alliance with the humans. The United Planetary Alliance was what would carry Ve’dra into the future of the galaxy. Being a member of the largest planetary union would offer his people boundless opportunities.
“No, nothing on that front whatsoever,” Kelhan sighed.
“I feel as if we are making progress, yet not at all.” Kohl murmured. Then an idea struck him. “Kelhan, do not take me to the hotel. Instead take me to the Union of Earth Nations building.” Kohl had a mind to go see what exactly was taking so long in the negotiations on the humans’ part. It all would have been so much simpler if Earth were under one rule. Instead he then had to visit several of the planet’s leaders to get a sense of what they were thinking as far as accepting alliance terms.
Even though it was later in the evening, he found the tall glass building of Union of Earth Nations to be still bustling with activity. Due to his clothing Kohl blended in with the other humans at first glance. That was, until he walked up to the lobby’s main reception desk.
“Oh my god! You’re…you’re Prince Kohl!” the woman whom he approached was wide eyed. She looked him up and down a few times before regaining her composure. “I apologize your highness; how can I be of service?” she asked quickly.
“How many of the Earth’s leaders are present currently?” he inquired. She did some clicking around on a hidden computer, then reported that less than a third of the delegates or representatives were present.
“If you would, can you direct me in how to reach each of their offices?” he inquired. The woman appointed someone to take him around. He told Kelhan to remain as unimposing as possible. He did not wish to appear as unapproachable to the humans. The best way to change how they saw him was to appeal to their leaders and media. The former seemed the easiest start.
*
“Prince Kohl, Lord Beerus and the rest are requesting an audience with you.”
Kohl looked up from his breakfast. He’d much rather be sharing a meal with Maya Lu, but she did have work. He was eager to share with her the progress he’d made the night before in speaking to the few human leaders he met with.
“Why are they requesting audience?” Kohl asked Kelhan just as his human communicator went off in his pocket. He pulled it out and smiled as he discovered a message from Maya. She ‘ditched work’ as the message read.
“To discuss your dealings at the Union of Earth Nations building last night,” Kelhan informed him.
“Tell them I will meet with them this evening, have Beerus set up a dinner,” Kohl said distractedly. He dialed Maya’s number to call her.
“Does this mean I may spend the day with you?” he asked when she answered after the first ring.
“I think it means you’re obligated to.” She sighed in an almost yearning fashion, “I’m just lying down on the couch here…naked—”
“I’ll be right there,” he said quickly. “Don’t move,” he ordered her, loving the sound of her giggle before he ended the call. Kohl left his food and alerted Kelhan to bring a vehicle around after speaking with Beerus.
Kelhan was efficient, he met Kohl downstairs already set to go. Kohl wondered if he should increase Kelhan’s station. To his personal viceguard, someone to carry out any task Kohl needed. Whether it be of a military nature or not.
Kohl arrived at Maya Lu’s in less than ten minutes. Of course she technically had to move to open the door for him. But she only wore a satin robe as clothing, and that Kohl appreciated.
“Did you ‘ditch’ work because of me?” he asked, as he circled his arms around her waist, pulling her in for a kiss.
“Maybe…” she said coyly. “Either way I have a bunch of sick days to spare so…I guess I’m feeling under the weather,” she said. Maya stretched up on her toes to kiss his jaw and Kohl eagerly took her to the couch.
“I went to the Union of Earth Nations building last night…” he said. Kohl had an urge to tell her about the meetings he had. How well things went the night before.
“Yeah? What happened?” she asked curiously. She tilted her head to the side, her hair fanning his chest with the movement.
“I will tell you about it after…” he said slowly.
Maya laughed, though it was short lived as Kohl’s lips cut her off. He loosened her robe and slid his hands against her skin. Kohl marveled at the fact that the smallest touch exchanged between them could set off a hunger so deep he was starting to realize he’d never outgrow it.
Chapter 6
Maya
Kohl was asleep on Maya’s bed. She didn’t want to be weird, but she couldn’t stop looking at him. For one he was adorable when asleep, he looked like a little kid, no worries or doubts. Second, she’d never seen him sleep before and it made him so much more…human. Maya had been having a hard time with him being around so much. She wanted to try and keep a sort of mental distance from him. Even though they’ve been plenty close physically.
It’s been more than difficult though; they’ve shared a lot with each other. Kohl was a normal guy outside of his being a prince of course. What’s more is that he was someone she could definitely see herself being with. Maybe half of her was already a goner for him; any touch and she felt sparks. She just didn’t want to get hurt again. With a sigh, she got up and stretched, it was only one in the afternoon. She wished they could go out like a normal couple. But she could only imagine what controversy might arise if they were seen out together by the media.
Maya’s phone started to ring and she saw it was Tilly calling. She froze for a second. She hadn’t spoken to Tilly in ages. Cautiously she stepped out of the bedroom to answer the phone.
“Maya, I thought you’d gotten sucked into a black hole, what’s up with you girl?” Tilly asked.
“Um…uh…” Maya was at a loss for words. She couldn’t not tell Tilly about Kohl. Then all of a sudden she felt faint.
“You okay Maya?” Tilly asked, some concern in her voice. Maya sat down at the breakfast bar and figured she should have eaten breakfast or at least had some water after her morning coffee.
“Yeah, I just…it’s lunch time is all. Um…Kohl and I are back on,” Maya admitted. Tilly gasped and about several heartbeats passed before she said anything.
“What?” was all she said in the most dramatic voice possible. Maya got up to go grab a bottle of water and something sweet. A wave of dizziness hit her hard and she had to hold onto the counter to keep her balance. Yeah that was the last time she was having Cuban coffee without anything else in her system.
“I don’t get it, I thought you were hurt? I thought we agreed that he’s bad news?” Tilly asked. Meanwhile Maya was trying to get the room to stop spinning. As she opened the fridge things went back to normal and she took a small breath to steady herself.
“He showed up and explained things…you know he’s in a tough position,” Maya said, fully aware that she was defending Kohl, when a month ago she would have been bashing him as hard-to-handle, Earth-hating villain. Instead of simply getting water and a snack she pulled out some items to make lunch.
“He’s in a…oh my goodness you’ve been completely blinded by love,” Tilly said, incredulity heavy in her tone.
“I’m not blinded…”<
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“Or is it what’s in his pants that has you all completely turned around?” Tilly said, cutting Maya off.
“Please Tilly, I’m not…in the mood to debate about him right now. I can’t explain it; I’m just drawn to him. I can’t help it either,” Maya said with a sigh. She started to make a tuna melt when Kohl stepped out of the back hallway. Maya’s eyes widened, wondering how much he heard. “I’ve gotta go Tilly. I’ll talk to you later,” she said hastily and ended the call over Tilly’s protests.
“I felt your absence…” Kohl said, he still had some sleep in his voice. Maya couldn’t help but melt just a little.
“I got hungry,” she said sheepishly and gestured towards the pan. “Do you want a sandwich?” she asked him.
“I will eat anything you make,” he said with a smile. His eyes drifted over her shoulder to the stove clock for just a moment before he focused on her.
“Do you have to go soon?” she asked him, anticipating what he might say next. She turned towards the stove, paying attention to the sandwich in the skillet.
“I do need to return to the Union of Earth Nations Building soon,” he said reluctantly. “I wish I could have you with me there,” he added.
“Do you?” she quirked her eyebrow at him, glancing over her shoulder.
“Yes, I enjoy being with you. I feel a certain calm when we are together,” he told her truthfully. Maya actually blushed a little and turned back around to focus on making the tuna melts.
“Did you mean what you said earlier?” Kohl asked unexpectedly. Maya glanced at him curiously and he looked at her cell phone.
“Oh so you did hear…” she murmured, he nodded and gave her a small smile. Not guilty at all.
“Yes I meant it…” she said slowly.
“It was reassuring to hear that we share the same affections. I can’t tell at times,” he said truthfully.
