Just a Kiss [The Tiburon Duet]

by Lara Santiago

  "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.