by Terri Lane
“Did you just wake up?” Maya asked, after the fact.
“Yes. Did you think I would have simply stayed here having woken up to you gone? I only just finished searching the house when you returned,” Kohl mumbled. He bent down to kiss her breasts and rolled her nipples in between his fingers. Maya gasped and swayed towards him. Her hands slid up along his stomach.
“What would you have done if I didn’t come right away?” she asked breathlessly. Kohl bent down to run his tongue around her nipple before kissing her breast again.
“I would have upended the very earth looking for you,” Kohl murmured. His gaze flicked to hers which widened when she saw just how serious he was. Maya took his face in her hands and sealed her lips with his. She slid her tongue against his and he pulled her warm body flush with his. As they tasted each other Kohl picked her up, her legs wrapped around his waist, to walk towards the shower stall.
Kohl turned on the water as he closed them inside. Maya slid down onto her feet and took his arousal into one hand while she used the other to push him under the warm spray. Kohl let her wash him. Her hands were gentle and caressing as she lathered soap onto his skin. He even knelt down so that she could wash his hair. He rested his head against her belly as she massaged his scalp. Soon her stomach would be swollen with the grown of their child. Then soon after that they would be parents of what he was sure would be the most perfect being.
“You’re all clean, now do me,” Maya said with a smile in her voice. She handed him the bottle of hair wash and he made to pour some into his hands for her. But she stopped him. “No, Kohl do me,” she giggled and took the bottle to place it behind him on the ledge.
“Your colloquialisms are very strange,” Kohl chuckled. He slid his hands along Maya’s waist and turned her around. He slowly bent her over and trailed kisses along her spine while positioning his sex at her entrance. He slid into her and she moaned almost as if relieved. Pleasure rippled up his spine and through his limbs. Kohl had intended to be gentle with Maya. But she met his thrusts eagerly and soon they were carried away in each other.
Chapter 5
Maya
Maya called Tilly after she had showered and eaten breakfast with Kohl. She gave the green light on the interview and got ready to head over to Tilly’s place.
“Perhaps I should accompany you there,” Kohl said as he watched Maya pull on a pair of shoes. She had to remember to thank Kelhan for having brought her clothes to the house. The more time she spent there the more she saw other things that were hers. Like the cutlery in the kitchen. Pictures of her mom in the reading parlor.
“Kohl, did you have me moved out of my house?” she asked once she finished fastening her sandals.
“Perhaps…” he said coyly. Maya’s jaw dropped. “I did not like you living in such small quarters. Anyhow I figured I had this safe house, and since you would be staying here anyway…” Kohl shrugged, but didn’t look the least bit sorry about it. “Then, if you decide to truly live on Earth this house would be much more suitable for you and the baby. Then I could have ample space to visit directly here in a one-seater spacecraft,” he added.
“What about my car?” she asked pensively.
“You have transportation. Jaye would take you wherever you wish to go,” he said as a matter of fact. Maya studied Kohl for a while and then took a deep breath. She wasn’t ready to get into the conversation of whether she would leave Earth or not to go live with Kohl on Ve’dras. She wasn’t ready to admit to it.
“Stay here. Jaye will be with me, I’ll be fine,” she said instead. Kohl let out a small sigh and she went over to the bed to kiss him softly on the lips.
“Must you look so beautiful and radiant?” he said.
“Well I can’t help being radiant, that’s the pregnancy glow and technically caused by you,” she said, making him chuckle. Kohl hugged her around the waist and kissed her belly before letting her go.
“If you feel the least bit uncomfortable—”
“I’ll have Jaye kick everyone’s asses and bring me back home. Don’t worry, it’ll be fine,” Maya said. Kohl nodded and she finally left the room to head downstairs. Jaye was waiting by the SUV.
“Ready my lady?” he asked.
“As I’ll ever be,” she said as she got in the car.
“I must say I am surprised you convinced Prince Kohl to remain while you go out. No one, not even his own mother has been able to influence Prince Kohl’s will,” Jaye said, his tone conversational.
“Really? Not even Queen Avira?”
“Not completely. It has been a running joke on Ve’dras. We have the saying, ‘as stubborn as Prince Kohl,’” Jaye chuckled. Maya smiled. She couldn’t help but feel special knowing she had tamed Kohl.
When Jaye pulled up to Tilly’s house, Maya took a deep breath before getting out. Till’s front door opened as she walked up. Maya saw a tall, bald, dark-skinned man with a welcoming expression waiting for her at the door.
“Maya Lu, I’m Federal Agent Jack Russo. I have to say it’s a relief to see you,” he said. She was almost taken off guard. She expected some hard assed, tight lipped, government official. Not a friendly guy in jeans and a button up.
“Um, hi…it’s nice to meet you too,” she said while shaking his hand.
“Hey Maya!” Tilly came up behind Russo looking a little flustered and was definitely blushing. Maya hid her smile and glanced back at Jaye who was leaning against the car.
“You can bring him inside if you’d like?” Russo said. Maya gestured to Jaye, mostly she felt bad about just leaving him outside.
“So Tilly updated me on everything regarding the interview. It’s all been cleared for me to do a routine questioning on the events that took place. From when you were taken up until now. Then I’ll go on to do an interview on camera relaying our talk today. Does that sound good?” Russo asked as we all walked back to Tilly’s dining room.
“Yeah let’s do it,” Maya said, eager to get started with the interview.
“Oh and if it’s alright, could I get a couple of pictures? One with you and Tilly, then one of you on your own maybe?” he asked. Maya glanced at Tilly, who nodded.
“Sure, yeah that’s fine,” Maya said. She glanced at Jaye, who had melted into the background and simply stood by the room’s back wall. Russo took out his phone and Maya grouped close to Tilly for a picture.
“So you and Jack huh?” Maya murmured as they waited for him to open up his camera app.
“So not the time…” Tilly whispered in a sarcastic singsong voice. Maya couldn’t stop her giggle then. Russo took a picture of them and then asked for Jaye to take one of them with Russo included. Russo had to give Jaye a crash course on snapping the picture which was pretty funny. After a couple more photos Russo finally got down to business.
“Alright, so I’ve got a lot of questions for you. I won’t sugar coat it,” Russo chuckled. He gestured for Maya to have a seat. Tilly sat next to her and Jay took his place again at the back of the room.
“That’s alright, I had a big breakfast,” Maya said, good natured. Russo laughed and then pulled up the recording app on his phone and set it down on the table between them.
“Alright so let’s start back when Tilly says she left your house. What happened?” was his first question. Maya took a deep breath and then told the story. She of course left out a few details, like exactly how Omrin treated her at first. Then the fact that Kohl killed a few of his own Ve’drans for her. She mentioned how surprisingly well she was received while in the Ve’dran capitol, once things were cleared up. She emphasized the fact that Kohl had changed, and mentioned the proof of his actions, for example using stun weapons instead of piercing rounds when he freed the Ve’drans from the holding center. She mentioned his attempt to accommodate the concerns the public had about any actions the Ve’drans took while on Earth.
Russo did ask a few other questions here and there, but mostly let Maya talk. By the end of the interview she felt she had done
both Kohl and Ve’dras justice. She didn’t want people to think all Ve’drans were aggressive bullies, and she was satisfied that she had gotten that across.
Chapter 6
Kohl
Kohl knew the moment Maya returned. After nearly all day of being out he was eager for her return. He was admittedly bored ‘staying put,’ as she had worded it, by himself with only a few guards to keep his company.
“Hey! Turn on the news. Turn on the news!” Maya came running into the house and bypassed Kohl for the television remote. A smirking Jaye followed behind her.
“Hello to you too,” Kohl chuckled. “How did it go?” He glanced at Jaye who gave him a wide smile.
“Maya spoke very fondly about you and our people. You should be very proud, Prince Kohl,” he said. Kohl hardly expected anything less from Maya. He knew that when she was dedicated to something or someone, she’d put all her efforts behind it.
“Will this person who interviewed you convey us in the same way though?” Kohl asked her. She finally pulled up the news station and went to Kohl for a brief kiss.
“Agent Russo. Yes, I think he will. It seemed like maybe he and Tilly might have a thing going on. She’s being so tight lipped about it though which is unfair.” Maya spoke quickly and her eyes were glued to the television screen. Kohl could tell she was anxious. Jaye left the room while Kohl pulled Maya towards the couch.
“Sit, relax…” he murmured in her ear. Maya took a deep breath and turned the volume up.
“So obviously from the pictures you’ve provided for us Maya Lu looks perfectly healthy and fine…” The female anchor was speaking to Jack Russo, seated across from her. There was also a thumbnail photo of Maya to illustrate the story.
“She is,” Russo said. “She’s doing great. There was nothing at all out of the ordinary about her while we talked. Maya answered all of my questions without hesitation and spoke her mind. She struck me as a very capable and insightful woman, which is why I think it is so important that the public hear what she had to say about her experience with Prince Kohl and being on Ve’dras.” Kohl watched the interview with more interest than he’d ever had watching human news. Jack Russo seemed completely unbiased. He simply reported the interview with Maya, and did not attempt to skew her words. Kohl did not expect that.
“See? That wasn’t so bad right?” Maya said, hope in her tone and gaze. “The anchorwoman even said that you should be re-evaluated faced with the facts…I mean you started to talk with those leaders gathered for the alliance summit. Then you made policies to comply with policing the Ve’drans that were here…then you didn’t even kill anyone or cause property damage when you went to spring the Ve’drans. If anything it should be you who has the problem with Earth now…do you have a problem with Earth now?” Maya asked, talking a mile a minute.
“I must say I am reticent to strike alliance terms. Perhaps a peace treaty will have to suffice. Though I will capitalize on the fact that Alora, the UAP representative is here. I’ve arranged for a meeting between the two of us,” he answered truthfully.
“So what will a peace treaty mean?” she asked softly. Kohl brushed her jaw with his fingers.
“It means no aggression, and hopefully I can work in travel parameters for our peoples. But that is it.”
“Oh…well I’m sure we can agree to that at least,” she said with a chuckle. Kohl smiled at her and kissed her jaw. She slid her hands onto his chest and met his next kiss with her lips. Kohl stretched out onto the couch, pulling her onto him in the process. Kohl enjoyed the feel of her growing belly against his stomach. He kissed her neck and slid her to the side, against the couch cushions. He hooked one of her legs over his waist and massaged her breasts from under her shirt.
Maya ground her hips against his as he slid his lips to her neck. He sucked and nibbled the sensitive skin and enjoyed how aroused she became. Clutching at his waist and failing to mask her impatient moans. Kohl slid one hand behind the waistband of her pants and found the sensitive nub between the folds of her sex. Maya moaned in relief and gripped his waist tight as he rubbed her clitoris. Her leg tightened around him. He slid his fingers into her core just in time to feel the rhythmical tightening of her orgasm. When she came down from the climax Kohl picked her up to take her upstairs. He wanted to show her just how much he appreciated what she had done for his benefit.
Chapter 7
Kohl
“Prince Kohl, good morning.” Alora greeted him with a simple handshake as Kohl entered her office. Or rather the office she was allotted for her time on Earth. It was at the Union of Earth Nations building, which was still full of Earth’s leaders for the summit. Kohl would be making his statement for proposing a simple peace treaty after this meeting.
“Alora, how do you fare?” Kohl said in welcome. She gestured for him to take a seat at her desk while she sat behind it.
“I am well ready to return to my home planet. I trust you and your remaining Ve’drans will do the same?”
“Yes, only after I at least strike peace with Earth’s leaders…and bid for a seat on the United Alliance of Planets,” Kohl said.
“Ah…so that is what this meeting is about then,” Alora said, though she certainly guessed Kohl’s intentions when he requested to meet with her.
“Indeed,” Kohl took a deep breath and leaned forward. “I must admit that is largely the reason we approached Earth with intention of an alliance. To gain passage onto the UAP more easily.”
“Well the process is a rather long and arduous one if a planet is entering the alliance on its own. It is why most of our member planets first allied themselves with the original ten anchors of the UAP,” she said. Indeed, Alora’s own planet was one of the ten original allied planets. Ramad was one of the largest planets in the UAP as well as the most advanced in nearly all aspects. Earth was one of Ramad’s first discovered planets and therefore its earliest ally.
“So would you suggest I attempt alliance talks with the leaders of Ramad?” Kohl asked, almost chuckling because he knew what her answer would be.
“Well Prince Kohl perhaps you should become the leader of your planet before approaching our governing council. You know how strict we Ramadians can be,” she said politely.
“Well that being said, may I ask how I might go about making the process of joining the UAP easier for Ve’dras? Without any pre-existing alliances that is?”
“Truthfully Prince Kohl. Such a mess has been made with this attempt at allying with Earth your chances of joining the UAP at the moment are slim. I suggest you make peace with the humans first. Then we can go from there,” she said with finality.
“If I may…” Kohl held up his hand briefly. Alora allowed it and inclined her head for him to go on. “Maya Lu and I—”
“Are engaged to be married, yes,” said Alora, cutting off his sentence. “I assume you will be taking her with you back to Ve’dras?”
“Maya Lu and I are expecting a child,” Kohl said, finishing his statement. He almost took pleasure in the look of shock on Alora’s face. “Now, I would not force her to do anything she truly does not want to, including moving to Ve’dras. My child and heir to the throne after me will live on Earth for most its life. Being on good terms with the humans is in utmost interest of my planet, and me. As a matter of fact, after this meeting I have scheduled a conference with Earth’s leaders to discuss peace treaty terms. Which as you know, has often led to strong alliances. My child being born would then make Earth and Ve’dras sister planets.”
“This is a unique turn…” she said pensively. “Did you produce her pregnancy for diplomatic reasons?”
“She was taking contraceptive measures and I never asked her to stop. Our child happened by slim chance I assure you,” Kohl said. He was slightly offended at her accusation, but only slightly, because he could understand why she would come to that conclusion. However, Kohl had matured a great deal since meeting Maya. If he’d not have met her, then he thought it was quite possible he would ha
ve done such a thing. He continued, “The pregnancy is why she was taken to Ve’dras by two of my fellow delegates, one of whom is now dead for his actions. Maya is no pawn of mine,” Kohl said, wanting to make himself clear.
“Well…I will consider this and speak with those on the admission committee for the UAP. In the meantime, striking a peace treaty with Earth will help in your endeavors. I do believe you should also inform them of Maya Lu’s pregnancy,” she said.
Kohl inclined his head gratefully. “Thank you Alora. That is all I ask. I will be speaking to you again soon.” Kohl stood. Alora simply waved him away, her expression thoughtful, and he left. Kohl had a good feeling once he left her office. He went up the fifth floor of the building feeling optimistic.
He stepped into the large conference room and a hush fell over everyone. His gaze passed over each face as he made his way to the head of the room, where a podium awaited him. When he stood behind it he took a brief moment to collect his thoughts.
“Good afternoon leaders of Earth…” Kohl began, “I just left a rather productive meeting with Representative Alora of Ramad. We spoke about my planet’s chances of gaining a seat on the UAP. I left that meeting feeling hopeful because I know that a new chapter has been set. I for one have grown a great deal since visiting your planet. Indeed, one woman, one simple, but well-spoken and strong woman has led me to realize how much of—how did she put it—an ass I was,” Kohl paused when he heard a few chuckles from the room.
“I admit I came to this planet thinking you all would blindly accept my terms and I would simply have my way. But I was wrong and I apologize for my actions and that of certain diplomats of mine, who have answered for the things they’ve caused here. I am no fool and I do know that hopes of an alliance are perhaps farfetched at the moment. That is fine. Perhaps both our planets need time. But in the meanwhile I would propose a peace treaty in the form of a non-aggression pact coupled with travel provisions between our planets. The love of my life lives on Earth. I would not take away her desire to remain here by forcing her to live on Ve’dras…. and keeping our future child away from a culture and people that would be half of who they are.” Kohl paused again when the realization of his words dawned on the people and comments of surprise ensued.
