by Tracy Lauren
“Don’t ask!” I shout.
“Well, now I’m curious!”
“We are celebrating the fact that Carly is not a lesbian!” Dorran offers happily. I take a deep breath and look into the camera with wide eyes. It’s my best attempt at sending a telepathic message to my friend—you hearing this?
Sarah’s dying though, absolutely loving every minute. “You know I’m Carly’s best friend, right?”
Dorran nods dutifully. “I am aware.”
“So, then you know it’s my job to interrogate you on her behalf?”
“Is that how it works in Santa Barbara?”
“Oh absolutely. I’m pretty sure it’s universal, as a matter of fact.”
Dorran rubs his chin. “That’s fair to say.” I roll my eyes and pass him the phone—no sense in me holding it while they talk. Dorran leans against the counter, chatting up my bestie while I resign myself to getting out the wine glasses.
“Let the interrogation begin, I think you will be pleased with all you discover.”
“Only in town for a month?”
“Sadly, that is true. But if everything goes to plan with my mission, I would be amenable to visiting more often, or perhaps even taking up a residence here.”
“Ohhh, is that so? Did you hear that Carly?”
“Yeah, I heard.” I’ll believe it when I see it though. I pop the cork on the wine, needing a drink for this little show.
“Carly seems to think you’re a good guy.”
“Then she is an excellent judge of character,” Dorran says, giving me a teasing look. I roll my eyes, but still can’t hide my grin.
“I’ll be the judge, thank you. Everyone’s got skeletons in their closet. What are yours buddy?”
Dorran shakes his head solemnly. “I do not keep any of the skeletons. I work hard to ensure they are returned to the proper government officials.”
Sarah falls silent and I let out a laugh. “Apparently Dorran ‘dabbles in archeology,’” I shout, filling in the blanks.
“Oh shit, okay. You scared me there, Dor, I thought I was going to have to call the police.”
“Why does everyone keep assuming I’m a criminal?” Dorran questions, giving me a perturbed look.
“Your proper care of skeletons aside, I’m sure you have some terrible habits.”
Dorran thinks on it and a sneaky grin crosses his face. “Truth be told, I am terrible.”
“Is that right?” Sarah asks skeptically.
“Sadly, it is true. I have had many complaints against me—I’ve been called too affectionate, I enjoy cuddling more than most males, my scent is annoyingly pleasant. The orgasms I give are far too plentiful—”
Sarah fakes a gasp of horror. “He’s a beast, Carly, run!”
Dorran gives an assuring smile. “I’m only human.”
“Come on, everyone has some kind of quirk or a deep dark secret. If you’re trying to romance my girl, you’ve got to fess up. You seem fun and all, but Carly doesn’t mess around with bullshitters.”
Dorran looks at me, more seriously this time. “Is that so?”
“We are just roommates,” I insist for the benefit of everyone in the room, but I’m already pouring my second glass of wine so…
“Low lights, soft music, lots of wine…” Sarah whispers to Dorran.
“You make a wonderful ally, Sarah. It was a pleasure getting to know you, but I must turn my attention back to my mate.”
“Roommate.” But my voice comes out far too breathily.
Chapter 18
Carly
Dorran is fairly silent as he finishes cooking the meal, seemingly deep in thought. He tells me things here and there about the spices he normally uses and goes about tasting and smelling everything before he puts it into the pot. It does appear he’s making some kind of ramen dish and the scent is enough to make a girl float through the kitchen like a hungry cartoon character.
“How about some music?” Dorran asks.
I bring up my iTunes. “Any requests?”
“I want to hear something you love.”
I sigh in exasperation, but still put on something mellow and sexy. “Dorran…I can’t help but feel like you’ve got the wrong idea.”
“I definitely had the wrong idea. All this time I thought you were a les—”
“Yes, I get it. But I’m not and now it kind of seems like you’re trying to flirt with me?”
“I was flirting with you before. Now I am pursuing you.”
I blush and hurry to set the table just to give myself something to do while I collect my thoughts.
“Tell me about your ex-mate.”
“Ex-boyfriend. Mate sounds more serious.”
“Indeed it is.”
“Shawn and I dated for two years while I was in college. I actually thought it was something serious…that maybe it would go somewhere.”
“You thought he would be your true mate—a life-mate?”
“I did. But, that being said, I was naïve and I’m so, so, so glad it didn’t work out.”
“Why is that?” Dorran asks, pulling my chair out for me and topping off my glass of wine. He dims the kitchen light until the room is glowing with the flickering warmth from the candles.
“Shawn is shallow as fuck. All he cares about is status. He was trying to put you down tonight, did you know that? When he asked about your career. He thinks he’s hot shit because he’s smart and just assumes everyone else around him is an idiot. I’m sure he thought you were a blue-collar guy and he was planning on mocking you for it. How ugly is that?”
“Hmm. Certainly low in character.”
“He dumped me because I didn’t apply to a Ph.D. program.”
Dorran has a frown on his face and he waits for me to go on.
“Getting a Ph.D. is like the highest step in academia. But I don’t want to be in academia. I want to be a middle school teacher. I like the idea of working with young people and inspiring a love for science.”
“That is admirable.”
“But, it doesn’t make much money and it certainly doesn’t come with any accolades. Turns out that’s a deal breaker for Shawn. I’ve run into him a few times like that over the months and every time he tries to push me back into a Ph.D. program. Or he’ll email me when a professor has an opening or something.”
“He’s still interested in you.”
“He’s still trying to change me.”
Dorran makes a grunt that says a thousand words. Like, yeah…that guy is a dick.
“For all his concerns about status, he is the one not worthy of you.”
“Well.” I lean closer to Dorran. “I absolutely love hearing that.”
“Do you?”
“Never gets old.” I smile, sipping at my wine and taking another bite of Dorran’s gourmet ramen. “This is so good.”
“I’m glad you like it. Do not ask me to make anything else however. This is the extent of my culinary abilities.”
“Next time Sarah’s in town we’ll have her teach you her secrets to a perfect cup of coffee.”
“I hope I am around long enough for that to happen.”
Sigh… That takes a little of the fun out of this dinner—remembering that Dorran’s time here is tentative at best.
“Did you say you have something to work on while you’re in town? Is this a business trip or…?” I’m hoping I can get more information out of him than Shawn was able to. I’m curious about Dorran. Who is he, where is he from, why is he so unfamiliar with certain things? At first I didn’t care about anything but the rent, but the more time I spend with him the more I really want to know Dorran.
“I would like to be honest with you, Carly,” Dorran tells me, pushing aside his bowl and scooting his chair closer to mine. He pulls my hands into his.
“Okay…” Man, if I thought this guy was in danger of being taken advantage of I might have been way off. For all that he’s a teddy bear, he’s a charmer too. Especially after two and a half glasses o
f wine.
Dorran’s thumbs caress my palms and he gazes at me with those enthralling purple eyes. I’ve never seen that color before…
“Sarah got me thinking.”
“Is that so?” I ask, wanting to snuggle against him. He could be telling me the ingredients of his dinner recipe for all that it matters, I just want to lean into him.
“About honesty…”
“Oh.” Well, that’s like a bucket of ice water. “Honesty about what?” Here come the skeletons…
“The reason why I am here in Santa Barbara.”
“Okay.” I tug my hands away. “Go ahead, you can tell me anything.” But if he tells me he is a drug-dealing criminal I’m going to run to Mrs. Doherty’s apartment and tell her to call the cops.
“I am not here for work in the strictest sense. You see, where I am from it is a fairly common practice for families to arrange marriages.”
I gasp out loud and then cover my mouth to try and hide my shock. “Sorry, go on.”
“I work for my father’s company and he has a business partner who’s not happy with his daughter’s lifestyle. His solution to this problem is to marry the two of us. My father tried to refuse, he wanted me to be free to choose my own bride, but the tension grew. So, I made a deal. I would travel for one month’s time, trying to find my own mate, and if I was not successful at the end of my time allotment, I would return home and marry his daughter, Tereza.”
“So…are you saying you’re kind of engaged to another woman right now?” I ask, casting my gaze over our romantic dinner. Is he cheating on her with me? Is sharing this meal improper? I don’t even know.
Dorran shakes his head. “Tereza is counting on me to find a mate, her happiness depends on my endeavors here as well. While you might not be a lesbian, Tereza definitely is.”
“Ohhh. Is that what her father’s unhappy about?”
Dorran nods.
I lean back in my chair, raking my fingers through my hair. “So, let me get this straight. You’re here in Santa Barbara for one month and your goal is to find a wife?”
“That is correct.”
Now I look at our romantic dinner with fresh eyes. Fuck. Dorran said he’s pursuing me. “Oh Dorran,” I lament. “This is serious.”
“The most serious thing I will ever do in my life.”
I let out a squeak as I get up and begin pacing the room, feeling the overwhelming need to help this man. First of all, he’s paid me nine thousand dollars to help him anyway. Second of all, this is serious. We’re talking about Dorran and this woman Tereza’s happiness for their entire lives.
“Is there any other way to get around this?” I ask. “Maybe have a fake marriage, just for show, and in a few months or a year you could get a divorce?”
Dorran’s expression darkens at my suggestion. “When I take a wife, Carly, it will be for all of my days. Whether it is a female I am in love with, or Tereza. But I will not make a farce out of the bond.”
“Okay…so you have principles. That’s good. Not exactly helpful to your cause, but good.” I drum my fingers on my lips, thinking. “This can work…we can do this.” I pump up, talking myself into helping Dorran. I work at a bar, for goodness sake. I can shake down some dates for the guy.
I turn to continue my current lap across the living room floor, but I run headlong into Dorran’s wide chest. He pulls my hands into his. “You think this can work?” he asks, his amethyst gaze intense—hopeful.
I take in the beauty that is Dorran. Hell yeah, we can get this guy some dates. “Definitely.”
“You don’t know how happy that makes me, Carly.”
A wave of emotion hits me. Dorran is alone in this country. He’s got no friends but me, and I’m the kind of person that takes friendship seriously. I’ll do whatever I can to help him and I want him to know that. So I return that intense gaze, staring deep into his eyes—hoping he gets my telepathic message. I got your back.
But…something must be lost in telepathic translation, because the next thing I know, Dorran wraps his arms around me and pulls me into…the most passionate kiss I’ve ever experienced in my life. His lips are on mine, his tongue dancing at the seam of my mouth. I open to him on instinct alone, almost melting against his warmth. He’s intoxicating—everything about him, from his taste, to the feel of his tongue, to the way he holds me. In this moment I feel owned. Dazed, I allow myself to enjoy the experience for a second or two longer than I should…before ripping away.
“Dorran,” I gasp, struggling to catch my breath—struggling to not touch him. “I feel like we might be having a miscommunication here.”
“Gods, I hope not,” he says in a sultry, rumbly voice as he runs his fingers through my hair. I lean into his touch like a slutty cat.
“No…I mean yes! Yes, miscommunication. I can’t be that girl for you, Dorran. I can’t marry you.” His hands go still and I fist his shirt, not wanting to see his expression grow sad. “But I’ll help you,” I hurry to say. “I know what you need now and I’ll do everything I can to make sure you find a woman to fall in love with.”
“What if I want that woman to be you?”
“I…I… ” I sputter. I have dreams of becoming a middle school teacher. I’ve already sacrificed so much for that dream already. Plus, my home is here in Santa Barbara and this weird-ass country that Dorran comes from doesn’t sound like my kind of place if they advocate arranged marriages for unwilling partners. “I’m sorry, Dorran, I’ll do everything I can to help you. But I can’t do that.”
His shoulders slump. He’s speechless.
“I’m just…” I back towards my room. “I’m going to call it a night. We can talk more about this in the morning.”
Dorran nods, but says nothing. He’s such a proud, sexy man. I can’t imagine he hears “no” very often. And I hate to be the one to break his winning streak. But I can’t agree to marrying a guy I’ve known for all of two days. That’s just crazy. So, I hurry to my door.
“You’ll see, Dorran. I’ll help you find a girl, someone that you’re going to love and you’re going to be so grateful to have her.”
He gives me a sad smile, but says nothing, so I close my door. Once safety on the other side I press my fingers to my lips, still feeling the heat of Dorran’s kiss. I can taste him on me. My phone’s in my back pocket. I should text Sarah. But I don’t. I just slide to the floor and sit there, holding on to the haunting ghost of Dorran’s lips on mine.
Chapter 19
Dorran
“It is better you know now. While you still have time to find your true mate.”
“I would have sworn Carly was my true mate.”
“Forget her, Dorran. You only have a few short weeks to find a bride. For Tereza’s sake and your own, do not get stuck in this infatuation. Your entire future depends on the success of this mission.”
I rake my hands through my hair. “You’re right,” I tell him. I know this to be true, yet I still cannot shake the pain I feel when I think that Carly will not be mine.
“Take this female’s aid. It was what you intended on only yesterday.”
“That was when I thought she and I were incompatible!”
“You are still incompatible! She does not wish to be your mate, brother, the sooner you see this the better!”
I sigh, resigned…painfully resigned. “I just…need a good night’s rest. Tomorrow I’ll reassert myself with the mission.”
“Good,” Regor tells me. “I’m sorry, Dorran. I wish I were there to offer my aid as well.”
“All will work itself out,” I say, feeling unenthusiastic. But Regor is right. I need to keep my head in the game. It is not only my happiness that rides on this. I must think of Tereza too.
Regor and I say our goodbyes and when I switch off the comm I notice a purple tint to my hands. I groan, knowing I should go to the bathroom and touch up my disguise, but I simply cannot find the energy. So, I drop down onto the bed and let my eyes fall closed instead. I’ll rise
in the night and freshen it, I tell myself. All I need is a few minutes to lie here.
But…that does not happen.
Instead, I sleep until Earth’s single sun is bright and shining in through my window. When my eyes groggily blink open, I rub my palm against them, trying to wake up. I’m so used to the purple I don’t even notice it at first, but then my brain kicks back on and all the sleep haze is cut away.
Fuck. I look down at my hands…my arms… Gods damn it. I’m fucking purple again. I jump from the bed and put my ear to the door. All is silent out there; it doesn’t seem as if Carly has risen for the day yet. I hurry to find my cosmetics kit and with one harried glance out into the main living room, I dive into the bathroom and shut the door.
When I look in the mirror I am shocked. The diminishing effects are far greater than I anticipated. I look like a full-blooded Kuytu Tetrani again. I know I should freshen my disguise immediately, but…it actually feels pretty good to be in my own skin again. So I decide to hop in the shower before reapplying my human coloring. There’s no harm in that, I tell myself.
I turn the water on and it isn’t until I’m in the shower that the events of yesterday come filtering back into my mind, leaving a heavy ache in my chest along with it. I’m sluggish as I bathe, even more so as I brush my teeth. And perhaps I should have known better than to take my time like that. Hells, perhaps I should have locked the damn door.
Chapter 20
Carly
Despite the…unique conclusion to yesterday’s dinner with Dorran, today starts like any other. I rise early and slap my hand around my nightstand until I find my phone. Blindly, I dial up the subbing line, hopeful that there might be a job I can pick up at the middle school today. And sure enough, they need someone to cover one of the math teachers. It’s not science, but close enough.
With new vigor I jump out of bed and dig in my closet for my most teacher-y clothes. This is a good opportunity to put some distance between Dorran and me. I can get away from the apartment and give us both a chance to reflect on things. And perhaps when I come home this afternoon, yesterday’s kiss will all just be water under the bridge?
