Hey everyone (: Yeah, it's been a while since I've updated, but not as long as the last time. Life catches up to you sometimes. I got on Fiction press to read a story I got hooked on, then finished it, so decided to update this real quick before I get some sleep. I know some of you don't like the way my mom's stories have all the "..." in them but right now, I'm not editing anymore because I feel like being lazy. When I edit my mom's stories, I just take out the "..." and change a few sentences of lines here or there. So please don't be mad at me. You'll enjoy the story even with the"..." I know you will ;). Love you guys! You've been very supportive of my mom's stories so far, and I'm sorry I don't update as often as I should. But hopefully, that will change!

"You should have asked her to come," Brandt was insisting, eyeing his commander aside, as he stood arms crossed over his chest, while RALF performed his tricks for the large gathering in front of his exhibition area. He was a hit…even Brandt had to admit that…the PITA.

Aleris frowned at him. "Leave it alone Brandt," he insisted for likely the hundredth time since they had left Kalla at her dorm. "I told you…"

"I know what you told me…I also know you've been a complete ass since we dropped her off…don't bother denying you wanted to ask her…hell I wanted to ask her to come," he admitted, hands on hips he dared Aleris to deny it anymore.

"Alright…I did," he admitted with a scowl, "Against better judgment though," he added, shaking his head, "She's…"

"Off limits…yeah…" Brandt smirked, "I know…but it sure hasn't stopped either one of us from thinking about her…has it…about just how damned good she felt snuggled in bed next to us all night long…forget about how good the sex might have been…" Aleris did scowl at him then, "If she hadn't been drunk," Brandt added shaking his head, "Don't lie to me…you can't manage it…you thought about it…"

"Thinking and acting are two different things," Aleris snapped. Yeah…he'd thought about it…he'd thought about nothing else since seeing her again…but he couldn't…wouldn't act on it. "Get a grip on your lust Brandt…" he chided.

"Well do something to ease it a little…and I might could," Brandt taunted, eyeing his commander. They hadn't bonded…not since Aleris had seen Kalla again that was. He had to wonder about it…if perhaps Aleris wasn't interested in him…like that anymore. He sighed. It was their relationship…either they bonded or they didn't…after two years he had thought they had…but Aleris had made it clear…his sexual interests were in females…and what he and Brandt did was a mere bonding for the Empire.

Aleris sighed. He had a responsibility to Brandt…he knew that… and he'd thought about it…he had…but somehow…he just couldn't get up much enthusiasm for the actual act. "Look…if you're that bad off…go…find you someone to play with…I won't mind," he admitted, then shrugged, "Nothing personal…but I'm just…"

"Filled with lust for a black-haired, blue-eyed temptress," Brandt finished for him, a little worried he could admit. He thought he and Aleris were friends…that they had the bond. He was starting to wonder.

"I've never lied to you about how things were," Aleris reminded him, keeping his voice down. "My personality might test as a Dom…and yours might prove you to be submissive…but it doesn't mean either one of us is into sex with the other…when we both know we prefer women…" he insisted.

He had a point Brandt admitted…still…he didn't mind submitting to his commander… that was where Aleris had it wrong. "You want another lieutenant then," he asked quietly, not wanting to get into this here…but he needed to know. It was imperative he know.

The surprised look Aleris threw at him appeased him. "Hell no…" he snapped, "Shut up dammit…now is not the time…or the place…" he protested. No…he didn't want another lieutenant…what he wanted was…hell he didn't know what he wanted…and he refused to think it involved that black-haired, blue-eyed temptress that Brandt had reminded him of.

"Well I'll be damned…" Brandt muttered…jerking his head in the direction of the crowd, "Ask and you shall receive…" he kicked himself into motion and Aleris followed his concentrated perusal to find the very object of his and his lieutenant's thoughts…watching RALF up on his little stage…doing his tricks. He groaned aloud.

Roff…roff…the little robot sat on command…rolled over….while Professor Clance went through his dissertation about how RALF had been trained and programmed to recognize voice, scent and visual images. Suddenly the little robot stopped his antics and paused, his head lifted slightly, reminding her of an actual canine sniffing the air…then he was ambling toward her wagging that little scruff of a tail…making that panting sound he bounded up and jumped up on her…placing his paws on her shoulders, where he stood on the stage, he pushed her back into Kegan who was regarding the robot with some awe and wonder…even as he frowned at her.

"Don't touch it Kalla," he protested, "It's a sensitive piece of equipment…"

"Hey beautiful," Brandt slipped up next to her, glancing aside at RALF, who was still sniffing at her, panting and leaning heavily onto her. His weight was something, she mused.

"Hey," she blushed, looking at RALF, she glanced at Kegan, who still wore his frown, only now it was pinned on Brandt. "I…I guess he remembers me…" she offered and Brandt chuckled.

"Aleris told you he would," he glanced at Kegan, seeing him frowning between the two of them. Yup…the same guy she'd been talking too on the vid. "Hey buddy," he acknowledged Kalla's escort, looking him over briefly before he turned his attention back to Kalla. She could do better, Brandt decided…and he and Aleris were better.

"Get off her RALF," Aleris commanded the android, who cocked his head back over his wiggling body, his tail was still wagging, as Aleris strode up to them at the edge of the stage. "Hello Kalla," he managed, pulling the robot off her, "Sit…stay…" he insisted and RALF dropped to his haunches between them, looking from her to Aleris with his shiny dark eyes.

The crowd was in awe over seeing the robot actively seek out the dark-haired girl by the edge of the stage and Professor Clance immediately launched into an explanation of how RALF was acquainted with the girl…and had 'recognized' her. Someone from the crowd jeered that assurance and Clance caught Aleris' eye, getting his nod.

"Alright…we'll test RALF's ability to recognize the young lady's scent and…say find her…anywhere in the exhibition hall…she'll hide…and RALF will seek…"

All eyes turned on her and Kalla blushed, shaking her head slightly. "Go on…" Aleris insisted, "Come on RALF…let's make it even more interesting…."

"Kalla…" Kegan began, surely she wasn't going to make a spectacle of herself and play along…and just who were these two black-clad empirical jerks who seemed to be on such intimate terms with her? "I don't think…"

"It's alright Kegan," Kalla insisted. It would be fun…to prove to these people that RALF could do just what they were insisting he could. She was a believer…he'd picked her out of the crowd and recalled her smell and her face from his memory bank. It was impressive.

Just to make it more difficult, Aleris commanded the android to sit…stay…and then a blanket was draped over his body…making it impossible for him to 'see' where Kalla was going to go. "Weave around a bit young lady," the professor instructed, "Try to confuse him…"

She nodded, edging away from Kegan, who was outright scowling now…she weaved in and out of the crowd…then circled the exhibit just behind them…walked over behind a long black curtain that hid the lighting panels on the walls….slipped behind the curtain…came out another opening…then crouched down to hide behind the very stage where RALF sat…then she waited.

"OK…let's see what he can do…" the professor grinned at Aleris…this was obviously a game they had played with RALF before…

"RALF….find Kalla…" Aleris ordered the droid. Removing the blanket, he pushed aside the velvet rope to the stage and let the droid amble down onto the floor amidst the crowd, who seemed to gasp in unison and move back out of the robot's way.

He tilted his head…making his panting sound…which was actually small air intake valves that let him take in air and test it chemically with a sensor in his head. He even put his nose to the floor…as if he were tracking…but Aleris knew that with his programming this was just for show…he followed Kalla's trail among the onlookers, seeing some amused faces Aleris followed him at a fair distance…so none could claim he gave the robot gestures of any kind. RALF made the circle behind them….headed for the curtain but didn't go behind…merely scented his way along the edge….then speeding up…he made a bee-line for where Kalla hid behind the stage…

ROLF….ROLF…the little droid barked when he found her and she stood up laughing, scratching his head. "You found me RALF…" she laughed, looking over to Aleris to see his grin, "Good boy…you found me…"

"Amazing…" the murmurs ran through the crowd, as Kalla came back to the front of the stage…RALF at her side…his little tail wagging. For an android…he appeared quite pleased with himself she thought amusedly. She glanced at Kegan when she reached him, seeing he too was more than a little impressed…at least he wasn't scowling at her.

"How did he…when did you…" he started to ask, but Brandt interrupted him, catching Kalla's shoulders in his two hands he gave them a squeeze as she turned and laughed up at him.

"That was perfect," he mused, as Aleris came to join them…the professor was back on his diatribe of how RALF's sensors worked…how his memory banks could store and retrieve information. "Investors will be beating down Aleris and professor Clance's door…" he insisted glancing at his commander.

Aleris shrugged, "We'll see…RALF is a joint effort between the university and the Empire," he reminded Brandt…but he could feel success…in the amazement of the crowd…he could taste their awe and disbelief.

"Well…of course Professor Clance is renown in the world of animatronics," Kegan interjected, glancing at Brandt's hands still on Kalla's shoulders, he looked to the other one... "It's understandable that any creation of his would be cutting edge and amazing…"

Brandt stepped forward at the man's obvious slight toward his commander, but Aleris blocked him with a shoulder. "The professor is the best in his field," he admitted, knowing jealous insecurity when he saw it…it seemed a feeling that Kalla seemed to bring out in a male.

Kalla not sensing the by-play added hastily, "The professor might have created him…but Aleris did his programming…he's wonderful and intelligent…thanks to you…" she assured Aleris, as she reached down to pat RALF's head again and he made a contented grunting sound.

Brandt saw a flicker of respect enter the other fellow's eyes at the realization that his commander had given RALF his brain…and his character. Eat that…buddy…he wanted to snap. Instead he relaxed and let his hands drift down Kalla's upper arms in a light caress and he felt her shiver slightly. He smiled.

"Thank you Kalla…but I think you proved our point better than we could have thought," Aleris admitted, "And made a pretty picture doing it…" he heard the fellow beside her grunt a little at his compliment. Fuck you, he wanted to growl.

Kalla blushed, "Are you working on anything else right now…like him…" she glanced down at the little android, who was looking up at her, making panting sounds.

"I'm sure that is classified…," Kegan told her his tone all-knowing…as if he were in the know and she glanced aside at him, sensing for the first time his true annoyance. It was in his stance…in the way he had just spoken to her…as if she were an imbecile. She stepped away from Brandt.

"Actually…." Aleris interjected, seeing instantly when the discomfort of the situation hit her. Stupid jerk, he wanted to jab a finger into the guys chest, even better…his fist in his face, "We're working on a humanoid prototype….nothing quite so fancy yet….basic computer skills…data entry…" he shrugged, "It's slow going at this point…" he eyed the guy with a dark look.

"Could…could I see that one," Kalla asked, her excitement making her forget her escort once more, "Could I get an early peek…like I did with RALF…?"
Brandt laughed, "That one doesn't come home with us every day," he mused, refusing to look at her 'date' if that's what he was. Aleris elbowed him…hard…

"We might could get you…and your friend here a little look…if it's alright with the professor," Aleris glanced at the guy…Kegan…again, seeing he was still frowning, looking down his nose at Kalla with disapproval.

"The professor might not appreciate sharing his inventions…if they're in the early stages," Kegan answered, as if he were on intimate terms with the man…and would know his likes and dislikes. "I wouldn't want to impose…"

"But this is your field, Kegan," Kalla interjected…his frown darkened even more if that were possible, "Aren't you the least bit…intrigued?"
They were all looking at him he realized, wanting to tell them all to fuck off. What exactly were these two…fly boys…to Kalla…and when had she been anywhere near their Domicile? And if either of these…jerks…had anything to do with the professor's newest research…it annoyed him further that he was top of his class…and the professor hadn't included him. Yet if it got him the looks of respect that Kalla projected onto the tall dark one…the one who looked like he could eat metal and spit nails…then he supposed he could tag along…lend some of his own expertise…to Kalla.

"I admit I am," he allowed begrudgingly, then forced a smile down at his companion, "I wouldn't want to step on anyone's creative toes…or disturb any delicate work the professor might be doing, especially letting…untrained personnel into his work space," he looked at Brandt when he said that. If the dark guy was the brain…then this other one must just be the sidekick…that was how command teams worked wasn't it?

Brandt shrugged, "He lets me into his lab…and all I do is engineer the actual mechanics of movement and the physics of balance and joint motion," his tone was light…but his eyes were flashing, Kalla realized, sensing he was more than insulted. "But hey…I'm not the design genius or the brain or anything…"

Aleris hid his grin. No, he might not be the designer…or the brain…but Brandt worked it out so their droid did exactly what they wanted it too…and sometimes his ability at coming up with creative and astounding ways to make it happen impressed him. "Come on…I'll see if Clance wants to come with us…he likes showing off his research lab…" he eyed Kegan, who sighed and looked away. Yeah buddy…you've obviously not been privy to the professor's personal work lab. "What do you say…?"
Kalla glanced at Kegan, sensing he was more than put out. Brandt was getting pissy at his references that neither she, nor he knew anything about what they were going to be seeing…and even if she didn't…it was presumptuous that Kegan would assume the same of Brandt. It impressed her too…to realize Brandt wasn't just a hunky pilot…that liked to tease…that he was intelligent in his own right. Aleris was the only one not succumbing to the spitting contest, she realized…that perturbed her too. She glanced at Kegan again, chewing her lower lip…something she did when she was conflicted and trying to decide the right course of action.

"Do you want too," she asked of her escort. She had agreed to come with him…even if she was excited to see Aleris and Brandt again…it wouldn't be right to leave him…even if she did want so badly to see the professor's research lab.

What was he to say to that? No…he didn't want to…he wanted her as far away from these two males as he could get her. Their familiarity with her…the way the blonde one kept touching her…and she allowed it…no…he didn't want too. But how to say so?

"You two decide," Aleris gave him the out… "If you decide you want to go…let me know…I'll talk to Clance…"

Kegan nodded, as he watched the tall dark one walk away. The droid stayed at Kalla's feet until he turned slightly and gave a whistle…which brought the droid up onto his feet…to pad obediently after him. The blonde one stayed for a moment…glancing at Kalla, he made no secret to Kegan that he was interested in her. He almost saw red….but one silver glance from the guy and he strode off after his commander….letting Kegan focus on Kalla.

"Don't be so annoyed," she sighed, looking up at him…not as far as she had to Aleris and Brandt…but she still felt at a disadvantage. "It could be fun…and just think what you'll get to see…before anyone else does," she tried to make it sound to his advantage that she was considering it…when truly it was for her own…to be near Aleris and Brandt. She felt like a complete jerk.

"How do you know them Kalla," he demanded to know, taking one of her hands in his he gripped, tight, "Surely that's 'cousin Brandt'," he reminded her, seeing her face flush as she tugged at her hands.

"They both know my brother…Aleris and I went to secondary school together…it's not what you're thinking," she insisted…wondering why she did…it was exactly what he was thinking…she was attracted to them…both of them. She tugged at her hand again, only to have him tighten his grip. That was starting to hurt a little.

"Then why can't that other one keep his hands off you," Kegan demanded to know, glancing up to see both of them watching he and Kalla…his blood boiled.

"Brandt's just a tease…" she shrugged, her back to them, she wasn't aware they were watching her….and Kegan. "He doesn't mean anything by it…and even if he does…I can take care of myself," she reminded him, managing to free her hand with a little jerk. "If you don't want to go…then we won't…I just thought it was a nice opportunity," she wasn't sure why she was backing down. She had just told him she could take care of herself…and in the next sentence she was placating him.

Kegan nodded, wanting to believe she had wanted to go for his benefit. He wanted to believe it…so he told himself he did. "There's still a lot we haven't seen in the exhibition hall," he reminded her and she nodded…knowing he wasn't going to go with Aleris and Brandt anywhere…not with her along. "Let's just…look around a while…I'm sure your…friends'… will still offer if we decide to take them up on it later…"

Kalla nodded. There would be no later…he had no intention of letting her near Aleris or Brandt…his look said so. She wanted to sigh, but caught herself. This is what you get, stupid, she chided herself…for being with one guy you don't want…while wanting the one's you can't be with. "Fine…whatever you want to do," she told him, hoping she sounded sincere…while inside she was annoyed.

He nodded, his smile coming back into place as he offered her his arm…not noticing she seemed hesitant to take it. He glanced at the command team who stood on the small stage, watching them still and wanted to smirk. She's with me…he wanted to gloat…eat your heart out.

"I should at least tell them we aren't going," she insisted to Kegan, who managed to hold his smile and nod.

So long as she was telling them no way…it was fine by him…he was the winner in this situation he told himself.

"Thanks for the invitation…but I think we're going to finish the exhibit," she told Aleris and Brandt once they had approached, trying to keep the annoyance and disappointment from her voice. "It was nice of you to ask us though…"

"Anytime beautiful," Brandt assured her, giving her a smile…that disappeared when he looked at Kegan, who stiffened a little at his calling her beautiful.

"Yeah Kalla…anytime…," Aleris agreed, but his dark eyes held Kegan impaled in place for a moment, sizing him up and not liking what he saw. Was she really interested in this pompous, insecure, demanding asshole? He just didn't like how the guy looked at her…or how possessive he seemed. He might be a Dom…but there was a proper place for such things…and if your girl wasn't into it…well…no time was the right time and he couldn't really imagine Kalla being into someone else bossing her around…hadn't she told him so?

He watched Kegan lead her away, being all attentive to her now that he'd gotten his way…bending his head down to hear what she said…as if he really cared. Aleris glanced at Brandt who was frowning. Maybe it was just that she didn't want him bossing her around. That thought sobered him.

"That guys a real shit," Brandt muttered, Aleris grunted, "She can't really like him…can she?"

Aleris shrugged. Stranger things had happened…like one of the empire's Doms… suddenly losing his confidence and determination…all because a girl might not like his commanding ways. Shit! Why had he ever agreed to go to the lake house…he'd known she'd be there…but he'd thought he was over that childish crush. He wasn't…and it annoyed the hell out of him…was affecting his relationship with his lieutenant…and generally making him feel stupid and pissed off.

"I need a fucking drink," Aleris growled, glancing at Brandt who nodded, just as somber as he was, Aleris realized.

"You read my mind…" Brandt admitted as they headed back to the stage to tell the professor they'd pick up RALF in the morning.

The professor nodded, then grinned at Aleris, "Who's the girl…that was pure genius… having her appear in the crowd and RALF recognize her…" he gushed, shielding his mic from the audience. "She's damned pretty too…no wonder RALF remembered her…"

"She's a friend of the family," Aleris intoned dryly, "She saw RALF the other day at our Domicile," he shrugged, then glanced aside at Clance. "She came with one of your students…Kegan…I think his name is…" he waited for the professor's reaction.

"Tall…skinny guy with goofy visual aids…yeah….yeah…good grades…top of the class…a little self-important…too bad he doesn't know shit about how to actually build anything," Clance mused, shaking his head, "Too bad she's with him…I actually thought she was cute…"

Aleris smiled, but it wasn't with humor, "She is cute…just a little naïve," he admitted and Clance grinned.

"Want me to sic RALF on them…" he asked and Aleris chuckled.

"No…she likes RALF…don't ruin his good impression on her," he mused, scanning the crowd he spotted them over by the medical exhibit on bionic limb replacement, he shook his head, "Is the guy…alright…other than being a jerk…" he asked and Clance followed his gaze, then glanced back at him and shrugged.

"Other than being a prick…I don't know much about him…" he admitted, then sighed, "Save a drink for me….I'll meet you guys at the Oasis…just give them my name…and they'll run you a tab…"

Aleris nodded knowing the bar just on the outskirts of the campus. Most of the university kids went there and he wondered if Mr. Prick would suggest it to Kalla. He did frown then…Gods forbid he get her drunk. Gods forbid he get her drunk with he or Brandt around. His eyes narrowed as she looked up at the oaf and smiled, saying something he could tell…by the way she waved her hands when she talked. He shook his head…shit…now he was coming to recognize her little quirks…damn.

Brandt already had a pretty good buzz…Aleris realized, shaking his head, but then he could stare death in the face and make a joke. He wasn't so resilient he decided, thinking again of Kalla…with that…jerk. He had wanted to pull them apart…demand that she come with he and Brandt…that she…submit. Not just to his orders…but to him. It was nearly twenty-three hundred…surely the exhibit was over now…had the prick managed to entice her back to his room…were they having sex right this minute?

He growled low in his throat and shifted uncomfortably in his seat…just the thought making his cock jerk. Dammit…what was wrong with him? She was just a girl…he'd had more than a few…he and Brandt…or without Brandt. What made her so different that he wanted but refused himself to touch. He was becoming an idiot…over his inability to stop thinking about her.

"You know," Brandt leaned into his shoulder, "We're never going to hook up if you don't stop scowling and scaring away the bait," he muttered, "I'm enticing them in…and one look at you…has them heading the other way…"

Aleris glanced at him aside. His lieutenant was flirting yes…but it wasn't with his usual abandon…even Aleris realized that. "If you're in the mood…" he saw Brandt's eyes light up but shook his head, "Go ahead…I'm not…"

Brandt frowned himself now. "Yeah…you haven't been for about a week now," he grouched, "Look…what I said before…if it's not working for you Aleris…you and me…maybe…maybe…"

"Don't say it," Aleris warned, "It's not about our bond Brandt," he insisted, but Brandt shook his head, doubtful, "It's about me…it's…something I need to work out…"

"Yeah well you're my commander…I'm your pain in the ass sub…only lately I only feel like a pain in your ass…" he sighed, tossing down a shot of tarquilling, he slid the other across the table to his commander, "I don't get it…if you want her…why don't you do something about it?"
Aleris glanced at the shot, then snatched it up and tossed it down. The liquor stung all the way to the pit of his stomach. "I told you why…" he reminded his second.

Brandt shook his head. "All I've heard are excuses why you shouldn't…" he shrugged, "And I still have yet to see you offer her the choice."

"And what if she's not into…us," Aleris snapped, "She's not much for being submissive Brandt…even you can appreciate that fact…"

Ah…was that it? Aleris didn't think she wanted him…or could want him…because of his Dominant personality traits? Brandt hated to tell him…but he wasn't such a big, bad Dom…he'd heard other lieutenant's talk…he'd seen lash marks on some of them in the shower after fitness training…even a few rope burns…and guys nursing sore asses and huge hard-ons because their commander's hadn't let them come. He shivered a little…wondering if his commander was really so much a Dom at all…he'd never done those sorts of things to him.

They had only been together two years…the first year was mostly spent testing their compatibility…only in the last year had they become a true command unit and he was starting to wonder if the Empire hadn't screwed up. He wanted more from his Dom…needed more…and even if he and Aleris were friends…good friends…Brandt hadn't been able to find a way to tell him so. He sighed.

"Look buddy…there's only one way to find out what she thinks…what she's willing to...submit too…and that's to ask her…" he had a view of the door and was looking at it as he spoke. He nodded his head in that direction and Aleris turned slightly, then almost spit out his mouthful of ale.

She was next to the door, not with the guy any longer…but with her dorm-mate and the other girls she'd gone to the Vespry with. He frowned. Dammit was the girl becoming a lush? Heat and lust roared up inside him at just the sight of her…she had changed too…into some short little number that showed too damn much cleavage in his mind. What was she doing…traipsing around with some guy…only to ditch him and come clubbing…again. He turned away from the door, not sure what to do…all he wanted to do was paddle her ass for being so flighty. She jerked around one poor asshole…while she batted her lashes at Brandt and ate up his flattery…while raising her pert little nose in the air at him.

Kalla glanced across the crowded bar…easily picking out the black uniforms in the smoky haze and poor lighting. Ameritus had called her on her com…telling her to ditch the weird-o…which hadn't been hard…considering he was getting on her nerves suddenly…and get her cute ass into something delicious and head to the Oasis. Ameritus was supposed to meet Julian and Mace there after they got off duty at twenty-three hundred…but there were some more fly-boys in black that Ameritus had bet her she'd be interested in. She shook her head, feeling a little cruel for her deception…she took contraceptive injections that pretty much kept her monthly visitor from being a problem…still… when Kegan had invited her back to his place she'd told him she 'couldn't' with enough emphasis on the word and a raise of her brows that had him not questioning her about it.

She glanced across the distance again…wondering when and if they would see her…if they would even acknowledge her…after Kegan had insisted she blow off their invitation to the professors lab. She sighed, shaking her head…why didn't she just go over there….say hello…as if she'd just noticed them…instead of acting like an idiot and hiding out by the door…hoping they would come to her. Pride…the word suddenly hit her…and a fear of rejection…that they didn't want her…neither one of them had even hinted at anything 'improper' when she'd passed out at their Domicile…and that had plagued her relentlessly. Didn't they want her? Like that? She shook her head.

"Get your butt over there Kalla…" Ameritus nudged her, pressing a drink into her hand, Kalla immediately handed it back.

"No…no fruity…tasting good things…that will inebriate my mind," she insisted and Ameritus shrugged and smiled drinking the drink herself. Kalla ordered a glass of wine…only one she insisted to herself…she'd acted like a nitwit in front of them one too many times because of alcohol.

"Go on Kalla," Lainus prodded her, "Take the plunge…get laid tonight…you know you want too…"

"Stop pressuring me," she insisted with a hiss, "Just…let me do it in my own way…"

"You might not get your way," Litus mused, looking over Kalla's shoulder, "That tall dark dangerous one is headed this way…right now…"

"What…" Kalla turned, seeing Aleris headed right for her, she plastered a smile on her face, but it disappeared just as quickly when he didn't return it. He was in front of her…then had a good hard grip on her arm…pulling her away from her friends…he didn't even slow his pace.

"Ladies…" he gave them a small nod, then to Kalla... "Come with me young lady…"

R&R please! Love ya'll! (: