by Terri Lane
“I’m not a robot Kohl, of course I have feelings for you. But I mean…sometimes I wonder how realistic our relationship is. What can we be more than this? We can’t even go out for a lunch date,” Maya didn’t expect to be so truthful with him, but it just all came out. Kohl didn’t have a response, but then what would it be? Their relationship, such as it was, existed only within the walls of her little bungalow.
Maya focused on the sandwiches, quickly finishing them up and pairing them with some kettle-cooked chips. Their lunch was short, relatively quiet, she wished they hadn’t had that conversation at all. When Kohl was finished eating, he kissed her deeply and slowly walked out of the front door.
She didn’t like how she felt when he left. Like he’d taken some part of her with him. As she cleaned up the few dishes she had to admit it to herself, she was pretty much a goner.
Chapter 7
Kohl
“So you say they’ve responded well to this…added attention?” Beerus inquired almost suspiciously. Kohl remembered to keep his head, though he so wanted to leach the life from the insufferable nobleman.
“Yes, I believe the process has been sped up greatly. They see that I am…approachable,” Kohl answered after a sigh. He glanced at the clock over the mantelpiece in Beerus’s suite. It was eight p.m. He wished to be with Maya, not speaking in circles with Beerus and the rest of them.
“Perhaps we can align after your example?” Marhay suggested.
“I do not think that is the best course of action Marhay. We should be pillars of the Ve’dran way. I understand Prince Kohl need do what he must to expedite the inevitable outcome of our alliance—”
“What exactly are speaking about, Beerus?” Kohl stood up, quick to get into Beerus’s personal space. He wanted the short round man to realize who he spoke of. Kohl was satisfied to see his face pale and his words stutter.
“I-I only mean that…your coddling of the humans…”
“I coddle no one! If any, it be you! I am growing intensely weary of your comments Beerus. So do clarify exactly what you were getting at?” Kohl held his hand out to Kelhan, who placed the hilt of his sword in Kohl’s palm. Beerus’s eyes widened as Kohl turned on the voltage of the weapon. “I do hope for your sake you do not suggest that I am perhaps soft.” Kohl’s voice was deadly calm rather than filled with rage. Part of Kohl did hope Beerus gave him excuse to end the fool’s life.
“N-nothing my prince, I was merely acknowledging your instinct in handling the humans. I am sure they will soon accept our terms of alliance…” Beerus’s beady black eyes never left Kohl’s. He didn’t like the challenge in the diplomat’s eyes. Neither did he particularly want to deal with the repercussions of killing a nobleman who was one of his father’s closest advisors.
Kohl shoved Beerus out of his way as he turned to return Kelhan’s weapon. “I must be going,” Kohl said over his shoulder as he moved towards the doors.
“But, my prince, we have not yet discussed all that needs addressing. You’ve already ignored one of our earlier set meetings…” It was Caspin who spoke up. Beerus knew better.
“We’ll continue this tomorrow. I’d very well kill that one if I stay,” Kohl murmured as he stepped out into the hall with Kelhan. For the first time he saw in Beerus what Maya and the rest of the human race must have seen in him before. Kohl wondered for what must have been the hundredth time how Maya could have possibly seen past such an attitude.
“Shall we return to your woman’s house my prince?” Kelhan asked Kohl as they rode the elevator down.
“Yes,” he said. Kohl wondered if he was obsessed with Maya Lu, certainly it was not healthy to want one person so much. When he arrived at Maya’s house he took the key from under the plant, which he remembered from the first time he had been here…but the door was unlocked. He silently stepped inside, locking the door behind him. She never left the door unlocked…Kohl’s senses were on alert as he checked the house. Thankfully, there seemed to be no intruders.
He heard Maya’s voice in her bathroom. She was singing and it sounded as if the shower was on. Kohl tested the handle, it was unlocked. He stepped inside and leaned against the sink. Her shower stall was enclosed in clear glass; it would only take her a moment to notice him. But while she sang, unaware, Kohl did appreciate the view. She also had quite a nice voice.
“Oh my god Kohl!” she screamed when she saw him. “How did you get in here?” she asked, clearly startled.
“You left your front door unlocked,” he said calmly. Though he was hardly that. All he could imagine was some male other than himself, creeping in to look in on her or worse.
“I…oh…” she said, chagrin and apology in her tone. Kohl undressed, slowly, letting her watch him as the room began to steam from the cascading water. He soon stepped into the stall with her. His size seemingly dwarfed her in the enclosed space. He braced his hands on either side of her head and bent his to kiss her soft lips. She circled her arms around his waist and curved her body to his. Kohl’s arousal was pressed in between them. He simply wished to be inside her, then he’d take his time washing her. He lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he pressed her into the wall. She guided him into her, seemingly reading his mind. He marveled at how tightly her sex gripped him every time he slid into her.
Kohl nibbled on her neck and jaw as he thrust into her. Then he covered her mouth with his, drinking in her moans and tasting the sweetness of her tongue. Maya was quick to climax, her sex tightening around him in rhythmic pulses. He thrust into her faster, harder, his own release followed by her second orgasm.
“Don’t…don’t put me down yet…” she breathed. Kohl could tell she hadn’t yet regained composure from the dazed look in her eye. He took pride in the thought that only he could do that to Maya. When she gave him permission, he carefully let her onto her feet.
“Maybe I should leave my door unlocked more often,” she joked. Kohl smirked at her as he reached for her soap.
“I was ready to murder any intruder,” he said in all seriousness. Remembering what he’d done before for her, she had no comment.
“I don’t usually leave it open. I went for an evening jog and came back feeling like I overdid it. I ran to the bathroom thinking I had to throw up and left the door unlocked…”
“Throw up?” he asked her curiously.
“Yes…I felt sick,” she clarified, her hand going to her stomach.
“Are you well now?” he asked, feeling like a fool for taking her like that. Without even taking into account how she felt.
“Oh yeah I’m fine. I guess it was just a passing thing,” she said quickly. “But how come you’re here so early? I thought you had that meeting?”
Kohl sighed as he made a lather in his hands and then rubbed the skin of Maya’s shoulders and arms. “Yes, one of my diplomats is a fool. Even worse than I had been I believe. I wanted to kill him so had to leave early,” he explained.
“What? Someone with an attitude worse than yours used to be?” she scoffed. Kohl gave her an ironic smile. She grinned at him innocently in return.
“It gave me perspective…realizing that this was how your people saw me. I did not like it,” he reiterated.
“Well I’m glad you seem to be changing,” she smiled happily up at him. He would do anything to have her smile at him as such all the time. He bent down to kiss her once more, his hands washing her breasts in the process. She and Kohl were to spend quite some time in the shower that evening…
Chapter 8
Beerus
Beerus paced his suite in the height of annoyance. That entitled, prideful…fool of a Prince Kohl thought he could simply ignore his duties? And for what? Beerus went to Kohl’s suite himself and was informed that he was not in. Was he at that ridiculous, ‘Union of Earth Nations’ building again? Coddling those whining, pouting humans? If it were King Omrin present he’d have swiftly bent the humans to Ve’dran will.
But where was Kohl? Beerus grew tired of asking himself the s
ame question. He summoned his personal guard, Kertz.
“Lord Beerus,” the guard was swift and stealthy, exactly the kind of man Beerus needed for the endeavor he had in mind.
“I need you to carry out a task for me. On confidence,” Beerus added. He needed to keep things highly secret. Especially if his suspicions of Kohl were correct.
“Yes, my lord?” Kertz was curious as to the task.
“I need you to track Prince Kohl’s whereabouts and report them to me and only me,” Beerus spoke intently to the guard. Kertz showed no hesitation in his bow.
“Of course, I will see to it swiftly, my lord.” Was his dutiful reply. Beerus watched him leave, then continued to pace. After a minute of silence, he had Caspin summoned back to his suite.
“Honestly Beerus, I think I have had enough of your obsessions for one night,” Caspin sighed as he walked into the suite.
“I sent Kertz to find Prince Kohl,” Beerus told him without preamble.
“What?” Caspin had incredulity and wariness in his gaze.
“Don’t be troubled, I have real reason to be suspicious of Kohl and I just know Kertz will give report of his traitorous behavior,” Beerus ranted.
“Beerus you tread thin ice, as these humans would say. Kohl not too long ago felled his own guards. Men who watched over him since birth! Do not think he will hesitate again to end your life. Not to mention he has appointed Kelhan his viceguard. That warrior is both talented and keen and fiercely loyal to Kohl.” Caspin warned.
“I will take all blame for this if it comes to it. Otherwise…will you stand with me?” Beerus asked Caspin.
“Stand for what cause?” he asked incredulously.
“Of exposing Kohl’s true loyalties to King Omrin!” Beerus exclaimed, as if the answer should have been obvious to Caspin. Beerus watched the hesitation on Caspin’s face. He knew the man must also have sensed Kohl’s shifting loyalties. He was behaving too far outside of the Ve’dran way, not to mention his usual temperament has completely gone. The prince was almost…tame.
“I will remain to hear what Kertz has to report, then I will make my decision.” Caspin said resolutely. He sat down as Beerus continued to pace. “Would you at least be still?” he asked.
Beerus took a seat across from Caspin’s facing the fireplace. They waited in silent contemplation until Kertz returned only twenty minutes later.
“My lord—” Kertz paused when he saw Caspin present. His face seemed confused and troubled.
“It is fine Kertz, you may speak,” Beerus urged him.
“I tracked Kelhan’s whereabouts. As he is Prince Kohl’s viceguard. I found his assigned vehicle parked near a small house just five minutes away. Kelhan was still in the vehicle…and I managed to get close enough to the house to hear Kohl’s voice inside…along with a human woman. It sounded as if they were…very clearly sexual with each other,” Kertz said, slightly embarrassed then.
“On outrage!” Beerus erupted, anger vibrating through him. It was preposterous to think that the crown prince of Ve’dra may be entertaining a relationship with a human woman! What implications could it have for Ve’dra?!
“I believe we should see for ourselves the nature of this, or the severity,” Caspin said, a great deal more level headed than Beerus, thinking that Beerus was being hypocritical. After all, he had used human prostitutes during his stay on Earth.
“We know the exact nature Caspin. Kertz has just told it to us! I say we pay this woman a visit when Kohl is not present. See what spells she might have cast on him…” Beerus barked the words. Of course it was a woman, someone to poison Kohl against his own kind. She was probably sent to seduce him! An agent of the Union of Earth Nations to get Kohl to be lenient and soft.
“We should interrogate her!” Beerus added.
“Fine, we will pay this woman a visit and ask her what her true intentions are for Kohl, although this does not seem like a simple dalliance to me, in the light of things.” Caspin spoke, thinking along the same vein Beerus was.
“I know the exact way my lords. I would be honored to aid in this endeavor,” Kertz said, bowing low.
“To think! Prince Kohl, sleeping with the enemy!” Beerus spat, using a human saying which so aptly fit what was going on.
Chapter 9
Maya
“So do you think it’ll all be settled soon then?” Maya asked Kohl. She lay on his chest, naked of course, while in front of the fireplace. The fire wasn’t lit, but they pretended. It was Kohl’s idea too; she’d learned he had a silly side as well.
“I believe so, the humans have been willing to speak with me and let me clarify several points on our proposal,” he said, taking her hand to kiss her palm affectionately.
“And your diplomats, they’re…cool with everything?” she asked curiously. If he said they acted like he used to then she couldn’t see them being okay with Kohl negotiating in the way he had. Even though he called it, ‘clarifying.’
“They will be when the alliance is finally ‘ratified’ as some of your leaders called it,” he said.
“So once the alliance is ratified then what?” she looked up at him and he smiled.
“Well more of the same really. More of our scientists will come to Earth, and we will create a permanent embassy here. With Earth’s help, Ve’dra will start the process to join the UAP…things will be well.” He sighed peacefully, as if he couldn’t wait for it to all end well and move forward. Maya smiled at him and stretched up to kiss his jaw.
“I hope so…” she said softly, resting her head on his chest once more. She listened to his steady heartbeat, until a wave of nausea curled up from her stomach. She bolted up and ran to the bathroom.
“Maya!” Kohl was right on her heels as she hurried to bend over the toilet. Her dinner of steak fajitas came up in a way she really wouldn’t have liked Kohl to witness. She tried to shove him away, but he stayed to hold her hair out of the vomit, as well as rub her back. When all she had was dry heaves left she quickly flushed and stood up to wash out her mouth.
“Are you alright?” he asked her almost anxiously.
“Yeah…I guess I shouldn’t have had the sour cream, I was suspicious of it from the get-go,” she rationalized, thinking that had to be it. That or she had a stomach flu. What else could it be..?
“Maya?” Kohl drew her out of her head just as the word ‘pregnant?’ drifted hazily through her mind.
“Yeah…” she looked up at him, all sure and strong, worried about her.
“Is there a medicine I can get for you?” he asked.
“Oh, no I have some antacids here and ginger ale. Don’t worry,” she smiled at him and went to go put on a shirt and pajama shorts. With her back turned to him she had plenty of room to start freaking out. Maya was on birth control, but when was the last time she’d had her period? Was it even possible to have a baby with someone from another planet?
As Maya got dressed she prayed and hoped that she had a simple stomach bug. Kohl stayed with her all night after that episode, making sure she was really okay.
Come morning he left her reluctantly. He had to go to a scheduled meeting with the President of the U.S., one of the major Union of Earth Nations members he had yet to speak with. As soon as he was gone Maya actually called in sick to work and then she called Tilly.
“You think you’re what?” she yelled across the phone. “I’m coming over with like five pregnancy tests, don’t do anything!” she yelled, then the line went dead.
Maya knew she was definitely in trouble when Tilly arrived, not twenty minutes later. She barged in, using her key and all. Tilly was like a firecracker, even with her petite size and seemingly kind brown eyes. She was sometimes a force to be reckoned with.
“I can’t believe you Maya Lu,” she said as she shut the door behind her. Maya sighed heavily and went for the plastic bag in Tilly’s hands.
“We don’t know anything yet…” she murmured as she looked through the bag.
“I snag
ged a few pee sample cups from work so we’re set to run all five tests,” she said as Maya pulled out all the equipment.
“Tilly I’m taking a pregnancy test, not being screened for an infectious disease,” Maya said. Tilly shot her a warning glare, it wasn’t the time for jokes.
“Do you realize how serious this can be Maya? Having a baby with Prince Kohl?” Tilly said.
“I’m trying not to let the gravity of the situation hit me until I’m sure.” But she couldn’t deny her heart was pounding. She took the supplies with her and went to go pee in one of the cups. She decided to take only two pregnancy tests, rather than all five. After following the instructions, she set her phone timer and sat anxiously in the living room with Tilly. It was all so nerve-wracking. She couldn’t even begin to think what having a baby with Kohl would mean. But she did know for sure that if she were pregnant, she’d love the baby just as surely as her own mother had loved her.
When her phone’s alarm went off Maya’s heart froze, she couldn’t move from the couch. Tilly got up and went to look at the tests herself.
“Well…? Well?” she asked Tilly anxiously.
“Here…” Tilly handed her both sticks. They were both positive. The air seemed to leave the room at the same time that she started to hyperventilate.
“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god…” Maya couldn’t say or think beyond those few words.
“Hey…Maya, it’s going to be okay. We’ll figure it out one step at a time okay? Take deep breaths,” Tilly urged her to try and breathe, but she couldn’t. Tilly urged Maya’s head down between her knees and she tried to breathe. The technique worked, but Maya was still freaking out.
“How about I go get some food…and then we’ll calm down some more before addressing it?” Tilly offered. Putting the tests in the plastic bag and closing it up, out of Maya’s sight.
“O-okay,” Maya said. Tilly said something about Chinese as she hurried out of the door. Maya needed the quiet to try and wrap her head around it all.