Alien Tango

Serene sounded terrified. “Kitty, help me!”
    Pity we were going so fast I was starting to black out. I shoved the phone at Martini. He grabbed it and me and kept on going. I knew without looking that Brian was already over Christopher’s shoulder. And as I passed out, I knew that it still might not be enough.

CHAPTER 55
    I WOKE UP ON GRASS, with someone massaging my neck. After the few seconds of reorientation, I realized the hands massaging me didn’t belong to Martini. They weren’t doing nearly as effective a job.
    “Jeff and Christopher have gone in,” Brian said, his voice taut. “I woke up first.” I realized I could see him pretty clearly and looked up. Full moon. Made the crazies even crazier, as my parents had always told me.
    Martini was back. “She’s gone. The phone went dead, too.” He sounded frustrated and worried.
    “Track on terror.”
    “I’m trying, but . . . ”
    “But she’s looking at Brian because she’s scared, and so she’s concentrating on him, on her power, not on what you need to track.” I sat up. “Bri, kiss me.”
    “WHAT?” Three male voices shouted that in unison.
    “Brian, kiss me. Jeff, track on total unhinged rage.” I grabbed Brian and planted a wet one on him.
    His arms went right around me, and we were making out, just like when we were teenagers. I could remember what kissing him was like now. It was good, but not Christopher good and nowhere close to Martini, who was the Mount Olympus of kissers as far as I was concerned.
    “Got her.” Martini grabbed me and wrenched me out of Brian’s arms. We raced off again. “Do I believe that was for the greater good?”
    “Jeff, seriously, they’re going to kill her, or, worse, they’re going to turn her into their Little Miss Weapon of Mass Destruction, and you know it.”
    “Yeah. He didn’t seem to mind.”
    “Can we discuss this after I wake up again?” My vision was starting to go to pinpoint.
    He swung me up into his arms again. “Hang on, baby.” He slowed down. “Christopher, is Brian still conscious?”
    “Yeah, just barely.”
    Martini cursed. “I can’t believe I have to suggest this. Brian, you and Kitty stay here and make out.” He put me down. “Just try not to enjoy it, okay?”
    “Um, okay. Be careful.”
    “Always.” Martini and Christopher were gone again.
    I looked at Brian. “Let’s go.” I put my arms around him, and he started kissing me again. “Um, Bri? A little less real enthusiasm, okay?”
    He squeezed my butt. “You sure?”
    “Yes. We are faking it, ’cause she can’t hear us or pick up our emotions.” I nuzzled him. “Pretend you’re a spy or something.”
    “I’d rather pretend you wanted to do this.” His hands were moving.
    “Brian, if you touch my boobs, I’ll knee you so hard you’ll wish you were dead.”
    He sighed. “Fine.” He kissed me again, still with a great deal of enthusiasm. I wasn’t returning it. This surprised me a bit. When Christopher and I had lost it in the elevator, I’d responded like Queen of the Sluts. But being with Brian like this didn’t feel illicit—it felt like work.
    He pulled away. “There is absolutely no spark, is there?”
    “Not on my side, no. And I just heard the list of your many accomplishments and strengths.” I cuddled up, lest Serene realize we were doing this to save her life. “I realize she’s several comics short of a complete collection, but are you really that blind? Or that xenophobic?”
    “I’m not xenophobic!”
    “Um, they’re aliens, and you don’t want to date her because she’s an alien. I can’t think of a better definition of xenophobia.”
    “I can. Besides, I didn’t know she liked me.”
    “Yes, you did. Or you would have if you hadn’t spent the last decade mooning over me. It’s so nice to be someone’s perfect woman. Only, I’m not perfect, so whatever you’re mooning over isn’t me, just what you’ve chosen to imagine as me.”
    He was running his hands over my back and in my hair, squeezing my butt, even thrusting against me. But I could tell he was acting now.
    “Yeah, I guess.” He sighed. “I had this fantasy of how I’d win you back.”
    “I’m sure. Don’t tell it to me, I don’t want to know.”
    “Well, I didn’t think it would be anything like this. I can’t believe you’re working with Centaurion Division, let alone one of the ones in charge.” He sounded amused.
    “Um, why not?” Tried not to be insulted. Failed.
    “I